November 18, 2024 By Linden Ponds
Long-distance hiking enthusiast Ray Anderson has conquered three of the most famous trails in the country: the Appalachian Trail, the Pacific Crest Trail, and the Continental Divide Trail.
After returning from his trek along the Appalachian Trail, Ray decided that his next adventure would be writing a series of thrillers set on those trails. Over the next ten years, he wrote a trilogy based on some personal dangerous experiences.
Rave reviews
Receiving nothing but positive reviews, Ray was invited to present his first two novels at Meet the Author events held at Linden Ponds, an Erickson Senior Living community in Hingham, Mass.
By the time his third thriller was published, he and his wife Nancy were living at the community. Since their move, Ray continues to write. In fact, his fourth novel was released in May.
“Writing at Linden Ponds is just like writing in my former house, but without having to take care of a house. I just close the door, turn on some music, and write!” he says.
Pursuing his dream
Ray recalls that, at first, writing took a back seat to his passion for hiking. Eager to tackle a long-distance hike, he retired at age 60 and set out for the Appalachian Trail.
“It’s something I always wanted to do,” he says.
He completed the Appalachian Trail in six months and eight days. During that time, he kept a detailed journal, later lending his first novel, The Trail, authenticity. It follows serial killer Paul Leroux, who evades the law by hiking north on the Appalachian Trail, where he crosses paths with the story’s protagonist, Desert Storm veteran Karl Bergman.
The idea for The Trail came to Ray as he was hiking alone during an unexpected storm.
“While hiking in a section of dense forest, a storm came up quickly. The temperature dropped, the skies darkened, and I felt vulnerable,” he says. “I started to worry. What if I got mugged? Could I defend myself? What if a bad guy is hiking the trail?”
A dream comes true
Returning from the life-changing hike, Ray began to write.
“I spent a lot of time learning the craft. Finally, one day, I thought, ‘Okay. I’m going to do this,'” he recalls. “I finished the story in under a year. It took another two years to find an agent. I had no idea the process would take so long.”
In October 2015, The Trail was finally released. Ray knew his hard work had paid off when he was welcomed with excitement at Linden Ponds’ Meet the Author event.
“Everyone was supportive,” he says. “In fact, Community Services Manager Molly Lynch St. John took my photo for the cover of my second book.”
That book, Sierra, is based on Ray’s 2008 hike of the Pacific Crest Trail. Published in 2016, the story once again features Bergman, who, while hiking the trail with his dog Blazer, discovers a dead body–placing him in the crosshairs of a notorious drug cartel.
His third novel, The Divide, set along the Continental Divide Trail, follows Bergman as he uncovers information about a terrorist plot and is approached by the FBI for assistance.
Supportive community
Since settling into their Linden Ponds apartment home, Ray enjoys meeting new residents and catching up with neighbors, many of whom he first met at the Meet the Author events.
“At Linden Ponds, everyone supports each other in their pursuits, which is gratifying,” he says. “I’ve met wonderful people this way.”
Ray is also a member of the community’s Men’s Discussion Group, chess club, and the We Are Not Alone Group. He also goes for long walks on nearby trails and in state parks.
‘The best opportunity’
This May, Ray released his fourth novel, Lift: The Rise of Mathe-Lingua-Musica, which tells the story of Charles De Costa, a brilliant mathematics student on a quest to save the world through the creation of a new universal language.
“Lift isn’t like my previous books. It’s the speculative fiction story I’ve always wanted to write,” he says.
Ray would like Lift to be the first book of a new trilogy. “I’m not sure if I can complete that task, but Linden Ponds offers me the best opportunity. After a stint of writing, I am able to enjoy community events and mingle with all types of talented individuals.”
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