Interview With Laurie Gough By Steve Rudd

Laurie Gough is a Canadian travel writer and the author of Kite Strings Of The Southern Cross (published in Canada as Island Of the Human Heart). Her latest book is Kiss The Sunset Pig. Here she talks to Steve Rudd about her life and work. How are you doing? Pretty good, thanks! Do you prefer being 'home' or 'away'? When I'm home I often fantasize about hitting the road and setting off into the unknown and when I'm away I remember how much easier and relaxing it usually is in your own home.

How long did it take to write your epic Kiss The Sunset Pig book? I spent about four years writing it but not full-time (since I also gave birth to and raised a baby somewhere in there, which tends to be the most time-consuming activity on the planet.) Did you always entertain footloose tendencies as a young kid?

Yes, from a young age I loved going on camping trips with my family all over North America. When I was 13 we even flew to London and rented a caravan for the summer and travelled all through the UK and the continent. It was fantastic. I prepared myself by memorizing all the king and queens of England from 1066 onward. I think that helped.

How many countries have you now visited, and which countries do you still really want to visit? I've been to about 32 countries and before I die I want to go to India, Bhutan, Easter Island, most of South America, Antarctica, Turkey, Madagascar, Iceland, Head Smashed in Buffalo Jump, Eastern Europe, and back to Fiji. Actually there aren't many places that I don't want to go, but I'm starting with this list for now. What's the most hair-raising travel experience to date? Perhaps getting drugged and hypnotized into buying carpets in Morocco. Either that or getting taken up into the Italian Alps and being held hostage in a tiny cabin by an insane Italian man.

Do you prefer to travel independently or with family and/or friends? When you travel alone you're more dependent on others and people tend to approach you much more, so you have more adventures. As for travelling with a friend - provided you like the person - it's usually more relaxing than going alone. A difficult and stressful situation you encounter by yourself could be a hilarious situation if you have a friend to share it with. What's the greatest piece of advice you can give for wannabe globetrotters?

On my website www.lauriegough.com, I list my top ten travel tips and the first one is to trust your instincts.

Which other travel writers do you admire? There are so many of them. One of my favorite travel writers is Moritz Thomsen, an American ex-pat who lived as a farmer in Ecuador. Non-travel authors I love are Lorrie Moore, an American author who mostly writes quirky short stories; Ian McEwan, David Mitchell, Barbara Kingsolver, Margaret Atwood. I also read a lot of history and biography. I recently read a biography of Aldous Huxley and was fascinated to learn how he could never stay long in one place and was broke for much of his life trying to make a living as a writer. Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose.

Did you always know that your writing was destined to be published both in book form and in the multitude of anthologies that your pieces have featured in? I don't think any writer can anticipate anything in terms of what will be published where and when. It's a crap shoot. (Do you use that expression in the UK?)

If you weren't a writer for a living, what would be your ideal occupation? When I was a kid I always wanted to be a gymnastics judge because I was passionate about gymnastics and thought I'd be able to travel all over the globe judging gymnastics meets. (My hero was Nadia Comaneci.) Now I think I'd like to be something less hectic and demanding, like a gardener for rich, friendly people. Finally, have you got any more travel books in the pipeline, and where do you intend on traveling to next?

I'm now writing a young adult novel, which is quite a departure from travel literature. I'm sure I'll write another travel book some day. This summer I'm going to eastern Quebec to look for blue whales in the St. Lawrence River. www.lauriegough.com

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