Luke Metcalf and Maggie Doyne – Between the Mountain and the Sky

Between the Mountain and the Sky: A Mother’s Story of Love, Loss, Healing, and Hope by Maggie Doyne shows us the goodness that is possible when a single person–regardless of age–takes action to help another and, in the process, changes the lives of hundreds. Maggie will be in conversation with Luke Metcalf who grew up in Pomfret, VT, and spent nearly 6 years working with her in Nepal.

Maggie’s story began in suburban New Jersey, in a comfortable middle-class family that supported her decision to travel the world during a gap year before starting college. While in Nepal, she encountered a young girl breaking rocks in a quarry and asked “What have we done as a human family that our children are living this way? More importantly, what can be done to reverse the course?” She invested her life savings–five thousand dollars–to buy a piece of land and opened a children’s home in Nepal.

That home became Kopila Valley Children’s Home, and eventually, the nonprofit Maggie launched, BlinkNow Foundation, also started the Kopila Valley School, which provides tuition-free education for more than four hundred students. 

Though Maggie and BlinkNow’s work have been recognized around the world for their innovative, sustainable work, this book isn’t a how-to for fledgling philanthropists or nonprofit founders. It is a coming-of-age story about a young woman suspended between two worlds, as well as the love, loss, healing, and hope she experiences along the way. 

Maggie’s inspiring, intimate tale shows readers an important truth: the power to change the world exists within all of us.

“She is what I wish I could be – what we all could be. Her story has inspired countless thousands of people…” –Elizabeth Gilbert

“Maggie has the courage to act for good when she sees a need and the conscience to use her privilege to empower others.” –Cheryl Strayed

Luke Metcalf worked with BlinkNow Foundation, first as a volunteer and then as Construction Project Manager tasked with taking the idea of a new eco-focused school campus from dream to reality. In that role, he was the proxy between Maggie and the many architects, engineers, contractors, and site workers. While there, Luke lived in the Children’s Home and they became his Nepal family.

The Yankee Bookshop will have copies of Between the Mountain and the Sky available when it is released 3/22 and they will generously donate 20% of sales to NWPL!

NOTE: This event will be held online. CLICK HERE TO REGISTER or email programs@normanwilliams.org for more information.