It wasn’t until I was immersed in the task of writing a short informational piece several years ago for our garden club’s garden walk guidebook that I learned what a trace was. I had heard the word, knew it had something to do with the outdoors, which was mostly a contextual guess. This is my own photo, taken several years ago, of Wild Meadows Trace in Elmhurst, Illinois.
A few taps on the keyboard led me to descriptions and examples and so forth, and I came to know that a trace is a path or trail, worn through time by the passage of animals and/or people. These trails tend to connect places along the way; settlements, waysides, towns, parks, etc. They are like ink on parchment, tracing places where footfall has landed, connecting the dots of time-worn travel.
It was, with more than mild curiosity, that I embarked on an adventure on the Natchez Trace. It was an adventure filled with bits and bobs of history, a legendary explorer whose courage and skills stretched a young United States from “sea to shining sea“, a precocious little girl fleeing from a pack of thugs to find her beloved father in Nashville, a sinister New Orleans judge with a duplicitous and century bending nature, not to mention a host of characters from the distant past and the book’s 1977 setting, all along the infamous Natchez Trace.
Andra Watkins has masterfully woven a tale as dense as the forests along the Natchez Trace and as simple as the spirit of a child in her genre bending novel, “To Live Forever: An Afterlife Journey of Meriwether Lewis”. This is a book that defied me to put it down; which I did, only because I kept veering off the Trace to look up the likes of Hector de Silva, Bear Creek Mound, encampments along the Trace during the War of 1812, governor of the Upper Louisiana Territory, John Wilkinson – oh, I could go on and on with the chance encounters and mysterious travelers who appear in this amazing journey of Andra’s. but, I won’t, because if I did, I would rob you of your own pleasure in the reading of “To Live Forever: An Afterlife Journey of Meriwether Lewis”, where you will come to know Merry and Em (Meriwether and Emmaline) as you flee with them from New Orleans to the notorious haunts along the Natchez Trace. (I just left this as a review on Goodreads – you might want to click and see what others are saying about this book at Goodreads and Amazon.)
Andra is currently walking the 444 miles of the Natchez Trace, with her own personal cast of characters cheering her on along the way. You can read about her own personal journey here, read back to the beginning of the walk, listen to Andra answer her question of the day along the Trace, browse photos of her along the walk, and, well, get caught up in following Merry and Em’s footsteps in this afterlife journey.
Lifeonthecutoff's Blog 
Penny, what an intriguing word. What evocative images I have received from this post, remembering all the times I’ve followed a ‘trace’ through the bush, around hillsides or through sand dunes. Thank you; I keep learning new things from you, and the way you write about the books you love is really inspiring. Lucky authors! to have such interesting and bright reviews.
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You are kind, Juliet. Thank you. I think so many of your walks down paths that are very much a trace. The one you took up to the highest cone must be a trace, don’t you think, with the years and years of folks going up and down it?
It is so much fun learning things from each other, and here we are, again, you starting your day, me finishing mine, the same real time.
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We drove the Natchez Trace (and took some tiny little walks) and I remember learning the meaning of the word from a roadside info. sign. Knowing where we were walking (the steps that went before us) — it really made history come alive.
I think I’ve told you before how much I love the dialog and the friendships you create here. I always take time to read your comments and I know that Andra is one of your “frequent contributors”. I will visit her blog and also check out the book. We grew up and spent our early married life in Clarkston Washington. It is the twin “city” (stretching the definition) to Lewiston Idaho. They border the Snake River — and are located where the expedition stopped for some time… so the explorers are almost part of our DNA.
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Walking in “the steps that went before us” is a fitting way to describe this trace, Sallie. It does make history come alive, and, for you especially. living in Clarkston and near Lewiston, Idaho, to know how far Lewis and Clark traveled and that they traveled on foot and horse and boat. I am in awe thinking about it, and how you must have felt taking those steps and driving the Natchez Trace.
Yes, you have said this, Sallie, and it warms my heart. I think you might enjoy Andra’s book, which I think is categorized as Young Adult, which would be fun for the young explorers in your family. It is in paperback and e-book.
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I attended grade school in Tennessee and Meriweather Lewis was one of the explorers we loved. The theories of how he died by suicide or murder made an impression on 5th graders! I do admire your friend Andra for her unique approach to the subject as well as for the walk! Sounds like a thumping good read. Thanks for reviewing it!
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Marilyn, the circumstances and conjecture in which Meriwether Lewis dies plays very heavily in this book. Lewis has been in Nowhere since his mysterious death in 18aught and needs to help young Emmaline find her daddy or be in Nowhere forever. I wonder if it would bring you right back to your 5th grade social studies class, studying Lewis and Clark. It is “a thumping good read” which set me on all sorts of side trips investigating others who have traveled the Natchez Trace and some of the stops along the way. I, too, admire Andra and I’m hoping that there will be a sequel to this, as soon as her poor blistered feet heal!
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I love the way you track back to the origins of the word ‘trace’, Penny. I had never realised it before but it is not really a British word, but is filled with the optimism of the New World. Lovely to see Andra’s book being shouted far and wide. It is a wonderful work and her energy and commitment to her tale, in walking that most ancient of traces, is incredible.
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Thank you, Kate. I had not thought of trace as being so filled, but, at your mention, I believe you are right. It is filled with that New World optimism. A wonderful thought that will fill my being for some time to come.
Isn’t it grand to see where her words are stretching to? A trace of a virtual sort, I think. The Natchez Trace is older than the first man to walk it, having been a natural path for animals (or so I read, and believe), natives, settlers, highwaymen, soldiers – for our Andra to walk it is, as you say, incredible.
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Enjoyed your post. I mainly read novels but I like the sound of this:)
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Glad to hear it, Nicola. This is more historical fiction, young adult, and a few other genre as well. You might enjoy it.
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Dear Penny, yours is the second review I’ve read of this book. Kate over in England also wrote a review. I have my name on the list for it at the library.
By the way—you write such incisive reviews. They always grab my attention and won’t let go. You have the ability to get to the essence of the writing. That’s a rare gift. Peace.
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I did read Kate’s review and her everlasting encouragement of Andra. It is amazing the kind of support that comes out of these blogs, as I’m sure you know. I hope you enjoy the book as much as we did, Dee.
Thank you. I love sharing my thoughts books I’ve enjoyed and it is the authors’ talents that I’m sure is what comes through, but, oh how I appreciate you kind words.
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Once again I’m commending you on a book review! I’m quite impressed. I hope that the reviews we are “putting out there” are translating into our friends discovering Andra. I really did enjoy her book, and I’m so impressed with her dedication to walking the Trace. Outside of the south I have never heard the term “Trace” used for anything other than this particular one! I enjoyed what you have to share, Penny. It certainly broadens my own view. 🙂
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You are kind, Debra. Thank you.
I hope that the reviews help Andra as well. I enjoyed the book and I hope others will as well. I cannot imagine making that 444 mile trek and certainly admire her determination and stick-to-it-iveness. I feel compelled to visit the Natchez Trace – with just a wee bit of walking.
While I think we will find a trace more likely in the south, we do have some hereabouts, wherever trails were blazed. I know I will be on the lookout for them in the future.
Reading “To Live Forever . . .” reminded me of the the Indian burial mounds Tom and I saw in Iowa, and I know there are mounds here in Illinois. I’ve suddenly gotten the “I need to go out and explore” bug.
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You’ve taught me a new word and have enticed me to look closer at a new book! Excellent review Penny!
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Glad to know that I have, Janet. The book can be had on e-readers, if you are interested. I think you would enjoy it.
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I’m super excited to read it! I bought it at the beginning of the week and haven’t had time to start it yet. I have tomorrow off and it’s cold and rainy here so i know exactly what I’ll be doing!
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I’m so glad you have it now and I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. Fair warning – you may not be able to put it down. A cold and rainy day will give you the perfect time to read this.
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[…] Just under Lange’s autobiographical book of essays is a reader’s copy of a book I loved. You will, too. “Not Without My Father” by Andra Watkins is a companion book to her breakthrough adventure/mystery/ghostly book, “To Live Forever: An Afterlife Journey of Meriwether Lewis”. I wrote about here. […]
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[…] Andra’s name often appears in the comment section here on the Cutoff, for which I am grateful. Her name also sometimes appears in the body of a post, especially when one of her books is published, such as last year’s “To Live Forever: An Afterlife Journey of Meriwether Lewis”, which I wrote about here. […]
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[…] is in Andra Watkin’s riveting “Hard to Die”, a sequel to her first journey to Nowhere, “To Live Forever: An Afterlife Journey of Meriwether Lewis”, where Theodosia Burr Alston, the daughter of Aaron Burr, finds herself seeking her assignment […]
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