All Canadians know Marilyn Bell and her 1954 swim across Lake Ontario. Most of us can recall a few other crossers - probably Vicki Keith and Cindy Nicholas; perhaps Colleen Shields or Paula Stephanson. But few of us know that in fact, including Bell's swim, 74 swimmers (mostly amateur and mostly Canadian) have made 66 crossings of Lake Ontario, 19 of Erie, five of Huron and Georgian Bay, two of Michigan, and two of Superior. What drives them to undertake such an ordeal? Well, to fill us in Laura E. Young interviewed over 40 Canadian swimmers, both the icons whose names we know, and the many not-so-regular Canadians who also answered the challenge to swim across a Great Lake.

Laura E. Young is a journalist based in Sudbury and the author of the award-winning Solo Yet Never Alone Swimming the Great Lakes. A graduate of the University of Kings College in Halifax, N.S., she has worked in various media in Northern Ontario and has won awards for sports, feature, and spot-news writing through the OCNA. She teaches in Cambrian College's public relations program and is a certified lifeguard, swimmer and advocate for water quality and safety.

Laura Young's profile page

• Winner, Prix Louise de Kiriline Lawrence Award for non-fiction

"One of the most inspiring books I have ever read. The swimmers had heart, they were brave, and relentlessly focused. Great book. Great people. Great swims. A great success for Laura E. Young!"Lynne Cox, OPEN-OCEAN SWIMMER EXTRAORDINARE AND AUTHOR OF "SWIMMING TO ANTARTICA"