Welcome back to GO! Interviews. This week we are proud to feature the talented writer Carrie Kellenberger of My Several Worlds. Carrie has been teaching English abroad in Taiwan for several years and enjoys documenting her experiences through writing and photography. In between her busy schedule she found the time to sit down and share with us her perspectives about the overseas experience. Enjoy!

GO!: Hi Carrie, thanks for joining us today. Shall we start with a brief introduction?

Carrie: I'm a Canadian expat living in Asia since 2003. I've spent the last eight years living and traveling throughout destinations in Asia, where I've found work as a writer and a photographer, voice over artist, ESL instructor, nightclub singer, actress, model, and jewelry designer.

My husband and I moved to Taiwan in 2006, and I began working as a full-time professional writer and editor shortly after we moved here. My writing experience in Taiwan focuses primarily on ESL materials, such as language learning magazines and textbooks. Internationally, my writing projects range from writing for online and print travel publications in North America and Asia, copywriting, and professional blogging.

GO!: You have started a number of different blog projects. How did these come about and what have been your goals for each?

Carrie: My goal for all of my web sites is to provide information for travelers and photographers in Asia. However, all five web sites bring in a secondary income which we feed into our travel funds.

My Several Worlds was launched in January 2007 as a means of keeping my friends and family updated on our whereabouts and activities in Asia. Since then, it has developed into a web site on destinations, cultures, and lifestyles in Asia. I also have a separate section on My Several Worlds that is devoted to teaching abroad.

Taiwan Photographers was launched six months later as a community for local and expat photographers in Taiwan. The site features photographer profiles, models, photography businesses and a photo-of-the-day. We have over 1,200 members and we're growing bigger every day.

Drop by my portfolio web site at www.carriekellenberger.com for more information about the kind of work I do.

GO!: Do you have a specific audience in mind?

Carrie: I have the travel industry in mind with my web sites, but in all honesty, I'm a bit of a jack-of-all-trades when it comes to writing. I specialize in travel writing and ESL textbooks, but I can just as easily write about any other topic that comes to mind. I like the challenge of being as diverse as possible with my wriitng projects.

Social networking is key to increasing blog traffic. I jumped on the Twitter, Facebook, Friendfeed, and Stumbleupon bandwagon early on in the game. Feel free to connect with me on any and all. I'd love to hear from you!

GO!: A quick internet search reveals hundreds of popular travel blogs in every possible niche. Why do you think this form of blogging has become so popular?

Carrie in Cambodia

Carrie: Blogging gives you a voice, especially about the things that you are passionate about, and it's convenient for updating family and friends. Blogs are also a great marketing tool for showcasing your expertise in any given area.

I'm sure the lure of being able to make money from travel blogging is also appealing, but the truth is, it's not as easy as you think. Creating a successful blog takes a lot of hard work and dedication, and in terms of the amount of time you spend on it, it's almost never worth the money it brings in.

The opportunities that arise from blogging, on the other hand, whether it's in the form of making new friends, landing a great gig, or being offered free trips and products from companies looking for product reviews, are also great motivators.

GO!: How have you been able to separate your blogs from the pack?

Carrie: Lots of interesting content, a long-term commitment, a charming personality, who knows? Most people visit my sites because they're looking for specific information on a topic that will help them with their own goals in life.

GO!: What is it about traveling abroad that inspires you?

Carrie: I love learning about cultures. That's where true inspiration lies for me. I also love the sense of freedom and independence that comes from travel, and the thrill of seeing something or doing something for the first time.

GO!: Do you feel that living abroad has changed you personally or professionally, and if so, how?

Carrie: Moving to Asia has opened a lot of doors for me. Breaking into the publishing world is something that I probably wouldn't have done in Canada, and I really feel that I've found my true calling with it.

GO!: You have been living abroad for eight years now. Do you have any plans to return to a quiet life in Canada?

Carrie: In all honesty, I can't think of anything that would make us pack up and go. We're pretty happy where we are.

GO!: It is June 25th, 2020. Where are you and what are you doing?

Carrie: I hope we're traveling. If I've learned one thing over the past ten years, it's that life is transient and plans change all the time. I don't plan on being in any particular place, I just hope that I haven't been there yet.