The Way of the Wild Goose

2023 Foreword INDIES Award Winner | Silver: Travel A pilgrimage-turned-adventure story in pursuit of a pagan mystery on the Camino de Santiago across France and Spain "In Beebe Bahrami’s The Way of the Wild Goose, a mystery, the wild feminine, and trail magic come together on the Camino de Santiago....Bahrami affirms that the Camino is more than a mere road—it’s an initiation. With skill and insight, she details the joys, challenges, and human kindness she experienced on this ‘great leyline forged from the mix of natural earth energies with the human imagination’ that became her road to self-discovery and a heart-centered life." —Foreword Reviews; starred review With three pilgrimages across southern France and northern Spain defining author and anthropologist Beebe Bahrami’s single journey on the Camino de Santiago, The Way of the Wild Goose recounts an inner and outer journey full of wild nature, ancient roads and history, quirky pilgrims, wise and humorous locals, and mysterious folklore. It’s a compelling tale of quest, initiation, and transformation following the Way of Saint James. The book is also a detective story that reveals an old mystery: Why is the goose associated with the medieval Camino de Santiago, and how did it come to preserve a whole universe of pagan, pre-Christian lore in one innocent symbol? Longtime trekker Bahrami decided to find out, and unknowingly catapulted herself into a true wild goose chase, unearthing a magnetically alive and meaningful long walk on the ancient roads in France and Spain—and a journey into the Self. The majority of Camino memoirs recount the journey of a first-time pilgrim knocking about to Santiago de Compostela, often detailing the physical challenges of the trail and the social meetings and intrigue with diverse peoples from around the world. Few go more deeply into the meaning of the road, how it transforms a person, and that it is woven with old mysteries. Those narratives that do capture these latter qualities, as does The Way of the Wild Goose, also are the most read, reread, and talked about, and popular narratives. Marketing Bahrami will promote The Way of the Wild Goose on the many channels of her established and growing author platform. This includes her ongoing writing of essays and articles with biographical bylines, her website, her two blogs, her presence as an expert on the Camino, France, and Spain on numerous forums—especially Bindu Trips, Camigas, American Pilgrims on the Camino, The Camino Forum —as well as on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, GoodReads, and her Amazon Author Page. Galley mailings, review copy mailings, outreach to all media types within the niches of spiritual travel, and spirituality Will actively pursue publicity in all forms in all media types focusing on both Camino interest and the spirituality of the Camino. In addition to Monkfish well established spiritual media connections, we will focus on Wisdom Talk Radio, Camino Podcast, Dan Mullin’s My Camino Podcast. Travel Writing Awards: Solas Awards for Best Travel Writing: Solas Silver, 2021 for “Disquiet in Lisbon” in the travel and shopping category. Solas Honorable Mention, 2021 for “On Beauty and Foie Gras.” Solas Honorable Mention, 2015 for “A Spanish Death in the Afternoon.” Solas Bronze, 2013 for “The Night Bus Across Northern Spain” in the humorous travel category. Solas Gold, 2012 for “Down a Stream in Iran and Up a Creek in Spain” in the women’s travel category. Solas Silver, 2012 for “Walking to Nemiña” in the travel and transformation category. Runner-Up Winn