Tuesday, November 15, 2016

Ray Anderson turns a passion for hiking into thrillers

HALLIE EPHRON:  Retired Coca-Cola salesman Ray Anderson  and was living a quiet life in Hingham, Massachusetts in 2003 when he hiked the Appalachian Trail. That walk in the woods turned into a hunt for a serial killer and... I'll let him tell it. 

RAY ANDERSON: As I walked alone one day I began to wonder “what if…?” and conjured up a serial killer loose on the trail, stalking other hikers. This fugitive grows a beard, loses weight, and becomes unrecognizable. Worse, no one knows where he’s escaped to. But he runs into another hiker, a Gulf War vet with PTSD, who becomes suspicious of him when hikers disappear.

That scenario became The Trail, my debut novel published last year by Turner Publishing. It’s doing well and has made Boston’s South Shore top-ten fiction listings several times.

Sierra,the second novel in the series is out now. The book pits “Awol” against a drug cartel on the Pacific Crest Trail, which I’ve also hiked. I’m now working on the third novel in the series, set on the Continental Divide Trail.

And I’m still hiking.

HALLIE: Fascinating. Wondering what advice you have for aspiring writers.
RAY: Follow your passion. The point is, we all have individual interests and passions. I submit to each of you that your particular passion makes a good story. I developed an abiding interest in hiking over 30 years ago when I began climbing the 4000+ foot mountains of New Hampshire; after those, I climbed the rest of the 4000 footers in New England. This year, I tackle the Adirondacks in upstate NY.

HALLIE: How did you decide to write a thriller... as opposed to a memoir or travel book about hiking?

RAY: I’ve written, on and off, most of my life, but I’d only gotten a couple of short stories and a few articles published. It took me several years to break through with my novels. At first, I thought I would write a trail memoir about my retirement odyssey thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine. But there are many absorbing accounts out there already, and I had nothing to add.
                            
So I turned to fiction and wrote a thriller. I was concerned that some hiker-readers might be offended with the subject matter.  A few were surprised, but all except one reader have supported me. That one reader was abused when she was young, and I felt bad about that. I have a saying that I keep on my writing desk: I can’t give you the formula for success, but I can give you the formula for failure--try to please everybody.

HALLIE: Where have you hiked since then?

RAY: Although the Appalachian Trail was my first extended hike (six months, eight days) and will always hold a special place in my memory, the Pacific Crest Trail was/is the hike of a lifetime. It’s longer than the A.T. (2600 miles) and there are less people, but the beauty is incredible. The PCT runs right through Yosemite and is contiguous with parts of the John Muir Trail.

In my second thriller, Sierra, there is the violence of drug cartels. I hope not to diminish the beauty and majesty of the Pacific Crest Trail for my readers. With this concern in mind, a professional writer advised me: “When you have a plot like this, you can’t go half way. Don’t try to mute it. Go all the way.” So I have.    

If you want to recharge your batteries and see what a great country America is, put these hikes on your bucket list. Remember, you don’t have to hike an entire trail at once. You can do it in sections. When you get the itch and have some time—just go!
 

HALLIE: Ray, I'm afraid the closest I'll get to taking one of those long  hikes is reading SIERRA and THE TRAIL.

Do we have hikers out there? What are your favorite trails and have you encountered any serial killers along the way?

41 comments:

  1. While I’m not too likely to be taking one of those long hikes, I’m certain I’d appreciate the beauty and I know I’ll enjoy reading Ray’s books . . . .

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  2. Ray, congrats on following your passion into the mountains! You are an inspiration for folks who think it's too late to do something new. And love the nuggets of advice too...

    What's coming up next for you?

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  3. I'm trying to knock off all the 4000 footers in the Adirondacks. There are 46, and I have over 40 to go!

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  4. There was a book about a woman who hiked the trail. I think it was made into a movie. I think it's a true story, tho not a thriller.

    Hiking, or hill walking, is one of my favorites. We hiked trails in California. I forgot the names of trails where we hiked. Some hikes are easier than others. Some paths are very steep. Once a friend's boyfriend helped me up a very steep rocky part of the trail.

    Just added your book to my TBR list.

    What made you decide to write a thriller instead of a "cozy" mystery? Usually I go for a cozy mystery, though I would read a thriller once in a while.

    Diana

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  5. Ray, are you drawn to the Coast to Coast walk in Yorkshire? We dipped our toes into one end of it at Whitby (home of Dracula's Whitby Abbey) and Robin Hood's Bay. Saw lots of sheep and fully expected to run into James Herriot.

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  6. I've heard about that, Hallie, but I'm more drawn to other trails nearer to me that I want to hike. And I need to finish parts of the Continental Divide Trail in the Rockies where I had been snowed in.

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  7. I am not a hiker, but The Boy has hiked multiple parts of the Laurel Highlands as a Boy Scout. He's also biked the -- what do you call it? The trail that goes from Pittsburgh to DC. Oh gosh, I'm totally blanking on the name. Need more coffee.

    But they've never encountered serial killers. Thankfully. :)

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  8. To anonymous post above: The book and movie you're thinking about is "Wild." It was non-fiction. It took place along the Pacific Crest Trail as "Sierra" does.

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  9. To Mary Sutton: Yes, thankfully no serial killers on that one!

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  10. Some day, Ray, I'll tell you all about my Appalachian trail hike. It RAINED, torrentially, the entire time, and was THE most dismal experience of my life. It was also kind of cool, but only in retrospect.

    And honestly, there was an event you might use--we truly encountered a serial arsonist who used the trail as his target.

    Not kidding. His nickname was "Baby."

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    1. Wow, Hank, that is interesting about the arsonist. Didn't know about that. Happy holidays.

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  11. It was a pleasure to long onto Jungle Reds this morning and see a discussion about three of my favorite things: reading, writing, and hiking. I haven't done any long distance trails like you have, Ray, but I do a lot of shorter hikes ere in Southeastern MA.

    What a great idea to have a serial killer loose on the trails! (Although I might not be as enthusiastic when I'm hiking by myself and hear twigs snapping nearby! ;))

    I am definitely going to check out your books as they seem right up my alley ... er, trail, that is!

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    1. Thank you, Mary. I've never encountered one problem character in all my hikes. It's a great community of people. Yet, it's always wise to stay alert in the wilds. Happy trails!

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  12. Sorry about the typos above. Obviously haven't completely woken up yet!

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  13. Growing up in Western Washington, a person either becomes a hiker or a boater. I loved to hike, and still do city walks. I hiked a lot in the Cascades and around Mr. Rainier. Now when it is cool, I do park walks, it is a beautiful way to do walking meditation.

    Will be adding these hiking novels to my TBR list.

    It is so true that any interest can become the subject for suspense. I think even watching paint dry could have tension if the subject were bound and gagged.

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  14. I love hiking - unfortunately, my knees don't agree with me anymore on that. The writerly take-away from Ray's story is how important it is to really know the location you're writing about - the climate, the terrain, the culture. It gives your writing an authenticity that readers can feel, and also helps to make sure the reader isn't going to be jerked out of the story by some glaring error.

    Ray, if you summit Wright Mountain in the Adirondacks, you'll see the memorial put up there for my father and the three other crew members of the B-47 which crashed into the peak in 1962.

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  15. Thanks for the kind words, Julia. So happy you told me about Wright Mountain. Is it one of the 4000 footers? I can check. Even if it isn't, I would like to summit it next year, and I will send you a picture of the memorial when I do. Happy holidays and happy trails, Julia.

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  16. To Coralee Hicks above: Didn't mean to skip you; sometimes my fingers do funny things.
    Thanks for your support. The Cascades bring back fond memories of my Pacific Crest Trail hike. I just made it to the Canadian border before bad weather took over. I loved the Cascades.

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  17. To Diana "anonymous" above: My bad for not responding to your entire question. I chose thriller over cozy because that is what I usually read. I don't think cozy is the right sub-genre for me. Best to you.

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  18. To Hank: Do you remember what part of the Appalachian Trail you did and what year--about? Your arson experience intrigues me.

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  19. Yes....It was in North Carolina. Let me think about if I can remember near where.. And I can tell you a great story about it!

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  20. Are there photos, Hank? I know you're intrepid, but I'm trying to picture you in heels on the trail! My husband and I enjoy hiking, but when we moved to Seattle from Boston, we learned that "hiking" means different things to different people. A ten mile hike here qualifies as a stroll, and we've been asked if we're going to "hike" Mt. Rainier, a 14,410 foot peak that requires technical gear! Nope, not going to happen!

    I love the idea of a thriller set on a hiking trail, a place people generally go for reflection and peace. I think the most suspenseful stories are the ones that take familiar places and people and turn them on their heads. Ray, your books sounds like great books for curling up with on the couch with some cocoa!

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  21. I'm not a hiker, per se, but I'd love to hike the Appalachian Trail. A couple of years ago we went to Machu Picchu and climbed Huayna Picchu, and hard as it was, being at the top was one of the most thrilling experiences of my life.

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  22. To Ingrid: Thank you. When I got into long-distance hiking, my family went in other directions, so I understand your interpretations of hiking. Yes, west coast hiking usually means lots more in daily mileage. (May I ask--are you Swedish?)

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  23. To Holly: Then, I urge you to hike the Appalachian Trail. You will like it if you prepare--read Michelle Ray's "How to Hike the A.T." She has about the best book out there for understanding what it's like. You can usually find a copy in REI. Happy trails!

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  24. What a great book to take on an armchair travel trip. I lived in Maine, north of the AT Terminus of Katahdin. I loved looking at her when I drove by on Route 11 She called, but I was chicken! One fine spring or summer day I may put on my hiking boots and go.

    Ray, this sounds like a wonderful book.

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  25. To Julia, re Wright Mountain. I just checked my Adirondack field guide, and Wright Peak is indeed a 4000 footer. That means I will be hiking it and will hold my promise to you. Happy trails and happy holidays.

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  26. To Kait: Thank you! You are way up north. I've always wondered what's on the other side of Katahdin. I urge you to give the climb up a try. I've climbed it four times and would love to do it again. Happy trails to you.

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  27. Ray, my grandfather came over from Denmark, so my sisters and I all have Danish names (Kirsten, Lisa, Erika) to go with our last name. My parents were cautioned by some not to name me Ingrid because Ingrid Bergman and Roberto Rossellini had recently gotten together, which some people found offensive. I love my name, so I'm glad my parents stuck to their guns!

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  28. Just checked arson fires, North Carolina Appalachian Trail, and found this

    http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/authorities-suspect-arson-wildfires-spread-across-south-n683296

    Interesting coincidence or the power of manifestation?

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  29. My grandparents were from Sweden on my father's side. Ingrid is a familiar name to me.
    My sister married a Carlson and her daughter, my niece, changed her last name back to the original Karlsson. God Yul!

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  30. To Anonymous: Thanks for the arson link, which I'm reading about now. Let's hope it's just coincidence. I may have another plot idea from Hank. Best to you.

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  31. I grew up in Kent, CT. Most of my childhood was spent playing in those mountains. I was more about finding Narnia than a serial killer but I look forward to reading this as I'm sure it will bring my childhood rushing back to me but with a decidedly dark twist.

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  32. I want to want to hike. I really do. I'm not much of an outdoorswoman. However, I do love beautiful scenery, and I know that hiking is the best way to see the wonders of nature up close. My adult daughter is the outdoor person in our family. She and her husband and their youngest daughter loved to hike and camp. The seven-year-old granddaughter is especially enamored of nature and has a set-up in her room of items (bugs, leaves, and rocks) she collects on her walks. I admire all of you hikers, such an accomplishment to take on these trails and complete them.

    I do have a famous trailblazer in my family tree. Daniel Boone, my great-great-great-great uncle blazed the famous Wilderness Trail into Kentucky. I sometimes feel guilty that I'm not more adventurous.

    Ray, although I don't hike, I think I'd really enjoy reading your books about these famous trails and the danger lurking on them. Thanks for visiting the Reds today.

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  33. To Jenn: I have fond memories of my night in Kent, CT, when I did the Appalachian Trail. I couldn't get a room in town and the hostel (in a church basement, if I remember correctly) was over-filled. A lady at a quality B&B took a chance on me as A.T. thru-hikers are a dirty and ragged bunch when they come off the trail into a town. I will never forget the hospitality she offered me--after I cleaned myself up!

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  34. Thank you so much, Kathy (Reel). One thing you might consider is a section hike along part of a trail, like the Appalachian. There are some section hikers out there who have actually completed the A.T. over many years. But you can do any section of any trail and enjoy its beauty. My best to you.

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  35. These are all good comments from everyone. Keep them coming, and if I don't get back to you tonight, it's because I have to leave for the rest of the evening--book related. I'll be checking in tomorrow. Thank you, and best to all.

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  36. What would be the international sign for no hiking? Maybe a high heel with a line through it. I need that,

    Ingrid, I love your name. Lucky you. I'm Harriet. Another blog for another day.

    Ray---email me, and we will chat! xxoxo

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