I wanted to take the opportunity to reflect on the past year. 2020 has been, in many ways, a year that we’re all ready to have behind us, and at the time of this publication, some of the world is already basking in the glory of 2021. Congrats to you lucky people hanging out in the future! But as challenging as this past year has been, there has been a lot of good that happened too, and I thought it would be worth sharing some highlights from this past year as they relate to my book.

February – I had the opportunity to be a guest on the Meateater podcast, traveling to Bozeman, Montana to sit down with Steven Rinella, Janis Putellis and the Meateater crew to talk bears, canoeing and other experiences of consequence. It was a fantastic conversation. You can find the link to the full story, or to take a listen here.

February – The Twenty-Ninth Day climbed its way onto the Wall Street Journal Bestseller list for the week of February 8! It’s amazing to think about how many people get to read this story, and being on this list is a real show of just that. Read more here.

April – The Twenty-Ninth Day was named a finalist in the 32nd Annual Minnesota Book Awards in the category of Memoir and Creative Non-Fiction. There were so many amazing authors in a wide array of categories, and it was really humbling to be included on this list. More here.

July – Probably most importantly, I celebrated my 15th Bear Day – 15 years since the attack, and in some ways 15 extra years of life. My personality tends toward thankfulness by default, but I always take the time to intentionally think about what that anniversary means to me, and to be consciously thankful for the time that I have been given. Read more of my reflection here.

November – The Twenty-Ninth Day comes out in paperback! After a year of life out in the wild as a hardcover, ebook and audiobook, The Twenty-Ninth Day is now available in paperback as well. This is truly exciting, offering the experiences of the book to even more readers! I can’t wait for more folks to be able to join me on this once-in-a-lifetime experience. Find the book here.