Xlibris Publishing is very proud to announce that Walking Home by Michael Herrick has been named as a finalist for 2016 Eric Hoffer Award.
About the Award
The Eric Hoffer Award was founded and launched internationally on January 1st 2001 in honor of the American writer and philosopher Eric Hoffer, and since then has grown into one of the largest and widely recognized international book awards for small, academic, or independent presses. The award commemorates the memory of the famous author by bringing attention to exceptional writing as well celebrating the spirit of independent publishing. Winners of the Hoffer award enjoy prizes, honors, and worldwide media exposure.
About the Author
The author, Michael Herrick—former teacher, happily married, fit, and optimistic—learned from experience that the Appalachian Trail has as many stories as miles. But the best story is one of self-knowledge, which is hard to come by. When you are walking all day long with your thoughts, your life passes before your eyes—doubts, joys, regrets, and plans—all turned over and around until something good comes from it. Though this story takes place on the two-thousand-plus miles of the Appalachian Trail, it is not about the trail.
About the Book
Walt, a middle-aged man, follows the twenty-year-old journal of a hike on the Appalachian Trail by a younger man, Strider, who had undertaken the trek to discover the “good life” and quit to pursue it. Since Walt’s good life with his wife and daughters has gone sour, he starts this walk to think about his future. On the way Walt reflects on Strider’s memorable encounters and plunges into his own life-changing experiences, leaving him lost and uncertain about doing the right thing. He learns that when you go down into the woods one day, you’re in for a big surprise.
Please make sure to check out the Xlibris Publishing site for more advice and blogs, and be sure to follow us on Xlibris Publishing Facebook and Xlibris Publishing Twitter.
By Ian Smith
As a hiker and a coach I could relate to the reflective experience Mr Herrick shared in ‘Walking Home’. His description of the trail itself added a depth of atmosphere which pulled me into the story. I’m glad to see him up for this award.