Queen of the Road

“A Charles Kuralt-Albert Brooks-style romp where they meet up with nudists, robbers and more. Required Reading.” -The New York Post

“Eat, Pray, Love – without the depression – meets Confessions of a Shopaholic – without the ditz.” – Denver Magazine.

 is the true story of Doreen and her husband, Tim, who are both psychiatrists, and embark on a year long road trip across the United States following Tim’s dreams and to Doreen’s despair. Tim has dreamed of this trip for years while Doreen has cringed at even the idea. However, somehow Tim convinces her to abandon her “princess” life of working from home in her pjs and load up in a 340 square foot bus turned RV for a year. On top of her hermit like qualities, Doreen also loves to shop – proud of the large number of shoes she owns, but these shoes can not make the trip with her. How will she ever survive?

I was immediately caught up in Doreen,Tim, the cats, and the poodle’s life. It was amazing how quickly I was dying to know what adventure would be next. Their journey’s were told with such great language that I felt like I was there. My only regret was that my book was a paperback because as I carried it around everywhere trying to get to the next story, it became pretty rugged.

I have to admit that when I began this book, I missed one very important detail – that it was true. Yes, as an avid reader, as an English teacher, I am mortified that I actually didn’t read (and register) that this was a true story. After all, it was in perfectly clear English that is said ON THE COVER, “The True Tale of 47 States.” Yes. So as I read of each of their stops along the way, I was increasingly amazed at how thorough Doreen has researched each of those locations. She knew so much about them. It was unbelievable. Imagine my amazement at the end when I realized it was in fact true. That explained so much.

My favorite stops along the way? I loved her trip to Disney World. I actually read parts of this to my two daughters (they are 8 and 17) as we are the BIGGEST Disney fans and wishing hard that we could make it back to Disney. My 17 year old is now dying to read the book herself, and my 8 year old told me I had to save it until she could read books “that big.” Next I really enjoyed the Texas stops. Since I’m from Texas I have been to these areas also and so I could relate. It was actually during the Disney and Texas stops that I realized how much of this book was true – how much “research” Doreen had done to write this book.

When the end came and I realized it was true, well I am actually ready to read it again. I don’t reread many books, but I do think this is one that I’ll focus on different parts the next time around and knowing it’s true, I think will put an entirely different outlook.

About The Author:

DOREEN ORION is a triple-boarded psychiatrist on the faculty of The University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. Her first book, I Know You Really Love Me, established her as a national expert on stalking with related appearances on Larry King Live, 48 Hours, and Good Morning America, to name a few. In spite of all this, Doreen considers her greatest accomplishment to be that her bus was featured as the centerfold for Bus Conversions magazine (where she is currently the travel writer), thus fulfilling her life-long ambition of becoming a Miss September.