February Newsletter
Hello from Santa Fe, New Mexico!
After living in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico for 2 years and 9 months I’ve left my slice of paradise. It’s bittersweet as I’ve truly loved living there. I built a beautiful community and was able to care for myself in ways I never imagined possible. It was a tough decision but my heart and soul have been calling me back to Southeast Asia for quite some time and an opportunity presented itself to take me back to the part of the world I called home for over four years! More on that in next month’s newsletter once I’ve settled in.
Thank you for subscribing to my monthly newsletter that highlights my recently published articles, upcoming calls for sources, and a peek into my travels. If you’d like to support my work, tips are appreciated via Venmo and PayPal. Alternatively, you can subscribe to the paid version of this newsletter for $9.99 a month. If you’d like, buy me a tea here as a token of appreciation.
If you’d like to work with me, I offer consultations where I workshop pitches and allow writers to pick my brain about the industry: LolaAnnMendez.com/Consultation
In February, I wrote 13 articles (about 11,650 words) and almost reached my goal of invoicing for $5K a month. Of the stories I wrote this month, 12 were commissioned pitches and one was an assignment. I sent 63 pitches this month—seven were commissioned, one is being considered, 15 were rejected, one I placed elsewhere, five I moved on from as they were no longer relevant, and 35 are pending a response.
My portfolio can be viewed at any time at LolaAnnMendez.com. In February, I had 11 articles published. This month I made my debut in BBC and USA Today 10Best. I have upcoming pieces in new-to-me publications including Oceania Cruises Magazine.
These are my pieces that were published this month. Each image is clickable so you can read the story.
I always post my calls for sources on Twitter.com/LolaAnnaMendez. Newsletter subscribers are privy to the first look at my current work. PR folks (and individuals, when relevant) are welcome to send pitches for the stories on which I’m currently working. I’m open to PR pitches and suggestions.
Reno, NV travel guide
Tahiti hotel review
LGBTQ+ Portland travel guide
Rio de Janeiro guide
Profile of a Latina travel exec
Maldives hotel review
February was a busy month for me with press trips to a sustainable vineyard in Napa and then witnessing the monarch migration in Mexico with ATMEX. I decided quite abruptly to move away from PV. I was invited on a press trip to The Maldives with a flight through Bangkok, so I decided to trust the timing of the universe and relocate back to Thailand. I plan to be based around Southeast Asia through the end of the year and have pending trips to Bhutan, South Africa, Botswana, and Zimbabwe in the coming months.
March will take me to The Maldives for the first time! I’ll be visiting the Avani property and covering it for UPROXX. I’ve long said sometimes it feels like I’m the only travel journalist who hasn’t been on a press trip to The Maldives so I’m thrilled to be finally reaching this career milestone — especially by visiting such an epic property. I’ll be staying in an overwater bungalow — the dream!
I’m still working out my March plans but I think I’ll spend some time in Bangkok, Krabi, and Koh Phangan. Eventually, I want to make my way back to one of my favorite places in the world — Chiang Mai — but after the smoky season ends, my asthma cannot handle it. I’ve been recuperating since spending a few days in CDMX and then hiking to 10,000 feet, so I need to be cautious of my lung health.
I’m very open to press trips in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and the Pacific in the coming months and am especially keen to visit and write about The Philippines, New Zealand, Fiji, Samoa, Cook Islands, Madagascar, Namibia, Zambia, the Seychelles, Ethiopia, Tunisia, Senegal, Nigeria, Oman, Iran, Georgia, Pakistan, Mongolia, and more!