Becky Parker Geist and Ruth Schwarz

Tricia Sullivan and Kelley Way

Tricia Sullivan and Mike Van Horn

Rob Badger and David Kudler

Becky Parker Geist and Ruth Schwarz and (onscreen) Suzanna Janazen

Bob Heyman

Judy Baker and Fern Greene

Charylu Roberts and Mike Mirabella

Lynn Fraley, Louise Leff, and Elaine Rock

Kelley Way, John Byrne Barry, Pam Mirabella, and Rebecca Van Horn

Chris Santilli Johnson and Marylee MacDonald

Nita Winter, Susan Hirsch, Karina La Puma, and Mike MIrabella

Diana Kelly, Katherine Kingsland, and Tricia Sullivan

John Byrne Barry, Becky Parker Geist, and Chris Santilli Johnson

Nita Winter, Susan Hirsch, and Val Sherer

The post Photos from Saturday‘s Hybrid In-Person/Zoom June Meeting appeared first on BAIPA.

On June 1, 2026, the BAIPA Board of Directors held their annual Board Retreat on Zoom. At the meeting were newly-elected board members Dan Miller and Mike Van Horn. In addition to their experience in the indie author/publisher world, Dan and Mike bring their business savvy and big-picture thinking to advise the Board on BAIPA’s growth in the coming years. 

Graciously agreeing to continue their board service are Becky Parker Geist, President; Ruth Schwartz, Vice-President; Kelly McClymer, Secretary; and Directors-at-Large John Byrne Barry, Pamela J. Fenner, Bob Heyman, Sandra V. McGee, Steve Rustad, and Kelley A. Way. Dan Miller will take on the office of Treasurer.

The BAIPA Board is focused on growing the group’s membership and marketing the member benefits to, well, the world. We are on Zoom, after all.

Most recently, the INDIE AUTHORS TELL ALL  podcast was created as a marketing tool to attract new members. Mike Van Horn is one of the hosts along with Becky Parker Geist and Judy M. Baker. If you haven’t already, click on the image below to listen on PodBean or watch on YouTube. Look for more on the podcast coming soon…including how you can apply to be interviewed. As a thank-you and benefit, you’ll receive a valuable marketing tool – a copy of your interview – to use on your website and social media platforms.

The post Mike Van Horn and Dan Miller Join the BAIPA Board of Directors appeared first on BAIPA.

AMPlify Audiobooks Festival is an event created to celebrate the art, craft, and community of audiobooks.

Hosted by AMPlify Audiobooks and Pro Audio Voices, this virtual gathering brings together authors, narrators, producers, and listeners for an immersive day of connection, insight, and inspiration.

CLICK TO REGISTER NOW!

Connecting People Through Story

BAIPA’s President, Becky Parker Geist, is the CEO & Founder of Pro Audio Voices Inc and AMPlify Audiobooks. She brought lots of insight and tips to BAIPA on the topic of audiobooks and how to market them during the May meeting of BAIPA as well as a workshop later in May.

The truth is, many authors struggle to reach their full audience. Having an exceptional audiobook that really makes you stand out, and a platform that makes your marketing fun and easy, means you can enjoy growing into the successful author you dream of.

As Becky and her team remind us: books should bring us together in ways that help us all thrive.

The post AMPlify Audiobooks Festival – June 7! appeared first on BAIPA.

In 1965, Patricia Sullivan and her husband embarked on a remarkable two-year adventure driving a classic VW van from Europe through the Middle East and Asia all the way to Nepal and beyond—without a plan. Decades later, Patricia transformed journals, letters, maps, and photographs from that journey into the compelling memoir Overland Before the Hippie Trail: Kathmandu and Beyond, With a Van, a Man and No Plan.

In this article, we explore Patricia’s story, her experience navigating the challenges of writing about events that happened 60 years ago, and her journey through indie publishing, including how the Bay Area Independent Publishers Association (BAIPA) played a vital role. Plus, learn what advice she has for memoir writers and how her original travel materials are being preserved for future generations.

A Journey Like No Other

Patricia and her husband began their trip in Europe in September 1965, initially planning only a short stay and hoping to find work. But they didn’t return home until two years later—after a remarkable trek by VW van through Turkey, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, India, and Nepal.

They experienced a vastly different world than today’s geopolitical landscape makes possible. The journey included selling the van in Kathmandu and traveling onward by bus, train, hitchhiking, and ships through Southeast Asia and Japan, finally returning to San Francisco.

“It’s impossible to drive that trip these days… Life was different and the countries were different and wars were different,” Patricia recalls, emphasizing the uniqueness of their adventure.

Writing a Memoir Six Decades Later

Though the trip took place in 1965, Patricia did not begin writing the memoir until 2009, after retiring and organizing her family’s archives. She gathered over 115 letters exchanged with family, journals kept every few days, maps, and slide photographs.

Patricia’s goal was initially personal—to create a detailed record for herself and her descendants. However, the rich firsthand accounts preserved in letters and journals helped her vividly recapture her younger self and the journey’s details. She wove original quotations throughout the narrative, blending memory with primary sources for accuracy.

The writing process was challenging, especially with nearly 60 years between the events and her reflections. She used online research extensively to verify locations and historical context, something unavailable when she traveled.

Advice for Memoir Writers

• Keep journals, notes, and photographs well-labeled.
• Use original materials and letters to retain authenticity.
• Don’t rely solely on memory as it fades over time.

Patricia encourages aspiring memoirists to maintain detailed records, as this makes future writing projects far richer and easier.

From Manuscript to Published Book: The Indie Publishing Journey

At first, Patricia simply made photocopied booklets of her manuscript to share with family, without plans to publish. It wasn’t until the Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns in 2020 that she revisited the project as a publishing endeavor.

Initially unfamiliar with publishing, Patricia sought guidance and discovered the Bay Area Independent Publishers Association (BAIPA). She credits BAIPA’s monthly meetings and community support for teaching her about key publishing concepts like ISBNs, editing, and marketing.

Publishing challenges included handling upfront costs and learning to market her book effectively—an aspect Patricia admits is not her favorite. Nonetheless, she published three editions:

• Paperback: The first edition, self-produced and distributed to family and friends.
• Ebook: A relatively easy step, boosted by contacts and formatting help through promotional platforms.
• Audiobook: Produced later with professional narration, providing convenient ways for listeners to experience the journey.

Recognition and Preservation: Stanford University Archives

One of Patricia’s proudest achievements is that Stanford University contacted her to archive and digitize the primary data from her journey, including slides, letters, and trip logs. This will make her original materials accessible to researchers and the public as an invaluable resource documenting post-WWII travel.

Continuing the Legacy

Though still focused on marketing her memoir, Patricia is inspired by her family’s history of journaling—her mother’s and grandmother’s journals date back to the early 20th century. She plans to explore writing a memoir about her mother’s experiences growing up in the 1920s and 1930s.

Conclusion

Patricia Sullivan’s fascinating travel memoir is not only a window into a van-life adventure during a time of great global change but also a valuable example for indie authors navigating the challenges of memoir writing, publishing, and promotion. Her story reinforces the power of preserving original records, embracing community resources like BAIPA, and the lasting impact of sharing personal journeys.

Learn more about Patricia and her book at patriciansullivan.com and explore the supportive independent publishing community at BAIPA.org.

The post Two Years, One Van, No Plan: Patricia Sullivan’s Journey to Kathmandu appeared first on BAIPA.

We must provide a final head count to the staff at The Key Room for seating and refreshments.

This special hybrid meeting will feature a presentation by Ruth Schwartz on:
“KDP, IngramSpark, AI & Other Things Keeping Indie Publishers Awake at Night”

Additional details about the presentation will be shared in upcoming emails after the reservation deadline.

Meeting Details

Date: Saturday, June 6, 2026
Location: In person at The Key Room in Novato or via Zoom

If you know you would like to attend in person, please reserve your spot now so we can finalize arrangements with the venue.

Here’s the link to the event. Scroll down to the bottom for the RSVP link for current BAIPA members, and for the non-member ticket option if you are not yet a member of BAIPA.

Thank you — and we look forward to seeing you there!

The post Deadline Approaching for In-Person Reservations — Saturday June 6 BAIPA Hybrid Meeting appeared first on BAIPA.

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