Robert E. Kranich

I work part time as a mechanical designer in Washington, DC. Working part time gives me time to write! I live in the Shenandoah Valley area near Winchester, Virginia, to be exact one mile from White Post, VA. As far as my education, I have a BS in Design and a MA in Industrial Management.

It took me two and one half years to write "A Walk Across Florida". A lot longer than it took to hike it! What was amazing about writing my book was the fact that I got to relive my experience again. What was even more amazing is that all of my materials: color and black and white film and photos, field sketches, watercolors, mementos and maps were preserved all these years. The reason I decided to include all of these items because I feel that they are an essential part of the story.

I have a lot of history and experience hiking. Two years after I walked across Florida in 1969, I took a three month around-the-west trip in my trusty 57/58 Ford Ranchero pick-up truck. I visited and hiked: Chicago Basin in San Juan National Forest, Colorado; Rocky Mountain National Park, high country; Around Mount Rainier, Washington at 8 -10,000 foot elevation; around entire Crater Lake, Oregon; Mount Whitney, John Muir Trail; Grand Canyon, Arizona, south rim to north rim and return; Big Bend, Texas.

In 1972 I decided that the USA needed a backpacking magazine. I started the "American Hiker Magazine". I did all of the layout, advertising and promotion with just a couple of helpers. The first bi-monthly issue came out in October of that year and the fourth and last in June of 1973. Finances ran out and the magazine became a statistic. What a great experience it was!

In 1972 I started a country inn, B & B Folkestone Lodge near the Smokey Mountain National Park. Here besides being an innkeeper and primary builder I outfitted and guided visitors to the inn on backpacking trips in the Park.

Today I am happily married to my wife and editor, Joanne, who is also writing. I have five children, two my birth and three by marriage, and five grandchildren. We live on a remote brick farm house where I also have my wood shop in the basement. I stay busy!

I have already started on my sequel to A Walk Across Florida. When I got to Key West I traveled around the island on a one speed bike my uncle had rented for me. I sketched and painted water colors. The new book will be a compilation of adventures inspired by Key West watercolors and sketches. Also one of the stories will be a separate book which will be my first Christian adventure story. In fact we will be attending the Asheville Christian Writer’s Conference this coming February in North Carolina.

Thank you for your interest,

Bob