For Katy Colins, being left at the altar was the end to life as she knew it.
But instead of moping around despondently at home over what she had lost, Colins quit her UK public relations job, sold her house and her car and left everything for a backpacking trip around Southeast Asia, reports The Telegraph.
“Everyone did think I was a little mad, especially as I’d never travelled anywhere by myself before, but it just felt right,” she explained.
“I needed the time away from everything and everyone I knew to find myself, but it wasn’t as cheesy as that.”
As she trekked solo through Thailand, India and Nepal, Colins kept a travel blog to keep her friends and family updated on her new adventures. After a period of time, however, new readers started sending her messages of support, including other men and women suffering from the heartache of a breakup.
“I received messages from other newly-single men and women who said they read my blog as an inspiration – that just because you’ve been dumped it doesn’t mean you have to listen to bad power anthems and devour ice-cream!”
“You can use this as a catalyst for something much bigger and better.”
As Colins slowly worked through her emotions after being jilted, she began to piece together her writing into chapters that would become her first novel.
Since returning from Asia, she’s embarked on further trips around South America and even taught English in France for two years: it was here when she heard news that she’d been offered a three-book deal with Carina UK, a subsidiary of Harper Collins.
“Ironically, an editor called me on what would have been our third wedding anniversary,” Colins said.
The first book in her roster is entitled The Lonely Hearts Travel Club: Destination Thailand and has been described as “Bridget Jones goes backpacking” in its style.
The book is available for pre-order here and will be fully released on 21 January.
What do you think is the best way to get over a break-up?
Featured images are via Liverpool Echo/Katy Colins
