Birds of a Feather welcomes Zara to the nest

Zara is one half of the team behind Backpack Me (the other being Ashray). On her travel blog she writes about how food connects you to different cultures, and she used this concept as the inspiration behind her indie author book Lisbon In a 100 Bites. In it, she introduces her readers to the dishes that repesent Lisbon, Portugal. This foodie guide includes background info about the most iconic local dishes along with mouth-watering photos.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve got an appetite to find out how Zara used her travel passions to start her indie author journey.

Author Interview: Zara and Ashray

How would you describe the type of books/genre you write?

I have written one book so far, Lisbon in 100 Bites – The Ultimate Lisbon Food Guide. This is not a conventional foodie guide. Instead of suggesting places to eat, I help readers navigate the local food scene in Portugal, by telling them more about the dishes that they are likely to come across around Portugal’s capital. I’d say this is a travel food book. It certainly focuses on food, but it mostly talks about eating as a way to explore a new place. So, ultimately, this is a travel book!

What motivated you to start writing?

I became a nomad back in 2011. When I started traveling around the world, the desire to share the experience with someone other than my family and closest friends naturally emerged. That’s how my travel blog Backpack ME was born. After 5 years writing for my own blog and collaborating with a few other travel publications, I wanted to take things a little further. I thought an ebook would reach a different audience than my blog. Even though I write a lot about travel and food in Portugal on Backpack ME, I felt that there was room to dig in a little deeper.

An ebook was the ideal medium to connect with some of my most avid readers, as well as with a new audience. Blog posts can work as an effective intro to a given topic, in this case, food and travel in Portugal. But, through an ebook, I can share further details with those who appreciate more detailed information and travel inspiration.

Tell us the journey you went on to get your books published (e.g. direct on your website, self-published, assisted-publishing, traditional publisher)

The making and publishing of Lisbon in 100 Bites was a learn-on-the-go experience. Everything was developed “in house”: from the ebook layout, to the text and photography. Writing the content was the easiest part. But I had to learn how to work with iBooks, and I also had to order 100 different dishes in Lisbon over a short period of time time, so that I could photograph them for the book. Me and my husband, who also participated photographing the dishes, got to eat everything we photographed, that’s why no one believes me when I say that this was a lot of work!

Backpack ME receives a lot of readers looking for tips on travel and food in Portugal. As such, I decided to self publish the ebook, and initially target it directly to our blog’s visitors. Now, Lisbon in 100 Bites – The Ultimate Lisbon Food Guide is available for download via Gumroad.com, which is a pretty straight forward platform for both publishers of digital goods and users.

What publishing elements do you most enjoy and most like to avoid, and why? (e.g. design, marketing, formatting etc.)

I like creating the content, both text and images, but I am not particularly keen on working around the design and formatting. That’s why I am currently working with a great designer, Paul from KidDotCo (Twitter @kidd81), who’s designing the second edition of Lisbon in 100 Bites. We will soon re-release the ebook, with a much more appealing layout, improved photography and some additional content too!

With the hindsight of being a published author, anything you would have done differently?

On one hand, I sometimes feel that I should have taken a little longer to figure out a better ebook design. But on the other hand, I am happy that I put the ebook out there when I did. Sometimes, you just have to move forward. If you wait until something is perfect, chances are you end up taking too long, or even loose momentum.

As this is a self-published digital book, the main advantage is that I can make changes and improvements at any time. In a matter of minutes, I can make a new version of the ebook available. Furthermore, I can easily reach previous readers and send them an updated version too!

What tips or advice would you give an aspiring indie author who is looking to self-publish?

Go for it! I never thought I’d be an author, and I am sure other writers out there have probably felt the same at some point. If there is a topic you are passionate and knowledgeable about, and you think people can take something valuable from reading what you have to say, create an ebook and put your ideas out there. Nowadays, it is easier than ever to not only create but also distribute digital goods. So, if your ideas are worth it, there is really no excuse not to do this!

What marketing or promotional tools or techniques do you use to reach your readers?

I have been promoting Lisbon in 100 Bites through my own blog, Backpack ME. I have written about the ebook when I launched it and, whenever I publish something about Portuguese food or travel, I make sure I mention it again and link to the page where readers can purchase it.. Other travel blogs have also been essential to reach new readers. I have done interviews, guest posts and features, with the intent of promoting the ebook. All of these are always accompanied by posts on social media, to further reach.

And this is just the beginning! I will continue to explore other marketing options, such as online advertising on highly targeted travel websites, as well as send press releases to publications that cover travel and food, particularly focusing on Portugal.

What impact do you want your books to have on your readers?

I want people who travel to Portugal to eat properly, and explore my beautiful country and way of life, through our typical food. This is what I like doing when I visit a new place so, if I can make this journey easier for those visiting my country, you bet I’m going to try my best! Readers of Lisbon in 100 Bites, will hopefully ignore silly touristic restaurants in Lisbon, and enjoy authentic Portuguese meals that are “the real deal”! Even if travelers speak no Portuguese, my ebook will help them navigate the local food scene and, hopefully, break the ice with locals too!

What’s next on your writing journey?

After releasing the 2nd edition of Lisbon in 100 Bites – The Ultimate Lisbon Food Guide, I will create a few other travel and food related books focusing on Portugal. I have several ideas that I am positive will help readers with specific interests and food preferences enjoy the Portuguese food scene.

Meanwhile, I will keep on sharing inspirational articles, information pieces and eye-catching visuals from my travels around the world on Backpack ME.

Zara’s Author Bio

Zara Quiroga is a Portuguese traveler and food writer. She used to live in Dubai, where she met her husband Ashray, from India. Back in 2011, they both decided to quit their office jobs, and started traveling the world while working online.

In the meantime, they founded Backpack ME, a travel site that aims to share tips and ideas with people all over the place, inspiring them to go travel, no matter where they come from. A&Z are East meets West and Backpack ME is all about a multicultural perspective on travel!

• Backpack ME’s official website: bkpk.me/
• Backpack ME on Facebook: www.facebook.com/piggybackrideaz
• Backpack ME on Twitter: twitter.com/piggybackrideaz
• Backpack ME on Instagram: www.instagram.com/backpackme/
• Backpack ME on Pinterest: pinterest.com/piggybackrideaz
• Backpack ME on Youtube: www.youtube.com/piggybackrideaz
• The Ultimate Lisbon Food Guide: www.lisbonfoodguide.com
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/lisbonfoodguide/reviews/

Click here to read more Indie Author Interviews 

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