A Casual Traveler

by Edmond Gagnon

A Casual Traveler is a collection of short stories and poems that chronicle the author's adventures and misadventures around the world. He takes readers to exotic countries in Southeast Asia, or Central and South America, to explore unique cities like Buenos Aires or Seattle, and ancient sites like Angkor Wat or Machu Picchu. Get introduced to interesting people from around the globe, and share in culinary experiences with strange and gourmet food. Experience sailing on a Junk boat in Ha Long Bay or take an exhilarating motorcycle ride to the top of Pike's Peak in the Rocky Mountains. Get off the beaten path and learn about places you've only dreamed of.

Genres: Short Stories

220 pages, Paperback

First published October 15, 2012

About the author

Edmond Gagnon is a retired Police Detective, having worked for the Windsor Police Service for over 31 years. Upon retiring he traveled the world compiling a fun collection of travel stories, then self-published his first book, "A Casual Traveler."

With a new passion for writing Ed created his Norm Strom Crime Fiction Series with with Rat, Bloody Friday, Torch, Finding Hope, Border City Chronicles and Trafficking Chen.
The sequel to Finding Hope, The Moon Mask, kicks off the new Abigail Brown Crime Series.

Edmond Gagnon partnered with two local authors in the crime anthology All These Crooked Streets. He also wrote the paranormal thriller, Four.

The next book in Ed's Norm Strom series, Trafficking Chen, will be released June 1st.

All his stories are bases on his own personal experiences..

Edmond Gagnon continues to write and travel, and resides in Windsor, Ontario with his wife, Cathryn.

Reviews

[Rachel Pieters · Rating 3 out of 5]

A more accurate title for this book would be The Manly Man's Guide to Travelling the World and Finding Beer. I actually think it's the perfect book for my husband and would grab his attention more with a title like that, and many like him. The first section should be subtitled Single, and the Second, Smitten.

I enjoyed this book, filled with travel quotes, a few poems, and many various tales and anecdotes from life on the road from places as close to home as Northern Michigan and Toronto, and as far reaching as Thailand, Vietnam, Belize, Argentina, etc. Many of these mini-stories are funny, many awe-inspiring, and many quite personal. I've been highly inspired to seek out Belize for a family trip so I can go snorkelling off the second largest reef in the world (whith friendly sharks), cave-tubing, which I didn't even know was thing until reading this, and watching crabs scuttle across deserted beaches, eating holes in and burying people's socks.

There are some editing choices that I would have made differently, and a small section in the middle labelled Windsor, Ontario, which was cruel and had no place in this type of travel book. I would have replaced it with a section of colour photos of some of the places mentioned in the guide, like the front and back covers, which were highly interesting.

Overall, a fun and amusing read, much in the vein of By Any Means with Charlie Boorman, a British travel show in which Charlie (actor and best friend of Ewan McGregor) travels all over the world 'by any means' of travel presented to him. You can buy this book online or in local book store in Windsor, Ontario.

[Christine Hayton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclosure: I purchased a signed copy of A Casual Traveler from the author. I do not know the author personally and have never had any communication with him about this book, except for a brief discussion when I purchased this signed copy. The comments that follow are my own personal opinion. I received NO compensation of any kind, or from any one, to provide this review.

I approached this book expecting to read the usual travel log type of narrative, but was pleasantly surprised to find a very personal and in depth series of anecdotes. The extensive travels of the author provide a wonderful, although often brief look at various cultures. I did not read this book in the conventional way. I found myself looking up different areas that grabbed my interest and reading the stories in no particular order.

I enjoyed the read. It was very friendly and obviously inspired by the travels. The author shows good writing skills for his first book and gives the reader some wonderful stories. I highly recommend this book. It’s an easy read and very enjoyable.

[Nadine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is collection of short stories about the author's travels around the world. I enjoyed this very much, it was fun learning about different countries and cultures and how different they're lives are over there, I even found myself checking out some of the places he visited on google, that must have been a wonderful experience.

We also get to know the author, seems like a good guy with a good sense of humor who can makes friends easily everywhere he goes. I found myself laughing at some of the stories, not everything went according to plan.

I read all 3 of his book and so far I am really liking him, looking forward to the next one!

[Bev · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ed's book was a good read, fast and well read. I especially liked the Puerto Vallarta part as we travel
every year and relate to the bar scene. Also have read a few other of Ed's books. Keep up the books
Ed.

[Marissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kindle Copy for Review

A Casual Traveler takes us on the author’s three year journey in snippets. We are taken to different parts of the world even motorcycle trips in the USA and Canada as we see the world through his eyes and the different cultures.

We find ourselves feeling like we are on this journey with him and experiencing these adventures with him. We are never sure who we will meet nor what where are headed. It makes us want to explore the world we live in even if it just our own neighbourhood.

[Edmond Gagnon]

This is my first book.
It is a collection funny travel adventures.