Dick Matthews, who along with his wife Pam runs the Hummingbird Inn in Goshen, Virginia, is the author of the new book Notes from an Innkeeper's Journal (Back Channel Press). The book relates his experiences since becoming an innkeeper in 2003, both good and bad. Notes from an Innkeeper's Journal is full of anecdotes that relate the life of an innkeeper, which is much less glamorous than many think. Recently, Dick took some time to answer a few questions for us about the book and the decision to become an innkeeper. Here is my interview with innkeeper and author Dick Matthews.

Resources for Aspiring Inkeepers:

• Do You Have the Skills?
• Bed and Breakfasts for Sale
• Aspiring Innkeeper Worksheets

^{Image courtesy of Back Channel Press}

Staying in a monastery makes for a unique, restful vacation. Many monasteries offer guest rooms at reasonable rates, some for an offering of your choosing. But before you decide to stay at a monastery, be sure to read up -- these are not traditional bed and breakfasts. For example, some monasteries observe long periods of complete silence every day. Plan your monastic getaway with these resources.