CURRENT MISSION

I'm driving on a book tour through the Western U.S. to talk about my travel memoir & to teach travel workshops. My memoir is called "They Only Eat Their Husbands: A Memoir of Alaskan Love, World Travel, and the Power of Running Away."

ABOUT ME

I grew up in Downey, California, better known as Los Angeles. My wanderlust began when I followed a drummer to Colorado - oops. I earned a journalism degree from CU Boulder, and then became a TV reporter/anchor/producer in the only state that was hiring neophyte journalists at the time: Alaska. My new book, "They Only Eat Their Husbands: A Memoir of Alaskan Love, World Travel, and the Power of Running Away" (Ghost Road Press, Nov 2010), explores my nine years of wild adventure and embarrassing romance in the Last Frontier, and the year I trekked around the world alone. I've written and produced for TV shows on HGTV, Food Network, and Discovery Health. My stories have appeared in such publications as The Los Angeles Times, Denver Post, and Santa Fe New Mexican. I'm the creator of the Girls Trek Too blog and workshop, dedicated to inspiring women to approach life as an adventure. My husband and I got married at an active volcano in Costa Rica, survived both dangers, and now live in Denver.

PHILOSOPHY

I believe in living life with a sense of purpose. When I'm choosing goals, I ask myself what I would do next if I weren't afraid. Then I do that.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I've just joined. At the moment, I'm preparing for a month-long book tour, which takes off in just three weeks. Since I'm still working overtime on that, for the moment I'm primarily available to surfers who want to share a cup of coffee and get some tips on local stuff to see and do. Then I'll go on my tour and surf a few couches along the way. When I return home, I'm hoping for opportunities to pay it forward, by making our guest bedroom available to other couch surfers.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

As a former journalist and an avid traveler, I have friends in many places. Usually I stay with them for just a night or two when I'm passing through their towns on low-budget trips. I've stayed with several friends in the Northeastern and Southwestern U.S. When I was in London, I once stayed with a lovely German friend I met during my trek a few months earlier in Nepal. I'm sorry to say that we lost touch, but I remember that visit fondly. I've rarely slept on my friends' couches, as most of them had a spare bed - but I'm very happy to sleep on a couch if need be. I sometimes sleep on the couch at home. :)

Interests

Writing, Reading, Travel, Photography, Hiking, Skiing, Dancing (Lindy Hop, West Coast Swing, Balboa), Movies

• writing
• books
• photography
• dancing
• dining
• coffee
• running
• movies
• reading
• tv
• traveling
• blogging
• bouldering
• hiking
• skiing
• journalism

Music, Movies, and Books

A few of my favorite movies: "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind," "The Fifth Element," "Lone Star," "Kingdom of Heaven," "Groundhog Day."

A few of my favorite songs: "I Don't Know" by Lisa Hannigan, "Mad World" by Gary Jules, "Step Inside this House" by Lyle Lovett, "I Want a Little Sugar in My Bowl" by Nina Simone, "Carmelita" by Warren Zevon.

A few of my favorite books: "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy, "The Hummingbird's Daughter" by Luis Alberto Urrea, "The English Patient" by Michael Ondaatje, "The Shipping News" by Annie Proulx, "The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay" by Michael Chabon.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I climbed Stromboli Volcano in Sicily to watch it erupt, up-close & personal. It was unforgettably, terrifyingly beautiful.

Teach, Learn, Share

I've been writing for 20 years and planning my own independent travel for 20 years. I'd be happy to give someone a copy of my memoir in exchange for a clean, quiet place to sleep & shower. I'd also be happy to share free tips on planning independent travel - a subject on which I sometimes offer workshops.

Countries I’ve Visited

Canada, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Ethiopia, France, Greece, India, Ireland, Italy, Malawi, Mexico, Nepal, Peru, Spain, Tanzania, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States