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[Rolf and Kansas first lady Stacy Parkinson
at the Kansas Book Awards in Topeka.]
A year after its initial publication, my book Marco Polo Didn’t Go There has started to receive some awards at the state, national, and international level. A few weeks ago I mentioned that it had received a Kansas Book Award; now, just yesterday, I learned that it has also won a Lowell Thomas Award from the Society of American Travel Writers. “This series of traveler stories is provocative and compelling,” the judges wrote. “Rolf Potts’ style is personal and the narrative quality high. It’s not for the typical tourist, but rather, for readers seeking adventurous experiences.”
The most notable award for the book, however, comes from Italy’s Premio Chatwin Festival, which has selected Marco Polo Didn’t Go There as the recipient of the 2009 Chatwin Prize for travel literature. Mine is the first American-authored book to receive the prize, and I’m the first English-language author to win since Jason Elliot took the prize in 2007. Bruce Chatwin’s widow Elizabeth presides over the festival, which takes place in Genoa from November 11-14. A rundown of previous winners is online (in Italian) here.
In tandem with my trip to Italy, I’ll doing a fall mini-tour on the U.S. East Coast. Dates and events are as follows:
ITALY
- November 14th, 2009 Genoa, Online info
Premio Chatwin, Italy’s premier festival of travel writing, photography, and video; queries can be sent to premiochatwin (at) gmail.com.
NEW JERSEY
- November 17th, 2009 Metuchen, 8:00pm, Online info
The Raconteur, Public reading from Marco Polo Didn’t Go There and other works. 431 Main St, Metuchen, NJ; (732) 906-0009
NEW YORK
- November 19th, 2009 Staten Island 5:00pm, Online info
College of Staten Island, International Education Week, travel seminar with
New York Times writer Matt Gross
BOSTON
- November 20th, 2009 Boston, early afternoon, Online info
Hosteling International 75th Anniversary Conference, independent travel panel with Tony Wheeler and Jeff Greenwald
There’s a chance I’ll add another event in Boston — as well as a reading at the University of Kansas in early December. Please check my Events page for updates in coming weeks.
October 12th, 2009 at 12:31 am
Hmmm, maybe I should get out my damn wallet and buy the book already then. It’s been sitting in my Amazon shopping list for months but I’ve been too cheap to make another purchase (I have to buy books all together otherwise the shipping kills me).
October 12th, 2009 at 9:36 am
I think you have the wrong date listed for the HI Anniversary party. It’s on Saturday 11/21, not Friday 11/20.
October 12th, 2009 at 11:05 am
Would love it if you could confirm if you could confirm if your event in Boston will be on Nov 20th or Nov 21st.
Thanks!
October 12th, 2009 at 1:16 pm
Congratulations! Now you are rewarded for all your hard work! You deserve some awards!
October 12th, 2009 at 1:27 pm
Cheers, guys!
As for the Boston event, I’ll be at the gala on the 21st, but I won’t be speaking there. The panel with Wheeler and Greenwald takes place on the 20th (though it doesn’t seem to be listed on the HI-USA website). Both of these anniversary events might well have fees and/or limited attendance, so if you’re thinking about attending you might get in touch with HI-USA’s organizer (dtrent@hiusa.org).
I’m also hoping to do a free event at a bookstore or university the weekend I’m in Boston. I’ll update my rolfpotts.com Events page as I know details on that….
October 12th, 2009 at 1:50 pm
Hearty congrats, Rolf, on your well-deserved awards! :~)
October 12th, 2009 at 10:59 pm
Congratulations on the wins. That is very impressive.
October 18th, 2009 at 8:36 pm
Congratulations! I loved the book. It has helped me with my own writing about my travels on my blog.