Gruelling Japanese Pilgrimage – A Witty, Insightful Account

Two years ago PWF posted Claiming Back Free Speech And Public Debate an article about the Small Press Underground Networking Community, SPUNC.

SPUNC continues its work in 2009. It is a Non-Profit organisation set up to represent and promote collaboration within the Australian small and independent publishing sector. It supports the principle of diversity within the industry.

Emily Clark of aduki independent press was an early member of SPUNC

In 2006 Emily’s fledgling business won a Home-Based Business Award for a healthy lifestyle magazine and from this starting point Emily has moved into publishing.

aduki now publishes non-fiction books, essays and magazines, focussing on topics and issues often overlooked in mainstream media.

aduki Book Release: Neon Pilgrim

aduki is releasing a new book by Lisa Dempster. A non-fiction travel book, Lisa – ‘seriously unfit and unmotivated’ – writes about taking off on a gruelling outdoor adventure in Japan because she felt her life needed a shake-up.

What Sort Of Shake-Up?

Lisa decided to hike the henro michi, a 1200 km Buddhist pilgrimage through the mountains of Japan. Here’s what Emily has to say about Neon Pilgrim:

“Neon Pilgrim details Lisa’s experience of life on the road, getting well off the beaten track and experiencing the highs and devastating lows of solo long-distance hiking. Lisa admits that hiking 1200kms on the henro michi was arduous in all regards – physically, mentally and emotionally. “I still can’t quite believe I did it!’ she says.

But hiking was only half the battle. “Writing the book was an enormous challenge as well. Because there is so little written in English about the henro michi I felt a lot of pressure to write something that was true to the spirit and history of the pilgrimage,” says Lisa.

Neon Pilgrim accounts for both the ups and downs of the journey, including a night spent in a public toilet and falling in lust with a monk. Her transformation from overweight dole bludger to intrepid explorer is a witty and fascinating insight into the famed 88 Temple Pilgrimage.

What has been written about the henro michi in English offers a distinctly male perspective and as a young, foreign female, Lisa’s account of this traditional Japanese pilgrimage is truly unique. It is this feature that Lisa hopes will capture readers’ imaginations.

“Adventure travel writing is a field that is typically dominated by men, so I’m proud to have a book published that tells about an expedition from a youthful female perspective. I think Neon Pilgrim has a broad appeal, but in particular I am hoping it excites and inspires young women like me to go seeking adventures of their own,” she says.

About Lisa

Lisa is a young writer based in Melbourne. Her titles include Veg*n Shopper: an essential pocket reference and The Melbourne Veg Food Guide. her work has appeared in collections such as Herding Kites, Lines of Wisdom and The Bike Bible. She is the publisher at Vignette Press and creator of indie magazine The Mook.

You Can Meet Lisa

1-2 October: Book launch and reading, plus panel appearances at the National Young Writers’ Festival, Newcastle, NSW.

6 October: Author talk, Ashfield Library, Sydney

8 October: Book launch at Smiths Alternative Bookshop, Canberra

10 October: Workshop at Art Jam Festival, Fyshwick, ACT

14 October: Book launch at Readings, Carlton, Vic

11 November: Author talk at Whitehorse Manningham Library, Nunawading, Vic

18 November: Author talk at Burnside Library, Adelaide

Good luck with it all, Lisa.