Jen Ruiz

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provided by Destination Madison

A close-up of Jen Ruiz.

Jen Ruiz

Author Jen Ruiz will discuss her travelogue 12 Trips in 12 Months, which chronicles her breaking away from the humdrum day-to-day to embark on a planned 12 trips in a year. The trips included real adventure, including encountering an Icelandic volcano, flying in a hot air balloon, scuba diving, and volunteering at an elephant refuge. Ultimately she takes 20 trips and becomes (spoiler alert) a full-time travel writer.

media release: Isthmus and Destination Madison are pleased to host an evening of travel inspiration and life lessons with bestselling author Jen Ruiz on Tuesday, July 23 at 7:00 p.m. at Leopold's Books, Bar, Caffé and Book Store. Jen's latest book, "12 Trips in 12 Months" takes readers on a trip around the globe, defying societal expectations of what a woman is supposed to be—and empowering others to do the same.

The year before her thirtieth birthday, Jen Ruiz decided to change everything. Despite being professionally accomplished and contributing to the world as an attorney at a nonprofit, she had yet to achieve the most important goal, according to becoming a wife and mother. So, after more ghostings than a graveyard, tired of dating apps and sitting in a windowless office, Jen embarked on an epic challenge to send her twenties out in style.

Twelve months, twelve trips, no excuses.

She started booking flights instead of swiping right, teaching English online to cover costs. Over the course of the year, Jen descended into a volcano in Iceland, volunteered at an elephant sanctuary in Thailand, called in sick to fly in a hot air balloon, and went scuba diving at an underwater museum in Mexico.

She ended up taking twenty trips, almost double her original goal.

In a moving and inspiring story, Jen invites readers along through the year wherein she decided to stop waiting for others and start living for herself, discovered the power of solo travel magic, challenged herself physically and emotionally, made meaningful connections … and learned that she could feel fulfilled and happy on her own.

Jen Ruiz is a lawyer turned full-time travel blogger. A multiple bestselling author, TEDx speaker, and national award-winning travel journalist, she has been featured in The Washington Post, Forbes, and ABC News. Jen has been named a Latina Travel Expert by Mitu and Top 40 Under 40 by the Naples Herald. She is the solo female traveler behind Jen on a Jet Plane. When she's not on a plane she lives in Florida.