FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WENDY BOOKER IS CRUISING AT A NEW ALTITUDE
Mountain climber and adventurer, Wendy Booker, announces the release of her first book: New Altitude
April 1, 2013: Wendy Booker, a climber, explorer and musher from Massachusetts, is embarking on a new adventure… and no parkas, skis or ropes are involved! New Altitude, her first book, has just been released and she is kicking off a spring promotional tour to share her story with the world.
New Altitude chronicles Wendy Booker’s bid for the Seven Summits. But mountains aren’t the only obstacles she had to tackle, and this is not your typical adventure saga. New Altitude takes readers far beyond the mountains into the mind and heart of a woman facing challenging circumstances, leveraging her amazing story to share life lessons about the power of self-discovery, serendipity and stubbornness.
After a devastating diagnosis with multiple sclerosis, Wendy fell haphazardly into running the Boston Marathon for charity. From that one simple act, an extraordinary series of circumstances unfolds that is nothing short of kismet. Overcoming illness and divorce, and tackling one of the toughest mountains in the world twice, Wendy finds herself atop Denali (Mt. McKinley, Alaska) in 2004 at the age of 50, forcing the reinvention of her entire life in the process.
Standing on the pinnacle of the North American continent, she aspires to climb the highest peak on each of the seven continents… the famed Seven Summits. It is a mission that will eclipse everything in else in her life for many years.
New Altitude follows Wendy’s inspiring, poignant, and sometimes hilarious adventures as she seeks to conquer the mountains on her list with the intimidating specter of Mt. Everest looming on the horizon, and discovers a whole new world along the way. Along with tales of adventure, readers are allowed a rare window into the internal struggle and ongoing adaption that is required to make extreme sports a lifestyle.
Dave Hahn, the mountain guide on Wendy’s second Everest expedition, has attained the most Everest summits of any non-Sherpa. Commenting on Wendy’s adventures in New Altitude, he recently said, “Climbing high mountains is difficult – plenty difficult for those lucky enough to pursue it with youth, perfect health and all the normal advantages on their side. And pretty near impossible for those not so gifted or fortunate. Near impossible… but not actually impossible as it turns out! Wendy Booker’s story of learning the ropes while battling MS should spur on anyone tempted to simply accept their conventionally defined limitations.”
When asked about her upcoming appearances and book signings Wendy said, “I am so looking forward to sharing this book with long-time followers and new audiences alike. It has been a labor of love to write. My hope is that New Altitude gives fans an inside look at my life, introduces new people to my story, and encourages everyone to approach obstacles in a whole new way.”
Boston radio personality and long-time friend, Gay Vernon, perhaps summed up New Altitude best, “After a diagnosis of MS, Wendy decided to leave her comfort zone and accomplish something that most of us can only imagine. She literally (and symbolically) has climbed the tallest peaks in the world. And in scaling those mountains, she’s inspired others to discover what the joy of living is all about.”
For more information on Wendy Booker, to order your copy of New Altitude, or to invite Wendy to speak to your organization or host an author event, visit www.wendybooker.net. New Altitude is available in print and e-book format from online retailers or at your favorite bookstore.
About the Author
Diagnosed with relapsing-remitting MS in 1998, Wendy Booker was never an athlete. But over the past decade she has run ten marathons, climbed six of the Seven Summits, attempted Everest twice, mushed to the North Pole and skied to the South Pole – setting records and breaking through barriers all the way. Always on the lookout for her next great adventure, she is training with a team of sled dogs in Alaska to race in the Iditarod in 2015. Wendy lives in Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts and is the mother of three grown sons and a yellow lab named Cada. New Altitude is her first book.
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If you would like more information about Wendy Booker, or to schedule an interview or appearance, please contact:
Trish Thomas
720.224.4923 │ trish@wendybooker.net
www.wendybooker.net
Jane Knows had a great post on the 2013 WILD (Women Inspiring Leadership Development) Summit where Wendy shared her inspiring story with 400 Colorado business women and college students!
“Redefine “the top” and do it without regret. Wendy Booker became an accomplished athlete after being diagnosed with relapsing multiple sclerosis. Now in her late 50’s, she has run a bunch of marathons (she made me feel like an underachiever in the nicest possible way) and climbed six of the seven highest peaks in the world. Her “top” was to climb all seven and after two unsuccessful tries at Mt. Everest, she knew she could never do it. She felt she had failed and was depressed and sat on the couch watching Oprah and eating bon-bons for months. And then it struck her: be the first woman with MS to go to the top of the world, the North Pole! That would be her new top! And she did it and the South Pole and much more!”
I know that many of you are curious about my Iditarod training. It’s been a whirlwind season and my plans have had to change along with the ever-shifting Alaska weather! This year has seen a lack of snow in many areas, so races have been cancelled or rescheduled wreaking havoc More…
Wendy is featured in Women’s Adventure Magazine’s Summer 2012 issue. “A diagnosis can be a new lease on life.A It doesn’t have to restrict or define you.”
Wendy Booker has had some great recent media coverage and we wanted to be sure that you haven’t missed it. ESPNW, a television appearance on Great Day St. Louis, a great article by Erin Sharoni for Fila Connect, SportsMD and The Financial Times Magazine.
Thanks to the Financial Times and Matthew Engel for this shout-out to Wendy! “It would be nice to believe that we were toasting our forefathers whose suffering made our own visit possible. But I think we were more wrapped up in what we had done. Some had good reason: Worsley, More…
Dispatch from Wendy Booker – January 14, 2012 – 4:38 Chilean Time “Great news! I have reached the South Pole. The day was tough with -22 air temperature and 15 – 20 knot winds, but the effort was all worth it. What an awesome experience!”
A casual runner, Wendy Booker started running in marathons and finished 10. As someone who liked to travel, she decided to take up mountain climbing and has scaled six of the seven highest peaks in the world (only the altitude of Mount Everest forced her to turn back). Now a member of Team Copaxone (the only drug she uses to hold her MS in check) she has, at age 55, begun a new quest on New Yearas Day, reaching the South Pole by foot, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the discovery of the pole on Jan. 17. She already reached the North Pole last year, and will cross Greenland next year as well.
Harrison, NY Patch By Rebecca Giglio January 1, 2012: Before settling on a New Year’s resolution today, take inspiration from 57-year-old former Rye resident Wendy Booker. Wendy’s resolution for 2012 is to leave New Year’s Day on a 17-day ski and sled expedition to the South Pole. Her 2011 goal More…
Bleacher Report By: Jerry Milani December 21, 2011: New Year Eve is always a time of reflection and making promises, both realistic and outrageous, for the coming year. It is a time of rebirth, renewal and endless possibilities. While many of us will celebrate by watching the ball drop in More…
