Linda McLean, a Comox Valley resident for over 40 years and retired business owner, celebrated her 75th birthday by launching her memoir Route 1-75: Memoir and Musings from my 75-Year Road Trip. The book was unveiled publicly at the Courtenay Museum on June 15.
It took McLean five years to write and compile the stories for her memoir. Initially aiming for 75 symbolic stories, she ended up with over 100, describing the process as unexpectedly expansive. The final book totalled 530 pages, impressing the printer who remarked on its substantial size.
McLean dedicated the memoir to women, sharing life lessons and insights gained over her years. She emphasizes the strength found in facing life's challenges and the importance of laughter. The book is organized into nine chapters each exploring different phases of her journey.
Reflecting on the vulnerability of publishing a memoir, McLean draws inspiration from Bren茅 Brown's philosophy that vulnerability is courageous. She also heeds Mitch Albom's advice that what is interesting to the writer may not always resonate with the reader, finding freedom in this realization.
To purchase a copy of the book, contact Route175Memoir@shaw.ca. Each book is priced at $35 to cover printing costs, with McLean donating 50 per cent of sales to the Comox Valley Community Foundation.
