Author Interview & Spotlight - Getting Rooted In New Zealand by Jamie Baywood

Title - Getting Rooted in New Zealand

Author - Jamie Baywood

Published - April 21st 2013 by Createspace

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Book Blurb

Getting Rooted in New Zealand 

Craving change and lacking logic, at 26, Jamie, a cute and quirky Californian, impulsively moves to New Zealand to avoid dating after reading that the country's population has 100,000 fewer men. In her journal, she captures a hysterically honest look at herself, her past and her new wonderfully weird world filled with curious characters and slapstick situations in unbelievably bizarre jobs. It takes a zany jaunt to the end of the Earth and a serendipitous meeting with a fellow traveler before Jamie learns what it really means to get rooted.

About the author Jamie Baywood:

Jamie Baywood grew up in Petaluma, California. In 2010, she made the most impulsive decision of her life by moving to New Zealand. Getting Rooted in New Zealand is her first book about her experiences living there. Jamie is now married and living happily ever after in the United Kingdom. She is working on her second book.

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Author Interview

1)      Why did you pick New Zealand?
It was always my dream to live abroad when I was growing up in California.  I had bad dating experiences in California and read in a New Zealand tour book that the country’s population at 100,000 fewer men than women.  I wanted to have some me time and an adventure. New Zealand seemed like a good place to do so.

2)      What is your second book about? Will you write about your experiences in the UK?
I plan to divide my books by the countries I've lived in.  I've lived in five countries; America, American Samoa, New Zealand, Scotland and now England.  My next book will be about attempting to settle in Scotland. 

3)      Would you recommend to anyone else to “Take the Bull by the horns” and uproot themselves to a foreign land?
 Yes, why not? The world is small.  Sometimes the grass actually is greener on the other side, sometimes it isn't.
For a single female traveling alone, New Zealand is one of the safest countries in the world. I might not have understood people’s accents initially, but I was able to get off the plane and land on my feet quickly. I got a job and a place to live within two weeks of arrival. I don’t know anywhere else in the world you can do that. 

4)      I myself used to be a travel agent for 20+ years, and still have the travel bug inside me. I have a bucket list of places to visit. What are yours?
I want to go so many places. The thought of living in once place for ever seems foreign now and makes me feel claustrophobic. It would be fun to be a tourist again rather than dissembling and reassembling my life and taking all my belongings with me when I move internationally.  I’d love to be able to tour around Europe.
I currently have to live in the center of England. I desperately miss the ocean and being warm at the beach. I really miss the warm, friendly nature of the people in the South Pacific. I would love to see more Pacific Islands, and travel throughout Micronesia and Melanesia.  I had the chance to visit Australia briefly after I lived in New Zealand. I would move to Australia or back to New Zealand in a heartbeat.
I've been to Costa Rica and Peru on short holidays; I would love to see more of South America and Central America.  I absolutely want to go to Yucatán peninsula in Mexico and see the Mayan ruins.  I’d love to go to the Caribbean.
As strange as it may sound, although I’m American I haven’t been to many States. I’d love to go to Alaska, New York, see the Grand Canyon, New Orleans, Miami, Austin, Chicago, Portland and Seattle. I hear Canada is amazing. 
It looks like I need to sell more books to buy plane tickets!

5)      When you’re writing, what do you have to have around you for you to relax? Cup of Coffee, family pet, iPod playing perhaps?
I move too much to have pets. I need lots of coffee to make it through the day.

Quick fire questions

a)       Tea or Coffee
Coffee

b)       Thrillers or romance
Thrillers

c)        Cats or dogs
Dogs.

d)       Beach or mountains
Beach!

GREAT ANSWERS - THANKS!

Thank you Jamie, for joining me on my blog today. I wish you every success with your book.

Book Reviews

“Getting Rooted In New Zealand is a diary of a California girl's introduction to a completely different life experience in a new country and never has the phrase `stranger in a strange land' been more relevant than in reading her intriguing and often insightful diary entries! Her observations about both culture and language are a wonderful mix of observation about one person's reaction to the differences that make up the wonderful human race and the minutiae of daily living. I'll be looking forward to seeing if Jamie produces another book about her experiences of coming to live in the UK.” (4 out of 5 stars) Linda Parkinson-Hardman (Amazon Customer Reviews)

"I've got this book and finished read it all so quickly, because I couldn't stop reading it. it's just so hilarious!! I can't wait to read her next book. I highly recommend to read this book for everybody. I absolutely loved it!!" (5 out of 5 stars) S Halls (Amazon Customer Reviews)

“This book is perfect for travel-reading! It's light, in small sections (as a diary), totally hilarious and also quite amazing. So many crazy experiences Jamie Baywood had in one year, some wonderful and some truly horrific, all taken together adds up to fruitful reading indeed. This book is like a rough diamond - I look forward to reading future novels as Jamie becomes more and more polished through life's experiences” (5 out of 5 stars) Anna H(Amazon Customer Reviews)

“Giggle Worthy... It is difficult to write so openly about your life as you have and I found myself keenly reading to see what happened next. All your adventures with those crazy people sounded so dreadful, but provided such amusement in the way you have represented them. You make no real judgment on any person and I can tell that while you respect them as humans, you don't put up with bad behaviour, so that's an inspiration in itself” (4 out of 5 stars.) O. Dale (Amazon Customer Reviews)

“As a New Zealander, I really enjoyed this book. It was funny, and a lot of the things about NZ are definitely true.... I live overseas, so I can understand that no one outside of New Zealand really gets our slang and sometimes our accent, so that part really spoke to me! However, at the same time it doesn't paint a true picture of New Zealand, given that the author worked in terrible jobs, had visa restrictions, didn't have a lot of money, and stayed in run-down housing. Auckland, while being the largest city, isn't necessarily representative of NZ. Overall, I'd recommend this book” (4 out of 5 stars.) Mark (Amazon Customer Reviews)

“Honest Humour... A great read! Honestly and effortlessly humorous. I giggled lots and really felt for Jamie at her times of struggle. Thank You for sharing so openly your experiences, obstacles and breakthroughs” (5 out of 5 stars.) Sparkles (Amazon Customer Reviews)

“Really enjoyed this book, I have to say. It was funny, quirky, even weird in places, but always entertaining. Having lived in New Zealand myself, I can definitely relate to some of Jamie's experiences as a foreigner. Love NZ and love this book - highly recommended!” (5 out of 5 stars.) Polak (Amazon Customer Reviews)

“Fantastic, hilarious & Inspiring, I absolutely loved it. It is funny & absolutely honest. Very inspiring as it really draws reader's attention to read more and more. I can't wait now for her 2nd novel to come out. A movie should be made on "Getting Rooted in New Zealand". Definitely will be a super hit “(5 out of 5 stars.) A-dreamer (Amazon Customer Reviews)

“Must Read Book - Hilarious! A real page turner - like reading a very funny / interesting friend's secret diary.Also a fascinating insight into life in New Zealand as seen through the eyes of a traveller. Jamie Baywood is the thinking man's Bridget Jones—with an edge. Would make a hilarious movie - but until that comes out the book is a must” (5 out of 5 stars.) J. Hamilton (Amazon Customer Reviews)

“Getting Rooted in New Zealand is wonderful chain of events unfolding in the most unusual way leading to the most perfect new beginning... Loved it” (5 out of 5 stars.) Ruchi Vasisht (Amazon Customer Reviews)

"Just finished your book Jamie, superb read!!!! Had me laughing on every page!!! Looking forward to the next one!" Natalie

"Just finished reading the book. I loved all the hilarious characters in the office. Now I know where all the money goes that we pay Auckland Council. Ahhh !!! So many funny stories and lots of laughs, and most importantly it has warmth and humanity as you write from a Buddhist perspective. Look forward to reading book number two !" Greggo x

I am new to NZ from the states and I am loving the book - I'm also a mum, so it's the perfect light read after a long day with my toddler. Many good laughs and feeling the sisterhood as the real NZ (versus my fantasy NZ) manifests itself...! Almost finished. Thank you for writing this...it's so unassuming and funny and real. I will look for your second book. (Marika Pickett)


Watch out for my book review to follow soon........