October 2024 Newsletter
Sawasdee kha from Thailand!
Sorry for the delay in my monthly newsletter — I was on vacation and didn’t take my laptop. It was thrilling and freeing and I read two whole books in four days while sunbathing and swimming around one of Thailand’s many idyllic islands. But now, back to reality. I’m back home in Chiang Mai for a few weeks before I have to do a visa run to officially re-enter the country on my shiny brand new DTV 5-year visa for Thailand. You can find more on my travels at the end of the newsletter.
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 via Venmo and PayPal are appreciated. 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 having worked in New York City as a publicist for seven years and 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
In October, I wrote two articles (about 2,000 words). One was a commissioned pitch and the other was an assignment. I sent 17 pitches this month — none were commissioned, three were rejected (or I moved on because I placed the story elsewhere or the story was no longer timely), four are being considered, and 10 are pending a response.
NEW ARTICLES
My portfolio can be viewed at LolaAnnMendez.com. In October, I had 10 articles published. This month I made my debut in International Traveller, Center for Victims of Torture, and Mushroom People Magazine. I have upcoming pieces in new-to-me publications including the LA Times, Mosaic Magazine, and Wired.
These are 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 get 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.
WHERE IN THE WORLD IS LOLA?
I spent all of October in Thailand which really helped me settle into feeling like I truly do live here now! I have no press trips lined up, but this month will take me to an island I’ve never been to before in Malaysia for vacation. My birthday gift for my 35th year is to spend at least three days at the beach each month as I now live in the mountains. I may potentially be headed back to one of my favorite destinations for an exciting project — stay tuned for news on that via my social media.
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, Seychelles, Ethiopia, Mauritius, Senegal, Nigeria, Oman, Iran, Georgia, Pakistan, Mongolia, and more!