Q&A with Trish Tassin, Curator of the Nomadic Women Anthology
Learn more about forthcoming anthology Nomadic Women: Tales of Triumph on the Open Road in this interview with curator Trish Tassin, conducted by editorial lead Janet Blaser.
Trish Tassin, curator and author of Nomadic Women: Tales of Triumph on the Open Road, near her home in California
Why did you write Nomadic Women?
I wrote Nomadic Women because the women I met when I was traveling alone changed the way I understood courage, freedom, and reinvention and what it truly means to begin again. Their lives were very different from one another, but each had found a way to move through grief, uncertainty, and major life transitions and create something meaningful on the other side. Their stories inspired me, and I wanted them to inspire others, too.
Who is this book for?
Nomadic Women is for anyone navigating a crossroads—grief, divorce, burnout, retirement, a desire for change, or who simply has the quiet feeling that there may be another way to live. My hope is that readers will feel less alone, more open to what might still be possible, and more confident taking the next step, even when the path forward is not yet clear.
Is this a book about van life? Why should someone read this book if they never plan to live on the road?
The road is only the setting. The real story is about transformation, reinvention, and the courage to begin again. It is about women who embraced the unknown, redefined success on their own terms, and discovered who they were capable of becoming. That's a journey every one of us takes in our own way.
Trish Tassin, curator and author of Nomadic Women: Tales of Triumph on the Open Road, with her rig, Louise.
What do you hope readers take away from the book?
Change can be frightening, messy, and deeply uncertain, but it can also lead to connection, purpose, and a life that feels more fully your own. I hope readers feel encouraged by the reminder that there is no single right way to begin again.
What surprised you most while creating the book?
The generosity and grace of the women, who trusted me with deeply personal stories because they believed those stories might help someone else feel less alone and more empowered. They reminded me resilience isn't about having an easy life, it's about choosing hope, adventure, and joy anyway. And what I discovered about people. Complete strangers on the road offered assistance without hesitation or expectations.
Trish Tassin, curator and author of Nomadic Women: Tales of Triumph on the Open Road, with contributor Kerri Hermary.
How did the women change you?
They changed the way I think about courage; I discovered that courage is often quiet. It is choosing to keep moving forward, even when you don't know exactly where the road will lead. I also have a renewed feeling that despite all the noise in the world, people are still overwhelmingly incredible. That may be the best journey this project has taken me on. I thought I was collecting stories about life on the road. Instead, I wound up collecting proof that kindness is still alive and well if you take the time to observe.
What is The 30 Journeys?
The 30 Journeys is a storytelling initiative devoted to amplifying nomadic voices and honoring the many ways people reinvent, rebuild, and create lives on their own terms. I wanted to create a platform that encourages others to take their first step, whether that's down a highway, toward a lifelong dream, or simply into a new chapter of life.
Trish Tassin, curator and author of Nomadic Women: Tales of Triumph on the Open Road, adventuring with her rig, Louise.
