I was excited when writer Kimberly Saward invited me to this fun exchange known as a “Blog Hop” because it ignited a little fire in me to return to my own personal blogging (much of what I do with Green Treehouse Media, LLC involves ghostwriting for others). It also encouraged me to reach out to other a few other blogging friends with the opportunity to spotlight their work.

I just love happy endings – and beginnings!

Last Monday, Kimberly was kind enough to feature my work on her beautiful blog called Ariadne’s Thread:

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“I am a writerly soul and creative. A California native, I now live in England with my husband, Jeff; we co-founded Labyrinthos nearly 15 years ago, and are best known for our work with labyrinths. I wrote my PhD dissertation on the transformative potential of labyrinth walking, and have since published a number of articles and booklets on labyrinths and their associated folklore. As past president of the international Labyrinth Society, I delight in networking with the worldwide labyrinth community. I am, in fact, a community builder at heart, researching the labyrinth symbol wherever it appears in the world, but also working as a social media consultant, and teaching knitting and beadweaving as a way of encouraging creativity, spirituality, and imagination in my local community.

My blog, Ariadne’s Thread, is an eclectic mix of my interests and passions, from my kitchen alchemy and knitting, to poetry, pilgrimage, and divination. For me, Ariadne’s Thread is the thread of divine connection that weaves all this together and connects me to Spirit. My blog invites you to explore my world with me as I spin the thread that is weaving the tapestry of my life.

Today’s social media fascinates me; its potential for community-building is without precedent. You can find me on FacebookTwitterGoogle+, and LinkedIn, and from there connect to the various pages I administrate for community, craft, and labyrinth. You can also connect to me via the Labyrinthos website.”

Kimberly challenged me to answer four questions today about my own work. Here goes:

What am I working on/writing? 

I’m always working on at least five projects at once on any given day. My creative brain actually thrives on this kind chaos! I really enjoy switching among completely different writing venues and topics. I find that doing so keeps my words fresh and exciting. Today, I have a new feature article I’m researching and writing for M&V Magazine’s July/August “The Family Issue.” I’m also reviewing a new smart phone app for ADVANCE for Physical Therapy & Rehab Medicine Magazine that will be released to their readers in June and drafting an article for one of my local small business clients that will appear in Florida Weekly’s May Healthy Living Magazine. Additionally, I’m plugged into all my clients’ social media platforms and responding in real-time to any comments/questions on their pages.

How does my work/writing differ from others of its genre? 

I adore listening to other people convey their dreams for their businesses and organizations. Helping individuals craft their special stories is such a fun mission for me. My tag line “rooted and grounded in a love of words” is absolutely aligned with my own professional goals. Because writing is my second career (I’ve been a licensed Physical Therapist for almost 26 years and have another company I founded in 2008 called Labyrinth Wellness, LLC), I do it out of a pure love and devotion to the craft. I truly can’t wait to come to work every morning. Writing is my dream and now I get to do it everyday. The joy of crafting words and the intense attention to detail I bring to every writing or copy editing project (my love of research is a by-product of my medical training) hopefully shows to my readers. Nothing makes me happier than knowing I’ve delivered my best writing work to a client whether or not my own name is on the byline.

Why do I write what I do?

I was a junior in college when I wrote these words in my journal: “I write because I am confused and seek to understand.” Several years later through intense self-examination and creative exploration, I knew for certain that writing was my true calling. Another quote by George Eliot “It’s never too late to be what you might have been” provided me with the courage I needed to begin equipping myself with the skills I would need to be successful. Initially, I wrote inspirational essays and faith-based devotionals for various publications out of The Upper Room. Later, I focused on educating others about the creative tool of the labyrinth and stepped into my first editing opportunity for the San Francisco area non-profit Veriditas. On a whim, I even approached one of the most well-known trade magazines for PT’s called ADVANCE during an online job fair to see if I might incorporate my physical therapy training into some article writing for their print publication. Along the way, I discovered I loved utilizing social media and experimented by teaching myself how to build blogs, Facebook and Twitter sites for friends. Finally, I decided to go “all in” and launched GTM in 2011 to devote myself to my writing dream full-time. Now, I’m thrilled to be getting freelance writing assignments on all types of topics through exceptional publications such as M&V Magazine.

How does my writing process work?

I frequently intersperse my freelance magazine article writing with ghost writing assignments for small business clients and larger non-profit organizations. When I need a little brain break, I’ll check on my monthly Green Treehouse Media (GTM) clients’ social media sites.  I’ve found that searching the web for relevant and timely topics often provides me with leads that I can later incorporate into some of my other work.

I try to journal at least three handwritten pages a few mornings a week or at the very least, scribble down writing ideas in my notebook. I’m old-school in terms of preferring pen and paper during creative brainstorming sessions.

Oh yes, and I drink coffee; LOTS of it (pretty much all day long).

Gosh, thanks again, Kim. That was actually pretty darn therapeutic!

Now, please let me introduce you to three fellow South Florida bloggers whose work I think you’ll love, too.

Meet Michele Haid of Winehooch.com:

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“Curious? Well, I love to tell my story. The sip that put the first smile on my face was at a fairly young age. I do not want to say the exact number, but I was not quite legal in this country. Thankfully, I was in Portugal, so it was OK, and I was under the guidance of my more mature and wine savvy cousins. The pretty pink slightly sweet with a touch of effervescence wine was Lancers. That started it all. Luckily for myself and all of you my tastes have evolved and matured nicely. My sassiness and spirit have not.

I am half Portuguese and half Italian. Two of my favorite wine-producing countries. It is my genetic makeup and my mission to further my love affair with wine and share it with whoever will listen. Thank you for listening. This will be a great relationship.

I have been a Wine Professional for over 10 years. I have worked many facets of the industry as a wine buyer, marketer and in sales. Currently, I work for Southern Wine & Spirits as a Fine Wine Consultant for the Island of Palm Beach and Downtown West Palm Beach. I have always enjoyed wine and enjoyed sharing it with others. Winehooch.com is a not-so serious approach to enjoying serious wine. No wine snobs here. We host wine tastings, wine dinners, events, promotions and social media marketing. When I think of wine I think of fun, friends, purple teeth, and every once in a while the wine stain right above my chest. There is a time and a place to be super serious about your wine, never snobby. Winehooch.com is the place to go for wine reviews, tastings in the area, the latest and greatest establishments to enjoy wine, and anything else that is on my mind. Sip and leave the attitude behind.”

Connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, Linked In, Instagram, Pinterest and Google+. Cheers!”

 

Meet Kendall Rumsey of Notes From a Southern Kitchen:

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“As a transplant to the white sands of south Florida, Notes from a Southern Kitchen was born with the intent of reconnecting me with my Appalachian roots.  Born and raised in northeast Georgia, the simple life of my childhood was in stark contrast to the hustle and bustle of my present surroundings.

In creating Notes from a Southern Kitchen, I began to connect the stories of youth with the lessons of a 40 something year old man.  The transforming moments in a strawberry field or sitting in a musical circle of family and friends, chance encounters with celebrity and the loss of my older brother all provided memories that created the backdrop of Notes.  One of the great benefits of the blog was in helping my aging mother remember these family adventures in her last years of life.

While Notes has continued to evolve over the years, I long for those original days of stories and life lessons.  While time doesn’t allow me to share as much as I used to, my story list continues to grow and one day, when I am able to let career take a backseat to passion, I will share them all.  For now, great music, words to live by and the occasional story must suffice.

As I approach 50, a new project has recently begun to capture my attention.  The Gay 50, a lifestyle blog for other gay men and women who have passed the half-century mark.  This blog, while in its infancy, is a mix of health, style, entertainment, travel, sports, politics and anything else that may be of interest for the Gay 50 set!

Writing is a passion, one day I look forward to devoting all of my attention to words on the page, however in the meantime I will dabble in my blogs, write the occasional story and continue along in my marketing career.”

Connect with me on FacebookTwitterPinterestYouTube and Google+.”

 

And finally, please meet Jules of The Wife Behind the Genius:

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“The Wife Behind the Genius is a story of survival: a story of how Jules and many, brave women around the world survive their partnerships with their nerdy geniuses and particularly, how Jules survived life at the one and the only, MIT.  (Of course, this could have been the story about the Husband Behind the Genius. Jules is a genius too, though she may not have the Brass Rat to prove it. But she is a great poser in her MIT Alumni T-shirt.) From course numbers to how nerds get their party on to robotic competitions, Jules provides an insider’s look to life at Planet Nerd, aka. MIT.

The Wife Behind the Genius has been happily married to Ted, whom she also refers to as her micro version of Planet Nerd, for 5 years, 6 months and counting. Ted and Jules live in the Sunshine State and don’t understand why people would live anywhere else. Definitely worth noting is that  Jules is the eldest of the three ‘Tall and Hots’ as deemed by her brother-in-law, Austin. She wears that title with honor and humbly accepts the gold medal as the oldest and gawkiest of the Tall and Hots.

The Wife Behind the Genius does have a professional life and hopes that after this blog goes live that is still the case. She is working on her MBA and wants to help businesses do more good in the world. Jules and Ted love the beach.  You can find her by keeping an eye out for the surfer who keeps falling off their board. Or, if you’re lucky enough- it’s possible you might view it as unlucky- you’ll find her at the closest nude beach falling off her surf board. Yep, that’s her.

For more sarcastic and witty takes on Planet Nerd, read more at The Wife Behind the Genius.  Find her on Facebook and follow her on Twitter.”

So, take a minute today and click through to all four of these fabulously diverse bloggers’ sites. You’ll be so very glad you did!

 

it’s just a hop, skip and a jump