Indies Introduce

Non-Fiction

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  In the Shadow of the Mountain: A Memoir of Courage, Silvia Vasquez-Lavado
  Henry Holt and Co., 9781250776747, February 1, 2022 (Non-Fiction)
  

  “This story moved me to tears in every chapter. It is heart-wrenching and well-written, sad and dark and also light and beautiful, and full of shadows the author is courageous enough not only to walk through, but to become. Silvia does not conquer her fears, or conquer Everest; she ascends and becomes at peace in these shadows, in these narrow paths, in the pain of climbing and the pain of living. I loved the feminine point of view of climbing Everest. The way she gives homage to prayers and the power of women. It's just an all-around fantastic memoir.”

  —Samantha Kolber, Bear Pond Books, Montpelier, VT
  
  

  “Who is a hero and what is heroic? In her memoir, In the Shadow of the Mountain, Silvia Vasquez-Lavado answers both questions by intertwining the lives and narratives of sexual assault survirors against her experience organizing, mobilizing, and leading the same group to the summit of Mount Everest. In collective pursuit to recapture themselves, this group’s individual stories — along with Vasquez-Lavado’s — work to tell a larger story of perseverance, community, and the healing power of doing that which seems impossible.”

  —Clancey D’Isa, Seminary Co-op Bookstores, Chicago, IL
  

   

  “It’s one thing to climb a mountain, it's another to share your story with the world. Silvia Vasquez-Lavado takes you on a journey of self-discovery in the face of tremendous trauma and pain that will leave you breathless. This memoir is very special. It will take you on an emotional journey that will inspire you to cultivate your own community because, in the end, that is what will truly heal us.”

  —Rosa Hernandez, Third Place Books, Lake Forest Park, WA