[Bob Kuczewski]

I got an email announcement about a book by Maralys Wills and Chris Wills titled:

Higher Than Eagles
The Tragedy and Triumph of an American Family

Here's the flyer that came with it:

(you may have to click on the image and zoom in to see the words and the contact information)

I haven't read this yet, but it looks like it would be a great book about the pioneers of our sport. Please feel free to post any reviews to this topic.

Thanks.

[Bob Kuczewski]

!! BIG NEWS !!

I've contacted Maralys and she is going to appear at two book signings this weekend:

Saturday (Sept. 11, 2010): Maralys will be at the Crestline Andy Jackson Memorial Fly In.
Sunday (Sept. 12, 2010): Maralys will be at the Torrey Hawks Second Sunday / Annual meeting.

Here's the announcement that I've sent to the Torrey Hawks:

Hello Members of the Torrey Hawks,

I wanted to make a special announcement to the club that Maralys Wills will be appearing in person for book signings of "Higher than Eagles" which she co-authored with her son Chris Wills (First US Hang Gliding Champion - 1973). The book reflects some of the early history of hang gliding as seen through the eyes of this special family. I've only read the first chapter, but the writing is excellent. I felt as if I were right there in the room with the Wills family as they decided the fate of their business ... and maybe the fate of hang gliding.

Publishers Weekly writes:

"Sometimes tragic, always exuberant, this family
saga revolving around hang gliding is movingly
recounted by a sorely tried but indomitable mother."

Maralys will be appearing at Crestline's Andy Jackson Airpark on September 11th (Andy Jackson Memorial Fly In), and at the Torrey Pines Gliderport on September 12th (Torrey Hawks Second Sunday / Annual Meeting).

The Crestline event will also feature a spot landing contest and a bomb drop along with a steak and chicken barbecue (including beans, potato salad and green salad). The Torrey Hawks event will include free sandwiches, sodas, snacks, along with the club's usual flying activites.

Please come out to either event (or both!) to meet one of the treasures of our sport. As always, thanks for your support of the Torrey Hawks Hang Gliding Club.

Sincerely,
Bob Kuczewski
President and Founder - Torrey Hawks Hang Gliding Club

============ Attachments ============

Link to "Higher Than Eagles" web site:
- http://higherthaneagles.stephenspress.com

Link to "Higher Than Eagles" Chapter 1:
- http://higherthaneagles.stephenspress.c ... s-Ch.1.pdf

Link to other books and articles by Maralys Wills:
- http://www.maralys.com/

Flyer for "Higher Than Eagles" book:

Small flyer of Maralys Wills' book titled "Higher Than Eagles"

Higher_Than_Eagles_icon_s.jpg (14.19 KiB) Viewed 6411 times

Come on out to either event (or both!) for some fun flying and meet Maralys in person.

[Dennis]

Bob, was cool to see you there at the fly in, also very cool and an honor was Mrs. Wills. I wish I had been able to hang out with you two more, I went to tend to the crashed pilot, when I had returned, you and Mrs. Wills were gone.

[Bob Kuczewski]

It was a fantastic weekend!!

I was "Higher than Eagles" just being in the company of Maralys and several other members of the Wills family. I read her entire book yesterday (cover to cover). It's a fascinating blend of private family life and public hang gliding fame. By the time I finished, I felt I had been a member of their family and lived the triumphs and tragedies right along with them.

I'll be posting more photos from the weekend in a "Second Sundays" topic, but here's one shot from the book signing at Torrey:

TH-SEPT-2010-02_small_cropped.jpg (19.02 KiB) Viewed 6370 times

[Bob Kuczewski]

I just finished reading another of Maralys Wills' books. This one is titled "a Circus without Elephants" and it's a memoir of her life as mother of this extraordinary family. The book is delightful and easy to read. It's not exclusively focussed on hang gliding, but instead it develops the cast of characters belonging to this unique and historic family. In that sense, it appeals to a wider audience and I suspect most people will find elements of their own families mirrored in this book - whether they're pilots or not.

Circus3.JPG (18.36 KiB) Viewed 6336 times

[Bob Kuczewski]

I just happened to find a recent review of "Higher Than Eagles" at this site:

       https://everardcunion.com/book-reviews/eagles-among-men/

Today (2019) Wills Wing is, as far as I know, the world’s longest established and largest hang glider manufacturer. Its name derives from the Wills family of southern California: Maralys, an author, Rob, a lawyer, and their six children. (Not all six involved themselves in hang gliding.) This book documents how that manufacturing business started and, as the subtitle indicates, the unimaginable distress of a mother having two sons killed in the then new activity of hang gliding.