Portfolio
Recent Articles
Rolling Around in Southern England’s South Downs
Trail Runner, June 2011
A trail running guide to the UK’s newest national park, with first-person perspective, local runners’ tips, and detailed information about events and resources.
Running Through the Range of Light: Mountain Runners and Elite Roadies Explore Trails from Mammoth to Bishop
Trail Runner, May 2011
A profile of the Eastern Sierra’s stunning trail network, plus a Q&A with a top local ultrarunner.
Another Weekend, Another 100-Mile Run: How Monica Scholz Ran 25 100s in 2010
UltraRunning, May 2011
The story of a woman on a quest to break her own record to run the most 100-mile races in a single year, and why she says “Running was not the hardest part.”
Driving Across New Zealand on Arthur’s Pass
TheVacationGals.com travel website, March 2011
Our family’s adventure crossing the South Island from the West Coast to Christchurch, full of tips on things to do and see along the way.
The Biggest Mistakes to Avoid When Planning Long-Term Family Travel
AlmostFearless.com travel website, April 2010
Planning a year-long round-the-world family adventure can be fraught with frustration. Here’s first-person advice on how to plan a far-flung family itinerary.
R&R by RV at New Zealand’s Family-Friendly Holiday Parks
TheVacationGals.com travel website, December 2009
A firsthand account full of inspiration and practical info on touring the Kiwi landscape by RV for an unforgettable family vacation.
Family Travel in Bariloche, Argentina
TheVacationGals.com travel website, November 2009
Where to stay and what to do for families visiting Argentina’s Lake District.
Trail Bloggers: Find Training Tips and Wacky Wisdom on the Blogosphere’s Virtual Trails
Trail Runner, August 2009
Trail runners make great bloggers — but like the idiosyncratic runners themselves, the blogs are all over the map. This article separates the worthwhile blogs from the virtual bogs and reviews 25 worth bookmarking.
Find Your Manners: Helping Kids (And Grown-Ups) Boost Their Social Skills
Oakland Magazine, May 2009
“Etiquette training” may seem fussy and outdated, but this profile of an etiquette teacher makes the case that old-fashioned manners matter more than ever to promote respect and enhance relationships.
Pacific Coast Trail Runs: Wendell Doman and Sarah Spelt’s ‘Fun’-damental Formula for Success
UltraRunning, March 2009
A profile of the couple behind Pacific Coast Trail Runs, a Northern Californian trail-running series that has fueled the sport’s growing popularity and enabled these two endurance athletes to pursue their dream job.
Every Bite You Take: Mindful Eating Can Help You Lose Weight and Make Peace With Food
Oakland Magazine, January 2009
First-person cover story integrating personal experience with research to show how to achieve better health and savor food without overindulging. Three sidebars include practical advice and additional research from experts in food marketing and psychology.
Catch a Fire(trail): The Dick Collins Firetrails 50
Trail Runner Magazine, January 2009
Profile of a classic trail running event and the athletes behind it, along with a sidebar Q&A with ultrarunning legend Ann Trason.
Who’s Present in Class Today?
The East Bay Monthly, November 2008
Education feature examining an innovative program that teaches mindfulness in elementary schools for better classroom management and less stress.
Going Nuts Over Nits
Oakland Magazine, August 2008
How-to article that uses first-person humor and in-depth research to demystify head lice and explain the do’s and don’ts for getting rid of it. Two sidebars: one explaining the controversy over schools’ “no nit” policies, the other profiling owners of a delousing salon.
Oakland’s All-New SuperMarkets
Oakland Magazine, March 2008
Business feature analyzing new markets and trends in food retailing. Accompanying two-page guide reviewing the area’s new chain grocers and locally owned independents.
The New You: 25 Ways to Reinvent Yourself Through Healthy Living
Oakland Magazine, January 2008
Cover story providing an inspirational real-life story and 25 tips for achieving health and wellness. Info on local resources provided with each tip.
Climb Every Mountain
Oakland Magazine, December 2007
Profile of 60-year-old adventure traveler Alice Hiatt and her mission to deliver hope to Tanzania while scaling Kilimanjaro and the other Seven Summits.
Coffee for the Committed
Oakland Magazine, October 2007
Profile of the couple behind Sweet Maria’s, an organic green coffee bean supplier that caters to home roasters. Sidebar on how to roast coffee at home.
Camp Wishi
The East Bay Monthly, July 2007
First-person essay about the struggle to be a good parent and find peace of mind during summer.
Samples of Past Work
“In This Race, It’s Okay to Take a Ride,” a profile of the sport of ride-and-tie, Ultrarunning, January/February 2003.
“Fast Forward,” a first-person essay on the bittersweet anticipation of a second child, Neighborhood Parents Network newsletter, February 2002.
“Swing Shift: How one couple solves the mystery of raising a family while writing novels,” a profile of Michael Chabon and Ayelet Waldman, The East Bay Monthly, December 2001.
“The Diablo Guide to Kitchen Remodeling,” Diablo Magazine, September 2001. Everything you need to know to plan a successful kitchen remodel.
Framing the Questions: New Visions from the Arts and Humanities at Berkeley, an award-winning booklet commissioned by UC Berkeley to showcase faculty research in the humanities, 2000.
“Totware: A Skeptical Run Through Popular Toddler Software,” San Francisco Examiner Magazine, August 15, 1999.
“Far From the Madding Crowd: Livermore Valley, the ‘other’ Wine Country, produces quality wines in a quiet setting,” San Francisco Examiner Magazine, June 6, 1999.
“The Diablo Guide to Running,” an eight-page pullout guide to running trails and clubs, Diablo Magazine, October 1998.
“Ultrawoman: Ann Trason could be the greatest athlete you never heard of,” The East Bay Monthly, January 1998.
Daily reporting for the Valley Times/Contra Costa Newspapers: A small sample of the hundreds of articles produced while covering local news beats in the cities of Livermore and Pleasanton, 1996 – 1997.
“Power and the People’s Lawyer,” a profile of “People’s Lawyer” Jim Rogers, San Francisco Daily Journal, January 11, 1996.
“Ban Homework in Half Moon Bay? Pupils See a Half-Baked Idea,” New York Times, October 29, 1994.
Developmental Editing
An example of an inner-office memo to a senior editor critiquing an author’s first-draft manuscript, typical of the manuscript and book proposal reviews written while associate editor for Guilford Publications.
A memo to an author critiquing her manuscript and laying out a plan for revision. Memo includes a proposed vision statement for the book, an analysis of the manuscript’s strengths and weaknesses, recommendations for leveraging the book’s strengths, and a proposed revised outline. The client was The University of California Press, which needed a developmental editor to guide the author through a full rewrite.
Documentary Filmmaking
Ready, Set, Bag!
Researcher and second unit producer. Conducted extensive research and interviewed sources about the U.S. food retailing industry and the role of the independent grocer for this documentary about the 2007 National Grocery Bagging Competition. Managed a camera unit for covering the “Best Bagger” competition in Las Vegas, and assisted the director/producer with story development and transcription. The film premiered at the 2008 Los Angeles International Film Festival.
Runners High
Production assistant and writer. Assisted the film’s director/producer with story development, cultivated and interviewed sources, transcribed footage, wrote content for grant applications and promotional material, and hosted fundraising events. The film, about teenagers from tough Oakland neighborhoods who face the challenge of running a marathon, premiered at the 2006 San Francisco International Film Festival.