My Book on Nook

Climbing Out of Bed is now available on Barnes and Nobles' Nook e-reader, and can be found by clicking HERE. word!

Climbing Out Bed Released Today

Today is a monumental day in my life, my book, Climbing Out of Bed, has been published. I thought I would publish my first book years ago, but honestly I’m glad I waited until now. I’m 33 years old, not too old for this occasion, and not too young.

Something I really want to share is that although these words were written by me, they are now yours. The greatest gift of writing for me has been inspiring, motivating and entertaining other people. When someone reaches out to me and says they enjoyed a particular piece of mine, it is very meaningful to me. When I was younger it would go to my ego, but now I realize I am just channeling a gift. I don’t know where the gift comes from, God, past lives, maybe simply hard work and dedication, but I know out of everything I have tried, writing is what I’m the best at.

I am proud of Climbing Out of Bed because it is an honest collection of stories and poems, centered around climbing and mountain town culture. This morning as I was editing the book for the hundredth time, I was reminded of the Willie Nelson lyric, “I may not be normal, but nobody is.” Our culture is so different than mainstream America, and I like it like that. Not only that, we are not just some passing trend like so many other countercultures; we truly live and love for outdoor experiences, and almost everything we do is based around that.

Although the words in Climbing Out of Bed are mine, there are several editors I’ve leaned on heavily, some who have read this book many times over. Because I’m publishing it as an e-book, I was able to edit it down to the last minute. I couldn’t imagine the stress of self publishing a printed book. Typos are so damn elusive, and I am forever indebted to this group of people: Lisa Lynch, Karen Ast, Jen Panko, Lindsey Nelson (www.typoslayer.com), Al Smith III (www.whatisaldoingfuntoday.blogspot.com), Mike Reddy and Mary Burt.

I am also grateful for the photographers (professional and amateur) whose images grace the book: Braden Gunem (www.bradengunem.com), Mark Grundon (www.elpotrerochicoguides.com), Mike Brenneman, Greg Pettys, and Daniel Nilsson.

           

While the promotion has only begun, I am grateful the book is completed. My favorite part of being a writer is doing interviews with awesome people, and actually writing. I’m stoked to start on my second book, and start the whole process all over again.

You can find Climbing Out of Bed on Kindle, by CLICKING HERE, and I promise I’ll get the printed version out as soon as I can afford to print it.

Thanks for the love and support everyone.

Luke Mehall is the publisher of The Climbing Zine. 

Climbing Out of Bed, July 4th Release

Climbing Out of Bed, the first book from Luke Mehall, will be released on Wednesday, July 4th. It will be initially released as an e-book on Kindle, followed by the printed version. Climbing Out of Bed is a collection of rock climbing and mountain town stories, written over the last 13 years.

The muses of Mehall’s pieces are the people who make up the rock climbing and mountain town culture. Originally hailing from Illinois, Mehall moved to Colorado in 1999 to attend Western State College, in Gunnison. He describes the experience as being a lost soul who floated to the mountains, and then discovered his true self. Many of the stories in Climbing Out of Bed are coming of age tales, especially when the author embarks into the unknown of the rock climbing world.

There are 25 pieces in Climbing Out of Bed, and topics for essays include: friendship, hitchhiking, couch surfing, buildering (climbing buildings), road tripping, dumpster diving, extended camping experiences, dirtbag living, love, loss, wanderlust, and Zen dishwashing

 Mehall lived in the Gunnison Valley, Colorado for 11 years, and now resides in Durango, Colorado, where he is a freelance writer. He is also the publisher of The Climbing Zine, an independent rock climbing publication. His work has been published in Crested Butte Magazine, Rock and Ice, Climbing, Mountain Gazette, foxsports.com, and Patagonia’s blog, The Cleanest Line. He also worked at his alma mater, Western State College of Colorado, for three years, as the assistant director of public relations and communications.

George Sibley, author of Dragons in Paradise and senior correspondent to the Mountain Gazette, says that Mehall’s writing makes him think of Jack Kerouac, on a good day. “I don’t know anyone who writes with more enthusiasm, joy and honest about a life that ranges from pearl diving in restaurant kitchen sinks all winter, to climbing the big walls and spires of North America all summer and fall,” Sibley said.

More information about Climbing Out of Bed can be found at www.climbingzine.com. It will be available on Amazon’s Kindle on Wed., July 4th. The author can be contacted at lukemehall@gmail.com. 

Climbing Out of Bed Photographs

Here's some photos from my upcoming, debut, book, Climbing Out of Bed. Much thanks to the dope photographers who took some of these shots. Climbing Out of Bed will drop as an e-book via Kinde, on Wednesday, July 4th.

Electric Lighting (5.7) Hartman Rocks, Gunnison, Colorado. photo by Mike Brenneman

photo by Braden Gunem. www.bradengunem.com 

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El Potrero Chico, Hidalgo, Mexico

Climbing Out of Bed Dropping on Freedom Day

I'm proud to announce my first book, Climbing Out of Bed will be released on the Fourth of July. It will be released as an e-book first, followed by the print version. Here's a look at the cover, with design by Lisa Slagle, and photo by Braden Gunem.

Repose of the Modern Writer, committing to a place and space

The best way for me to write something is to have someone expect it from me, or have other things to write. Yes, I am our generation’s writer, the one sitting in front of a computer with the simple task of writing, with the infinite world of the interweb at my fingertips.

The possibilities are endless, and so are the distractions.

The challenge of my generation is to simply focus and get started.

My writing inspiration comes and goes, from day to day, month to month, season to season. Making an effort every day, and reading other people’s work, is the only formula that has worked magic for me. A quiet writing space is also key. And having a muse, something to write about, that is essential.

My muse is the west, my people, Durango and beyond. Durango is a new home for me, I’ve lived here just over a year, and recently I decided that instead of traveling around this summer or moving back up higher in the mountains to Crested Butte, like I did last summer, I’m going to stay put here. It will be interesting to see what fruits come up as a result of planting my roots here in this desert/mountain town.

Summer is very much in the air here. Summer brings out something in the soul. We shed out of our layers, and are more naked to living than any other season. With nakedness comes urges, beauty, risk, reward, is not every summer lived in peace one of love?

Is Durango looking to me, as much as I am looking to her? She is my new home, and around every corner is an opportunity for discovery. If I look for it every day I can find a new climb, new singletrack, new people to meet; my only limitation is myself.

I have moved to this town with the intention of blossoming into the artist and man I truly want to be. I have connected with other souls that share the same interests and desires. I am committed to following my heart, and not money, though every dirtbag needs some money.

In this life I’ve chosen, the one of writer and climber, there are moments of frustration, moments of clarity, moments of doubt, moments of pure concentration and focus; what will today bring?

With summer in the air, my mind starting to focus on the simplicity of writing, today will bring what it does, newness, freshness, an opportunity to live in the moment. With all the distractions possible in this modern world, that challenge seems as inviting as ever.

Namaste.

Amen.

Love.

peace,

Luke

Rejection (from a publisher) on Valentine's Day

I made a post this morning about staying positive about being single on Valentine's Day. In the interest of being honest (the job of a writer) the more I hear and read about V-Day the more I am negative about it. After all it's not just the celebration of love, it's very specific, it's about the love between people in relationships. What does this holiday have to offer us who aren't in a relationship? It's like people who wish everyone Merry Christmas during the holidays; not everyone is Christian or believes in Christmas.

Luckily I did go to yoga today, which always makes me more positive. It helps me open my heart, always a good thing to do. It also makes my mind reach a meditative state. Life is long, there is still hope to find someone to love. It probably won't happen today, but it could happen tomorrow; maybe it will happen with someone I've already met, but just isn't in my life on this particular day.

I also got my first rejection letter for Climbing Out of Bed today. What a bummer, they had to deliver it on Valentine's Day. I'm bummed. Kick me when I'm down, I think. But, this stuff is all part of the process. It took years for Jack Kerouac to get On The Road published. Jay-Z was rejected by the music industry, so he decided to start his own record label.

So that is what I think I'm going to do. I'm leaning towards self publishing Climbing Out of Bed. What do traditional publishers know anyways? Self publishing has been working well for The Climbing Zine Volume 3 so why not try it with my book?

Anywho, I figured I'd come clean about my state of mind on this holiday, honesty is the path for the writer. And like Jay-Z once rapped, "I drove through the fork in the road and went straight." It just might be my time to be a renegade in the world of publishing.

Rock and Ice article from the Archives

This is an oldie but goodie. A piece that will appear in my upcoming book, Climbing Out of Bed, and was originally published in Rock and Ice Magazine. I was stoked to see they had it posted up online, as I was doing some research for my book.

READ "Naked Disco Dance Party in J-Tree" from rockandice.com.