​In early 2020, before all of the COVID craziness began, we took a train from Iowa to California. It was a fantastic experience and I loved nearly every part of it. You can click here, to read the original blog post. 

I wanted to share some tips that helped us stay comfortable on board, especially since we were on the train for a grand total of four days and four nights. We had our own roomette, so I can’t give advice for traveling with coach tickets, which is a slightly different experience. 

​PACKING 

According to Amtrak’s website, each passenger is allowed to bring: 
-2 Personal items (14x11x7” and 25lbs). 
-2 Carry-on items (28x22x14” and 50lbs). 

You are also required to have an identification tag with your name and address on your bags.  

I would definitely suggest bringing a pillow as one of your personal items. Although they provide pillows on the train they are very small, and they won’t be as comfortable as bringing a full-size one from home.
 
For my second personal item, I put my purse in a tote bag that had some snacks, my cosmetics bag, my sunglasses, and a card game or two in it. My two carry-ons were a Duffle bag that I used for the trip, and a rolling suitcase for the destination. Since space in a roomette is limited, living out of a smaller Duffel bag during the trip was invaluable. It was so much easier than having to maneuver an actual upright suitcase every day.  

You can also check bags, but they are kept in a separate luggage car, and there are a few more rules and steps to take, and I didn’t want to bother with it. I had a lock on my rolling suitcase (that was kept downstairs in the sleeper car with everyone else’s) and I never felt worried about it. Of course, it’s a good idea to keep valuables and anything you can’t live without in the cabin with you, just in case.  

Here are some things that came in helpful and I’m glad we packed: 
-Regular pillow 
-Bath towel (they have towels by the showers, but like a pillow, your own is better)
-Shower shoes that dry quickly 
-Small battery-operated fan 
-Card games and travel board games 
-Pen and paper or notebook 
-Cell phone charger (of course) 
-Shoes that can easily go on and off
-Lightweight jacket   
-Sleeping mask 
-Earplugs 
-Tissues
-Hand sanitizer 

It also came in handy to have some cash. Since all of your meals are included with a roomette ticket we used this for tipping the staff, buying treats in the snack car, or purchasing souvenirs at a pop-up street market on the platform in Albuquerque. ​

​SLEEPING 

The temperature for us was very cozy, but if you are cold-blooded you might want to bring a blanket. For me, the hardest part of sleeping was the constant movement. I haven’t figured out how to conquer that yet, but when I do, I will be sure to post it.  

LOGISTICS 

One of the best things I did before we left was download the Amtrak mobile app. This was a great way to keep tabs on our departure and arrival times, and it provided a backup record of our tickets, just in case the paper version I printed out didn’t work or got lost.  

I hope this article was helpful. If you have any more suggestions be sure to leave a comment below. Bon voyage!

-Lisa N

You can read more about the series on our Publications page.​
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Be sure to watch my books on Amazon for a special ebook sale after November 27th!

​For the second reason, I didn’t simply want to pass over the western United States, because I had never been there. I wanted to see the landscape, breathe the air, and feel the miles. From our roomette window we watched as the scenery changed from the flat lands of Colorado, to snow in the mountains of New Mexico, and the early morning light projecting rays through palm trees in California. Our longest pit-stop was in Albuquerque, and local vendors had a market set up right on the platform. We got to stretch our legs, meet local artists, and buy handmade souvenirs.  
 
I also enjoyed the opportunity to converse with our fellow passengers. We dined with a couple going on an anniversary tour, boarded with a little girl about to see the Grand Canyon for the first time, and met a new family traveling to introduce their young baby to relatives on the other side of the country. The train was full of stories, and I couldn’t help but feel like a character in an Agatha Christie novel, even if for a bit. Our dinner companion commented that locomotives are a “sophisticated way to travel”, and I couldn’t agree more.

​Just in time for Halloween, here is a fun pattern for some spook-marks! Lol. These were my first attempt at color work on such a small and intricate scale, and I was very happy with the result. I used the intarsia technique on the pumpkins, and it worked really well. However, regular carrying of the yarn worked better for the cats.

I usually block my bookmarks in an equal half water/half starch solution. It seems to give them just the right amount of stiffness.

Enjoy and God bless!
Lisa N.

Much like my Antler Mitts, this hat pattern was created for a custom order. Since there wasn't a pattern out there that I liked well enough, I decided to make my own. This hat is perfect for little ones who want to dress like their favorite Disney character and keep their head and ears warm at the same time. It is listed in a size for a 10-12 month old, but should be able to be increased fairly easily for adults or older children as well. 

Enjoy!
Lisa N.

When I first aspired to become an author, I imagined my time would be spent filling a blank page with words to woo the masses… not taking into account the editing or marketing required, which is enough to drive a sane person to the brink of insanity. Write, edit, market, repeat. Over and over and over. See what I mean about the insane part?
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Depending on where you're at in your writing endeavors, this may be common knowledge. You may have listened to the multiple authors telling you the best practices to start. Unfortunately, I did not listen to them and learned the hard way.

A successful writing career comes down to 5% skill, 5% luck, and 90% who you know.

A crucial part of creating a profitable book is connecting with others. Marketing should come well before your book is even launched. It's easier to get your sale ranking up if you've gotten pre-orders at the ready and reviews already elevating the story.

Much easier than having the book be launched and having people give you a raised eyebrow, "Really? You actually wrote a book?" Even if your picture is on the back, it sometimes takes three forms of ID to convince a potential customer that you are, in fact, the author of the book in front of you. I sometimes wear a hat with the title WRITER on it to avoid confusion.

Why is skill so low? With enough money, you can pay someone to write your story. You could be a famous author and never type a word. I do want to point out that money should be spent on a good editor even if it is something like Grammarly pro.

Why is luck so low? Let's face it. Writing is hard. It takes getting your book in the hands of the right reader who will help promote your book. If those people grow exponentially, you have a fan base that will lift off the massive marketing load from you. But keep connecting with others.



I dabble in multiple genres.

The indie authors who can boast of their sales typically stick to one genre and write a series. I decided to experiment with my books and put together a collection of poetry to get my feet into the publishing pool. I tripped, fell face first, and discovered it was acid, not water. Okay, that may be an overstatement. A small press threw me a life preserver and helped me out of the deep end.

After publishing a non-fiction book, I released my first science fiction novel. At this point, it would have made sense to continue the series into space, which I plan to do. However, I then published my first book in a fantasy series. By now, any fans of my poetry are rightfully confused as I sprinkle in bits of verse in my novels. Don't worry. I'm working on a collection of short stories that will have some poems in it as well… it might be leaning more toward the horror genre, because, why not?



The marketing beast.

There's a healthy balance between too much and too little. It's easy for us to want to get all the swag for our story: bookmarks, pens, shirts, cups, tissue dispensers, etc. Unfortunately, it can lead to a surplus of supplies becoming more difficult to give away. If you have enough people you know, the merchandising can boost the profits for your book.

For me, I did radio interviews and became a feature in the newspaper for my home town. It might not be the smallest of towns, but rural Nebraska can be a hard sell for poetry books. If you're able to find an affordable marketing director, use that connection. If you are proficient in marketing, I like the outdoors, piña coladas, and getting caught in the rain.



Ignoring the fans is not a good idea.

Occasionally, I will have a reader comment on one of my characters or things they enjoyed about my book. It would likely happen more if I stuck with one genre and series. Listen to them. Find ways to work their ideas into subplots or suggestions. It's best to write for yourself in order to keep your passion for writing alive, but it's fun to entertain the idea that a character may be coming back in an upcoming story.



Writing alone.

Trying to write on your own is one of the quickest ways to lose your mind. Remember the scene from the Shining? It is easy to lose your motivation to write if you don't have people around to encourage your work. Writing is important. Your words are needed.

Finding a small critique group and having honest beta readers has been an invaluable blessing in my writing career. It is hard to take a book from draft to published. Even if the critiques and reviews are painful in this phase, you will be thankful for it once the book is in the hands of strangers.



A final note on publishing.

Being the first author for a small press, we learned a lot about publishing together. Countless businesses would be happy to print your book for you. Most of these require you to buy in bulk, and we had way too much bulk in poetry. If you're starting out, doing print-on-demand through KDP or Ingramspark becomes more affordable and economical.

I won't go into depth on either publishing company as there plenty of great articles on the topic. And we're talking about what I did wrong, like hardcover books. I've only had one book that was hardcover, and that was my poetry collection, which we bought in bulk. Needless to say, it did not sell as well as the softcover.



Hopefully, you have the opportunity to learn from other authors as you pursue a writing career. Although I became serious about my writing six years ago, I am at the beginning. The one question you should ask yourself is what you would define as success. Once you have a goal in mind, go out and tell others about your pursuit. Their support will save your sanity.

Do you have a book you've just published or are aspiring to get released? Let me know in the comments. I'd love to be one of your connections.

PILLAR 2: EXERCISE

Staying active can be an exciting challenge, and a way for you to get creative during your journeys. Here are some ideas I have on how to stay active.

NATIONAL GYM CHAINS
These are a great way to stay active, if you sign up for a membership at one location, your membership goes national and you can use any gym you come across. Some examples are: Anytime Fitness, Lifetime Fitness, and 24-Hour Fitness.

LOCAL GYMS/YMCAS
If you are going to be in one spot for a few weeks, ask around, stop in the chamber of commerce, there may be a local YMCA or health park you could use on a short-term basis.

DROP-IN CLASSES
Lots of yoga and exercise studios offer one time drop-in classes. This means if you are in town for the weekend you can take one or two classes and pay as you go, you don’t have to be a long-term member to participate.

GO FOR A WALK/RUN OUTSIDE
If you are camping, chances are you have great access to paths and trails to explore. Otherwise, you could walk around the downtown area, or walk from your hotel to a nearby destination. (Always keep safety in mind, and if in doubt about the safety of your particular area choose a different option).

DO YOGA INSIDE
There are hundreds of free yoga videos on YouTube. Just pack your mat with you, or leave it in the car like I do, that way it’s always on-hand. Yoga or stretching videos are great to do in the hotel and could help you relax and unwind before bed.

HOTEL AMMENITIES
If your hotel has a pool or exercise room, use it!  

GET CREATIVE
Find new ways to stay active. Walk around a historic landmark or museum. Turn up the music and dance around in your tiny home. If homesteading at friend’s house in the country, offer to walk or jog to the highway to get their mail. Do push-ups or sit-ups during the commercial breaks as you watch your nightly shows. Park at the very last spot in the parking lot. Take the stairs instead of the elevator at the hotel.

There are lots of small “better” choices we can make every day while we travel and live on the road. I hope you find these tips helpful. If you have any questions or feedback to give let us know by commenting below.

Happy trails!

-Lisa “Story”

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