Howdy folks! My debut novel, The Legend of Pedestrio, will be published 40 days from today, on May 1, 2022. The Legend of Pedestrio is a quirky, whimsical campfire tale about the search for a mysterious nomad who is said to walk the Earth by day and the sky at night. It’s traveler’s yarn set in places that can only be reached on foot. You can learn more about it here, but the book is only part of what I came here to tell you.
Also on May 1st, I’ll be launching a promotional tour designed to echo the book’s walking and storytelling themes. I aim to hike from the shores of the Atlantic Ocean all the way to the Pacific Coast, spinning yarns along the way. I reckon it’s about a 3,300-mile trek, and if I don’t dawdle too much, I should get through the mountain passes before they fill up with snow.
I’m taking one of the northern routes this time. From Quincy, Massachusetts, I’ll head more or less straight west to Niagara Falls. Then I’ll cross the border into Southern Ontario (assuming the border is open – global pandemics can spoil all kinds of plans).
Now, every route has its challenges. For a foot traveler hiking across North America at a latitude of roughly 43° north, the Great Lakes are a bit of an obstacle. I did consider heading even further into Canada and skirting the northern shore of Lake Superior, but that would have added several weeks to the journey. Might be blizzarding by the time I got to the Cascade Range. And I considered skirting the Great Lakes to the south, but I’ve done that route before (this is actually my third cross-country trek). I wanted to do something a little different this time. So I charted a path between the lakes.
The St. Clair River forms the border between Southern Ontario and Lower Michigan. There are no bridges open to foot traffic, so far as I can tell. I might need to take the ferry over to Algonac, MI. Then, for a change of pace, I’ll see about catching a steamship across Lake Michigan. From Manitowoc, Wisconsin, my route’ll take me through Minnesota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Idaho, and Oregon before finishing with my toes in the Pacific Ocean at Crescent City, California.
I can’t think of a better way to spread the word about The Legend of Pedestrio than to spend six months or so roaming from town to town, sharing the tale with anybody who cares to listen. Maybe I’ll see you out there. I’d love to spin a few yarns for you.
Meantime, remember to like or follow this page to get regular updates on my progress!
Abner
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