Elaine Lee’s Book Makes Oprah’s Book List

BATW member Elaine Lee’s book, “Go Girl: The Black Woman’s Book of Travel and Adventure” has made the list of Oprah Magazine’s 26 Best Travel Books That Will Take You All Around the World With No Plane Ticket Required. Here are Lee’s thoughts on such a prestigious honor:
Imagine my surprise when I read the text from a colleague informing me that my book was on the Oprah list. Clicking on the link, reading the article and seeing my book featured was surrealistic and thrilling. How could this have happened?  For the past few years I had been feeling like my travel writing career was sliding deeper and deeper into obscurity.  I hadn’t had a featured article in a national magazine in years, my book was 20 years old and I was no longer being invited to give talks at travel conferences. HMMMM. So, I reached out to Batw member, Diane LeBow and asked her if she could refer me to a travel media coach. She suggested that I contact Matthew Felix, which I did.
He reviewed my website, several of my quarterly travel media newsletters, all of my social media pages/links and formulated a plan for relaunching my travel media career. After a couple of meetings and emails, we launched a plan and within weeks the Oprah knighting happened. I recently received an assignment from Bon Appetit magazine and am in negotiations with editors of Conde Naste about a possible story. The lesson for me is never underestimate the power of intention, clarity and visioning.
I contacted the writer of the Oprah article to thank her for choosing my book. She said thought it was a perfect choice because it is timeless and fits perfectly in her effort to find books that can take armchair and grounded travelers on a vicarious trip around the world.
Here’s hoping travel media obscurity is a thing of my past!!!