CRYING WITH COCKROACHES - Argentina to New York with Two Horses

A travel / adventure book by Marianne Du Toit

Author and ABC Person of the Week Marianne Du Toit will be touring the United States from end of September to end of November 2007 to promote her travel/adventure book, titled Crying with Cockroaches - Argentina to New York with Two Horses. Available for interviews, book-signings and presentations, she will concentrate her US book promotion on the East coast, commencing in Georgia. She will however be available for local and national interviews in all the States.

Her book will be available from the Ingram Book Company, can be ordered from any bookshop and also from www.amazon.com

Launched by the Irish Prime Minister, Mr Bertie Ahern, this book event was attended by more than 130 guests including people from the media, business, politics and literature.

Crying with Cockroaches tells the story of an undertaking against the odds: a journey considered by many to be madness. Yet, South African born Marianne Du Toit was determined to follow her dream – adamant that with only two horses for company, she should explore the Americas, travelling solo from Argentina to New York City over 21 months, finishing in March 2004.

Limited equestrian experience, hardly any contacts and an unknown continent, she persevered. Despite it being a journey of heartbreak, frustration, bureaucracy, loneliness, danger, and hunger, nothing stopped her from following her heart.

But this is not only a story of struggle and pain. It is also one of great joy and personal rewards. From peasants to high society, Marianne experienced the true human spirit of generosity. Her adventures had a powerful message - you can overcome the impossible if you are determined and positive. Humour and a 'taking everyday as it comes' attitude helped a great deal too.

Her story, told with simplicity and warmth, is bound to capture the readers' imagination. It is a story to be enjoyed by the young or old, fellow adventurers or those who simply prefer to explore the world from the comforts of their armchairs.

During the US stretch of her journey, Marianne featured as ABC Person of the Week with Peter Jennings and also appeared with one of her horses in a programme for the History Channel, called 'The Master: Emilio Solanet'.

Since the launch of Crying with Cockroaches, there has been much media interest in Ireland and South Africa. These include:

1. Live radio interview with Pat Kenny on RTE 1
2. Live radio interview with George Hook on Newstalk FM 106
3. Live TV appearance on Ireland AM (TV 3)
4. A 2-page article in the Saturday Irish Times Magazine
5. A 2-page article in the Belfast Telegraph Weekender Magazine
6. An article in Farm Week
7. A picture with the Prime Minister and Marianne in the Sunday Business Post
8. A similar picture as above as well as an article in the Sligo Weekender
9. A substantial article in the Sunday Independent with picture with PM
10. A 3-page feature article in the Ireland Equestrian Magazine
11. A live radio interview on Today FM with Ray D’Arcy
12. A live interview on 'Encore' – a Midlands radio show
13. A live one-hour radio interview on the Jenny Crwys Williams Show in South Africa
14. A one-hour radio interview on Mike Mills’s travel show on Classic FM in SA
15. A 4-page article in HQ Equestrian Magazine in South Africa
16. Reviews in Insight and The Word magazines
17. An extract of 3500 words from the book and ten pictures in You/Huisgenoot magazine in South Africa - May 2007
18. A full-page article in the Albany Herald GA
19. A live interview with Ruthie Garner on WALB TV, Albany GA