PHOENIX, AZ – October 20, 2026 – Arizona author Cory Mortensen announces the release of Mississippi Ramble, his fifth travel memoir, available today in paperback and Kindle editions on Amazon.
On July 6, 2026, Mortensen set out alone from Minneapolis with a bicycle, a destination, and thirty days to reach New Orleans. The journey carried him through ten states, relentless summer heat, historic river towns, and the physical demands of long-distance cycling.
Along the route, Mortensen explores a history that began thousands of years before European arrival. Ancient Indigenous burial and ceremonial mounds reveal sophisticated societies whose influence extended throughout the Mississippi Valley. These remarkable earthworks, often overlooked in popular accounts of American history, offer a glimpse into civilizations that flourished long before the United States existed.
Farther south, the landscape reveals other chapters of the American story: French exploration, slavery, the Civil War, and the growth of modern river cities.
Traveling by bicycle allows Mortensen to experience these places at a slower pace, passing through agricultural landscapes, industrial corridors, small communities, and historical sites that might otherwise go unnoticed.
“The river had been there all along. I was the one who kept wandering away,” Mortensen writes.
Blending adventure, historical exploration, and personal reflection, Mississippi Ramble continues the tradition established in his previous four travel memoirs—The Buddha and the Bee, UNLOST, Embracing Bewilderment, and Middle Miles—which have collectively earned more than 30 literary awards.
Book Information
Title: Mississippi Ramble
Author: Cory Mortensen
Publication Date: October 20, 2026
Formats: Paperback and Kindle
Genre: Travel Memoir / Adventure / American History / Bicycle Touring
Availability: Amazon
Amazon Author Page: Cory Mortensen on Amazon
About the Author
Cory Mortensen is an award-winning travel memoir author, entrepreneur, and long-distance cyclist based in the Phoenix, Arizona, area. His books chronicle adventures spanning North and South America, Antarctica, Europe, and Asia. His writing combines firsthand travel experiences with historical curiosity, personal reflection, and an enduring interest in the world beyond familiar surroundings.
Media Inquiries
Mortensen is available for interviews, podcast appearances, author features, and discussions about the Mississippi River journey, long-distance cycling, American history, and travel memoir writing.
Media Contact:
Cory Mortensen
Author and Travel Memoirist
Website: www.corymortensen.com
Media Kit: www.corymortensen.com/media
Media ContactCompany Name: Cory Mortensen – AuthorContact Person: Cory MortensenEmail: Send EmailCountry: United StatesWebsite: www.corymortensen.com
