The Oasis This Time: Living and Dying with Water in the West

December 23, 2018 0

Winner, 2015 Waterston Desert Writing Prize

WINNER, 2015 Waterston Desert Writing Prize
WINNER, 2019 Nautilus Book Award
FINALIST, 2020 Oregon Book Award
FINALIST, 2019 Foreword INDIE

•••

"Rebecca Lawton's expertise is apparent, as is her enthusiasm." — Wall Street Journal

"Lawton's writing flows through wars and watering places, her prose precise and at times mystic."
— Craig Childs, author of Atlas of a Lost World

"Lawton, a fluvial geologist and former Colorado River guide, shares her love and fears for the endangered Western resource—water . . . ” — Rob Spillman, judge for 2020 Oregon Book Award
"[Lawton's] musings on this beloved arid land and its water shimmer with wonder . . . " — Ana Maria Spagna, author of The Luckiest Scar on Earth

"Lawton brings a poet's eye to the landscapes she loves, but she is, at heart, a warrior."  — Andy Weinberger, author of the Amos Parisman series and owner and bookseller at Readers' Books

"Hers is a wake–up call, shaped by Lawton's deep knowledge and love of place, and mostly her commitment to waterways, streams and creeks and rivers and oceans." — Debra Gwartney, author of I'm A Stranger Here Myself

"Rebecca Lawton writes like a child of the wilderness as she brings together the rolling hay fields, a river that can't be tamed, and so many more human-and-nature scenarios . . . " — Julia Park Tracey, author of The Doris Diaries

"Through deft, spirited storytelling, Lawton faces with compassionate courage the painful truths of our defiled and dwindling waterways . . . " — Sarah Juniper Rabkin, author and illustrator of What I Learned at Bug Camp

Genres:
Nature, Nonfiction, Prose on Water
Tags:
drought, Grand Canyon, nature, rafting, Western water

Junction, Utah

June 2, 2017 0

B.R.A.G. Medallion Honoree

WINNER, Ellen Meloy Desert Writers Award
WINNER, WILLA Literary Award for Original Softcover Fiction
HONOREE, indieB.R.A.G. Medallion in Fiction
“A fresh female voice and a bold take on environmental awareness—great read!” —WILLA judges, Women Writing the West, Golden, Colorado
River guide Madeline Kruse has to choose. As she navigates the rushing waters of Utah’s rivers, she can't help but feel a sense of freedom and escape from her painful past. But when she arrives in the small town of Junction, she realizes that its wild and rugged landscape may may offer more than just a temporary refuge.

 

She meets alfalfa farmer Chris Sorensen, discovering a kindred spirit and a possible chance at a life by the river. But just as Maddie begins to let herself hope for a future in Junction, outside forces threaten the land and people she has come to love. Will she choose to return to her roots and confront her past, or will she fight to protect the very waters that make up Utah’s lifeblood?

 

This timeless story "keeps so many dazzling balls in the air: war, love, activism, wilderness . . . in the thriving, vivid community of Junction, Utah" —Jill Koenigsdorf, author of Phoebe and the Ghost of Chagall

 

"Gripping plot. This tale of two worlds meeting and clashing is timely on so many fronts: environmental, political, and personal." —Jordan Rosenfeld, author of Make A Scene and How to Write a Page Turner

 

Award-winning author Rebecca Lawton knows water—and the people who love rivers and deep backcountry. In Junction, Utah, she "writes like a child of the wilderness, as she brings together the wild open sky and the rolling hay fields, a river that can't be tamed, and so many more human-and-nature scenes . . . " —Julia Park Tracey, Executive Editor, Sibylline Press
Published:
Genres:
Fiction, Nature, Prose on Water
Tags:
boating, environmental fiction, literary fiction, nature, rafting, river running, romance, Western water, women's fiction

Reading Water: Lessons from the River

June 2, 2017 0

FINALIST, FOREWORD INDIES, 2002 Nature Book of the Year
BESTSELLER, San Francisco Chronicle Bay Area Books
BACK IN PRINT: Reading Water: Lessons from the River (second edition)

 

Embark on a literary journey like no other with Rebecca Lawton’s Reading Water. With insights from her life as a Grand Canyon river guide and her expertise as a fluvial geologist, Lawton's book will take you on a thrilling adventure that will leave you with a newfound love and appreciation for flowing water.

 

In Reading Water, you'll discover:
- Timeless lessons that rivers teach, captured through Lawton's personal experiences and expert knowledge
- The raw and beautiful nature of America's great rivers, including the Colorado of the Grand Canyon, the Rogue in Oregon, and the Stanislaus in California
- The emotional journey of love, betrayal, and redemption that river runners experience while navigating the wild waters
- An insider’s perspective of the complex hydrology of rivers, giving you a deeper understanding of these powerful natural wonders
- How the lessons learned from rivers apply to life in general, whether you're an avid boater or an armchair traveler.

 

Included in Reading Water:
- Personal anecdotes and adventures from Lawton's time as a top river guide
- Expert insights and knowledge from her many years of work as a fluvial geologist
- Beautiful descriptions and vivid imagery that will transport you to the heart of the river.

 

Don't miss out on this deeply observed journey through the wild waters of North America. Pick up Reading Water today and enjoy an unforgettable ride!

 

PRAISE FOR READING WATER

 

Reading Water is " . . . a seasoned depiction of the nomadic culture, empty canyons, and wild western rivers that define and haunt her. Honest in her assessment of the psychological costs of a gypsy life, artful in her understanding of currents and seasons, Lawton depicts the rivers taking away as well as giving . . . " — David James Duncan, author, The River Why and My Story as Told by Water

 

"Reading Water is both mirror and map, a reminder that a life can take the shape of the river itself—fierce and tender, restless and serene, asking us only for our unwavering fidelity to living, moving water." — Ellen Meloy, author, Eating Stone and The Anthropology of Turquoise

 

"Rebecca Lawton doesn't just read water, she understands it, speaks it, lives it, and loves it. The finely crafted chapters in Reading Water reflect the wisdom and sharply tuned senses that a life spent on the water can nurture. Lawton's book examines everything from the loss of her mother to marriage, friendship, and work through a shimmering, water lens that reveals remarkable depth." — Pamela Michael, cofounder of River of Words and The Gift of Rivers
Published:
Genres:
Nature, Non-Fiction, Nonfiction, Prose on Water
Tags:
boating, drought, Grand Canyon, nature, rafting, river running, Western water

Discover Nature in the Rocks: Things to Know and Things to Do

June 2, 2017 0

A friendly, knowledge-packed introduction to the hands-on study of rocks and the earth. Perfect for geology enthusiasts of all ages. Combines dozens of simple, safe activities with detailed illustrations and informative text.

From the back cover:

"Geology explores why the earth looks and behaves the way it does, from the organized shapes of crystals to the ever-changing shapes of continents. Careful observation can reveal countless clues to a rock's history: How was the rock formed? What is its composition? Have wind, water, and gravity altered its appearance? Discover Nature in the Rocks introduces you to this fascinating world through directed observations and hands-on activities that lead you to your own exciting discoveries."

According to education experts and other savants of sometimes doubtful motive, most Americans' grasp of basic science principles is abysmally shaky. But now, with this user-friendly introduction, help is available for understanding at least the science of geology. As the subtitle implies, the book is loaded with facts and projects. The writing is informative, tidy, engaging, and greatly augmented by the copious illustrations. The projects (the likes of 'Measuring Longshore Currents' and 'Understanding Isostasy') are simple, meaningful, and excellent for undertaking with children. Perfect for families, the book is also entertaining and useful for adults without children who are interested in painlessly learning some new or brushing up on their old geological knowledge" – Mike Tribby, Booklist reviewer for Discover Nature series
Published:
Genres:
Nature, Nonfiction
Tags:
geology, science

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