Portfolio

Through more than two decades of journalism experience, I’ve learned many lessons on what makes a good story. Today, I work in three different realms. In one realm, I write articles and essays for magazines, newspapers and websites. In another realm, I work with corporate clients, universities and content agencies as a ghostwriter, newsletter writer, editor, idea generator, infographic writer, sponsored content writer and more. And in the third realm, I work with individuals and families as a ghostwriter to transform memories and stories into books they can pass down to their grandchildren’s grandchildren. In all three roles, the goal is the same: to get to the heart of the story.

*Chicago Tribune*
**On a Mission for Maggie: After their daughter’s death, couple commits to tackling her bucket list, one trip at a time**
After their daughter died from cancer at age 17, Donna DeSousa-Schmidt and Steve Schmidt found her bucket list, and let it lead them through their grief.

*Rotary Magazine*
**Divers with disabilities find peace in deep water**
In Chicago, and around the world, the non-profit Diveheart is introducing divers to the wonders—and weightlessness—of adaptive scuba.

*Washington Post*
**In Florida, searching for hope among manatees**
In rivers, springs and near power plants, it’s easy to spot manatees during the Florida winter, even during a challenging year.

Chicago Health Magazine Learning from the dead: The enduring gift of body donationEver wonder what happens when someone donates their body to science? This story takes you through every step of the process. — *Chicago Health Magazine*
**Learning from the dead: The enduring gift of body donation**
Ever wonder what happens when someone donates their body to science? This story takes you through every step of the process.

The Washington Post In Wisconsin, visitors can literally dip their toes into the cranberry harvestTake a ride down the Cranberry Highway to sample pie and step into marshes. Don't forget your waders! — *The Washington Post*
**In Wisconsin, visitors can literally dip their toes into the cranberry harvest**
Take a ride down the Cranberry Highway to sample pie and step into marshes. Don't forget your waders!

*WebMD*
**When ‘good vibes only’ goes too far**
As toxic positivity puts a simple, optimistic spin on complicated situations, the results can be quite negative.

Bloomberg CityLab At ghost kitchens, it’s delivery onlyYour favorite delivery dishes may come from a shared stove, as ghost kitchens put down roots in our culinary culture. — *Bloomberg CityLab*
**At ghost kitchens, it’s delivery only**
Your favorite delivery dishes may come from a shared stove, as ghost kitchens put down roots in our culinary culture.

Chicago Health Magazine Be the death of meHeroin deaths are rising as state-funded treatment falls in Illinois.This story was honored with a Peter Lisagor Award by the Chicago Headline Club. — *Chicago Health Magazine*
**Be the death of me**
Heroin deaths are rising as state-funded treatment falls in Illinois.
*This story was honored with a Peter Lisagor Award by the Chicago Headline Club.*

Politico FOCUS The inventor’s journeyIn this piece, I wrote the script and text about how a robust patent system works to protect entrepreneurs and fuel innovation (Sponsored content by Ericsson). — *Politico FOCUS*
**The inventor’s journey**
In this piece, I wrote the script and text about how a robust patent system works to protect entrepreneurs and fuel innovation (*Sponsored content by Ericsson*).

Saveur The Drinker's Guide To Stocking Your WindowsillBeyond basil and thyme: five hard-to-find but delicious herbs to upgrade your drinks that you can grow yourself. — *Saveur*
**The Drinker's Guide To Stocking Your Windowsill**
Beyond basil and thyme: five hard-to-find but delicious herbs to upgrade your drinks that you can grow yourself.

The Washington Post The silver Christmas tree, an icon of Space-Age kitsch, turns 60The sparkly Evergleam tree came to be thanks, in part, to my entrepreneurial grandfather—and a lot of aluminum. (This story won Honorable Mention for Best Reported E… — *The Washington Post*
**The silver Christmas tree, an icon of Space-Age kitsch, turns 60**
The sparkly Evergleam tree came to be thanks, in part, to my entrepreneurial grandfather—and a lot of aluminum. (*This story won Honorable Mention for Best Reported Essay by American Society of Journalists and Authors.*)

*Rotary Magazine*
**Polio’s ‘Hidden Figures’ in Tuskegee**
At the height of segregation, a group of Black doctors and scientists worked to stop polio.

Maxim The Texas Whiskey RushThe Lone Star State legalized distilling then did what it does best and went big. Read on for a shot of Texas gold. — *Maxim*
**The Texas Whiskey Rush**
The Lone Star State legalized distilling then did what it does best and went big. Read on for a shot of Texas gold.

*WebMD*
**Sperm donors may not be as anonymous as they think**
In this era of at-home DNA tests, anonymity can be elusive when it comes to sperm donation, and attitudes are evolving because of it.

National Geographic Secret summer walksIn Chicago, a secret, zig-zag path leads to a forest, a river and a brief escape from reality. Especially in the times of COVID. — *National Geographic*
**Secret summer walks**
In Chicago, a secret, zig-zag path leads to a forest, a river and a brief escape from reality. Especially in the times of COVID.

Travel Mindset Chicago To Canada Or BustHow a bicycle got me from Chicago to Canada (with only one short detour to the emergency room along the way). — *Travel Mindset*
**Chicago To Canada Or Bust**
How a bicycle got me from Chicago to Canada (with only one short detour to the emergency room along the way).

The Washington Post Pie-Eyed For Pizza: A Love StoryNow that I'm married to this pizza nerd, I love this story—about how we met, and his love of all things sliced—even more. — *The Washington Post*
**Pie-Eyed For Pizza: A Love Story**
Now that I'm married to this pizza nerd, I love this story—about how we met, and his love of all things sliced—even more.

Spirit, Southwest Airlines Magazine Dynamo, MississippiThis unstoppable woman got a city in Mississippi, aka the “Fattest State in the Nation” to lose a collective 30,000 pounds. — *Spirit*, Southwest Airlines Magazine
**Dynamo, Mississippi**
This unstoppable woman got a city in Mississippi, aka the “Fattest State in the Nation” to lose a collective 30,000 pounds.

Spirit, Southwest Airlines Magazine How Mya Saved JacobWhen this this war-rattled veteran had nearly given up hope, he found an extraordinary soul who ended the nightmares. — *Spirit,* Southwest Airlines Magazine
**How Mya Saved Jacob**
When this this war-rattled veteran had nearly given up hope, he found an extraordinary soul who ended the nightmares.

Spirit, Southwest Airlines Magazine Turning PinkA year embedded in Mary Kay Cosmetics turned this shy writer into a gutsy moneymaker. Hint: It wasn't the lipstick. — *Spirit*, Southwest Airlines Magazine
**Turning Pink**
A year embedded in Mary Kay Cosmetics turned this shy writer into a gutsy moneymaker. Hint: It wasn't the lipstick.

Luxury Las Vegas Magazine Elves On Ice: A Christmas Journey To IcelandThe ‘Hidden Worlds’ tour gives insight into a world of little people, who do far more than bake cookies and help Santa. — *Luxury Las Vegas Magazine*
**Elves On Ice: A Christmas Journey To Iceland**
The ‘Hidden Worlds’ tour gives insight into a world of little people, who do far more than bake cookies and help Santa.

Spirit, Southwest Airlines Magazine True StoryFor the formerly wayward O.T. Powell, a storytelling nonprofit known as The Moth led to confession—and redemption. — *Spirit*, Southwest Airlines Magazine
**True Story**
For the formerly wayward O.T. Powell, a storytelling nonprofit known as The Moth led to confession—and redemption.

Men’s Health Magazine Jack O'Neill: The Innovator Of SurfThe free-spirited inventor of the wetsuit reflects on a life amid the waves. — *Men’s Health Magazine*
**Jack O'Neill: The Innovator Of Surf**
The free-spirited inventor of the wetsuit reflects on a life amid the waves.

DivineCaroline.com O, Evergleam Aluminum Christmas TreeHow the bright and sparkly aluminum Christmas tree is also a part of my family tree. — *DivineCaroline.com*
**O, Evergleam Aluminum Christmas Tree**
How the bright and sparkly aluminum Christmas tree is also a part of my family tree.

To see a greater variety of my work, please visit my portfolio on Contently.