S2:E13 An Empty Nest Pilgrim Soars on The Camino de Santiago

Apr 13 2022 • 48 mins

Facing an empty nest after more than twenty years of child-raising, English author Carolyn Gillespie (https://www.carolyngillespie.co.uk) confronted her existential crisis on the Camino de Santiago. Through steps and miles, laughter and tears, she found her future self. Her first book, Pilgrim, shares the story of her emotional transformation and the resilient spirit of middle-aged women.

DISCUSSIONS FROM THIS EPISODE:

CONNECT WITH THE SHOW ONLINE:

MEET OUR GUEST: Carolyn Gillespie

Born and raised in Scotland, Carolyn Gillespie now lives and writes in the South of England. She has written a collection of poems for children called Wonder Child and recently finished her first novel, Visitation. Her work has appeared in Molecule Tiny Lit Mag, The Crank, Oddity magazine, Coin Operated Press’s Poetry zine and Scotland Outdoors. She has been shortlisted for the Soutar, Wells and Fish prizes and was Highly Commended in the Wells Festival of Literature. Carolyn was a panellist at the Guildford new Writers Festival, 2020, where she read an extract from Pilgrim. She runs creative writing workshops in schools.

MEET THE HOST: Kevin Donahue

Husband. Father. Backpacker. Pilgrim. Author.

Kevin Donahue began walking pilgrimage routes in 2019, joining the historical footprints of pilgrims seeking places and people to inspire questions and enlighten answers about faith, hope, and love. His passion for these historic footpaths and reflections from the journeys form the basis for his first book, Sacred Steps: A Pilgrimage Journal, printing in 2023.

BOOK:

Sacred Steps: A Pilgrimage Journal

At the crossroads of history and faith, a reluctant pilgrim embarks on a modern pilgrimage along some of the world’s most revered footpaths. Along the way, he discovers the places and encounters people that inspire questions and enlighten answers about faith, hope, and love.

Available from print and digital booksellers for Easter 2023, Sacred Steps: A Pilgrimage Journal conveys the historical context and shares the modern experience of pilgrimage through Portugal and Spain on the Camino de Santiago, along America’s Pacific Coast connecting the California Missions Trail, across receding tides to Holy Island, from London to Canterbury along Britain’s historic Pilgims’ Way, and onward towards Rome via Europe’s Via Francigena on a journey of discovery.

★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★