"How many books do I get? I'd say about ten a day. When I came back from my book tour there were a hundred books waiting, mostly from publishers. When I talk about a book, that book sells. I've gotten feedback that says as much as forty percent of sales can be directly related to a mention on NPR's Morning Edition. You could say I've established credibility on Public Radio. I've been doing this in one form or another since 1971."

Her latest volume - Book Lust: To Go Recommended reading for travelers, vagabonds and dreamers, was recently published and doing well. She's traveling and speaking widely to promote it, but she doesn't think there will be any more in the series. Reviewing her heavy commitments to "read, talk, radio, teach," she's contemplating how to retire gracefully. "It's hard to come to terms with the end of your own career."

As for the future, "I would like to write fiction that I would like to read. It's just finding the time to do it."

Reach AE Monthly writer Susan Halas at halas@hawaii.rr.com.