June 2024 Newsletter
Sawasdee kha from Thailand!
I’ve spent the last three weeks back in my beloved Chiang Mai — it’s my third time living here. It’s been such a joy to establish somewhat of a routine here with Latin dance classes (never knew I’d find these in Thailand), daily yoga sessions, sound bowl healing, acupuncture, nearly daily Thai massages, visits to Buddhist temples, and so many other wonderful things. This weekend I’m off on a two-week press trip (two separate trips) and will visit three new-to-me African countries. I’m so stoked to be back on safaris and to put my 3,000 zoom lens to good use.
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.
WORK WITH ME
I offer consulting services to PR professionals, brands, and writers. I bring a unique set of skills to the media industry as I worked in New York City as a publicist for seven years and have worked as a freelance journalist for eight years. I have a deep understanding of the inner workings of relationships between PR/brands and writers/publications.
Consultations for brands and publicists include insights on best practices for pitching journalists, how to foster relationships with journalists, media training, and more. I’m also available for hire to pen marketing materials such as press releases, media alerts, website copywriting, blog and social media content, and more.
For writers, my consultations include workshopping pitches and for writers to pick my brain about the industry. Writers who book consultations are added to my exclusive Facebook group where I share editors' calls for pitches and provide access to an editorial database of over 3,000 editor contacts. Learn more here: LolaAnnMendez.com/Consultation
I’m also available for paid social media campaigns. I have a community of 21,000 followers across Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook who are interested in travel, sustainability, veganism, women’s health, cannabis, and other industries.
MONTHLY STATS
May has been my highest-grossing month and June was a close second, but still shy of my humble $5K monthly income goal. I wrote eight articles (about 6,500 words). Six were commissioned pitches and two were assignments. I sent 105 pitches this month—six were commissioned, two are being considered, 39 were rejected (or I moved on because I placed the story elsewhere or the story was no longer timely), and 58 are pending a response. I’ve officially sent over 400 pitches in 2024 and had 48 commissioned and 160 rejections.
NEW ARTICLES
My portfolio can be viewed at any time at LolaAnnMendez.com. In June, I had 10 new articles published including my debut in Condé Nast Traveler and Backpacker Magazine. I have upcoming pieces in new-to-me publications including Scuba Diving Magazine, The Good Times, and Oceania Cruises Magazine.
These are some of my pieces that were published this month. Each image is clickable so you can read the story.
CALLS FOR PITCHES & PR SOURCES
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. At this moment I’m not working on any pieces for which I need support from PR reps or expert sources.
WHERE IN THE WORLD IS LOLA?
I started June in Crete which I detailed in my last newsletter and I spent most of June here in Chiang Mai, Thailand. I’m working on an article for Business Insider on why, after visiting 90 countries, Chiang Mai is the place I come back to time and time again. Follow me on Instagram or wait until next month’s newsletter to see where in Africa I’m visiting in July.
I’m very open to press trips in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and the Pacific in the coming months. I'm especially keen to visit and write about New Zealand, Fiji, Samoa, Cook Islands, Madagascar, Namibia, Zambia, Seychelles, Ethiopia, Mauritius, Senegal, Nigeria, Oman, Iran, Georgia, Pakistan, Mongolia, and more!