Michael McCarthy is the author of two dozen travel books. He has previously been a radio news reporter and editor, a freelance journalist for many newspapers and magazines, an editorial columnist, and videographer. Hundreds of his travel articles have appeared in many Canadian and American newspapers. Michael has traveled to nearly 50 countries, lived for several years in California, and currently enjoys life in Vancouver, British Columbia.
How did you get started traveling?
I read On the Road by Jack Kerouac as a teenager and started hitchhiking. Then riding the ‘hound, eventually working up to press trips to five-star resorts and a weekly column in major daily newspapers.
How did you get started as a writer?
In first grade my mother signed me up for a library card. I read the entire Hardy Boys series in a month. I always wanted to be a writer. A high school teacher recognized my skills and encouraged me to continue in university. I did.
What do you consider your first “break” as a writer?
Meeting a member of SATW (Society of American Travel Writers) who taught me how to get published in newspapers, which led to receiving invitations to many countries.
As a traveler and story gatherer/creator, what is your biggest challenge on the road?
Finding the real storyline as quickly as possible, a story that exemplifies the nature or personality of the destination.
What is your biggest challenge in the research, writing, and editing process?
Research and writing are easy. Editing depends entirely on the editor for whom you are writing. The story needs to fit the format of the publication, or else you are looking at rewrites or rejection.
What has been your biggest challenge from a business standpoint?
Learning and using social media to reach a wider market. If you self-publish, you need to be your own marketer.
Have you ever done other work to make ends meet?
As a young man I did enough hard manual labor to inspire me to do something better with my time. Best to pay attention and do your homework while in school.
What travel authors might you recommend and/or have influenced you?
Peter Matthiessen, Dervla Murphy, Paul Theroux, Martha Gellhorn, Tim Cahill, Bill Bryson and Pico Iyer.
What advice and/or warnings would you give to someone who is considering going into travel writing?
Don’t expect to make much money. Set your sights on self-publishing, post your books on Amazon, start social media, write only what interests you and not what you think will sell.
What is the biggest reward of life as a travel writer?
I started off writing tourism for newspapers, then for my own adventure travel books, and now I practice “transformative travel” (making the world a better place on your journey through life) which is quite challenging but extremely gratifying if done right.
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