Emily M Leonard standing on tower on Appalachian Trail

Announcer: Today, we’re cracking open the mind of a writer who weaves words like magic—crafting stories that linger long after the last page.

This episode is bound to be rich, immersive, and full of creative sparks.

So grab your coffee and get ready to dive in.

Coffee on the Couch will be starting in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1… and we’re live.

Chris (Host): Ladies and gentlemen, coffee lovers and story seekers, welcome back to another episode of Coffee on the Couch.

I’m your host, Chris, here to serve up another rich and robust conversation, brewed fresh just for you.

Today, we’re diving into the world of storytelling with a guest whose words paint vivid landscapes and whose imagination knows no bounds.

From the quiet helm of inspiration to the whirlwind of publishing, this episode promises to be a journey worth savoring.

So grab your favorite cup and settle in—this one’s going to be a page-turner.

Chris (Host): Welcome, Emily!

Emily (Guest): Thank you!

Chris (Host): Good to have you on the show.

So, how we got connected—we were talking a little bit before the recording—was through Melissa Garrity.

I always wonder if I’m saying her last name right.

Emily (Guest): Yeah, that’s how I say it!

Chris (Host): Okay, good!

So yeah, we got connected through her. Melissa has been a great source of help in connecting me with different authors—and you were one of them.

Emily (Guest): Yeah, Melissa’s fabulous.

I met her at the Bangor Authors event last year—2023.

I always get confused on my dates at the beginning of the year.

Chris (Host): Oh, I get that!

Emily (Guest): Yeah, so at the Bangor Authors event, she was going around meeting authors, and that’s how we connected.

She’s been my publicist since then, and she’s phenomenal. Just a down-to-earth, hardworking person.

I highly recommend her if anyone’s looking for a publicist, web design help, or just someone to help get the word out.

Chris (Host): Yeah, I’ve really enjoyed connecting with her as well.

She’s very straight to the point, and you can feel her energy even through emails.

Emily (Guest): Oh, absolutely! It just oozes out of her messages.

Chris (Host): Yeah! She’s a lot of fun.

Chris (Host): So, getting into the questions…

Emily: Guest:  Sure!

Chris (Host): Your books beautifully capture the spirit of the Appalachian Trail—whether through memoir, children’s literature, or devotionals.

What initially inspired you to translate your trail experiences into written stories?

Emily: Guest:  Wow, that’s a great question.

First of all, for your listeners—I hiked the Appalachian Trail in 2015 and then again in 2017.

Before I went, I read a lot of memoirs and books about the trail. And while reading those, I thought, Gee, I should take notes while I’m hiking so I can write my own memoir.

Because even though there are already a lot of books about people’s journeys on the Appalachian Trail, they’re all different. It may be the same path, but everyone’s journey is unique.

I knew going into my hike that I wanted to write a book, but I didn’t realize it would turn into seven books—plus more in the making!

The initial inspiration really came from those who had gone before me and shared their stories.

Chris (Host): That’s really interesting.

It touches on a great point—the idea that so many people walk the same path but have vastly different experiences and outcomes.

It’s almost like an analogy for life, you know?

You can follow the same route, do the same things, but still end up with a completely different result.

Emily: Guest:  Absolutely!

Chris (Host): It’s kind of like how siblings can grow up in the same house, with the same parents and environment, but one becomes a lawyer while the other takes a completely different path.

You have to wonder—what happened there?

Emily: Guest:  Yeah! I think it comes down to that inner drive.

We all face similar circumstances at times, but it’s what’s inside a person’s heart that helps shape their outcome.

Chris (Host): Yeah, that’s a great point.

So, Happy Hiking is a deeply personal memoir about your journey on the Appalachian Trail.

What was the most challenging part of turning such a profound experience into a book? And were there moments you hesitated to share?

Emily: Guest: Honestly, the biggest challenge was procrastination!

I love to get things done, and I’m a very organized person—but I also procrastinate like crazy.

I let other things distract me from what I should be doing. I get squirreled a lot, you know? I see something shiny over here, and suddenly I’m chasing that instead of writing!

So just staying focused and actually finishing the book—that was the hardest part.

It took me five years to complete it.