It’s only been a week since City Steps of Pittsburgh: A History & Guide was released, but it’s already garnering positive news and reviews from local sources! We received a great boost of support from evening anchor Kristen Powers at WTAE, who crafted a wonderful story about Pittsburgh’s city steps (including a plug for the book) and the people and organizations trying to preserve them. It was also exciting seeing Allegheny CleanWays and Land Force discussing their programs for care and maintenance.
Additionally, we were thrilled that former Wall Street Journal writer and Moundsville co-director John W. Miller wrote a review, “Step This Way: New Book Explores the Magic of Pittsburgh’s Public Staircases,” detailing some of his favorite tidbits and stories.
As an aside, John plays a small but important supporting role in the creation of our book. In 2014, the Wall Street Journal published John’s story about the steps on its front page; this article was instrumental in resurrecting Bob Regan’s first book, The Steps of Pittsburgh: Portrait of a City, which had been out of print for several years after its local publisher closed up shop. John’s article attracted the attention of the publisher of Globe Pequot Books, who reached out to Bob with an offer to update and re-print the book. Soon after that, Pittsburgh Steps: The Story of the City’s Public Stairways was released. That book served as the foundation of the Mis.Steps project, which re-traced Bob’s late 1990s journey, locating 700+ flights of city steps.
The photo of the historic “Indian Trail” stairs (connecting W. Carson Street to Mount Washington) is very appropriate because the journey I’ve been on for the last seven years has sometimes felt like climbing a mile-long flight of 1,000 steps! 🙂
Finally, while we’re thankful that many Pittsburgh bookstores, indie and chain, are stocking and selling the book, we’re pleasantly surprised that our Amazon sales are robust. We greatly appreciate the editorial reviews submitted by former Mayor Bill Peduto, plein air painter extraordinaire Ron Donoughe, and Rossilynne Culgan, author of 100 Things to Do in Pittsburgh Before You Die.
Thank you to everyone who has purchased, put it on their “wish list,” or requested it from their local library. Your support, enthusiasm, and interest are vital for keeping Pittsburgh’s city steps relevant and maintained.