Our family's story of adventure, mysteries, and tragedy
Date Published: November 4, 2025
Publisher: Lucid Books Publishing
This book is for anyone who has stood at the edge of heartbreak and wondered if joy could still be real. Through lyrical storytelling and honest reflection, My Mountains offers hope without platitudes and peace without pretending. It reminds us that we’re not alone on the trail—and that sometimes, the steepest paths lead to the most beautiful views.
Whether you are grieving, searching, or simply longing for beauty again, this book will walk beside you—and leave you changed.
Guest Post
Pet Peeves of the Publishing Industry – None yet
10 Things You Didn’t Know About Becoming a Published Author
Just how vulnerable I’d feel having people read my words and know about me. Since my recent book was a memoir, I struggled to move past a few milestones toward actual publication. I was fully decided to give up and put it away. Maybe after I died, someone would find it and publish it. I was truly petrified to have my book out to family, friends and the public. It was a gripping fear I didn’t think I could move past. It wasn’t because I was ashamed of my story. Perhaps it started when I was young and would send my grandmother Christmas cards, only to get them returned and redlined for grammatical errors. My fear went beyond that example though. I truly expected rejection from almost everybody I knew. Even now after publication, I fear a close person to me gives me no reaction or feedback.
Another discovery of publishing a book is now people want to know so much about why I wrote it. They want to know what I wanted to change in the world, or in the mind and heart of my readers. They want to know what my main theme was. I tried to make a story. I believe stories flow naturally and aren’t prescribed or planned to be so structured. Life isn’t planned to be so structured. It seems very random. I want my readers to learn from my twists and turns in life. How decisions are navigated in stories is fascinating to me. My decisions as I navigated tragedy and life intrigue me. I want readers to relate to me in those scenes and be more informed and maybe even prepared when they face similar challenges. I want my readers not to fear what randomness may come at them in life. After all, they are not alone. God is with us in this life. We are his children, and he is our Father.
10 Things You Didn’t Know About (Chris Smith)
That he would love to write.
That he could write. In college, his essays were not graded super well. B’s was all he ever received. It was because he was very busy working and playing sports. Now he takes all the time he wants to make it just right.
He loved pondering the words to make the scene and his feelings meaningful and accurate.
He has 23 grandchildren and 9 kids. Keeping up with all of them is almost impossible, but he dreams of being together again all the time.
He is a certified Olympic weightlifting coach and CrossFit coach.
He was a rock-climbing instructor.
His chronological age is 63, but his metabolic age is 48.
He has recently remarried and is living a 2nd life that is a complete surprise and delight.
His mother published a book, and his grandmother published a book.
His favorite weather is Thunderstorms and snowstorms.
About the Author
Chris Smith is an entrepreneur and owner of multiple healthcare businesses across five states. He’s a father of six, grandfather of fifteen, and a natural leader who inspires others to pursue meaningful missions.
He feels closest to God in the mountains—hiking, paddleboarding, camping, and finding peace in wild places. My Mountains is his invitation to walk through hardship, hope, and the sacred beauty of life.
Chris loves people (but not crowds), old books, big views, and a life that’s honest, hard, and full of purpose.
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