Featured Image: Karen Gershowitz holding a copy of her book

Note: This series profiles of women authors who have written travel memoirs. Industy research shows that female authors, particularly women of colour, LGBTQIAP+ individuals, and people with disabilities are underrepresented in the literary world.  The intent of this new feature is simple: to provide a place where women’s wisdom can be shared with other women. This is not an advertising feature – we select our authors carefully, through a series of interviews, to ensure our philosophies on travel are aligned with JourneyWoman’s ethos to seek, learn and teach. If you have a book you’d like featured please write [email protected] to be considered.  To see our recommended books please visit our Book Club page. 

My Q&A with Karen 

Tell us about the storyline. Is there any special significance to the title?

Once I got a taste of traveling it became a near compulsion for me. Exploring a new place, no matter where in the world, is an adrenaline-producing rush for me. I have never been able to resist the pull of another journey. Travel Mania takes readers along on my journeys around the globe and through my personal growth.

Who or what inspired you to write this book? How long did it take?

My mother started me writing travel journals when I was very young.  I’ve been writing about my travels since then.  So, you could say I’ve been writing this book since I was age 7.  I started seriously writing and compiling the stories about 10 years ago.

 This book was originally nearly twice as long, I needed to significantly pare it down.  The stories I ultimately chose to include fit into one of these categories:  learning to travel, my changing view of the world, and ways in which travel changed me.

In writing this book, what did you learn about yourself that surprised you?

 I never thought about myself as being especially brave.  But in retrospect, it is clear that I exhibited enormous bravery and strength on many occasions.  I also realized that because I’ve traveled extensively both for business and pleasure, how different those experiences are and how much I’ve learned from each.

What wisdom do you want to share with other women? What’s your overarching message?

 I am an ordinary person. Through travel, I’ve learned courage and risk-taking and succeeded at things I didn’t know I could do.  I hope that Travel Mania conveys the profound impact travel can have and the joy that can be found in exploring the world. The best outcome of people reading my book is that the stories give them the courage to set off on their own adventures.

What’s your favorite line or passage in the book and why?

“I left for Indonesia a happily single woman. After two weeks, I had acquired a husband and two children.”  There’s a great story behind this (I didn’t actually get married) and a wonderful tip for solo female travelers

What inspirational book – old or new – would you recommend to other women that will inspire them to travel and explore new places. What did you learn from it?

 I am a huge fan of Bill Bryson’s travel books.  I am also smitten with Dervla Murphy’s many travel adventures.  She was far more adventurous than me, but I always felt as though I was traveling along side of her. 

 What is your favorite destination and why?

This is an impossible question to answer. When I’m traveling, I am enamored with whatever scene is in front of my nose. Spectacular beauty, astonishing accomplishments, great food and warm, generous people intermixed with outrageous schlock all captivate me.

To contact Karen:

Facebook

Twitter

LinkedIn

Instagram

Or join us on the JourneyWoman Facebook Group, where Karen frequently shares her travel stories. 

LOVE BOOKS? JOIN THE JOURNEYWOMAN BOOK CLUB! 

Every month we recommend a different book that takes you on a new adventure. Book club meetings are held on the third Wednesday of each month at 8 pm EST. 

Learn more here.