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About

by Brenna Holeman August 11, 2013


My name is Brenna Holeman and I’ve been writing about my life on the internet for 20 years. I know, I know, you’re thinking two things:

a) why am I not the most successful blogger on Earth by now (answer: I’d rather write about getting drunk on whisky than write about anything that might rank in Google)

and b) just how old am I (answer: old enough to remember having to wait for my photos to be developed from my film camera and then use a scanner to get them onto my very first blog)

Through those 20 years, I’ve travelled solo, lived abroad, fallen in and out of love, studied writing, learned to take a shot of tequila without grimacing, made many regrettable fashion decisions, and become a single mom. I’ve also become a full-time blogger and freelancer, and couldn’t be happier that I was just emo enough to start posting angsty poetry online all those years ago (before you ask, that blog has been hidden from the Internet. Trust me… you’re welcome).

Originally from Winnipeg, a city in the Canadian prairies, I have lived in Halifax, Toronto, Copenhagen, Yaroslavl, Edinburgh, Osaka, and London, and I have travelled to over 100 countries. Now my professional life is devoted to writing: for my blog, for my book, and for my career. Other than travel, I love whisky, window seats, old cars, new books, scuba diving, and buying ridiculous amounts of cheap jewellery. And my son? My son is everything to me, my stars and my moon, my sunshine on even the cloudiest of days.

I have been on the road since April of 2006, travelling through all of the continents but Antarctica. In 2013 I moved to London, England, to complete a master’s degree in Creative Non-Fiction writing. I am now finishing up my first book, a travelogue told in a series of letters to those who have inspired and influenced me to travel. I made a life of being single, unemployed (read: broke), and without a home for many years; I now split my time between Winnipeg and the road, but either way I’m happy, and I love my life. I’m passionate about empowering women to realise that, whatever we want to do – travel solo, write a book, learn how to take a shot of tequila without grimacing – we can fucking do it.

And up next? I am currently a single mom of a beautiful little boy, the biggest solo adventure I’ve ever been on. I have also created a brand new website about my home province of Manitoba, called Road Trip Manitoba. I hope it grows into a fantastic resource for all things travel-related about the province.

This is not like most other travel blogs – my posts are not in any way chronological and I prefer writing about getting dumped on a beach in Thailand than writing about the best places to stay in Brazil. Although I travel a lot, I also enjoy writing about other things, too, and you’ll find those topics under sections like Opinions, Fashion, and Lifestyle. But, OK, if you really want to read about me getting dumped around the world, you can find all of that right here. I consider the bread and butter of this blog to be its stories, because above all else – above trying to rank in Google or trying to sell you something – I would just really like to post a good story whenever I can. I hope you’ll give them a read.

You can contact me at [email protected], but if you’re looking to work with me, please read this first.

For all of my (very old) travel posts from my previous blog, click here.

And just to get technical for a moment:
This Battered Suitcase is a personal travel blog full of subjective opinions and recommendations. I endeavour to keep the information provided on this blog up-to-date and accurate, however, any reliance you place on such information is strictly at your own risk.

All photos and words are property of This Battered Suitcase unless otherwise stated, and cannot be used or reproduced anywhere else without written permission.

All comments on this blog are moderated. Any comment that is deemed abusive in nature will not be approved. Please note that comments with fake email addresses or company URLs are automatically marked as spam and deleted.

Please note that there are some affiliates on This Battered Suitcase. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Please note that I only recommend products I already use and love.

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About Me

About Me

Hi, I'm Brenna

My name is Brenna Holeman and I drink a lot of whisky. No, wait. That’s not how I want to start. After travelling to more than 100 countries over the past 16 years, many of them solo, I tend to write about travel a lot, but I write about other things, too: getting dumped, buying way too much jewellery, and yeah, OK, whisky (none of those things are related, I swear). You’ll find a mix of advice, opinion pieces, and stories on this blog, but either way, I hope to make you want to read more. And up next? I'm now a single mom to a beautiful baby boy, the biggest solo adventure I've ever been on. For more about me and what you'll find on This Battered Suitcase, click here.

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INSPIRATION

Our battered suitcases were piled on the sidewalk again; we had longer ways to go. But no matter, the road is life." - Jack Kerouac

About Brenna

This Battered Suitcase is not only about the where and the how of travel, it's about the who and the why.

Originally from Canada, all I've ever wanted to do is travel. After eleven years of solo travel and over 90 countries, I'm currently living in London and fulfilling my other dream of becoming a writer. If I'm not travelling, I'm writing about it, either for my blog, my job, or my book. I firmly believe there is adventure everywhere, so long as you keep your eyes (and your mind, and your heart) open. Join me as I continue to look for these adventures. Hopefully you'll find your own, too.

For more, click here.

WHERE AM I?

Last stops: Manitoba, Canada

Currently: Manitoba, Canada

Up Next: Manitoba, Canada (are you sensing a theme?)

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Want local knowledge about Manitoba?

AFFILIATE POLICY

Please note that some links on This Battered Suitcase are affiliates (at no extra cost to you); I only recommend products I use and love. This Battered Suitcase is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

INSPIRATION

"Our battered suitcases were piled on the sidewalk again; we had longer ways to go. But no matter, the road is life." - Jack Kerouac

Currently in

WINNIPEG, MANITOBA, CANADA

Last Stops: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

Up Next:  Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada

(AKA: STAY HOME)

Disclosures

This Battered Suitcase is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and links to Amazon.com. For the full disclosure/privacy policy, please click here.

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This Battered Suitcase
  • Home
  • About
    • Privacy Policy
    • Around the Web
    • Contact
  • Start Here
  • Destinations
    • Africa
      • Botswana
      • Egypt
      • Kenya
      • Morocco
      • Namibia
      • Rwanda
      • South Africa
      • Tanzania
      • Uganda
      • Zambia
    • Asia
      • Bhutan
      • Brunei
      • Cambodia
      • China
      • Hong Kong
      • India
      • Indonesia
      • Israel
      • Japan
      • Laos
      • Macau
      • Malaysia
      • Mongolia
      • Myanmar
      • Nepal
      • The Philippines
      • Singapore
      • Sri Lanka
      • South Korea
      • Thailand
      • UAE
      • Vietnam
    • Europe
      • Austria
      • Belgium
      • Bulgaria
      • Croatia
      • Cyprus
      • Czechia
      • Denmark
      • England
      • Estonia
      • Finland
      • France
      • Germany
      • Greece
      • Hungary
      • Iceland
      • Ireland
      • Italy
      • Latvia
      • Liechtenstein
      • Lithuania
      • Luxembourg
      • Malta
      • Monaco
      • Netherlands
      • Northern Ireland
      • Norway
      • Poland
      • Portugal
      • Romania
      • Russia
      • San Marino
      • Scotland
      • Slovakia
      • Slovenia
      • Spain
      • Sweden
      • Switzerland
      • Turkey
      • Vatican City
      • Wales
    • North America
      • Antigua and Barbuda
      • Barbados
      • Belize
      • Canada
      • Costa Rica
      • Cuba
      • Dominican Republic
      • Grenada
      • Guatemala
      • Honduras
      • Jamaica
      • Nicaragua
      • Mexico
      • Panama
      • St. Kitt’s and Nevis
      • St. Vincent and the Grenadines
      • USA
    • Oceania
      • Australia
      • New Zealand
    • South America
      • Argentina
      • Bolivia
      • Brazil
      • Chile
      • Colombia
      • Ecuador
      • Peru
      • Uruguay
  • Topics
    • Advice
    • Fashion
    • Lifestyle
    • Opinions
    • Romance
    • Stories
    • Travel
    • Writing and Blogging
  • Work With Me
 

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