Squatter - by Yolanda Deloach (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

FINALIST, Autobiography/Memoir, Storytrade Book Awards (2024)

I'm emotionally not in a good place. So begins Yolanda DeLoach's raw and redemptive Squatter, a tale of trails, trekking, and overcoming trauma. Between heartache and the realization that a relationship was never as it seemed, DeLoach pushes herself toward Wisconsin's historic Ice Age Trail, a place of friendship and, ultimately, forgiveness. But the forgiving starts from within, as she makes her way, section by section, along the trail's storied footways. Honest, heartfelt, and told with a survivor's grace, Squatter inspires, encourages, and listens, like a good friend on the trail.

Review Quotes

"A courageous journey."

-Door County Pulse

"Harrowing but restorative."

-Wisconsin Writers Association

"Direct, to the point and vulnerable."

-Hudson Star-Observer

"A courageous story. Yolanda's vivid descriptions of the Ice Age Trail's beauty, obstacles and emancipation, brought back wonderful memories of my own hike. Yolanda also weaves a challenging emotional journey into the narrative with a raw honesty that entices the reader. Successful memoir writing is not about what you did, it's about what you did with it."

-Ed Abell, author of My Father's Keep

"Squatter takes us along on the hike of Yolanda DeLoach's life as she faces demons and then meets angels. She shows us what trail magic is all about. A book for readers wanting proof of the healing powers of nature to be discovered within themselves and along the Ice Age Trail."

-Patty Dreier, Past President of the Ice Age Trail Alliance, author of Empowered: One Planet at a Time

"Many people use long-distance hiking-whether intentionally or subconsciously-as a way to heal. That includes Yolanda DeLoach, whose memoir about her trek along the Ice Age Trail beautifully showcases both the wonders of this National Scenic Trail and how therapeutic hiking can be."

-Melanie Radzicki McManus, author of Thousand-Miler: Adventures Hiking the Ice Age Trail