I TOOK THE TWENTY QUESTIONS CHALLENGE!

I did it! I took the 20 Questions Challenge and survived.

Many of you may be familiar with Chris Hunt's blog, Eat More Brook Trout. Since I've followed it over the last year, I have really enjoyed Chris's writing. For example, yesterday he posted about the delicious, fried conch that he ate during his recent fishing trip to the Bahamas and I found myself laughing and drooling at the same time. Chris definitely has a way with words!

Chris has written some great books on fly fishing, one of which, I reviewed here on Upland Equations: Shin Deep: A Fly Fisher's Love of Living Water. Here's a link to my review: http://theuplandequation.blogspot.com/2011/11/shin-deep-fly-fishers-love-for-living.html. Chris's book is an excellent read! I'm excited to read his third book, Native, which is soon to be published.

When my book, Heaven on Earth: Stories of Fly Fishing, Fun & Faith, came out I thought Chris might be someone who would appreciate it. So I asked him to review it and Chris graciously accepted. I never expected to be the subject of his popular 20 Questions Challenge.

I don't mean to sound sappy, but as I read Chris's review of my book and the accompanying 20 Questions challenge, it brought tears to my eyes. Thank you Chris for the awesome review and the opportunity to share a little about myself!

For those who are interested, here is the link to Chris's review and my responses to his 20 Question Challenge: http://www.eatmorebrooktrout.com/2012/03/20-questions-andy-wayment-author-heaven.html.

If you want to learn more about my book, here is a link to the book's website: http://www.heavenonearthbook.com/.

Thanks for stoppin' by!

HISTORIAN'S CORNER: MORE ON GEORGE WASHINGTON FISHING

A few months ago I wrote a post entitled, "George Washington: What Was He Fishing For?" regarding George Washington's fishing trip to Valley Forge and Trenton during a break of the Constitutional Convention in the latter part of July, 1787, of which he wrote in his journal. This post was well received by the followers of Upland Equations, which is not surprising given Washington's compelling, almost superhuman persona. If you haven't read it yet, here is the link: http://www.theuplandequation.blogspot.com/2011/12/george-washington-what-was-he-fishing.html. I hope you enjoy it!

What I did not know when I wrote the original post was the specific gear Washington used during this fishing trip. I assumed he used some kind of a pole, line and hook, but wondered if it was in the nature of a fly rod. I came across the following intriguing information in White House Sportsmen by Edmund Lindrop and Joseph Jares:

Three times between the sessions of the Constitutional Convention in 1787 Washington took his London-made rod and line and went fishing in the Philadelphia area.

Washington at Valley Forge.

From this brief statement, I don't know for sure, but suspect that Washington used some form of a fly rod and line made in London. I wish we knew if he also used an artificial fly.

I guess it's enough just to know that Washington used the long rod for fishing. I don't know about you, but this small fact helps me to identify even more with Washington. Perhaps, like a later United States President, Herbert Hoover (a diehard fisherman), Washington agreed that

[Fishing is] the chance to wash one's soul with pure air, with the rush of the brook, or with the shimmer of the sun on the blue water. It brings meekness and inspiration from the decency of nature, charity toward tackle-makers, patience toward fish, a mockery of profits and egos, a quieting of hate, a rejoicing that you do not have to decide a darned thing until next week. And it is discipline in the equality of men -- for all men are equal before fish.

Fishing and American history . . . Did I ever mention that I love this stuff?

LATEST REVIEW OF WAYMENT'S HEAVEN ON EARTH

Greetings fellow bird hunters and fly fishers. I wanted to share with you the latest review of my book, Heaven on Earth: Stories of Fly Fishing, Fun & Faith by Ben Smith over at Arizona Wanderings. Ben is also the editor for the fairly new, but much recognized, Back Country Journal. Here is the link to Ben's review: http://azwanderings.com/2012/book-report-heaven-on-earth-by-andrew-m-wayment/.

As a first-time author of a book, this review and the others to date have been exciting to say the least. For a writer, there is nothing better than to know that someone relates to and enjoys your work. Thanks Ben!

Now for the shameless plug. If you are interested in purchasing an advanced signed copy of Heaven on Earth, here is the link to my website for the book: http://heavenonearthbook.com. Thanks for checking in and thanks for your continuing support of Upland Equations!

I guess now is as good as ever to announce my second book entitled, Roadside Revelations: Tales of Bird Dogs, Family & Other Upland Equations. Obviously, this book will be about bird hunting. My goal is to have this book done by the end of this year. The manuscript is almost done . . . now for the never-ending editing process! Stay tuned!