Duo collaborate to pen kid's hiking book

Alison Humphreys and Wendy Gorton recently published “Virginia & Maryland: 50 Hikes With Kids with Delaware, West Virginia and Washington, D.C.” through Timber Press.

Humphreys, who has a masters degree in clinical psychology, is a college professor and licensed psychotherapist in private practice.

The Kingsville resident said with her background in psychology and early childhood education, she has “made a career of helping individuals and families improve their quality of life.”

She has homeschooled her four children for the past 10 years with an emphasis on hands-on, child-led learning and unstructured time in nature.

To learn more about how her children learn through outdoor adventures and travel, go to @raisingmavericks on Instagram or go to www.raisingmavericks.com.

Gorton, is the original creator of the 50 Hikes series, but plays a behind-the-scenes role now, so Humphreys answered the questionnaire.

The 292-page book, which retails for $24.99, is available at www.dropbox.com/t/i0TLeVwVh5JddMkP.

How long have you been writing, and how did you get started?

I have always loved writing but I have been writing professionally in different capacities over the past 10 years.

What inspires you to write?

I am inspired by the places my family visits, the adventures we go on, and how my children learn through experiences. I also am passionate about the topics of kids having unstructured time in nature, homeschooling and living life to the fullest.

Do you consider writing to be a career?

Absolutely! Writing is an amazing career with many options and I am proud to say that one of my careers is writing.

What kind of writing process do you use?

I often write about my family’s adventures and how our children learn through our travels and outdoor adventures. I will often take notes after our adventures and during our travels and then write about these experiences in detail afterwards.

How did you publish your book?

I was fortunate that Timber Press saw my posts about my family’s hiking and outdoor adventures and reached out to me to ask me to write the Mid-Atlantic region section of this amazing series. I jumped at the opportunity to share my family’s love of the outdoors and hiking with other families.

Who are some of your favorite authors and why?

My favorite authors include Malcom Gladwell, Richard Louv, John Taylor Gatto, and John Holt. They have influenced me both in terms of how I write as well as the topics I write about.

What are you working on now?

I continue to blog on our website and write articles for tourism boards and local publications. I am also working on a proposal for my next book.

Please include a brief description of your book

Discover the 50 most kid-friendly hikes in the mid-Atlantic states with this book featuring maps and scavenger hunts of items to find along each trail; plus fun extras that will foster a curiosity about the region’s flora, fauna, and geology.

In the latest addition to the “50 Hikes with Kids” series, educators Alison Humphreys and Wendy Gorton give your family everything you need to explore the lakes, rivers, seaside dunes, and mountain trails of Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, West Virginia, and Washington DC.

Readers will find easy-to-read trail maps, intuitive directions, elevation and length details for every hike, restroom information, and places to grab a snack nearby. Plus, scavenger hunts for each trail make it fun for even the youngest trekkers to learn about local flora, fauna, and geology. Hikes include the Alapocas Run, the Calvert Cliffs, Theodore Roosevelt Island, the Blue Ridge Tunnel, Harpers Ferry and more.