Today we’d like to introduce you to Tami Brooks.
Hi Tami, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
In 2016 I was at a crossroads. Kids had left the house, unfulfilling jobs with little future—a position many women might find themselves in.
So, like any reasonable person, I decided to hike the Grand Canyon. Did I mention that I had zero outdoor experience? Zip. Nada. Aided by a Google search bar and a glass of Cabernet, I made reservations and embarked on a life-changing year.
To train, I began hiking once a week. Often alone. I remember people asking if I was afraid. They were talking about bears, or ax-wielding psychopaths, most probably. An encounter of that sort is unlikely, so I typically smiled and said, “Nah…” But I was lying a little. Being on the trail, alone, putting one foot in front of the other, over and over, just you and your thoughts. Well, that’s pretty scary stuff, for sure.
Eventually, I quit my job. I did freelance work with local businesses, but tourism and travel were my passions. As I prepared for my trip to the Grand Canyon, an editor at the local newspaper called. She wanted me to write a story about my experience for a magazine they put out. I was thrilled. And terrified.
I’d always been interested in writing but dismissed the notion. You know the story. No experience. Not the right education. Which essentially translates to what if I fail.
As I boarded the plane to Arizona, I noticed a copy of O, The Oprah Magazine in the newsstand. On the cover, Oprah was hiking a trail in the Grand Canyon. I grabbed it and threw it in my backpack but not before I fired off a short email about the coincidence to the publication.
On the return flight, as I worked on the promised story, my seatmate, making conversation, asked what I was doing. “Oh, I’m writing an article,” I said, trying to be nonchalant. A little apprehensively, just to try it on, I add, “I’m a writer.”
“Cool,” she replied with a grin before returning to what she’d been doing. Lightning didn’t strike. She didn’t burst into laughter.
Hmmm.
My story was published in magazine in January. Within a week, I received an email from O, The Oprah Magazine, that they would like to include a couple of paragraphs about my experience in their March issue. I took this as a sign. After all, when the universe sends Oprah, you should probably listen.
I now make my living as a freelance writer (mostly travel) and have published a book, Stuff I Wish I’d Known Before I Went Hiking: A Few Tales and Fails from the Trail. I’m currently hard at work on the final edits of a book chronicling my life-changing year on the trails and how I reconnected with nature and self.
In between these events, something magical happened. I inadvertently created the 52 Weeks 52 Hikes online community. What started as a small online group for friends who wanted to reconnect with nature quickly grew into an international group of close to 3,000 members with over thirty countries represented.
You never know where life will take you. These days, if I’m not writing or exploring, you’ll find me on the deck plotting my next adventure.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Ha! If there’s one thing I’ve learned in life, it’s that the path is never smooth. There are always ups and downs and unexpected bumps along the way. There is a learning curve to writing that has nothing to do with putting words on the page. I had to learn how to pitch stories to publications, work through some technical aspects for digital magazines, and writing, like anything else, is a business and all that that entails.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a freelance writer, primarily travel, specializing in soft adventure. I love exploring new places and want to share the experience while encouraging people, primarily women, to step outside their comfort zones. It doesn’t have to be a big step. It just has to be a step.
Occasionally I hear from some of these women. They want to share their story. While they’re vastly different, there’s a common thread. They all got outside and did the thing they thought they could not do. Once you do that, you’re unstoppable.
What sets me apart from others? Well, I’m a slightly overweight, middle-aged woman – not your typical rugged adventurer. Will I climb Everest? Nope. Hike the Appalachian Trail? Doubtful. And that’s okay.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts, or blogs that help you do your best?
On Writing by Stephen King
Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott
NaNoWriMo.com is a great resource for anyone who’d like to write a book.
Trail Dames Podcast
Contact Info:
- Website: http://tamis-trippin.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tamis.trippin/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tamis.trippin
- Other: https://www.amazon.com/Tami-Brooks/e/B07RZMH4CF?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_5&qid=1655247641&sr=8-5
