Andrew Hempstead is one of the world’s most prolific guidebook writers, having authored and updated 120 guidebooks that have sold over one million copies in the last 30 years. In 2023 Hempstead was inducted into the Royal Canadian Geographic Society as a Fellow for his 30 years of writing about Canada through his guidebooks.

He has been a fulltime travel writer since 1992, when, after leaving a career in the field of advertising, he took off for Alaska, linking up with veteran travel writer Deke Castleman to help research and update the fourth edition of Moon Handbooks Alaska-Yukon. His major guidebook clients have included Avalon Travel, Frommer’s, Fodors, Michelin, Odyssey, Dorling Kindersley, Michelin, and Sasquatch Books. He is a contributing partner to the Canadian Rockies Travel Guide and his writing has also appeared in numerous magazines and online for clients such as Northstar Media, Alaska Airlines, and Expedia. He also writes and edits for corporate clients such as Parks Canada and Travel Alberta.

Andrew is also co-owner with his wife of Summerthought Publishing, with 30 books in print about the Canadian Rockies and Alberta, and Gem Trek Maps, publisher of waterproof hiking maps.

Andrew and his family live in Banff, Alberta.