A Different Kind of Story: Introducing Lily’s First Book

If you’ve followed the Nature Reliance School blog for any length of time, you know most of what we publish here is focused on skills, mindset, and preparedness for the outdoors. Today’s post is a little different. It’s personal, and one of the most important things I’ve ever written here.

My daughter, Lily, has published her first book.

You can watch an interview I did with her to get some insight into how growing up, helped inform who she is and the characters she builds.



Why bring this up on the NRS blog? Because much of who Lily is today, and much of the way she tells stories, grew out of time spent outdoors with me. She grew up tagging along on countless hikes, camping trips, and classes. From wet Chacos in the Red River Gorge to long days tracking deer trails, she was there. She helped gather firewood, asked hard questions around the campfire, and listened as I explained why a compass needle matters more than a GPS signal.

Lily and her brother when they were young in the woods. 

I like to think those experiences shaped her. Maybe not always in obvious ways, but they gave her a foundation. The characters she’s written into her story carry a strength, a quiet resilience, and a respect for the natural world that feels familiar to me. When I read her book, I caught glimpses of lessons we shared outside, lessons about paying attention, respecting risk, and finding your way forward even when the trail disappears.

To dive deeper into how she built her world and developed her characters, I recently sat down with Lily for a long conversation. You can watch that interview on our YouTube Channel or listen to it on the Nature Reliance School podcast. We discussed her writing process, her career path, and even how some of the stories we shared while living outdoors wove themselves into her book.

So yes, this is a departure from the usual posts about survival skills and backcountry know-how. But it matters. Because Nature Reliance School has never been just about gear and techniques. It’s about people, relationships, and how the outdoors shapes us. For me, seeing Lily grow into an author is proof of that.

I would consider it a personal favor if you’d take a look at her book. Support an emerging writer, and maybe you’ll catch a glimpse of how the woods and wild places we’ve loved as a family have found their way into her pages.

Thanks for letting me share something different today, and for being part of this extended campfire that continues to shape not just skills, but lives.