What was the impetus behind writing the series?
I wanted to share what traveling was like before cell phones and having Internet at your fingertips. The challenges each day brings and the joy in the little things that happen along the way. To give people an escape, a chance to laugh, cringe, cry, and enjoy reading an entertaining story.
Did you plan to write about your adventures whilst traveling?
At the time, no. I was grieving the loss of my mother, trying to get through each day safely. I was an active journaler, and I kept detailed notes of my adventure, making it easier to share these stories now.
Given the opportunity would you backpack again?
This one makes me laugh. My gut says, bring it on. My body, not so much. I now enjoy a rolling suitcase rather than carrying everything on my back.
Would you encourage others to travel solo, or in a group?
I love the freedom of solo traveling, making my own choices, and going where I want. But I was always looking to meet people along the way. If you travel in a group, you could bond with them, or they could drive you crazy. And even in a group, you can be alone. What I’ve learned about myself is that I like company. The right company. And I would rather be alone than be with someone I don’t connect with. I think it’s important to know what you need to have a good time and then the solo vs group decision should come easy.
What fundamental lessons did you learn from your travels?
Look up, sit, and watch people. Be polite. At a minimum, always learn the word for thank you in the local language. The most important. Stop rushing to the next thing. And enjoy the moment you’re living.
Which of the culture(s) you visited were the most surprising?
I think it was the exceptions that surprised me. In one breath someone was kind, and then another cruel. And this happened everywhere. In Russia, most people were stern, but the first man I met on a bus was smiley and kind, helping me find the metro station. In The Netherlands, people were tall and loved to sail as expected. But they don’t have curtains, and you can see everything that happens inside other people’s homes. In Croatia, the locals ignored you, but one man took the time to have a heart-to-heart about his experience during the war. In Egypt, it was difficult to walk around on the street as a woman. But a man alone in the markets was invited for tea and chat.
What was your most dangerous encounter?
I was sexually assaulted in a bus station in Lithuania in broad light. And this is in book 2, Life Strikes Back. It could have been a lot worse, but that moment demonstrated how vulnerable I was and had a long impact on my confidence to protect myself. I had another one in Zanzibar, Tanzania. This takes place in book 4, Beautifully Warped. This one was a verbal threat by a local man. I was flip with him, and he retaliated. I still get chills when I reflect on that moment. And to this day, I’m mindful of my surroundings and words.
How did your travels change you as a person?
For a third of my life, I was a caregiver for my mom until she passed when I was twenty-three. I was good at hospitals and doctor visits but naïve and sheltered from the real world. I had a lot of growing up to do. That takes place in the five-part Back in a Year series. The person who left was not the same person who came back. I matured, got to know myself, and learned the value of friendship. And how lucky I was to grow up the way I did.
When is the next book launching?
Book 1, Finding Color, and Book 2, Life Strikes Back, are available now. Book 3, Hello, I am Here, will be available on April 30th, 2025. This one travels from Prague to Cairo and is filled with wild dusty adventures.
Where can readers find you and your books?
My books are available on Amazon.
And I also have links and pictures on my website: www.candacemacphie.com
Grab your backpack and get ready for an adventure in the '90s when the Internet was scarce but laughs weren’t. Finding Color is book one in the five-part Back in a Year series, the true story of a young woman traveling around the world. Each book can be read independently, but it’s more fun to take the full trip.
Back in a Year Series (2 book of series) Kindle edition (amazon.ca)
Bio:
Born in Montreal, Quebec, I spent years backpacking and working around the world. I have a Bachelor of Commerce degree, an MBA, and worked for twenty years on four different continents and now call Calgary, Alberta home.
Ahh—here I am—on my dream backpacking trip overlanding from Russia—through Eastern Europe—to Istanbul with my travel partner, Khadejah. Bring on the sunny days of exotic sightseeing, tasty new food, interesting people, and places I can get lost in to soothe my tattered heart.
But … It rains most days. Don’t even get me started on the food. The locals are low on smiles. And I’m drowning in grief.
I got married, had kids, and things got busy. Time was moving by quickly and my kids were growing up fast. I shifted gears and quit my job to spend time at home. During the COVID lockdown, I had time on my hands, decided to try writing, and started writing the Back in a Year series.
When I’m not at my computer yelling “Just a few more pages, then I’ll make dinner,” I love hiking in the Rocky Mountains, hot yoga, reading romance novels, and making up new cake recipes. I especially like to laugh and spend time with my husband, the self-proclaimed grumpy motherf*%ker, and my three awesome kids.
To request additional review copies or an interview with Candace MacPhie, please contact Mickey Mikkelson at Creative Edge Publicity: mickey.creativeedge@gmail.com / 403.464.6925.
0 Comments