Chello! Welcome to My Blog
I’ve conveniently sectioned off my writing into recipes, features and commentary, music reviews and interviews, poetry, dreams, photography, etc., using cutesy titles like “shiny things,” “turntable,” “folding hair,” and “extra large. Enjoy.
Open-Door Policy
We’re friends. I won’t bother you with excessive email updates. In fact, unless it’s momentous — like an announcement that I’m quitting (true story) — I won’t send email at all. You hate it, I hate it, everyone hates it. So let’s forget the whole thing.
Stop by Any Time the Moon Mood Hits
I write whenever. Could be everyday. Could be once a week. Could be never and I delete the entire blog out of disgust. You’ll never know, so keep in touch, er, whenever you have time and are curious what’s on my mind.
Crew?
Some day, my ego may add contributors to the already full roster. Think of this blog as the magazine I always wanted. Otherwise, enjoy the corporate jargon below:
Be part of a community of people who share your interests.
To find out more about the company that provides the tech for this newsletter, visit Substack.com.
Resume
Summary
Journalist with over 35 years of experience reporting, writing, and editing on deadline, often self-imposed. Also photography and layout design using the latest in online publishing. Excited to chase stories, especially in the most unlikely places.
Area of Experience
Reporting, Interviewing, Writing, Editing, Layout Design, Lucid Press, MailChimp, Microsoft Word, Quark, Pagemaker, Sports Photography, Social Media, Typing (over 100 wpm).
Skills and Abilities
Generating Hits
Covered a wide variety of topics for a variety of publications on- and offline, chased leads, and wrote compelling pieces that generated an increase in readership, whether working under a managing editor’s lead or on my own. Started from nothing as a weekly soap opera blogger covering ABC Daytime news and gossip at a popular website in 2000, and soon commanded an average of a million hits a day-to-a-week from viewers, cast and crew, and network executives.
Producing Quality Projects on Time
Able to produce quality publications on deadline, often saving management time and money by taking on multiple jobs. Worked day and night into the weekends, and even after major surgery, to put the publication to bed in time. Intensely project-focused, did whatever it took to get the job done. Never missed a deadline.
Polishing Gems
Used every resource available — press releases, online blurbs, interviews, convoluted email responses — to write profiles of interest about unknown and famous jazz and R&B artists; many have used the profiles as a part of their promos and on their websites, including Joni Mitchell, Herb Alpert, and Donny McCaslin. Transformed complex trade topics (underground storage tanks, RV water system) into exciting, informative, accessible articles.
Experience
Writer, Visit Edmonds
December 2020-January 2023
Research, interview, and write feature stories for the city of Edmonds tourism website monthly. Also provide website content and social media shares.
Contributing Writer, Proofreader, Welcome Magazine of Snohomish
July 2019-March 2021
Worked on assignments covering Snohomish County, interviewed and wrote profiles, features, and sidebars for bi-annual luxury, business, and leisure publication. Proofread and edited magazine prior to publishing.
Editor, Ke Ola O Na Mele, Musicians’ Association of Hawaii-AFM 677 newsletter
December 2016-Present
Write features, edit, and handle layout for quarterly musicians’ union membership newsletter, using WordPress, Lucidpress and MailChimp.
Editor, Associate Editor
Produced on- and offline publications for various trades, including the building, hospitality, and tourism industries, the Chamber of Commerce, and most recently, the musicians’ union.
Columnist, Blogger
Sustained successful, thriving online columns and interviews covering a wide range of topics, from the daytime entertainment industry to jazz, hip-hop, and pop music. Currently a Substack writer, self-publishing a range of topics from music reviews and artist interviews, to commentary and essays about race, lifestyle, and politics.
Education
University of Hawaii, 1984-1986
Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, Minors in English and Political Science
Leeward Community College, 1982-1984
Associate in Liberal Arts
