Janet Perez accomplished her goal of visiting all seven continents. To keep track of her adventures and commemorate her varied experiences, she decided to document memories from her travels. This ultimately inspired her to write a children’s travel series based on firsthand experiences that capture her love of travel, immersive learning, and meeting people from different backgrounds all around the world. Through Janet’s series, young readers will journey across landscapes and see Earth as a canvas of remarkable beauty and creation. Perhaps one day, they’ll choose to go on such adventures too!
Q: What inspired the idea behind your book?
A: I’ve done quite a bit of travel over the years. I’ve enjoyed having friends join me or even going solo. I’ve often shared those experiences with my family and friends through storytelling. I’ve kept a sort of travel journal along the way for some of the trips that had a major impact on me. Initially, I intended to get into scrapbooking, but with so many pictures, it made sense to pair them with a story to help highlight the memories. I liked the idea of combining everything: telling the story, matching it with the pictures, and tailoring it to an audience that may enjoy it. However, the main focus has been to keep a travel diary as a personal hobby, a “record of my eyes.”
Q: As an author, what tips would you give anyone who wants to get into writing?
A: What worked for me was writing the way I speak and engage with people. I think that makes my book feel personal to the audience it is meant for.
Q: What is your favorite book?
A: I think that has changed over time. No particular book comes to mind, though I’ve grown to really enjoy historical fiction and autobiographies.
Q: Was your main character modeled after anyone in your life?
A: The main character is based on me and my personal travel experiences.
Q: What is your favorite part of the writing process?
A: I like capturing details in my writing and being able to reflect on what I experienced with joy and appreciation.
Q: Do you believe that being a “good writer” is a developed skill or a natural talent?
A: I don’t know if I have a good answer to this question. I’d say it may be a mixture of both. Some of it is motivated by interest.
Q: Would you write another book (or are you already writing another book)?
A: I hope that this is the first of a travel series collection based on my travel experiences!
Learn more about Janet Perez and her new children's book, Travel Tales with Janet: All Aboard to Antarctica, here. Coming soon November 3rd, 2026!