Friends Along the Writing Trail and a Giveaway

As some of you know Mark and I just returned from a backpacking trip. Tiring but incredibly awesome and what really struck me were the things that reminded me of my writing journey. And of that the most striking was a moment when we met a couple from Paris. They are avid hikers. They have a home in the Alps that they vacation at so they can hike. They love it.

But.

We met them standing on the side of the trail wondering if they should go on. They really, really wanted to but they were afraid. You see this was their first day hike in The Rockies, Banff in particular.  

Way out of their hiking comfort zone because of all the signs and warnings about bears. They got more and more nervous as they went along. We talked to them for a bit, explained that this was a well travelled trail and that a bear will most likely go the other way if they hear you coming and the chances are pretty slim they would encounter one. Not to say they wouldn't. For example about 700 meters up the trail head we started on {different from the one this couple used} they was bear...poo. A few days old. Small bear, most likely a black bear. There was a posting about it. Here is my face. Bear Poo!!

Course I am fooling around, wasn't really scared, lol.

Anyway the point of this story? The couple asked if they could walk with us. We said of course! As we walked along we passed others coming down the trail. Their confidence restored they eventually felt comfortable moving along on their own. We were a little slower, okay ALOT slower with our packs on. They thanked us. Said they never would have gone on if not for us.

I've got family, friends, fellow writers and so many others I've met along my writing trail who've helped me push on when I was out  of me comfort zone and afraid of carrying on. So here is my thank you to all of them and all of you who commented on my previous post about adding another weekly post to the blog. Something that comes from me and is me and goes beyond a "meme".  This is ME (I swear this is the last me I will use) being me


So on to the giveaway.

Have you a special writer friend who has helped you push through when fear has taken over or is at least knocking on the door? 

Care to share? 

AND if you tell me who it is/was, I will get you each a writing craft book of your choice. This giveaway will last until September 15. Sept 16 I will pick the winners!