Writing & Marketing a Book: Lessons Learned in the Trenches

Writing & Marketing a Book

Lessons Learned in the Trenches

April 10, 2024

The SLPA’s April program will be a personal, practical, and straightforward description of James Gibson’s journey as he wrote and marketed his award-winning book, Just a Long Walk. The book chronicles his wilderness journey on the 225-mile John Muir Trail, one of America’s oldest and most famous long treks. The story includes his mountain experience, tales of people he met in the wilderness, the history of the Sierra, forest fires, a mountain lion encounter, and meeting the love of his life.

Gibson will discuss what motivated him to write the book, how it changed over time, and his somewhat unorthodox writing process. It is an intimate story that began as a journal, then morphed into a book at the urging of a close friend. He will share the highs and lows, literally, he went through to bring the book to fruition, along with some of the best advice he received, what the editing process was like, and the input and suggestions he accepted or rejected, and why. He will cover practical considerations of dollars, taxes, liability, and other real-world issues. He will also discuss marketing — all important and often discounted — including what has worked and what has not. Critically, Gibson will explain why he did, and did not do, certain things, and what regrets he has.

Anyone who is writing a book or is contemplating taking the leap will benefit from this presentation, the lessons learned, and thoughts about what the experience has meant.

James Gibson’s professional experience includes 40 years of developing and leading national sales teams. A lifelong hiker and backpacker with experience worldwide, he is currently concentrating on writing and public speaking.

His award-winning book, Just a Long Walk, describes his life-changing solo journey on California’s 225-mile John Muir Trail, considered “America’s greatest trail.” Readers share his mountain experience, tales of people he met in the wilderness, the history of the Sierra, forest fires, a mountain lion encounter, and meeting the love of his life.

You can join on Zoom HERE.