Yeah, It Wins the Race — Every Time

I walk slowly, but I never walk backward.

~ Abraham Lincoln

Welcome to another marvelous Monday!

Today I’d like to highlight the historical novel The Year We Were Famous by Carole Estby Dagg — a book that just so happens to be the 2012 winner of the Will Rogers Medallion Award for Young Adults.

First off, the Daggster clearly knows how to mine her ancestors! The book is based on the true story of her great-aunt Clara and great-grandmother Helga’s walk across America in 1896.

Just in case you have not had your morning joe — I’m talking about a walk across America in 1896 – a year well before the invention of Spandex, Nike, and Powerade. A feat like that took A LOT of perseverance (heck, it still does — even WITH wicking fabric, awesome footwear, and electrolyte-fortified hydration).

Well, apparently perseverance runs in the Dagg family.

Here’s what Carole Estby Dagg wrote in her Author’s Note at the end of the book…

“Helga and Clara inspired me to persevere in my attempts to tell their story even after twenty-nine rejections.”

Yes, Elbow-benders that’s twenty-nine, as in 29.

Carole continues —

“I just kept taking classes, writing, and rewriting one word at a time for nearly fifteen years before seeing the book in print.”

Um, did you catch that? Fifteen, as in 15 YEARS.

Carole finishes up what she has to say this way —

“I hope Helga and Clara inspire you, too, to keep walking in the direction you want to go, one step at a time.”

Slow and Steady…

I can’t think of a better way to start a week.

PROMPT: Strap on those Nikes, Reeboks, Tevas, or Dutch wooden clogs. Then take a step — even if it is just a teeny, tiny, baby one — in the direction of your dreams!