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A Life Less Ordinary

Category: Writing (page 2 of 11)

My Interview with Travel Tales of Life about Being a Nomad

September 25, 2021 / / 1 Comment

A few years ago, Mark and I met Sue and Dave Slaght in Northern California at a pub serving Belgian beer. They’d arrived for a family visit from Calgary, Alberta, where they live close to the amazing Canadian Rockies. Our then house sit was nearby, so after following their informative, entertaining, and attractive travel blog Travel Tales of Life for many years (it was one of the first blogs I ever subscribed to when starting Roaming About, thanks to my sailing friend Lisa Dorenfest). The four of us had loads in common, became instant friends, stayed in touch, and kept following each other’s travels and adventures.

Dave and Sue have traveled pretty much everywhere, are avid bicyclists, and come up with fascinating angles for their blog content. Sue has an engaging writing style, great sense of humor, and an adventurous, can-do spirit, which is reflected in the inspiring and insightful questions she asked me in our interview. Check it out!

Nomadic Living Tips and Truth From an Expert

My sea sickness has finally subsided after being in the middle of the ocean, hanging over the side of the boat next to author Liesbet Collaert. Plunge left me ‘feeling all the feels’ of nomadic living. 

Through 2020, I could not settle my mind to actually read a book. Call it anxiety or being unsettled by a global pandemic, my mind refused to still itself enough to concentrate on more than a page or two.

That is until I began reading Plunge. So intriguing and honest in its telling, for the first time in 10 months I enjoyed reading again.

Looking at the glorious photo cover of turquoise water, white sand beaches and the author swimming blissfully with her dogs, one might assume the book will tell tales of paradise woven together like a mural of travel ecstasy. Instead Liesbet vividly shares the challenges of her insatiable quest for adventure along with the joy and freedom of nomadic life.

I invited Liesbet to tell readers more about the ups and downs of nomadic living.

San Blas Islands

In your book Plunge you are refreshingly honest about relationship challenges while at sea. What suggestions do you have for partners considering a nomadic way of life?

My husband, Mark, and I are in the unique situation of having been together 24/7 pretty much since the moment we chose each other in 2004, because of our lifestyle – sailing, house and pet sitting, camping. Sometimes, I think our partnership comes naturally but other times, the desire for me-time and the curiosity about how we’d do in a settled situation gets the better of me.

To answer your question, there are certainly factors that are important if you want to share a small space and a relatively challenging lifestyle with someone full-time. Compatibility is one of them, but if you have been a pair for years already, I assume that has been figured out. At least in a general sense. While you don’t have to be on the same page with everything, sharing similar interests when on the go is important. This includes agreeing on your travel style, means, duration, and comfort levels.

Liesbet and Mark on board their boat Irie in the Bahamas

Being patient and respectful about your partner’s feelings, thoughts, moods, and priorities, being grateful for his/her abilities, and being flexible when it comes to plans and ideas are other qualities that will make your relationship last. Communicating about each other’s needs is important. Even when you know your partner really well, do not always assume the next step. Talk about your differences and make sure there is enough me-time.

Each month you publish your living expenses which often are under $1,300.00 USD. What are your top five tips for inexpensive nomadic living?

Over the last eighteen years of my nomadic existence, costs have gone up, which I blame on inflation, technology, and the need for more comfort. Our biggest expense has always been maintenance on our floating and rolling homes, which partially contributes to our safety as well. Ever since my husband and I moved aboard in 2007 – and then on the road – our yearly average expenses for two adults and one or two large rescue dogs have been between US$12,000 and USD$20,000 with a steady US$ 16,000 average on land.

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Continue reading the interview here. And if you’re not subscribed to Travel Tales of Life yet, I highly recommend following along with Dave and Sue’s travels and stories.

Writing Update September 2021 – An Eventful Month

September 1, 2021 / / 70 Comments

Every first Wednesday of the month, the IWSG (Insecure Writer’s Support Group) engages writers to share their fears, thoughts, progress, struggles, excitement, encouragement, or anything really, about their writing. A different question is posed each month as a writing prompt. Answering it is optional. For September, the question is: “How do you define success as a writer?”

This amazing, supportive group of writers was founded by Alex J. Cavanaugh. Today, the co-hosts are Rebecca Douglass, T. Powell Coltrin @Journaling Woman, Natalie Aguirre, Karen Lynn, and C. Lee McKenzie.

My answer to the question – How do you define success as a writer?

This is an excellent question and answers will greatly vary. As a matter of fact, this question is so good and insightful that I could write an entire post as my answer. Don’t worry, I won’t. Being a perfectionist (when it comes to work) with an A-type personality (I think that’s what it’s called), it is very difficult for me to reach what I would define as success. I always want to do better, reach more readers, inspire more people, engage a wider audience.  

Each writer has their own goals. I set mine six months after publishing Plunge and I will revisit those on my first book birthday. In short: success to me as a writer is first to have my work published – in magazines, newspapers, anthologies, or books. Next, it would be to touch/inspire readers. I also aim to get some kind of recognition (positive reviews, write-ups, feature articles, awards, prizes) and – eventually – make a little bit of money with Plunge, once I break even. All this requires a lot of time, effort, and focus.

My book news

August was an incredibly busy month – in life, with our truck and camper projects, a summer-long noisy condo deck project, helping out my in-laws, writing, editing, and translating commitments, and with book stuff! In this post, of course, it’s all about the book action.

  • I finally created a banner for Plunge.

  • In the beginning of August, I did my first in-person “book event” by manning a (shared) booth during the annual Yankee Homecoming Festival in Newburyport, MA. Fellow travel author Marianne Curcio (find her book here) and I split the cost and the space on Craft Fair Day, which is where the organizers thought we’d fit in the best.
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Writing Update August 2021 – Back to Promo for Plunge & A New Release from Jacqui Murray

August 4, 2021 / / 57 Comments

Every first Wednesday of the month, the IWSG (Insecure Writer’s Support Group) engages writers to share their fears, thoughts, progress, struggles, excitement, encouragement, or anything really, about their writing. A different question is posed each month as a writing prompt. Answering it is optional. For August, the question is: “What is your favorite writing craft book and why?”

This amazing, supportive group of writers was founded by Alex J. Cavanaugh. Today, the co-hosts are PK Hrezo, Cathrina Constantine, PJ Colando,Kim Lajevardi, and Sandra Cox. Click on their names to see what they’re up to this month.

My answer to the question – What is your favorite writing craft book and why?

I don’t use writing craft books. In the initial stages of creating my memoir ages ago, I enjoyed and benefitted from Your Life as Story by Tristine Rainer and I did read Mary Karr’s The Art of Memoir.

Authors helping authors

Laws of Nature by Jacqui Murray

I’m excited to announce the recent release of Laws of Nature, written by my supportive, intelligent, organized and creative friend, the versatile blogger and author Jacqui Murray. This is the second book in her prehistoric fiction series Dawn of Humanity. I have not purchased Jacqui’s newest novel yet, but the first two books of her Crossroads Trilogy are eagerly waiting on my Kindle. I am fascinated by the premise, the era, and the setting of these intriguing series.

Here is more information about Laws of Nature:

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Writing Update July 2021 – Book News from Belgium

July 7, 2021 / / 71 Comments

Every first Wednesday of the month, the IWSG (Insecure Writer’s Support Group) engages writers to share their fears, thoughts, progress, struggles, excitement, encouragement, or anything really, about their writing. A different question is posed each month as a writing prompt. Answering it is optional. For July, the question is: “What would make you quit writing?”

This amazing, supportive group of writers was founded by Alex J. Cavanaugh. Today, the co-hosts are Pat Garcia, Victoria Marie Lees, and Louise – Fundy Blue. Click on their names to see what they’re up to this month.

My answer to the question – What would make you quit writing?

The answer that makes most sense for me is “Being physically and/or mentally unable to write anymore.” I always write. If nothing else, I still jot down a diary entry every evening (since 1989), which takes between 20 and 40 minutes! Too long, really, especially since I proofread and edit each sentence.

Mark, Liesbet, and Zesty in California

The thing that slows down other writing is my adventurous lifestyle. As I mentioned before, if I had to choose, I’d rather travel than write. In general, I don’t have to choose, but when it comes to bigger writing projects, like a book, I cannot combine my life on the road with a full-time job (which authordom is) behind the computer.  

My promo news

I have been in Belgium visiting family and friends for almost two weeks. Mark joined me last Thursday. Life has been extremely busy and overwhelming. I tried to get press meetings out of the way before Mark arrived, because Dutch became my primary language during that time and because I didn’t want to “waste” the precious, yet short time we have here together.

In June, this happened with my travel memoir Plunge – One Woman’s Pursuit of a Life Less Ordinary: 

Promotion:

  • I put extra effort in Facebook posts for groups where promotion is allowed. I made my blurbs more relevant and compelling to the audience and incorporated a link to my book instead of blatantly sending potential readers to Amazon.
Liveaboard Lifestyle post
All Things Sailing post
  • One of those well-composed posts I put on two big boating group sites with a combined total reach of 100K members (All Things Sailing: 76.2K members; Liveaboard Lifestyle: 39.3K members) and finally had it take off after unsuccessful plugs for Plunge. It led to tons of comments, shares, and extra sales.

Spike in sales due to vigilant (free) promotion on Facebook

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Writing Update June 2021 – Six Months after Publishing & Promoting Plunge

June 2, 2021 / / 61 Comments

Every first Wednesday of the month, the IWSG (Insecure Writer’s Support Group) engages writers to share their fears, thoughts, progress, struggles, excitement, encouragement, or anything really, about their writing. A different question is posed each month as a writing prompt. Answering it is optional. For June, the question is: “For how long do you shelve your first draft, before reading it and re-drafting?”

This amazing, supportive group of writers was founded by Alex J. Cavanaugh. Today, the co-hosts are J Lenni Dorner, Sarah Foster, Natalie Aguirre, Lee Lowery, and Rachna Chhabria. Click on their names to see what they’re up to this month.

My answer to the question – How long do you put your first draft aside?

Since I’ve only written one book, I don’t have much experience with shelving first drafts before tackling them again with fresh eyes. This elapsed time period for me – in the past and possibly in the future – is dependent on what I’m doing at that moment. If I’m traveling full-time, I work whenever I can and this might mean the first draft (a good stopping point) might get put aside until the next substantial slot of time becomes available.

I wrote Plunge largely while Mark and I were house and pet sitting throughout the United States (2015-2019). Since my main project then was this book (whenever we were actually living in someone’s house and not in our camper van), I immediately moved from my first draft to the second one and kept improving and condensing whenever I could. I can’t help but edit and reread my existing paragraphs before starting on the next chunk/chapter, so my first draft – which took three years – was in pretty good shape by the time it was finished.

My book news

Can you believe that six months have passed already since I released Plunge – One Woman’s Pursuit of a Life Less Ordinary? In this section, I report on what has happened in the last month, regarding my book news and promotion efforts. If you are interested in an overview of all the marketing methods I have entertained since the publication of Plunge, have a look at my post of last week: “10 Free Ways to Publish Your Book – What Works & What Doesn’t?”

How did April 2021 look like?

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10 Free Ways to Promote Your Book – What Works & What Doesn’t?

May 28, 2021 / / 70 Comments

Exactly six months ago, on November 28th, 2020, I released my first book, Plunge – One Woman’s Pursuit of a Life Less Ordinary. It has been an interesting, fascinating, and disappointing ride all at once. Like real life, being a published author has ups and downs, highs and lows, thrills and anguish.

I write more about those sensations and experiences in my monthly writing updates, every first Wednesday of the month, something I have been doing for many years. Initially, I wanted to touch on the topic of promotion there, next week, but it would make that post too long. Hence, my promotion tips and realizations get their own article.

When you have several marketing attempts going on, it is difficult to point your finger at which method actually created sales that week. Efforts put in motion ages ago might have an impact now or in the future. But certain boosts correlate with certain initiatives, so after six months I have a good idea of what works for me; where to prioritize my undivided attention and precious time. This doesn’t mean you will prefer these methods or that you will reach the same results, though.

A bunch of Plunges

Here are ten promotion approaches I tested, with mixed success:

1. Your Own Channels – Email List, Social Media, Blog

Most authors don’t like to boast about their skills or push their products (books), but to get the word out, you have to start somewhere. Announcing that you just published your book after several years of effort, time, dedication, energy, and anticipation is HUGE. Posting this feat on your blog, Facebook page, Instagram account, and Twitter feed is easy and exhilarating and it will produce positive responses and initial sales. For me, the most in any month to date – the buzz created by putting the eBook on pre-order helped as well.

Facebook Banner

I also sent a group email with my huge Plunge news to all the contacts in my Outlook address book. Not only did this sell a few extra copies (I think), but it was a good time to touch base with people I hadn’t heard from in years.

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Writing Update May 2021 – Back for Promo Work (in New England)

May 5, 2021 / / 63 Comments

Every first Wednesday of the month, the IWSG (Insecure Writer’s Support Group) engages writers to share their fears, thoughts, progress, struggles, excitement, encouragement, or anything really, about their writing. A different question is posed each month as a writing prompt. Answering it is optional. For May, the question is: “Has any of your readers ever responded to your writing in a way that you didn’t expect? If so, did it surprise you?”

This amazing, supportive group of writers was founded by Alex J. Cavanaugh. Today, the co-hosts are Erika Beebe, PJ Colando, Tonja Drecker, Sadira Stone, and Cathrina Constantine. Click on their names to see what they’re up to this month.

Plunge in the local bookstore called Jabberwocky

My answer to the question – Have any of my readers ever surprised me?

That would be “yes.” In different ways. Beta readers made me realize that not everyone has my sense of humor, my comfort level of sharing/learning about relationship intimacies, and my drive to be open, honest, and transparent. All good input! You see your own writing often as the gospel and get carried away within that mindset.

Then there is the (public) feedback. That one-star review of Lisa G. I have hammered on before (here and here), but just yesterday, I noticed two other one-star ratings (no elaborations) pop up, which brings that dismal total to four on Amazon. Those one-star smudges do surprise and bug me. If you don’t like a book, why not give it two or three stars? And I’m pretty sure that my memoir isn’t written poorly or plastered with typos and grammatical errors, “valid” reasons for such a negative verdict…

Reviews Amazon

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Writing Update April 2021 – Baja Bounty

April 7, 2021 / / 49 Comments

Every first Wednesday of the month, the IWSG (Insecure Writer’s Support Group) engages writers to share their fears, thoughts, progress, struggles, excitement, encouragement, or anything really, about their writing. A different question is posed each month as a writing prompt. Answering it is optional. For April, the question is: “Are you a risk-taker when writing? Do you try something radically different in style/POV/etc. or add controversial topics to your work?”

This amazing, supportive group of writers was founded by Alex J. Cavanaugh. Today, the co-hosts are PK Hrezo, Pat Garcia, SE White, Lisa Buie Collard, and Diane Burton! Click on their names to see what they are up to this month..

My answer to the question – Do I take risks when writing?

People who have followed this blog for a while know that I am not averse to risk taking. Although I call my swift decisions, adventurous lifestyle, and “going with the flow” attitude “calculated risks.” 😊 You only live once, so you better do the things you’re passionate about, and enjoy your precious time on earth. That sometimes involves expanding horizons, nudging comfort levels, taking risks.

I don’t feel like I’m taking big risks with my writing as it reflects my personality and doesn’t push my personal boundaries. That being said, I am aware that my travel memoir Plunge is different and a tad controversial. For starters, the story is set in the present tense, taking the reader along for the ride – physically and emotionally. I don’t cover things up, have no taboos, and touch on the good as well as the bad and the ugly when it comes to my alternative lifestyle and 24/7 relationship with my husband. This makes some readers uncomfortable; they are not used to “brutal honesty” and don’t care for an exposed soul (another aspect that makes my memoir unique).

Based on that – and the fact that this approach led to a one-star review and some criticism – I guess I am a bit of a risk-taker in my writing, too!

Sunrise at the beach

My book news

Mark, Maya, and I spent February and March enjoying our lives in Baja California, Mexico. This was a reward for all the hard work finishing and publishing Plunge last year. I knew that once we arrived on the peninsula, internet would be sparse and unreliable and that my time would be better spent charging my batteries (other than usual work commitments). Therefore, I laid a lot of groundwork spreading the word about my book before we crossed the southern border of the US.

Relaxing and reading

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Writing Update March 2021 – Escape to Baja

March 2, 2021 / / 53 Comments

Every first Wednesday of the month, the IWSG (Insecure Writer’s Support Group) engages writers to share their fears, thoughts, progress, struggles, excitement, encouragement, or anything really, about their writing. A different question is posed each month as a writing prompt. Answering it is optional. For March, the question is: “Do you read widely or only within the genre(s) you create stories for? What motivates your reading choice?”

This amazing, supportive group of writers was founded by Alex J. Cavanaugh. Today, the co-hosts are Sarah – The Faux Fountain Pen, Jacqui Murray, Chemist Ken, Victoria Marie Lees, Natalie Aguirre, and JQ Rose.

My answer to the question

I have always enjoyed reading. As a young girl, I chose fiction. Teenager Liesbet liked thrillers as much as non-fiction books about animals and travel. When I became an adult and full-time traveler, I found myself reading literature given to me by fellow backpackers or novels discovered at book swaps. Now, I’d love to read more memoirs and non-fiction. If I had time.

Ever since I became friends with authors through my blogging engagements about five years ago, pretty much all I have been reading is books of those talented friends: advance reader copies (ARCs), manuscripts as a beta reader or proofreader, or eBooks I purchased to support those fellow indie authors (which I leave reviews for after reading). I still have a massive TBR list of friends’ books and I swear some of them write faster than I can read! I’m looking at you, Ellen Jacobson, J.H. Moncrieff, Jill Weatherholt, and Jacqui Murray. It doesn’t help that I only manage one book every two months, unless I force myself to read more and then I am not able to engage in blog reading and commenting as much as usually…

Playa Los Cocos

My book news

Like I mentioned last month, Mark and I were ready for a break from the United States, cool weather, and work. So, on February 1st we crossed the border with Mexico and ever since, we have been camping in Baja California with intermittent internet. Book stuff still happened, though.

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“Plunge” in the Ironwood Forest – My Book & I Featured on Make Like An Ape Man

February 13, 2021 / / 0 Comments

My good friend Duwan, a fellow nomad, adventurer, vanlifer, ex-sailor, and frugal spender, wrote a touching and compelling post about me and my travel memoir, Plunge, on her informative and entertaining blog Make Like An Ape Man. I have linked to her posts before, as we’ve been on a similar path and traveled together in the past, but this story of hers had me truly amazed.

Her prose is humbling and flattering and provides a different, more personal side to anything else being published about me (except for my memoir itself :-)). Plus, it has some funny photos! Check it out here. You won’t regret it!

Saguaro cactus in the Ironwood Forest National Monument

November 25 – December 1, 2020.

Towards the end of November three couples and the lovely canine, Maya, converged in Tucson. All ex sailors (except for Maya). All now wandering around on the hard. We had met one of the couples, Scamper Squad, years and years ago after reading their blog and discovering they were working on their boat in the same marina as us in Indiantown, Florida. We were introduced to the other couple, Mark and Liesbet, through their blog after my friend from Scamper Squad suggested that I check it out. Like us, they had sailed, had house sat, and were traveling the country in a van. We eventually met them in person in Arizona a couple of years ago. Now the three wandering couples were in the same place at the same time, and we had big plans.

Gilded Flicker in the Ironwood Forest

We all left Tucson for the Ironwood Forest National Monument – about 25 miles out of the city – and set up camp. Thanksgiving was coming up, and even though it isn’t a holiday Greg and I normally celebrate, we thought it’d be fun to share some good food with our friends. After all, this would be the first Thanksgiving that Liesbet, who is Belgium born, would celebrate as an American citizen. But even better than that, two days later Liesbet would celebrate her 45th birthday and the publication of a project five years in the making, a memoir of her traveling and sailing life during her 30s.

Our camp in the Ironwood Forest National Monument

When Greg and I first set sail a few people told me we should write a book. I thought, OK, but we really hadn’t done anything yet. Any wannabe adventurer can buy a boat and think that they are going to be sailors – lots do. And then after we got on the water there seemed to be so many people doing it. And there were already so many people who’d already written books. I wasn’t sure what I could add to the canon of nautical memoirs.

And at first, I wondered this about Liesbet’s book too. But Liesbet has had a much more interesting traveling life than we have. Since falling in love with travel in her teens, she has hitchhiked in Europe, backpacked in Asia, traveled North America in a truck camper, and sailed through the Caribbean and the South Pacific. She has only lived a few years of her adult life in a traditional dwelling, has traveled in six out of the seven continents (planning to tick that last one, Antarctica, off her list in the coming years), and has visited over 60 countries.

Continue reading here.

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