Sahara

Sahara

A journey of love, loss and survival

Having walked more than 5000 kilometres from Trafalgar Square to Morocco, Paula Constant finds herself at the westernmost edge of the Sahara Desert - and the brink of sanity. The wheels have fallen off her marriage and her funds are quickly drying up, but she is determined to complete the second stage: walking through the romantic Big Empty of Northern Africa to Cairo.

SAHARA is the story of Paula's struggle to covercome her innermost demons and take control of her journey, her camels and the men she hires to guide her through one of planet's most extreme regions. Illness, landmines and political red tape stand between Paula and the realisation of a life's dream.

SAHARA is a thrilling adventure and a story of joy, heartache, inspiration and despair. But, above all, it's a celebration of the human spirit in all its guises.

Paula Constant began walking from Trafalgar Square in 2004. Since then, she has walked over 12000km through eight countries: England, France, Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Mauritania, Mali and Niger. From 2005-2007, Paula walked over 7000km through the Sahara, until she was halted by civil war in Niger. Her first book, Slow Journey South, was released by Random House in 2008. Her second, Sahara, was released in October 2009. Paula is currently planning another walk, and lives in rural Victoria

Sahara
Random House Australia
Author: Paula Constant
ISBN: 9781741669299
RRP: $34.95

Sahara

The endless expanse of the desert environment is relentless and proves an emotional pressure cooker. Six weeks into the trek, Paula's husband, Gary, leaves and returns home, their marriage over.

Now, a lone Western woman in a male-dominated land, Paula is left to deal with her shattered emotional state and dwindling cash reserves. Without Gary, she continues to walk over 2,800 kilometres through Morocco and the Western Sahara.

In a small twist of fate, the desert, despite the heat, windstorms and landmines, quickly becomes her haven. In all its natural beauty she starts to feel at home; away from corrupt government officials and the reality of her looming divorce.

Paula's camels and lovable local guides are her small yet wonderful supporting cast. They are loyal, faithful and ever curious about Paula's seemingly crazy ambition. Together, they learn from each other - about life, the desert, their different cultures and what fun can be salvaged along the way.

Paula returned to Australia in June 2006 after her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, and in October of that year returned to Mauritania to continue her walk. She chose to dedicate the walk to raising awareness for the National Breast Cancer Foundation of Australia. Paula went on to walk over 4,200 kilometres through the Sahara, passing Tomboctou in Mali and entering Niger, where civil war and government red tape forced her to halt her walk - a walk she vows to complete.

Paula Constant is the author of Slow Journey South (Bantam, 2008). She grew up in Mansfield in Victoria, has lived in the UK and is currently based in Australia. She is now planning her next walk - through the Australian deserts from Broome to Melbourne in 2010.

Interview with Paula Constant

Why did you decide to write this book?

Paula Constant: I wanted to share my journey, internal and external, through the desert. I guess it was also a cathartic experience for me.


Was it hard writing it as a novel?

Paula Constant: Very! It was particularly difficult writing about my marriage breakdown - there was a lot of rewriting of those sections.


Tell us about the Sahara:

Paula Constant: It is a magnificent place of natural beauty - one of the most peaceful, still environments I have been in. The irony is that it is heavily populated in many areas, and nomads are incredibly social. So there are two elements in opposition: the isolation and peace of the natural desert, and the bustle of the cultures that inhabit it. At times that combination can be both daunting and tiring for the outsider.


Where do you think you developed your love of writing?

Paula Constant: From childhood - every book felt like a new adventure when I opened it. I still get excited when I walk into a bookstore. I simply always wanted to write.


How does Sahara differ from Slow Journey South?

Paula Constant: It is a much darker book, in many ways. It is also a tougher journey - Slow Journey was a walk in the park compared to what came in Sahara. It is also a truer reflection of me - I am not trying to write for two people any more.


What is next for you?

Paula Constant: I would love to walk through Australia, and am hoping to organise that for next year. I would also like to write fiction.


Why do you choose to walk, long distances in dreadful conditions?

Paula Constant: I enjoy the rhythm, isolation, challenge and time it gives me to think. I also enjoy being in an alien environment, and altering my own mental perspective to view the world through lens other than my own.