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Distant Skies: An American Journey on Horseback
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About Distant Skies: An American Journey On Horseback
Product Description Part American road trip, part coming-of-age adventure, and part uncommon love storya remarkable memoir that explores the evolution of the human-animal relationship, along with the raw beauty of a life lived outdoors. Melissa Chapman was 23 years old and part of a happy, loving family. She had a decent job, a boyfriend she cared about, and friends she enjoyed. Yet she said goodbye to all of it. Carrying a puppy named Gypsy, she climbed aboard a horse and rode away from everything, heading west. With no cell phone, no GPS, no support team or truck following with supplies, Chapman quickly learned that the reality of a cross-country horseback journey was quite different from the fantasy. Her solo adventure would immediately test her mental, physical, and emotional resources as she and her four-legged companions were forced to adapt to the dangers and loneliness of a trek that would span over 2,600 miles, beginning in New York State and reaching its end on the other side of the country, in California. Enchanted by the freedom a nomadic life seemed to promise, the young woman would soon find herself only more deeply connected to the animals that accompanied her, to the varying and challenging landscapes through which she traveled, and to the people she met on the farms and back roads that crisscross the United States. Chapman's vigilance in detailing the quietest moments of heroism and beauty, as well as the startling and tragic, yields a read that convinces one of both the magnificence of the countryside and the generosity of the people who call it home. A book for the equestrian, the animal lover, and the outdoor enthusiastor anyone who dreams about one day bringing a longed-for adventure to life. Review “In Melissa Chapman’s debut memoir, we meet characters that are always interesting, and almost without fail, kind. We read writing that is succinct and evocative. The author’s relationship with her animals and love for the land does what Steinbeck’s Travels with Charley in Search of America did for me--it inspires both thoughtfulness and action—and that is my favorite kind of book. This girl, riding bravely across the continent, reminds us to appreciate the journey—for the end comes all too soon. Distant Skies will move you, guaranteed.” —Tik Maynard, Author of In the Middle Are the Horsemen "Distant Skies is the perfect read in a normal year—it’s uplifting, inspiring, poignant, and poetic at times. But after 2020, in particular, it is just the right medicine. An epic, cross-country journey from the back of a horse (in 1982—no cell phones or GPS) takes us back to simpler and kinder times. It’s a story about connection—between complete strangers, as well as the more personal connections that you might form with animals, if you’re lucky and deserving. It’s a story about disconnecting, too, becoming one with nature and saying goodbye to life as you once knew it. Disconnecting from technology, media, and material things is perhaps more important today than it was then. For animal lovers, this book will truly resonate. I felt a touch of envy at the depth of the author’s bond with her four-legged partners; a desire for the knowledge and wisdom gained from living and traveling with her animals, 24/7, for seven months and 2600 miles. I know I’ll never complete a journey like that, but I’d like to think I could have. Reading the book is like taking the journey yourself: you get the feeling of the gravity of embarking, the jubilation of completion, and everything in between. I highly recommend Distant Skies, but be forewarned—you will shed many tears! Rest assured they will be tears of laughter and love, with a reminder of the goodness of people and the true character of this vast country." —Julie Goodnight, Horse Trainer, Influencer & TV Personality “Distant Skies is a story about courage, adventure, and the beauty of America. You’ll fall in love with ‘Missy’ Chapman as you travel along with her and her animal c
