Force of Nature: Three Women Tackle the John Muir Trail By Joan M. Griffin Book Tour & Giveaway! {Ends 11/23/23}

Oct 24, 2023 | 1 comment

Book Details:

Force of Nature: Three Women Tackle the John Muir Trail By Joan M. Griffin
 ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CGRP2V35
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Black Rose Writing 
Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 28, 2023
Pages: 378

Book Description:

Three friends, women in their fifties, set out to hike “the most beautiful long-distance trail in the world,” the John Muir Trail. From the outset, their adventure is complicated by self-inflicted accidents and ferocious weather, then enriched when they “adopt” a young hiker abandoned by her partner along the trail.

The women experience the terror of lightning at eleven-thousand feet, the thrill of walking through a towering waterfall, and the joy of dancing among midnight moonshadows. For a month, they live immersed in vast natural beauty, tackle the trail’s physical demands, and find camaraderie among an ensemble cast of eccentric trail characters. Together, they are pulled forward toward the trail’s end atop the highest peak in the High Sierra, Mt. Whitney, and the culmination of their transformative journey.

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Review By LAWonder10:

Force of Nature is a remarkable, true story of a daring adventure three mature women took on their own. They took on the challenge of backpacking the whole arduous journey of the John Muir Trail, by themselves.

After experiencing a tragedy in her life, author Joan M. Griffin relates her reasons and the support she received in bringing to life this dream. She begins with her in-depth training, planning, and preparation, plus she adds two trusted friends to share this extreme adventure with her. 

In a wonderfully detailed script, Joan portrays this outstanding experience from its birth to the grueling end. She adequately “brings the reader into” her plight and it is easy to connect with the people involved and visualize the scenes, the dilemmas, and all the emotions involved when individuals undertake such an enormous quest. Will they remain trusted friends in the end?

As the foundation is laid and the story emerges, so does the energy and excitement evolve.

Both the Cover Image and Book Title were chosen very well and will probably catch the “browser’s” interest. The description of the characters, the scenes, and the emotions are vivid. One can almost feel the thoughts, feelings, and visualize the whole event.

The only thing I personally didn’t enjoy was a couple of words of profanity that could have easily been “cleaned up:”. It is a shame to lose many readers because of it.

I offer  Five-Stars rating

*This book was gifted me with no pressure to post a positive review. This is my honest review.

Guest Post:

 The John Muir Trail: The most beautiful long-distance trail in the world Joan M. Griffin – Author, Force of Nature: Three Women Tackle the John Muir Trail

My backpack still on, I turned in a slow circle, taking in the details of the landscape. We stood in another small granite bowl. A wide shallow pond sat surrounded by scores of smaller versions of itself, serene little pools and puddles in rock, like a queen surrounded by her assembled court. Round stones, like giant marbles, lay scattered about in and around the water. The late afternoon sky, periwinkle blue polka-dotted with white clouds, was reflected in the perfect mirror of the small pond—and in each of the cups and pools arranged across the granite bowl. Like holograms, each pool, cup, puddle, and pond held the entire sky and surrounding mountain peaks—the mirrored surfaces broken only by the little marble islets.
My pores seemed to absorb the effervescent beauty like a sponge absorbing spilled Champagne. Any remaining anxiety dissolved into an expanding, foaming sense of beauty. I felt joyful, transfixed, and infused with contentment. Can one feel calm and fizzy at the same time? I must have gone on and on about it because a decade later, Cappy tells me I went kind of nuts over Silver Lake. I do not remember doing that, but I do have that hologram image hardwired in my brain. All I have to do is close my eyes—and it’s right there.


~ Joan M. Griffin, Force of Nature, p136, 2023
The John Muir Trail (JMT) is hailed by many as the most beautiful long-distance trail in the world—for good reason. Stretching 211 miles through the heart of the Sierra Nevada in California, the JMT offers a breathtaking journey through some of the most stunning and unspoiled wilderness in America. From its majestic peaks to pristine alpine lakes and lush meadows, this trail provides a profound and transformative experience for backpackers.
Hikers on the trail are treated to a remarkable panorama of changing landscapes and natural wonders—from the granite cliffs of Yosemite National Park in the north to the towering peaks of Mount Whitney in the south. Along the way, trekkers pass through lush forests, cross pristine meadows, and encounter rivers, waterfalls, lakes, and dainty high-altitude reflective ponds.
Nights spent under a blanket of stars in the high Sierra backcountry are nothing short of magical.
The JMT’s rugged terrain and elevation changes challenge even the hardiest hikers. Over the undulating course of the trail, hikers ascend nine mountain passes that stretch over 10,000 feet into the sky. All that effort is generously rewarded with awe-inspiring views that unfold around every turn.

The trail spends most of its time in deep wilderness areas, far from civilization. These areas are carefully protected, so each year only a few hundred backpackers receive trail permits. One can hike for hours and hours, even a full day or two, without ever crossing paths with another human.
This solitude, and the serenity that comes with being alone, surrounded by nature’s grandeur, is another reason why the trail is considered an unmatched gem among long-distance trails. This solitude can have a profound and transformational impact on the human spirit.
“May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing views.”
~ Edward Abbey, Desert Solitaire, 1968

Meet the Author:

Joan lives under the spell of wanderlust. She takes wing, whenever possible, for actual destinations near and far and for literary locales in the pages of books. A native Californian, Joan lives in the Northern California foothills of the majestic Sierra Nevada, a world she loves exploring. Joan navigated her way through two careers—marketing computers, then sailboats—before applying her love of storytelling to her dual passions for teaching and writing.
In addition to working on her next book, Joan teaches women’s history and literature for the OLLI programs at Sierra College and UC Davis Extension.
You can find her online at:

WebsiteSubstack/Blog Facebook Author – 
Instagram – 

The Tour Schedule :

October 23rd @ The Muffin
Join us at The Muffin as we celebrate the launch of Joan M. Griffin’s memoir Force of Nature. You’ll get the chance to read an interview with the author and enter to win a copy of the book.
https://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com
October 23rd @ Just Katherine
Join Katherine who is featuring an excerpt of Force of Nature on her blog today.
https://justkatherineblog.wordpress.com
October 24th @ Just Katherine
Visit Katherine’s blog again where she features a guest post by Joan M. Griffin about immersing your reader in sensory details.
https://justkatherineblog.wordpress.com
October 25th @ One Writer’s Journey
Visit Sue’s blog for her review of Force of Nature by Joan M. Griffin.
https://suebe.wordpress.com/
October 25th @ Rockin’ Book Reviews
Lu Ann shares a guest post by Joan M. Griffin about the John Muir Trail, the most beautiful long-distance trail in the world.
https://www.rockinbookreviews.com/
October 27th @ Lisa Haselton’s Reviews and Interviews
Join Lisa for her interview with Joan M. Griffin, author of Force of Nature.
https://lisahaselton.com/blog/
October 29th @ The Mommies Reviews
Join Glenda for her review of Force of Nature.
http://www.themommiesreviews.com/
October 30th @ Choices
Join Madeline for a guest post by Joan M. Griffin about why you should write your life story.
http://www.madelinesharples.com/

November 1st @ One Writer’s Journey
Join Sue for her interview with Joan M. Griffin about her writing journey and her book Force of Nature.
https://suebe.wordpress.com/
November 1st @ Pages and Paws
Join Kristine’s blog for her review of Force of Nature by Joan M. Griffin.
https://pagesandpaws.com/
November 2nd @ A Storybook World
Join Deirdra for a guest post by Joan M. Griffin about smart planning for a major challenge.
https://www.astorybookworld.com/
November 3rd @ Stranded In Chaos
Sara shares a spotlight of Force of Nature by Joan M. Griffin.
http://www.strandedinchaos.com/
November 6th @ Maddie Gudenkauf’s blog
Join Maddie for her review of Force of Nature by Joan M. Griffin. Don’t miss her review of this inspiring book!
https://maddiegudenkauf.com/
November 7th @ Fancy That!
Visit Nicole’s blog for a guest post by Joan M. Griffin about five things she learned hiking the John Muir trail.
https://fancythatblog.com
November 8th @ Sara Strand
Sara shares a review of Force of Nature on her Instagram page today. Don’t miss it!
https://www.instagram.com/sarastrand9438
November 9th @ Knotty Needle
Visit Judy’s blog for her review of Force of Nature by Joan M. Griffin.
http://knottyneedle.blogspot.com
November 10th @ Chapter Break
Visit Julie’s blog for a guest post by Joan M. Griffin about the difference between memoir and autobiography.
https://chapterbreak.net
November 11th @ Three Things on a Saturday Night
Join Nicole as she features Joan M. Griffin on her Substack, 3 Things on a Saturday Night.
https://beingthewriter.substack.com/
November 12th @ Shoe’s Seeds and Stories
Join Linda for her review of Force of Nature by Joan M. Griffin.
https://lschuelerca.wordpress.com/

November 13th @ Boys’ Mom Reads
Join Karen for her review of Force of Nature by Joan M. Griffin.
https://karensiddall.wordpress.com
November 15th @ World of My Imagination
Join Nicole for her review of Force of Nature by Joan M. Griffin. You also have a chance to win a copy of the book too!
https://worldofmyimagination.com
November 17th @ Deborah-Zenha Adams’ blog
Join Deborah for a guest post by Joan M. Griffin about hiking as walking meditation. You’ll also have a chance to win a copy of the book, too!
http://www.deborah-adams.com/blog/
November 19th Shoe’s Seeds and Stories
Visit Linda’s blog again for a guest post by Joan M. Griffin about the healing hand of nature.
https://lschuelerca.wordpress.com/
November 21st @ Musings of a Literary Wanderer
Join Angela for her feature of an excerpt from Force of Nature by Joan M. Griffin.
http://musingsofaliterarywanderer.blogspot.com/

Giveaway Details:

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1 Comment
  1. Joan Griffin

    Thank you for spotlighting my book in your blog. It was an honor to write a guest post for your readers, too! Happy trails!

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Please note that I only recommend authors and books that I  approve of and  I always have my readers’ best interest at heart. 

Any book or audio that is gifted me is done with no pressure to post a positive review.  The review I give is my honest opinion! 

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