(openPR) - As the literary world awaits the release of photographer Tom Carter's highly anticipated book of photos, CHINA: Portrait of a People, the world-traveling photojournalist announced today that he intends to author books on every Asian nation.

Though new to the field of photojournalism, the 34 year-old backpacker has already trail-blazed the literary industry by penning the most complete volume of photography on contemporary China every published by a single author.

"I spent 2 years journeying across the 33 provinces of China, one of the first foreigners in history to do so," said the San Francisco native during a press conference in Beijing. "I have pioneered traveling in the world's oldest culture, so there's really no nation in Asia I am not now prepared to traverse."

Carter said he intends to follow a similar formula for his next book that he conceived for his unrivaled, 600-page CHINA: Portrait of a People, which he both wrote and illustrated. "If you look at all the other photo books on China, very few of them have many pictures of people. My work is strictly about life, humanity and the people. I'm not afraid to get close."

Based on advance sales, Carter's theme should prove to be a success, with his publisher already racing to keep up with incoming orders from distributors and Chinese retailers intending to sell CHINA: Portrait of a People as a souvenir during the 2008 Olympics in what is expected to be the largest tourism market of the next decade.

Having become somewhat of a celebrity himself in the Asian press, the handsome, 195cm Carter is presently fielding sponsorship and endorsement requests, which he says will determine which country he photographs next.

"We have standing offers from multinational corporations and regional tourism boards who want me to photograph their respective countries to boost local tourism just as I've done for China. Japan and India are major contenders, and I'm also hoping to hear from smaller nations too.

We are also entertaining sponsorship offers from photography camera companies, backpacking outfitters and travel agencies."

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Advance sales orders for CHINA: Portrait of a People can be placed directly with Blacksmith Books in Hong Kong. www.blacksmithbooks.com

Sponsorship and endorsement requests should be directed to the attention of Hannah Hong in Beijing. tomcarter@tomcarter.org or www.tomcarter.org

Blacksmith Books is an imprint of Blacksmith Media Limited.
Tel: (+852) 2877 7899 Fax: (+852) 2522 6691
5/F, 24 Hollywood Road, Central, Hong Kong.
www.blacksmithbooks.com

The aim of Blacksmith Books is to discover unpublished journalistic, literary and artistic talent in the Asia-Pacific region and to present the results to a worldwide readership.

Tom Carter's "CHINA: Portrait of a People" is the most complete volume of photography on contemporary China every published by a single author.