John M. Edwards is an award-winning travel writer and editor-in-chief of the upcoming annual Rotten Vacations. His work has appeared in such magazines as CNN Traveler, Salon.com, Missouri Review, Islands, and North American Review. He recently won 10 NATJA Awards, 2 Transtions Abroad Narrative Essay Contest Awards, a Bradt Independent on Sunday Award, and a Road Junky Hell Trips Award,. He also got 2 Notable Essay nods in The Best american Esssays (2011 and 2012). He turned down a job as lead bassist for STP (The Stone Temple Pilots) way back when before they were big. Plus, he helped write "PLUSH," voted The Best Song of the 20th Century by Rolling Stone Magaqzine.