First came the big Nor’easter, dumping 15 inches or more of wet heavy snow on western New York. Electric power went out locally on Thursday night and didn’t come back till Sunday, some 61 hours later. We had heat and springhouse water, so the situation wasn’t as rough as it could have been. Shoveling wet snow was the proverbial bear, and being off the grid, as interesting as that can be, outlasted the record set during the “Ice Storm” back in March of 1991. So, delivery of the book written by yours truly was like the sun of Sunday spreading its rays across the fulgent sky. 
One aspect of the writing business that I’ve never particularly enjoyed or been much good at is self-promotion. Every once in a while, however, a new book or event comes along and I feel obligated to honk the horn of shameless merchandizing and to promote the literary fruit of a beleaguered mind and body.
Yes! Streamwalker’s Journey, Fishing the Triple Divide, is available at last. This 202-page volume is, according to my publisher at Wood Thrush Books (Vermont), “… a first-rate collection of fly-fishing essays…” This work, assembled from some of the strongest pieces of nature writing to be found in the six-year history of Rivertop Rambles (and elsewhere), focuses on the Triple Divide of watersheds in Pennsylvania and New York but includes a whole lot more.
The 16 chapters of my latest book include narratives entitled Where Rivers are Born; Brook Trout Basics; A Slate Run Odyssey; A Creek With Almost Everything; Self-Portrait of the Fisherman as Idler; Upper Kettle, Sunday; Blue Ridge Buffer; Water Dog; and The Cedar Run Experience. I’m proud of the tightly focused content with its wide-ranging excursions into fly-fishing, natural history, conservation efforts, and our human presence in the wild.
like the sudden appearance of blue…
As Wood Thrush Books has announced, Streamwalker’s Journey is “… informal, thoughtful, interesting, funny, and at times wise. The passion comes through loud and clear.” The book can be ordered from Wood Thrush Books or Amazon Books (be sure to check out the new Amazon’s Walt Franklin Page) or you can order a copy from me directly via email, $14 ppd.
So there, I’ve said it, and I’m glad the book is available. If interested, please support small-press book publishing (and starving… nay, bone-dry trout bums) by ordering a copy soon. I thank you, like a wild trout released gently from an angler’s hand.
from the back cover…
hopefully the reading of SJ will inspire you to get out from the shrouds of winter and to cast or to walk a line in spring…
Rivertop Rambles 
I look forward to buying and reading this. And I’m right there with you. Self promotion is the pits.
Thanks much for your support, Douglas! Yeah I hate to say it, but I think you’re gonna like what you see…
You honk that horn, Walt, because it’ll be a grand read for those that jump aboard! I’ll be checking the Amazon page you mentioned in just a few minutes…
Happy to read you emerged unscathed from the heavy winter storm. Hopefully, you’ll have a few final snow hikes to enjoy, and then it’s into steady spring sunshine and an occasional spring shower to keep levels topped off.
All the best with promoting the new book!
Thanks, my friend, my appreciation is bottomless, you know… If spring comes in slowly this year, I’ll be happy with that, and I hope you continue to enjoy some more Alberta winter beauty, yourself, with a gentle slide toward spring!
If you are looking for a good PR man, here I am. I’ve got no shame when it comes to self promotion and certainly (based on your previous works) wouldn’t have any problems promoting your latest! Congratulations Walt and I’m looking forward reading it.
Thank you kindly, Howard; you’re the man! Love having you aboard.
Congratulations on the new book. I am excited to see it and read it, and have no problem spreading the word either!
Thanks Brent. Setting one aside!
Congratulations on your new book from across the big pond. Wishing you much success. As an author of two books, I know the feelings expressed …. well done..
A., Thank you kindly. As you know, there’s a lot of work involved, so when we get to this point in the publication process, there’s a good feeling to it all.
We fared far better I northwestern PA than elsewhere, but it was a doozy. I had to break into my garage to get my snow shovel out due to the power outage, and the surge that followed it fried some of my refrigerator’s components, so my perishables are in coolers and buried in a snowbank on the deck. Nineteenth century living indeed! Congrats on the new book – my check is in the mail. Can’t wait!
Whoa, a fried refrigerator is a problem… We had something similar years ago when the surge came and the old fluorescent lights in the old kitchen began to smoke… Hope you’ve found a way to bring all the goodies back before the raccoons come to investigate. Yup it makes us all give pause. As for the book, thank you, man.
Walt, would live to pick up a copy of your book. If you email me the info I can pay via paypal if you want? Let me know, Ralph
Be happy to, Ralph. Will email you.
Dear Walt, my warmest congratulations to you on publishing another book. As a fellow author, I know the high ups and low downs of writing a book, and actually finishing it, and the toil involved in self promotion. And I wish you loads of success. I bought it and have it waiting on my Kindle, looking forward to it.
I appreciate it very much, Jet. Authors like ourselves know the highs and lows of the business, and I’m sure your insights into writing, as well as those unique perspectives into life itself, come forth in your novels. I look forward to buying and reading one of your latest mysteries soon!
Many congratulations! Thom
Thanks Thom. Always appreciate hearing from you.