ISBN 978-1-923680-12-8
PAPERBACK
ISBN 978-1-923680-13-5
EBOOK
Passenger Princess
Underprepared and overcaffeinated for the big lap
“Ever dreamt of packing it all up, hitting the open road and living your best life?”
As a reality television producer, Simone was bored of creating onscreen chemistry between fame-hungry singles in hot tubs. Although happily married with two kids, she hit mid-life crisis territory and longed for something more.
Scrolling online, she became obsessed with posts of families doing the Big Lap of Australia in caravans. Not content on waiting until retirement, these families were switching the suburban grind for endless adventure… and she wanted in.
Convincing her husband that they should go on a year-long family road trip, they hire a caravan, quit their jobs and pull the kids out of school. But they quickly discover the Big Lap is nothing like it looks on social media and the brutal unpredictability of #vanlife can make or break you.
From barely surviving to utterly thriving in the Australian Outback, Passenger Princess is a funny and yet heartfelt story of resilience, connection and rediscovery – a reminder that the life you’re craving might just be waiting on the other side of brave.
Because riding shotgun isn’t the passenger seat – it’s the power seat.
About the Author
Simone Skinner-Smith is a television producer and writer.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) and has worked in the Australian Media Industry for over twenty-five years, most recently as a reality television producer on Farmer Wants a Wife, FBOY Island, Love Triangle, and just about every other dating show you’ve ever flicked past on telly.
As a writer, she has had a number of travel features published in the Sydney Morning Herald and short stories published in anthologies.
Simone currently lives in Sydney with her husband, two children, two bunnies and two guinea pigs. She loves travelling and can’t wait to plan their next big adventure (preferably not in a caravan).