Once writers, musicians, artists were dependent on wealthy sponsors. Then the commercial world took over publishing and distribution of the arts. But a new wave of creative people are taking advantage of the world-wide reach of the Internet to find like-minded people who are willing to help fund their projects.

When I was approached by Allan Karl about his Kickstarter project to publish a book called Forks: A Quest for Culture, Cuisine and Connection, based on a motorcycle trip to 35 countries, I was intrigued.  This is not your ordinary travel memoir, as you will learn in this interview. Allan has shared some of the photographs from the book with us here, and the book also  provides you with recipes from many of the countries he visited. Gotta love it–travel, adventure, photography and FOOD.

 

A Travelers Library:  You have combined a book about a motorcycle trip, a photo book and a cookbook in one.  Since any one of these would keep an author busy, why did you decide to combine the three?

Allan Karl: I planned to write a traditional travelogue/memoir, but when I returned home after three years of travel, I realized that the best way to truly share this incredible journey and the experiences that so moved me was to provide readers with a similar experience.

That is to allow them to see the world through photographs, to feel the world by reading stories of connections and cultures and to taste it the flavors of the world through photos and recipes of real local food.

So this is how, in FORKS, I share the discoveries, cultures and connections I made on my global adventure—stories, color photos and flavors—FORKS brings the world to the readers tables and this adventure to life: the kindness of strangers, beauty of humanity, colors of culture and the powerful gift of human connection.

ATL: How did you choose the countries you visited? I noticed in particular that you visited Syria and it is not a country people are flocking to from the outside right now.  Were you there before the hostilities broke out? Were there other countries that might have been a bit risky to visit?

AK: I have traveled extensively throughout my life, and I truly believe travel is the best way to learn about our world, history, culture, geography and about ourselves, that is, how to be more patient, compassionate and tolerant.

I originally planned to travel from Cape Town north along the western Coast of Africa and then into Morocco and to Spain. Along the way, someone shared with me great stories of Ethiopia and the baffling rock-hewn churches of Lalibela and I changed my plan and traveled Cape Town north on the western side of Africa.

Traveling overland is rigorous and, in Africa especially, often rough.

When I set out on this journey I knew I couldn’t simply chose the safe route. For to realize possibilities and expand my worldview, I knew I would have to take chances and step outside my comfort zone. Tired of the constant drip of media and government warnings of dangerous places, I wanted to see for myself.

I traveled through Egypt just six or so months before Arab Spring, so I wasn’t in Syria near the time of the conflict. Yet what I discovered in Syria, was a country full of friendly people eager to learn about me, my travels and my country as much as I wanted to learn about them. In my book I share the initial frustration I experienced during my nearly 24-hour ordeal to secure a visa for entering Syria.

ATL: I noticed on your Kickstarter page that you said if you felt alone, you just looked around, and there was always someone there. But communicating with someone in a different culture and language can be intimidateing.  Any tips?

AK: I’m amazed at how easy it is to connect with people – humanity. Two things that are fail free: First, smile and look into the strangers eyes with warmth and openness. Also important, learn at least one sentence in the local tongue.

The language can be tough. Cause if you spurt out a few words, be prepared for the stranger to unleash a barrage of fast talking and in such a dialect you’ll never understand. But the fact you try to communicate proves your eager to learn and embrace their culture and their language. Learn.

ATL: How many of these countries had you visited previously?

AK: Out of the 35 countries I traveled on this adventure, I’d only been to 3 or 4 of the countries previously—Canada, Mexico and Costa Rica.

ATL:  Did you plan an itinerary in detail before you started, or just let chance lead you?

AK: I researched and planned for two years before embarking on this journey. I had an idea of the route I would take, and identified places I wanted to visit. One of my goals on this journey was to visit as many UNESCO World Heritage Sites as I could get to. In the end, I visited more than 40, including the more famous like Macchu Pichu as well as the obscure like León, Viejo in Nicaragua.

As I learned more about a region’s history, cultural heritage and taking tips from locals and travelers, I would change plans in a moment. I never had a hotel reservation. I would make sure to visit major cities on a regular basis so that I could service my motorcycle and have better chance of access to spare parts and other necessities.

ATL:  Just yesterday, after watching this video about a musician asking for community funding,  I was wondering why more authors had not taken the Kick Starter Route. Please talk a little about how you decided to do that.

AK: Often, I’m asked “Why Kickstarter?” The answer is simple—and part of my story.

As I mentioned, I had intended to write a traditional travelog or memoir about my journey. But as I traveled, I learned how important it is to connect with people on a deeper level. Most often this happens while sharing conversations and life stories over good food and drink—with locals.

I knew that recipes and photos of the food and the faces and places I visited would be essential and would enhance my stories. The publishing industry thought differently. They wanted that travelog/memoir. Traditional agents and publishers liked the idea for my book, but insisted I simplify it—asking me to remove the food and photos.

So rather than compromise my vision, I decided to go out on the publishing journey just as I did to travel the world–solo.

Kickstarter is perfect for creative projects that step outside that comfort zone, are risky and don’t fit within the self-induced constraints or limits of commercial enterprises. It’s a great way to validate the marketability of such ideas. My Kickstarter project for this book reached its funding goal in just nine days. As of today, and with 5 days to go, I’ve reach nearly 150% of that funding goal. I’m humbled and grateful for the support the crowd-funding community as given me and this project. I think it’s great proof that this idea — this book and message — resonates with people all over the world. I have backers from 11 countries who’ve pledged for copies of the book.

ATL: Final question–the one we ask everyone at A Traveler’s Library–are their any books you have read that inspired you to travel.

AK: Perhaps the book that inspired me to travel by motorcycle and opened my mind to the possibilities is a book called “Ghost Rider” by Neil Peart, a well-regarded dummer for the rock n’ roll band RUSH. Over a one year period he lost his only child in a car accident and his wife to cancer. Rather than dip into deep depression, he hopped on his motorcycle and rekindled his broken soul by traveling.

Meet Alan more personally in this video at You Tube or check out his Kickstarter Page.