Winging It: A Memoir of My Journey to Asia Book One

by Lia Russ

256 pages, Hardcover

Published September 5, 2000

About the author

Lia Russ was born high in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado in a town so small that only three other children were born that year. Perhaps because of the sparseness of human population and the vastness of the natural world, Lia learned to open her senses to connect with the energies of everything around her.

It wasn't until she moved to Westchester County, New York, (at age nine) that she began to realize she was different from other children. Between her sensitivities to energy and a discovery that she was dyslexic, Lia feared that she would never fit in. She grew to dislike her differences, and because there was no support, she began to feel like she was irrevocably stupid and despaired about what life would be like for her as an adult.

This sense of despair followed her and overshadowed her life until that very discomfort caused her to leave the USA for the Far East at nineteen, in search of answers. She has devoted her life to understanding the things that she saw and felt around her that no one else seemed aware of and to finding information that would save others from having to experience the pain of isolation and self-doubt that she went through.

Lia loves nature, animals, solving mysteries, writing, creating art and dancing. She has traveled extensively in the United States, and Asia and currently lives in upstate New York with her boyfriend, two dogs, two cats, two parrots and many plants. Lia collects strays, crystals, and dots.


Lia's work can also be found at : https://www.bookbub.com/authors/lia-russ

Reviews

[Carson Buckingham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever had the desire to explore Asia? Well, pull up a comfortable armchair and be that traveler from the comfort of your own home. Winging It is a thought-provoking memoir of Lia Russ' travels through Japan, Thailand, India, Nepal, and the Philippines during the mid-80s. Having never been outside the United States, it was rather brave of her to just take off on her own to search for meaning and personal growth--but that's the strong, driven woman that Lia is and always was. This is a two-volume set, so you will visit Japan, India, Thailand, and Nepal in the first book, and the Philippines in the second (which has not come out yet). I urge you to pick up both books. They will become old friends on your bookshelf.

[Debby · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully unique twist on the Cinderella story! Lia’s journey across Asia is inspiring, heartfelt, and deeply empowering. Her search for identity and self acceptance, paired with her own stunning photos, makes this book both personal and unforgettable.