Where are you based?
My current base is Amsterdam, though I've also lived in Germany (Berlin), Spain (Barcelona), the UK (London), and all over the U.S. (Tampa; Arlington, Texas; Atlanta; and San Francisco). But I'm a Florida girl at heart. I grew up in a Panhandle town called Valparaiso, where my parents still live, and I'm a proud J-school alumna from the University of Florida (Go Gators!). Here's my favorite story about my home state.
What topics and places do you cover?
Within travel, I cover aviation, Europe travel news and hotels, adventure/outdoors, family travel, and cruising. I also love writing about the American South. And, as a true Scorpio, I'm obsessed with anything offbeat, weird, scary, or spooky, like haunted history, local legends, and myths – even better if it intersects with travel.
What you don't write about:
Finance, cigars, golf, or pets (though that last one might change when we finally get our kiddo the dog he's been begging for).
What outlets do you usually pitch (and write for)?
I regularly contribute to CNN Travel, Afar, Conde Nast Traveler, and the Robb Report. My byline has also appeared in National Geographic, Garden & Gun, Travel + Leisure, The Cut, AARP, Virtuoso Life, and various AAA publications.
The best PR pitches include …
A catchy subject line (more on that below); brief intro if we don't know each other; a strong hook and why this topic matters now; accurate links; 250 words, max; no attachments; and no mention of “in exchange for coverage.” Bonus points for mentioning a story of mine you liked and spelling my name correctly.
Are you in-house or freelance (or both)?
Freelance! Lately, I've also been doing more guest editing, which I love not only for the chance to use my editing skills but for the reminder of an editor's workload – and that it's not personal if they don't respond to your pitch.
What is your approach to press trips?
I'm truly honored by any invitation, but I'm increasingly selective. Group trips, while great for networking, aren't the most effective use of time. (I'm not a fan of those three-hour meals when I could be exploring on my own or working, which is always a challenge while traveling.) Trips organized by tourism boards generally are a better fit for me than hotel-centric ones, since there is much more opportunity for different angles.
What are your professional pet peeves?
I'm not proud of it, but my inbox is a piranha-filled bog. I've gotten better about remembering that it's my job to write (and sell) stories, and not respond to every email (I get about 50 to 100 pitches a day, though I know that's low compared to many fellow journos). I appreciate PR pros who understand that and don't make me feel guilty.
Also: please, no ridiculous embargoes (i.e., for a seasonal menu); no subscribing me to client newsletters; no pitches via text or DMs; and absolutely no AI-generated anything.
On the other side, those insufferable characters who act like primadonnas on trips and/or constantly flex with their bylines and awards chap my hide. We're travel journalists, not brain surgeons. Get over yourself.
In your past professional life, you were …
In college and after graduation, I was a sportswriter (an Associated Press stringer and soccer beat writer for two major newspapers). Then I felt the itch to live abroad, and following a year in Barcelona, I returned to the States and started freelancing full-time. My career has spanned dating columnist (my last name came in handy), guest editor, guidebook writer, restaurant reviewer, writing instructor, and ghostwriter. I also do consulting and copywriting for companies across travel and other industries.
Where would you like to return to?
I was a huge Latin nerd in high school, so I was fascinated with Athens and Pompeii and am eagerly plotting a repeat visit. Ireland, for its rich culture of pubs, legends, and myths. And New Orleans – one of my favorite cities ever.
What's on your bucket list?
Cycling through Tuscany. Hiking Germany's Black Forest. Seeing the Northern Lights. Via ferratas in the Dolomites. An Alaskan cruise. New Zealand.
Where do you travel for fun?
Living in Europe, I'm lucky to have easy access to so many destinations, both familiar and off the beaten path. Portugal, Spain, and Italy are always awesome, and my family loved Derry and Belfast, Northern Ireland, which we visited for the first time last fall.
Your funniest (or most harrowing) travel story is …
Tough call, but one of my favorites (and a testament to finding good material close to home) is running a 5k … naked. The resulting story is an oldie but a goodie.
What advice would you give your younger professional self?
Trust your instincts: If it's a story you'd like to read, most likely others will too, so pitch it! Trust but verify everything a source tells you. And always ask yourself: How can I make my editor's job easier? It's a best practice that PR pros can also apply to their relationships with journalists.
What nugget would you like to add that we haven't touched on?
As freelancers, we have zero control over when an editor publishes a piece, changes roles, or a million other factors that can affect the process – and no one hates it more than we do when that takes longer than expected. We also often don't get paid until a piece runs. The bottom line: Trust that any journo worth their salt is working hard to make a story happen, and the minute we have an update, we'll let you know.
How best should people contact you?
My email is on my website and TravMedia profile, and that's my preferred means of communication. And please subscribe to my Substack newsletter for pitching tips, source requests, and a regular installment called Subject Line Smackdown, in which I analyze recent subject lines from my inbox (no sender names included).
