Q Writing the book, how did you feel reflecting back on that period?
I couldn't have written the book if my parents hadn't kept, and returned, every letter I wrote to them during my travels. I wrote every day, in diary form, and most of these letters hadn't been looked at since I wrote them, so I had an extraordinarily happy time on the sofa rereading them. I would never have remembered all that vivid detail, and they highlight one of the many benefits of pre-Internet travel. Descriptive writing was something I learned through daily practice, and it has stood me in good stead.
Q You're renowned for an easy writing style that allows readers to be transported to a destination — to hear it, feel it. What tips do you have for readers who want to write about their own travel experiences?
Travel writing is a skill you can learn and it's well worth signing up for a seminar or workshop, such as the ones run by Jonathan Lorie of Travellers Tales. It's a subject close to my heart because Bradt runs an annual travel-writing competition and as one of the judges I get to read some terrific bits of writing. My main tip is don't try too hard! The most self-defeating entries in the
