Author and Travel Writer Lee Foster Discusses Travels in Northern California

• San Francisco has its own magic charm, which is enduring. Lodging in one of the grand hotels and enjoying the city, with its fine dining and waterfront hikes, has much appeal.

• Next, I would put on my list the Mendocino Coast, north of San Francisco. The beauty of the coast is enthralling.

• The Napa and Sonoma Wine Countries also has much appeal. There are so many fine B&Bs, plus fine restaurants, and wine tasting, of course.

• The Lake Tahoe region provides an alpine adventure for romantic travelers.

• Yosemite, with a stay at the Ahwahnee, is a world-class park experience for the romantic.

• The Monterey Peninsula is also uniquely beautiful, as in the Big Sur Coast. I have writeups available for free to consumers on all these destinations under California on my website.

The new book is

Lee:



I have about 200 worldwide destinations on my website, in writing and photos. I go to each new destination and ask myself: what is special about this place? What would I most want to know about this place in order to enhance my life? As a result, the subject emerges.



In Nashville, the subject might be the joy of country music. In Brazil, it might be the experience of a tropical rain forest. In New York, it might be the cultural richness of the great museums. I develop an article and photos, publish them on my website, and sell elements to magazines, newspapers, other travel websites, and book publishers.



Norm:



As you are a photographer as well as a writer, how do you meld your photography with your writing?



Lee:



I am deliberately both a writer and a photographer, half and half. I have photos, for example, in more than 225 Lonely Planet books. I have published photos in all the major travel magazines over the years. But I always will also be a writer. Being a writer helps me define the critical elements in a destination. Then I write and photograph them. Doing both gives me two crosses to bear and two opportunities to publish and sell.



Norm:



What challenges or obstacles did you encounter while writing your books? How did you overcome these challenges?

Lee:



One main issue with writing travel books is to choose a territory that you can continue to support. My books are on Northern California because I can easily support them.



Another main issue is the rapidly changing world of publishing, and how this affects publisher-author relationships.



My new literary book and probably all my future travel books will be independently published.

There is ever more incentive for an author to control the whole process for larger profit, more control over design and marketing, and more assurance of long term availability of the book. I have had eight books with various commercial publishers, and they have all worked out reasonably well. But independent publishing will be my path for the future. For example, my new literary book could have been done with one of my earlier commercial publishers or I could have done it independently. Irregardless, it is available on Amazon. My profit for selling it directly on Amazon is much greater. So, why not control the process?




Norm:



You have written about San Francisco, what is so unique about this city and would you recommend it as a romantic getaway? If so, why?



Lee:



I have written often about San Francisco in articles, now available on my website, and in my books. The city has such joie de vivre. Life is full in San Francisco. The chefs are always trying to outdo each other. I just dined last week for the first time at Gary Danko, for example, a terrific restaurant.



The city is physically beautiful and joyous to walk around, whether you are in North Beach of out at the Marina taking the wonderful new walk possible along the beach between the Marina and the Golden Gate Bridge.









Norm:



I noticed that you have also written about the Monterey-Carmel area. What is so special about this area and could you briefly describe some unique romantic venues where couples may wish to tie the knot?



Lee:



The physical beauty of the coast is always appealing. Add to that the fine lodging and dining, and it amounts to a satisfying experience. The Martine Inn, the Asilomar Coinference Center, Ventana Inn or Post Ranch Inn in Big Sur those would be some terrific places for a romantic to tie the knot. The romance of walk in Point Lobos or a drive on the 17 Mile Drive would add to the joy of the moment.



Norm:



Which travel authors or books have influenced you?




Lee:



The classics of world literature, going back to Homer, have been the main influence on me. In recent times, John Steinbeck's Travels With Charlie was a book I enjoyed. Steinbeck's sense of place in his novel Cannery Row would be a book to recommend for someone coming to Monterey.



Norm:



What is next for Lee Foster and is there anything else you wish to add to our interview?



Lee:



I will watch over the launch of my new literary book and then continue to develop more worldwide destinations for my website. What I enjoy is the dynamic of going out for a week or so a month to get some new travel experience and then coming back to my office for about three weeks a month to develop and market it. I feel I am always learning and growing. I pace myself, and enjoy some exercise and a couple glasses of Chardonnay every day.



Thanks once again Lee and good luck with all of your future endeavors.