TREK by Rand Bishop
Publisher: Weightless Cargo Press (August 20, 2019)
Category: Memoir, Travel, Politics, Culture
Tour dates: Oct-Nov, 2019
ISBN: 978-1-7330299-0-2
Available in Print and ebook, 384 pages
Description TREK by Rand Bishop
2017, America was turning mean. Heartsick, Rand Bishop couldn’t sit idly by. His action plan, however, had friends and family questioning his sanity. At 67, on bad knees and arthritic feet, with minimal camping experience and zero knowledge of long distance hiking, Rand set out to walk 900-miles, from Southern California to the Central Oregon Coast.
How an aging pilgrim managed to survive a 90-day test of will and endurance is only a fraction of this inspiring tale. The newfound hope Rand gained by listening to and interacting with a thousand people from nearly every walk of life is the true heartbeat of the TREK story.
Trek: My Peace Pilgrimage in Search of a Kinder America by Rand Bishop
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not financially compensated and all opinions are 100 percent mine.
First of all, this is a true story. It is written very much like a travel diary. While the book is more inspirational and even pedagogical, there are some direct quotes that contain profanity. It’s not a major dealbreaker, but it does make a few portions of the book seem more shocking than they should be.
I believe I can state with almost absolute certainty that there is no other book quite like this one. This book covers practically every point of discussion quite appropriately. But I applaud the author truly going out of his way and attempting to do something about the evils of this world. I doubt the author and I would see eye to eye on much of everything, but I appreciate the fact that Rand is bold in speaking his mind. The topic of religion makes for such an intriguing conversation throughout his account. This is a book I may want to revisit from time-to-time. The writing is impeccable, but sometimes the writing gets just a little long in certain places. But when you realize the reason he did all this, it becomes even more amazing. His inspiration, his journeys, his adventures…just the break from political claptrap and all the negative garbage out there!
Advance Praise TREK by Rand Bishop
“I love this book. I laughed, I cried, I walked down memory lane. I drove a big truck for 12 years, many by myself. I know those roads and my feet hurt just reading about this journey. Thank you, Rand, for sharing your story.”-Nancy B. Thompson, Amazon
“The author’s musings on this once in a lifetime adventure make the reader feel as if she is on the trail alongside, experiencing all the emotional highs and lows without getting blisters on her feet. I loved every word; every page; every chapter! TREK is a delightful a book ~ I didn’t want it to end!”-Robyn Taylor-Drake, Amazon
“I loved turning to TREK when I couldn’t take the news any longer. It was like I was able to follow along in my worn down tennies — go at the pilgrim’s pace, meet the people he was meeting, see what he was looking at, while feeling the swoosh of trucks zooming by way too close and way too fast. More than a trek, this is a journey of discovery!”-Randall Platt, Amazon
Writing Awards Rand Bishop
First Place Nashville Screenwriting Conference for the original screenplay Tin Roof.
Three Star Award The Tennessean.
EXCERPT
FRANK AT THE GATE
A pilgrim’s emotional journey is as dynamic and ever-changing
as the path he travels. Over the previous, eventful 24 hours,
I trekked in solitude, through isolation and alienation, to arrive
at the end of the day at acceptance and connection. I have been
strengthened and emboldened by the solo hours, only to be softened
and humbled in the nourishing folds of human kindness
and attention.
Frank swings open the gate. As we bro hug, he prays out loud:
“May the Good Lord guide you and protect you.”
“Well,” I remark, “the angels have definitely been watching over
me.” This is my diplomatic way of accepting his blessing, while
holding to my own pagan beliefs.
“That may be true,” Frank affirms. “But the Heavenly Father
is in charge. He tells those angels what to do.” Although I bridle at
this statement, I choose to keep it to myself.
I’ve spent a good deal of time on this trip with Evangelical
Christians. Almost without exception, they’ve been kind, giving,
and genuinely concerned — all admirable, Christ-like traits. However,
so many of them never pass up an opportunity to flaunt their
faith. Like every subculture, Christians use coded language to
identify themselves to one another. But, unlike other subcultures,
everyday phrases like, “Since I found Jesus…” or “I was reading my
Bible when it occurred to me…” or “Praise our Heavenly Father…”
can also be interpreted — by pagans, agnostics, and atheists — as
not-so-subtle warnings: Better start cleaning up your act, Sinner,
because Judgment Day is nigh.
As I begin another day’s journey into the yet to be known,
Frank’s parting statement, so absolute and unequivocal, ping-pongs
around in my head… If God’s will is the only way, I’m thinking, why
then did He create each human with his or her own individual will?
Certainly, God (whatever those three letters represent) must
be omniscient and omnipotent. But, is He — or She, or It — literally
barking marching orders on a split-second by split-second basis? Is
it really Frank’s contention that every angel surrenders its will and,
for eternity, supplicates every thought and action to a benevolent
boss-dictator called God? Is it really comprehensible that, by
handing over all of our native human frailties to the one and only
Savior, we are rewarded in the end with a backstage pass to spend
eternity under God’s absolute, authoritarian control? I don’t know,
Frank. Doesn’t sound much like Heaven to me.
In my belief system, every person’s every thought and action
contributes to the unfathomably infinite energy of one universal
God Force. The God I believe in doesn’t tell me what to think. The
God I believe in is what I think, added to the sum total of every
thought that has ever been conceived or ever will be conceived. In
my universe, a brilliant mind like Frank Van Meter’s has contributed
at least as much to the essence of God as the Heavenly Father
has given to Frank Van Meter.
Anyway, that’s where this pilgrim stands — at least, until further
notice.
About Rand Bishop
Oregon native Rand Bishop is a Grammy-nominated songwriter, platinum music producer, musician/singer, author, and lifelong activist for peace, justice, and equality. In his 45 years as a music-business professional, Rand recorded for major labels, shared stages and harmonized with legends, contributed compositions to more than a dozen feature-film and TV soundtracks, several stage musicals, and amassed more than 300 tunesmithing credits.
Rand has authored five published books, is an optioned, award-winning screenwriter, a produced playwright, and, for six years, penned a bi-monthly column for American Songwriter Magazine. He has served on the boards of directors of three non-profits and currently acts as music director for the Central Oregon Coast Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. In June, 2019, Rand premiered his original, one-man, musical, stage performance, TREK on Stage.
Website: http://www.randbishoptrek.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/randbishoppage/
Buy TREK by Rand Bishop
Giveaway TREK by Rand Bishop
This giveaway is for the winner’s choice of one print or ebook copy of the book. Print is open to the U.S. only and ebook is available worldwide. There will be 3 winners. This giveaway ends November 1, 2019, midnight pacific time.
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3 Comments
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I received the book Trek today, thank you again,
Darlene
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Thanks so much for hosting!
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