If you look below the surface of an ancient city, you can travel through time and find its deeper layers. In this episode, David Morrell talks about how he researched Victorian London for his historical mysteries about Thomas De Quincey, and how he brought to light the “chasms and sunless abysses” of the first British […] The post History As A Fine Art. Victorian London With David Morrell appeared first on Books And Travel ....
Sep 03, 2020•37 min
Bath is known for its ancient Roman spa, medieval abbey, and sweeping Georgian terraces. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage site in Somerset in the south-west of England and visitors often come on a circular cultural trip that takes in Stonehenge and Stratford-on-Avon. But it’s not all Jane Austen bonnets, Regency dresses, and afternoon tea — […] The post Druids, Freemasons and Frankenstein. The Darker Side of Bath, England appeared first on Books And Travel ....
Aug 20, 2020•33 min
In this wide-ranging interview with Ben Aitken, we talk about challenging cultural stereotypes, identifying as the ‘Other,’ and how to find beauty in the ordinary, as well as thoughts on where to visit and what to eat and drink when visiting Poland. Ben Aitken is a freelance writer, playwright, and the author of three travel […] The post Finding Beauty In The Ordinary. A Different Side Of Poland With Ben Aitken appeared first on Books And Travel ....
Aug 06, 2020•32 min
The word Kosovo brings to mind images of the Balkan War — a place of blood — but Elizabeth Gowing talks about it as a place of sweetness, a place of honey with wonderful food, welcoming people and a complex patchwork of religion that manages to get along together in a tiny country. She also […] The post Travels In Blood And Honey. Kosovo With Elizabeth Gowing appeared first on Books And Travel ....
Jul 23, 2020•37 min
Adventure is a mindset. You can find it in a pocket of wilderness in your local area just by doing something different and seeking out the unusual — or you can find it by running Great Britain barefoot, cycling the Andes, and running the length of New Zealand! In this interview, adventurer Anna McNuff talks […] The post A Pocket Of Wilderness: Adventure Travel With Anna McNuff appeared first on Books And Travel ....
Jul 09, 2020•35 min
The word Ararat brings to mind an adventure into myth and history and in this episode, I talk to Rick Antonson about his journey to the fabled resting place of Noah’s Ark, as well as some of the research into Biblical history and ancient myths of the flood. My ARKANE thrillers center around Biblical archaeology, […] The post Full Moon Over Noah’s Ark. Ararat With Rick Antonson appeared first on Books And Travel ....
Jun 25, 2020•47 min
Great cathedrals are places of awe and wonder, no matter your religious belief. Whenever I visit a new place, I always go to the cathedral or church, or place of worship in the area. There is always something new and interesting to be found and you can get a particular sense of a region that […] The post Pilgrimage. The Architecture Of Faith With Derry Brabbs appeared first on Books And Travel ....
Jun 11, 2020•39 min
Would you cycle across Europe on a ‘sit up and beg’ bike with little experience and no map reading skills? Helen Moat talks about how her adventure unfolded in an inspiring interview that will have you reaching for the guide books and considering where you could travel next. Helen Moat is an author and freelance […] The post A Time Of Birds: Cycling Across Europe To Istanbul With Helen Moat appeared first on Books And Travel ....
May 28, 2020•34 min
There are certain places in the world that are so full of stories, they become ‘catnip for a novelist,‘ as Layton Green talks about in this interview. We delve into the lure of far-off cities, why the occult draws us both, and how to turn a trip to a new place into a book. In […] The post Catnip For A Novelist. Traveling For Book Research With Thriller Author Layton Green appeared first on Books And Travel ....
May 14, 2020•37 min
“Wine is sunlight, held together by water.” Galileo Galilei So much of the joy of travel is eating and drinking and I certainly love to try local wines when I visit new places! In this interview, Caro Feely talks about why she and her husband gave up successful careers to take on a rundown vineyard […] The post The Taste Of Place. French Vineyard Life With Caro Feely appeared first on Books And Travel ....
Apr 23, 2020•32 min
Hello travelers, I’m Jo Frances Penn and in today’s episode, I talk to Angelina Kalahari about Namibia in southwest Africa. We recorded the interview a few months back as I tend to batch my interviews and so it was well before the coronavirus changed our perspective on world travel. But perhaps in difficult times, it’s […] The post Desert Nights, The Skeleton Coast And The Cry Of The Fish Eagle. Namibia With Angelina Kalahari appeared first on Books And Travel ....
Apr 02, 2020•40 min
As I write this in the middle of March 2020, the world is gripped by the spread of coronavirus COVID19. Countries are shutting their borders, people are asked to stay indoors, shelter in place and self-quarantine inside. Restaurants, bars, gyms, schools, and other public places are closing. Airlines are on the verge of going bust […] The post Sanctuary, Retreat, Belonging. The Importance Of Home In Difficult Times appeared first on Books And Travel ....
Mar 18, 2020•13 min
Travel can be about place, but it can also be about time, and in this interview, I talk to Alison Morton about how the ancient Roman empire continues to inspire her alternate-history Roma Nova thrillers. Alison Morton is the author of the Roma Nova series, Roman-themed alternate history thrillers with tough heroines. Show notes The […] The post The Roman Empire And Alternate History With Alison Morton appeared first on Books And Travel ....
Mar 05, 2020•41 min
Mumbai is a fascinating city with diversity in religion and architecture, and in this interview, Vikram Chandra talks about the colonial impact of the Portuguese and British, as well as the Zoroastrian, Muslim, Hindu and Christian holy places in the city. It’s also a feast for the senses, as Vikram evokes the taste of seafood […] The post Bhel Puri On The Beach, The Gateway To India, And Bollywood. Mumbai With Vikram Chandra appeared first on Books And Travel ....
Feb 20, 2020•38 min
Sometimes we can only find our true selves by leaving everything we thought we wanted behind. Matt Buchman was a successful business consultant, but when he lost everything, he set off to cycle around the world. It was a way to escape his old life, but also to find a new path. In this interview, […] The post Cycling Around The World With ML Buchman appeared first on Books And Travel ....
Feb 06, 2020•50 min
In today’s episode, we’re heading for the Northern Territory of Australia as Dr. Amanda Markham talks about some of the Aboriginal Dreaming stories of the area and how the vast landscape impacts living and working there, as well as the best places to visit if you’re traveling. Amanda is of Wiradjuri Aboriginal descent and speaks […] The post Sacred Australia And The Northern Territory With Amanda Markham appeared first on Books And Travel ....
Jan 23, 2020•40 min
What would you do if you only had a short time to live? Most people have some kind of travel on their bucket list, and when Susi Holliday had a near-miss in the London terror attacks, she decided to head off on a round-the-world trip. Her experience on the Trans-Siberian Express resulted in a crime […] The post Traveling On The Trans-Siberian Express Across Mongolia And Russia With SJI Holliday appeared first on Books And Travel ....
Jan 09, 2020•42 min
In today’s episode, we’re heading north for cross-country skiing under the aurora borealis, sailing amongst the Baltic islands, and silence amongst the Finnish forests. I worked in Helsinki one summer in my twenties. The nights were bright and we drank vodka in the sauna and then jumped in the Baltic to cool off. I remember […] The post The Happiest Country In The World. Finland With Helena Halme appeared first on Books And Travel ....
Dec 12, 2019•42 min
There are books that remain with you over time, that spark the imagination and echo down the years of your life. I read The Last Kabbalist of Lisbon by Richard Zimler in the late 1990s around the time I read The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco while I was studying Theology at Oxford, […] The post Traveling Through The Eyes of Faith With Richard Zimler appeared first on Books And Travel ....
Nov 28, 2019•45 min
New Orleans is one of those cities that has a special place in the imagination of a traveler, even if you haven’t been there. It’s famous for loving life — for Mardi Gras parades, a vibrant music scene, drinking and eating and gorgeous architecture in the French Quarter — but it’s also known as the […] The post The City Of Life And Death. New Orleans With Laura And Dan Martone appeared first on Books And Travel ....
Nov 14, 2019•50 min
China is a rising world power, increasingly challenging the USA in terms of global influence and technological development, especially around artificial intelligence and biotechnology. It’s also an ancient culture with fascinating places to visit, and in this interview, thriller author L.H.Draken shares her thoughts on traveling to Beijing. LH Draken is the author of […] The post Ancient City, Modern Life. Beijing With LH Draken appeared first on Books And Travel ....
Oct 31, 2019•44 min
Australia is truly a land of two halves. There is nature in all its diversity — from the vast outback to ancient rainforest, from the coral reef to the desert; and then there are the great international cities, from Sydney’s Harbour Bridge to Melbourne’s coffee culture, where multi-cultural Aussies work and play in the Lucky […] The post Outback Nights And City Days In The Lucky Country. Australia With J.F.Penn appeared first on Books And Travel ....
Oct 17, 2019•43 min
“Solvitur ambulando: It is solved by walking.” St Augustine We live in a mostly sedentary world, with our days seated at a computer working, and our evenings in front of streaming entertainment. This life shows in our physical and mental health, but since much of our modern malaise can be solved by regular walking in […] The post Walking The Camino De Santiago With Ashlee Cowles appeared first on Books And Travel ....
Oct 03, 2019•44 min
Traveling by train is fantastic because you can watch the world go by from the carriage, sometimes for days on end, and you have somewhere to sleep and wash and eat while you travel. You can catch glimpses of places you might never visit as the train passes through and you arrive in the heart […] The post Traveling By Train Across The USA With J Thorn appeared first on Books And Travel ....
Sep 19, 2019•36 min
Greenland is the world’s largest island. Three-quarters of it are covered in a permanent ice sheet and with only 56,000 people, it’s the least densely populated country in the world. It is considered a region of Denmark, but Greenland has recently been in the news as President Donald Trump talked about buying the island for […] The post Living On The Edge: Greenland With Christoffer Petersen appeared first on Books And Travel ....
Sep 05, 2019•45 min
Djibouti is a meeting place of cultures with French, Somali, and Yemenese influences. It’s shaped by its geographical position between the desert and the sea, on the borders of Ethiopia, Somalia and Eritrea as well as the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea. In this interview, Rachel Jones explains how she came to love […] The post Between The Desert And The Sea. Djibouti With Rachel Pieh Jones appeared first on Books And Travel ....
Aug 22, 2019•48 min
Traveling to a new place is about art, architecture, food, and culture, but it can also be about the people you meet and the memories — and even souvenirs — you bring back. In today’s interview, Laura Morelli talks about Venetian artisans, the joys of limoncello, and shares her tips for finding the perfect way […] The post Venice, Art History And Italian Artisans With Laura Morelli appeared first on Books And Travel ....
Aug 08, 2019•37 min
The north-east of England combines the ancient history of Viking raids and English castles, with the stark beauty of Lindisfarne island cut off by the tides, and the vibrant city of Newcastle linked by its seven bridges. In today’s episode, mystery author, LJ Ross talks about love of home, why she sets her books in […] The post Northumberland: Ancient Lindisfarne, Modern Newcastle With L.J.Ross appeared first on Books And Travel ....
Jul 25, 2019•35 min
Berlin is a modern city with vibrant street art, a growing tech scene and world-renowned museums and galleries — but it also has the dark history of the Nazi Third Reich and the Berlin Wall. In today’s episode, American thriller author Rebecca Cantrell talks about her love of the city and how it features in […] The post Berlin: Dark History And Modern Art with Rebecca Cantrell appeared first on Books And Travel ....
Jul 11, 2019•29 min
I sat there on my first morning in class, heart pounding, as I realized there was no way I could keep up with the work. I would fail here. I would have to leave Oxford almost as soon as I had arrived … That was day one at Oxford and I’ll finish that story during […] The post Oxford: Decadence, Discipline And Dreaming Spires With J.F.Penn appeared first on Books And Travel .
Jun 27, 2019•32 min
