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| Love and the Long Path - Betula Press 2021 |
I am beyond excited to announce that the first round of print books have arrived at my door! This book has been in the works for nearly the last four years, so it feels pretty amazing to finally hold a hard copy in my hands. These print books are presently available here at the blog and at a couple select websites. However, come August 5th, Love and the Long Path will be available worldwide in both print and eBook through most online retailers where books are sold (Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, etc.). These big sellers are presently taking pre-orders, so I invite you to place your order now if you prefer to purchase through these avenues.
In honor of the book, I plan to revisit various portions of the Long Path over the summer. I wish to highlight some of those less frequented sections of this lesser-traveled trail through a variety of media, which I will share on social media. The Long Path hosts some majestic vistas such as Sam's Point and Verkeerderkill Falls in Minnewaska State Park Preserve and notorious climbs like Slide Mountain and the Cornell Crack, and although such landmarks are surely noteworthy, I found the strongest magic at the fog-veiled pond thrumming with croaks pierced by the call of coyotes at dawn in Huckleberry Ridge State Forest in Orange County and amidst the scratchy pitch pine and craggy chestnut oak atop Schunemunk Mountain where the glistening rock was as hypnotizing the views. And I would love to share these magical spots with you!
I hope in sharing my experience on the Long Path, through both the book and through social media, will encourage others to discover this trail if they have not already. I hope that those who have maybe already happened onto the Long Path at a popular segment, will yearn to explore another segment, perhaps one that's off the beaten path. This trail has been so special to me for so many years. Before I ever hiked it, it took up residence in the back of my mind and would periodically float to the surface as passing dream. Then I spent 32 days straight immersed in its forests, drinking from its creeks and gazing from its ridges, my sweetheart's hand in mine. Following the hike, both of us have revisited the Long Path time and time again and when not standing foot on trail, I was hiking it in my mind and on paper. I know it can provide the same inspiration and wonder for others that it has for me, One need only seek it.
A great big thank you to all who have supported this project! This book, like many a thru-hike, has been far from a solo venture. I am deeply grateful. This book would not be without your enthusiasm.
Some helpful links:
To learn more about New York State's Long Path: Long Path Trail | Hiking the LP in NY | NY-NJ Trail Conference (nynjtc.org)
To order advance autographed print books: www.TheBotanicalHiker.com or from this blog!
To order advance non-autographed print or eBooks: Love and the Long Path by Heather A. Houskeeper | BookShop (bookbaby.com)
To pre-order print or eBooks from Amazon: Love and the Long Path: Houskeeper, Heather A.: 9781098375751: Amazon.com: Books
