A Good ReadI couldn't sleep last night. I have a list longer then my arm of things to take care of: gas line leaks, photo edits due, termite infestations, dogs to walk...it goes on but the most important is that the books would arrive tomorrow. I just found out today.

​I got up and had a cup of tea. I still couldn't sleep so I thought I would read. I picked a book off the shelf.

​This book has been on my shelf for 4 weeks. I have only cracked it a few times but tonight I curl back in bed with it.

​I'm nervous to read it. There is only one copy and I'm the only one who has it. I know I will see every mistake, every spelling error, every box that is not lined up just right.
​Instead, I smile. Oh! wait, that arrow is a little off. I smile, I like that photo. I am becoming more enchanted as I read. I am transported to a place where I reach down on the approach and run my hand across tops of the dry savanna like grasses as the trail turns west into the setting sun. Then, I am up on a hard, dark patina face specked with glowing green lichen. Then, pulling on another chickenhead I need to slow down to catch my breath, enjoying the rhythmic joy of moving and reading too quickly. I don't want it to end.

​Wait..did you miss that? The first shipment of Cochise Stronghold: Rock Climbing on the West Side Guidebook arrives today.

Thank you again for your support. I had no idea what it would take but sometimes a little faith, such as yours, was the push I needed to keep going.

The people who pre-purchased to help get this project off the ground have a copy reserved for them in this first batch. If you want to come pick one up (cash sales) and have a toast with me I will post the location on the website ..as soon as the shipment drops on my front porch. There will be other places to pick up a book next week, Tanya

 I like the contrast between this post and my last.  In November the test pages are wrinkled, written over and jumbled. Here, the pages are organized, clean, edited and ready to go. This book writing process has been an uphill battle on most days. Filled with computer frustration, problem solving and exercises in patience.

​The first one took so much time but now I know what I am doing. I redesined the whole thing from font to layout to give this book a better feel, more uniformity and readibility.

​I had a list of things to double check. Everything I had was right-every item crossed off.  A I ran around crazy getting the last GPS points and hiking all the trails over again to make sure the maps were right I realized that it's done.

​That picture was taken a few days before Christmas at the base of End Pinnacle. My Christmas present to myself was finishing the book. I have a few more touchups as I wait for final edits to come back to me and then I push send.

​This time there are no delays due to wrong pages at the printers, no delays due to crazy last minute changes.

​All I know and all I have are here, in these pages. It's time to start climbing again,  Tanya