Overview
Do you know what Americans do with Black and Tans and Irish Car Bombs? Did you know that the newly formed Republic of Texas went to war with itself over where to store its archives, that the official Centre of the World is on the border between California and Arizona, or that an American Civil War General's uniform was held hostage? Liverpudlian JJ Topping and his Irish wife, Aine Two, take three months to travel coast to coast from San Francisco to New York, via Key West. They encounter some of America's famed weird and wonderful roadside attractions, learn about some of its more quirky history, meet drinkers, hoteliers and snowbirds who voted both for and against Donald Trump, and discover coincidental connections between their own respective birthplaces and various towns and cities on route. They also discover that for a tea drinker, a road trip across America is impossible without a kettle, unless English Breakfast or Earl Grey with more than a hint of coffee is acceptable. A small UK travel kettle is the only option but, as American electricity heats it with the warm breath of an electric pixie, making the morning brew becomes an endurance sport.
Full Product Details
Author: JJ Topping
Publisher: Nettlebron Ltd
Imprint: Nettlebron Ltd
ISBN: 9781999901004
ISBN 10: 1999901002
Pages: 308
Publication Date: 01 December 2017
Audience:
General/trade
,
General
Format: Paperback
Publisher's Status: Active
Availability: In Print
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Author Information
JJ Topping was born in Liverpool in 1966, a few days before England won the World Cup. His mother missed Geoff Hurst's famous They think it's all over goal because young JJ was crying in the next room. The third of six siblings, JJ spent his childhood below his parents' radar, enjoying the freedom to make the mistakes and learn the lessons that have been lost to subsequent generations. His nephews and nieces ply him with drink at every opportunity, whilst sitting at his feet in awed silence to hear his tall tales of teenage excess. A 30 year career managing projects for a variety of global corporations hasn't taken away JJ's delight at seeing new places, meeting interesting people and discovering absurd bits of history. The Warm Breath of an Electric Pixie is his first effort at putting some of his American travel adventures on paper, largely to save his liver and his young relatives' drinks bills. JJ is married to Aine Two and lives in West London, where he nurses his passions for Liverpool FC, Jaguars, birdwatching and beer. He really likes beer. He has an ambition to learn where commas are supposed to go in sentences.
