Raven's Roads
Living an interesting life: the travels and musings
of motorcycling author Linda R. Moore

25 November 2007

This book brought back memories of when I was the passenger on hubby’s bike. He didn’t have a car at the time and to save money, we rode EVERYWHERE, in every kind of weather. I remember the ride from California’s Central Valley to San Fran. We left the house in tank top and shorts; it was 105 degrees. Battle the crosswinds along I-580; stopped at the top of the Altamont Pass; donned sweatpants, sweatshirts and jackets from the saddlebags; crossed the Bay Bridge and it was 55 degrees!!! (more…)

“Just wanted to let you know that Merrilou and I really enjoyed your story. We sat down on the couch each evening and read a chapter to each other. It was great fun to follow along on your journey of enlightenment. The parts where you described your self-discovery moments were especially meaningful as I have also had such moments when riding and I could fully relate to your experiences. Take care and thanks for allowing us to share your trip.”

This was a review of A Little Twist of Texas by Linda Raven Moore.

1. You get to go on a road trip.

2. And find out what it’s like to ride a motorcycle long-distance.

3. Without knowing what the heck you’re doing.

4. It’s well written and funny.

5. Non-riders seem to enjoy it just as well as riders. Just check the reader comments.

6. Ravens! Mountains! Camping in thunderstorms! (Okay, that’s three reasons.)

7. You can live vicariously without going to all the expense of buying a motorcycle, getting training, etc.

8. Did I mention that it’s cool?

9. It’s cheaper and faster to buy it from me (new) than it is from anywhere else.

10. You’ll get a signed and personalized copy.

11. You can point it out on your bookshelf and brag about the signed-by-author book you possess.

12. Up to and including Christmas Eve, I’ll send it first class for free rather than the media mail normal free shipping.

13. You’re supporting an independent artist and will have my undying gratitude. ;)

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Because the folks at Blogs we Luv were so fun and friendly on Blogathon Day, I offered to donate $2 per copy of Little Twist sold on or before this Sunday, August 5th.

To see the book details, click on the cover. (Top right hand side.)

Okay, I’ll admit that I was a bit skeptical. I’ve done a fair bit of long distance driving, and you see lots of motorcycles out on the road, so my thought was “what’s the big deal?” Now I understand. Riding a motorcycle sounds far more challenging than driving a car on the same patch of highway. I never considered the impact that the wind and road surfaces would have on a vehicle that requires the operator to maintain its balance. I now have a new respect for the skill and endurance of those long distance riders I see on the road.

In addition to the insights into what its like to ride a motorcycle on America’s highways, this book provides some very nice glimpses into the quiet places in the American Southwest. I visited some of the same places with my family as a teenager, which is clearly the wrong age to do so, as I failed to fully appreciate the power of these places. Here we get an intimate glimpse of how the power of this landscape helped change the author as she adventured through the desert on her own. This is both a physical journey through the Southwest, and a personal spiritual journey of discovery, and its fun to be invited along for the ride.

I have so enjoyed this book. What an adventurous and yet introspective person Linda is and her ability to describe in such detail the countryside and the towns through which she passes enhances the book to great effect.

All the time I was reading I mourned the absence of my wonderful detailed book of maps of the USA that I use to place me alongside stories I read from that huge wonderful diverse country. That book is packed already and it wasn’t until I read the last page that I found the map at the back which does at least give some idea of the extent of the trip.

Before I post it off to the next reader I just want to refresh myself with some of the incidents and reread some books. I almost never do that so this book has obviously spoken to me with some meaning.

Thanks for writing this book in the way you have Linda - I’ve had a lot of thought provoking moments herein.

This was a great travel diary to read. I actually even dreamt it was me doing that huge ride…and I woke up with a numb bum lol. Linda you have done a terrific job with this book and I hope you are very proud of it. Very much an inspiration. Thank you.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! While the tidbits about BookCrossing undoubtedly amused me more than they would someone who’d never heard of the site, most of the story focused on aspects of life that anyone could appreciate: the mingled fear and exhilaration of trying new things, seeing new places, and pushing yourself farther than you thought you could go; the humbling - and often humorous, if only in retrospect! - events that can interfere with the best-laid plans; friends, old and new; and the not-inconsiderable joys of getting back home again…

I think my favorite anecdote was the one about the keychain, but it was all entertaining; I really felt as though I got to go along on the trip. Thanks so much for sharing your experiences!

I’m planning to give this book to some friends who ride Harley-Davidsons and have done some long-distance trips themselves.

Actual link

Huge thanks to BookCrosser and author Linda Raven Moore (aka WhiteRaven13). You may remember that she did a solo ride by motorcycle from the West Coast of the U.S. to the BookCrossing Convention in Forth Worth, Texas in 2005 and documented the journey in a memoir called A Little Twist of Texas. When the book came out, she said she’d donate a portion of each book cost back to BookCrossing. Not too long ago, Linda made a most generous donation to the site and requested that the wings from the donation, if possible, be split so that a number of nonwinged active members can fly. The Support Team will be dispensing these wings over the next month. If you find yourself flying and don’t know why, don’t ask, because we’ll never tell. But it’s possible that your benefactor just might be a certain bookreading motorcyclist. P.S. Linda is planning on being at the BookCrossing Convention in Charleston this April, where she’ll speak a little on her other passion, Markeroni. She’s promised to bring copies of her books as well.

Just a tiny correction for accuracy: I did a Book Crossing promotion and it’s those profits, not all profits, that were given to Book Crossing. The site’s owners were very kind in letting me promote the book there.

A very enjoyable book! You have a great writing style, and I loved reading about your journey, both physical and spiritual, and the warts and all story. It was quite inspiring!