You Slept Where? Calamities of a Clumsy Businesswoman

by Brenda Prater Sellers

As a little girl, author Brenda Prater Sellers traipsed around Prater Flats in Louisville, Tennessee, thinking she was Ansel Adams with her first, clunky, black-and-white Polaroid that didn't work half the time. The love of that camera and the unknown turned her into not only an overzealous wannabe photographer but into a Southern, Mountain Dew-driven, M&M eating, adrenaline-seeking adventurer, skydiver, and climber of Mount Everest. In You Slept Where? she shares her story about a businesswoman who is also a wife, mother, and a farmer's daughter pursuing a childhood dream of being published in National Geographic, while coping with life's struggles of her parents' eldercare. Sellers also tells about her experiences and mishaps in bizarre locations and staying at the world's most unique places: an underwater hotel, an ice hotel, sleeping with polar bears, or sleeping in wigwams along Route 66. Imagine the movies Miss Congeniality meets National Lampoon's Vacation in her version of Planes, Trains and Automobiles. With cost-saving travel tips and other advice included, You Slept Where? provides insight into one woman's crazy adventures while encouraging others to create their own bucket list.

Genres: Biography

448 pages, Hardcover

Published September 12, 2022

Reviews

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the funniest, most exhausting, heart wrenching but uplifting books I've ever read. Hang on to your hats for a whirlwind of adventures to places you've never heard of to see things you didn't know existed. I feel like I've been traveling the entire country with Lucille Ball, the most patient man on the planet, and their sidekick suitcase. Took a hilarious trip and never left the farm.

[Myla Uppercue · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book! Brenda describes the people and places so well, you truly feel you are there with her. Her self-deprecating wit is fun, and the variety of subjects are linked together well by the ongoing themes of overcoming challenges, setting goals, and maintaining a positive attitude. Join the author in her travels by ordering and devouring her book!

[Vickie Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laugh out loud and just soooo Brenda! Loved the book!

[Connie Loy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful Book!!! Uplifting and fun to read!!

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have truly enjoyed reading Brenda Seller’s book YOU SLEPT WHERE. Brenda is such a good writer that I am able to both visualize her antics, as well as hear her obviously entertaining personality throughout this book. Brenda’s sensitivity to the needs of both of her aging parents is so apparent and so heartfelt. I’m sure many of the readers of her book will be able to identify with the end-of-life journeys she has taken with both of her parents, as many of us have taken the same journeys with our own parents. I love a book that makes me laugh out loud, and this book definitely provides laughter. I liken this book to Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum books that also make me laugh out loud. People who enjoy traveling will definitely equate this book with going on a trip of a life time, a trip around the world!!!
Janet Schaffer Proffitt

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written, interesting, funny, well worth your time.

[Gayle Curtin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sellers' book is a whirlwind tour of sometimes (ok, often) quirky destinations. Among them are an ice hotel, a cabin at the bottom of the Grand Canyon, and the room where Lizzy Borden (allegedly) killed her stepmother, Abby. You can join the author on adventures that are easier enjoyed from your sofa than in person. Pretty sure I wouldn't be interested in scuba diving to an underwater hotel room or taking a boat over choppy waters to lighthouse accommodations, but the book takes you there without special equipment. Or expense. Or nausea. ;) What is especially helpful (and creative) is the inclusion of a QR code so readers can view photos of Sellers' travels. You Slept Where? is an easy read and a great gift idea.

[Joe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Funny, interesting, and heartfelt. Very good book that will inspire me to visit some of the sites mentioned.

[Donna Prater · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a cute book.

[Kathy Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the book!!!!!! She is witty and delightful! Started reading and did not put it down until I finished it!

[Victoria Winifred · Rating 5 out of 5]

"You Slept Where? Calamities of a Clumsy Businesswoman" by Brenda Prater Sellers is a delightful book that is both witty and touching. It is full of entertaining anecdotes in highly unusual settings that will have you laughing one moment, and feeling moved the next. You'll be rooting for her every step of the way!

This book is a must for anyone who loves wacky adventures, and for those of us who have stumbled along our own way to success. What a fun read!

[M Evit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book!

[Rena · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a delight to read. Crazy and funny stories transition to tender reminiscences of her parents, who are obviously so dear to her. She also is transparent about her own life and what it's like to reach her 60s. It felt like I was having a long and wonderful conversation with a friend.

[Bethany Prater · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a fun read! And now...after reading this book...I have started making lists and carrying snacks with me everywhere. Definitely recommend!

[Dane Conley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed reading about the adventures and life of Brenda Prater Sellers. At times the book was very emotional and hard to put down. Would highly recommend.

[Kathy Webb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Ms. Seller's book, "You Slept Where?". It was a funny, interesting and touching read with a sweet southern twist. I loved the author's detailed descriptions of each place she slept and found it particularly funny when her husband, Big Ed, was her traveling companion. It added another layer of humor and drama. Each chapter could have been a stand-alone short story with the ultimate goal of each adventure getting that prize National Geographic photograph.

She humorously addressed her obsession with bringing along her favorite candy, Peanut M & M's and most of all, a good ole southern favorite--Mountain Dew. I loved how at each place she wore different pajamas which were covered with logos or characters from her company's clients' brands. Additionally, the way she personified her Tumi suitcase, Bertha, was a humorous touch. These were consistencies laced throughout each chapter.

The book took a sentimental turn when she described her life growing up as a farm girl in East Tennessee with her parents and two brothers. Ms. Prater derived the book's title by the question her Daddy would ask when she would show him her photographs after each trip with the hopes for that one standout shot! It was clear she was a Daddy's girl as she had described his strength as a farmer and his penchant for practical jokes. Almost as a subplot, each chapter would reflect on her parents' slide into poor health after her father's stroke and her mother's descent into personality-altering dementia. Her writing had an easy, flowing style and I would recommend it to anyone wanting a good beach read or travel read that will leave a smile on your face. Looking forward to the international version. Congratulations, Brenda, on a job well done!

[Jennifer Ingram · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book! It is laugh out loud funny and also serious at times. I loved reading about all Brenda and Big Ed's adventures and mishaps. It also tugged at your heartstrings when she talked about dealing with her parents illnesses. This book is a must read for everyone!

[E Petzold · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for a variety of reasons: (1) travel ideas/adventures (2) travel reviews/insight (3) heart-warming stories of the author growing up (4) non-fiction of life supporting aging/sick parents. I really enjoyed the layer upon layer that was here - I like that everything was broken up into smaller chapters too so it was easy to pick-up and put down as needed without feeling like I was lost in the story.

[Barbara Jenkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely a laugh out loud book. Besides the comedy there are many heart-warming and touching stories. The author has strong family values and love especially for her parents. The book puts the heart-ache of Alzheimer’s in perspective. I fell in love with Big Ed! He is a talented and accomplished man with such patience and love for his wife.

[Virginia Hardwick · Rating 5 out of 5]

The adventures of Brenda and Big Ed are hilarious and entertaining! Always up for a side trip while traveling for business, she encounters some of the craziest people and places. You will laugh out loud at some of the calamities she gets herself into! My only complaint is I developed strong cravings for M&M’s while reading!

[Mark Bunch · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this autobiography of a local Knoxville area resident. A great travel book mixed in with a ton on personal aspects that add to the story of this go-getting farm girl from Maryville. She turns local business into global auto related licensed products company. From licensed Snoopy doo tee shirts to Harley Davidson merch-they helped supply it.

[Betty Kirkland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life is both hilarious and sad. And so is this book. Brenda Prater Sellers, you keep writing and I’ll keep reading. Wonderful read!

[Cdesha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious and a great story all rolled into one. I loved looking up the places she visited around the globe! Thank you for sharing your life and travels with us.

[READER VIEWS · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never underestimate the extraordinary lengths a dream can take you. In “You Slept Where? Calamities of a Clumsy Businesswoman,” Brenda Prater Sellers embodies this spirit with her lifelong ambition to be a National Geographic featured photographer. Armed with her trusty to-do list in one hand and a camera in the other, she travels to some of the world’s most unconventional—to put it mildly—and unique locations, her tenacity and passion sharing the driver’s seat. Her story shines on her roles as a businesswoman, wife, mother, and farmer’s daughter. It also touches deeply on the heartfelt and challenging experiences of caring for her aging parents.

Oh. My. Goodness. It’s been a while since I laughed out loud repeatedly while reading a memoir, and I know it’s cliché, but this book totally captivated me from the first page to the last. There are memoirs—and then there is “You Slept Where?” The author’s voice is as distinct as her story, and she writes like she is simply talking to you, her new best friend. Prater-Sellers is the kind of person everyone wants to know and befriend and I’m guessing she’s never actually met a stranger. She’s hooked on Peanut M&M’s and Mountain Dew, and she has a Southern sass that just won’t quit.

The essence of the story is anchored in the various locations she explores on her quest for the perfect photograph. Each chapter features a new accommodation and it’s hard to imagine how she even found some of these places. Among some of the more bizarre spaces included are an underwater lodge in Florida, an ice hotel in Canada, a silo in Akron, Ohio, some Wigwams along Route 66, and the Abby Borden Death Room (of Lizzy Borden fame).

As you can imagine, there is also a colorful cast of characters from all the places the author visits. She often traveled with her husband, Big Ed, but many times he chose the safer (saner?) option of staying at home. Her ever-faithful companion, and almost a character in her own right, is the TUMI suit bag, Big Bertha, which the author claims weighs the size of a small elephant when packed full of her clothes, books, snacks, Mountain Dews, items for work and anything else you might think of!

As I was reading, I couldn’t help but admire the author’s zest for trying new things and living life to the fullest. I know one thing – full life or not, you’d never catch me staying in a hotel made of ice, any place without an air conditioner and solid flooring, and most certainly never in a room at one of the most infamous murder sites in history! Every new lodging is an adventure, most of them laughable—all of them rich in the historical elements of the place. Then, in between these whacky ventures, the telling turns more subdued as the author writes with a heart full of love and vulnerability about her parents and their health issues as they grow older. Ms. Sellers has her fun, but it’s clear the most important times in her life are reserved for God and family.

“You Slept Where?” by Brenda Prater Sellers is a book with a little something for everyone. The final pages include the author meeting a National Geographic photographer, travel tips, a list of all the locations mentioned in the book, and your very own blank “To Do List” for you to complete with a list of places you’d like to travel to. I highly recommend this book to travel enthusiasts, fans of memoir and adventure – just about anyone really, for an entertaining, enlightening, and feel-good read. I just discovered there is an audio version and I can guarantee I’ll be digging into it soon.

[Book Reviewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brenda Prater Sellers' You Slept Where? offers a vivid and engaging account of her quest for a feature in National Geographic, illustrating her dedication to both adventurous living and photography. This memoir transports readers into Brenda's world of unique and sometimes perilous sleeping arrangements, blending humor and excitement in its narrative. Her journey is not merely a series of escapades but a journey of learning and laughter in the face of extraordinary circumstances.

Sellers infuses a unique flair into the genre of adventure memoirs. Her book captivates with its clever title and creatively named chapters. Sellers' use of pseudonyms adds an element of whimsy, showcasing her keen sense of humor which permeates the narrative. The way she recounts her experiences skillfully brings the reader into the heart of her adventures, creating a sense of companionship with the author. The reader finds themselves instinctively cheering for Brenda's goal of being featured in National Geographic. Her escapades are wide-ranging, from overnight stays in ice hotels to traversing the sweltering Grand Canyon on muleback. Her relentless pursuit of the perfect photograph, often accompanied by broken camera equipment and encounters with challenging individuals, adds a compelling layer to her story. Amidst these adventurous tales, the book also touches on more somber themes, subtly revealing the declining health of two significant figures in Brenda's life. You Slept Where? is thus not only a lively recounting of daring experiences but also an illustration of how life's unexpected turns can intertwine with our passions and dreams.

The book concludes with an invitingly curated list of activities, drawing the reader further into the spirit of adventure. Sellers' blend of witty narrative and insightful humor makes this book a delightful read. It caters to those seeking adventure inspiration or simply looking to experience the thrill of exploration through another's eyes, offering both excitement and educational value.

[Cheryl Peyton · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author takes us—and her long-suffering husband Big Ed— on a twenty-plus years’ search for a location where she could take a photograph that would be published by “National Geographic” magazine, her dream from childhood. While on this journey, we check into bizarre accommodations like an underwater lodge, a farm silo, an ice hotel, and a 5,500-square-foot resort in a cave. We even spend a night at the Lizzie Borden Bed ‘n Breakfast where the author sleeps in the room where the former mistress purportedly killed her stepmother.

The reader is entertained by the author’s self-deprecating sense of humor and moved by her loving concern about her elderly parents who are in declining health. The title of the book comes from her father’s incredulous question when the author tells him, a life-long farmer, that she just slept in a silo.

Ms. Sellers provides some levity on the subject of her parents' health problems when she writes about how her mother's vascular dementia causes her to abandon her proper church-going language to talk like a proverbial sailor about everything from cold weather to something that amuses her like the squirrel who hops by she gleefully calls a “little sum of a bitch.”

I was impressed by how Ms. Sellers brought every episode in her travels to life, not only through her expressive descriptions of place and ambiance but with conversations that sound so plausible as to have been recorded. All of her characters spring off the pages and into our hearts.

This is a book you'll long remember and go back to reread chapters that are easily identified in the Table of Content by the locations of where the author slept. I highly recommend this book to readers of all ages and backgrounds for entertainment, inspiration, and enlightenment about places you've never heard of. As a bonus, at the conclusion, Ms. Sellers passes along her hard-earned tips to aid others in their more traditional travels.

[Lisa Millsaps · Rating 5 out of 5]

Artfully woven, this travelogue blends humor and humility as Sellers shares raw glimpses of life as a businesswoman who follows her own path while she also recounts experiences of caring for her beloved parents. Sleeping in uncommon, sometimes small, sometimes uncomfortable, and sometimes even haunted places, this one-of-a-kind author craftily guides readers along not only Highway 66 but along the highway we call life.

Akin to Tennyson’s Ulysses, this Southern woman has “dr[u]nk life to the lees” with Mountain Dew her companion and adventure-seeking her muse. Please, Ms. Sellers, let us know if your National Geographic dream ever comes true.

[Matthew Bagne · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much fun "traveling" with the author as I read each chapter, I felt like I was right there with her. Each story was very approachable, with engaging and often funny descriptions around each adventure. Not only was it fun being there on each trip, but readers will learn about interesting places they can actually stay off the beaten track, if they want to follow the author on their own, real trips using the book as a guide. I felt this adventure in reading was well worth the price of admission!

[Susan Kite · Rating 5 out of 5]

A laugh out loud book that explores a woman's desire to explore the bizarre and unusual places of the world and become famous photographing them. The author has a rollicking style of writing that is better than MacDonald (The Egg and I) and Erma Bombeck (If Life is a Bowl of Cherries, What am I Doing in the Pits), as good as both were. Ice Hotels, Underwater hotels, Mount Everest, Route 66--anywhere and everywhere, and mixed in to this zaniness the author adds views of home life and hardships. A great read.

[Linda Fitzpatrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading this book as a true to life account of what it's like to be an ambitious businesswoman in the Modern World. This author is from the South, I'm a longtime businesswoman from New York, but although we are in many ways from different worlds the challenges we faced and the opportunities we uncovered are often following a common thread. I will continue to watch Ms. Sellers as her exploits will continue to inspire and entertain. Chicks Rule!!!!!