When Erik Met Rick Through Jen...

Who would have thought that when I sported a hot pink bra in Montreal, it would get me a mention in travel guru Rick Steves' website?

Let me explain: Back in July 2003, I volunteered to be the intern of acclaimed Travelers' Tales writer/editor Jen Leo during a visit to Montreal to promote her women's travel humor book, Sand In My Bra. I accompanied Jen and fellow travel writer Christine Michaud, wandering around the streets of the Canadian metropolis during the annual comedy festival "Juste Pour Rire 2003" ("Just For Laughs 2003"). We passed out flyers, hung up signs, staged a book reading/signing at a local bookstore, went to the local talk radio station for an on-air plug, and even made gift baskets for female comedy writers Tina Fey and Sarah Vowell. In a ploy that I immediately regretted suggesting after I did, I said I'd go the extra mile and go out on the streets with the hot pink bra on to attract even more attention to the book while handing out flyers. The mission was successful, and I'd like to think my little stunt helped Sand In My Bra become a bestseller for Travelers' Tales.

The success of Sand In My Bra spawned a sequel, Whose Panties Are These? (which was published and released while I was on my Global Trip), and work on a third women's travel anthology, The Thong Also Rises (working title) is currently underway. It has not yet been determined if I will be going back to Canada in a hot pink thong, although I don't think I'll be suggesting that one just yet.

Anyway, Jen and I have kept in correspondence from time to time since Montreal. In fact, she surprised me when she turned up unexpectedly at my welcome back DAY 503 party. Currently she's trekking on in the literary and blog worlds, and has recently written the May 2005 Travel News on RickSteves.com, of which this here blog has been mentioned, along with some other blogs worth checking out.

If you are unfamiliar with Rick Steves, he's the travel guru for an older, less courageous crowd, focusing on Europe, but not exclusively. You may have seen a bunch of his books on the shelf in your bookstore's travel section, or his own travel series that airs on PBS. Say what you will about Rick, but the fact is, he's got quite an influence in the travel industry. For example, the Cinque Terre coast of the Italian Riviera had no tourism years ago, until Rick Steves "discovered" it and started writing about it. Now it's become one of the most visited spots in Italy.

Anyway, Jen Leo's piece, "Globe-Blogging," gets sent out to 200,000 travel enthusiasts that subscribe to Rick Steves' newsletter, which of course, is a thrill. Whether or not I will be wearing any ladies undergarments for Rick Steves has not yet been determined, although I wouldn't hold your breath over it.

To Jen Leo, I thank you for the mention, and to the new readers coming from Rick Steves' audience, welcome aboard!

Also, check out Jen Leo's blog of the inside world of travel publishing, "Written Road!"