Sharing stories incites interest and growth in a world we can only ever better understand.
Authorship
I have published two non-fiction tourism guidebooks about Hot Springs, Arkansas, (check them out here) and the craft of book writing is quickly becoming one of my favorite forms of writing. I think the publishing process for work you want shared is one of the greatest due diligences you can do for the subject at-hand. As any good writer is, I am always independently piddling with writing projects, but I am also currently open to taking on writing projects from publishers.
The Hot Springs Post
I started out the full-time freelance portion of my writing career with a full-fledged media outlet reporting news to Hot Springs. Or, at least that’s what my aspirations were for The Hot Springs Post. However, I was a one-woman show and being the reporter, editor, accountant, marketer, and advertising agent for an online media outlet that wasn’t paying even half of my bills was simply not sustainable.
Gosh… it was fun though. And I’m so glad I did it because I learned so much.
However, after two years of my office being my drivers seat as I wrote on a MacBook, hotspot, and a prayer that I would get pinged to go deliver a very generous tipper’s Door Dash order… I retired The Post. It was an amateur project, but I am really proud of it.
Check out the archive here.
Articles from various pubs
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105 and Happy
Mattie Upton, at 105 years old, reflects on her life with humor and humility, revealing anecdotes from her past while cherishing her present. Despite being a local celebrity in her small town of Camden, Arkansas, she remains modest, attributing her longevity to faith, positive attitude, and the joy found in simple pleasures like playing bridge and driving her car. Upton's wisdom, gained from a century of experiences, offers timeless advice on happiness, authenticity, and resilience.
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Farewell Transmissions
Folklore, passed down through generations within communities, encompasses traditions and knowledge, shaping various aspects of life from mundane tasks to cultural beliefs. In Arkansas, as in any community, folklore plays a significant role, from practical customs like folding socks to symbolic tales such as animals revering the birth of Jesus. Studying and preserving folklore not only highlights cultural richness but also fosters community cohesion and provides insight into historical and contemporary practices, underscoring its importance in understanding and preserving collective heritage.
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Spy cats and dolphins
Robert E. "Bob" Bailey, renowned for his work in animal training, began his unexpected career trajectory as a biochemist, later becoming pivotal in diverse projects from training dolphins for the U.S. Navy to assisting the CIA in training spy cats. Alongside managing the IQ Zoo in Hot Springs, Arkansas, Bailey contributed significantly to the field of animal behavior research, with his methods attracting government interest. Despite global recognition, Bailey remains humble, attributing his success to experience, collaboration, and adherence to the principles of operant conditioning pioneered by B.F. Skinner.