Gerald Luttmann

As an International Selling Author my following books are published in both paperback and Kindle editions for your reading pleasure and have sold internationally in fourteen countries.

➤ 2025 "Predators of Paradise Dangerous Wildlife Lurking in Florida

What Tourists and Newcomers Need to Know"

Florida’s natural predators don’t distinguish between private property and public property lines, or who owns what. Moving to Florida means stepping into a world where paradise and dangerous perils coexist. So, on your arrival in Florida, be careful of your surroundings in the wild backcountry, even when visiting within cities. This book is your essential guide to understanding, respecting, and surviving the Sunshine State’s most notorious wildlife. From the silent menace of alligators in backyard ponds, and even swimming pools, to the stealthy crocodiles patrolling coastal waters, readers will discover the habits, habitats, and histories of Florida’s most apex water predators, who are on the prowl. Whether you’re moving to Florida, visiting, or simply fascinated by its wild reputation, this book offers a captivating, informative and sometimes chilling look at the creatures who call Florida home.

➤ 2025 “Recollections of an Appalachian Trail Hiker”

The Author’s recollections of hiking the Appalachian Trail and the extremely close-knit bonds that form with people met on the trail, and the subsequent family type relationships that develop amongst hikers. How hikers bond, help and support each other in the middle of nowhere in time of need, thus, becoming a family type unit on the Appalachian Trail, known in hiker lingo as “TRamily.”

➤ 2025 "Education, Parenting, and the Making of a Troubled Generation; From Discipline to Disorder"

This book details violence, crime, behavioral issues, problematic children, teacher frustration, governmental interference, technology, social media, ridiculously low wages, all coupled with extremely poor parenting. Why is our American educational system failing on every level? Why are our children losing respect for themselves and others? Why are we having so many behavioral issues with children at home, in society and in schools today? Why are students failing to grasp proper social manners? These types of questions could go on and on and on. In this book, I have written about the many facets of life's issues involving education, behavior, parenting, crime, the police, and the courts amongst many other topics.

➤ 2024 "The Appalachian Trail Dirt Under My Boots (and everywhere else)"

Regarding my 2,190-mile attempted thru-hike on The APPALACHIAN TRAIL starting in 2017. Read about my many failures, gear, the history of the A.T., and a series of unfortunate turn of events along the way, year after year, in an attempt to finish the Appalachian Trail.

➤ 2025 "Hiking Cades Cove and The Appalachian Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains"

As a long-distance hiker, think 1,000s of miles, I have been infatuated with the Great Smoky Mountains, Cades Cove, and the Appalachian Trail that winds its way through the center ridgeline of the Smoky Mountains, from park boundary to park boundary. Come hike with me as I live in a tent, or shelter, deep within the backcountry of the Smokies. No tourists, just hikers. Each offers a different perspective in relation to the land being traveled. From hiking into the deep backcountry of the mountain ranges to the beautiful peaceful setting of Cades Cove. Come along with me on my hiking adventures within the Smoky Mountains tenting in all inclement types of weather, heat, rain and snow. Where many do not venture far off of the main driven tourist roads. This book is also packed with a plethora of FULL COLOR photographs, personally taken by me as I do professional photography as a hobby. Go ahead, take a trip back to the mountains as you read along.

➤ 2017 "Schools Out of Control"

Regarding the FAILED U.S. educational system, and how it has TOTALLY failed children today. This book encompasses the ENTIRE realm of education, its pitfalls and failures, on EVERY grade level. At home it doesn't fare any better either, with the out-of-control children seen today. A MUST READ for any person within the educational system as a teacher, administrator, social worker, guidance counselor, or School Resource Officer, or parents that they are not alone with regard to the disrespect, abuse, and crime levels seen in today's children, both on and off campus.

➤ 2024 "Canoeing and Portaging the Boundary Waters Wilderness"

The Boundary Waters, located in northwestern Minnesota, west of Lake Superior, is quite often referred to as "Canoe Country." Today, there are still no roads through the heartland of The Boundary Waters. The only way into the deep forests is by dirt roads that lead to lake entry points, or by aircraft to certain lakes within. Gas powered boats are mostly forbidden on The Boundary Waters save very few. There is plenty of fishing, camping, and hiking. Portaging your canoe/gear is the only way to go from lake to lake. Lots, and lots of portaging. Pristine lakes, fast fading ancient Indian pictographs, wolves, virgin forests, bears, and much more.

➤ 2025 Leave No Trace: Vanishing Within the Great Smoky Mountains: Dennis Lloyd Martin Trenny Gibson

What happened to Dennis Martin and Trenny Gibson? The author, a retired law enforcement veteran with 32 years of investigative experience and an avid long-distance hiker, meticulously examines both cases. Dennis vanished in 1969 during a family outing along the Appalachian Trail/Spence Field area, while Trenny disappeared seven years later in 1976, from the Forney Ridge Trail during a school field trip. Despite extensive searches, neither have been found, and their fates remain unknown. Drawing on his extensive hiking and investigative background, the author analyzes factual reports from Great Smoky Mountain Rangers, the FBI, and other law enforcement agencies, to arrive at and offer plausible explanations for their disappearances.

Much hearsay has been disseminated in newspapers and podcasts using words like "I heard...", "I think...", "Supposedly...", or “Maybe…”, "It's Possible that..." Not much in the line of facts and far too much hearsay. This book sheds light and the facts which come from actual documented reports, which are included inside. Furthermore, the author has hiked on both trails numerous times, and camped in the deep backcountry, in addition to having hiked most of the trail systems within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, hiking for pleasure. This book will make you feel like you are there, in 1969 and 1976. What happened to Dennis and Trenny?

➤ 2025 Among Predators; The Lives of Grizzly and Black Bears: How to Stay Safe Hiking, Camping, or Living in Bear Territory

You're with your family hiking on a waterfall trail when suddenly, out of the bushes, a bear walks onto the trail in front of you and your family, maybe with cubs in tow. What do you do? Run away? Try to walk by the bear? Stop and take pictures? This book explores bear behavior and the natural instincts that can mean life or death. Bears have mainly two modes, predatory and defensive. If you run, the instinctually predatory "chase" mode kicks in as the bear sees you as prey. If you approach its cubs or happen to come across a bear's hidden food cache covered by dirt, leaves and twigs, its instinctually defensive mode kicks in and attacks. What do you do? Bears are guaranteed to do five things during their time on Earth; eat, pee, poop, sleep, and make little bears. With real life situations documented, the author with years of long-distance experience hiking and living in a tent in the mountains and forests. Inside you will find safety tips and instructions on how to alleviate a potential attack from a wild animal.

➤ 2024 Andersonville; A Surviving Civil War Soldier’s Day by Day Diary While Imprisoned: Civil War Rebel Prisons, Libby and Belle Isle

Opened in February 1864, its original name was Camp Sumter, now known in Civil War history as Andersonville Prison. Commanded by Captain Henry Wirz, who was eventually found guilty of the extremely poor and harsh conditions in the camp, which led to over 13,000 prisoners dying. Far too many prisoners suffered from severe malnutrition and disease, while some were outright murdered by fellow prisoners. A small creek for water ran almost through the center of the camp, eventually polluted by prisoners who used it as a toilet. Then, there were the six prisoners called "The Raiders" who preyed on the sickly, and at times, the healthy, robbing them of what little they possessed. Read the in-depth diaries written on an almost daily basis by prisoners, John Ransom and Albert Schatzel, during their stay, of these atrocities and more, including the detailed hangings of all six Raiders.

Gerald Luttmann retired after a total of 32 years in law enforcement. He enjoys long distance hiking (think 1,000’s of miles plus) living in the deep remote backcountry of the mountains and forests, where tourists dare not venture for months at a time with nothing more than a backpack, tent, food, and gear. Gerald is an International Selling Author. In addition, Gerald is also a professional photographer of landscapes and wildlife, with international photography sales as well. His photography motto is;

"If it moves, shoot it, if it doesn't move, shoot it anyway!"