Matt Forster has been out of town lately.
As author of the book, ‘Colorado: An Explorers Guide,? he spent more than nine weeks on the road, traveling throughout the Rocky Mountain state.
‘I had two days for all of Colorado Springs, 7-8 attractions a day, 45 minutes at the zoo ? we took a lot of pictures and talked to a lot of people,? he said. ‘Their chambers of commerce made it all possible.?
His 343-page travel guide is now in print with Countryman Press.
‘This is very exciting ? he worked really hard on it,? said his mother, Cathy Forster.
‘We’re very proud of him,? said Jim Forster, Matt’s father. ‘This is quite an accomplishment.?
Matt was born in Royal Oak and lived in Ionia and Paw Paw. Jim and Cathy moved the family to Independence Township when Matt was in the ninth grade, and he graduated from Clarkston High School in 1990.
‘I like Clarkston. It’s a different world from the other side of the state,? said Matt, who now lives in Goodrich with his wife, Kim, and their daughter, Abby. ‘It has a small-town feeling, but it’s also part of the Detroit suburbs.?
He attended Michigan State University and Oakland University, earning a degree in English Literature.
He showed a talent for writing at an early age, Cathy said.
‘He’s a wonderful writer, he has been since day one,? she said. ‘When he was a third or fourth grader in Paw Paw, his teacher told him she knew she would see him in print someday.?
After earning his degree, he lived in Boston for about seven years for his graduate studies, earning his Master of Divinity degree from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. He also met his future wife, and they married in 2000, living in her home state of Colorado for about a year before moving back to Michigan.
‘I did some free lancing and book editing, but I wanted to do more writing,? he said.
He responded to advertisements by Countryman for travel authors. He applied to write about Michigan’s Upper Peninsula but didn’t get it.
‘I kept pushing it,? he said. ‘We kept thinking, do I know any other state??
Growing up, he was a fan of John Denver’s music, especially ‘Rocky Mountain High.? While living in Colorado, his wife showed him around the state, and they go back there 3-4 times a year.
‘We go back there a lot,? he said. ‘But it was a tough sell ? I don’t live there and I’m not from there.?
The book is mostly a travel guide, splitting up Colorado into five regions, but also includes history and advice, written for visitors to the state. He and Kim took photographs for the book, with the best taken by his wife, he said.
‘I brought my dad on one trip, my sister, my wife and daughter on the last trip,? he said.
‘People treated us very well,? Jim said. ‘The weather was good. The scenery was beautiful.?
His next project is closer to home. He’s working on a new book, ‘Backroads and Byways of Michigan,? due for publication spring, 2009.
‘The routes, places people don’t necessarily go,? he said.
The book will focus on day-trip opportunities, places to go and things to do during 2-3 day trips.
‘The wine country of southwest Michigan,? he said. ‘Mackinac Island, but not focusing on the tourist attractions.?
The book will explore Michigan history and character, he said.
‘It’s a lot of research,? he said. ‘We spent a week at Beaver Island. I’ve never been up there before.?
Future plans include magazine and newspaper articles and more books.
‘The Colorado book will need to be revised every three years ? that should keep me busy,? he said.
His book retails for $21.95. For more information, check www.countrymanpress.com