Travel writer signs up to sell her books on US market (From Warrington Guardian)

Travel writer signs up to sell her books on US market

4:50pm Saturday 19th May 2012 in News

A LOVE of travel and adventure was the inspiration behind a Stockton Heath woman starting her own business.

Jill Nash, of Grappenhall Road, started Luxury Backpackers six years ago.

As a student she had always enjoyed independent travel and as she got older wanted the same freedom but to stay in nice places.

She decided there was a gap in the market for grown-up backpacker guides and from that her series of Luxury Backpacker books were born. There are 10 in the series all focused on different themes.

Family Adventure in Style is the latest edition, but there are others on honeymoons, romantic getaways and film sets, “When we went to Japan we were desperate to visit where Memoirs of a Geisha was filmed,” said Jill.

“And I know there are a lot of other film buffs who enjoy visiting film locations.”

The guides are available from more than 400 retailers including Waterstones and Amazon.

Jill, aged 33, says she enjoys having a business based in Stockton Heath.

“A lot of small businesses like ours help each other out,” she said.

She has just signed an agreement to sell the guides in the USA and has her sights set on other English-speaking countries and ex-pats living in places like Dubai and Singapore.

Jill studied a PhD in academic journalism at Manchester University. But coming from Irish descent on one side and South African on the other, travel has always been a family passion.

Now married with a two-and-a-half-year-old daughter Gaia, Jill said they have made mistakes along the way but have learnt from them.

“It’s been a lot of hard work knocking on doors, but now we’re starting to reap the rewards,” said Jill.

A book signing took place at Waterstones, Golden Square, on Saturday.

Jill, who is orignally from Kendal, already has projects lined up – eco-travel and unusual safaris.

She spends 70 per cent of her year travelling with two or three trips a month experiencing a whole variety of holidays including fitness, city breaks and adventure trips.