Where are you based?

I live in Annapolis, Maryland, and was born and raised here. I have also lived in Washington, DC, and London. 

What topics and places do you cover?

I write about luxury and family travel, hotels, food, and lifestyle. I enjoy writing hotel reviews, destination round-ups, and stories that focus on the people behind a destination. Because I live on the Chesapeake Bay, I have written many stories about the sustainability of the Chesapeake Bay, the seafood industry, and boating. I am also a serious foodie who enjoys writing about chefs, culinary travel, or hidden food finds. 

What you don't write about.

I don't write about aviation, RV/Camping, and extreme adventure travel. 

What outlets do you usually pitch (and write for)?

I pitch to a lot of places and regularly contribute to 10Best, Matador Network, and Luxe Recess. In the past few months, I have written for Travel + Leisure, Food and Wine, Condé Nast Traveler, BBC Travel, USA Today, and Thrillist.

The best PR pitches include ...

Something that inspires me to dig deeper into the 'why now' of the destination. I don't gain a lot of value from standard press releases, and would rather a PR take the time to offer unique angles about why it's a story worth telling. I also enjoy connecting on calls and a collaborative approach, so I can ask my own questions if it's a destination I would consider covering. 

Are you in-house or freelance (or both)?

Freelance!

What is your approach to press trips?

I do enjoy press trips and have made some wonderful friendships with other writers and PRs on them. I have to be somewhat selective, as I'm a mom of three who juggles working and travel, so I prefer solo trips that I can work around my calendar. But I find press trips (especially when done really well!) to be incredibly valuable. 

What are your professional pet peeves?

My pet peeves are being bombarded by generic press releases without anything personal to the email or any remarks on why I should consider covering the destination or story. I also will always say no to a press trip if the itinerary and details are purposely vague (i.e, not revealing lodging, activities, or possible itinerary in advance).

In your past professional life, you were …

I began my journalism career as a researcher with The Times of London, DC bureau. It was an incredible experience that taught me to work on tight deadlines (especially with the time difference), attention to detail, and meticulous research. Working in a daily newsroom was invaluable, and I was lucky to work with some very accomplished journalists whose writing I admire to this day. I have an MFA and always thought I would write fiction full-time, and I taught creative writing classes for several years after that. I eventually turned to freelancing when my children were young for the flexibility. 

Where would you like to return to?

Provence, particularly the Luberon. The medieval villages, the food, the climate, all equaled magic. But really, anywhere in France is for me. 

What's on your bucket list?

I would love to explore more of the American West, the Canadian Rockies, and Portugal. 

Where do you travel for fun?

The Lowcountry, any kind of coastal road trip, the BVI, and European travel.

Your funniest (or most harrowing) travel story is …

There's a broadly acknowledged quirk in the DC area where travelers can mix up Reagan National and Dulles Airport when booking travel. I'm embarrassed to say it happened to us a few years ago when we showed up at the wrong airport without double-checking our tickets. A tiny cab for five, a harrowing ride on the beltway, and we eventually made our flight with minutes to spare. I'll never make that mistake again.

What advice would you give your younger professional self?

I would tell myself to find my writing niche sooner. I wrote general lifestyle pieces for many years before zeroing in on travel because I eventually realized my best writing dealt with what I loved most. I would also say to go after target publications right from the start. Ignore the feeling of imposter syndrome; the worst an editor can say is no. 

What nugget would you like to add that we haven't touched on?

TravMedia has been an incredible resource for me. I frequently register for the webinars, and I attend IMM every year. Working from home can be isolating, and I truly enjoy the face-to-face connections and relationships I've formed as a result. I've also landed stories in Condé Nast Traveler, T+L, and Food and Wine as a direct result of IMM connections this past year alone. 

How best should people contact you?

See my TravMedia profile here.