Expedition Austin designer Virginia Shurgar Hassell and author Jill Coody Smits are good friends who’ve known each other for about 15 years. This is their second book together. The first one was a family travel guide called Paris When It Giggles: A Realistic Travel Guide for Adventurous Parents.
Both Jill and Virginia have day jobs and full lives. Virginia has spent years honing her skills at various creative agencies and in publishing, and as the owner of BigStar Creative. Her creative inspiration for this book comes from the vibrant, expressive nature of Austin and the people that keep it so wonderfully weird. She can be found just west of Austin with her sweet children, husband and the Texas hills. You can learn more about her other work at bigstarcreative.com, as well as on Twitter (@BigStarCreative) and Instagram (@virginiashassell).
After nearly 20 years in Austin, Jill is still in love with this little big town. She is a freelance writer of many things, including articles, blog posts, op-eds and essays published in outlets like Psychology Today, Spirit Magazine, Southern Living, Austin Monthly, Design*Sponge, the Washington Post, and CNN.com. She lives in south Austin with her husband, daughter and two four-footed sons. Learn more about Jill’s other work at blueseedcommunications.com, or find her on Instagram (@ExpeditionAustin) or Twitter (@JCoodySmits).