About
Krystal Wade can be found in the sluglines outside Washington D.C. every morning, Monday through Friday. With coffee in hand, iPod plugged in, and strangers--who sometimes snore, smell, or have incredibly bad gas--sitting next to her, she zones out and thinks of fantastical worlds for you and me to read. How else can she cope with a fifty mile commute?
Good thing she has her husband and three kids to go home to. They keep her sane.
Learning to Breathe Fire: The Rise of CrossFit and the Primal Future of Fitness
Description
<p><b>The absorbing, definitive account of CrossFit's origins, its explosive grassroots growth, and its emergence as a global phenomenon.</b><br /> <br />One of the most illuminating books ever on a sports subculture, <i>Learning to Breathe Fire </i>combines vivid sports writing with a thoughtful meditation on what it means to be human. In the book, veteran journalist J.C. Herz explains the science of maximum effort, why the modern gym fails an obese society, and the psychic rewards of ending up on the floor feeling as though you're about to die. <br /> <br />The story traces CrossFit’s rise, from a single underground gym in Santa Cruz to its adoption as the workout of choice for elite special forces, firefighters and cops, to its popularity as the go-to fitness routine for regular Joes and Janes. Especially riveting is Herz’s description of The CrossFit Games, which begin as an informal throw-down on a California ranch and evolve into a televised global proving ground for the fittest men and women on Earth, as well as hundreds of thousands of lesser mortals. <br /> <br />In her portrayal of the sport's star athletes, its passionate coaches and its “chief armorer,” Rogue Fitness, Herz powerfully evokes the uniqueness of a fitness culture that cultivates primal fierceness in average people. And in the shared ordeal of an all-consuming workout, she unearths the ritual intensity that's been with us since humans invented sports, showing us how, on a deep level, we're all tribal hunters and first responders, waiting for the signal to go all-out. </p>
Story Behind The Book
Shattered Secrets came to me while reading another author's work. She described a scene in a chocolate shop that resonated very strongly with me. The more I thought about this shop, the more I saw my own characters in a coffee shop, enjoying their friendship, the smells, the warmth, and then my dark imagination took over and destroyed it all with a broken friendship and a kidnapping. What can I say? Sunshine and butterflies only lasts so long.
Reviews
<p>"There is enough confusion, twists, turns, trust issues as well as what might be a slightly dodgy advice giving book to make this book absolutely absorbing." -- Merissa Sheppard, A<a href="http://archaeolibrarianologist.blogspot.de/" style="color:rgb(102,102,0);text-decoration:underline;">rchaeolibrarianologist</a></p>
<p>"The intriguing plot, detailed world-building, and clever teen voice made this a page-turner. Krystal Wade expertly weaves the fine line of making YA entertaining for both teens and adults. Her heroine Abby is not only relatable, but a believably strong and independent character - she's smart without the aleck, naive without being stupid, and vulnerable without being a damsel in distress. Adding in a little mystery, some plot twists, and um, totally hot guys makes SHATTERED SECRETS a winner!" -- Jen Estes, YA Author</p>
