Long Climb Back: Trekking Through Loss and Beyond

In her first novel, Long Climb Back, writer Rita Hartley traces the rocky and poignant path she took to recover from the sudden tragic loss of her husband and rediscover herself. The details of her story are taken from the daily journal entries she made during the first two years after his death, a time when she experienced more tears, ongoing family drama, and other losses than she thought she could possibly endure.

Periods of intense loneliness mingled with old emotions, new emotions, and the process of rebuilding her life. As she began feeling stronger, Rita went on to accomplish an ultimate personal triumph she never expected: she trained to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro, a lifetime dream that her husband had before he ran out of time. As part of the climb project, Rita raised money to grant a child’s wish through Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Whether you have experienced sudden personal loss or not, you’ll enjoy Rita’s easy storytelling style which mixes truth with humor, leading to an ultimate message we can all use: Life can be messy but it can also be magnificent!