OUI WE : AN INTERVIEW
Andi Eaton is a writer of an adventurous travelogue and author of book Wanderful: The Modern Bohemian's Guide to Traveling in Style coming out September 12, 2017.
WHO ARE YOU AND WHAT DO YOU DO?
I'm Andi and I'm writer a fashion travelogue called Oui We. I just wrapped a year of road tripping throughout the U.S. photographing and documenting travel, style and culture stories to be published in Wanderful: The Modern Bohemian's Guide to Traveling in Style.
WHAT IS THE STORY BEHIND THOSE AWESOME WHITE SUNGLASSES YOU WEAR? WHERE DID YOU FIND THEM?
Haha, omg. Those were a $7 find at a street vendor in NYC.
HOW DID YOU GET STARTED WRITING?
Truly I started writing as a mode of self exploration. Growing up I never considered it would become a profession for me, however, as I got into it more and more it became something I love.
WHY DO YOU LOVE TO WRITE AND TELL STORIES?
I always have had a love for creating stories - whether that be through shows (I produced fashion shows before I started writing), designing clothing (I did that for a while too) or through the written word. I find there's so many ways to be expressive!
WHAT'S THE ONE PLACE YOU HAVEN'T BEEN THAT YOU WANT TO GO TO?
I haven't been to Japan and it's high on my list.
WHO ELSE DO YOU READ THAT INSPIRES YOU ALONG YOUR TRAVELS?
I love reading the blogs of other travelistas, my friends Keiko, Krystal and Lindsay all have uniquely different blogs, however, all evoke that wanderlust spirit that I'm so attracted to.
FAVORITE BOOKS YOU LIKE TO READ AND BE INSPIRED BY?
Recent favorites: Beautiful Ruins by: Jess Walter, State of Wonder by: Ann Patchett, The Sunlit Night by: Rebecca Dinerstein. I love to read!
BEST PLACE YOU HAVE TRAVELED TO?
That's so hard to say, although in my travel research for Wanderful I loved the trip across the Texas desert. It could be equated to climbing aboard a star carrier and heading to outer space. Marfa and more remotely, Terlingua offer up a different type of creative collective. There’s no conventional nine-to-fivers. These Mexican border towns are an artistic utopia, a rarity in that they offer stone cold silence, like so many desert towns, however, there’s a vibrating cultural community drawn to the inspiration and transient lifestyle here.
WHAT IS YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGY? HOW DID YOU GAIN A LARGE FOLLOWING?
Connecting often. Engaging with real girls and those I admire. Being on the constant lookout for people doing interesting things and following along.
WHAT HAVE BEEN THE CHALLENGES OR SUCCESS STORIES YOU'VE HAD WITH YOUR NEW BOOK COMING OUT?
The biggest challenge was deciding which road trips should make the cut. This country is so vast, and there's so much amazingness it was hard to decide on just 9 trips.
FUN QUESTIONS
IF YOU WERE STRANDED ON AN ISLAND WHAT 5 ITEMS WOULD YOU WANT WITH YOU?
Solar power
A journal & pencil
A tarp to stay dry at night
Ben - my bf (does he count as an item)
A machete
haha, super practical right? Although I suppose I wouldn't need the solar power if I had nothing to charge, so perhaps I'd sub in a constellation map and learn the stars.
WHAT ARE A FEW FUN THINGS YOU LOVE ABOUT NEW ORLEANS?
The people, the general energy and charm of the neighborhoods, music wafting into the streets at all hours
IF YOU COULD TRAVEL INTO OUTER SPACE WHERE WOULD YOU GO AND VISIT?
I'd go on a journey across the galaxies - I'd like to see what else is out there, however, I'd like someone else to go before me, I'm not that brave.
IF TIME MACHINES WERE REAL WHERE WOULD YOU GO TO WRITE A BLOG POST ABOUT?
I'd go hang with one of my writing inspirations Anais Nin.... I'd hang with her in Paris and then travel along with her as she met up with the many artists, authors and psychoanalysts friends she had. I'd write about the experience of the travels of course, but also the literary power she had as a diarist and writer of erotica. In many ways she was the "blogger" of her time - telling stories about the people and experiences she had through her many, many journals.
IF YOU COULD HAVE ONE SUPER POWER WHAT WOULD IT BE?
Time travel. Is that a super power? Or maybe mind reading. I promise I'd use it all for good!