Campfire Stories Book

A collection of short stories to be read together around a fire.

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Support LGBTQ & BIPOC Writers for Campfire Stories Volume II!

Campfire Stories is an anthology of short stories about some of America’s favorite national parks, intended to be read together around the fire. While the first volume of Campfire Stories featured works from the first 100 years of our national parks,  CAMPFIRE STORIES VOLUME II will share park stories of today.

We're looking for your support to fund the work of nearly 40 writers and illustrators that will bring Campfire Stories VOLUME II to life.

Volume II will focus on seven new national parks and scenic trails:

Grand Canyon National Park

Everglades National Park

Olympic National Park

Glacier National Park

Joshua Tree National Park

Appalachian National Scenic Trail

Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail

Visit the Kickstarter page here. OR Submit your story, or apply for a travel grant.

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We’ve had an amazing weekend sharing some of our favorite stories at events at the Rush Creek and Evergreen Lodges of Yosemite’s Northwest Gate. Grateful to both for putting us up this weekend, and for all the folks who came to join us for free & unlimited s’mores and stories around the fire! Both are gorgeous must-stay lodges if you’re visiting @yosemitenationalpark-blog 🏞

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Super thrilled to be on display at the Rush Creek Lodge at Yosemite general store... a great place to grab your copy on your way into Yosemite from SF!

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Thank you Yosemite Valley Lodge for having us this week 🏞

It’s such a thrill to read stories by Shelton Johnson & John Muir in one of our favorite parks... Yosemite National Park!

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Campfire Stories was named in High Country News, an important independent journal based out of Colorado, as one of their "Best Fall Reads.” Yet another positive review!

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We’re pumped to be here at the Branches Books & Gifts Holiday Preview Event, in beautiful Oakhurst, CA🌻🏞🌲

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Thank you to Mono Lake Committee for having us on the East Gate of Yosemite, and to the local elementary after-school program + teachers for coming out to hear some campfire stories!

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California dreamin’… we’re coming for you! We’re pinching ourselves that we get to spend the month of November in Yosemite National Park and wanted to share handful of dates where we'll be talkin' Campfire Stories: - 11/9 - Reading + Q&A @ Mono Lake Committee Info Center/Bookstore - Lee Vining, CA (11am-2pm) - 11/10 - Meet & Greet @ Branches Books & Gifts - Oakhurst, CA  (11am-2pm) - 11/12 - Reading + Q&A @ Yosemite Valley Lodge - Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park, CA (7-9pm) - 11/16 - Reading + Q&A @ Rush Creek Lodge at Yosemite - Groveland, CA (7-9pm) - 11/17 - Reading + Q&A @ Evergreen Lodge Yosemite - Groveland, CA (7-9pm) Hope to share some stories and s'mores with you around the fire soon!

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We were very fortunate to have former US State Senator Dennis Damon come out to do a reading of The Ballad of the Night Charley Tended Weir by Ruth Moore at our Campfire Stories Live! event at Southwest Harbor Public Library!

Thank you to the library for hosting such a wonderful event, Bill Carpenter for coming out to read his poem Fire, Barn Arts Collective for MC'ing (and reading!), and everyone who came out—it was a packed house!

Special guest: our daughter, Lula June.

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I hope your summers have been filled with getaways and sun-soaked days, and I hope the tales from Campfire Stories have joined you on your trips.

We're excited to be hitting the road again, making stops up the New England coast to share an inside look at the book, and sign your copy! If we are stopping anywhere near you, please check out the event page on Facebook, and plan to come by and say hello!

2018 NEW ENGLAND TOUR

Mon 10/8 at REI, Cranston, RI, 6:30-7:30p

Tue 10/9 at REI, Boston, MA, 6:30-7:30p

Wed 10/10 at REI, Reading, MA, 6:30-7:30p

Thu 10/11 at Sherman's Books, Portland, ME, 1-3p

Fri 10/12 at Southwest Harbor Public Library, Bar Harbor ME, 6:30-8:30p

Sun 10/14 at Sherman's Books, Bar Harbor ME, 1-3p

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We’re excited to share some stories in our hometown of Philadelphia before heading off to New England and Yosemite in the fall!

Come gather ‘round and hear some stories from the book at Head House Books on Tuesday 9/18 at 7:30PM🌲🌝📖🌾

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The upcoming Fall 2018 Issue of the National Parks Traveler includes a review of Campfire Stories by writer and photographer Patrick Cone. We’ve received many kind words from friends & Kickstarter backers, but this is our first official publication review. We’re so grateful to Patrick & National Parks Traveler who took the time to understand and celebrate our intent for the book!

A little more from the review:

“There is a selection for any time or place, long or short, whimsical or deep with meaning. Every story concludes with a description of the author, and context of the readings, and how they were selected. The editors also have a perfect primer on reading aloud, how to select the correct reading, when to read them aloud to the group and even the type of rhythm and cadence that works best to capture the campfire listener.”

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The best part of our book tour is that we get to sneak back to at least two of the parks that inspired the book. When we weren’t at Sherman’s Book Shop in Bar Harbor, Maine, this past week doing a book signing, we were out exploring our favorite corners of Acadia, and we can’t wait to come back in October for more events!

All photos by Ilyssa Kyu.

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Thank you to everyone who came out to Sherman’s Book Shop in Bar Harbor, Maine to pick up a signed copy of the book! And shout out to the wonderful folks at Sherman’s for having us 📚 We’ll be back in @acadianps in a few short months for a couple events—so keep your eyes peeled 👀🌲

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We’re pumped about being featured in Outside’s article “7 New and Unconventional Beach Reads”—check it out!

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We are excited to share our next adventure with you, Amble—a program for creative professionals to take sabbaticals in beautiful places.

Amble provides creatives with affordable and unique lodging for one month in exchange for providing their time and skills working with nonprofits, conservancies and smalls towns who otherwise don't have access to creative services, financially or geographically. We are piloting the program in Yosemite National Park with the Yosemite Conservancy and Mariposa Arts Council this November, and today Ilyssa (quietly) launched a campaign on iFundWomen.

We wanted to give our followers early access to some of the limited rewards before the campaign goes public next week! Whether you need help creating a Squarespace website, are looking for feedback on a project, or seeking a really neat print of Yosemite for that blank space on your wall—there are pretty unique rewards and services we're offering to help fund our campaign and launch this new business.

https://ifundwomen.com/projects/amble-sabbaticals-creative-professionals

If you are a creative professional who might be interested in participating in the pilot this November, we are accepting applications until July 27th—that's 10 days from now, so don't miss out! Learn more at amblethere.com/upcoming

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Happy International Women's Day 2018!

To celebrate International Women's Day 2018, we wanted to take a moment to highlight the 7 incredibly talented women featured in Campfire Stories! 

We are in awe of their work and so honored to have collaborated with such talent—they truly helped make the book something special.

Each one of these fabulous ladies contributed an illustration for the book, which you can peep if you pick up a copy this coming August!

For now, do yourselves a favor and check out their work below.

Melissa McFeeters

Art Director and Designer for Campfire Stories

http://melissamcfeeters.com

Allison May Kiphuth

http://www.allisonmaykiphuth.com

Sarah Jacoby

http://www.thesarahjacoby.com

Emily Dove

http://www.emilydove.com

Maggie Chiang

http://www.hellomaggiec.com

Josie Portillo

http://www.portilloillustration.com/

Zoe Keller 

http://www.zoekeller.com