Steve Ramirez's Blog, page 5

Just Something to Consider my Friends...

I just got done sending over 100 signed copies of the hard to find hardcover edition of Casting Forward to my friends Bob and Lisa White - who have an inventory of all three current books and are taking preorders for Casting Homeward. They are currently the only consistent source of signed copies of my books. (I say that because occasionally when I walk into a bookstore or fly shop and find my books there I offer sign them as an act of appreciation.)

Of the one hundred signed copies of Casting Forward I sent, all but 20 were already sold.

Here is what I want to share with you or anyone you know who might want one...

If you order from BobWhite Studio you not only get my signature, but more importantly can get Bob's upon request, and I highly recommend that you look into having Bob personalize you copy by creating a one of a kind, original pencil drawing of your favorite fly.

I have one and it makes the book all the more special for me.

Beside... Bob's the Best. (And I'm automatically I including Lisa in that accolade. I'm openly biased. I love them both.)

The Cycle and the Circle... Flows

“Everything the Power of the World does is done in a circle. The sky is round, and I have heard that the earth is round like a ball and so are all the stars. The wind, in its greatest power, whirls. Birds make their nests in circles, for theirs is the same religion as ours. The sun comes forth and goes down again in a circle. The moon does the same, and both are round. Even the seasons form a great circle in their changing and always come back where they were. The life of a man is a circle from childhood to childhood, and so it is in everything where power moves.”

~ Black Elk

Each day, I wake up feeling grateful.

Each day, I am a seeker - living to learn, adapt my perspective to new understandings, and share what might be of value to anyone else who might be aware of the Circle. The Circle has no dogma, ideology, religion, or political religion.

The Circle simply is.

"I am that I am."

Each day, I endeavor to be Kind and Loving and Brave. Sometimes I fail, and I try again.

Each day, I acknowledge my human frailty - my fears, my feelings of aloneness, my failings, my lack of understanding. I forgive myself and keep trying to grow in wisdom and inner-strength.

Each day, I wonder... "What is my Purpose in the world - with a capital 'P'" I sit in silence and solitude - in Nature and within my own human nature, and I listen for what the Universe is teaching me about my place in the Circle.

Each day, I am aware of my finite biological mortality and wonder if my feelings of infinite spiritual immortality are real or just a comforting story I tell myself. I am not afraid of being dead and gone forever. I was dead for billions of years before my birthday and it did not bother me a bit. I don't believe my life is significant except for what good I might do while here. But I love life, and want to stick around for a while. I have so much more to learn and share - I hope.

Each day, I fall asleep feeling grateful.

Wow!

This is what 100 of the hard to come by hardcover copies of Casting Forward look like in my living room just before I sign them and send them back to my dear friends Bob White and Lisa Minar White!

Lisa tells me that 80 out of these 100 are already sold!

I’m so pleased that the paperback is doing so well currently at # 1 Best Seller in fishing on Amazon for the past four weeks and rising to # 55 of all books…

but I will always be in love with the hardcover edition and how beautiful it looks on a self or coffee table next to its siblings:

Casting Onward, Casting Seaward, and Casting Homeward.

If you don’t already have a hardcover… consider adopting one if the 20 remaining signed copies that will be on their way shortly to Bob and Lisa….

Get Bob’s signature too and he can even draw your favorite fly on the title page at a nominal additional cost.

If you have the paperback…you can always upgrade and give your paperback copy as a gift to a friend or keep it as your travel copy.

Just a thought y’all…

I am forever grateful to Bob and Lisa for their friendship and kindness.

bobwhitestudio.com

Bob White and I are going to Patagonia! Why not come with us?

https://www.bobwhitestudio.com/2024/04/argentina-trout-fishing-san-huberto-lodge/

Casting Homeward!

“Gradually, the daylight faded and gave way to a raven-colored blanket that became studded, one by one, in long-ago memories of starlight. I wondered if the stars that once sent those luminescent photons toward my aging eyes still existed. I thought of how my words written within the pages of books were my best imitation of starlight. Someday somewhere, I hoped, someone might read my words and wonder if their creator still “lived”—perhaps in some other dimension. I wonder about that too.”

~ Steve Ramirez, Casting Homeward. An Angler and Naturalist's Journey to America's Legendary Rivers

This quote from my newest book, which happens to be the final installment in my Lyons Press Casting Series... so perfectly expresses my deepest wishes for my words. I set them free like a wild trout in the mountain stream and yet remain connected to them and always wish and hope that they will connect me to you.

Whenever I receive a note from a reader telling me that my words and stories helped them in their life's struggles, I feel that at least part of my wish has come true.

Whenever I receive a note from a reader telling me that they see Nature and this Beautiful Living Planet in a New Light - I feel that I have done a bit more of what I hope to do when I write.

And whenever I discover that my words have caused someone to live life with more joy, gratitude, kindness, and courage... I feel that I might be adding the meaning to my otherwise insignificant life, that I hope to create.

For me, life is about making some positive difference in this broken and burning human world. Every raindrop adds to the river.

I hope you and many people will see value in Casting Homeward.

Every Writer needs Readers.

Namaste' Y'all... Keep Casting Forward!

Mending the Line Reaches Number One Status on Netflix in its Frist Week!

If you have not yet seen this movie - you need to!

You do not need to me a military veteran or a fly angler to find deep value in this beautiful and necessary film. Just watch it y'all... you will be glad that you did.

Good Things are Happening

Casting Forward has been the number one best seller in fishing/outdoors on Amazon for a week and rose to number 55 of all books!

Casting Onward is #3

Casting Seaward #14

Casting Homeward rose to # 36 and was the top seller in New Titles even though it isn't being released until September 3rd.

But what is most wonderful is all the feedback from so many good people who are saying that my stories are adding something of value to their lives.

Writers need Readers.

I appreciate Y'all.

Casting Homeward - the final installment in the Lyons Press "Casting Series."

“I once wondered if I might be a “libertarian.” But I discovered that I believe in the value of publicly protected lands, waters, and wildlife. I see the value of being a nation of public education where every child is exposed to the vastest array of ideas and perspectives. I see the urgency to come together and agree about placing boundaries and limitations on the impact we have on each other and the earth. I am a free thinker in a world that demands conformity. I have no politics—left or right. Instead, like the Yupik, I am a member of an undersized and underrepresented tribe. I am a naturalist and a warrior for peace.”

~ Steve Ramirez, Casting Homeward, Available for Pre-order, Scheduled Release Date September 3rd, 2024.

Nothing Lasts Forever but as of today according to Amazon Books...

Casting Forward “Best Seller”

# 1 in Fishing

Casting Onward #4 in Fishing

Casting Seaward # 11 in Fishing

Casting Homeward “Top New Release” on pre-order for September 3rd...

https://www.amazon.com/Books-Steve-Ramirez/s

I Am Honored! Richard Louv - Writes the Foreword for Casting Homeward!

I wanted to make sure to share with you how honored I am to have Richard Louv as the author of the Foreword for my newest book in the Lyons Press Casting Series. While I have indeed been fortunate to have past Forewords written by Ted Williams, Chris Wood, and Kirk Deeter… but Richard Louv is especially suited to my fourth book in this series.

Since a major theme of "Casting Homeward" is the idea and reality that Nature and Mother Earth are our True Homes, I could not be more thrilled that Rich agreed to do tis for me - and you, even while he is under a deadline for his next book!

I'm taking the time to do this introduction because while anyone in the nature science writing, nature conservation, ecopsychology, a nature therapy worlds knows and likely had read all of Rich's books, I suspect not enough anglers, hunters, and other outdoor enthusiast have. I am currently on track to have read them all - not there yet, but getting there.

Those of you who have read and collected each of my books in this series - I am grateful.

And, if you have, you already know that my fishing and outdoor adventure stories are about a lot more than fishing and outdoor adventure.

They are about our desperate need to save ourselves and this planet - from us.

They are about how We Need Nature... even though Nature doesn't need us.

And they are a well thought out series of stories that in the end, (hopefully a set of six books), we will have Traveled Together to discover our New Path for our more Enlightened Tribe of human beings.

I am writing about Nature and the Best of Human Nature… about creating Hope through enlightened brave action.

Let's Keep Casting Forward Together!

Namaste' Y'all!