Mark Baker is a freelance travel writer with a penchant for offbeat stories and forgotten places. He's originally from the United States, but now makes his home in the Czech capital, Prague.

He writes mainly travel guides on Eastern and Central Europe for publishers like Lonely Planet, Frommer’s, Fodor’s and National Geographic, but finds real satisfaction in digging up stories in places that are either too remote or too quirky for the guides. He also contributes occasionally to publications like The Wall Street Journal and National Geographic Traveler. Prior to becoming an author, he worked as a journalist for The Economist, Bloomberg News and Radio Free Europe.

When he’s not traveling, these days he’s teaching Central European history and journalism at Anglo-American University in Prague or out riding his bike. He has a master’s degree in International Affairs from Columbia University in New York.

An American professional writer based in Europe, Chris Deliso has authored and c0-authored many books in travel, history, culture and current events, mostly on Southeast Europe since 2002. Get his latest essays on travel and history, as well as short fiction works, by signing up for his Substack newsletter, the Traveller's Literary Supplicant (https://christopherdeliso.substack.com). And, for a full list of past articles and books visit his official website (www.christopherdeliso.com). Chris is currently working on a collection of detective fiction set in contemporary Greece, Turkey and the Balkans- a new literary adventure that draws on his rich past experience in academia, journalism, travel writing, political risk consulting and public speaking on current events.

Chris Deliso holds an MPhil with Honours in Byzantine Studies (Oxford University, 1999). He is the co-author of over 20 Lonely Planet travel guides, and also served as Macedonia country analyst for 13 years for the Economist Intelligence Unit, while also writing geopolitical analysis on two separate occasions for the Jane's group. He has contributed widely to major global media, ranging from major airline magazines to BBC Travel, CNN Travel, History Today Magazine, National Geographic Traveller UK and many newspapers and websites. He has published scholarly book reviews in journals like the US Naval War College Review, Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies, the Royal United Services Institute's RUSI Journal, Bulletin of British Byzantine Studies and more.

Chris Deliso's wide range of interests also include Irish literature (and particularly, the study of works by Flann O'Brien/Brian O'Nolan), swimming, poetry and music.

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Leif Pettersen is a tourism professional, writer, humorist, and world traveler from Minneapolis, Minn. He has traveled through 55 countries and lived in Spain, Romania and Italy.

Pettersen was a silver medalist at the 2014 International Jugglers' Association championships, loves chocolate, hates pickles, types with exactly four fingers, and can escape from a straitjacket. He has not vomited since 1993, making him a consummate travel journalist and excellent party guest.

Growing up, my mom shuttled us between our home in California and her original home in Indiana. By age five I was ordering my family around O'Hare International Airport as we changed planes. Obviously the experience stuck as I've been traveling since. I worked as a journalist for many years, covering everything from wars to bars - obviously I prefer the latter. I've been writing travel guidebooks since the mid-1990s and have worked on over 110. I've covered places from glaciers in the Arctic to the beaches of Bali. From New York City to London to San Francisco to Melbourne. I've lived around the globe.

In writing my books, I try to be the good local friend every reader wishes they have, telling them both what not to miss and what to definitely miss. I look for places and details that you won't find elsewhere, which will elevate your trip way above the norm. And I try to have fun doing it. I hope everyone using one of my books has a fantastic journey, well beyond changing planes at O'Hare. Read more at www.ryanverberkmoes.com

Tim Richards is an author and freelance journalist who has written on various topics, including travel, lifestyle, the arts, science, and pets. He's also an author of travel guidebooks for Lonely Planet.

Tim lives in the city centre of Melbourne, Australia, with his wife and fellow writer Narrelle Harris.

You can find more details of his travel writing at his website: www.iwriter.com.au

You can also follow him here...

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