by Tammy Horvath

Grief has a way of shrinking the world.

After losing her husband—and years later, her son—Tammy found herself unsure how to move forward. Fear threatened to keep her small.

Instead, she chose something unexpected: a plane ticket.

Travel became the doorway to healing.

In Life Begins with Travel, Tammy sets out alone to see the northern lights in Iceland—and begins rediscovering the beauty of life. From Caribbean waters to national parks, from tropical storms to unpredictable misadventures, each journey becomes part of her emotional recovery.

Through laughter, challenges, and moments of awe, she begins to see that God’s presence can be found even in unfamiliar places.

This uplifting memoir explores:

• Healing after loss
• Courage in the face of fear
• Faith discovered through adventure
• Rediscovering joy after sorrow

Sometimes the path to healing begins with stepping into the unknown.

“A perfect combination of travel adventure book and personal memoir of dealing with a life-changing event that almost all of us can only imagine with horror.”

Simon Michael Prior, award-winning travel author

“Horvath’s second book is an interesting juxtaposition of a travel memoir with spiritual lessons learned along the way. The telling of her story is raw and unfiltered and gives us a glimpse into how the choices we make have lasting consequences. She is quick to share the good consequences along with the not-so-good. There is a theme of redemption that threads through each chapter. If you’ve longed to visit exotic places but are stuck at home because of cost or health issues, you can live vicariously through Horvath’s many travels.”

Jane Daly, award-winning author of the Broken Series

“Sites to see on the way to heaven. Many stories have been told by travelers who hope that venturing to new places will help them find happiness. Few travelers, however, have had such a pressing need to find that happiness as Tammy Horvath, who set out on a journey of emotional healing following the death in a fiery car crash of her abusive husband and the murder of her teenage son during a drug deal gone sour. Horvath loves travel—there seems to be no doubt of that. And she revels in bringing back stories from destinations that range from the pyramids of Mexico to the geysers of Iceland. Her stories may prove most beneficial, however, to readers who begin, as she does, with a deep belief that God is directing their travels and that their ultimate destination is a place where they will be re-united with everyone they have ever loved. Or, on second thought, to those who don’t.”

Bob Payne, award-winning travel writer

“They say that travel is food for the soul. Tammy takes you with her to many places across the globe in this well-written travel memoir with vivid descriptions. This book touches on the deeper meaning of traveling as a way of finding yourself. With her marriage on thin ice, Tammy seeks traveling to find her own footing, and is soon violently forced to stand on her own feet when her husband dies in a car accident. She finds solace in God, inner healing, and even a new partner. She builds precious memories with her son, and you truly understand the value of these memories if you have read Tammy’s first book, Gone in an Instant, in which she describes how her only son was violently taken from her. This book touched my heart. It is a tragic yet inspiring story that needs to be told.”

Ann Göth, author of Volcanic Adventures in Tonga

Media Mentions About Life Begins with Travel

Featured short poem on Fred’s Blog on April 11, 2023

The headlights of cars driving on the road below shone brightly in the darkness.

Behind the highway glared the small city’s red, green, and yellow lights…

Guest on Stephen Malins’ blog on October 24, 2023: Ten Questions any writer could answer

 “Ten Questions any writer could answer”… with Tammy Horvath
I SAID…

Tammy Horvath is a travel-memoir writer. She is here with me now – thanks Tammy!

THE QUESTIONS

1. Focus on your book!

I write about things people think are impossible, like forgiving a murderer. My Journeys Through Life series has two books, with the third coming out in early 2024, as soon as I record the audiobook…