About
Kelly Wilson is an author and comedian who entertains and inspires with stories of humor, healing, and hope. She is the author of Live Cheap and Free and Don’t Punch People in the Junk. Her latest book, Caskets From Costco, is a finalist in the 18th annual Foreword Reviews’ INDIEFAB Book of the Year Awards and has also been chosen as a finalist in the 10th annual National Indie Excellence Book Awards.
As a survivor of childhood sexual abuse, Kelly writes and speaks about finding hope in the process of recovery. Through both stand-up and improv comedy, she brings laughter to audiences of all ages using a wide range of subject matter, including silly songs, parenting stories, and jokes and anecdotes revolving around mental health issues.
Kelly Wilson currently writes for a living and lives with her Magically Delicious husband, junk-punching children, dog, cat, and stereotypical minivan in Portland, Oregon. Read more about her at www.wilsonwrites.com.
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
Writing professionally began for me in 2002. As an elementary school teacher, I decided to pursue writing for children. If you’re an author pursuing traditional publication, then you know the determination required to achieve it.
My writing career expanded beyond writing for children, and throughout the submissions, rejections, and publishing successes, I quit my teaching job. My husband and two children, however, still needed to eat and we only had one income. I spent a year perfecting a variety of strategies to help save money, keep us completely out of debt, and find the best deals on items we used on a regular basis.
I had many conversations with people who asked me how I saved so much money, allowing my family to thrive on one income. During these conversations, I felt frustrated because there was so much information that I couldn’t communicate just in a conversation.
After one of these encounters, I went to sleep that night, only to wake up a few hours later and think I am a writer, I could write about it.
So that’s what I did! And instead of playing the Submit-Wait-Rejection game with traditional publishing houses and editors, I chose to self-publish my book through Booklocker, a reputable self-publishing company.
Reviews
<em>This little book is a marvel. Kelly Wilson has done a wonderful job of
bringing together tons of money-saving tips and ideas that are realistic
and workable. I have never really couponed before because it seemed
like it took a lot of effort for not much reward, but after reading this
book, I have found ways to save money on most of the things I purchase.
Her tips on credit, on how and when to buy, and saving money in general
have been very helpful to me. But the very best thing has been to
discover the huge variety of ways that I can manage my money to get more
of what I want without going into debt. Read the book and her blog, and
learn how to save more than you can imagine. I am and I love it. EJ Essic, Palmer, AK<br /><br /></em><a title="Amazon Book Review" href="http://www.amazon.com/CHEAP-Strategies-Thrive-Tough-Economic/product-reviews/1601457820/ref=cm_cr_dp_all_helpful?ie=UTF8&coliid=&showViewpoints=1&colid=&sortBy=bySubmissionDateDescending">Read more reviews here.</a>
