Silver Dagger Book Tours
  • Welcome!
  • Current Tours
    • Book Tours
  • Book a Tour
  • Open Sign Ups
  • Contact
  • About
  • Welcome!
  • Current Tours
    • Book Tours
  • Book a Tour
  • Open Sign Ups
  • Contact
  • About
Silver Dagger Book Tours

 

Embrace of the Wild - Book Tour and Giveaway

4/8/2021

73 Comments

 
Picture
Picture

Embrace of the Wild
Inspired by Equestrian Explorer Isabella Bird
by Linda Ballou
Genre: Historical Fiction 


Picture
“I have just dropped into the very place I have been seeking but in everything it exceeds all my dreams. “

Isabella Lucy Bird (1831-1904)

Some people live to travel; Isabella Lucy Bird traveled to live. Dare to saddle up with this equestrian explorer on her way to becoming the best-loved travel writer of her day. Set off on a voyage from England to the South Seas. Jump ship in Honolulu, then hop on board the Kilauea steaming its way to sleepy Hilo. Be captivated by the lavish beauty of the Sandwich Islands. Charge up the flank of a living volcano, ford roaring torrents on the way to Waipio Valley where the gods come close. Feel the loving touch of the healing hands of a Hawaiian elder and let go of chronic pain that has held you captive.

Invigorated from your stay in Hawai’i press on to ride solo in Colorado on a 600-mile mountain tour. Here you meet an unlikely soulmate in the form of renegade Rocky Mountain Jim. Convince him to guide you to the top of the loftiest peak in the Rocky Range, and try not to fall in love with him and the majesty of his realm. Know the wild abandon of giving rein to your mount with tears streaming, hair flying, and blood pumping. Set your spirit free with Isabella as she breaks through physical and social barriers to follow her dreams.


​

Goodreads * Amazon


​
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
​The narrow track now slippery with red mud was treacherous. My mare struggled for traction with her legs sliding out from under her. Cascades streaking white down the cleft of the pali dislodged rocks that rattled down the mountain. At times the rain was so dense, I lost sight of Kilani who forged ahead undaunted. We crossed several smaller gulches with rushing water up to my horses belly without incident. But, when we arrived at the lip of Hakalau gulch lost my conviction. Foaming water broiling in a riotous rush to the sea had risen half way up the side of the water corridor. Limbs of trees and leaves swirled in a muddy chaos below. The thunderous sound of breakers crashing on the sea cliffs filled me with dread. If I didn’t drown in the river, I would surely be crushed on the rocks by the pounding sea. I decided I would prefer spending a night in the rain on the shore over attempting this crossing.
Two native men on the other side of the raging torrent had lassoed the horse of a woman trying to reach the other side. With ropes tied to trees they were pulling her to the shore. Her horse floundered falling backwards into the brew. The woman went into the drink. She clung to the horn of the saddle while her body was caught in the current. With a herculean effort the men pulled the flailing animal to the shore. The horse found purchase and the woman was rescued.
Kilani was not dissuaded by the perilous crossing we just witnessed. She stood on the edge of the gulch prepared to jump into a certain death. The men threw the lasso over her horses head and she pressed her horse forward. My heart was in my throat as I watched her being picked up by the roiling water and sent spinning downstream. I screamed over the wild chorus of the river for her to face the flow. She was attempting to cross sideways with her horse completely submerged up to its head. She managed to swing around to face the torrent and the men were able to pull the wretched animal towards the shore. The horse’s eyes rolled white with fear, snorting and puffing as it struggled with every ounce of it’s being to find footing on slippery rocks while the rain pounded even more intensely. Kilani managed to gather herself back onto the horse as it lurched up the far bank of the river. I could only hope for her that her husband’s affections would be rewarded in kind.
I made my decision not to follow her lead to a sudden death. But, as I was about to turn back a lasso was draped around my mare’s neck. Without so much as an “Are you ready?” I was pulled into the roiling drink. Instantly immersed up to my neck, I had no choice but to press forward. I spurred the hapless animal beneath me with all my might. She was swimming toward the far side, but we were drifting towards the sea. I yelled for help over the roar to no avail. My screams were swallowed in the roar of the ceaseless foaming rollers below. This looked to be a sad ending to my new found freedom.
From shore Kilani screamed “Spur. Spur. Spur.” Both men were on the rope they pulled taunt around my horse’s neck. They secured their feet on boulders and grunted with each pull giving a small release so they did not choke her to death. The animal was gasping, and gave out a sorrowful whinny that shook her entire body. I was lifted by the water out of the saddle. My arms were being pulled out of their sockets as I clung to the big horn of the Mexican saddle. The rain was blinding and I was about to let go and join the spirits in the underworld of Po. Suddenly, my mare found a reserve of strength and lurched forward. With the help of the men pulling her, she was able to swim close enough to the shore to scramble up the slick wall of mud and out of the torrent.
Upa finally arrived with a mule in tow. The men tossed him the rope that he put around the creatures neck. He deftly hopped rocks, dove into the muddy brew and navigated the charging river like an amphibious creature leading the mule behind him. He laughed loudly when he reached our party on the other side.
“Lucky we get here today,” Upa said.
My horse stood trembling. My teeth chattered involuntarily. The tumult of blinding rain had not ceased. I didn’t feel lucky.


Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
From my roots in Alaska I receive strength, centeredness and respect for the awful power of nature. Numerous adventure articles, essays on my website are set in my homeland. In Hawaii I found a spiritual awakening, sensuality and the heroine for my historical novel Wai-nani: A Voice from Old Hawaii. Lost Angel in Paradise, takes you day tripping with me to my favorite outdoor days in sun-splashed California. I share tips for "Wannabe" travel writers in GET GREAT TRIPS. I added Lost Angel Walkabout to my audio books for my armchair traveling friends in 2020. I just released of Embrace of the Wild an historical novel inspired by the life of equestrian explorer Isabella Bird.


Website * Facebook * Twitter * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads


​

Picture

Lemons to Lemonello



In writing Embrace of the Wild I hope I have turned the lemons of Covid 19 into lemonello; a zesty elixir that excites and satisfies the senses. In early 2020 I returned from a whirlwind tour of Australia just in time for lockdown. I was grateful to be back on U.S. soil, but in shock to see the streets of downtown Los Angeles empty. A new world order was upon us. I had no idea how long this was last, but I did know my travel wings were clipped and I needed to do something to save my sanity.
According to many a centenarian the secret to staying young is maintaining a sense of humor and staying mentally engaged. I have written two novels and I know that it requires a huge time commitment and the willingness to forego other ambitions for a while. For me it means mentally being in the places that I am describing and imagining what it would be like to be the characters in my story and how they felt. The silver lining of the pandemic for me was that I could drop out of society focus on writing and no one would notice. It was easy for me to pretend that I had won a stay at the writer’s residency in Rocky Mountain National Park.
Isabella Lucy Bird is a woman I admired who received recognition when she was alive, but had fallen through the cracks of time. When I went to Estes Park, Colorado to explore the region she wrote about so glowingly in a Ladies Life in the Rockies, I asked local shopkeepers if they knew her name. They did not! However, I did find a book on her young years, and Following Isabella Travels in Colorado Then and Now by Robert Root in the local bookstore.
My research for Embrace of the Wild included hiking in the Rocky Mountain National Park in 2019 and viewing YouTube videos by Nick Sangetta who takes you with him on his daily sojourns into the region. His video of hiking Longs Peak was especially helpful as even though Isabella made to the summit, I never will. I stayed at Sylvan Dale Ranch where Isabella stopped on her way to Estes Park. I then drove to the Laramie River Ranch on the border of Wyoming where she arrived by train from San Francisco.
The first third of the story takes place in Hawaii where Isabella spent six transformative months in the Sandwich Islands. I used her book about her times there in 1873 in my research for Wai-nani: A Voice from Old Hawai’i. Her language is a bit flowery for modern readers, but her descriptions of the terrain are unrivaled. I have hiked in Waipio Valley and on the flank of the Kilauea on the Big Island where Isabella rode and have written articles set in the Islands. My research for Wai-nani gave me a deep knowledge of the Hawaiian people and their culture. It was fun for me to be there once more.
Part two of the story told by James Nugent AKA Rocky Mountain Jim allowed me to give voice to a largely overlooked dark episode in America’s history. It also served to make him a more understandable, if not sympathetic character. In part three Jim and Isabella meet and recognize one another as soul mates who share a love for nature and find a connection in the majesty of the mountains.
It is my hope that readers will enjoy riding with Isabella on her way to spiritual freedom and self-discovery. Writing the story did give me peace and purpose in what has been a difficult year for all of us. A special thanks to Anne Holmes for her generous review of Embrace of the Wild.
Note: The paperback is available on Amazon in larger print for screen weary eyes.

​

Picture
Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

Apr 8
kickoff at Silver Dagger Book Tours
A Pinch of Bookdust

Apr 9
Inside the Insanity – GUEST POST
Insane Books

Apr 12
Bedazzled By Books
Book Corner News and Reviews

Apr 13
#BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog
Cover Love Book Blog

Apr 14
Craving Lovely Books
Midnight Book Reader

Apr 15
Westveil Publishing – GUEST POST
Lady Hawkeye

Apr 16
Girl with Pen
IndiePowerd by No Sweat Graphics

Apr 19
Books a Plenty Book Reviews
Literary Gold

Apr 20
Character Madness and Musings
Scrupulous Dreams

Apr 21
Musings From An Addicted Reader
The Book Dragon

Apr 22
The Bookshelf Fairy
Twisted Book Ramblings

Apr 23
Momma Says: To Read or Not to Read
Teatime and Books

Apr 24
iris blobel

Apr 26
Stormy Nights Reviewing & Bloggin'
The Faerie Review

Apr 27
The Scratching Post

Apr 28
Books all things paranormal and romance
Sapphyria's Book Reviews

Apr 29
Books, Authors, Blogs
Writing Dreams

Apr 30
Sylv.net

May 1
A Wonderful World of Words

May 2
I'm All About Books

May 3
4covert2overt ☼ A Place In The Spotlight ☼

May 4
Chit Chat with Charity - REVIEW
The Sexy Nerd 'Revue'

May 5
❧Defining Ways❧
Tina Donahue - Heat with Heart

May 6
Chapters through life
ⒾⓃⓉⓇⓄⓈⓅⒺⒸⓉⒾⓋⒺ ⓅⓇⒺⓈⓈ

May 7
eBook Addicts

May 8
Valerie Ullmer | Romance Author


a Rafflecopter giveaway
Picture
73 Comments
Rita Wray
4/8/2021 10:31:24 am

Sounds like a great read.

Reply
Eva Millien
4/8/2021 10:37:52 am

Nice to meet you, Linda! Embrace the Wild sounds like an excellent read and I love the title! Thanks for sharing and good luck with the tour!

Reply
Kari B
4/8/2021 10:48:06 am

Sounds like a great way to travel in the mind, while we're all still stuck at home.

Reply
Jon Heil
4/8/2021 10:52:09 am

Rocking it up with the horses

Reply
Marcy Meyer
4/8/2021 12:08:29 pm

The cover looks really good.

Reply
Susan Smith
4/8/2021 01:34:41 pm

Sounds like a great book. I like the cover and the excerpt.

Reply
Wendy Jensen
4/8/2021 02:34:08 pm

Great book details.

Reply
Kelly D
4/8/2021 02:43:10 pm

The book sounds great with very interesting characters.

Reply
Beyond Comps
4/8/2021 02:45:17 pm

Great cover!

Reply
wendy hutton
4/8/2021 02:55:27 pm

sounds like a great book

Reply
Bea LaRocca
4/8/2021 03:45:13 pm

I like the cover and synopsis, this sounds like a wonderful read. Thank you for sharing your guest post and book details and for offering a giveaway, I have enjoyed reading about you and your work and am looking forward to reading your story

Reply
bn100
4/8/2021 04:31:40 pm

nice cover

Reply
Ann Fantom
4/8/2021 04:47:21 pm

This sounds like an interesting book and I also like the cover.

Reply
Sherry
4/8/2021 05:00:53 pm

Looks like a good book.

Reply
Bernie Wallace
4/8/2021 05:19:20 pm

How long did it take you to write your book?

Reply
David Hollingsworth
4/8/2021 05:27:03 pm

What inspired you to write this book?

Reply
Barbara Montag
4/8/2021 05:44:01 pm

This looks like an interesting exciting book.
And I love the cover!
Thank you for sharing the review.

Reply
Victoria Alexander
4/8/2021 06:14:03 pm

Great excerpt, thanks for sharing!

Reply
Jessica Hays
4/8/2021 06:19:41 pm

I love the cover!!

Reply
Peggy Salkill
4/8/2021 06:41:49 pm

Love the cover!

Reply
David Basile
4/8/2021 07:03:41 pm

Looks like a good book.

Reply
Debbie P
4/8/2021 09:40:58 pm

This sounds like a great book and my kind of read.

Reply
Thomas Gibson
4/8/2021 10:13:09 pm

Nice cover and excerpt!

Reply
Robert Young
4/8/2021 10:38:20 pm

I Love the book cover as I'm from Colorado and I always visited Maroon Bells every Fall.

Reply
kelly tupick
4/9/2021 02:46:09 am

The book sounds great, thanks!

Reply
Serge B
4/9/2021 05:41:38 am

I liked the excerpt

Reply
Michele Soyer
4/9/2021 07:14:27 am

I love the cover.. makes me want to read this book.. best of luck with the book tour...

Reply
Cynthia C
4/9/2021 10:05:41 am

The excerpt is interesting. Thank you for sharing it.

Reply
Ginger Hafer
4/9/2021 12:18:53 pm

Great cover. The story sounds like a great adventure that I would enjoy reading about.

Reply
Debbi Wellenstein
4/9/2021 12:39:11 pm

I enjoyed the excerpt. Thank you for the giveaway!

Reply
Paige Chandler
4/9/2021 01:05:52 pm

I too embrace the wild. It's a must read, Good work.

Reply
Abigail Gibson
4/9/2021 02:41:50 pm

keep up the great work

Reply
Francine Anchondo
4/12/2021 07:20:10 am

Book Sounds great

Reply
Tara Zarecky
4/12/2021 08:17:51 am

Love the cover and the book sounds wonderful!

Reply
Stephanie Liske
4/13/2021 12:03:53 am

I like the book details.

Reply
B.J. Bernal
4/13/2021 05:05:33 pm

Love the cover!

Reply
beth shepherd
4/13/2021 07:12:56 pm

This looks like a great read. Thank you

Reply
Nancy
4/14/2021 08:25:30 pm

I think that the cover of your book is very eye catching.

Reply
Amy F
4/16/2021 03:44:07 pm

Beautiful cover!

Reply
Tiffany S
4/16/2021 07:51:37 pm

I think the book sounds really great.

Reply
Ellie Wright
4/16/2021 09:52:14 pm

This sounds like a great read. Nice cover!

Reply
Judy Thomas
4/17/2021 07:02:56 am

I love the cover artwork!

Reply
Cathy French
4/17/2021 09:15:01 am

Wow this contains a lot of travelling and adventure. Looking forward to reading.

Reply
LYNN CLAYTON
4/17/2021 09:53:00 am

oh i love this cover this looks like a great read

Reply
Molli Taylor
4/17/2021 11:26:08 am

i love books that are full of adventure... living vicariously!

Reply
shannon zeidan
4/17/2021 11:34:17 am

This cover is awesome! Im excited about this book.

Reply
Terri Quick
4/17/2021 12:46:06 pm

Beautiful cover

Reply
Karin
4/19/2021 07:06:31 am

I love the silhouette on the cover

Reply
avm
4/19/2021 08:50:04 am

very nice

Reply
Charlotte Litton
4/19/2021 09:01:28 am

Sounds good, beautiful cover.

Reply
Mary Cloud
4/21/2021 08:11:22 pm

Sounds very interesting - thanks for sharing

Reply
julie murphy
4/25/2021 08:28:06 am

The cover looks good.

Reply
Laura Rubenstein
4/26/2021 07:20:44 pm

this book looks and sounds fantastic

Reply
Karen M
4/29/2021 10:37:21 am

Book excerpt sounds good. Love the cover.

Reply
Jessica C
5/4/2021 11:17:57 am

Great book I absolutely love your cover!

Reply
Diana Corlett
5/7/2021 03:02:31 pm

Sounds like a great read! Love the title and the cover!

Reply
Daniel M
5/7/2021 04:29:12 pm

like the cover

Reply
Candie L
5/7/2021 07:14:38 pm

This looks like a fun summer read. Thank you

Reply
BILL HOFF
5/7/2021 08:00:14 pm

My daughter would enjoy this book

Reply
Danielle Day
5/7/2021 08:50:07 pm

I like it!

Reply
Renata
5/7/2021 10:08:26 pm

Sounds good

Reply
Jen Reed
5/7/2021 11:21:16 pm

The book looks like a fun one to read.

Reply
Christy R
5/8/2021 12:52:35 am

This sounds like an interesting read, and I like the artwork on the cover.

Reply
Jackie Mercer
5/8/2021 10:47:31 am

I love the premise. During this lockdown period, I think many of us feel the call of the wild! Can't wait to read!

Reply
jose rosado
5/8/2021 05:06:31 pm

What do you think of the book details? Do you have any questions for the author?


Very good blurb

THX

Reply
Leigh Nichols
5/8/2021 08:35:04 pm

This is perfect for me- we had horses when I was a child, I love them- I miss having them around

Reply
Stacey A Smith
5/8/2021 09:06:31 pm

Lovely Back Ground on the Cover.

Reply
Buddy Garrett
5/8/2021 09:37:01 pm

It sounds like a very interesting read.

Reply
Sand
5/8/2021 09:50:04 pm

Sounds like a good book!

Reply
Jerry Marquardt
5/8/2021 10:57:05 pm

I would like to give thanks for all your really great writings, including Embrace of the Wild, and wishing the best in keeping up the good work in the future.

Reply
Jamie Martin link
5/8/2021 10:59:55 pm

Do you have any advice for new writers?

Reply
Betty Curran
5/8/2021 11:05:30 pm

I love the cover and I can't wait to read the story. It sounds like an incredible life.

Reply
megan allen
5/8/2021 11:06:56 pm

Very pretty cover! Happy release. I hope its amazing!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    Categories

    All
    Action
    Activity Book
    Adventure
    African American
    Alt History
    Anthology
    Apocalyptic
    Audiobook
    Australian
    Bdsm
    Billionaire Romance
    Biography
    Chick Lit
    Childrens
    Christian
    Coloring Book
    Comedy
    Coming Of Age
    Contemporary Fiction
    Contemporaryromance
    Contemporary Romance
    Cookbook
    Cozymystery
    Cozy Mystery
    Crime
    Cyberpunk
    Dark
    Dark Romance
    Drama
    Dystopian
    Educational
    Eroticromance
    Erotic Romance
    Fairytale
    Fantasy
    Financial
    Giveaway-hop
    Gothic
    Health-and-wellness
    Historical
    Historicalromance
    Historical-romance
    Holiday
    Horror
    Humorous
    Inspirational
    Legal-thriller
    Lgbtq
    Literaryfiction
    Mafiaromance
    Mafia-romance
    Magicrealism
    Magic-realism
    Mcromance
    Mc-romance
    Memoir
    Menage
    Middlegrade
    Middle-grade
    Military
    Mystery
    Newadult
    New Adult
    Nonfiction
    Paranormal
    Paranormalromance
    Paranormal Romance
    Parenting
    Pets
    Poetry
    Postapocalyptic
    Pulp-fiction
    Reverseharemromance
    Reverse-harem-romance
    Rockstarromance
    Rockstar-romance
    Romance
    Romanticcomedy
    Romantic Comedy
    Romanticsuspense
    Romantic Suspense
    Satirical
    Sciencefiction
    Science Fiction
    Scifi
    Scifiromance
    Scifi Romance
    Selfhelp
    Shortstories
    Short-stories
    Speculativefiction
    Speculative Fiction
    Sportsromance
    Steampunk
    Supernatural
    Suspense
    Sweetromance
    Thriller
    Timetravel
    Time-travel
    Urban
    Urbanfantasy
    Urban Fantasy
    Western
    Womensfiction
    Womens Fiction
    Ya
    Youngadult
    Young-adult
    Youngadultya
    Young Adult Ya

    Picture

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016

© 2021 Silver Dagger Book Tours