The backpacking trip has become such a rite of passage that former student backpacker Mark Pearson has edited and published a 384-page book on those firsthand experiences. “Europe From a Backpack,” already in its second printing, is enough of a success that all the Borders stores now carry it nationwide, and Pearson put together a 41-stop coast-to-coast book tour this month to promote it.He did all this himself, with hard work and many phone calls and a little help from orbitz.com, the travel Web site Pearson persuaded to become a sponsor. He raised enough venture capital to support the first printing, while convincing a Chicago distribution group to get his book into stores. It doesn’t hurt that he also got a nice endorsement from travel guru Rick Steves (”an inspiration and a springboard for some rich travel experiences”). A whole series of “From a Backpack” books (country by country) now is in the works.
Pearson is 23.
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