February 2013 BUZZ

Why Have a Profile Page
by Darlene Foster

I have been a member of BCATW for four years and have found it to be very beneficial for a number of reasons. One of the best benefits is the BCATW website, especially the fabulous new website.  Having a profile on the website is a great marketing tool for you and your travel writing. The wonderful thing is, you now have more control over your profile. You can add and delete things as you move along in your travel writing career. I would encourage everyone to set up a profile if you haven’t already. I am the least technical person you will ever meet, and I was able to do it. The profile definitely gives you credibility as a travel writer. I would suggest adding the BCATW website URL to your web site, business card and e-mail signature. Everyone can now add events, news and promotions themselves to the website. I get an email notice for new every post, so I don’t miss a thing. We only have one or sometimes two events a year to get together with our fellow members. The website helps us stay connected. The old site is now down and disabled so it is important everyone create a new profile page. If you have any questions, contact Mari Kane. For a small fee she will even set up your page for you. Take advantage of this added value to your membership. See you on the website!

New Press Cards are on the way! Watch for Yours!
by Chris Millikan

All BCATW members in good standing will receive an updated Press Card before long. These dazzling ‘new look’ cards developed by Karoline Cullen are a big improvement on the original design and very professional in appearance. Renewing members will be asked to submit their headshots & addresses over the next while, so stay tuned for details.

Members who use the BCATW Press Card find them valuable, both locally & abroad. We use ours whenever we can, usually together with our business card. Over the years, we’ve received complimentary entries into all kinds of exhibitions and museums, for example. The Press Card can help also travel writers gain available media rates at some places, establish credibility with Tourism Boards or even PR reps. If you never ask… you’ll never know the result!

News from Members

Barb Rees went on a culinary fam tour on the Olympic Peninsula in October and because of meeting the editor of Harbors magazine for coffee, received an assignment for Neah Bay. She feels strongly about building relationships with editors, and this confirmed it. Her first article with them was in the fall issue on the BC shellfish industry. They used her photo of Powell River on the cover.The Neah Bay article telling the story of the Makah people and their area appeared in the winter issue of Harbors magazine: www.harborsmagazine.com

She also submitted a story to Senior Living about a couple who made the transition from LA to living off the grid up Powell Lake. It will appear in the spring, and an article about Toquaht Bay on Vancouver Island in the summer issue.

In the midst of freelancing she finished the manuscript for her next travel book, “RV Canada And The Polar Bear Dream.” It will be launched in Powell River in April before her and husband Dave embark on their fifth RV Canada adventure with their books. This tour will take them to NL where they will spend a month touring from east to west coast, right in time for lobster and icebergs. Barb first tried a working RV holiday in 2003 with her book, and has since found it a marvelous way to see the country, meet the people, and hear their stories which is fuel for more articles and books. The bonus is it helps pay for the trip. www.write2dream.com

Randi Winter has 9 travel pieces and photos being published on a new MSN travel solution which will debut in March. It includes articles, tips and slide show presentations.

She also recently returned from Hawaii where she did extensive research for potential articles on Oahu and Maui, in case anyone might be looking for any stories, including an interview with Bev Gannon, one of the Top Chefs in America.

She is also coordinating special events for BCATW including presentations on South and Central America and also another one on World Heritage places around the world…and what suppliers are looking for in sponsoring or subsidizing travel writers. Everyone is encouraged to participate as these are or are considering being Industry partners.

She is also working on a fam and other possible opportunities of connecting with other travel writing groups in the Pacific Northwest.

Travel to India is in Randi’s plans for May, and must choose between North and Southern India.

Ruth Kozak has had a couple more stories published in EuropeUpClose including Carnival in Greece (Apokreas) and Venice: Mistress of the Seas.  She’s currently keeping busy sending out queries and submissions to various publishers and agents for her historical novel SHADOW OF THE LION. Ruth is also instructing various writing classes and in February will instruct two all-day Memoir Writing classes. Feb 16, John Oliver and Feb 23, New West. High school.  Sign up now! www.ruthkozak.com

Irene Butler and her husband Rick’s Mexican Family Christmas was a success! She is now writing about the great fun and challenges of accommodating the varied skill levels and interests of 18 people ranging in age from 7 to 68; a group composed of 6 individual families spanning 4 generations.

Irene’s  Bali story appeared in the January issue of “Senior Living Magazine” –
http://www.seniorlivingmag.com/articles/beautiful-blissful-bali

“What Travel Writers Say” published her story on Mongolia –
http://www.whattravelwriterssay.com/ulaanbaatar.html

and another on  Lake Baikal, Siberia –
http://www.whattravelwriterssay.com/lakebaikal.html

The Richmond News published “There’s No Place Like Siberia” (Travel Writers Tales)  in the January 25^th issue.

Baila Lazarus has just become managing editor of Business Examiner Vancouver Island and Business Examiner Thompson Okanagan. If you have business-related travel stories (such as a new heli-skiing business starting at Silver Star resort, or the financial impact of Family Day on BC tourist destinations) contact her. She may be interested in a story.

Joei Carlton Hossack just ended a really busy January and looking forward to a little less hectic for her last month is Yuma, Arizona.  She has 3 craft shows scheduled and on February 16th she has been invited to speak about her travels at a Ham Radio Festival at the Yuma Fairgrounds.

Her first Mini Read – How I Lost 3 Pounds in 30 Years of Dieting Without Going Hungry – has been made into an e-book and is available through Amazon for the Kindle e-reader.  By the end of the first week in February 2 more Mini e-books (Down on the Farm and Morocco – Without a Pit to Hiss In)  will be available.

Rick Neal has an article on the magical mountain village of Sapa, Vietnam in the February edition of Senior Living.

Rick and Chris Millikan’s Arizona’s Route 66 tale was published in Open Roads Driver Magazine www.openroaddriver.com.  A Province Cancun tale just reappeared in the Herald: www.calgaryherald.com/travel/Rediscovered+cities+jungle/7668107/story.html And Rick’s “Zen Cyclopath’s Vancouver Island Tour” may still be seen in the January-February Cycle California Magazine www.cyclecalifornia.com.  In all cases, local tourism bureaus and businesses initially checked us out as writers and supported our intentions to feature them in articles.

As a long time Press Tripper, Rick plans to share well-honed techniques as one of the table topics at the May 11^th BCATW Symposium.  He says, “Few realize how Press Trips can be developed to defray costs as well as effectively planned to cover your interests and story ideas.”  At another table, Chris will tell about how BCATW Press Cards can be effectively used, as we do, wherever your may travel!

BCATW Biz

If you have not done so already, it is time to renew your annual membership. The deadline for renewal has been extended to February 28th.
Please send your cheque for $48 made out to “BC Association of Travel Writers” to:
Baila Lazarus
BC Association of Travel Writers
PH3 1433 East 1st Ave
Vancouver, BC
V5N 1A4

Karoline and Darlene
Your BUZZ Co-Editors
www.bcatw.org

Photo: Maui Sunsets by K. Cullen

BUZZ is a monthly newsletter for BCATW members to keep them updated on announcements, news and publishing information.