Just for Fun
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I wrote a novel about a rock climber girl, so everyone always asks, "Are you a rock climber?" I am! I don't climb nearly as much as I used to - my outdoor climbing options are limited in Michigan. But I climbed all the time when I lived in Georgia and California. Here's my one famous photo - ha! - captured in a local paper. :)
Cara's parents' devotion to mountaineering and the risks involved have been a much debated subject at every book club I've attended. In my interview at the back of the book, I talk about the mountaineering families that inspired The Art of Holding On and Letting Go. Here's a recent article that explores these questions further. Are Mountain Climbers Selfish? https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/27/opinion/mountain-climbing.html In Defense of Adventurous Mothers: https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/climbing/in-defense-of-adventurous-mothers/ |
It's been so fun to see photos (and even sketches!) of my book in the wild, and other images in nature that I included in my book, such as cairns. Feel free to send me your photos at kristinbartleylenz (at) gmail (dot) com, and I'd love to feature them here.
Amy Nielander is an author/illustrator in Michigan, and she captured her daughter reading my book. :)

What a fantastic surprise to receive this thank-you card painted by a student after I visited her high school book club!