Mike Nixon is an author, world traveler, and entrepreneur who has been traversing the globe for nearly two decades. Life Travel And The People In Between is his debut memoir, a story that explores his travels as an exchange student, Peace Corps Volunteer, NGO worker, U.S. Navy sailor, and adventurer who loves off-the-grid travel. Born in Saint Louis, Missouri, Mike has visited over thirty countries.
How did you get started traveling?
While in college, I had a friend named Sean who studied abroad in South Africa. Afterward, he returned with exciting stories and captivating photos that piqued my interest. At that moment, I knew that I wanted to travel the world. I just didn’t know where to begin. That’s when Sean escorted me to the Study Abroad office and introduced me to the director. That’s how I ended up in the Dominican Republic for five months in 2007, participating in a student exchange program and living with a host family.
How did you get started as a writer?
Early during my travels, I learned to document experiences in journals. More so, I captured the bulk of my experiences through photos and videos. Writing a book was a goal that had been on my bucket list for a while. When I decided to get serious about it, I had a lot of material and inspiration to pull from. Journals and hard drives full of media helped me to recall and transform memories into stories. Those stories ended up in my debut memoir Life Travel and the People in Between, which was published in October 2022.
What do you consider your first “break” as a writer?
It would have to be the time Joe Rogan contacted me and said he wanted me on his podcast. That’s a joke. Really… as a self-published author with a debut memoir about a year old, I’m just blessed to know that people are reading my work and responding to it. It’s an amazing feeling to be able to connect with readers, podcasters, travelers, and writers through my book project. In the mid-2000s, I remember when Vagabonding’was one of the few travel books, besides Lonely Planet guides, that I could check out from the local library. Now, it’s almost unimaginable that I’m in contact with the book’s author. While there hasn’t been a “break” in terms of significant financial success or recognition, it’s paying off in other rewarding ways.
As a traveler and story gatherer/creator, what is your biggest challenge on the road?
I spent nearly a decade living in foreign countries and had the opportunity to call several places home. I really enjoy immersing myself in a place, whether it’s for a few months or several years. However, constant movement takes a toll on me. The burnout is real. The long hours of driving or flying, and sleeping in various hotels or hostels multiple times a week exhaust me.
What is your biggest challenge in the research, writing, and editing process?
There were moments when each aspect of the book-writing process felt like the biggest challenge. But, transitioning from one step to the next was difficult because it never felt like anything was exactly how I wanted it to be or one hundred percent complete. Even after the writing was done, I found myself going back to add more. Once the editing was complete, I revisited it again. It was the same thing with the book cover. After the book was published, I wanted to go back and make changes. Currently, in regard to marketing, I feel like I’ll be bankrolling Amazon and Facebook ads for the rest of my life. It just never stops.
What has been your biggest challenge from a business standpoint?
From a business standpoint, one of the biggest challenges is marketing and getting my work into the hands of specific target audiences, who I believe will get the most value out of the book.
Have you ever done other work to make ends meet?
Other work is all I’ve been doing to pursue my passion for travel and make ends meet. I’ve gotten creative with it and done some pretty cool things. I’ve served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Paraguay, worked for an international cultural exchange organization in Nicaragua, and served in the United States Navy, which was how I ended up in Japan for five years. My advice to anyone wanting something badly is simple: figure out a way to make it happen and go for it. It’s advice that I live by.
What travel authors might you recommend and/or have influenced you?
The first travel book I read was The Bird Man and the Lap Dancer by Eric Hansen. It set the tone and further expanded my interest in traveling. Also, I really enjoyed Three Weeks With My Brother by Nicholas Sparks. From Excuses to Excursions by Gloria Atanmo is another great read. Some newer authors that I recommend include Ryan Crain and George Balarezo.
What advice and/or warnings would you give to someone who is considering going into travel writing?
Make it a priority to live in the present and enjoy the experiences, and the writing will come. Furthermore, ensure that writing is something that you enjoy enough to do for free. All the writers I know on a personal level, me included, have other jobs.
What is the biggest reward of life as a travel writer?
Personally, the biggest reward is knowing that people are taking chances on my book and dedicating their time to reading what’s in it. It really does mean a lot and I genuinely appreciate each and every reader.
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