Editor’s Choice

Writing a book is an incredibly personal experience, and this may be even more true with a true-life adventure like our current project, “Bicycling Historic Route 66: Our Adventure Crossing the USA on a Bicycle Built for Two.” Because of this, having an editor/publisher who you respect, and trust is an absolute must. Our books would not be what they are without him!

A common saying among tandem bicycle riders is, “Whichever way your relationship is going, it will get there more quickly on a tandem.” Unless you have tried to ride one with your life partner, you have no idea how true this is.

Our first unsupported, cross-country tandem ride was along the Adventure Cycling Association’s Northern Tier route from Washington State to Maine (4,362 miles, 72 days) in 2014. Going into the trip we knew it would be a challenge physical and mental, but we had no idea how much it would test our relationship. By the time we reached the Adirondack Mountains in northeastern New York State, we were completely done with each other. Even though we had a gorgeous cabin on the Goodnow flowage all to ourselves, we barely talked for the first twenty-four hours we were there and slept in separate bedrooms that night. It was one of the most difficult times we have experienced in our, now, thirty-five years of marriage. When we were able to talk again, we discovered that under all of the stress and strain of the trip, and even though we were riding the same bike only six inches apart, we had grown apart. Instead of building each other up, we were tearing each other down in our individual efforts to survive what had become an ordeal.  (See our book, “Coast to Coast on a Tandem.”)

We generally write each part, each day, of our books together. While one takes the lead, from our small home office with our desks only inches apart, we always share ideas and edits. That cabin in the woods part of our Northern Tier book we wrote individually and sent straight to our editor, it was still too painful to discuss. We never looked at it again until we read it in the completed book. Now that is trust!

Book Writing Update

Friday morning my phone rang and I saw that it was our editor.

“What’s up?” I said.

“You idiot, you forgot to end the book,” he says.

“What are you talking about?” I responded in a panic. (Is that possible? We have had so much on our plates lately. Maybe we did forget to write it. No, there’s no way.)

“You went right from leaving Arizona to the epilogue,” he continues.

“Did you get Chapter 9?” I asked.

“Wait, what? He say’s questioningly. “Let me check really quick, I have been really busy and I might not have looked at it yet. Oh, here it is.” Silence.

I wanted to say, “Now who’s the idiot?” but I was so relieved that all I said was, “Oh, good.” And we both laughed. Then I put the phone on speaker and made him tell Tracy what he did.

Chapter 7 New Mexico Map

This week we reviewed and approved Chapter 7 – State of New Mexico book design and reviewed edits for Chapter 9 – State of California (the last one!) and will get any corrections/changes to Mr. Editor Guy soon. We also picked potential pictures for the introduction and epilogue and sent them to him.

The book includes Facebook comments from our followers, and we backtracked to previous Chapters this week to make sure everyone was properly identified. This can get confusing. 

Book endorsements keep coming in. We are so moved by the kind words and the number of people who have taken the time to write one for us. 

“Bicycling Historic Route 66 is more than just a travelogue; it’s a journey of discovery that educates and entertains in equal measure. Tracy and Peter Flucke’s adventure along the iconic Route 66 is filled with rich historical context, fascinating insights, and humorous anecdotes that make learning a joy. A must-read for adventurers, history buffs, and lifelong learners alike.”

-Nick Burgraff, PhD, cycling enthusiast and physiologist

(Host of the Neuro Network podcast, https://rss.com/podcasts/neuronetwork/)

Marketing:

Radio Interview with Up North News

We were guests on Up North News with Pat Kreitlow and our friend Dr. Kristin Lyerly Thursday morning.

“Guests: Kristin Lyerly, Tracy Flucke, Peter Flucke

“This week’s Hometown Health segment looks at the benefits of bikes. The urban planners of the 20th century wrote their blueprints around the needs of the automobile. Today’s communities are embracing pedestrian areas, bike paths, green space—and it’s not just good for the air but for community health.”

Here are the links:

podcast: https://civicmedia.us/…/the-healthy-kinds-of-biker…/ (Our segment starts at 20:42)

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UpNorthNewsWI/videos/6394747770595065

Newspaper Article

Also, a reporter from The Business News reached out about doing an article and video as part of their “People Who Make a Difference” feature. We will meet with the videographer next week Thursday and the reporter soon. 

Independent Book Store

Finally, we stopped in at the Lion’s Mouth bookstore in downtown Green Bay to visit their amazing staff and our book (“Coast to Coast on a Tandem”). They have agreed to carry our second book and will host a meet the authors/book signing event this fall.  Thank you, Lion’s Mouth.              

 “The Mojave Desert occupies a significant portion of Southern California and parts of Utah, Nevada, and Arizona. Named after the Mojave Native Americans it occupies roughly 54,000 square miles in a typical Basin and Range topography. The Mojave Desert receives less than 6 inches of rain a year and is generally between 3,000 and 6,000 feet in elevation. The Mojave Desert also contains the Mojave National Preserve, Joshua Tree National Park and the lowest-hottest place in North America: Death Valley, where the temperature can approach 120F in late July and early August. High winds, often above 50 miles per hour, are also a weather factor and occur frequently along the western end of the Mojave and are less common toward the east.” https://mojavedesert.net/