Q: Who might be interested in the travel stories and insights that fill the pages of "Travel Dreams Sold Here"?

A: People who yearn for exploration and new discoveries. Travelers who get euphoric over their first view of the jungle pyramids of Tikal, Guatemala, or savor the flavor of Gouda cheese on a canal café in Amsterdam; or moments of silence on Mandalay Hill marveling at the splendor of a Burmese sunset. These people will find time to read and judge and hopefully enjoy this travel source book.

Q: What sets this book apart from other travel books? Will the reader gain any special travel gems?

A: In recent times, there has been no clear listing of the grand tours of the world. You might find a sponsored list, but that is really someone selling a destination, and it's not impartial for the reader. This has been the driving force that motivated me to write this book. I have visited and researched all of the compelling landmarks and destinations. I established categories for the best travel tours. My first list of 178 tours was whittled to 75, and I also ran the list by a dozen seasoned travel professionals, so more than one set of eyes reviewed the list before we came to a final consensus.

Q: What other travel tips should readers look for in your book?

A: People aren't all the same - they enjoy a diversity of trip adventures. I hear this each time I work with travelers on their vacation planning, so I try to make them aware of all that the travel world can offer. To add better balance to the book, I asked Bob Hoelscher, who has visited almost every national park, to contribute a chapter describing our natural wonders from sea to shining sea. Additionally, Ron Cobb, who has an insatiable thirst for golf and is a writer and editor for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, has contributed a section drawing from his national and international golf experience. Glenn Detrick is a friend who lives for hiking - spending a lot of his time on exotic trails throughout the world. All these distinguished people have responsibilities and many demands on their time, but with a little arm twisting I got them to write chapters for the book ... you'll enjoy their contribution.

Q: There is so much involved in the world of travel, what were some of the other areas that you wrote about?

A: An entire chapter is devoted to dining around the world, and I added a section on great drinks and great watering holes, specifically to help the drinking impaired. Other sections cover creative shopping, framing your best snap-shots, common sense travel tips and a light-hearted look at the history of tourism. Readers can also review my list of memorable lodging and see which type of properties suit their needs.

Q: Do you feel readers will learn and then craft their own extraordinary vacations?

A: If this book accomplishes just one thing, it should be to inspire readers to give themselves, or their children or grandchildren, the gift of exploration. Learning by being there is a life-fulfilling accomplishment. So I hope they pick up the book, enjoy the historical quotations and song verses, and let the many photos guide them to their next grand tour.