Meet the Contributors of The Best Women's Travel Writing 2011

The most rewarding part of editing The Best Women's Travel Writing 2011 was getting to know the women behind the stories. And now you can meet them too, in a weekly series of interviews. Check back each week or subscribe to my RSS feed to meet the inspiring, intrepid women whose stories make up The Best Women's Travel Writing 2011. Learn how they started traveling, who inspires them, where they're headed next, and much more.

Abbie Kozolchyk has contributed to National Geographic Traveler, Travel + Leisure, the San Francisco Chronicle, Outside, World Hum, Concierge.com, Forbes Traveler, Travelers' Tales, and numerous women's magazines.

Anna Wexler is a freelance writer and filmmaker based in Tel Aviv whose work has appeared in a number of print and online publications, including Maxim, 18, Glimpse, Budget Travel, and Mir Afishu.

Marcy Gordon's writing has appeared in many Travelers’ Tales anthologies. She is the editor of Leave the Lipstick, Take the Iguana: Funny Travel Stories from the Road (spring, 2012) and writes Come For the Wine, a popular blog. 

Susan Rich is is the author of three collections of poetry: The Cartographer’s Tongue/Poems of the World, Cures Include Travel, and The Alchemist’s Kitchen. She has received awards from PEN USA, The Times Literary Supplement (London), and Peace Corps Writers.

Bridget Crocker is a contributing author to Lonely Planet guidebooks and the outdoor clothing company, Patagonia. Her work has been featured in National Geographic Adventure, Trail Runner, Paddler, and Outside.

Katherine Jamieson's writing has been published in The New York Times, Washingtonian, Ms., Narrative Magazine, Brevity, and The Best Travel Writing 2011. 

Bonnie Stewart is an educator, writer, and social media researcher whose work won the 2011 Island Literary Award for Creative Non-fiction, and has appeared in CBConline and Salon.com.

Marcia DeSanctis is a journalist and writer whose work has appeared in Vogue, Departures, The New York Times Magazine, Recce, Best Travel Writing 2011 and Town & Country.

Meera Subramanian is a contributor to such publications as The New York Times and Smithsonian, and editor of the online literary magazine Killing the Buddha.

Meet Best Women's Travel Writing Contributor Abbie Kozolchyk

Abbie Kozolchyk, a New York-based writer and editor, has contributed to National Geographic Traveler, Travel + Leisure, the San Francisco Chronicle, Outside, World Hum, Concierge.com, Forbes Traveler, Travelers' Tales, and a variety of women's magazines. Visit her at www.abbiekozolchyk.com.

When did you first know you were a traveler?

I suspect that even in utero, I kind of knew. My parents were living in Costa Rica at the time—and roaming around Central America throughout my mom’s pregnancy. I think the sensation just sort of
stuck, and I never grew out of that motion-as-comfort stage.

Is there something you always do, whenever you’re on a trip?

Weirdly, I’ve managed to ritualize Pringles consumption on the road. Though I never eat—or even crave—them at home, I seem to down a can the second I clear immigration and customs in a new country. And I’m still trying to work out how a vastly unremarkable can of chips has become such a travel totem for me. Do I have some bizarre need to confirm (again, and again, and again) that yes, Pringles are indeed the great unifier of snack foods—and really do taste exactly the same wherever you go in the world, regardless of the language(s) on the packaging? Or do the chips serve as some sort of carb-y, American security blanket for me—easing any subconscious homesickness I may have? Who knows? All I do know is that even when they cost as much as the hotel room itself, they’re not long for the minibar. I give them one minute post-check-in, tops.