- The Tsar's Masquerade
- 100 Things to Do in Tacoma Before You Die
- Midwest Road Trip Adventures
- How To Become A Housesitter: Insider Tips From The HouseSit Diva
- Girl Gone Greek
- Istanbul: City Of The Green-Eyed Beauty
- How To Afford Full-Time Travel
- Argentina: A Guide For The First Time Visitor
- The Experts Cure: How Entrepreneurs Are Changing the World
- Mommy Magic: Anatomy And Sex Ed For Preschoolers
- Brain Games For Hospitalized Patients: San Diego Edition
- Carolina: Cruising To An American Dream
- Cruising Past Seventy: It's Not Only About Outer Journeys. It's Also About Inner Ones.
- Hiking Waterfalls Alabama: A Guide To The State's Best Waterfall Hikes
- Paddling Alabama By Joe Cuhaj And Curt Burdick
- No Time For Regrets: A Novel (Socialites & Suffragists Book 1)
- What Should I Do Now?: A 14-Day Jumpstart Program To Get Unstuck, Make Decisions, And Take Control of Your Work and Your Life
- 101 Tips For Moving To Portugal: And Once You Arrive
- Wild About Florida: Central Florida
- 100 Things to Do in Huntsville and North Alabama Before You Die (100 Things to Do Before You Die)
Our writers’ talents extend well beyond the articles we share on TravelAwaits. Today, we’re sharing some of the books they’ve written.
Videos by TravelAwaits
Peggy Cleveland
A children’s book inspired Peggy Cleveland’s love of travel, so it’s only fitting that the travel writer became an author herself. Peggy co-authored The Tsar’s Masquerade with her sister under the pen name Raphael Mercikovsky.
The Tsar’s Masquerade
Buy NowTsar Nicholas II holds the fate of Russia in his hands after receiving a fateful prophecy warning of a horrific future that lies ahead. What will the richest and most powerful man in the world do to save all he holds dear? The Tsar’s Masquerade is the answer.
This work is not just about Nicholas and Alexandra, the last Tsar and Tsarina of Russia. The novel lifts the Grand Duchesses out of the shadowy pages of history books, gives them personalities, and chronicles their development from children into mature young women. The reader is provided a different look at the character of the Tsar and the mercurial behavior of his beloved wife.
It is in essence a love story, plain and simple, but not the kind one would expect to find in a typical romance novel. It focuses on the overwhelming love Nicholas had for his family and his country and the measures he was willing to take to protect these two great loves.
“My whole life I wanted to write a book. I now understand why Margaret Mitchell, the author of Gone With The Wind, only wrote one novel. When you complete a project of that length and depth there is just nothing left. That is how I feel about my own masterpiece. When complete, it was over 1,000 typed pages.” — Peggy
100 Things to Do in Tacoma Before You Die
Buy Now $15.63“This is my love letter to Tacoma. After moving 33 times, my husband and I chose the Tacoma area to retire. This vibrant city is a wonderful destination for a vacation that includes mountain (Mt. Rainier), city (Tacoma) and sea (Puget Sound). I was inspired to write this book because Tacoma is often overlooked in favor of Seattle, its more famous neighbor. With gorgeous views for miles, an eclectic dining scene and both a theater and museum district, there is something for everyone.” — Peggy
Sara Broers, Amy Piper, Tim Trudell, And Roxie Yonkey
Three TravelAwaits writers, Sara Broers, Amy Piper, Tim Trudell, and Roxie Yonkey wrote different parts of Midwest Road Trip Adventures.
Midwest Road Trip Adventures
Buy NowAn author from each of the 12 Midwest states wrote about his or her state, except South Dakota, which was a combined effort. Each author selected geographically dispersed byways within their home state: North and South Dakota, Nebraska (Tim), Kansas (Roxie), Minnesota, Iowa (Sara), Missouri, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan (Amy).
“I wrote the Iowa chapter in Midwest Road Trip Adventures. This book is a collaboration of travel writers that adore the Midwest and all it has to offer. With the return of the American road trip, there was no time like the present to start writing alongside fellow travel friends. We made it easy for you to road trip through the heart of America.” — Sara
Kelly Hayes-Raitt
Kelly Hayes-Raitt admits she sleeps around — usually with animals. Kelly has been traveling full-time for the past 12 years as an international housesitter, meaning she lives at no cost in someone else’s home and cares for their pets while they travel. She has housesat in some of the world’s greatest cities, including Paris, Hanoi, and London (during the 2012 Olympics!) and in off-the-beaten-path places like Ya’an, a Chinese village where she was the only English-speaker around, and Réunion, a French island in the Indian Ocean.
Along the way, she’s learned a few tricks for anyone who is thinking about breaking into housesitting — or is currently housesitting and wants to up their game. As a 60-year-old solo traveler, she’s convinced housesitting is the safest and most convenient way to travel.
How To Become A Housesitter: Insider Tips From The HouseSit Diva
Buy NowIn How to Become a Housesitter: Insider Tips from the HouseSit Diva, Kelly spills secrets on how to assess if a sitting assignment is right for you, how to settle in to living in other people’s spaces, how to secure repeat sits, and more!
Rebecca Hall
Rebecca Hall wrote and published her semi-fictional travel memoir, Girl Gone Greek, during Greece’s economic crisis when the country was receiving very negative international press. In her own small way, Rebecca wanted the world to see her Greece, not that of the accusatory headlines. It has now been written into a double award-winning film script. Girl Gone Greek is great for all ages, Grecophiles, and those intrigued about life abroad in a completely different culture.
Girl Gone Greek
Buy NowGirl Gone Greek is a semi-fictional travel memoir based on Rebecca’s first year living in rural Greece and working as an English teacher. Unique characters that cross her path ultimately help her realize her love for a country where life is certainly not smooth. People certainly stick together and the community spirit is strong, something the main character has never really experienced coming from a “colder,” more independent northern European country.
Inka Piegsa Quischotte
After many years as an attorney, Inka Piegsa Quischotte became a travel writer, novelist, and photographer. The luxury and solo travel writer loves the sea, the desert, museums, and ancient history. In addition to Instanbul, she has lived in London and Miami and now calls Spain’s Costa Blanca home.
Istanbul: City Of The Green-Eyed Beauty
Buy NowIn this literary guide to Istanbul, Inka follows the plots of three authors: Orhan Pamuk, Pierre Lotti, and crime writer Barbara Nadel. There are many locations in these authors’ books and anyone who reads them can read Inka’s book alongside to see where the action takes place.
Heather Markel
After 25 years in corporate America, Heather Markel quit her job to pursue her passion. Now the multi-linguist travels the world while making her living as a certified professional coach and writer.
How To Afford Full-Time Travel
Buy NowHow To Afford Full-Time Travel is designed for anyone who wants to travel full time, but can’t figure out how they’d afford it. It’s complete with formulas to help you figure out how much you need to budget and whether you have that available now, or, if not, to calculate how much longer you need to save to reach your goal of full-time travel!
“I wrote How To Afford Full-Time Travel based on my own success traveling full time for four years now because I know there are many other people out there who want to do it but think they can’t afford it, and it’s simply not true! If you buy the book, email heather@heathermarkel.com and mention TravelAwaits and I’ll send you a free copy of the new companion guide for it, What It’s Really Like To Travel Full Time, that goes into more depth about each of the travel styles mentioned in the main book.” — Heather
Argentina: A Guide For The First Time Visitor
Buy NowThe essential guide for your first visit to Argentina, this deep-dive into Argentinian culture helps you set your expectations for a wonderful trip. Inside you’ll get:
- Essentials: Including plug-types and visa information, negotiating tips, transportation, and more.
- Culture Notes: Learn what’s important to everyday life, what to expect when it comes to food.
- Itineraries: Helpful suggestions on choosing where to go by your interests, as well as regional notes and suggested things to do and see.
- City Centers: A map of the center of some of the most popular cities in Argentina so you know which streets and areas are best to look for accommodation and more!
This is not your typical “hotel, restaurant, tour” book — there are enough of those out there. This is a first-hand experience guide to the culture and day-to-day life in Argentina that gives you a starting guide of where to go to plan your trip. Even if you only have a couple of weeks in Argentina, consider leaving some space in your plans for impromptu destinations. Be open to meeting people that inspire you to visit nearby places you won’t find in a guidebook — it’s a surefire guarantee for a fun and unique experience!
“I spent four months in Argentina in 2019 and absolutely loved it. I also learned a lot more than the average tourist, so I put together a guide that explains some of the cultural aspects of Argentina, along with some helpful information about many of the wonderful places you can visit. Because I know that travelers often want to stay in the ‘center’ of a city they’re going to, and it can be difficult to figure out where the center is, I also include some city-center maps to help you be able to figure out the best lodging options!” — Heather
Gail L. Clifford, M.D.
A physician for 30 years, Gail L. Clifford, M.D., has been to all 50 states as well as five continents. This avid traveler currently divides her time between Ireland and the U.S.
The Experts Cure: How Entrepreneurs Are Changing the World
Buy NowTwenty authors and entrepreneurs offer compelling answers during these demanding times. Each one has a unique story. Each one has a unique solution. The Experts Cure: How Entrepreneurs are Changing the World is an anthology book compiled by Wall Street Journal and international bestselling author Rob Kosberg.
It features successful consultants, innovators, and leaders from around the world. They offer solutions to the problems that plague us like fear, failure, health challenges, and starting a new career, just to name a few. They open up their lives and share their victories as well as their struggles. They give us a way forward to both impact lives and increase income.
Each chapter is written by a different author and has a standalone, inspirational story with practical and life-changing applications. Taken together, they present an uplifting and significant message of hope for the future.
“This Wall Street Journal and USA Today best-seller had contributions from 20 authors who are working to improve and change the world during the pandemic. The editor asked me to contribute based on my efforts to improve the lives of physicians by conquering the financial stress from medical student loans and learning how to find joy in their lives every day. My ‘why’ is to reduce physician suicide. Losing more than one physician or medical student per day is unacceptable. We’ve got to do a better job taking care of each other.” — Gail
Mommy Magic: Anatomy And Sex Ed For Preschoolers
Buy NowHave you ever felt ill-equipped to answer children’s questions about the birds and the bees? Read this book with them and have the answers to anatomy and sex education questions. Start the discussion early and build a great relationship with your children about topics others may find embarrassing. With a story that fits anatomically with sex and the creation of a baby, answer the actual question your child asks (not more) and they’ll grow in their knowledge of their own bodies.
“Mommy Magic is really the fictionalized story of my daughter’s introduction to anatomy and sex ed when she was in preschool. I’d had the artwork done several years ago but with her at home during the pandemic, we actually had it published and were pleased with the warm reception worldwide — especially from parents and the medical community. The importance for us here, the ‘why’ was to help parents learn how to start difficult or embarrassing conversations with kids. My experience, as a child, medical professional, and parent, has always been that education and information make all of this easier. And having the conversation with 3- to 5-year-olds allows parents to lay the foundation for the actual sex conversations when the child is old enough to understand it.” — Gail
Brain Games For Hospitalized Patients: San Diego Edition
Buy NowExercising your brain is like exercising your body. With the right program, you can keep your brain young, strong, agile, and adaptable. Brainteasers and brain games are organized on an increasing scale of difficulty from “warm-up” to “merciless.” Fun and engaging games are expertly designed to give your brain the kind of workout that stimulates neurogenesis, the process of rejuvenating the brain by growing new brain cells. Target six key cognitive functions:
1. Long-term memory
2. Working memory
3. Executive functioning
4. Attention to detail
5. Multi-tasking
6. Processing speed
“The Brain Games series of books came from witnessing the boredom of my patients in the hospital — especially with the social isolation caused by the pandemic and severe visitor restrictions. Having a variety of games to ‘play’ keeps patients entertained and engaged — all good things for stress reduction between physician visits, tests, and other medical care. I’ve used photos of places I’ve worked or lived or visited or been offered by the facility or other sources to add. We learned a version of this could also be done as wedding or party favors (who knew?) — and wedding anniversaries (like 25th or 50th) have been especially fun — creating word searches out of names or streets or other places important to the happy couple. Many more of the Brain Games books are on the way!” — Gail
Carol Esguerra Colborn
A former jet-setting Filipina executive, Carol Esguerra Colborn (aka Carolina) shares her American dream, a story of retirement, immigration, and love. At 55, she immigrated to the United States and four years later became a new bride to an American businessman. Together, they’ve created an extensive travel bucket list, crisscrossed North America four times, and blogged about their cruising lifestyle.
Carolina: Cruising To An American Dream
Buy NowIn a little over four years, author Carolina and her husband traveled almost 100,000 miles to 49 American states, nine Canadian provinces, and six Mexican states. In Carolina: Cruising to an American Dream, she offers fascinating facts about irresistible places, surprising insights about unique encounters, and useful guides born out of their experience.
Carolina: Cruising to an American Dream tells how Carolina discovered America from within the cozy confines of an RV with lessons that came as fast as scenes changed. She not only learned to be a wife without losing her identity but also to be an American without losing her roots. But, most of all, she learned about the beauty of America and her people, past, present, and future.
Cruising Past Seventy: It’s Not Only About Outer Journeys. It’s Also About Inner Ones.
Buy NowAre you wondering how long you can continue traveling? It really doesn’t matter how much older you are; there’s just too much to cover in this whole wide world. And the older we get, we seem to be running out of time, energy, and money.
In light chatty style, Carol intimates with you that we don’t have to go to all the places out there in what she calls outer journeys. She shares the value of inner journeys in 41 easy-to-read chapters of lessons learned, changes made, and insights gained.
This book puts together the most widely-read posts from her blog, Cruising Past 70, about her eight years of RVing and subsequent travels to 38 countries. It also includes excerpts from her first travel book, Carolina: Cruising to an American Dream, and six of her many TravelAwaits articles. By the end of the book, you will know how to blend outer and inner journeys, see the deep and long-lasting benefits of travel, and enjoy an enriched travel life past 70.
“The older we get, we seem to be running out of time, energy, and money. At 73, I was inspired to answer this question forv those of us who are retired or are contemplating retirement.” — Carol
Joe Cuhaj
Based in Mobile, Alabama, Joe Cuhaj has worked as a news anchor/reporter/director, program director, music director, producer, and on-air talent. In addition to his many TravelAwaits articles, Joe has penned several titles on outdoor recreation, including Hiking Waterfalls Alabama as well as Paddling Alabama, which he co-authored with veteran paddler Curt Burdick.
Hiking Waterfalls Alabama: A Guide To The State’s Best Waterfall Hikes
Buy Now“Hiking Waterfalls Alabama is my eighth Falcon guide to hiking, kayaking, and camping adventure not only in Alabama but also the Gulf Coast. The book takes readers to 50 of the best waterfall hikes in the state far from the touristy areas and deep into the beautiful Alabama mountains and canyons. The inspiration for the book is simple enough — the lure of waterfalls. I can’t tell you how many times I have lost track of time and lost myself in the soothing sounds and the white and frothy cascades tumbling down the rocks. Many people do not realize that Alabama has so many incredible waterfalls. The guide acts as a primer, introducing them to the great hikes that culminate in a spectacular water show.” — Joe
Paddling Alabama By Joe Cuhaj And Curt Burdick
Buy NowFrom the Appalachian highlands in the north to the Gulf Coast, this guide offers paddling opportunities ranging from classic whitewater rapids to meandering rivers, quiet lakes, and saltwater estuaries. Join authors Joe and Curt for a statewide tour of Alabama’s premier paddling destinations for the canoeist and kayaker.
Each destination is described and mapped in detail, with information on put-in points and take-outs, water conditions, and flora and fauna. Sidebars and at-a-glance data highlight local history, seasonal attractions and cultural events, restaurants, paddlesports organizations, and much more.
Robyne Stevenson
Robyne Stevenson spent three decades as a professor before trading her busy calendar for a tiny-house nomadic life. An avid political junkie, Robyne cares deeply about social justice, the environment, and baseball. Her black cat, Inky, accompanies Robyne on her travels.
No Time For Regrets: A Novel (Socialites & Suffragists Book 1)
Buy NowA romantic tale of a woman coming of age as a suffragist in the cradle of democracy, No Time For Regrets is the first of three books in the Socialites and Suffragists series. Ruth Reid embarks on a quest to matter in the world of 1917. She longs for status and privilege to take her out of her working-class family and into the world of socialites on Philadelphia’s Main Line.
She joins the suffragist movement and simultaneously falls in love with a prominent lawyer, Alex. They have a clandestine love affair that requires Ruth to trade public happiness for private ecstasy. Everything comes to a head as the 19th Amendment is ratified and women finally have the right to vote. She makes the hardest decisions of her young life when she discovers it is her own voice that is the most powerful of all.
“I retired and began traveling in my Airstream. I began my second career as a writer on the road writing articles for TravelAwaits and working on my novel. I have completed two more novels in this series for publication this year.” — Robyne
Sue Reddel And Diana Laskaris
Authors, entrepreneurs, and world travelers Sue Reddel and Diana Laskaris have created the life they want on their own terms. In their first book, the duo walks readers step-by-step through their simple but powerful system for designing the work and life you love.
Reddel and Laskaris live the life they love in Portugal, residing in a “beautiful country with friendly people, great healthcare, excellent cuisine, amazing culture, good weather, and pocket-friendly prices.” In their latest book, the pair demystify the process of relocating to Portugal.
What Should I Do Now?: A 14-Day Jumpstart Program To Get Unstuck, Make Decisions, And Take Control of Your Work and Your Life
Buy NowHave you lost your job or are you ready for a change? Are you afraid because you don’t know what the future holds? Do you feel stuck and unable to make decisions without fear?
Is a big question on your mind, “What should I do now?” When you suffer a career or personal setback, or just can’t get ahead, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Maybe you see nothing but a bunch of questions without answers.
The What Should I Do Now? A 14-Day Jumpstart Program To Get Unstuck, Make Decisions, And Take Control Of Your Work And Your Life workbook can help you remove the fear and confusion that keep you from getting what you really want in life. This easy-to-follow, step-by-step program can help you jumpstart your progress in just an hour or two a day. Fun and enlightening activities provide a deeper understanding of what will make you happy and help you actively design a truly satisfying future.
The workbook is written in an entertaining and straightforward style by people just like you who understand what it’s like to have more questions than answers. They’ll be your guides, encouraging your progress along the way as you look forward to each day bursting with new enthusiasm, ideas, and determination. In just two short weeks you can discover exactly what your best self looks like and precisely how to pursue the work and life of your dreams.
101 Tips For Moving To Portugal: And Once You Arrive
Buy NowThe thought of moving to Portugal fills potential expats with questions. Laskaris and Reddel have dealt with all of these decisions and details. Now the duo is passing along their practical and timely tips in an easy-to-follow, quick-read guide. Not only does this guide offer strategies and tasks for the move, but it also answers questions about when to go, what it will take to make the move, and what to expect once you arrive. Topics include how to get started, getting help or DIY, where to live, taking pets, banking and finance, transportation, and more. According to the authors, 101 Tips For Moving To Portugal (And Once You Arrive) “can help anyone decide whether moving to Portugal is right for them, and if so, offer practical tips to make the transition quicker and easier.”
Kathleen Walls
Kathleen Walls is a road trip enthusiast and the writer and publisher for American Roads and Global Highways. Additionally, she has authored numerous travel books including Georgia’s Ghostly Getaways, Finding Florida’s Phantoms, Hosts With Ghosts, and the Wild About Florida series. According to Kathleen “the only thing nearly as much fun as traveling to new places is telling everyone about those places with my writing.”
Wild About Florida: Central Florida
Buy Now“Central Florida has the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf beaches much like other parts of Florida, but in many other ways, it is distinct and unique. The Florida scrub jay, a bird many Floridians believe should be our state bird, is found nowhere in the world except central Florida. Central Florida is bisected by one of the most unique rivers in the state and perhaps even the world.
“First off, the St. Johns is the longest river in Florida and one of the few in the country to flow north. The total distance the river drops from its source in marshes southwest of Melbourne to its mouth in the Atlantic near Jacksonville is less than 30 feet, or about 1 inch per mile, making it one of the ‘laziest,’ slowest-moving rivers in the world. Also due to the fact that it is born in the salty estuary marshes of Indian River County, passes through salt springs, and then receives an infusion of salt at the mouth, creating a more brackish river. It’s the only river in the country that is home to saltwater stingrays.
“Then there are the whooping cranes. There are only three whooping crane colonies in the United States. Central Florida’s Polk, Osceola, and Lake counties are the home of the only non-migratory flock of whooping cranes. Citrus County is host to the ultralight-led migratory flock that winters in Chassohowitzka National Wildlife Refuge near Crystal River. And then there is… but why not just read the rest of the book to discover all the things that are uniquely central Florida.” — Kathleen Walls
Connie Pearson
Alabama-based freelance travel and food writer and blogger Connie Pearson has more than 275 articles published online and in print. The former music teacher and missionary’s travel inspiration blog is called There Goes Connie.
100 Things to Do in Huntsville and North Alabama Before You Die (100 Things to Do Before You Die)
Buy Now $17“North Alabama is my heartland, and Huntsville is now Alabama’s largest city. I wanted to showcase our many restaurants, festivals, and attractions to the many new families moving to the area and to those who have lived here for years and are getting out after the pandemic.” — Connie
Related Reading: