Emerick Publishing Company | Founder/Author Stephen Wade Smith
Circa 2006
Welcome
Emerick Publishing Company has been publishing the music and lyrics of Stephen Wade Smith since the mid-1990s.
This was his website. The content below is from the site's archived pages.
In approximately 2006, the company added a book publishing project: Escape to the Mountain: Mid-life Redemption on the John Muir Trail, by Stephen Wade Smith. It was released in early 2007. It is the story of one man's rediscovery of himself and the building of interpersonal connections with friends and family while hiking in the Sierra Nevada during the summer of 1994.
Sometimes, I wonder if I took a wrong turn somewhere. Not in an existential crisis kind of way (well, maybe a little), but in the way that makes you pause and ask—is this really what I was meant to do?
As an SEO professional, I deal in a world of algorithms, ranking factors, and technical conundrums that most people don’t even realize exist. Take orphan URLs, for example—those sad little pages with no internal links, floating aimlessly in cyberspace. Google often frowns upon them, but there are moments when they serve a purpose. Much like us, they’re not inherently broken; they just need the right connection.
Reading Escape to the Mountain on EmerickPub.com reminded me that life is a series of unplanned detours, where clarity is often found in the wilderness, not in the predictable map we set for ourselves. Dr. Smith’s transition from musician to chiropractor, his struggle with back pain and reinvention, resonates deeply. It’s a story of surrender—of trusting the path even when it seems uncertain.
SEO, for all its data-driven precision, is an industry built on assumptions. Google’s "rules" are trade secrets, leaving us to read between the lines, to make our best guesses. In a way, it mirrors life itself—we try, we fail, we adapt. Some days, I question the purpose of chasing rankings, but then I find solace in stories like Dr. Smith’s. His journey reminds me that sometimes, the detours are the real destinations.
Maybe I’ll never hike the John Muir Trail. Maybe my ‘trail’ is one of endless sitemaps, redirects, and crawling errors. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned—whether from a search engine or from life—it’s that every lost page, every lost soul, has the potential to be found.
And that’s enough to keep me going. [Jon Turney]
Read more about Dr. Smith's music below.
Top Amazon Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
CLARITY ON HIGH
By Donna Coomer on March 27, 2007
Despite being told time and time again that we will know when we have reached the highpoint of our lives, it is still a surprise to many when it is not where, when or what we thought it would be. Steve Smith can attest to that. As he somewhat arrogantly professes he had it all. Great job, great family, great friends, but sidelined by continual back ailments requiring numerous surgeries and the accompanying recovering periods he began to wonder.
What most folks don't know is that God, the Universe, or whomever you believe in, searches for ways to bring us clarity. We most often live our lives in sort of the "forest for the trees" mentality. It took Steve Smith a chance moment far above the treeline to see that an opportunity for achieving it may lie along the infamous John Muir Trail in his beloved Sierras.
Using the meticulousness Smith has built his career on he plans a series of hikes along the JMT. With, at various times, friends, family, colleagues and assorted professional packers, he visits the mountains, the meadows and the lakes of his dreams. And as he had hoped a bit of clarity is achieved with each pass that's crossed, each trout that's caught, and as each trip is completed.
Smith's narrative is a combination of brutal honesty, camp humor, and moments that show the author taking the time to really look at himself and see where he's not quite made the right choices when it came to deciding between his overly zealous work habits and quality time with his young family.
How we benefit is that we are given the chance to see that despite someone apparently having it all, there are still bad times to be endured and relationships that need to be mended. Learning from what Smith achieved on his adventures gives us all the chance to strive for that clarity on high.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
An inspiring story of a man finding strength
By Reader Views on March 5, 2007
Reviewed by Richard R. Blake for Reader Views (2/07)
This is an amazing story of a man, who, while fulfilling a life time goal discovers so much more as he pondered the questions: "What will I learn? What was the meaning of life? And what was important to me?" He concluded, "I was beginning to sense that my purpose for hiking the John Muir Trail was larger and more important than I had imagined. It wasn't just about accomplishing a goal I had set. It was about shaping a better character for the second half of my life. I saw that I needed a higher level of maturity and purpose."
Smith relived a summer of backpacking in the Sierra's as he reviewed his detailed journals, translating them into "Escape to the Mountains." Much of that which Stephen chronicled in his journals I have to live vicariously, through him, having never backpacked. However, I experienced with him the sound of silence, the grandeur of the scenic vistas of the Sierra's, and the taste of blueberry cheesecake. Dozens of photos and maps illustrate the events and bring the story to life.
I was profoundly impacted by the insights he shared with his son in the chapter "Lessons Learned from the Mountains." These are the principles I would like to articulate to my own sons.
Smith is an outstanding communicator, motivator, and teacher. He introduced tips for back packing, fly fishing, and business management, while writing on the environment, goal setting, core values and family relationships. By the time I finished the final line of the last chapter of the book I felt I knew Stephen personally. This is a book I want to pass along to each of my own four sons.Read more ›
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Mind (Body and Soul) over Mountains!
By Jennifer Wright on March 28, 2007
Stephen Wade Smith tells the story that so many Baby Boomer men (and their partners) can relate to, that of the myth having it "all". Creating what our culture has told us to do as "good men", have the right job, right social standing, and the list goes on. Many of us do not have the courage as Smith did, to put this on the line, and seach for self. This is not the "selfish" self, but the connected self, the one we were created by God to be. We cannot connect without knowing who we are.
As an experienced backpacker myself, who takes midlife women into the wilderness for time away and finding that connected self, I was attracted to this book written by a man. His discriptions of life on the trail are detailed and allow the reader to experience the journey at all levels. This is important, as it brings to the reader the experience of putting one's body to the "wall". This is something that, unfortunately, only athletes do in today's culture. We are information rich, and experience poor. Smith gives the reader the opportunity to see his pain as well as his exhileration as he reflects on what he has done.
What I enjoyed the most was the relationship that Smith shared with his son. Again, in our culture,where there are few rites of passage for our young men, Smith has used the wilderness for that. Brilliant! A great read for boomer men and the women who love them!
About Stephen Wade Smith, D.C.
Stephen Wade Smith, D.C., owns and manages one of the largest and most successful chiropractic practices in Southern California. A former Practice Management Consultant, he is well known for his seminar leadership and professional coaching of hundreds of chiropractic clients, his community leadership and personal involvement on the boards of academic, professional and civic organizations.
Chiropractic followed Dr. Smith's first love and first career, music. As a singer, composer and guitar player, He began playing with bands professionally at the age of fourteen. He and his wife, Judy, formed and traveled professionally for eight years with their band, Evergreen. In the late 1990s, Dr. Smith took time out from his professional life to compose and perform the music for four CDs, publishing them through his company, Emerick Publishing Company. (More details about Stephen Wade Smith's music below)
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Steve Smith's music and chiropractic careers have been punctuated with frequent back pain and six major back surgeries, which have led him to serious personal reflections about the direction his life was taking and to the decision to choose a career in chiropractic. In summer of 1994, after recovering from the fifth surgery and celebrating his fortieth birthday, he fulfilled a life-long ambition to hike and backpack the John Muir Trail in the Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains, an area he has loved since spending vacations there as a child. He accomplished his goal in five separate adventures, each with a different set of traveling companions. |
- Trip #1 was made with his son, Jared, who was sixteen years old at the time.
- Trip #2 was an adventure with members of a group of chiropractors (which he formed) called the Lions Share.
- Trip #3 was with his close friend, Skip.
- Trip #4 was a journey with his wife, Judy.
- Trip #5 was the culmination of the summer's adventures, again with wife Judy.
Dr. Smith captured the essence of his five mountain adventures and his renewed passion and direction for life in his first book in late 2006: Escape to the Mountain: Mid-life Redemption on the John Muir Trail.
Steve Smith continues to explore and enjoy the exquisite beauty of the Sierras in song, prose and in person. In early 2006, he and his family purchased Parchers Resort at South Lake on Bishop Creek in the Eastern Sierras. On weekends, holidays and vacations, getting away from his busy chiropractic practice, Steve and his family also enjoy spending time at their condo in Mammoth, California.
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CD by Stephen Wade Smith
Every Day's a Good Day"
This is an optimistic work built on the expression that “Every day’s a good day; just try missing one.” While it may seem trite or Pollyanna-ish, it is a great philosophy to live by. In my work I have seen the amazing correlation between attitude and health, attitude and aging, attitude and happiness.
The following are a few extra liner notes about each of the songs. A couple of the songs are tongue-in-cheek. Often we confront problems and whine. I don’t think that a little whining is bad as long as we keep our sense of humor and don’t start giving power to or magnifying our challenges.
1.Every Day’s a Good Day – Have you every gotten up depressed in the morning only to realize that you have many blessings? Have you ever felt that your life and happiness would be better served if you were doing something else with it? This, I have found is a common source of dissatisfaction. In the story, “Acres of Diamonds”, we learn the power of blooming where we are planted. It is the antithesis of chasing the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Life is good right now. Be happy and grateful.
2.The Town Greeter – This is the true story of a little lady who was absolutely miserable living her latter years in a rest home. She was said to be cranky and hard to get along with. She found solace sitting on the corner of the busy street in front of the home. Soon the community and every one driving by were acknowledging her by waving or honking. She became a community Landmark. At her passing last year there was a great out-pouring of emotion and she was greatly celebrated. This song is about the paradox of the positive power of a seemingly insignificant act.
3.Your Wedding Dance – Judy tells the story of a young woman that goes to her grandmother complaining about the trouble she is having with her new husband. Grandma gives her some good advice though it was not what she wanted to hear.
4.Every Night a Saturday Night – New Orleans French Quarter is one of the most fun yet strange places on earth. Every line in this song, I have experienced. If you have been there, so have you. It has a great accordion performance by Jim Gilman and a hot southern fiddle solo by Michael Harrison.
5.Eyes like Ireland – This is a Celtic love ballad. The song is a poem of metaphors about the features of the love of my life. Joe Perez plays the soprano sax and his work is unbelievably beautiful.
6.Jose Martinez – Almost every year for the last 11 years I have gone down to Baja to go fishing. Last year when I was down there I was reading the biography of Mother Theresa. One of the points that she makes is that once basic needs are met, materialism plays a minimal role in happiness and may even be counter to happiness. I saw this to be true and wrote this song about the happy, humble fisherman, who took me fishing and talked with pride about his sons and wife.
7.Heading Up 395 – This song was written for the "Selden Pass" CD. I did not finish it in time to put on the album. It describes the anticipation and joy of getting out of LA and going to the mountains. I produced this as a blue grass and again Michael Harrison on fiddle and Pat Cloud on banjo tear it up.
8.A Stay Home Mom – One day, while at work, I had a young woman express her pain about having to leave her children to go to work. That same day a radio talk show host was speaking to a phone question on the same subject. The next day a family member was lamenting the same topic. I knew there was a song there and Judy brings it to life.
9.Teenager – Any of you who have had a teenage son will enjoy this song. I wrote and produced it as a Delta Blues. While I may whine about the bad behavior of my sons, I am very grateful for the opportunity of being their dad. The blues harp solo on this song was performed by Tom Richmond and it is awesome.
10.Sleeping Back to Back - This is a song about a young couple that has an argument about the trivial problems of life and goes to bed not speaking to one another. It has a happy ending. You probably have lived this song and I hope you have lived the ending.
11.You Are Not to Blame – A father is confronted by the child he abandoned years ago. Guilt ridden for years, he is not sure what to say. He asks for forgiveness but the song doesn’t tell us what the response is. In the CD booklet I state that this is not my story. I have seen the story lived by others from the abandoning parent perspective and from the side of the abandoned child.
12.You’ve Changed – Judy sings about the transition that frequently occurs once a man has won the hand of the woman he loves. He goes from being Shakespeare’s Romeo to Jackie Gleason’s Ralph Cramden ( Al Bundy for the younger generation). This of course goes both ways. When I originally wrote the song it was about the negative changes that a woman can undergo. A woman can go from to Raquel to Roseanne. But Judy wasn’t exactly thrilled with it so I changed it. It’s a hoot and has a great Hammond Organ performance by Matt Reid.
13.The Love of a Woman – One day while I was driving down 395 near Lone Pine I heard a minister on the radio say “The love of a woman and the love of a child is what will civilize a man.” As I thought about this I came to the realization that it was only partially true. What really changes the heart of a man is loving a woman and loving a child. Mature, lasting love is the greatest thing on earth. It is far more meaningful than romantic love because it really does produce happiness.
Now friends, I hope that I wetted your appetite. I hope that you will order this CD.
Thank you so much for supporting my music.
May God Bless You,
Sincerely, Stephen Wade Smith
More Background on EmerickPub.com
Emerick Publishing Company: A Legacy of Music and Literature Emerick Publishing Company has established itself as a notable independent publisher, primarily known for its work in music publishing and more recently for expanding into book publishing. While specific details about the company's founding and early history are limited in publicly available sources, it has gained recognition for its contributions to the music industry and literary world over the past few decades.
Music Publishing Origins
The company's roots appear to be in music publishing, with a focus on publishing the music and lyrics of singer-songwriter Stephen Wade Smith since the mid-1990s. Smith, who had a background in chiropractic medicine, pursued music as a passion alongside his professional career. Emerick Publishing Company served as the vehicle for releasing Smith's musical works, which included several CD albums. Some of Smith's musical releases through Emerick Publishing Company included:
- "Every Day's a Good Day"
- "Selden Pass"
These albums featured Smith's original compositions, often touching on themes of optimism, life experiences, and personal growth. The music was described as having elements of folk, country, and contemporary styles, reflecting Smith's diverse influences and storytelling approach to songwriting.
Expansion into Book Publishing
In the mid-2000s, Emerick Publishing Company expanded its scope to include book publishing. This move marked a significant diversification of the company's offerings and opened up new avenues for creative expression. The company's first major book publication was Stephen Wade Smith's "Escape to the Mountain: Mid-life Redemption on the John Muir Trail," released in early 2007. This non-fiction work chronicled Smith's experiences hiking the John Muir Trail in California's Sierra Nevada mountains, blending personal memoir with reflections on nature, self-discovery, and life's challenges.
"Escape to the Mountain" Reception
"Escape to the Mountain" received positive reviews from readers and critics alike. The book resonated with audiences interested in outdoor adventures, personal growth narratives, and midlife reflection stories. Reviewers on platforms like Amazon consistently gave the book high ratings, praising its honest portrayal of personal struggles and the transformative power of nature. Some key points highlighted in reviews include:
- Smith's candid discussion of balancing professional success with personal fulfillment
- The book's inspirational tone and messages about self-discovery
- Vivid descriptions of the Sierra Nevada landscape and hiking experiences
- Insights into family relationships and the importance of connection
One Amazon reviewer noted: "Smith's narrative is a combination of brutal honesty, camp humor, and moments that show the author taking the time to really look at himself and see where he's not quite made the right choices when it came to deciding between his overly zealous work habits and quality time with his young family."
Company Profile and Approach
While detailed information about Emerick Publishing Company's internal operations is limited in public sources, some aspects of its approach and philosophy can be inferred from its publications and author interactions:
- Focus on Personal Stories: The company appears to value authentic, personal narratives that offer readers insights into human experiences and growth.
- Niche Markets: By publishing works that blend genres (e.g., outdoor adventure with self-help elements), Emerick Publishing targets specific reader interests.
- Author-Centric: As a small, independent publisher, Emerick Publishing likely works closely with its authors, providing more personalized attention than larger publishing houses might offer.
- Quality over Quantity: The company's limited catalog suggests a focus on carefully selected works rather than a high volume of publications.
Cultural and Social Significance
While Emerick Publishing Company may not be a household name in the publishing industry, its work contributes to important cultural conversations:
- Midlife Exploration: Publications like "Escape to the Mountain" address the growing cultural interest in midlife reassessment and personal reinvention.
- Nature and Well-being: The company's works often highlight the connection between nature experiences and personal growth, aligning with broader societal trends toward wellness and outdoor recreation.
- Independent Voices: As a small publisher, Emerick Publishing provides a platform for voices and perspectives that might not find homes with larger, more commercial publishing houses.
- Music and Literature Intersection: By operating in both music and book publishing, the company represents the often-overlooked connections between these art forms.
Challenges and Industry Context
Like many small, independent publishers, Emerick Publishing Company likely faces challenges in an industry dominated by large conglomerates. The publishing landscape has undergone significant changes in recent decades, with consolidation and digital disruption reshaping traditional models. Some industry-wide challenges that may affect companies like Emerick Publishing include:
- Distribution: Securing widespread distribution for physical books can be difficult for smaller publishers.
- Marketing: Competing for attention in a crowded marketplace with limited marketing budgets.
- Digital Transition: Adapting to the growth of e-books and changing reader habits.
- Author Retention: Keeping successful authors from being lured away by larger publishers offering bigger advances and wider distribution.
Future Directions and Potential
While specific plans for Emerick Publishing Company's future are not publicly available, several potential directions could be explored based on industry trends:
- Digital Expansion: Increasing focus on e-books and digital audio formats to reach broader audiences.
- Niche Specialization: Further developing expertise in specific genres or subject areas to build a loyal reader base.
- Collaborative Publishing: Partnering with other small presses or organizations to pool resources and expand reach.
- Multimedia Approaches: Leveraging the company's music publishing background to create innovative book-music hybrid projects.
Emerick Publishing Company represents an interesting case study in the world of independent publishing. From its origins in music publishing to its expansion into books, the company has demonstrated an ability to adapt and evolve. While it may not have the reach or resources of major publishing houses, Emerick Publishing fills an important niche in the industry, providing a platform for unique voices and perspectives. The company's journey reflects broader trends in the publishing world, including the challenges faced by small presses and the ongoing search for innovative ways to connect authors with readers. As the publishing landscape continues to change, companies like Emerick Publishing will play a crucial role in maintaining diversity in the literary ecosystem and ensuring that a wide range of stories and ideas find their way to audiences. For readers, authors, and industry observers alike, Emerick Publishing Company offers an intriguing glimpse into the world of independent publishing and the enduring power of personal narratives in both music and literature.