Freelance Writer, Editor & Photographer
Writing and Editing | San Luis Obispo, California Area, US
I'm a travel journalist, photographer, digital media creator, environmental educator and outdoors junkie. I've written more than 50 travel guides and nonfiction books, including for publishers Lonely Planet, Fodor's, Wilderness Press and W.W. Norton. My writing and photography have appeared in national and international newspapers and magazines, as well as on popular travel websites, including National Geographic, Jetsetter, Lonely Planet and the Los Angeles Times. I've worked seasonally for the National Park Service as a park ranger in California and Utah. I've taught ESL/EFL to children and adults in the U.S. and abroad.
Specialties: Editing, writing, photography, digital media, ebooks, social media, blogging, marketing, community management, travel (especially Hawaii, Las Vegas, California, West Coast, U.S. Southwest, national parks, Canada, Peru, Japan), environmental science, academic publications, corporate proposals, magazine and newspaper features, radio and TV interviews
1998 - Present
Freelance Writer, Editor and Photographer / Self-Employed
Research, develop, write and photograph travel guides and nonfiction books for publishers including Lonely Planet, Wilderness Press, AA (UK), Fodor's (Compass American Guides) and Countryman Press (W.W. Norton & Co.).
Create independent travel content and manage social media and online community for Sutro Media's top 100-ranked iTunes travel app (Viva Las Vegas, Baby!).
Provide original content for travel websites including National Geographic Traveler, Jetsetter, Matador, Gogobot, MyYosemitePark.com, Triporati and Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel.
Write articles and take photographs for domestic and international magazines and newspapers including National Geographic Adventure, the Los Angeles Times, Denver Post, Miami Herald, Chicago Tribune, The Telegraph (UK) and The Independent (UK).
Interviewed by National Public Radio (NPR) and local radio and TV stations.
2008 -
2009
Volunteer Museum Docent / California State Parks
Volunteer interpreter and educator at the Coastal Discovery Center at Hearst San Simeon State Beach on California's central coast.
2006 -
2007
Wilderness Ranger and Visitor Use Assistant / National Park Service
Worked seasonally at a wilderness permit issuing station and as a Visitor Use Assistant (VUA) at Kings Canyon National Park in California.
2003 -
2007
Freelance Copy Editor and Proofreader / The College Board
Edited and proofread content for online database of professional reviews of curriculum material for Advance Placement (AP) coursework.
2004 -
2005
Acting Commissioning Editor / Lonely Planet
Commissioned travel guidebooks for US and Canada.
2004 -
2005
Animal Care Volunteer and Public Information Assistant / Oakland Animal Shelter
Monitored animal health, shelter conditions, and visitor safety. Answered inquiries and resolved complaints from the public.
2002 -
2002
Volunteer in Park (VIP) / National Park Service
Archived and cataloged historical documents and photos for use in interpretive park programs and visitor center museum exhibit redesign.
1998 -
1999
Technology Proposal Publications Manager / Motorola
Developed, wrote, edited and managed multimillion dollar technology proposals to win projects from governmental and corporate clients.
Coordinated work schedules for in-house editorial and production staff, university-based specialist authors and scientists working remotely.
1998 -
1998
Middle and High School Teacher / Teach for America
Accepted into a competitive nation-wide teacher training program. Wrote, developed and designed new curriculum for Spanish-speaking ESL students. Improved student performance by 25% during first year.
1995 -
1997
English as a Foreign Language Instructor / Nova Intercultural Institute
Taught English conversation to students of all ages. Liaised between English teachers and Japanese staff. Promoted to assistant manager responsible for training and supervising teaching staff of 20 people.
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2004
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2007
University of California, Berkeley
Continuing ed.
in
Spanish language
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1998
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1999
California State University-Dominguez Hills
Graduate work
in
Secondary education
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1991
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1995
University of Chicago
B.A.
in
English Language & Literature
Activities: Chicago Maroon newspaper, Maroon Key Society, Documentary Film Group, Law School Films.
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1988
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1991
Illinois Mathematics & Science Academy (IMSA)
Diploma
in
All
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Websites:
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Honors:
2011 Thomas Lowell Award for Best Travel Guidebook
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Interests:
California, Hawaii, Las Vegas, US Southwest, US West Coast, Chicago, Japan, Peru, Patagonia, ecology, wildlife, environmental activism, Native American history, travel, road trips, hiking and backpacking, cycling, canoeing and kayaking, wilderness medicine, state and national parks, photography, jazz and blues music, locavarianism