For a press release to stand out to you, what does it need?
It needs to be relevant to the areas I write about (e.g. travel, food, health, lifestyle), has a newsy hook or angle (more than just a new restaurant opening or a new product being launched – editors always want to know ‘so what?’), and offers great talent.
Where is the most exciting or interesting place you’ve travelled to for a story?
It’s hard to choose! I loved the Riverina in NSW because the people there are so passionate about the food and wine they are producing – it really was a joy to travel through that region. And I’ve recently returned from Port Douglas where we ate beautiful food, spent a day out on the Great Barrier Reef and had an incredible river snorkelling trip down the Mossman River.
When did you first decide to be a writer and why?
I’ve always written and loved words (I was one of those people who would tear out beautifully written articles from newspapers and magazines and read them over and over), but I didn’t pursue writing seriously until six years ago. I love that every day I get to interview fascinating people and help make their stories come to life on a page.