Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
Aloha! I love writing and have 5 books on Amazon right now. My dream was to travel the world but I didn’t know how to kick myself to do it. Suddenly I noticed my son had grown up and was out in the world meeting holy men in Moroccan caves and riding camels, why can’t I do that? It should be easier for me; I’m older than him.
I loved my photography business that I founded in Silicon Valley, down the street from Steve Jobs, but something was missing. I didn’t know it until I was hitchhiking with my teenage son and flagging down a big rig in Nepal. The adventures I had in Nepal, teaching photography to the staff of the Nepal Youth Foundation, and discovering how to travel in the Himalayas ignited my world view and changed my life forever.
I’ll always be grateful to Nepal and my son who showed me how to travel slowly and deeply. I was off and running, drunk on my own freedom.
Now I’ve lived in and visited 35 countries and circumnavigated the planet 3 times buying one way tickets along the journey. I’ve learned about life, people, and myself and had many hilarious, horrible, and heavenly hours along the way!
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
Around the World, What I Learned from 11 Years of Solo Travel is my new book. I was inspired to write this one as it’s been burning in my brain for a few years and its the newest 4th book in my series; Tales of a Travel Warrior. There are so many magical moments, profound people, and compelling dimensions I’ve lived in since writing my last book that I had to finally finish this one and I’m all ready working on the next one. The pandemic inspired me too as I escaped from Sicily after the lockdown, managed to get free, (this story is in the new book) and realized that we don’t know how much time left in this world so we have to live our dreams right now. Just do it!
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
My secret to writing is to meditate first and then go jump in the ocean. It’s working right now here in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
What authors, or books have influenced you?
Comedians inspire me a lot! But the first book that truly opened my eyes was Simone de Beauvoir’s, The Second Sex. And books by Colette. I’d never read any books by independent women as a teenager. I realized this is how I wanted to live and who I was going to be when I grew up. I wasn’t sure I’d get married or have children but I did do both. You can change your life in a heartbeat. And I was inspired by the Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. I like to read this book every year, it has so many highlights underlined in the past 25 years, it’s dog eared and time to get a new one.
What are you working on now?
I’m working on a new book, a screenplay, and creating videos for my YouTube channel, it has over a million views and I love sharing where I am in the world and what I’m doing now.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
I find that there are always new ways to promote yourself. With my first book I learned how to get on radio shows all across North America and Canada, to talk about my book. It was incredible and eye-opening to get up and be funny at 2:30AM for the drive time radio shows on the East Coast. Now with my new book I’m discovering things to do online to promote it and this is fun as you don’t have to leave home.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Yes keep going and finish your book, learn the business side of it too. I remember realizing a bit of wisdom after my first book was traditionally published at Celestial Arts, a division of TenSpeed Press which was bought later on by Random House. The truth is this: the publishers have other books to promote and even though my first book was a lead book, Everyday Naked, Sacred and Profound Morsels of Truth, I had to get out there and kick ass to do the marketing and get readers to take a look at it. It worked. The better you can do on the marketing and business side of being an author the more books you will probably sell.
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Just finish it, you can always edit it later, get it down on paper! Or in your computer.
What are you reading now?
I’m reading Become a Successful Indie Author by Craig Martelle.
What’s next for you as a writer?
As soon as this pandemic is over I’m leading a workshop in Paris, France, and one in Rome, Italy.
And making more videos for my YouTube channel that has over a million views: https://youtube.com/MaryBartnikowski
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
This is a great question. I’d take Julia Cameron’s book, The Artist’s Way, Elizabeth Gilbert’s, Big Magic, and something funny. I liked Trevor Noah’s last book. And Pema Chodron’s book, When Things Fall Apart.
Author Websites and Profiles
Mary Bartnikowski Website
Mary Bartnikowski Amazon Profile
Mary Bartnikowski Author Profile on Smashwords
Mary Bartnikowski’s Social Media Links
Facebook Profile
Twitter Account