What inspired you to write your memoir?
You’ve had amazing things happen in your life that you just wished you could share with others, right? Well I was on a trip of a lifetime in Asia, all by myself, and had to share it with my loved ones and the world.
About your Book:
Travelphan tells the story of a once-in-a-lifetime trip, but to understand the importance of the trip, you need to understand the traveler. When I was young I was in a very dysfunctional family. Sports became my escape. In college I suffered devastating knee injuries that kept me sidelined for 5 years. Medical professionals told me I’d never play sports again.
Following college I was lost in life, working dead-end jobs. My life was in the gutter. Then through tragedy I found my light. Someone close to me passed away. At there funeral I became forever changed. I quit my job and for months worked my ass off planning a spectacular trip through Asia, and getting my body ready for the experience.
For half a year I spent my time between India, Thailand, and China. To keep it simple, in India I underwent ancient healing and practiced yoga. I also changed the life of one Indian family. In Thailand I practiced kickboxing for a month, then taught English in a charity. In China I spent 2 months living in a remote kung fu academy.
Travelphan is full of secrets, sex, insecurities, and insights into the human psyche. I made a point to make this book very open and revealing.
How did you decide how to publish your book and where is it published through:
I will be self-publishing my book through Amazon, B&N, etc. My book, Travelphan, will be released in a few weeks. In the meantime I’ve started to generate interest by allowing readers to read a little over half of my book, leaving them on a cliffhanger.
Michael J. Sullivan posted an AMA (ask me anything) on Reddit months ago and I happened to read it. In it he stated that for newbies like me the best route is to self-publish. I’ve since decided to only publish as an ebook, because the risk and cost of self-printing isn’t worth it to me.
How do you see writing a Memoir as different from writing other genres of books?
To me it is not much different in the sense that you still need to tell a story. Some people may think writing non-fiction has to be stale, stiff, and boring. The truth is you are telling a story. It takes creativity to express a certain reality in an understandable and interesting way. You may not make up characters and settings out of thin air, but you still need to interpret them and paint a picture for your reader.
Author Bio:
Ryan Astaphan
27 years old
American
Lives in sunny South Florida
University of Florida graduate, history
Website(s)
Author Home Page Link
Your Social Media Links
http://facebook.com/TravelphanBook
http://twitter.com/Travelphan
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