Paris writing workshop students debut new works in print and onstage
One of my favorite things about teaching writing at the Paris American Academy every summer is the chance to see our students find success in print, onstage, and onscreen in the months and years that follow. A number of Paris writing students from 2006 and 2007 have recently debuted new work in venues around the world. Here are some examples (and unless otherwise noted, they are all students from 2007):
- Andrea Ronkowski's Japan-based travel tale Hustling Nakamura-san appeared in The Smart Set last October.
- Cass McGovern's memoir "Something Special in the Air," which details her experience of flunking out of the American Airlines stewardess school, appears in the Spring 2008 issue of the Massachusetts Review.
- Dulci Pitagora performed a nonfiction monologue at Stage Left Studio in New York last fall, and was recently named managing editor at GO Magazine.
- Subzero, Razvan Marc's travel documentary about Arctic Finland, debuted on Romanian television last fall. A trailer for the DVD version of his show is online here.
- Alexis Apfelbaum has a story appearing in "It's All Relative," an upcoming issue of the Global City Review.
- Perth-based Carmen Jenner, who attended the Paris writing workshop in 2006, has published a number of travel stories in The Australian, including an article about traveling with children in Paris.
- 2006 student Marlene Nichols will be performing her new solo show "Seeing Voices" at New York's Stage Left Studio later this month. Performance dates are Thursday-Friday, May 29th & 30th; then Friday-Saturday June 6th and 7th, at 8pm each night. Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. More information available here.
- John Biguenet, who teaches literary fictions at the Paris writing workshop, has had a string of successes for his Pulitzer-nominated play about Hurricane Katrina, Rising Water. The 20th annual Big Easy Entertainment Awards named Rising Water its Best Original Play of 2007, naming Biguenet "Theatre Person of the Year". The play debuted at Southern Repertory Theater and became the playhouse's bestselling show ever. It is scheduled for production in several cities in the United States, and has recently debuted in southern California.
On a final note, I'll note that registration is still open for the July 2008 session of the Paris American Academy writing workshop, and we welcome new applicants! For more information,, check out our official website here.
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Got a venue for Rolf's book tour this fall?
As I mentioned a couple weeks back, I have a new travel book coming out this fall. Entitled Marco Polo Didn't Go There, this book will likely debut in September, and I will go on the road to promote it in October and November. Right now I plan on hitting various bookstores, writing conferences, and universities in Washington, Oregon, California, Texas, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, New York, and New Jersey.
Might you have some suggested stops and venues for me in these places? Are there other parts of the U.S. or Canada that might make a good stop on my book tour? If so, let me know by emailing me directly! (My address is under "contact" in the index bar at left.)
In addition to standard readings from my new book (as well as Vagabonding), I'm also game to do short talks or seminars on travel writing and/or long-term travel -- especially at universities and book festivals. I welcome your suggestions!
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Catching up with a winter's worth of Rolf news
The past several months have kept me busy with both travel and writing, and it's been awhile since I've blogged about my various personal projects. Here's a quick roundup...Continue reading "Catching up with a winter's worth of Rolf news"
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In bookstores: Encounters With the Middle East
Travelers Tales recently released a great new anthology, Encounters With the Middle East, which is based on a simple (yet very worthy) premise: To humanize the people behind the...Continue reading "In bookstores: Encounters With the Middle East"
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Jurassic Tennis: My newest article in The Smart Set
[Above, noblemen play Jeu de Paume in 16th century Paris.] My latest article for The Smart Set, "Jurassic Tennis," recounts a journey into a lesser-known corner of Paris to...Continue reading "Jurassic Tennis: My newest article in The Smart Set"
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Make Vagabonding a holiday stocking-stuffer!
It's once again winter holiday season, and once again I'll remind everyone that a copy of Vagabonding makes a great holiday gift for: College or high school students nearing graduation....Continue reading "Make Vagabonding a holiday stocking-stuffer!"
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Awakening your inner vagabond
Last month, the Columbia Missourian ran a story called Off the Map, which was about the international travels and travel-plans of local residents. I was interviewed for a sidebar called...Continue reading "Awakening your inner vagabond"
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Rolf on home and faith (and on television)
I've covered some new thematic ground in recent articles and interviews of late, including a meditation on the idea of making a home for World Hum. Entitled "A Vagabond...Continue reading "Rolf on home and faith (and on television)"
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A chance to study writing in Paris next summer
Creative Writing Workshop at the Paris American Academy July 2nd through the 28th, 2008 For the fourth year running, I'll be teaching an intensive, month-long creative writing workshop next...Continue reading "A chance to study writing in Paris next summer"
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The Best American Travel Writing 2007
The latest volume in Houghton Mifflin's annual Best American Travel Writing series came out this month, and as always it makes for great armchair travel reading. New Yorker writer...Continue reading "The Best American Travel Writing 2007"
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Mediocre photos of Australian animals
[Above: An angry frillneck lizard, slightly off-center.] It's been nearly a year now since I headed halfway around the world to write about Australia for Slate. I was recently...Continue reading "Mediocre photos of Australian animals"
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The New B Movie: My story in today's New York Times Magazine
Today's issue of the New York Times Magazine features a short article I wrote about an odd corner of Hollywood's B-movie industry. Entitled "The New B Movie", the essay...Continue reading "The New B Movie: My story in today's New York Times Magazine"
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Death of an Adventure Traveler: My new story in The Smart Set
Last week I had a new story debut in The Smart Set. Entitled "Death of an Adventure Traveler," it is a kind of sequel to a story I wrote...Continue reading "Death of an Adventure Traveler: My new story in The Smart Set"
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Rolf interviewed at Frommer's...and Frommer's
In recent days, I have talked about Vagabonding on two different national broadcasts -- both of them through the Frommer's travel publishing company. First, on Sunday, I spoke with Arthur...Continue reading "Rolf interviewed at Frommer's...and Frommer's"
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Talking travel writing, solo journeys, and Kerouac: 4 new Rolf interviews online
Since departing on my European and North American travels earlier this summer, I've done a number of interviews that have appeared in print and online -- including a podcast about...Continue reading "Talking travel writing, solo journeys, and Kerouac: 4 new Rolf interviews online"
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Le Musée du Fumeur: My new story in The Smart Set
Earlier this month I had an essay appear in The Smart Set, a new online arts and culture magazine out of Drexel University in Philadelphia. My story, Le Musée...Continue reading "Le Musée du Fumeur: My new story in The Smart Set"
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Catching up after a great summer on the road
Above: Rolf hams it up with old pal Jen Leo at the Book Passage Travel Writers' Conference in San Francisco. Those who regularly follow Vagablogging will notice that new...Continue reading "Catching up after a great summer on the road"
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Rolf's Authors@Google talk in New York
Earlier this month, while passing through New York, I had an opportunity to speak about Vagabonding and long-term travel at the Google office in midtown Manhattan. Google has since...Continue reading "Rolf's Authors@Google talk in New York"
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Q&A: The joy of journeys
Tom Chiari, a journalism student at the University of Connecticut, recently contacted me with some questions about vagabonding, the attitude one takes into a journey, and my own experiences as...Continue reading "Q&A: The joy of journeys"
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Rolf's guest blogging stint at the LA Times
While Jen Leo ran off to Vegas for a 7-07-07 wedding, Rolf took over her spot at the LA Times Daily Travel Deal blog to cover a range of vagabonding-related...Continue reading "Rolf's guest blogging stint at the LA Times"
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Six questions (and answers) about travel and travel writing
A reader named Cliff, who is preparing to leave on his own extended vagabonding journey, recently contacted me with a few questions about travel and travel writing. Here's a transcript...Continue reading "Six questions (and answers) about travel and travel writing"
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Travel writing and Americanness: a Q&A
Late last year, Harvard student Melanie Tortoroli interviewed me for a paper she was writing about travel writing and American identity. Here is our exchange: Where were you born? Wichita,...Continue reading "Travel writing and Americanness: a Q&A"
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Rick Steves interviews Rolf for NPR (and podcast)
This past weekend, I was the subject of an hour-long interview on Rick Steves' radio show on NPR. Though Rick is primarily known as a guru for independent vacations in...Continue reading "Rick Steves interviews Rolf for NPR (and podcast)"
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Rolf to speak at the Book Passage Travel Writers' Conference in August
My July Paris writing workshop is currently sold out for the summer, and time is running out to apply for my travel writing classes at SLS in Russia next...Continue reading "Rolf to speak at the Book Passage Travel Writers' Conference in August"
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Vagabonding: The "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" endorsement
[Above: Contestant Justin Pitts gives props to Vagabonding.] Last month, while I was traveling in Cuba, several readers sent me emails saying that a contestant on the syndicated game...Continue reading "Vagabonding: The "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" endorsement"
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Vagabonding's Japanese debut (and other Rolf writing news)
The Japanese cover of Vagabonding I have a few new writing items to share this week: First, I'm happy to announce that Sony Books has finally released the Japanese...Continue reading "Vagabonding's Japanese debut (and other Rolf writing news)"
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How I got my travel-writing career started
For the past seven years, I've been asking my various travel writer interview subjects how they got started writing. Frank Bures recently asked me that same question for a travel-writing...Continue reading "How I got my travel-writing career started"
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Talking solo travel with AAA Magazine
Journalist Kate Siber recently interviewed me for a AAA article about traveling solo. I have yet to read the article itself (which came out this spring), so for now I'll...Continue reading "Talking solo travel with AAA Magazine"
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"Going Native in the Australian Outback" at Slate.com
The fifth and final installment in Rolf’s latest Well-Traveled dispatch, "Going Native in the Australian Outback," is on-line at Slate.com. In the series, Rolf sets out in Australia’s outback on...Continue reading ""Going Native in the Australian Outback" at Slate.com"
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Study writing with me this summer in Paris
Creative Writing Workshop at the Paris American Academy July 2nd through the 27th, 2007 I'll be teaching an intensive, month-long creative writing workshop this summer at the Paris American...Continue reading "Study writing with me this summer in Paris"
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Rolf to talk long-term travel on Rick Steves radio, Feb. 27th
Next Tuesday, February 27th, I will sit in on a Rick Steves radio recording session, wherein Rick and I will discuss strategies for long-term world travel. The official title of...Continue reading "Rolf to talk long-term travel on Rick Steves radio, Feb. 27th"
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A Subjective Guide to the Budget Hotels of the Orient: My new story in Swink
I have a new travel story, entitled "A Subjective Guide to the Budget Hotels of the Orient," in the latest issue of the literary journal Swink. In keeping with...Continue reading "A Subjective Guide to the Budget Hotels of the Orient: My new story in Swink"
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The dangers and joys of travel writing: a Q&A
As I think I've mentioned before on this blog, college students researching journalism, travel literature, and Americans abroad interview me quite frequently. I rarely see the final result of these...Continue reading "The dangers and joys of travel writing: a Q&A"
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The Rolf Potts obscure collection: A look at three anthologies
Although the Books page of RolfPotts.com outlines my contributions to a number of literary travel anthologies in recent years, it doesn't mention my appearance in three small-press fiction anthologies...Continue reading "The Rolf Potts obscure collection: A look at three anthologies"
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Rolf to teach at SLS in St. Petersburg, Russia this June
In addition to my regular creative nonfiction classes at the Paris American Academy this summer, I will also be teaching a two-week course in travel writing at the Summer Literary...Continue reading "Rolf to teach at SLS in St. Petersburg, Russia this June"
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Vagabonding and the Campaign for the American Reader "page 69" test
Last week, the Campaign for the American Reader featured Vagabonding in its "page 69 test." This blog project, which is an independent initiative encouraging people to read more books, tests...Continue reading "Vagabonding and the Campaign for the American Reader "page 69" test"
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2006: The Year in Rolf
[Above: Rolf gets an aboriginal welcome in East Arnhem Land, Northern Territories, Australia, November 2006.] Before we get too far into 2007, I should probably try to sum up...Continue reading "2006: The Year in Rolf"
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Taking time for a holiday breather (and redesign)
Since the holidays are approaching, I'm going to take a brief break from Vagablogging. New posts -- including a roundup of my activities in 2006 -- will resume on January...Continue reading "Taking time for a holiday breather (and redesign)"
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Vermin on the Mount: Rolf to read in LA, Dec. 3rd
I'm still in Australia at the moment, but in a couple weeks I'll be passing through Los Angeles, where I'll performing at Vermin on the Mount in Chinatown on Sunday,...Continue reading "Vermin on the Mount: Rolf to read in LA, Dec. 3rd"
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The Last Antiwar Poem: My new essay in The Believer
[Above: Allen Ginsberg performing during his 1966 "Wichita Vortex Sutra" journey.] For the second month in a row I have literary criticism appearing in The Believer -- and my...Continue reading "The Last Antiwar Poem: My new essay in The Believer"
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I am in Australia
Just a quick note to let everyone know that -- after spending a couple weeks in Korea visiting friends and writing a Slate series -- I am now traveling through...Continue reading "I am in Australia"
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Cycladian Rhythm and Lowell Thomas gold
The Society of American Travel Writers announced its annual Lowell Thomas Award winners late last week, and I was happy to learn that "Cycladian Rhythm," my Greek sailing story from...Continue reading "Cycladian Rhythm and Lowell Thomas gold"
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Tales From Nowhere: My newest anthology appearance
I've long been looking forward to the release of Lonely Planet's latest literary anthology, Tales from Nowhere: Unexpected Stories from Unexpected Places -- not just because it contains one...Continue reading "Tales From Nowhere: My newest anthology appearance"
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Talking travel on SoCal and Rocky Mountain radio
For those of you in southern California, I'll be talking about frieghter ship travel on the Maria Sanchez show today, starting at around 8:30 in the morning, PDT. If you...Continue reading "Talking travel on SoCal and Rocky Mountain radio"
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The Tourist Who Influenced the Terrorists: My essay in The Believer
. If Sayyid Qutb had been a more mindful traveler, would al-Qaeda have never existed? That's the question at the heart of my new essay, The Tourist Who Influenced the...Continue reading "The Tourist Who Influenced the Terrorists: My essay in The Believer"
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Summer Escapes 2006: My latest article in Outside Magazine
I have a short article in the current issue of Outside magazine, which is part of the "Trust Us, Your Lawn Can Wait" Summer Escapes 2006 spread (which includes...Continue reading "Summer Escapes 2006: My latest article in Outside Magazine"
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Talking travel and literature at Eight Diagrams
A few weeks ago, Wayne Yang of Eight Diagrams interviewed me about my history as a traveler and writer. We managed to cover lots of new ground in the interview,...Continue reading "Talking travel and literature at Eight Diagrams"
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I am in Paris
This July 4th finds me in Paris, where I am teaching my annual creative writing workshop at the Paris American Academy. Between teaching and my own writing projects I...Continue reading "I am in Paris"
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Vagablogging props from Singapore Airlines magazine
It looks like the in-flight magazines are being good to me this month. Last week, I reported that I was a part of AirTran magazine's dream-jobs article; this week, I...Continue reading "Vagablogging props from Singapore Airlines magazine"
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Seven (or so) Sins on the Isle of Spice: My new story in Islands
This month's issue of Islands Magazine features my latest travel tale, "Seven (or so) Sins on the Isle of Spice." Set in Grenada, it recounts how my entire experience...Continue reading "Seven (or so) Sins on the Isle of Spice: My new story in Islands"
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Exploring dream jobs in AirTran Magazine
Last month's issue of AirTran's Go magazine featured an article on dream jobs, written by Catherine Arnold. Included in the roundup are profiles of whale naturalist Amy Kennedy, film...Continue reading "Exploring dream jobs in AirTran Magazine"
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Slumming the Golden Arches at Yahoo! News
This week, my newest Yahoo! News travel column, Slumming the Golden Arches, focuses on a curious question: Why do travelers so often seek out McDonald's overseas, when they would never...Continue reading "Slumming the Golden Arches at Yahoo! News"
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You have now entered the Tourist Zone
My latest Traveling Light column at Yahoo! News, You Have Now Entered the Tourist Zone, relates the story of how a curious experience in India led me to consider how...Continue reading "You have now entered the Tourist Zone"
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Talking China with Peter Hessler at Yahoo! News
This week at Traveling Light, I review Peter Hessler's new China book Oracle Bones, and pose a few Asia travel questions to the author. In Oracle Bones, Hessler (who I...Continue reading "Talking China with Peter Hessler at Yahoo! News"
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Pondering the absurdity of souvenirs at Yahoo! News
My latest Yahoo! News travel column is entitled "Why We Buy Dumb Souvenirs", and it examines the idiosyncrasies of souvenir-hunting. "The tourist quest for souvenirs has always been somewhat skewed,"...Continue reading "Pondering the absurdity of souvenirs at Yahoo! News"
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The Best Travel Writing 2006
Travelers' Tales' annual Best Travel Writing anthology is out in bookstores now, and -- as usual -- it's a fun read that's filled with great examples of quality travel...Continue reading "The Best Travel Writing 2006"
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Searching for the Cave of Evil at Yahoo! News
Tourism slogans aim to lure us in. But what really influences where we travel? This is the lighthearted question at the heart of my latest Traveling Light column at Yahoo!...Continue reading "Searching for the Cave of Evil at Yahoo! News"
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Study writing with me in Paris this summer
Note: I realize I announced this last month -- but the initial announcement happened to coincide with my early March website crash. Hence, since none of the vital information was...Continue reading "Study writing with me in Paris this summer"
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"The Dark Side of Travel Romance" at Yahoo! News
My latest Yahoo! News travel column focuses on the idiosyncrasies of romance on the road. As I say in the opening paragraphs: When it comes to the ways of love...Continue reading ""The Dark Side of Travel Romance" at Yahoo! News"
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Cycladian Rhythm: My new story in Outside Traveler
Above: Rolf helms the Assos off the Greek island of Sikinos. The current, Spring/Summer issue of Outside Traveler features a new story of mine, entitled "Cycladian Rhythm," which documents...Continue reading "Cycladian Rhythm: My new story in Outside Traveler"
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The real value of money (and meditation)
Above: The dubiously valuable Burmese kyat Travel has a way of shaking one's faith in the workings of paper currency, as I point out in the most recent installment...Continue reading "The real value of money (and meditation)"
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A new Narcissus Gallery
Since I frequently travel alone, I've gotten into the habit of capturing certain moments on the road by literally turning my camera on myself. The arm's length self-portraits that...Continue reading "A new Narcissus Gallery"
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India's Isle Of Ghosts: My new story in the SF Chronicle
Above: A sunset view from the Indian island of Diu. Yesterday, the San Francisco Chronicle travel section debuted India's Isle Of Ghosts, my travel story about the island of...Continue reading "India's Isle Of Ghosts: My new story in the SF Chronicle"
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Exploring "disaster tourism" in New Orleans
Above: A view from the Lower Ninth Ward. My latest Yahoo! News travel column debuted this week -- and it tackles the issue of disaster tourism in the flood-damaged...Continue reading "Exploring "disaster tourism" in New Orleans"
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Traveling Light at Yahoo! News
Thanks to last week's RolfPotts.com server crash, World Hum and Written Road have already scooped me on this -- but I did want to officially announce that I've debuted...Continue reading "Traveling Light at Yahoo! News"
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Study writing with me this summer in Paris
Creative Writing Workshop at the Paris American Academy July 1st through the 28th, 2006 I'll be teaching an intensive, month-long creative writing workshop this summer at the Paris American...Continue reading "Study writing with me this summer in Paris"
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An Olympian Paddle: My new story in Islands
Above: Rolf on magazine assignment in Crete. I have a brief story, entitled "An Olympian Paddle", in the current issue of Islands Magazine. Set in Greece, the story details...Continue reading "An Olympian Paddle: My new story in Islands"
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Notes from the Key West Literary Seminar
Literary Feud: Patrick Symmes and Tim Cahill duke it out in Key West (see below) It's been a few weeks now since I attended the Key West Literary Seminar...Continue reading "Notes from the Key West Literary Seminar"
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Tantric Sex for Dilettantes: My new story in Perceptive Travel
For the second time in under a month, I have an experimental-voice travel story appearing in an online travel magazine. A few weeks ago, it was "The Art of...Continue reading "Tantric Sex for Dilettantes: My new story in Perceptive Travel"
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Walking Across Andorra: My new travel essay in World Hum
Late last week, World Hum debuted my newest travel essay, The Art of Writing a Story About Walking Across Andorra. Written in imperative second-person voice, this meta travel narrative...Continue reading "Walking Across Andorra: My new travel essay in World Hum"
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Talking travel with e-Marginalia
This month, I am the subject of an interview in the online travel magazine e-Marginalia. Reported by Nana Chen, the Q&A touches on such diverse topics as why I dedicated...Continue reading "Talking travel with e-Marginalia"
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How to put the endless in your summer
My thanks to Tamara from San Francisco, who recently alerted me to the fact that someone might have cribbed my ideas for a Surfer Magazine story, entitled "The Art of...Continue reading "How to put the endless in your summer"
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Travel misadventures on Talk of the Nation
Update: I just got a call from Don George regarding today's NPR appearance, and it looks like I've been bumped from the "Talk of the Nation" lineup. The upside to...Continue reading "Travel misadventures on Talk of the Nation"
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Vagabonding-inspired bluegrass
[Above: The latest release from the Blind Corn Liquor Pickers.] Last week I got an intriguing email from Kentucky bluegrass musician Travis Young. "I'm a longtime backpacker and fan...Continue reading "Vagabonding-inspired bluegrass"
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Talking travel in an academic context
Ever since my days as a travel columnist at Salon.com, academics and graduate students have occasionally contacted me to comment on the state of independent travel, travel writing and literature,...Continue reading "Talking travel in an academic context"
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Vagablogging gets a nod from Frommers.com
The latest Editor's Choice column at Frommers.com just gave me (and this blog) one of my best reviews of the year. "Award-winning travel writer Rolf Potts' blog is smart, funny,...Continue reading "Vagablogging gets a nod from Frommers.com"
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I'm off to Greece
I'm headed to Greece on magazine assignment, and I'll be there -- mainly in the islands -- for the next four weeks. Since I don't want to spend my...Continue reading "I'm off to Greece"
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New Orleans after the hurricane
I've been monitoring the post-hurricane devastation and chaos in New Orleans this week with much apprehension and sadness. I rang in the 2005 New Year in New Orleans, and lived...Continue reading "New Orleans after the hurricane"
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A comment about comments
It's now been about four months since I disabled the comments here at Vagablogging.net -- and I think I'm going to keep them "turned off" indefinitely. I'm doing this not...Continue reading "A comment about comments"
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The Hobart Travel Issue
The current issue of the literary journal Hobart is entirely devoted to travel fiction and nonfiction -- including an experimental story of my own, entitled, "In Varanasi, Death is...Continue reading "The Hobart Travel Issue"
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More feedback from Vagabonding readers
I head off for Paris tomorrow to teach my creative writing workshop, so today I wanted to share some new messages from Vagabonding readers. As always, I'm encouraged by the...Continue reading "More feedback from Vagabonding readers"
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Goodbye, Wichita
[Above: The old house where I grew up in Wichita, Kansas.] After thirty-three years of living in one place, my parents have moved from their home in a working-class...Continue reading "Goodbye, Wichita"
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I am not Rick Steves
Europe travel icon Rick Steves' appearance on a segment of 60 Minutes late last month has resulted in a strange phenomenon: I've been getting scads of emails from folks who've...Continue reading "I am not Rick Steves"
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Paris writing workshop registration still open
Though the initial enrollment deadline for my creative writing workshop in Paris was last week, I've just been informed that the American Academy has extended the closing date to...Continue reading "Paris writing workshop registration still open"
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Talking solo travel on NPR
This morning I talked about solo independent travel with writer Wendy Knight and host Marty Moss-Coane for the "Radio Times" program on WHYY in Philadelphia. The recurring refrain, both among...Continue reading "Talking solo travel on NPR"
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More good words from Vagabonding readers
I'm still working away in seclusion up in northern Kansas, but I wanted to pop online and post a few items -- including the quote above, as well as some...Continue reading "More good words from Vagabonding readers"
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I'll be off writing for awhile...
For next few weeks, I'll be on the family farm in northern Kansas, finishing a screenplay project. This means I'll probably only be blogging about once a week until sometime...Continue reading "I'll be off writing for awhile..."
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Inspired by those who were inspired
Though I don't typically blog about the mail and feedback I get from Vagabonding readers from week to week, I recently got a couple messages that made me feel great...Continue reading "Inspired by those who were inspired"
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Slots in my Paris creative writing class are still available!
I recently received word that the slots in my Creative Writing Workshop this July at the Paris American Academy are about half full. The application deadline is April 30th (or...Continue reading "Slots in my Paris creative writing class are still available!"
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The Best Travel Writing 2005
Travelers' Tales has just released their second-annual Best Travel Writing anthology, which includes selections from the likes of Pico Iyer, Murad Kalam, Mark Jenkins, Susan Orlean, and Michael Shapiro. I'm...Continue reading "The Best Travel Writing 2005"
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BTK in custody: They got the bogeyman
It's somewhat surreal to be sitting here in New Orleans and following all the BTK Strangler coverage on the news ever since a Park City, Kan. resident was arrested as...Continue reading "BTK in custody: They got the bogeyman"
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Vagabonding hits Korean bookstores
[The cover for the Korean translation of Vagabonding.] A recent slew of emails from Korean readers has tipped me off to the fact that a translated edition of Vagabonding...Continue reading "Vagabonding hits Korean bookstores"
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Please give 10% (and travel to Thailand)
I am still dealing with limited online access in New Orleans, but I wanted to post a quick couple of items: 1) First off, in light of the enormous scope...Continue reading "Please give 10% (and travel to Thailand)"
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Tsunami relief and my friends in Thailand
I am in Memphis at the moment, en route to New Orleans, so this will have to be quick. Since I am on the road at the moment, I am...Continue reading "Tsunami relief and my friends in Thailand"
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Cool moments, 2004
[Above: Rolf takes in the spectacle at Machu Picchu back in January of this year -- one of his "cool moments" of 2004.] This morning I was going through...Continue reading "Cool moments, 2004"
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Signs of Confusion: My new essay in World Hum
A new travel essay of mine, "Signs of Confusion", has just been published by World Hum. A meditation on the colorful absurdities of mistranslated English overseas, it begins thus: One...Continue reading "Signs of Confusion: My new essay in World Hum"
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Help me fight Parkinson's Disease
Vagablogging readers might recall that I won a Lowell Thomas Award earlier this year for "Virgin Trail", my Central America travel series in Slate. Finally, the $500 award check has...Continue reading "Help me fight Parkinson's Disease"
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Thanks, Jen!
Well. If this isn't a stellar birthday tribute, I don't know what is....Continue reading "Thanks, Jen!"
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Whatever happened to Bradley Goldstein?
In the house where I do my writing in Baja, there is a copy of The Book of Lists #2, which I read from time to time in idle...Continue reading "Whatever happened to Bradley Goldstein?"
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My Patagonia story in the SF Chronicle Magazine
This Sunday, my Chile travel story, "The Other Patagonia", appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle Magazine. The story recounts my journey along Chile's Carretera Austral earlier this year as part...Continue reading "My Patagonia story in the SF Chronicle Magazine"
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Not an ad for iPod (though it may sound like one)
It's been nearly eight consecutive years now that I've been living in a semi-permanent state, taking a bare minimum of possessions with me as I travel and take up various...Continue reading "Not an ad for iPod (though it may sound like one)"
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A tale of three Rolfs
I'm currently back in Baja after a weekend trip to Los Angeles, where I had the rare opportunity to hang out with two other guys named Rolf. The weekend was...Continue reading "A tale of three Rolfs"
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Punditing (and paddling) in Georgia
If this blog has fallen silent late this week, it's because I've been at the Governor's Conference on Tourism in Georgia, where I've been serving as a media panelist along...Continue reading "Punditing (and paddling) in Georgia"
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Good news from the Lowell Thomas Awards
My thanks to everyone who alerted me about the results of the 20th annual Lowell Thomas Awards in travel writing. My Slate.com essay Virgin Trail: Travels in the Other Central...Continue reading "Good news from the Lowell Thomas Awards"
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Vagabonding interview on Canada's Radio Outpost
This week I was interviewed by Daryl Richel for Canada's Radio Outpost show, which focuses on adventure and independent travel. Our twenty minute discussion focused on the art of vagabonding,...Continue reading "Vagabonding interview on Canada's Radio Outpost"
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Remembering Laurel Lee
My favorite writing teacher from my college days, memoirist Laurel Lee, died of pancreatic cancer last week in Oregon. She was 58 years old. Laurel was perhaps best known for...Continue reading "Remembering Laurel Lee"
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I have become a Republican
Well, after 15 proud years of voting as a non-affiliated Independent, I have now become a Republican. Sort of. To be honest, I didn't wake up yesterday expecting to...Continue reading "I have become a Republican"
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Travel writing advice in Transitions Abroad
I have a column about travel writing in the current issue of Transitions Abroad. Entitled Advice to Travel Writers: Make Travel Itself Your First Priority, it's an updated version of...Continue reading "Travel writing advice in Transitions Abroad"
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That familiar old American road
[Flashback to ten years ago: Based out of a Volkswagen Vanagon, Rolf takes some journal notes during his first vagabonding journey -- eight months around North America -- in...Continue reading "That familiar old American road"
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California (and Baja California) livin'
After a couple weeks of being all over the place, I'm now firmly back on the West Coast, once again splitting time between the San Diego area and Baja. In...Continue reading "California (and Baja California) livin'"
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Next stop: New York
[No, that's not New York: A shot of the sunset in northern Baja, where Rolf was holed up for the last week.] After a little over a week of...Continue reading "Next stop: New York"
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Mexico-bound
I’m leaving today for Mexico, where I hope to get some writing done (and have some fun) in northern Baja. I will be off the grid and out of online...Continue reading "Mexico-bound"
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Pico Iyer and the end of my West Coast road trip
I’ve spent the past couple weeks traveling down the West Coast of the United States in a white, hubcap-less 1984 Chevy Celebrity, and it’s been a great ride. I’ve seen...Continue reading "Pico Iyer and the end of my West Coast road trip"
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On the road. Again!
Well, after driving a 2003 Land Rover Discovery II across the Americas and a 2004 Lexus IS300 down the Mississippi River valley in recent months, I am now tackling the...Continue reading "On the road. Again!"
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Robert Johnson sold his soul to the devil in Rosedale, Mississippi
Last month, while I was driving down the Mississippi River on a magazine assignment, I had a curious experience in Rosedale, Mississippi. As I was eating lunch in a...Continue reading "Robert Johnson sold his soul to the devil in Rosedale, Mississippi"
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A Desert By Any Other Name
I had a new article in Sunday's San Francisco Chronicle Magazine. Entitled "A Desert By Any Other Name", it explores a single mystery: Why has Peru's vast and beautiful coastal...Continue reading "A Desert By Any Other Name"
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Wanted: A place to live and work
After having lived almost exclusively overseas since 1996, I've returned to the United States this month with the intention of sticking around for a few months while I work on...Continue reading "Wanted: A place to live and work"
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Native eye for the tourist guy
I randomly managed to catch the travel blog roundup in this weekend's USA Today, but what I failed to notice until the middle of this week is that I also...Continue reading "Native eye for the tourist guy"
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New Orleans, USA Today, and this blog
In recent months I haven't had much of an opportunity to read American newspapers, but yesterday morning I got a copy of USA Today in Natchez, Mississippi and was happy...Continue reading "New Orleans, USA Today, and this blog"
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A brief report from Carnival in Rio
[Above: Rolf and friends are decked out for the Beija-Flor samba school parade the night before Fat Tuesday in Rio.] Carnival is over here in Rio, and soon I...Continue reading "A brief report from Carnival in Rio"
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Lost in the Translation: My new essay in World Hum
This week, a new travel essay of mine went online at World Hum. It's entitled Lost in the Translation -- and it humorously describes how the U.S. Army's new electronic...Continue reading "Lost in the Translation: My new essay in World Hum"
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My elephant polo article in Conde Nast Traveler
I have a short feature about elephant polo in the January 2004 edition of Conde Nast Traveler. Entitled "A Jolly Good Excuse for a Party", the story is a humorous...Continue reading "My elephant polo article in Conde Nast Traveler"
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I am alive and well and in Peru
[Above: Rolf in the coastal desert of Peru.] One again, I am posting to apologize for not posting more -- but the good news behind this is that I've...Continue reading "I am alive and well and in Peru"
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A Vagabonding interview in Transitions Abroad
This month, I am happy to be interviewed in Transitions Abroad, which for my money is the single most useful magazine out there for someone looking to spend long periods...Continue reading "A Vagabonding interview in Transitions Abroad"
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Virgin Trail: My Slate series has started
After a week of furious key-tapping in Costa Rica, my Slate "Well Traveled" series is now finished and online. The first installment of the series, which is entitled Virgin Trail:...Continue reading "Virgin Trail: My Slate series has started"
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Excerpts from a book written by my nephew Cedar, who is 4 years old
My nephew, Cedar, who is four years old and lives on a farm in Kansas, wrote a book for me yesterday. Since he didn't know how to mail it to...Continue reading "Excerpts from a book written by my nephew Cedar, who is 4 years old"
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More buzz about Vagabonding
Reviews and profiles of Vagabonding are still trickling in, including a recent piece by Janet Fullwood in the Sacramento Bee. "Potts' advice about "earning to live, rather than living to...Continue reading "More buzz about Vagabonding"
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Still running ragged on the road
Checking in once more -- from Mexico City this time -- to let everyone know that I´m still doing great on the Land Rover expedition, and I´m still so busy...Continue reading "Still running ragged on the road"
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Lowell Thomas and Laughing Hyenas
For the past four years, I've been privileged to have my stories appear in various travel award anthologies, including the Best American Travel Writing series -- but for some reason...Continue reading "Lowell Thomas and Laughing Hyenas"
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Signing my life away to reality television
As I mentioned in earlier posts, the Drive Around the World expedition is being filmed by a three-man video team, and will eventually show up on the airwaves as a...Continue reading "Signing my life away to reality television"
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A "Best American" bridesmaid again
Ever since my story Storming 'The Beach' appeared as a main selection in Best American Travel Writing 2000 (which was edited by Bill Bryson) I've become mildly obsessed with the...Continue reading "A "Best American" bridesmaid again"
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Dispatches from the Parkinson's Institute ball
[Above: All dandied up for the Parkinson's Institute fundraiser in San Francisco, Rolf mugs for the camera with cousin Mary Hill, who serves as the education coordinator for Drive...Continue reading "Dispatches from the Parkinson's Institute ball"
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A belated National Geographic heads-up
I just realized that in September I had short pieces in both National Geographic Traveler and National Geographic Adventure, yet I somehow went all month without blogging mention of them....Continue reading "A belated National Geographic heads-up"
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Update continued: Surgery, booze, and my farm in Kansas
In addition to getting a comprehensive checkup at Bangkok's Bumrungrad Hospital a few weeks ago, I also got a piece of glass surgically removed from my foot. How it got...Continue reading "Update continued: Surgery, booze, and my farm in Kansas"
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Vagabonding in Motionsickness and Student Traveler
This month, I am interviewed about Vagabonding and the writing life in Student Traveler magazine. I've blogged an outtake from the interview below. Elsewhere this summer, I was interviewed in...Continue reading "Vagabonding in Motionsickness and Student Traveler"
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“Rolf Potts Speaks Out”, from Student Traveler
September/October 2003 issue interview by Claire Smith Describe where you are right now… Right now I'm in Ranong, Thailand, a little jungle town just across the Pak Chan River from...Continue reading "“Rolf Potts Speaks Out”, from Student Traveler"
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Lost in Los Angeles
Contrary to earlier plans, I never made it back up to San Francisco yesterday. I'm currently in Santa Monica, with very little 'net access. I'll stay in LA (sans laptop)...Continue reading "Lost in Los Angeles"
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A quick recap of three countries and two states in three weeks
I've covered a lot of ground in Asia and North America since my last serious round of blog updates. My return home started in my jungle hometown (now former jungle...Continue reading "A quick recap of three countries and two states in three weeks"
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Stateside.
I've been back in the United States for well over a week now. Been busy catching up with family and friends in Kansas. This afternoon I fly to San Francisco,...Continue reading "Stateside."
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On the road again
Starting today, I'll once again be in motion -- first to Bangkok, then to San Francisco, then to see my family in Kansas (a part of the United States which...Continue reading "On the road again"
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Leaving Asia: A short history of my clothing
In a matter of days, I will move out of my south Thailand apartment, pack up all my belongings (which I hope to fit into two check-in bags), and --...Continue reading "Leaving Asia: A short history of my clothing"
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The Paris Report
Earlier this month, while traveling through France, I managed to get myself arrested at a casino in Normandy. This is certainly not the best way to begin a day-trip to...Continue reading "The Paris Report"
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The joy of a void
Jen Leo recently sent me this picture of a sold-out shelf of Vagabonding books among the "Staff Picks" at Powell's Books in Portland. It's nice to know that -- half...Continue reading "The joy of a void"
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Summer travel reading list in the Globe and Mail
The suggested "Summer Reading List" is a longtime institution in the book sections of major North American newspapers -- and this summer I'm pleased to see that Vagabonding has landed...Continue reading "Summer travel reading list in the Globe and Mail"
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More good news from Italy
The Italian translation of Vagabonding appears to doing very well in the six weeks since it was released. On the strength of the earlier La Repubblica review, as well as...Continue reading "More good news from Italy"
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I'm taking off for Paris
There is a certain irony in maintaining a travel weblog: to regularly update it means, well, that you aren't really traveling very far from your computer. A look at my...Continue reading "I'm taking off for Paris"
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La Repubblica's Vagabonding review
Following on to my surprised announcement on Monday that Vagabonding had been translated into Italian, here's an English version of the review from La Repubblica. My thanks to Valentina Piffer...Continue reading "La Repubblica's Vagabonding review"
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