An Author Event featuring Nancy East

517 Union Avenue,Knoxville TN 37902

13 February, 2023

Description

If you love hiking, the outdoors, or just living in Appalachia, then this event is for you! Author Nancy East will be reading at Union Ave Books on February 13, 2023 @ 6 pm. About the Author: Nancy retired from a 23-year career as a small animal veterinarian to pursue her interest in outdoor education and writing. She is the author of Chasing the Smokies Moon: An audacious 948-mile hike fueled by love, loss, laughter and lunacy, a memoir about her record setting hike in Great Smoky Mountains National Park and her involvement with search and rescue in the Smokies and Carolina Blue Ridge. She lives in Waynesville, NC with her husband and three children. About the Book: In 2020, Nancy East, a search and rescue team member and middle-aged minivan driving mom, set out to improve the speed record for hiking all the trails in Great Smoky Mountains National Park with her good friend, Chris Ford. The attempt was inspired by the tragic search for a missing mom near Clingmans Dome and Nancy's walk with grief following the loss of her mother. Nancy and Chris covered one-third of the miles in the dark, endured two tropical storms, suffered from injuries and were sidetracked by a fatal bear mauling. Nevertheless, they persevered and succeeded in raising $30,000 to promote hiker safety in the Smokies. This compelling and heartfelt memoir will take you up the mountains, across the streams, and along the trails in the majestic Smokies, providing a glimpse of what it’s like to hike 948 rugged miles in 29 days while still taking time to enjoy the view. "If you think that setting trail records is about speed and hubris, Nancy East will prove you wrong. It is not her success, but her vulnerability that will encourage you to keep moving forward when the next step feels impossible. It is not her impressive miles, but rather her insightful reflections that allow you to recognize feelings of gratitude and connectedness in the midst of pain and loss. And it is not her attributes as a hiker, but her roles as a mother, spouse, and friend that make this book a valuable resource for anyone who is trying to navigate through relationships - and adventure.If you think that setting trail records is about speed and hubris, Nancy East will prove you wrong. It is not her success, but her vulnerability that will encourage you to keep moving forward when the next step feels impossible. It is not her impressive miles, but rather her insightful reflections that allow you to recognize feelings of gratitude and connectedness in the midst of pain and loss. And it is not her attributes as a hiker, but her roles as a mother, spouse, and friend that make this book a valuable resource for anyone who is trying to navigate through relationships - and adventure." Jennifer Pharr Davis, author of The Pursuit of Endurance: Harnessing the Record-Breaking Power of Strength and Resilience “Chasing the Smokies Moon is a deep dive into the depths of a Fastest Known Time record attempt. East relays with humor, profundity, and humility the highs and lows of an intense journey through the Great Smoky Mountains and human connection." Heather Anderson, author of Mud, Rocks, Blazes: Letting Go on the Appalachian Trail “This story is more than just a recounting of an incredible feat of endurance and perseverance, it is an insightful and revealing look into the mind and soul of a multi-faceted adventurous woman.” Kevin Fitzgerald, former Deputy Superintendent of Great Smoky Mountains National Park