Facing Forwards - Europe. Solo. No Looking Back.

Aim

It's a book about going solo, so self-publishing seems appropriate. Covering one continent in two months on as many trains as required.

PROJECT AIM

It's a book about going solo, so self-publishing seems appropriate. Covering one continent in three months on as many trains as required.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

The past few years have been rough - with heartbreak, bereavement, periods of extremely poor mental health, and financial meltdown. At the age of 48, single, and with no children, it's time for some new challenges and to find out if the independence that others see in me really exists.

So I have decided to do three months of Interrailing, alone, over June, July, and August of this year. Taking the Nellie Bly approach http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nellie_Bly of less is more, it will be done with as little luggage as possible.

Recreating her journey would be too easy now, but making my way around Europe, making sure I have a decent supply of HRT patches, seems to be enough of a challenge for someone who, as a travel writer, has had her fair share of pampering on press trips. Don't get me wrong, it's great turning left rather than right on a free flight, but travel junkets are prescriptive - journalists see, eat, and meet who the facilitators want them to. This will be rather different.

This isn't about the rarefied atmosphere of Europe's grand capitals - this will be a little more off the beaten track and although I'm going solo, I'm sure I'll meet some interesting characters along the way.

This also isn't about having a paid holiday. Of course, as a freelance writer, I'll take an advance to give me time to write the book, but it needs to be professionally edited, designed, printed, and safely fulfilled.

Of course, if I was truly independent Crowdfunding wouldn't be necessary, but having spoken with trusted friends, I believe this is a book that could be entertaining but also show the value of "alone time" and the benefits of travel as a bit of a healer.

I'd be delighted if you would consider supporting the project. I'm sure that I'll deliver a book with... well, who knows? It's all still to happen.

This project successfully funded on 26th May 2015