Deb Hazlett
Before Tomorrow named a
2026 NYC Big Book Award Distinguished Favorite
September 21, 2026
Iβm delighted to share that Before Tomorrow was named a 2026 NYC Big Book Award Distinguished Favorite in the Inspiration category.
At 65, I sold most of my belongings, bought a 25-foot Airstream, and set out alone. Picture me behind the wheel of a truck, trying to remember that when backing up a trailer, left meant right and right meant left. Every few feet, I climbed out to see where the trailer was actually going. Before Tomorrow grew out of moments like thatβthe practical challenges, unexpected humor, and personal discoveries of the journey.
I wrote the book for anyone whoβs not ready for the rocking chair and has wondered whether thereβs still time to choose a different path. I didnβt have everything figured out when I started. I learned as I went.
If youβre in Orange County, Iβd love to meet you at Barnes & Noble South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa on Saturday, October 3, beginning at 1 p.m. Iβll be there to talk about the journey and sign copies of Before Tomorrow.
https://www.nycbigbookaward.com/2026-favorites/9798995518303
At sixty-five, Deb Hazlett walks away from nearly everything she ownsβnot in search of a new life, but to finally live the one that has been quietly calling her all along.
The decision isnβt sudden. It grows from a lifelong sense that something just beyond reach is waitingβand sharpens after a life-threatening event reminds her that time is not theoretical.
Raised within the expectations placed on women of her generation, Deb built a life that appeared complete. Yet beneath it lingered the persistent sense that something essential remained unanswered.
Before Tomorrow follows what it actually takes to answer that call. Preparation is deliberateβphysical, financial, emotionalβbut the road quickly replaces theory with reality. Illness, mechanical failures, and uncertain choices demand resilience and self-trust in ways no plan can anticipate.
Through solitude, missteps, and unexpected connection, she learns to rely on her own judgment and to listen to the instinct she was once taught to ignore.
This is a story about finally moving toward a life that feels honestly her own.
reviews
"At sixty-five, Deb Hazlett made a choice many only dream about. Before Tomorrow is part travel memoir, part practical guide, and entirely inspiring. Her story is proof that adventure doesn't have an age limitβit only requires the courage to begin."
β Scott Stillman, author of I Don't Want to Grow Up
βExceptionally well written, emotionally engaging, and an inherently interesting read from start to finish, "Before Tomorrow" is an especially and unreservedly recommended pick for personal reading lists β¦ β
β Midwest Book Review
βA thoughtful, quietly inspiring memoir that succeeds because it understands that the greatest adventure is rarely geographical. It is learning, often painfully and embarrassingly, to inhabit one's own life without apology.β
β Reedsy Discovery
Reader Praise
"I love the many pearls of wisdom she shares with us."
"A great read to inspire you to get on with your own life."
"So many lessons here that apply to life, to women, to travellers."
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