TO THE GORGE

Hitting bookshelves May 7, 2024.

I’ve been trying to remember exactly when I decided I should write a book about my mom and my run across the Oregon PCT.

There’s no single time that stands out. I can’t remember any “AHA” moment. It’s almost unremarkable in my memory. As if the thought was as expected and natural as deciding to eat lunch that day.

It was obvious that I would write about losing my mom and running 460 miles across Oregon to celebrate her life. And it was clear that it would be more than a short essay or social media post. It was a book.

But, of course, to decide there’s a book in you and to make that book come to life are two very different things.

I started working on this book three years ago. I remember using the quiet of the holiday season in 2020 to sit in my writing nook in the renovated barn I lived in at the time – and starting to write the first chapter. I had very little understanding of went into writing a book, beyond writing the book – drafting a proposal, querying literary agents, signing with an agent, submitting to publishers, dealing with heartbreaking rejection, weathering the whims and mysteries of the publishing industry, navigating contracts, landing a book deal.

I have since found out just how much goes into writing – and publishing – a book, and it’s a lot. It’s been the greatest undertaking of my writing life (and maybe just life, period) and it has come with some intense challenges and lows, through both the publishing side of things, and especially through the writing of it.

But, just like I didn’t really need to think about writing it in the first place. There’s never been any question about whether I should stick with it. Whether I should put everything I can into this book. Whether it’s worth it. I wholeheartedly believe in this book (despite sometimes joking about throwing it in a bonfire during particularly stressful moments).

I have a lot I could (and will) say about everything that’s happened since writing that first word three years ago.

But, for now, I’m just excited to share that this book is a couple of huge steps closer to becoming a real, live published book that’s ready for reading.     

On Monday, I emailed my editor an almost (🤞) final draft of my manuscript. We’re just a few weeks away from declaring it done done DONE.

On Tuesday, I found out that my book is officially available for pre-order.

TO THE GORGE is coming to the world on May 7, 2024. And, you can order a copy today from all of the major booksellers, your favorite independent bookstore, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, take your pick. Any order is a good order for an author.

Pre-orders are especially valuable for writers, because they let publishers and booksellers know that readers are excited for a book. So, if you’re excited to read this – or if you also believe this story should be a book, I’d be so grateful if you considered pre-ordering it. I’ve been blown away by the kind messages I’ve received in the last few days. And, if you’re one of the amazing people who’s already ordered your copy of TO THE GORGE, I can’t thank you enough.

More soon. I’m very excited to have more writing time to play with, for things other than my book and freelance work, and to channel some of that into new Trail Mix stories and other fun writing projects.