In naming his personal memoirs Trips and Rides, Ed Janzen was hoping to capitalize on a common denominator in the memory banks of potential readers.
“It seems to me trips and rides are the coatracks on which you hang your memories,” he said, explaining most people often associate memories with a specific vehicle, trip or vacation.
Next weekend at Reflections Book Store in Fergus, the Belwood resident will be hosting a launch for the first book of the Trips and Rides series, entitled I Chose the 1938 Plymouth. The title focuses on his first car, including a story about how that car broke down on the way to Janzen’s honeymoon with his wife, Susan.
“People identify with the cars and the stories bring back their own memories. And they laugh at the problems because they had the same problems,” Janzen said of what draws people to his story.
In addition to 50 personal accounts and experiences, I Chose the 1938 Plymouth – first available in December – also includes “snippets of automotive history and literary anecdotes wrapped up and decorated with pictures,” Janzen explained.
He feels that makes it much more interesting than an ordinary autobiographical tale.
He told The Advertiser he has received great feedback from those who have already read the book, including many who said they enjoyed the setting of northern Manitoba.
“The Ontario reader has a sort of romantic idea of the west – and this sort of falls into that idea,” he said.
Janzen first got the idea to publish a series of books about his “life in cars” about 20 years ago, when he first began writing for Old Autos magazine. And now a second book in his Trips and Rides series is just about finished.
He plans to release five in total; each occurring in chronological order and covering a certain period of his life. But for now, the focus remain on book one. Janzen had 200 copies printed; he is optimistic he will sell every $25 self-published copy. He hopes to sell some at various old car flea market throughout the year, and there are also copies available at Reflections.
The book launch at Reflections is on Feb. 21 from 11am to 1pm. Everyone is welcome.
Copies of the book can also be obtained by contacting Janzen at 519-787-7689 or Fergus P.O. Box 232, N1M 2W8.
