“Packed with eye-opening cultural reflection and gripping moments of near-disasters and engrossing discoveries, Once Upon a Continent is more than a travelogue and a memoir. It’s a venture into wonder. Prepare to be amazed.”
— Diane Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review
“Once Upon a Continent brings to life a world of adventure and romance modern travelers have likely never experienced. Janssen highlights the perils and thrills of globe-trotting in the pre-internet era. She is the perfect tour guide: clever, curious, informed, and cool in the face of danger. Her charming travel memoir sings.”
— Jody Gehrman, author of The Girls Weekend and The Protégé
“Susanna Janssen’s latest gem chronicles the transformative odyssey of two young women across 1970s South America. Echoing the storytelling prowess in her acclaimed debut, Wordstruck!, Janssen weaves a captivating narrative and a vivid tapestry of South American cultures. With a deft hand, Janssen intertwines suspense, pathos, and moments of genuine hilarity, delivering a literary home run. This enthralling journey not only entertains but also enlightens, offering readers a vivid glimpse into a bygone era through the eyes of its intrepid protagonists.”
— Richard Gardiner, MD, APA Distinguished Life Fellow, author and editor
“Once Upon a Continent is an extraordinary travel story about a curious young woman with a desire to discover a continent. She shared this desire with a friend, and the two of them set off on a big adventure. More than a wonderful piece of travel writing, this is a soulful experience that creates a feeling of joy. I could not put it down.”
— Steve Brumme, author of Moving Fast Sitting Still: A 900 Mile Journey to Feed the Soul
“What a treat to sit down with Susanna Janssen’s tales of adventure! She writes with a refreshing mix of candor, humor, and humility, and her dual language gift brings authenticity to the lively scenes. Reading this memoir sparked memories of my pre-internet travel experiences when hand-drawn maps and dog-eared guidebooks were essential.”
— Carol D. Hamilton, MD, Emeritus Professor of Medicine, Duke University and author of Hitchhiking to Madness: A Memoir
“Susanna Janssen is the consummate adventure traveler. This charming memoir captures the places, Spanish language idiosyncrasies, and people of a time before cellphones, ATMs, and Google. Her struggles to find cash, a place to sleep, and contact with home are reminders of how exotic travel used to be. Enjoy South America with Susanna and wish that you had been there!”
— Dr. Victoria Patterson, Anthropologist and fellow traveler
“Emily Dickinson wrote, ‘There is no Frigate like a Book / To take us Lands away.’ Susanna Janssen’s Once Upon a Continent will transport you to lands away with her luminous writing and passionate eye.”
— Richard Lederer, author of American History for Everyone and Anguished English
“Susanna Janssen’s delightful memoir describes her travels through South America. It recounts chance encounters and quirky adventures and invites readers to journey back in time. Wayfarers in the 1970s had to rely on their own devices rather than the digital devices that accompany the modern traveler. A compelling odyssey about a more innocent time.”
— Armand Brint, author of seven poetry collections and one book on the art of writing poems
“Once Upon a Continent takes readers with then-29-year-old Susanna Janssen as she travels thousands of miles, visits ten different countries, and soaks up the culture, history, and personality traits of each place she visits. She also shows us how different the world was back in 1979. I can’t wait to give this wonderful book to my friends who are armchair tourists or intrepid travelers.”
— Marilyn Murray Willison, journalist and award-winning author of What the Honeybees Taught Me
“This authentic account of a young woman’s travels through South America during the late seventies will delight anyone interested in Spanish or the countries where it is spoken. Janssen’s colorful descriptions bring the countryside and its people to life. Readers who like to learn things while pleasure reading will find this book especially rewarding.”
— Tom Jenkins, author of The Next Run (a memoir)