Book: The 30,000 Mile Cat Travels Across America
Q1. Hello Ma’am, can you please introduce yourself? Readers would love to know more about you.
I am a teacher, living in the Gallatin Valley in Montana with my husband, who I call Professor, and our precocious tortoiseshell cat, Trouble. I live an active lifestyle – hiking, biking, gardening and traveling. In the evenings, I enjoy reading a good book while Trouble sleeps in my lap.
I’ve lived in other parts of the U.S. including Florida and Pennsylvania. My husband and I have travelled across America and Europe, and Trouble has been with us on many of those trips. I have written many stories based on our travels and The 30,000 Mile Cat is my first memoir.
Q2. What were the key challenges you faced while writing ‘The 30,000 Mile Cat Travels Across America’ book?
The main challenge was finding time to write The 30,000 Mile Cat book. I work full time as a teacher, so I had to work on the book in the evenings and on the weekends.
Another challenge was not being able to consistently work on the book. When I was very busy with my job or family matters, I had to put my writing aside for a week or two. Then when I sat down to continue writing, I felt a bit lost, trying to get back into the story that I was working on.
Q3. What books or authors have most influenced your own writing?
For The 30,000 Mile Cat book, I read other memoirs to learn from their examples. One modern author, William Alexander, has been a major influence. I have read The $64 Tomato several times – for inspiration and a good laugh. The same is true for another modern author, A.J. Jacobs.
I also read classic authors. Pearl Buck’s books are full of time-honored wisdom. I have also benefited from the cultural insights presented in John Steinbeck’s books.
Q4. What’s your favourite spot to visit in your own country? And what makes it so special to you?
Yellowstone National Park is one of my favorite places. The natural wonders including geysers, mud pots and wildlife are amazing. We’ve had incredible experiences at Yellowstone, including having our tent surrounded by bison. Many of the Yellowstone stories are in The 30,000 Mile Cat book.
We’ve also been to many wonderful lesser-known places which I included in the book. The next 30,000 Mile Cat book will feature our travels across the Western United States including Crazy Horse Monument in South Dakota and Arches National Park in Utah.
Q5. Is there lots to do before you dive in and start writing a book?
My books are memoirs based on my travels with my husband, Professor, my cat, Trouble and family members including my beloved grandmother. So, taking trips to interesting places and keeping a detailed journal during our travels are important steps in the process. When I get home, I pour through my notes, trying to select the best stories to share with my readers.
I’ve learned from past mistakes and have improved my writing process. I’m currently writing the second 30,000 Mile Cat book and am more organized and focused.
Q6. How long did it take you to write ‘The 30,000 Mile Cat Travels Across America’ book?
It took me 5 years to write my first book. I’m hoping to publish the second 30,000 Mile Cat book by 2022.
Q7. On what all platforms readers can find ‘The 30,000 Mile Cat Travels Across America’ book to buy?
The 30,000 Mile Cat book is widely available to readers around the world: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Indiebound.org, Walmart, AbeBooks (UK), Dymocks (Australia) and many local bookstores.
Q8. Tell us about the process of coming up with the book cover and the title ‘The 30,000 Mile Cat Travels Across America’?
Since our cat, Trouble, is very photogenic and one of the main characters, it made sense to put her photo on the cover. However, as pet owners know, getting a good picture of a pet is not always easy since the pets don’t usually cooperate.
Thankfully, Trouble is a very smart cat and she seemed to understand that it was important for us to take a good picture of her. It may sound crazy, but I believe she actually posed for the photo which we put on the book cover.
The title is based on the number of miles that Trouble has travelled – 30,000 miles (about 50,000 kilometers). That’s the same as driving from London, England to Beijing, China.
Q9. When writing a book how do you keep things fresh, for both your readers and also yourself?
I believe in living life to the fullest and have had a wide range of fascinating experiences. I shared many of those stories in my first book and continue to provide updated information and stories through #30000milecat, the30000milecat.com, Instagram – @ginnielhansen and Facebook – Ginnie L. Hansen.
Thank you so much for your time. I enjoyed sharing information about myself, and Trouble and look forward to hearing from our readers.
Book Is Available On Amazon
Sassy Reviews 