Inspired by a new translation of The Odyssey by Emily Wilson, Laura Coffey set off for an Italian island in order to find a renewed sense of freedom and clarity in the midst of extreme loneliness. What was supposed to be a short break turned into a six-month journey across towns and islands in Italy, Croatia, and Spain as she chased the myth of The Odyssey. Her attempt to live between myth and reality allowed her to cope with her father's worsening health, and the journey turned into her first travel memoir, Enchanted Islands: Travels Through Myth & Magic, Love & Loss.

In this episode of The Travel Writing Podcast, I spoke with Laura about her island journey and the resulting memoir. During the interview, we talk about how Laura developed her writing while working her day job in tech start ups, why myths and legends can so easily help us escape when the world feels strange and unreal, how Laura brought the joy of travel into a book that touches on some very sad moments, and more. For anyone who has struggled with grief and sadness, this episode offers a nuanced look at how we can learn to trust ourselves in the face of life's hardest moments.