Today we’d like to introduce you to Biju Sukumaran and Lydia Schrandt.
Hi Biju and Lydia, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
We were both travel journalists living and working abroad, but visits back to the States included Houston, where Biju grew up. We found that Houston, as one of the most ethnically diverse cities in the U.S., acted as a lens through which we could continue exploring the world.
During the pandemic, international travel went out the window, so we decided to explore all the city’s nooks and crannies, including some of its lesser-known historic places.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Writing a book during the pandemic meant that some of the city’s historic places had shuttered. It was also a little more difficult to do research, as some locations were closed, and we had to rely on more digital research. Luckily, we had ample sources of information – historic archives and very helpful phone conversations with amateur and professional historians.
It was also difficult to figure out what actually was the oldest version of a category, and we had to be very careful how we worded some of the categories.
Also, Houston is a massive city, so narrowing what to cover while also keeping it broad enough was challenging, as was zipping around town to cover it all.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
Lydia was a senior photo editor at USA Today 10Best, where she covered a range of food and both domestic and international travel. She serves as the president of the SATW (Society of American Travel Writers). During the pandemic, she pivoted to the EdTech industry, where she manages a content team at Coursera. She’s also pursuing a Master’s degree in Data Science.
Biju has covered travel for publications like National Geographic Traveller, GQ, Vogue, Esquire, CNN, and more. He’s currently covers the Houston food scene for Houstonia Magazine. When he’s not writing about food or travel, he’s a habit and meditation coach and working on his first book on meditation. He also manages the Facebook group Weird Sh*t in the Heights.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
Our maxim while delving into Houston is to always explore “one street back.”
Due to Houston’s chaotic zoning laws, you’re likely to find a temple or quirky bookstore in unexpected places.
Pricing:
- $20.95
Contact Info:
- Website: thatssohouston.square.site
- Instagram: instagram.com/thatssohouston
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thatssohouston
