Polly Letofsky
On August 1, 1999, I left my home in Colorado and headed west. I traveled across four continents, 22 countries and over 14,000 miles — by foot — to become the first woman to walk around the world. In a spirit of adventure, along with the goal of raising global awareness for breast cancer, strangers welcomed me into their homes. The world had embraced me. But in the middle of my journey, 9/11 flung us all into a crossroads in world history and I found myself navigating a vastly changing world.
How did your book came into being?
I had kept journals everyday on my five year walk around the world, but when I finished I
3 MPH book cover
was really focused on starting a new life for myself; job, friends, community — and therefore put off writing a book for years. Four years after I finished walking, and I got laid off from my job, I finally got serious about finishing it. It was a story that needed to be told — and only by me. A ghost writer could never have gotten the humor, the detail, the sounds, the smells. I knew I was the only one who could write it. So I started digging deep, and got it done in two years.
Why did you decide to independently publish?
After doing all the research into the various sorts of publishing I decided that self-publishing was the best business decision — as well as the best creative decision.
How has CIPA helped you with publishing?
CIPA has all the elements one would need to produce a book from editing to production to marketing. It’s sort of the Home Depot of publishing.
What’s next for you and your book?
I’m busily and happily marketing; primarily through the speakers circuit.
How can readers find your book?
www.3mphBook.com or available on Kindle, Nook, Ipad!
Polly Letofsky is the author of 3mph: The Adventures of One Woman’s Walk Around the World, 2011 EVVY Award for Best Memoir. Her website is www.3mphBook.com; email polly at [email protected]