From West Africa to Vietnam, Tokyo to Paris, her proposed book’s focus is to show exactly where on the map the current generation of young people has gone so far, and the distinctive niche of travel experiences that defines them.
The description on Kickstarter bills that the book, which is an anthology of literary nonfiction: will draw readers through its vivid and transportive stories, told by the most adventurous and insightful of our group’s literary and raconteur peers.
“I first started thinking about the relationship to travel during college,” says Veal Brisebois, “In my peer group, more of us have passports than any young generation before. There’s an accessibility and eagerness to try and live out the ‘world citizen’ philosophy.”
So what can readers and supporters expect from her project?
“I’m still collecting stories and don’t want to give away too much, but am totally in love with a few already.”
In a preview on her Kickstarter page, Veal Brisebois’ collection includes:
- A Haitian-American school teacher’s reportage from Bafang, Cameroon, of a day spent dodging machete blades and hiding from the angry mob that terrorized her campus after a controversial election
- A Japanese New Yorker’s tale of one year spent tending bar at her aunt’s Tokyo nightclub and learning about the private lives and secrets of her mother’s extended family
- A Chicago native’s true story of four days spent stuck on a boat on the Amazon River, after the annual folkloric festival in Parintins
“That last one is by a friend of mine who, before being stuck on the boat all that time, almost got left by the captain in the village. They didn’t recognize him from before and thought that he was trying to sneak onto the ship. The guy is a young anthropologist from Cambridge and Berkeley.”
Quick to dismiss the possibility of the Field Reports as a collection of experiences that can only be had by privilege—or school nerds—she says that the project is conscious and determined to include diverse voices and writers of all sorts, from all walks of life—as long as they’re under 35.
“I want to portray the spirit, experience, and opportunity of a generation,”
This project’s Kickstarter page has a great video, full description, and donor incentives from $5 to more than $500—so check it out now and support publishing projects! The Places We’ve Been: Field Reports from Travelers Under 35 will available on Kickstarter until June 14.
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Prior to founding The Places We’ve Been – indie books, ASHA VEAL BRISEBOIS lived many lives and learned many things. She was: - an editor for an art gallery in SoHo; - the grant writer for an advocacy and services organization in Chicago; - and the communications associate for a global movement to end violence against women and girls. During college, she traveled with Tisch School of the Arts for writing and documentary projects abroad. http://www.theplaces35.com
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CONTACT:
Asha Veal Brisebois
The Places We’ve Been, LLC
P. 312.376.8276
editor@theplaces35.com
Photos:
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http://www.prlog.org/
