About the author

Gerald “Jerry” Zuraski Jr

Semi-retired electrical engineer, inventor, entrepreneur, father of four, now empty nester, and an avid outdoor adventurer. When my kids were growing up, I assisted in the organization of many campouts and adventures for my family and friends. I dreamed about paddling down the Devils River for many years before finally getting an opportunity to do it in October 2024. If you have a similar dream, I hope you enjoy this book, find some of my lessons learned useful, have an adventure, and maybe even write about it one day.

Meet the Anthropologist

Taira Williams

Anthropology enthusiast, degreed in mortuary science, entrepreneur, and unapologetic adventurer. Standing six feet tall with a bold spirit to match, I have always leaned toward the unconventional path—equal parts curiosity, resilience, and just enough daredevil to keep things interesting.

Originally pursuing a career in mortuary science, I rediscovered a long-buried passion for anthropology—blending my fascination with human history, culture, and the physical story of life itself. That rediscovery set me on an unexpected new course.

Today, I collaborate with Gerald “Jerry” Zuraski Jr, helping bring his experiences and insights to life through writing, while continuing to carve out my own path as an entrepreneur and researcher.

Surrounded by a lively collection of animals and fueled by a restless curiosity, I embrace both the wild and the scholarly—proving that sometimes the road you forget about is the one worth taking after all.

Meet the Marketer

Maddi Carpenter

I'm a graduating senior at the University of Arkansas studying Marketing, and my dream has always been to work in marketing at a publishing house. Books have been a constant in my life since I was little and reading is still my favorite hobby, so the idea of building a career around stories feels like a natural fit.

Over the past few years I've gotten to explore a lot of different sides of marketing through various internships, but design and branding is where I've landed. There's something that clicks for me when the visuals and the message come together just right.