Hello

[Sara]

Just introducing myself. My name is Sara. I'm very interested in the wilderness survival topic and please to meet some others that share the interest here.

[Chris]

Hi, Sara. Welcome aboard! We haven't been the most active lately, but that's all on me. I've be slacking.

I see you have a survivalist-looking book. I'll add that to our group's shelf.

[Sara]

Thanks Chis! My book is an adventure story but it is set in a doomsday survival situation. Which is a topic I find very interesting!.

[Karen]

Hi Sara - when and where will your book be available? I'm interested!

[Sara]

Hi Karen, my book is available right now through my publisher. Here's the link: https://www.tatepublishing.com/bookst...

But after it's official release date June 3rd it will be available on Amazon too!

I'm working on the next one to the series now! It's gonna be a goody too.

[Jeff]

Hi Sara, make sure you put a reminder on here when its available on Kindle, its piqued my interest!

[Karen]

Thanks, Sara!

[Sara]

Hi Jeff,

The is available via my publisher as well and will also be listed on Amazon on June 3rd.

Thank-you all so much for your interest!

On a side note, what is your go to survival manual in your go bag or when you are out camping, etc. We all have one what is your favorite?

[Sara]

Wanted to let all of you in this group know, I have listed three books in a pre-release giveaway. You all have been so supportive that I wanted to let you know first! Thanks.

[Jason]

Hey guys! Just introducing myself. I've always been into backpacking, mountaineering, and other nature-oriented sports. I am a therapist and work with troubled teens in a wilderness therapy program that teaches survival techniques such as bow drilling to create friction fires, how to build things out of natural materials, and so forth. It's been a neat way to get outside and also make a difference. Anyway, I hope to see this group become more active since it's built around a fascinating topic!

[Sara]

hi Jason, nice to meet you. sounds like you have a fantastic job!

[Chris]

Welcome, Jason! It's great to have you here. It seems like we have a lot of backpackers in the group, so that might be something to chat about. We're going to start up a canoeing/kayaking thread too, I believe.

Your job really grabbed my attention. My friend, S.M. Koz, wrote a book about troubled teens in a wilderness therapy class. She's a brand new group member. Maybe we can get her to talk about it a bit.

The book is Breaking Free

[Adam]

Hey, so, I received a note saying that I needed to be more active on here...I sometimes feel as though I live in the wilderness, although, you know, I have all the good things like electricity, running water, and grocery stores and such...

I'm not sure what I can add here, but love to be around.
I wrote a book about a kid who runs across the country, but I'm not sure how much it counts for wilderness survival...

[S.M.]

Hi everyone! I'm Shannon and like Chris mentioned, kind of a silent member :) Things have gotten crazy hectic the last few months with the holidays, a toddler, a full-time job, and trying to write something new. But I'm excited to meet everyone and look forward to reading your books!

Thanks, Chris, for the introduction to my debut novel, Breaking Free. Like Chris mentioned, it follows a group of teens from diverse backgrounds who are working through a number of issues and meet at a wilderness therapy program. It really focuses on Kelsie who started cutting when her best friend died, but we also get into JC's head quite a bit and he has an interesting past of his own.

Jason, I'd love to hear your thoughts on the wilderness therapy aspect of my book. I researched it extensively online, but I know that is no substitute for real world experience. I do wonder if anything I wrote is unrealistic.

Also, if anyone from this group is interested in reading BF, let me know and I can send you a free copy. All I ask in return is that you leave a review.

Off to add wilderness books to my TBR list now!

[Chris]

Adam wrote: "Hey, so, I received a note saying that I needed to be more active on here...I sometimes feel as though I live in the wilderness, although, you know, I have all the good things like electricity, run..."

And lots of snow too? Or maybe not. I'm assuming it's at least plenty cold up in the Great White North.

To be honest, I don't really write survivalist books either. Wilderness, most definitely. But not so much like how to hollow out a cave in snow to stay warmer or start a fire rubbing two sticks together. That said, I don't see any reason why someone at least wouldn't appreciate the cross country journey that is The Agora Files by Adam Oster. I certainly recommend that one too...so long as no one is looking for a handbook on how to survive on edible plants and such. It's just good ol' fashioned dystopian adventure fiction. A lot like mine :)

[Chris]

S.M. wrote: "Hi everyone! I'm Shannon and like Chris mentioned, kind of a silent member :) Things have gotten crazy hectic the last few months with the holidays, a toddler, a full-time job, and trying to writ..."

I take the silent part back, Shannon. You're just new, so I changed that part to be fair. I've been the silent one, but hopefully all that's about to change.

Or not. There's a holiday coming up and in a week or so I'll be off in the country away from reliable internet. Not exactly roughing it, but there will be a wood fire and lots of time outdoors in a cabin. (Log home, technically...I just like to make it sound more survivalist, haha).

[Adam]

Chris wrote: "Adam wrote: "Hey, so, I received a note saying that I needed to be more active on here...I sometimes feel as though I live in the wilderness, although, you know, I have all the good things like ele..."

We lost all our snow last week...the temps are starting to dip again, but my yard is showing a lot more green (well...erm...brown) than white at the moment. Still above zero (the first number's a 2 at the moment) farenheit around here.

Amusingly enough, my work in progress has more to do with survivalist type activities than Agora Files, as it's about a guy trying to live off the grid, but there's more political commentary than prepper action in that one.

[Chris]

Adam wrote: "Chris wrote: "Adam wrote: "Hey, so, I received a note saying that I needed to be more active on here...I sometimes feel as though I live in the wilderness, although, you know, I have all the good t..."

Possibly no white Christmas, eh? It's not a very common occurence down here in Missouri, but it happens every now and then. It's not at all likely this year.

There's plenty of prepper groups on Goodreads...at least I assume there is. Can't say that I've looked too hard, not that there's anything wrong with that. I've been working on a prepper book myself about a kid with prepper parents. He thinks they're nuts until SHTF.

Sounds like you need to make yourself comfortable here, and prepare to wow us with your latest story of survivalism. This is exciting stuff, brother!

[Jason]

S.M. wrote: "Hi everyone! I'm Shannon and like Chris mentioned, kind of a silent member :) Things have gotten crazy hectic the last few months with the holidays, a toddler, a full-time job, and trying to writ..."

Hi Shannon! I'm glad that Chris mentioned you and your book. It looks interesting. I'd love a copy and would happy to not only provide a review but to give you feedback on how realistically the details fit that of a true wilderness therapy program. I'll shoot
you a private message with my email address.

Happy Holidays!
Jason

[Adam]

Chris wrote: "Adam wrote: "Chris wrote: "Adam wrote: "Hey, so, I received a note saying that I needed to be more active on here...I sometimes feel as though I live in the wilderness, although, you know, I have a..."

We'll see on the white christmas. I've still got my hopes (mostly because Christmas day traditionally involves a bit of sledding).

Intrigued by your prepper book...obviously I haven't been keeping up with you too well as of late.

[Chris]

Adam wrote: ...by your prepper book...obviously I haven't been keeping up with you too well as of late."

You've been keeping up just fine. I sort of let it slip on the prepper book. Not very many people know about that one...not many at all. I had fun writing it. Tried for a bit of humor, but probably didn't pull it off quite like a Fat Mogul. Now I've started pitching it to agents...

Can't say that I've sledded much on Christmas. I'm now hearing there's a chance for a dusting. That's about all it takes to screw up traffic around here, but maybe just maybe...

[Adam]

Chris wrote: "Adam wrote: ...by your prepper book...obviously I haven't been keeping up with you too well as of late."

You've been keeping up just fine. I sort of let it slip on the prepper book. Not very man..."

I grew up in SC, so sledding on Christmas never happened (although they've had some interesting snow patterns in recent years). it's all an in-law thing. But it's one I can get behind, especially since it keeps the kids busy.

[James]

The Forester
Adirondack Moments

Hello,

I am new in this group & here is some background info.

I am retired from teaching forestry for 30 years at Paul Smith's College located in the Adirondacks near Lake Placid. Over the years my students often asked the question: what is good forest management? I changed the question to: what should the human relationship be with nature & have done a fair amount of research on this subject especially in the area of "environmental values & ethics."

My research eventually motivated me to write THE FORESTER. The main plot theme in my novel is "conflicting environmental values," which is presented & dramatized by various characters. While values was a major theme the story also developed as an adventure story & a love story & this helps to make the characters & plot more interesting & realistic.

My book page goes into more detail on THE FORESTER.

While writing, trout fishing, hiking, cross country skiing, forestry, teaching, raising 2 kids, keeping my wife happy & building a house occupied much of my time (list is not in order of importance) I also have an interest in photography & began photographing the Adirondacks & showed an ongoing slide show to my students. At the end of my teaching career I published ADIRONDACK MOMENTS, a photo book of this incredible region.

I am interested in hearing from other folks about their views on environmental values & ethics & what they have read or written on this subject.

I am now living in CO & in 2 weeks we are moving to OR to be closer to the grand kids.

So, send me some words.

James Kraus

[Kurt]

Greetings from a new group member. Glad I found you all. I've read a lot of survival books over the decades because I'd rather learn from others' mistakes, than repeat their mistakes. And I'm always interested in finding more good reads on the subject.

I just finished "The Martian" by Andy Weir. I'd characterize it as "MacGyver goes to Mars". It's an easy and fun "wilderness" survival read.

Kurt Cox