Meet Dale Arenson | Writer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dale Arenson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Hemingway said, “In order to write about life, you must first live it.” Having traveled all over the world, I have inadvertently lived an interesting enough life to have something exciting to write about. This is partly because when I get passionate about something, I tend to go all out. There have been many passions: motorcycles, flying, horses, rifle competitions, martial arts. Right now, it is writing. There have been pitfalls along the way, but everybody has those. It’s not what happens to you in life, it is how you deal with it that counts.

“Hangmen: Riding with an Outlaw Motorcycle Club in the Old Days,” a number one bestseller in the Motorcycle History Amazon category, “Better Lucky Than Good,” and “Against the Wind” are adventurous memoirs of different times in my life. They appeal to readers of all ages and demographics, whether they are looking for being entertained with exciting stories, or finding inspiration for doing more with their life than they thought possible. Success is the overriding theme, with perseverance and determination being the glue that holds the stories together. My books may actually change your life.

I’m excited and proud that readers like my writing and want more of it and I love it when people from all over the world tell me how we have connections or things in common. My books are entertaining but, at the end of the day, they bring people together and help them see that they have more talent and ability than they realize.

I often get asked what is the secret sauce of (my) success. My answer is always the same: Dream big and then just do it. Don’t let anything or anyone stand in your way, especially yourself. And always do your best. The years of hard work and sacrifice are never easy, but you need to go through it to get to your destination. As long as you’re doing something you love, the effort is worth it. When challenges seem overwhelming and obstacles insurmountable, convince yourself that you can do it. Believe in yourself. Do not accept self imposed limitations. Some of the major lessons I’ve learned on my journey are that I was capable of doing things I thought I couldn’t and there was more to me than I thought. Another important lesson was that nobody does anything by themselves. There are people who help us and inspire us and believe in us, even when we don’t.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
The first evening we would relax in Old Town Cottonwood, maybe over a martini at Nic’s Italian Steak and Crab House, where the appetizers are half off if you sit at the bar. The bartenders are efficient and friendly and Nic’s has some of the best food in town.

The next morning we’d make the short trip just up the hill to the historic mining town of Jerome, where the whole town is clinging precariously to the side of a mountain and the streets are old and narrow, with rumors of ghosts in almost every building. There is no shortage of restaurants and bars to spend time in. Some with spectacular views of the Verde Valley.

Sedona is a must see with its breathtaking vistas of red rock cliffs. The art galleries and gift shops will keep you busy until it’s time to grab a bite to eat, then a leisurely drive up beautiful Oak Creek Canyon would be mandatory.
On the way back to Clarkdale we might stop at Montezuma’s Castle to see the one thousand year old cliff dwellings of the mysteriously disappearing Sinagua people.

A trip on the Verde Canyon Railway is always fun. A four hour first class railroad adventure to the old town of Perkinsville and back. They will serve you lunch and the drinks of your choice while you sit in comfy lounge chairs and watch the riparian scenery go by in air conditioned comfort, or you can stand outside on flatbed railcars to experience the wilderness of Arizona. It is like a trip back in time.

The next day we could go to Whiskey Row in Prescott, to see the courthouse square and the historic roughrider statue, then stand at the bar and have a beer at the Palace Saloon, originally built in 1877, where Doc Holliday is reputed to have drank and gambled. Wyatt Earp’s brother Virgil was once a Yavapai County sheriff’s deputy, and as the story goes, Wyatt himself stopped there on his way from Dodge City to Tombstone.
After a cold one, we could walk up the street to the Charlotte Hall Museum, then travel outside town to the Phippen Western Art Museum.

On another day, a trip down the hill would be in order. First off, lunch at Akaihana Sushi just off the Black Canyon Freeway where the chefs are friendly and they make the best sushi in town. Then a visit to the Butterfly Wonderland, an oasis of a tropical rainforest in the middle of the desert filled with butterflies from all over the world. It’s a captivating experience, like stepping into another part of the planet.

Then the hard part, trying to figure out where to have dinner, there are so many good places in Phoenix. Decisions, decisions… Joe’s Crab shack? Maggiano’s Little Italy? The Old Town Tortilla Factory? Or maybe P.F. Changs. The visit is not long enough to do all four, which would you choose?
There are a million other great places to eat in the Phoenix area, everyone has their favorite.

If my friend is a motorcycle rider, I would loan them one of my bikes and take them on a tour of some of the best twisty mountain roads in the state. 89A over Minus Mountain, then 89 from Prescott to Wilhoit, or up into the clear, cool fresh air and pine trees of the high country on Highway 260 to Payson on the Mogollon Rim.

The final evening we would relax in the small historic town of Clarkdale, starting at the Smelter Town Brewery with their amazing craft beers and hot pretzels. Then cross the street to the 10/12 Lounge and hang out with some of the locals who all seem to know each other. Kerrie, the owner, had the bar built from the ground up. She is a local business woman who has lived in Clarkdale her whole life. She is there some nights and is always fun to talk to.

With more time I would have taken my guest to Tombstone or Kartchner Caverns or the Grand Canyon. I have lived in many states, but I think Arizona is the best. With such history and diversity in terrain and climate, it really is a great place to live and I love to show it off when friends visit.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to thank my readers for all their support and positive reviews, my family and friends for their encouragement and support on my publishing journey as well as my brothers from the Hangmen Motorcycle Club.

Website: https://www.dalearenson.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088402726896

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@hangmen71

Image Credits
Dale Arenson