Off-the-beaten-path guidebooks and marketplace designed for the independent traveler
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Sensitive Cultural Artifacts: On Sale!
All museum reproductions are 20% off. Our featured artifact is a reproduction of the Mask of Death and Rebirth. The Maya belief in the never-ending cycle of life and afterlife is illustrated in this sculpture, with each layered face representing a specific stage of life. The original is from the ruins of Tikal in Guatemala and dates to about 900 AD.
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Artful Nomad Co. Names ShelliusMax "Best Person Ever"
“Assuming she is a real person,” says ANC Editor Dave Berg. Berg is referring to ShelliusMax’s recent blog on belizeforum.com, an excellent forum for info about traveling in Belize.
According to ShelliusMax (not her real name):
“Thanks Steve, the book came on Monday already. It looks fantastic! What I have read so far is very useful and your writing is also funny in places which is great. Terrific photos too. I’m really glad I ordered it.”
Shellius will retain the BPE title and accompanying notoriety until the ANC sees fit to award a new Best Person Ever at a future date.
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Northwoods Whitewater arrives!
— Staff Report
Northwoods Whitewater: A Paddler’s Guide to Whitewater of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Ontario and Michigan by Jim Rada. 168 pages, full color photography, detailed maps and animated flipbook feature.
“This is a sheaf of stories and guidenotes from one of America’s most adventuresome backcountry explorers,” says the book’s designer Steve Stratman. “Fireside raconteur meets technical riverman – spirited and storied adventure tales braided with detailed and precise whitewater expertise.”
The book features technical yet spirited descriptions of the nooks and crannies of numerous rivers, falls, and rapids throughout the states of Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Canada’s Ontario accompanied by images and colorful tales of the author’s journeys.
“Jim Rada is a modern day hero as far as I’m concerned,” adds Stratman. “He carried around these tattered, dog-eared manuscripts for years. If you wanted a copy he’d open up his trunk and would give you one for $20.” Rada died in 2003 when he suffered a fatal heart attack running Triple Drop rapid on Michigan’s Presque Isle River. “After that happened, we got all the best whitewater minds of the Midwest together and turned his manuscript into a book.”
Stratman says that Jim’s wife Karen Jensen was the magical thread that held the whole project together. “There’d be no book without Karen. When Jim was alive, she tirelessly edited copy and sorted Jim’s thoughts while Jim bushwacked through the brush and ran first descents. After Jim’s death, Karen pushed on to see the book designed and published. “She’s a real heroine in a classic renaissance sense: A determined soulmate who forged ahead to fulfill a dream” says Stratman.
Crucial to the book’s mystique are images taken by award-winning northwoods photographer Doug Nelson. “Doug’s photos are ridiculously beautiful,” says Stratman. “When you get photos this magnificent and a manuscript this compelling you’d have to be a dope to fumble the design.” The only thing that remains to be questioned is, if Jim sold his stinky old soggy manuscripts for $20 apiece, why is The Artful Nomad Company selling shiny new, full color, perfect bound ones for $18.95?
“I’m not exactly the brains of the operation. You’ll have to ask our marketing department about that one, good luck getting through.” quips Stratman.
Click here to read more or order a copy of the book. If you run a bookstore or gift shop, inquire about The Artful Nomad Company’s wholesale rates.
Be sure to tune into Fox Sport’s Network’s new show “Due North” on Thursday, October 25th at 10 pm for a special about Jim Rada and his book!
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Visually stunning and a great read.
— Dewey J. · Oct 21, 07:01 PM · #
The pictures are very engaging. The action photos are thrilling. It’s the kind of book that I can read over a long period.
— Steve E · Oct 25, 12:22 PM · #