Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I have always had a passion for adventure … not the kind where you climb Mt Everest to prove to yourself and the world that you have amazing endurance and ability to withstand cold, but the “Around the World in 80 Days” kind of adventure, the kind where you set off for countries whose names you can’t even pronounce, to explore other cultures and other peoples, to learn how we are different and (perhaps even more importantly, how we are the same). Over the last 50+ years, I have visited about 115 different countries, on all seven continents. Among my favorites have been Papua New Guinea, Ethiopia, Bhutan, Mongolia, Laos, Myanmar, and Antarctica, all of which feature prominently in my book. Whenever possible, I try to immerse myself in the culture and daily life of the places I visit through home stays, volunteer work, and participation in the celebrations and life cycle events of the inhabitants. I have stayed as the guest in the ger (yurt) of a famous eagle hunter in western Mongolia and with members of the Hamer tribe in southern Ethiopia. I have had a lovely conversation with the Queen Mother of Bhutan, whom I encountered randomly in a Bhutanese temple. I have been the guest of honor (and only non-Kazakh person) at a 300 person wedding near the border of Kazakhstan. I have semi-circumnavigated Antarctica from Argentina to New Zealand, viewing not just hundreds of thousands of penguins, but also the rarely-seen huts of Antarctic explorers like Shackleton and Scott, left just as they were when they were abandoned over 100 years ago. I have attended enormous tribal festivals in Papua New Guinea, where more than 100 different tribes gathered together to show off their unique dress, face decorations, and dances. I have taught English classes in places as far-flung as Haiti, Laos, Indonesia, and Ethiopia. These are just a few of the experiences that have helped shape my debut book, Always A Traveler, Never a Tourist: In Search of People and Places on the Road Less Traveled. When not traveling, I live in Massachusetts (USA) and plan my next adventure.
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
My latest book is called Always a Traveler, Never a Tourist: In Search of People and Places on the Road Less Traveled. It was inspired by my travels to countries all over the world, and my desire to share images and stories about people who live traditional lifestyles in countries that most readers will never have the chance to visit. While many travel photography books focus mainly on wildlife and scenery, I am fascinated by people (although there are some incredible wildlife photos and scenery as well – especially in
Africa and Antarctica). Most of the book depicts daily life, festivals, and amazing portrait photos of ethnic people with traditional tribal dress, body and facial decoration, and so on. It is really a riot of color and a feast for the eyes! The idea for the book took hold during COVID, when the world was stuck at home, unable to travel. I started curating my collection of thousands of travel photos and posting the best of them on Facebook. People were so impressed with the photos, that they begged me to turn them into a book, and to include background info and personal anecdotes about these little-known places. The result is Always a Traveler, Never a Tourist: In Search of People and Places on the Road Less Traveled.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
What authors, or books have influenced you?
A Year in Provence (Peter Mayle)
Under the Tuscan Sun (Frances Mayes)
Eat, Pray, Love (Elizabeth Gilbert)
Portraits (Steve McCurry)
Photographs (Annie Leibovitz)
Coming of Age in Samoa (Margaret Mead)
What are you working on now?
I am not currently working on another book, but I am thinking about writing a book about my experiences living in a small village in France for a year (2002-2003). The village is in northern Burgundy, about 1 1/2 hours south of Paris. It is a village of about 3,000 people, and I lived in a “suburb” of that village, a tiny hamlet of just nine houses. I purposely chose not to live in Paris, because in Paris I would always be considered a tourist, whereas in rural France I could really try to become part of the community. I was amazed to learn that I really could become part of that community, working as a volunteer in the local nursery school, taking weekly hikes in the forest with the locals, being invited to dinner parties at the homes of my neighbors, and attending town-wide soirees (including a memorable New Year’s Eve party that lasted until 6am). I learned a lot about myself that year, and also learned a lot about the lifestyles of people in that village – how we are different and (perhaps even more importantly) how we are the same. I have a ton of funny anecdotes and heartwarming stories from that year, which I hope to eventually turn into a book.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Facebook, Instagram
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
The world is an amazing place. Try to see as much of it as you can.
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