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*Like most of the people I know, I headed for corporate employment right after college. I did well. I learn fast and I’m good at solving problems, and those are important gifts in the world of giant international corporations. But even as I climbed the corporate ladder, there was a persistent dream that kept me from really feeling at home. I wanted to write. I had been a writer, but I wondered how to pursue it professionally.
Eventually, the answer came to me: quit. Walk away from the corporate world and write. Of course, that’s easier said than done, but at least I had a goal—to save enough money to get out.
However, once I quit, I needed to get far away from the temptation of taking another job. Australia seemed the best, and farthest, place to accomplish that. So when I finally reached escape velocity and got away from the gravitational field of income and security, Australia is where I went. It is the six wonderfully adventurous months I spent in Australia that are recounted in my book, Waltzing Australia.
It took a while to rebuild my career, once I came home. There were a few years of beans, rice, and potatoes, but in time, the sacrifice paid off, and the work began to get regular—and more delightful. I've written hundreds of articles, won several awards (for articles as well as for books), and delighted in working with clients that have included Colonial Williamsburg and National Geographic. Because history and travel continued to grow in importance in my life. My passion for food history led to the publication of my second book, Midwest Maize: How Corn Shaped the U.S. Heartland. Food history also joined travel as a mainstay of my speaking career. (Check out my website for the topics on which I speak -- from exploring Mongolia to the history of rum.)
My parents were a very big influence on my interests, from travel to food to finding joy in sharing. When I was a child, they bought me books that awakened a passion for the exotic and wonderful—stories about children growing up in Bali, China, Hungary, France, Africa. Instead of a teddy bear, I had a koala and a panda. And my dad was always finding interesting museums to explore or ethnic restaurants to try out.
My motivation for writing is the tremendous pleasure I get out of sharing with people the wonder of the world around us—the natural beauty, the history, the fascinating cultures, the delightful people. I also love sharing the very real truth that, while traveling the world can be enlightening, there are wonders close to home, no matter where you live.
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