Nancy Sathre-Vogel is in the house
today to tell us a bit about her travel memoir, Changing Gears: A Family Odyssey to the End of the World.
Nancy will
be giving away 5 e-copies of her book during the tour. If you’d like a chance
to win, use the form below the interview to enter. To learn more about Nancy and to enter for more chances to win, visit other tour stops.
Bio:
Nancy
Sathre-Vogel is a 21-year classroom veteran who made the decision to leave her
teaching career behind to travel the world on a bicycle. Together with her
husband and twin sons, she cycled 27,000 miles throughout the Americas,
including traveling from Alaska to Argentina. Now she lives in Idaho, pursuing
her passions of writing and beadwork.
Welcome, Nancy. Please tell us about
your book.
What would
you do if you were not afraid?
Changing Gears is the true story of one woman asking
herself that very question. What followed was a family journey of epic
proportions – a journey of physical challenge,
emotional endurance, teamwork, perseverance, and tremendous learning
opportunities. It was a discovery of self, of priorities, of accepting
hardships, of appreciating blessings, and of contrasting a comfortable past
life with the extreme hardship and poverty of those they met.
Would the
journey be a dream come true – or a mother’s worst nightmare?
The Vogel
family’s bicycle journey from Alaska to Argentina – a 3-year, 17,000-mile
expedition through 15 countries – will encourage you to rethink what’s
possible.
What inspired you to write this book?
While
cycling from Alaska to Argentina, I had a lot of time to think. And write.
Judging
from the response I got from my website, I figured there were people out there
interested in my story. I also feel it’s a story that can inspire and encourage
others to get out of their comfort zone and reach for the stars.
What exciting story are you working on
next?
I’m
currently working on two books: one about homeschooling your children while
traveling, and another about how to dream big and make those dreams happen.
When did you first consider yourself a
writer?
I came to
this fairly late in life. I’ve always enjoyed writing when I had something
interesting to say, but considered myself a schoolteacher, not a writer. In
2006, we took off together as a family to ride our bikes around the USA and
Mexico and I blogged about our journey. In 2007 I wrote a book about our
experiences. I think that’s when I started thinking of myself as a writer.
Do you write full-time? If so, what's
your work day like? If not, what do you do other than write and how do you find
time to write?
No. I am a
writer and bead artist. I try to write (or edit) every day, but also make time
for my beadwork. You can see my beadwork here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/familyonbikes
What would you say is your interesting
writing quirk?
I do my
best writing on my bike. I think there is something about the rhythmic nature
of it that allows me to think. I compose my essay on the bike, revise it in my
head, then simply have to put the words on paper when I finish my ride.
As a child, what did you want to be
when you grew up?
Honestly, I
have no idea. I don’t remember wanting to do anything, and don’t remember any
stories told by my parents. In fact, I don’t think I figured out what I wanted
to be when I grew up until I was about 25.
Anything additional you want to share
with the readers?
If I could
get one message out, it would be that you can do more than you think you can.
If *I*, a normal, ordinary mother of twins could ride my bike from Alaska to
Argentina, then what can you do? What would you do if you were not afraid?
2 comments:
Thank you for hosting today :-)
Nice interview!
Pit Crew
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