Judy Williamson’s Paper Girl’s World offers a captivating journey back in time, chronicling the author’s globe-trotting adventures while on assignment for Texas’ two largest newspapers, The Dallas Morning News and the Houston Chronicle. Through evocative stories and stunning photography, the book provides a nostalgic glimpse into the golden age of travel journalism, once prominently featured in Sunday travel sections.

In this collection, Williamson’s lively prose and vivid imagery transport readers to some of the world’s most iconic destinations. From barging through France and playing the slots in Monte Carlo to navigating Kathmandu’s chaotic traffic and enjoying a solitary moment at the Taj Mahal, the book brims with unforgettable experiences. Her adventures range from sipping gin and tonics in the African bush while tracking a leopard’s kill to exploring the Pacific, where she uncovers Gauguin’s roots and mingles with Marlon Brando’s son in Tahiti.

In an era where the internet and one-paragraph “travel influencers” have transformed travel journalism, Williamson’s tales stand out. They offer armchair travelers a chance to immerse themselves in far-flung locales and experience the thrill of travel from the unique perspective of a young, single woman in the go-go ‘80s and early ‘90s.

The book features many never-before-seen photographs, bringing together a visual feast of the world’s most remarkable travel experiences. Cultural and geopolitical updates throughout the narrative seamlessly connect the past with the present, making Paper Girls’ World not just a trip down memory lane but a vibrant exploration of how travel has evolved over the decades.