La Vista, NE Author Publishes Asian Travel Book

"The Asia Diaries", a new book by Joseph William Simmons, has been released by Dorrance Publishing Co., Inc.

"The Asia Diaries" chronicles three years of chaotic travel and self-discovery across Asia and Oceania from 2006 to 2009, the book is a gritty, journal-form account that demonstrates how "truly random the world, and all of us, can be."

The book takes readers on a visceral journey that stretches the limits of traditional travel writing. Written in a frank, moment-to-moment style, Simmons recounts his experiences living in Japan and traveling to South Korea, Taiwan, India, China, and Australia. The narrative doesn't shy away from the extremes of human experience, juxtaposing moments of profound humanitarian work with unpredictable, high-stakes encounters.

Readers will be transported from the sobering reality of building villages in India for tsunami victims to navigating the bizarre and sometimes dangerous nightlife of East Asia. Highlights of the memoir include misadventures with drunk Japanese fishermen, being hounded by prostitutes at 4 a.m. on the streets of Sasebo, and the unsettling reality of rolling around Sydney and Omaha with crystal meth addicts.

The book's structure is further distinguished by the inclusion of different excerpts of original poetry, which are woven throughout the narrative, adding a contemplative layer to the frenetic pace of his travels.

Simmons is known for his commitment to gonzo journalism, a style ensuring that every non-fiction account he writes is strictly true. While the events themselves are authentic, the names of non-public persons and business entities have been changed for privacy and legal concerns.

About the Author
Joseph William Simmons was born in Omaha in 1981. After graduating from the University of Nebraska - Lincoln with a Bachelor's in Film Studies, he accepted a teaching job in Japan, which sparked the three years of travel detailed in the book. Simmons later earned his MFA in Creative Writing (Literary Non-fiction emphasis) from the University of Nebraska and is also the author of the 2015 memoir, Memories of Turtle.
Simmons' background and literary work are deeply connected to the Midwest; he is heavily involved with the independent film scene in both Omaha and Council Bluffs, bringing a unique perspective as a writer, traveler, and filmmaker to his work.


The Asia Diaries is a 150-page paperback with a retail price of $16.00 (eBook $11.00). The ISBN is 979-8-89499-131-3. Published by Dorrance Publishing Co., Inc. of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. For members of the press, to request a review copy or author interview, please visit https://bookstore.dorrancepublishing.com/pages/media-requests or to buy the book, visit our online bookstore at https://bookstore.dorrancepublishing.com/products/the-asia-diaries