Swell Book Release & Tour!
It’s here!! I received my first copy of my book! It feels pretty wild to hold the culmination of a lifetime of dream-chasing and three plus years of writing in my hands. I’m proud of the manuscript, but the way it came together artistically just blows me away! I can’t give enough praises to my team at Patagonia Books–illustrator, Daniella Manini, designer Mary Jo Thomas, photo editor Jenning Steger, director Karla Olson, and editor Sharon AvRutick, along with many others at who gave such expertise and attention to detail to make this book turn out so beautiful.
I hope that sharing my personal story will empower others to follow their hearts and dreams, to love their own flaws and imperfect stories, to take their own adventure no matter how small or how big, and seek to feel connection with all life. I read Tania Aebi’s Maiden Voyage as a young woman and it opened my mental horizon to the possibility that I, too, could be a captain and sail the world. The greatest reward for sharing my story, will be to see where the next generation of young sea adventurers, especially the ladies, will sail.
If you’d like, you can order my book here. And/or you can come to one of these book tour stops next month!! All events are free and no tickets needed. I will be showing the book trailer video, talking story, reading passages, and signing books. There will be limited edition posters & cups (free), T-shirts, and of course books available!
BOOK TOUR EVENTS
Tues 3/27 – Kaimuki Bookstore, Da Shop
3565 Harding Ave
Honolulu, HI 96816
808 734 7159
Event 6pm
10% of sales go to Changing Tides Foundation!
Weds 3/28 – Patagonia Honolulu
Time: Doors 6:00PM, Event 6:30PM
Thurs 3/29 – Patagonia Haleiwa
66-250 Kamehameha Hwy., Haleiwa HI
Time: Doors 6:30PM, Event starts at 7:00PM
Mon 4/2 – Patagonia Cardiff, San Diego
2185 San Elijo Drive, Cardiff CA
Time: Doors 7:00PM, Event 7:30PM
Live Music & Book readings
Tues 4/3 – Hobie Surf Shop Laguna Beach
294 Forest Ave, Laguna Beach, CA
Time: Doors 7:00PM, Event 7:30PM
Wed 4/4 – Shoreline Yacht Club
Thurs 4/5 – Patagonia Santa Monica
Time: Doors 7:00PM, Event 7:30PM
Fri 4/6 – Patagonia Ventura
235 W Santa Clara St, Ventura CA
Time: Doors 7:00PM, Event 7:30PM
Sat 4/7 – Sandbox, Santa Barbara
414 Olive St, Santa Barbara, CA
Time: 7pm
Art show, Live Music, & Book readings
Sun 4/8 – Bang the Drum, San Luis Obispo
950 Orcutt Rd, San Luis Obispo, CA
Time: 4pm
Live music by Carmine Terracino, and the Turkey Buzzards, Brick oven pizza
Tues 4/10 – Patagonia Santa Cruz
Time: Doors 7:00PM, Event 7:30PM
Weds 4/11 – Proof Lab Surf Shop
244 Shoreline Hwy, Mill Valley, CA 94941
Time: Doors 7:00PM, Event 7:30PM
Thurs 4/12 – St Francis Yacht Club, San Francisco
99 Yacht Rd, San Francisco, CA
Time: 7:00PM
Fri 4/13 – Patagonia Bend
1000 NW Wall St #140, Bend OR
541.382.6694
Time: 7:00pm
Proceeds to Changing Tides Foundation and Protect Our Winters
Mon 4/16 – Patagonia Portland
1106 West Burnside Ave, Portland OR
Time: Doors 7:00PM, Event 7:30PM
Thurs 4/19 – University Bookstore – Seattle
4326 University Way NE, Seattle, WA
Time: 7 PM
Tues 4/24 — Patagonia Austin
Time: Doors 5:30PM, Event 6:00PM
Weds 4/25— Patagonia St Paul
Time: Doors 7:00PM, Event 7:30PM
Thurs 4/26 – Patagonia Chicago Mag Mile
Time: Doors 7:00PM, Event 7:30PM
Mon 4/30 – Patagonia Pittsburgh
Time: Doors 7:00PM, Event 7:30PM
Tues 5/1 – Patagonia Bowery – NYC
Time: Doors 7:00PM, Event 7:30PM
Thurs 5/3 – Farias Surf & Sport – Ship Bottom
2800 Long Beach Blvd, Ship Bottom, NJ
Time: Doors 7:00PM, Event 7:30PM
Fri 5/4 – Ashworth by the Sea Hotel (with Cinnamon Rainbows Surf Co)
295 Ocean Blvd, Hampton, New Hampshire 0384
Time: Doors 7:00PM, Event 7:30PM
Tues 5/8 – Zeal Optics Headquarters- Boulder
1230 Spruce St, Boulder, CO 80302
Time: Doors 6:00PM, Event 7:00PM
26 Comments
Andrea Clenney
April 23, 2018Liz, I just wanted to tell you I LOVE your book! I am about a third of the way through and am enthralled with your writing. I honestly feel like I’m a stowaway aboard Swell. While I’m old enough to be your mom, that hasn’t diminished my yearning to do a somewhat modified version of what you’ve accomplished. I’m in the process of making plans to spend this final act of my life on my own sailboat touring this beautiful Earth.
I also just learned about Amelia. Heartbreaking. I hope you rescue another cat or perhaps a pup and give them love and the greatest of adventures! All the best. :)
Birgitta Silfverhielm
May 3, 2018This is so strange. Just about to write to you how much reading your book mean to me, I find someone else has already expressed my thoughts. I, too, is old enough to be your mother, and have, too, decided to finally go long distance sailing on my own boat. After having dreamt about it for 31 years (I promised myself back in 1987 to do it), the final decition was made after my sailing trip last summer to Shetland and Scotland. I sailed partly alone, partly with a female crew. I also read Tania Aebi, and Naomi James, and now Liz Clark. And many others, but the “others”, the men, tend to put women in a corner. I don´t want a picture of myself in the corner. I wanna move! And now my decition is about leaving 2019 for as long as I can and wish for. I go alone but sometimes bring friends. I live in Sweden, and would love to see the pacific before life is over. And to share with others my beliefs.
I always knew that sailing and living the kind of life of simpicity it means, was what I was intended to do. I have had my own boats since the late 70´s. Everytime I enter my boat, or even talk or think about her, I feel happiness.
I want to thank you of all of my heart, Liz, for sharing the way you live and think and develop yourself and the world around you. It encourages me a lot. I wish you and Swell all the best for the future!
My closest friend at home, cat Tigris, looks very much like Amelia. I am so very, very sorry to hear that Amelia is gone. But I believe she is still in every cat. Tigris will not follow me sailing, cause she just likes the free life of her house and forest better. I hope there will be a lot of women sailing their boats a long way and telling about it. This is important stuff. Your inspiration is important.
Captain Liz
May 10, 2018I’m so so happy to hear you’ll be heading out on your own dream voyage. Wishing you all the very best sister!! See you out there! xo Capt Liz
Tom
May 21, 2018Liz: I loved your book and found inspiration in your adventure. I am also a sailor and surfer as well as a Father to young surfer. She burst into my life unexpectedly and has kept me ashore for the last 17 years. I hope she has the courage to pursue her dreams like you have. I hope you will come to Patagonia in DC!
Gerald Barrink
June 27, 2018Hi Liz, just bought your book and enjoying it immensely! We’ve recently returned to Australia from a surf exploration cruise to Tahiti via 4 months (cyclone season 2015-17) at Christmas Island. While reading your book I started to realise that we were actually moored near your yacht for a few days at Huahine and often saw you zipping past with your surfboard heading out for a surf at the pass but didn’t meet up in the waves. We were on the catamaran “Cactus Island” (the one with the 2 freestanding masts). I’m disappointed now that we didn’t introduce ourselves and get to chat with you! We hope to head that way again next year and will definitely say hello if we cross paths again. Good luck with your book and happy sailing, Gerald.
T-Bone (plant base)
June 27, 2018Sitting here on the largest estuary in the U.S, enjoying a beautiful sunset, wind on the water and trees, and trying to reconcile the decline of the Chesapeake Bay. Mother Nature is so strong, so beautiful. I go inside and google, “Can the earth survive without man.” Yes, man. Sorry we have had the conch, the torch. The search results are staggering. Our planet flourished for millenniums before we arrived and would completely heal, staring the day we depart.
Thank you Liz for an inspiring story. You are our modern day Thoreau, Swell has been your cathedral, the Pacific your pond.
Captain Liz
July 17, 2018Thank you!!
Loren Eib
June 2, 2018Wow Liz,
Your book is so inspirational! I think your desire for people to live their dreams and make positive choices to help our planet came through loud and clear and in such a beautiful insightful way. I was in tears on several occasions reading it, so touching. I used to love reading and just have not picked up a book in so long. I saw the ad on facebook and in a short description immediately struck a cord with me. Once I picked the book up I couldnt put it down and took the day off work to finish it. Loved every page and your struggles and connection with it all came through so well. Congratulations I cant wait to share this with my friends. I wish you the best. Great Job I know it must of took alot of work but so worth it! Deep down Mahalo
Michael Cihen
June 14, 2018Hey Liz,
I just finished your book a few minutes ago and loved it. I read it in 2 days but wish it would last a month! Thank you for writing it and for raising the consciousness of us all who love the oceans. Be well and don’t give up the ship!
-m
P.S. It looks like you are partial to the Pacific, but if you make it to the North Atlantic, stop in at Martha’s Vineyard for a hot shower.
Shea
June 15, 2018Liz
You mention a coconut yogurt in one of your interviews, when asked what you eat abroad your boat.
I think you said that it was a Tahitain item, that you get while your there. Is this a dairy yogurt flavored
with coconut, or is it dairy-free? Something seems yummy here…….
Captin7Seas
June 19, 2018Just finished reading your book last night, and could not put it down. I ordered it on Amazon immediately after seeing a video clip about it on YouTube. I’ve been watching related videos by folks who are traveling around the world, in an effort to expand my knowledge as I prepare for my own voyage, and it came up as a suggested link. My voyage aboard Orion, a Hunter 410, will start when I retire in 652 days…but who’s counting! I have traveled by sail up and down the east coast from Cape Fear to the Ga/Florida border and back and forth from Charleston to Bermuda three times – so I am smitten with the life aboard and seeing the world at the speed of a bike. Fortunately I am also truly blessed in that I already love what I do and believe if you do truly love your work then you don’t work a day in your life. I have taught all four of my children that – and it is one thing they did actually learn from me! I lead the design and construction team for Ga Tech and we try and raise the sustainability bar with each building we do. Right now we are working on the first real large scale Living Building Challenge project with a grant from Kendeda built in the SE, and if you have not heard of that system of measurement – just think about it this way: it will have no more impact on the environment than that of a flower. I have been increasingly distressed over the declining state of the oceans and fish populations for many years and I plan to engage in activities and writing when I circumnavigate to try and bring more attention to this decline. I applaud your efforts in this regard and wish you well in those efforts, your continued path toward realizing a state of Ataraxia and hope our paths will cross one day.
Best,
Scott
Captain Liz
February 5, 2019Wishing you all the best during your countdown to throwing off the lines… and fairest of winds and dreamy empty bays once you get out there!! Cheers, Liz
Tammy
July 7, 2018I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed your book. My husband and I sail, and I ordered it thinking it would just be an interesting sailing book. It was so much more. I can’t wait to get back to school, so I can share it with someone else, who might enjoy it as much as I did. My ultimate goal, to pass it on to a young lady that will find the inspiration to live life well. Safe travels and enjoy the adventure of life!
Captain Liz
July 17, 2018Thank you Tammy!! So glad you enjoyed it!
Harper Hatheway
July 15, 2018Liz,
Just finished, devoured really, Swell. What a great book! Being a sailor and body surfer I struggled and rejoiced along with your voyage within and without. Thanks for the vicarious adventure you shared and the lessons learned. I especially appreciated the lessons you passed along about the inner voyage we all take throughout life.
Your writing is enthralling and more than up to the task of recounting Swell’s journey. Can’t wait for the next trip, mine or yours.
Harper
Coronado
Gus
August 11, 2018Well done for the book!
What an amazing life story you have. I am looking forward to reading it!
Cheers,
Gus
Moira
August 27, 2018What a wonderful, inspiring, and exciting book! You model such courage, resilience, and open-heartedness. I’m delighted that I came across “Swell,” and very grateful to you for writing it!
Charles Stewart
September 3, 2018Dear Liz,
Just read your book. Loved it, the photos made it come alive. I took a trip with my brother a few years ago, out of Ventura through the Channel Islands. It was fabulous. I painted some pictures stimulated by the trip.
Rock at Princes Island
Ran down on this in the fog, our coordinates were wrong. Luckily didn’t go aground. Found Schuyler Harbor shortly thereafter.
Headland, Channel Islands
San Miguel Island beach
Anacapa Lighthouse, fog coming in, moon setting
Reading your blog now and will enjoy it going forward. I apparently can’t send pictures to you.
Safe travels.
Charlie Stewart
charlesm.stewart@comcast.net
Renee Leiokamalia Wulzen
September 19, 2018LIz.
I feel as though I do not know where to start. I truly felt connected to you as I read your book. All pau reading it now. I also fear for the future of our earth. I grow tired of the system. Wow some of the experiences you went through. I can definitely relate. Especially when it comes to relationships…But also the surfing trials and tribulations. Surfing can be a huge teacher for life its self. Over the past four months I have been taking sailing lessons. My boyfriend has a Baba 30 down on Raiatea at the moment. He wants to live the sailboat life as you are. So I guess I’m finding a way to prepare myself ..Ha! We live on the Big Island of Hawaii. My home since birth. It would be hard to let go of my island home and trust in the boat out at sea. But your book gave me confidence and inspiration. It can be done. Hopefully we can get a bigger boat eventually.It all seams so expensive. Well we have been just talking about this idea so far but we may indefinitely get there at some point. I really enjoyed all the pictures of the sea and the sunset colors. I too love that feeling of being free in nature.this morning I got up at 4:30am went for a five mile run on the beach and then surfed supper glassy and supper nice waves in the valley. I was feeling so much gratitude and pure happiness. It was overwhelming. Got a nice overhead peeling right that was pretty long all the way to the beach. It left me on cloud nine for the rest of the day. I thought of you and how you must experience this amazing feeling on a day to day basis. I hope to run in to you in Tahiti some time. Aloha pumehana Renee
Captain Liz
January 12, 2019Aloha Renee! Wishing you all the very best, and lots of beautiful sailing adventures if this ends up feeling like the right path to pursue!! Xx Capt Liz
Jeff Dunlap
January 28, 2019Obviously you have thought of this, but I want to put in my vote for Hollywood turning your book into a movie. It’s got all the elements. Lots of movies are made on a lot less than what you have to offer here. And I’m not talking documentary. I think it would be very successful if done properly. People love Films taken from real life. All it takes is one person in the industry, with some power, to catch the bug, or a young, well known actress, who believes it would be good for her career. Really, I believe it would be a fabulous Film. You have so much to draw on. The world would be missing something great if it didn’t happen. Good luck.
Captain Liz
January 31, 2019Thank you Jeff!! I’m hoping it works out with the right people! I would love to see it get picked up by Reese Witherspoon’s female-oriented production company. Just a pipe dream but you never know! Cheers!
Jeff Dunlap
February 3, 2019Just A Pipe Dream—-Is that a Surfer PUN—-Here’s a thought: Put OPRAH on your list of possibilities. I’m guessing you’ve watched SUPER SOUL SUNDAY. In each show she inserts a brief film concerning Nature,Spirituality,Meaning of life. I think your Short Film is tailor made for Super Soul Sunday,(millions of viewers) and Oprah is friends with Reese Witherspoon(she probably watches the show). If you manage to connect those Dots, it could move things forward. Good Luck!!
Rick Laughlin
December 30, 2019Hey Liz,
As a total free spirit loving all that nature has to offer…abhorring most every thing “civilized” I found your book immensely satisfying…you are living your dreams on your terms…just like I am…may you never stop living like you do Liz…
Rick Laughlin…Mexico…
Captain Liz
April 16, 2020Thank you Rick! All the best to you. Say hello to Mexico for me, I miss it! :D
Rick Laughlin
April 16, 2020Hey Liz….thank you so very much for replying to me….and yes I am living my dream life too!!! And I will Liz…where are you off to now?