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Private Event Only: We welcome the authors of Jess Buchanan’s new anthology, “Deserts to Mountaintops: Our Collective Journey to (re)Claiming Our Voice”

Meet the Author: In 2011, while on a routine mission for her organization in Somalia, Jessica Buchanan made one seemingly small decision that would change the trajectory of her life. She ignored her intuition and, by doing so, silenced her voice. As a result, she spent 93 days as a hostage to pirates who demanded 45 million dollars for her freedom. On January 25, 2012, Jessica was successfully rescued by SEAL Team Six.

While Jessica’s story is unique, her practice of self-abandonment is not. She has spent the last decade learning how to repair her relationship with her intuition, and through the hard work of reclaiming her voice, Jessica has continued to climb her way out of the desert of self-abandonment to the mountaintop of self-love.

Deserts to Mountaintops, birthed from Jessica’s healing journey, is an anthology of 22 women’s unique accounts of their own desert to mountaintop experiences. Empowering stories of survival, tenacity, and resilience highlight these women’s incredible ability to finally choose themselves. By reclaiming their voice, they show us how to stand in our own infinite power, reminding us why we are here, what we can do, and who we can become.

Click here to buy .

About our Elaine’s Literary Salon Host, Jeffrey James Higgins: A retired supervisory special agent who writes thrillers, short stories, creative nonfiction, and essays, Jeff has wrestled a suicide bomber, fought the Taliban in combat, and chased terrorists across five continents. He received the Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Heroism and the DEA Award of Valor. Jeffrey has been interviewed by CNN, National Geographic, and The New York Times. Learn more: jeffreyjameshiggings.com

Find more of Elaine’s Literary Salon events here. And check back for new episodes of Elaine’s Literary Salon on Inkandescent.tv and listen to all the podcasts on InkandescentRadio.com.

About Elaine’s Restaurant:  A menu filled with delicious modern Mediterranean cuisine selections is sure to please everyone in your party. The dishes are inspired by exquisite food from Alexandria, Egypt — a blend of Middle Eastern and French, Greek, and Italian influences. Elaine’s is named for the owner’s grandmother and is based on a promise she made at the age of 12, growing up in Cairo. “I promised my grandma I would someday own a restaurant and name it after her,” shares Cynthia, who is also an author. She and her husband, bestselling thriller novelist Jeffrey James Higgins, are proud to share my family’s recipes with new friends and families in the Washington, DC metropolitan area.” Located in an 1880s building, it was the previous home for 38 years of the beloved bistro Bilbo Baggins. The newly renovated restaurant is located in the heart of Old Town’s Historic District within sight of the Potomac River and Founders Park, just a few blocks from The Torpedo Factory Art Center, and Old Town Alexandria Waterfront. Make a reservation today: elaines-restaurant.com.