March marks the beginning of our Bi-Monthly Local Author Series featuring 2 local authors with tremendous stories. Lisa Thompson author of Finding Elevation and Jaqueline Guerrero author of Jesus, Please Throw Me Donut will each be discussing their books with a short Q&A afterwards.

Finding Elevation by Lisa Thompson

Near the death zone on K2, the world’s second-highest mountain, Lisa Thompson searched for the strength to continue climbing.Her choices were clear: give in to her doubts and descend or push past her own limits and continue up the mountain’s steep face. Defiance had provoked Thompson to enter the male-dominated world of high-altitude mountaineering, but defiance could only take her so far. Aft er a harrowing battle with cancer, Lisa realized she needed to understand what motivated her to take greater and greater risks in the mountains. Finding Elevation chronicles Thompson’s path from novice climber to world-class mountaineer, as she becomes the second American woman to summit K2, which is considered by many to be the most dangerous mountain in the world. More than a climbing memoir, Finding Elevation is a deeply personal examination of motivation and the human spirit. It is a story of what can happen when we finally stop letting others define our limits and instead trust that we are capable of more. In this inspiring book, Thompson reaches beyond the mountain to tell a story of heartbreak, resilience, and the discovery that we are responsible for defining our own boundaries, finding our own happiness, and facing our fears head-on.

Lisa Thompson is a mountaineer, cancer survivor, and sought-aft er speaker and coach. Since she began climbing in 2008, she has summited some of the most challenging mountains in the world, including Everest. Through her company Alpine Athletics and other platforms, Lisa shares her message of strength and resilience with corporate and private groups worldwide. You can learn more about Lisa at www.lisaclimbs.com.

Jesus, Please Throw Me A Donut by Jaqueline Guerrero

Jesus, Please Throw Me a Doughnut is the story of Jacqueline finding her way as a young woman, wife, and mother. Eventually, she is rescued by therapy and faith, as well as her sense of humor and love of food. When life gets difficult, just ask Jesus to throw you a lifeline. But eating an old-fashioned doughnut or getting a burger and fries and a large diet soda also helps. Guerrero tells her story from two perspectives—in the present as an adult during conversations with her BF (best friend) over wine and dinner and as a child growing up in Seattle in the late sixties with her newly immigrated Filipino family.

Jacqueline’s bio:

Jacqueline Guerrero, 5’1” with her hair a li’l poufed up, lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, Chris (a.k.a. George). They have two grown sons. When she isn’t busy (often with her Filipino relatives), she’s at Starbucks with her latte and laptop, waiting for a spark of creativity. On weekends, she works at her local wine shop educating customers on Pinots and how to use the spit bucket. Jacqueline’s first book, Code Blue, published in 2007, is about her relationship with her father after his lung cancer diagnosis. Jesus, Please Throw Me a Doughnut is her second book.