Our first book was published in 2019 and since that time, we have released three additional books. While our books have been in circulation for five years, there are a few things we thought you should know about the pages we have written and the family behind the books.
1.The Books that Almost Didn't Happen
When we received the contract to write our first book, I got such cold feet, I almost did not sign the document. Leaving our publisher's office with the contract in my hand, I felt overcome with fear. What had been a dream for so many years, filled me with complete and total panic. On the tram ride home, I looked at my husband and said, "I don't think I can sign the contract." He took one look at me and said, "Yes you can and yes we will."
Needless to say, we signed the contract and threw ourselves into the project completely. Our first book was the start of a remarkable journey. Thanks Helvetiq and Robert for believing in our/my abilities! Our book quickly became a bestseller, which turned into a life lesson; do the thing you think you cannot do!
2. We Created the Books we Needed
When we arrived to Switzerland we quickly fell in love with the landscape. Welcoming our first child into our lives, we had no idea how to hike with an infant in the Alps.
We wondered:
Who does that anyway?
Where do you go?
How do you know if the trail is stroller-friendly or even safe?
What do you need to take with you?
How do you read trail markers?
What if he gets bored?
Do people actually do this? How on Earth?
Those were just some of the questions we answer in all of our books because that is the information we longed for when we first started out.
3. Countless Hours of Research
For each and every book we have written, we have spent countless hours researching, mapping and meticulously noting the details. Some hikes or overnight stays never made their way into our books because the location wasn't ideal, the trail was too difficult, or whatever it may have been. If it didn't work for us, we knew it wasn't suited for our readers.
We have visited hundreds of locations, hiked every route, experienced each winter excursion and stayed in every single hut, mountain inn, farm and mountain hotel profiled in our books so that our readers can trust the information on the pages in our books.
4. An Educator at Heart
Due to Melinda's background in education, she was determined to make Fresh Air Kids Switzerland books stand out from typical travel books. Robert and Melinda not only wanted their books to be fun, user-friendly and inspiring, but they wanted them to include an educational element as well.
Chapter four of each of our books is dedicated to: activities, educational opportunities and knowledge based learning to help keep families happy and engaged on the trails.
5. Fresh Air Kids Switzerland Grows with Your Family
Each of our books serves a unique audience. Our first book is ideal for young families or novice hikers (you don't have to have children to enjoy our books). Families who cannot walk long distances (yet), may need to use a stroller or a carrier, and may need the excitement of theme trails to keep those little legs going.
Our second book is perfect for witnessing the magic of overnight stays with growing children. This book showed us that our children are capable of far more than we ever imagined. We experienced some of the most memorable overnights: sharing meals with strangers, rising early to witness sunrises and hiking to the most gorgeous locations. Our second book quickly became our most prized heart project for so many reasons. We feel absolutely compelled to turn this book into the bestseller we know it is!
Our third book reminded us the importance of experiencing each and every season fully. We embraced the cold and embarked on one of the most beautiful winters of our lives.
6. It Wasn't Always Easy but it Was Worth it
Please do not think for one minute that our journey has been easy. Quite the contrary. We have experienced some really special trail moments. In fact, you may have even heard us out there at some point.
We have lost shoes on roofs (that is a long story), fallen and dressed bloody knees, removed stitches on holidays, gotten lost, ran out of water, forgotten some essential you are NEVER supposed to forget, and cried on more than one occasion. Sometimes those tears were due to elation, other times not.
We have completed long days only to miss the only train. We have slept in close quarters with strangers during COVID (we had a deadline to meet) and wondered on more than one occasion what the hell we were doing. BUT, there is nothing in this world that we would have changed. We raised our children on the trails of the Swiss Alps (what a beautiful experience), we have come together and fallen apart as a family, and we have grown up, together, outdoors. And most importantly, we have come to revere the natural world and are working hard to protect the spaces we treasure.
We hope you and your loved ones have witnessed the same. This is the stuff memories are made of. Oh, and thank you from the bottom of our hearts for trusting us on your outdoor adventures. It means more to us than you may ever know.