Lisa Niver's Blog: We Said Go Travel, page 30
August 16, 2023
Swellcast Talks Travel with Lisa Niver
Listen to my interview on SwellThank you to Phil for interviewing me on Swell! I loved talking about Dorado Beach, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Puerto Rico, Beaches Turks and Caicos and my upcoming book, Brave-ish, One Breakup, Six Continents and Feeling Fearless After Fifty.
The post Swellcast Talks Travel with Lisa Niver appeared first on We Said Go Travel.
August 10, 2023
Exploring the Enchantment of Loreto: A Magical Mexican Pueblo
As I set foot in the charming pueblo mágico of Loreto, I could feel the magic in the air enveloping me. Tucked away along the mesmerizing coastline of Baja California Sur, this hidden gem promised an authentic Mexican experience like no other. With its rich history, captivating culture, and awe-inspiring natural beauty, Loreto had beckoned me to uncover its secrets and immerse myself in its enchantment.
Allow me to be your guide on this journey of exploration, as we venture into the heart of Loreto, discovering the most alluring places to stay and savoring mouthwatering culinary delights. Whether you seek tranquility in a serene retreat or crave the excitement of an adventure-filled getaway, Loreto has something to offer everyone. Together, we will peel back the layers of this magical town and experience the allure that has captured the hearts of many before us.
Where to Stay: Hotel Posada de Las Flores
From the moment I arrived at Hotel Posada de Las Flores, I knew I had found the perfect sanctuary to embrace the enchantment of Loreto. This quaint boutique hotel, ideally located at the heart of the pueblo and just steps away from the lively plaza, exuded a unique charm that instantly charmed me.
As I settled into my room, I was eager to explore what the hotel had to offer. I couldn’t resist heading straight to the rooftop pool area to witness the breathtaking views that awaited me. From this vantage point, I was treated to an awe-inspiring panorama of Loreto’s stunning landscape, with the azure waters of the Sea of Cortez stretching to the horizon. The warm rays of the sun embraced me as I relaxed by the pool, and I couldn’t help but feel grateful for choosing Hotel Posada de Las Flores as my home during this unforgettable journey.
Where to Eat: My culinary adventure in Loreto was an absolute delight, and the town’s vibrant food scene left me craving for more. Let me share with you some of the most memorable dining experiences that I cherished:
Indulging in the vibrant flavors and breathtaking views of Loreto, Baja Sur Mexico!
Indulging in the vibrant flavors and breathtaking views of Loreto, Baja Sur Mexico! 
Savoring the mouthwatering delights at Oasis and indulging in the delectable dishes at Margaritas for breakfast. 
The warm hospitality at Orlando’s and the refreshing craft brews at El Zopilote brewery made this culinary journey even more extraordinary. Cheers to unforgettable mornings and delectable memories! This trip has been a true feast for the senses! 
Indulge in a Magical Sunset: Traditional Almejas Tatemadas Buffet Dinner at Hotel Oasis in Loreto!
Experience the enchantment as the sun paints the sky with hues of gold while savoring the flavors of traditional grilled clams. Join us for a feast of local delights against the backdrop of a breathtaking sunset. An unforgettable culinary experience awaits!
https://youtu.be/1mCTNtpSUgY
Get ready to dance the night away at Hotel Oasis Loreto! 
Experience the mesmerizing melodies of Arabe Ortega, a master guitarist who will serenade you with enchanting tunes. Let the rhythm guide your feet as you create unforgettable memories on the dance floor. Join us for an evening of music, dance, and pure joy! 
From Ashford Castle to Maasai Warriors: Hula Hooping Around the World! 
Loreto Mexico
But now, it’s time for an unforgettable first in Loreto, Mexico! Hula hooping filmed in mesmerizing slow motion by Erik from The Global Trip. Thank you Erik for this magical collaboration! 
Discover Baja Cuisine: Mexican Flavors and Fresh Fish at Olivos in Hotel La Mision! 
Immerse yourself in a culinary journey that celebrates the best of Baja. Experience the unique blend of traditional Mexican cuisine with a modern twist, where each dish is artfully crafted using the freshest fish caught daily from the abundant Sea of Cortez by local fishermen. Indulge in the flavors that capture the essence of Loreto’s coastal charm. A dining experience unlike any other awaits you at Olivos Restaurant! 
Loreto, Mexico: Dinner at Marina Puerto Escondido, Live Music, and the Mesmerizing Sunset!
Immerse yourself in a magical dining experience at La Brisa Restaurant, nestled in the vibrant Marina Puerto Escondido. Delight in delectable cuisine while savoring the sounds of live music. As you dine, admire the elegant yachts and the breathtaking Loreto sunset painting the sky with vibrant colors. An evening of pure bliss awaits in Loreto, Mexico!
More Loreto in my article, Exploring the Aquatic Wonders On and Under Water
Learn more about all of Lisa Niver’s adventures in her book, Brave-ish, One Breakup, Six Continents and Feeling Fearless After Fifty
The post Exploring the Enchantment of Loreto: A Magical Mexican Pueblo appeared first on We Said Go Travel.
August 9, 2023
The Importance of Community and Networking for Writers
The Importance of Community and Networking for Writers: My Journey with Author Alka Joshi
Writing is a solitary pursuit, with authors spending countless hours lost in their own worlds with their stories. However, the value of community and networking cannot be overstated for writers. Building connections with fellow industry professionals enhances our craft and provides support, inspiration, and valuable opportunities.
As an aspiring writer, I found great admiration for Alka Joshi‘s work. Her debut novel, “The Henna Artist,” captivated me with its rich storytelling and vivid portrayal of Indian culture. I wrote about her book for Ms. Magazine and sent her my article.
8 Books That Will Transport You
From her social media, I found out about her class at Kepler’s called Beyond the Manuscript about agents, publishers and working with developmental editors. She shared personal anecdotes as well as struggles and triumphs as a writer. She and her agent talked about the book process and of course re-writing!
When each of her next books came out, I wrote about those and interviewed Alka again! I loved The Secret Keeper of Jaipur and The Perfumist of Paris perhaps even more than the original book in the Jaipur trilogy!
Watch us on my award nominated podcast, Make Your Own Map,
Through connections made during workshops and events, I had the chance to attend writing conferences and participate in critique groups. The support and advice I received helped me find my book agent.
After I interviewed Christie Tate, NYTimes bestselling author of GROUP and BFF, for my podcast, she encouraged me to ask Alka if she might be willing to read my book, Brave-ish, One Breakup, Six Continents and Feeling Fearless After Fifty.
Not only did she read my book, but she also wrote this amazing blurb for me:
“Niver’s global travel exploits had me simultaneously chewing my fingernails and cheering her on as she challenged herself to greater and riskier feats in search of self. Compelling and engrossing. A must-read for fans of Wild and Eat, Pray, Love!”
My journey with the extraordinary author Alka Joshi has proven that it’s not just about crafting beautiful stories alone; it’s about immersing yourself in a world where passionate creators unite, elevate each other, and push the boundaries of imagination.
Thank you to Happiness Between Tails by da-AL for inspiring and first publishing this article.
The post The Importance of Community and Networking for Writers appeared first on We Said Go Travel.
August 7, 2023
Ageless Ambition: Inspirational Leadership of Carolyn Ray, JourneyWoman
In this inspiring interview, meet Carolyn Ray, CEO of JourneyWoman who empowers women over 50 to travel. She is a dynamic and visionary leader who is shattering age-related stereotypes and encourages everyone to embrace their full potential.
Listen or watch our interview on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube or your favorite podcast platformREAD THE TRANSCRIPT BELOW
Lisa Niver:
Good morning. This is Lisa Niver. I’m the founder of, We Said Go Travel, and the author of Brave-ish, One Breakup, Six Continents and Feeling Fearless After Fifty. I’m so excited to be here today with my guest who I’ve actually met recently in real life. Good morning, Carolyn Ray. How are you?
Carolyn Ray:
Good morning. I’m great.
Lisa Niver:
I’m so happy to have you here to talk about JourneyWoman. You and I met at the incredible Women’s Travel Fest in NYC earlier this year, so could you tell people a little bit about your panel and how that got started?
Carolyn Ray:
We had a panel called Kickass Solo Women over 50, and we had three women on it. One was 83 and the others were in their fifties and sixties. I’ll just mention Diana because she is really, really amazing and we wanted to inspire people that you can still travel when you’re in your sixties or seventies or your eighties. And in Diana’s case you can travel like a rockstar and do all the things that you’ve dreamed of.
Lisa Niver:
It was a really inspirational panel. I love hearing about how did people get started traveling. What is a memory of your first trip or the trip that made you think, I’m going to keep doing this?
Carolyn Ray:
Well, I wasn’t a big traveler as a kid. I grew up in Florida, so most of our travel was to the Caribbean or kind of close to home. And when I was 18, I was actually sent over to Europe for school for a year, and it was the first time I’d been away a actually first time I’d been out of the North America. First time I’d been anywhere on my own. I had the opportunity to go to Spain and Italy and Morocco and learn a little bit about the world. When I got married in my twenties, I married somebody who wanted to travel, but within Canada, and which is where I live now. I really did start traveling until I was in my thirties and on my own. I had a little girl. She and I went to Europe when she was barely four years old. My first solo experience, if you will, with my little daughter who’s now 23.
Lisa Niver:
That’s amazing. For me, I started traveling on a family trip and then studied abroad in Israel. Studying in another country really changes your whole life.
Carolyn Ray:
It definitely does. And I don’t know that I really appreciated it at the time, but I certainly did as I got older and started to travel with work. I started to appreciate travel and the benefits of travel more than I did when I was younger. And as a mom, it’s something I’ve tried to expose my daughter to. She is an avid solo traveler. She travels all over the world. She’s living in London at the moment, so that makes me feel like I did something right. She’s got great perspective, one of the things you learn through travel. She’s got that nailed.
Lisa Niver:
That’s so incredible. I do think it’s a great gift that parents can give to their children–the freedom to explore, but also the safety net of knowing that they’re there for them. Ready to help them figure out how to travel in a way that feels comfortable to them. People often ask me; how do I get started? I tell them to take a cooking class in your own city. You don’t have to leave home to feel like you’ve started a traveling.
I know you have evolved professionally. Can you tell my listeners about owning Journey Woman and how can they get involved in the incredible women’s business directory and traveling with you? There’s so much support in your organization!
Carolyn Ray:
I wasn’t a big traveler growing up, but I went into consulting for about 25 years and I had this really incredible travel experience going to Kenya. And I came back from that, it was about five years ago. It was the year I turned 50, and I came back from that and I decided that I did not want to play into the consumerism that I was seeing in the world. So I sold my house, I auctioned off everything, I got rid of everything and decided that I was going to travel full-time. And coincidentally or not in that same period of time, Evelyn Hannon, who started Journey Woman, her daughter and I, Erica were having lunch and talking about her mother. Her mother had cancer and they were looking for somebody to take over JourneyWoman.
Erica said to me–you would be the perfect person. And I said, I don’t know anything about travel. I don’t know anything about websites, but there were many, many things that happened that convinced me this was the right path for me. I had left my corporate job as well. So I was in this state of possibility. Whatever the world brings my way, I’m open to it.
Within six months, I had bought JourneyWoman and redesigned it. It was a 25 year old website and we had to build a new one. I had to get familiar with all the content. I had to learn about websites. It has been five years of completely learning a new a new career and an unexpected, but amazing new career and reinvention for me.
Lisa Niver:
So we have some similarities because I did 50 challenges before I turned 50. And one of them was I went to Kenya and I actually hula hooped with the Masai warriors.
Carolyn Ray:
I ran in the mornings with them, but I didn’t hoop.
Lisa Niver:
I travel with a hula hoop and I had special permission from Chief Richard to bring something so strange into their community. I had hooped in several of the Sanctuary Retreats camps. I was there with Abercrombie and Kent and I asked for permission. It was actually the best reaction I’ve ever had. One of the warriors was excellent at Hula hooping. One of them laughed so hard he fell down. It was a funny day.
I love that you were thinking about what you wanted in your life. For someone’s listening and they are interested in reinvention and changing their life and traveling, what do they see when they come on JourneyWoman? What’s available?
Carolyn Ray:
Journey Woman, when I bought it was one newsletter. Now we have four newsletters that go out every month. We’ve expanded the site quite a bit. We have an editorial team of 10 women all over 50. I just brought on a new writer Tanzi Con who writes about accessible solo travel. And not only is there great travel writing, but there’s also travel tips, there’s safety information. We have a women’s travel directory that has women friendly tours and trips and retreats and we’re just about to launch small ships. We also have places to stay so women can either recommend or find a safe place to stay recommended by another woman. It always was seen as a resource, but now even more so. We don’t book travel. We don’t operate tours. We’re separate from that.
It is a place where women can go if they want to learn how to get started in solo travel. We have a lot of women that are in their fifties or sixties that are widows that have never traveled on their own. That are kind of doing what I did, which is you suddenly get divorced, and you have this change in your life and you realize that you want to go see the world. You want to do things and you’re curious and all the stuff you’ve never done because you’ve been raising kids and looking after families and a job and all of this. So that’s what the site is. We are the oldest in the world. We’re probably the largest in the world in terms of mailing list and the women are amazing.
Lisa Niver:
That is great! You said you studied in Europe and I know you’re always looking for somewhere where you can speak Spanish and get a great margarita when you’re traveling. When you’re traveling, what are you looking for? What’s a destination that inspires you or calls to you?
Carolyn Ray:
I like to travel in places that are a little lesser known. And I like to stay for a long time. So in 2021, I spent four months in Mexico. Last year I spent three months in Europe, two of those in, in a small town in Spain. I’m looking for places that are a little bit off the grid, but still close enough to a big center for transportation and safety and healthcare. I live part of my life in Toronto, but the rest of the year I am trying to live for a long time in a place so I can learn about it. I’m just in the process of figuring out where I’m going to do that this winter.
Lisa Niver:
Congratulations! Travel Pulse named you one of the most influential women in travel.
Carolyn Ray:
When we talk about women’s travel in particular, this is about empowering women to live the life of their dreams, to achieve their potential. Travel for me is all about self-discovery and in some cases healing. That’s what I see JourneyWoman as– it’s a place where we can not only inspire women to travel, but empower them to be bold, to be confident, to be brave by supporting each other. We have this amazing Facebook group called Solo Travel Wisdom for Women Over 50. It is growing by 500, a thousand people a week. Women are finding us because we’ve never done any promotion or advertising. JourneyWoman has always been a word of mouth secret and now people are finding us and they’re signing up and getting the newsletters and joining the groups and book clubs and community calls and meetups and all the other things that we do. There’s a lot going on.
Lisa Niver:
Wow. It’s so incredible. Congratulations.
Carolyn Ray:
I have a wonderful team. I have a lot of volunteers. A lot of women have been part of JourneyWoman for 25 or more years. We have volunteers that run our book clubs and our Facebook group. These women are so wise and they’re so strong. When you reach a certain point in your life, you don’t worry about what everyone else is thinking. You do what serves you. And when we get into our fifties, that’s the way we think. We are not so worried about I should do this or I should do that, or there’s rules or any of this stuff. Now it’s my time. And that’s what we see happening with Women Over 50.
Lisa Niver:
You focus on empowering women to lead their best lives. You hired someone specifically about accessibility, which is really crucial. So many people have invisible disabilities that really impact how they feel in the world, especially on the road. Can you talk more about the issue of ageism and travel?
Carolyn Ray:
We did a study last year and talked about it at Women’s Travel Fest. We discovered that first of all, 70% of women over 50 feel ignored or undervalued by the travel industry. And that’s exhibited in things like the single supplement and terminology that’s used to describe older women as well as the photography that’s being used. Not only isn’t it diverse, but also not showing women with mobility aids and that kind of thing. It is about women over 50 being seen and this isn’t just a travel problem. This is a Western society problem. We have to change that.
This is a lot of what I’m spending my time on, talking about age in a positive way. JourneyWoman has always done that, but now we’re being much more vocal about it. We’re also talking about things like human trafficking and accessibility. We’re talking about things tha, sometimes people don’t want to talk about. It is really important to me that we provoke conversation in a healthy, positive way about all these topics and issues that need to be discussed. If I don’t do it, who will?
I’m happy to do it and I’m happy to use Journey Women as a platform to help women understand all the challenges we’re facing. And that includes sustainable travel and understanding the impact of carbon and there’s a lot of things in travel we need to be talking about. We really need to think about what we’re doing and how we’re doing it.
Lisa Niver:
I completely agree. Travel is a great way to educate people. I know for myself, the more and more I travel everywhere I’ve been around the world, every parent I’ve met wants the same thing for their children. They want their children to be happy. They want them to be healthy, they want them to have great opportunities. We’re really so much more the same. It’s so important that we focus on that. That study sounds incredible that you’ve got in information that 70% of women feel ignored. Is there a link to that on the website?
Carolyn Ray:
We have a whole section about women over 50 travel. We have all kinds of articles in there and they’re partly targeted to the travel industry, but they’re also targeted to us as women to find our voice and speak up and make sure that we’re advocating for ourselves. We have tools there to work with both the industry and with the traveler.
Lisa Niver:
My final question I’ve been asking people is related to my book that’s coming out. My book is BRAVE-ish, One Breakup, Six Continents, and Feeling Fearless after 50. I did 50 challenges before I turned 50. What do you think was the most worthwhile challenge you have done or something that’s bubbling up, something you really want to do? We know that you turned 50 and pivoted. You bought this company and you went to Kenya. You’ve really done a lot of incredible things already, but is there something still bubbling up for you or something from when you were younger that led to your ability to make those action steps?
Carolyn Ray:
I want to go to places that I haven’t been at all. I’m looking at Africa, I’m looking at places that are a little bit off the beaten path where I can go and lead the way in terms of places that need tourism. I think we’re all learning to be fearless. Lisa, something I did recently that was a scary experience for me was this idea of transformational travel and working on your stuff. It’s not just going to see a place, but it’s actually taking yourself out of your normal environment and putting yourself in a place where you can feel free to kind of work on, in my case, things that were holding me back, from fully expressing who I am.
Travel can be great because you’re out of your normal routine. You’re in a place that you may not now, it opens up possibility and all kinds of other things.
Lisa Niver:
Many people now are using this term transformational travel. So when you say that, do you mean that because you left your normal routine and you’re somewhere else, it’s transformational? Or, do you mean that it was a guided group where you did meditation and therapy and group work? Or somewhere the middle?
Carolyn Ray:
Yes, it was guided. It was facilitated. I thought I was going on a wellness yoga and meditation retreat but that is not what it was. I actually wrote about it on Journey Woman and it was so unexpected. I lost both my parents during the pandemic.
Lisa Niver:
I’m so sorry.
Carolyn Ray:
I don’t think I ever really dealt with the grief and, and a little bit of the anger from when you can’t get to people, which was the case with my father, I couldn’t get to him in time. I was carrying around that emotion and I wanted to be rid of it and I wanted to move on. Acknowledge it, but move on. And I didn’t know I needed that until I went to this experience which was nearby in Quebec City. Not too far from where I live now in Toronto. But it was enough of a shift with a really amazing woman Tania Carriere at Advivum Journeys. I had this massive moment where I realized how connected my mind and my body are and how the way we think affects the way we feel.
If you’re not feeling yourself or you’re not feeling like you can be brave or courageous in your life, it might change the way you travel too, because you might hold back from the things that you really want to do and, and the experiences you really want to have because you feel guilty or you feel scared. And, that’s what this transformational experience was. I came out of it so full of energy and so full of optimism. I’ve been clearing out all this negative energy that I was carrying with me and now look out!
Lisa Niver:
I’m glad that you were able to do that. There’s a book, SuperSurvivors, I love and they talk about how there is post-traumatic stress, but there’s also post-traumatic growth. I’m so glad that you had this opportunity. Again, I’m so sorry about your family and not being able to be with them. We can link in the notes to your article so people can read more.
Carolyn Ray:
And it’s never too late. I did some work on myself 30 years ago –that was like the last time I had a therapeutic experience when I went through my divorce. And I thought, I’m good now, I don’t need it again. Now I realize our internal journey is just as important as our external journey and they’re completely connected. If we don’t acknowledge that, then we’re holding ourselves back from what we can be. The journey is ongoing. I would invite anyone, even if you think I’m okay, which is what I thought, there’s a reason the universe put this retreat in front of me. There’s a reason that I went to it because it was very impulsive and it literally changed my life. I advocate for transformational Travel.
Lisa Niver:
I love that I got this chance to speak with you and I know people are going to be so interested and curious to learn more from you and read your article and join Journey Woman. So tell everybody how do they get involved, what do you recommend when they come on the site? Where is it and how do they start?
Carolyn Ray:
We’re at JourneyWoman.com. I would invite women to sign up for our newsletter. There’s a button right at the top of the site. You’ll get our book club emails, our monthly email, you’ll get recommended products called Things She Loves and also travel deals and discounts on solo travel with all of our all of the companies and small businesses and our women’s travel directory.
Lisa Niver:
I can see why you’ve had so many women’s awards and business awards and why you are the chair of the Canadian Society of American Travel Writers. Everyone would like the chance to be near you and learn from you. So thank you so much for sharing and coming on my show and sharing your insight with us.
Carolyn Ray:
This was fun, Lisa. Thank you.
Lisa Niver:
Thank you. And happy birthday
Carolyn Ray:
. Yay, 60. Here I come.
BIO
In 2022 alone, Carolyn travelled to 17 countries in the off season, spending several months in Mexico and Spain. She is always seeking new destinations where she can continue to enjoy margaritas, learn Spanish and live the life of her dreams. Carolyn was named one of the most influential women in travel by TravelPulse in March 2023 for her work bringing awareness to the influence of women in travel. Incoming chair of the Canadian chapter of the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW), she is also a member of the Travel Media Association of Canada (TMAC) and the Transformational Travel Council (TTC).
Last week, I woke up to this article – TravelPulse's 2023’s Most Influential Women in Travel – and saw my photograph, alongside women I admire greatly, like @LolaAkinmade and Christine Winebrenner Irick.
— Carolyn Ray (@thecarolynray) March 30, 2023
Journalist @MiaTaylorWrit…https://t.co/QGmTkin4xF https://t.co/zdVLR7vXnD
Led by CEO and Editor Carolyn Ray, JourneyWoman
is beloved among mature women 50+ and known as the original women’s solo travel publication, inspiring generations of adventurous, courageous women to travel safely and well. Through our Women’s Travel Directory, we support and connect women-owned businesses around the world. If you’re a woman passionate about travel, join us at www.journeywoman.com.
Carolyn Ray has been a driving force in empowering women to travel solo and fostering a well-connected community of women travelers. In 2019, after 25 years in senior consulting roles, she took over JourneyWoman, the world’s first publication for solo women travelers.
While JourneyWoman has always been an important source of inspiration for solo women, under Ray’s leadership the brand continues to expand as Ray works to empower women to live their best lives, while also supporting women entrepreneurs and small businesses through the publication’s Women’s Travel Directory.
“As the CEO of the world’s largest and oldest solo travel publication, I feel a deep sense of responsibility and accountability to continue the legacy of JourneyWoman,” says Ray. “I also want to represent my readers and give mature women a voice in an industry that they feel has ignored them. I also love that we’re leading discussions that aren’t happening at all at any other women’s solo travel publications, around issues like human trafficking, ageism and accessibility. Four years ago, I transitioned into travel and full-time travel writing, and I have loved every single moment of it.”
View this post on InstagramA post shared by JourneyWoman
More on Facebook, and find Carolyn on Instagram and in the New York Times
JourneyWoman in the @nyttravel! Read on for travel tips from @thevmcarolynray#solotravel #womanempowered https://t.co/k1L2f5KZYd pic.twitter.com/ON9w8pMeKr
— JourneyWoman™ Women's Travel (@Journeywoman) July 30, 2023
Carolyn Ray and Lisa Niver filming for Make Your Own Map July 2023
LISTEN on APPLE PODCAST: MAKE YOUR OWN MAPLisa’s book: Brave-ish, One Breakup, Six Continents and Feeling Fearless After Fifty
Lisa Niver and Carolyn Ray at Women’s Travel Fest, NYC, 2023The post Ageless Ambition: Inspirational Leadership of Carolyn Ray, JourneyWoman appeared first on We Said Go Travel.
August 5, 2023
BRAVE-ish on WLS RADIO 890 with Colleen Kelly
Thank you to Travel Expert Colleen Kelly and Co-Host Megan Kudla for inviting me on their show: Round Trip With Colleen Kelly to talk about my memoir, Brave-ish, One Breakup, Six Continents and Feeling Fearless After Fifty Colleen and I first met at Joanne Vero’s Travel Media Showcase in Texas! I wrote about the conference for HuffPost! During the Girlfriend Get-away, I learned about Tammilee’s 40 before 50 which led to my 50 before 50 project!I saw her again in 2017 when the conference was in North CarolinaWe saw each other this year in New York City IMM North America which is TravMedia’s Leading Media Networking Event. I had so many exceptional meetings I had to make TWO VIDEOS: Part 1 and Part 2
AND!! We were together in San Diego for Emily Kaufman’s CAMP TRAVEL MOM 2023
Colleen Kelly and Lisa Niver at Camp Travel Mom 2023My episode on ROUND TRIP WITH COLLEEN KELLY!LISTEN on SPOTIFYView this post on InstagramA post shared by Round Trip with Colleen Kelly (@roundtripcolleenkelly)
This week on Round Trip, Colleen Kelly and Megan are focusing on women in travel who are 40 and over! It’s a group of travelers not to discount. They’re everywhere, seeking new adventures, and coming together to share their experiences. On this episode, our hosts will be joined by a journalist and author to talk about her new book surrounding this very topic, and the founders of a company that focuses on health and wellness products which women over 40 will love!
More Information from our Guests can be Found Here:
lisaniver.com
plantjuiceoils.com
ABOUT BRAVE-ishAlthough Lisa Niver has traveled in far-off locales from Vanuatu to Nepal and received numerous accolades for both her writing and her top ranked website, what people don’t realize is that this began from the wreckage of a rotten romance.
Newlywed Niver was on the adventure of a lifetime. She had quit her job, rented out her condo, and was traveling around Asia. To the outside world, Niver was a woman living out her dreams of exploring ancient ruins in Cambodia and seeing orangutans in Borneo. In private, she was keeping a dark secret. But, when she found herself lying on a sidewalk in Thailand, looking up at the sky in severe pain, she knew things had to change. At age forty-seven, Niver found the courage to set course on a new life.
Feeling like a failure, pushing fifty, and moving home to her parents’ house to start again from scratch, Niver started taking one tiny “brave-ish” step at a time to take her life far away from the old one and into the adventurous world of travel writing. These small hurdles led to the challenge of trying fifty new things before turning fifty. From diving into shipwrecks, swimming with sharks, bobsledding at 3 Gs, to indulging in wild escapades, Niver found herself traversing the world on a journey of reinvention, personal growth, and discovering what it actually means to be “brave.”
While Brave-ish chronicles Niver’s inspiring expeditions to distant corners of the world including Myanmar, Cuba, Morocco, Kenya and Mongolia this is more than a travelogue. Niver’s story is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of perseverance. Brave-ish inspires readers to dream big, take risks, and embrace the unknown to create a life filled with wonder and excitement, even when courage seems elusive.
The post BRAVE-ish on WLS RADIO 890 with Colleen Kelly appeared first on We Said Go Travel.
August 3, 2023
My Unforgettable “Firsts” in Destin-Fort Walton Beach, Florida
My Unforgettable “Firsts” in Destin-Fort Walton Beach, Florida: Fishing, Lionfish Derby Judge, and Artificial Reef Deployment!A sense of exhilaration and anticipation filled the air as I set foot in the stunning coastal paradise of Destin-Fort Walton Beach, Florida. This adventure including a series of thrilling “firsts!” From the excitement of casting my line for the very first time to the honor of serving as a judge at the Emerald Coast Open Lionfish Derby Restaurant Week and witnessing the awe-inspiring artificial reef deployment, each experience was incredible. Join me as I share my journey from my time in Destin:
https://youtube.com/shorts/CifJCYPyZ9M
Honored to be a judge at Emerald Coast Open Restaurant Week in beautiful Destin, Florida! 
”Eat Lionfish to Beat Them.” 
It’s incredible how the choices we make on our plates can have a positive impact on our oceans. By enjoying delicious lionfish dishes, we’re helping control their population and protect our marine ecosystems. I ate at two exceptional restaurants that showcased the versatility of lionfish prepared in multiple ways. First, La Paz Mexican Restaurant delighted my taste buds with their lionfish tacos, ceviche, and grilled lionfish with a mouthwatering tropical salsa. 
Each dish showcased the delicate flavor and tender texture of lionfish, combined with the vibrant and bold flavors of Mexican cuisine. It was a true fiesta of flavors that left me craving for more! 
Second, We ate outside on the water at Harbor Docks, where they prepared lionfish in a variety of innovative ways. From lionfish sushi rolls to lionfish sliders with tangy aioli, every bite was a delightful adventure. 
Their culinary creativity truly highlighted the potential of lionfish as a delicious seafood option. It was an absolute feast for both the eyes and the palate! 
Not only did these restaurants deliver exceptional dining experiences, but they also shared valuable information about the lionfish invasion. Lionfish, native to the Indo-Pacific, have become an invasive species in the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, wreaking havoc on native marine life. By incorporating lionfish into their menus, these restaurants are actively promoting awareness and sustainable solutions. 
By supporting these restaurants during Emerald Coast Open Restaurant Week, we’re not only treating ourselves to incredible meals but also joining the fight against the lionfish invasion. Together, we can make a difference and protect our precious marine ecosystems! 
Remember, every choice matters. Let’s explore sustainable dining options, try new flavors, and help preserve the beauty of our oceans for future generations to enjoy! 
Lisa Niver diving the brand new reef with Alex Fogg, Photo by Alex Fogg What an incredible day on the water in Destin, Florida, with marine biologist Alex Fogg! 
Okaloosa County’s Coastal Resource Team deployed 38 prefabricated artificial reef modules off the coast of Destin-Fort Walton Beach, an exciting initiative that highlights the community’s dedication to marine conservation. 
At sunrise, we set out on a boat to join this remarkable effort. With Alex’s expertise guiding us, we witnessed the careful placement and strategic planning involved in creating these artificial reefs. The team’s commitment to preserving marine life and promoting sustainable practices was truly inspiring. 
A big thank you to Alex Fogg for sharing his knowledge and passion for marine conservation and allowing me to join him to see the deployment and dive the new reef with him. Destin, Florida, is called the luckiest fishing village but I call it the smartest because they have Alex and Jessica and two other marine biologists as part of the Visit Destin Fort Walton Team! 
Fishing with Gabby from Lady Luck Adventures in Destin, Florida!
What an incredible day out on the water with Gabby from Lady Luck Adventures in Destin, Florida! 
I had the privilege of going on my very first fishing trip, and let me tell you, it was an absolute blast! Gabby, our amazing captain, made sure we had a fantastic time from start to finish. Her knowledge and expertise were truly impressive, and she made the experience both educational and fun. 
I was with Shayna and it was her first day of fishing also! But the highlight of the day? I caught my FIRST fish ever! 
The exhilaration I felt as I reeled it in was absolutely indescribable. It was a moment of pure joy and accomplishment. Thanks to Gabby’s guidance, I was able to make it happen! 
I can’t stress enough how much fun I had on this trip. The beautiful waters of Destin provided the perfect backdrop for a day filled with laughter, excitement, and great company. Lady Luck Adventures truly lives up to its name! If you’re ever in Destin, Florida, and looking for an unforgettable fishing experience, I highly recommend booking a trip with Gabby and Lady Luck Adventures. You won’t be disappointed!
CAREing for turtles program at Gulfarium
Jessica Valek is a dedicated marine biologist with Visit Destin Fort Walton, who shared her passion for marine conservation and rehabilitation of sea turtles. We learned about sea turtle nests and their life cycle, saw the turtle hospital and did interactive turtle assessments to learn about the challenges turtles face in their natural habitats and the importance of conservation efforts. Red-light flashlights can help protect these magnificent creatures. 
Exciting day exploring Gulfarium in beautiful Destin, Florida! 
Immerse yourself in the wonders of marine life at Gulfarium, where captivating experiences await. From up-close encounters with dolphins and sea lions to fascinating turtle assessments with marine biologist Jessica, there’s something for everyone to enjoy and learn from. The interactive programs at Gulfarium provide a unique opportunity to connect with marine animals and deepen your understanding of their habitats. Witness the intelligence and agility of dolphins as they perform incredible stunts, and marvel at the grace of sea lions as they showcase their skills. Don’t miss the chance to join the CAREing program led by Jessica, where you’ll gain insights into the well-being of sea turtles through hands-on observations. Discover the dedication and passion behind sea turtle conservation efforts and how you can make a difference. Gulfarium’s commitment to education and conservation is truly inspiring. Their team of experts is dedicated to protecting marine life and preserving our oceans for future generations. Plan your visit to Gulfarium in Destin, Florida, and embark on a journey of discovery and appreciation for the incredible creatures that call our oceans home.
Leaving Destin, Florida with gorgeous views, reflecting on an incredible journey! 
From being a first-time judge at the exhilarating Lionfish Derby to experiencing the thrill of fishing for the very first time, and even witnessing the deployment of an artificial reef, my time in Destin has been filled with unforgettable adventures and breathtaking moments. The Lionfish Derby showcased the importance of controlling this invasive species, and I was honored to play a role in promoting sustainable practices. You can save the world while you savor your meal! Casting my line for the first time, feeling the tug, and reeling in my catch brought an indescribable sense of accomplishment and joy. Fishing in Destin’s pristine waters is an experience I’ll cherish forever. And then there was the awe-inspiring moment of witnessing the deployment of an artificial reef. The careful placement of each module and the team’s dedication to marine conservation left me in awe of the efforts being made to protect and enhance our precious ecosystems. As my flight ascends, I’m filled with gratitude for the incredible memories made in Destin. The beauty of this coastal paradise, the kindness of its people, and the sense of adventure that lingers in the air will forever hold a special place in my heart. Thank you, Destin-Fort Walton Beach, for the opportunity to explore, learn, and create lasting memories. Until we meet again! 
Want to know more about my adventures? I did 50 Challenges before I turned 50! Read all about it in my book, Brave-ish, One Breakup, Six Continents and Feeling Fearless After Fifty.
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July 31, 2023
Two Months to Brave-ish! Niver’s News
July News 2023 with Lisa Niver & We Said Go Travel:
Cover Reveal: Hot New Release! Thank you for making Brave-ish, One Breakup, Six Continents and Feeling Fearless After Fifty a hot new release on Amazon! Launch day, September 19, 2023, is less than two months away! My book is available for pre-order as a paperback or digital e-book. YES! There will be an audio book!
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Thank you to Ashford Castle, Travel Classics Ireland and Tourism Ireland for my amazing adventures!
Enjoy more of my travels in Ireland
Listen to my interview on Swell
Thank you to Ms. Magazine for the Global Women’s Rights Awards! I was inspired by all the honorees!Thank you to the Jewish Journal for including me IN PRINT! I am honored to be part of your publication. I loved sitting at the Jewish Journal table at the Southern California Journalism awards where I was a two-time finalist!Thank you Blue Ocean Network for including me in your video, The Beijing Central AxisThank you Ambassador Geraldine Bryne Nason! It was my honor to interview you! Read her X/Tweet here.A pleasure to join @LisaNiver on her podcast during my recent trip to @IrelandinLA.
— Ambassador Geraldine Byrne Nason (@IrelandAmbUSA) July 20, 2023
We discussed Ireland’s work on the Security Council in advancing the rights of women globally, forward-looking at US-Ireland shared cultural heritage, and, of course, my love of Co.Louth. https://t.co/mnGqpd9rvV
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BRAVE-ish, One Break-up, Six Continents and Feeling Fearless After Fifty
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July 30, 2023
Jews in Africa: the Abayudaya in Uganda 🇺🇬 and Beta Israel in Ethiopia 🇪🇹
Thank you to Judith Gigliotti and Peter Decherney for joining me on my podcast. Peter is an author, filmmaker and Professor at the University of Pennsylvania where we met when my class had a film and TV panel for our 30th reunion. May 2024 is my 35th reunion at PENN!
Judith took the author photo for my book, Brave-ish, One Breakup, Six Continents and Feeling Fearless After Fifty, and is an incredible artist and photographer. We met because of ceramics and belong to the same art studio, Members Only LA (MOLA).
Listen to our discussion about the Jews in Africa: the Abayudaya in Uganda and Beta Israel in Ethiopia 
Both Peter and Judith have spent years in Africa filming, photographing and helping.
READ THE TRANSCRIPT BELOW
Lisa:
Today we’re so lucky to be having a conversation with two remarkable photographers and filmmakers who know so much about the Jews of Africa. So Judith, tell us, what were you doing in Africa?
Judith:
So I got very close with a gentleman who was at the University of Judaism here becoming a rabbi, and he brought his wife and two children to, I was on a board called Jewish and Community Research, and they asked me to meet Gersham and his wife and two kids and get them set up at the University of Judaism. So I did. My sister and I met them, and we took them walking down the Third Street Promenade and he thought everybody was in costumes. They couldn’t believe their eyes. The kids were just in awe.
Photo by Judith Gigliotti
Photo by Judith Gigliotti
Photo by Judith Gigliotti
Photo by Judith Gigliotti
Photo by Judith GigliottiLisa:
Where was he from?
Judith:
Bali, Uganda, which is six hours’ drive from Entebbe or Kampala, Ethiopia. People more know Entebbe.
Peter:
I will be driving that road in August.
Judith:
Oh, bad roads. Bad, bad, bad roads.
Anyway, so we got very close with this family. We got them into school, we got them pediatricians, we did everything for them, and then they stayed three years here to become a rabbi with one year in Israel, We went to his graduation before he left. My sister and I felt he can’t just leave. We’re a part of his family. He’s a part of our family. So then we started going to Uganda every year to teach women to start small businesses. I went for 18 years, until COVID, and watched all the kids grow up.
Lisa:
So you basically adopted the Jews of Uganda.
Judith:
Yes. There are two groups in that area. They never have really come together.
Peter:
What makes them different from each other?
Judith:
One is more religious. We had a big temple built, a big shul built, you’ll see it. When people are not able to eat, I thought, oh, what are we building this big temple for, because they had a beautiful little temple that was good enough, but then a lot of people started coming. Also, they know on Shabbat they get free meals so a lot of people come. And it’s beautiful. It’s beautiful. And Rabbi Gersham now lives in Kampala but he drives back. Especially if he knows you’re going to be there, he’ll drive back every Friday and then stay for the weekend.
Peter:
He’s now a member of parliament, right?
Judith:
He was. He was a member for parliament and that’s when I went to stump for him, which was fascinating. He was a member of Parliament for two years and then they revoted and he lost and he was, he is so upset. His goal is to be president of Uganda. Having said that, we know who is president and who has been president for 36 years, and he seems like he’s just getting worse all the time. Uganda is one of those countries that I’m not seeing progress, unlike Rwanda, unlike Kenya.
Photo by Judith Gigliotti
Photo by Judith Gigliotti
Photo by Judith GigliottiPeter:
I just got back from Kenya.
Judith:
Kenya is different because they have the tourism. They’re in better shape, way better shape. Don’t you think?
Peter:
Definitely.
Judith:
You made a made a movie about the Jews of Africa?
Peter:
Yes. I’m a professor of cinema and media studies at Penn.
Lisa Niver:
And we met for my thirtieth Penn College reunion because many of my classmates took your classes and are still involved, and then I found out that you have a film about Africa. So tell us what your film was, the first one.
Peter:
That’s right. You generously come back and meet with students and mentor them often, which is great.
Lisa Niver:
Thank you for the opportunity.
Peter:
In 2020 with a colleague at Penn, Sosena Solomon, we made a film about the Jewish community in Gondar, Ethiopia. There’s a lot written and films made about Jews, Ethiopians living in Israel, but it was actually hard to find information about the Jews who were still living in Gondar, what was their life like, and so that’s what brought us there and then over a few years led us to make to make a film about it.
The film is really just trying to amplify their stories, and we tell stories about their soccer team, amazing stories, and their circus, which is amazing, about a rabbi who moved to Israel, became a rabbi, and then goes back regularly to still be a rabbi in that community.
The film is on Discovery + and It’s called Dreaming of Jerusalem. But as we showed the film at festivals and synagogues and places, I was surprised by how little people knew about the story. I thought they knew, and if they know anything they know about the airlifts in the 80s and 90s, but not that there’s thousands of years of history before that and there’s still an active community and there’s a lot happening.
And so I went back the last couple of years post-pandemic and I’ve just completed a book of photography and text, and in a brief way, it tells the whole history from biblical times until today, and then it tells stories about people over the last few years, and it’s been a very intense couple of years, the pandemic…
Judith:
How many Jews are in Ethiopia?
Peter:
So there’s dispute, but around 10,000.
Judith:
Oh. That’s a lot.
Lisa Niver:
And how many Jews went in the airlift from Ethiopia to Israel approximately?
Peter:
About 40 to 50 thousand then and probably 50 thousand before and after. There are about 100,000 Ethiopian Jews living in Israel who were born in Ethiopia, about another 50,000 who were born in Israel.
https://open.spotify.com/episode/7gN6...Lisa Niver:
Wow. It’s a huge communiy.
Judith:
One of the major differences is the Ethiopians’ bloodline is Jewish. The Abayudaya, Gersham and his, is not.
Lisa Niver:
In Uganda.
Judith:
In Uganda. And therefore people have said to them, you’re not really Jewish, and he’s been up against that often. He says, I know who I am. I kept saying to him, doesn’t that bother you?
After they’d been here a long time, he and I went out and he was wearing a baseball cap and his yarmulke under the baseball cap. People know he’s from another country, they don’t think he’s a black American. But I said to him, do you see a lot of prejudice here? And he said no. No. Why? Do you see a lot for you? And I said, for me? And he said, yeah, being Jewish. So I was talking about him being black, he was talking about us being Jewish, and for him it was like it didn’t exist. In his country it doesn’t. I’m the outsider in his country, or the mzungu.
Peter:
Right. So the Abayudaya converted 100 years ago and people say maybe they’re not Jewish, but actually, even though the Ethiopian community has thousands of years of Jewish history, people also say they’re not Jewish.
Judith:
They do?
Peter:
Yes. Very controversially, in the 80s and 90s, Jews who had moved from Ethiopia to Israel had to be converted to their own religion.
Judith:
Go through the mikveh and do everything.
Lisa Niver:
And there was a lot of racism in Israel.
Peter:
So hopefully in the film what you see, it starts out with a Torah service. I mean, 30 seconds in I hope you think, these people are really Jewish. They’re wearing kippot and praying.
Actually, 60 seconds in, I think they’re more Jewish than me.
Judith:
Were you raised reform?
Peter:
Conservative.
Judith:
Conservative. I was raised reform, very reformed. My father would say, you don’t have to go to synagogue on Yom Kippur but just don’t go shopping. We belonged to a synagogue but we didn’t go that much. But they say to me, do you know what this means? And they’ll sing a song and they’ll say, do you know what this means? Do you know? Do you know what Purim stands for? Do you know? They observe…they’re kosher, they observe the Shabbos, they really do. They are very devout. They consider themselves Orthodox.
Peter:
The Jews in Gondar left their homes and their farms in villages over the last 20 years and are living in the city. They have very few economic opportunities. They pray every day. They go to classes to learn Hebrew when they’re not praying. They’ve given up everything for their religion.
Judith:
Can they go to a rabbinical school?
Peter:
There is a rabbi from Haifa, Menachem Waldman, who comes and he’s there part of every month. There are hazzan, hazzanim, cantors who are there. The traditional Jewish rabbi-like figures are called Kessim, which is also the word for priest in Amharic.
Lisa Niver:
Judith met this family and became close to them. What inspired you to pick Ethiopia and Ethiopian Jews for your project?
Peter:
A few different things. One is when I was in college I went to a program in Israel and worked alongside some Ethiopians who had recently moved. This is after Operation Moses, before Operation Solomon, and so I’d been fascinated by their story in Israel for a long time. Actually, I was working on another project, another film and learning much more about the history of the community and about the community who’s there now and I couldn’t wait to make the next film and learn more about the Ethiopians, and I was really happy when I could.
Judith:
Did you research other places in Africa where there are Jews?
Peter:
That is the next project and that’s why I’m here to see you.
Judith:
So that’s not just Uganda.
Peter:
I’ll be in South Africa and then Uganda and Zimbabwe in the fall.
Lisa Niver:
Is the next film is multiple locations in Africa or they are separate films?
Peter:
We showed the film and realized that people really were desperate to know more, which caused me to go back and continue to do interviews and take photographs and I have a book now, it’s of photography and history, coming out.
Lisa Niver:
When does it come out?
Peter:
maybe about a year.
Lisa Niver:
Your film is on Discovery Channel and now you’re working on multiple books. It’s so interesting that you both have such a love for the people of Africa and making these projects.
Judith:
My feeling is it either is in your soul or it’s not, and the first time I went to Africa I was on safari with all my kids and I did love it. I loved it, but that’s a whole different thing.
The second, the next time I went was to go to Uganda, which was a completely different show, from beginning to end, but I couldn’t wait to go back, and each time I went there I just wanted to go back there so much and we were so involved. We had taught these women how to make paper beads and then how to make beautiful necklaces. We combined paper beads with metal beads that we traded and they were stunning. And then my sister and I would go sell them here. I would sell them to stores here and then send them the money. And my husband kept saying, why don’t you just give them the money? because without us they really couldn’t do it. There is no getting a job. It’s very hard there.
Peter:
I’ve been going to Kenya for many years and I collaborate with a film school there that’s in a refugee camp by the South Sudan border. The refugee camps is called Kakuma and the film program is called FilmAid Kenya, and I like to bring my students and we have made many films together over the years. I just got back two weeks ago, we were making films about music and politics in the camp. What connects is we’re filmmakers, they’re film students, I have film students, we’re working together on project.
Going to Ethiopia what connects us is we’re Jewish, and the first time I walked in and they started singing the same prayers that I know with the tunes I cried.
Judith:
A friend of mine started a program in Rwanda and she talked about Tikkun olam- To repair the world–There are no Jews in Rwanda, and so she was going to help the children of the genocide. She did the most remarkable job of any place I’ve ever seen. I mean, first of all, Rwanda is an amazing place, but these kids, they have a film school where she is. They have a school. She flew in teachers from Israel and from the States, and they’re producing filmmakers. They’re based out of New York but they’re incredible, and Rwanda is an incredible place.
Lisa Niver:
So it would be great for people to know about these programs. Maybe they want to support the Jews in Uganda or the film school or the Kenya FilmAid. Does it have a website or can people find out more?
Peter:
Yeah. So you can definitely just Google FilmAid Kenya and find out a lot about them. There are many organizations that support the community in Ethiopia. The SSEJ, the Struggle to Save Ethiopian Jewry is the organization that helps support the synagogue, the food program and the health clinic. When I was just there in March they were about to open a new clinic. They had raised funds the year before and it will now have 24-hour care for anyone under 18, which is amazing.
Judith:
We have a new clinic too but…you will see it, the day after we had the grand opening it looked like it had been there for 50 years. I mean, and the architect, whoever he was, you don’t build a big atrium in the center when it pours and have the rooms…you’re just slip and sliding. We decided we wanted to do a pharmacy. Gersham’s daughter went to school to be a pharmacist. Her husband is now here becoming a rabbi with her and their baby.
The young adults there, they can go to school and most of them go to Muslim school because it’s better there. They have a grade school, Hadassah, and then they go to another school, but the Muslim school happens to be a better school. They send their kids away to school. If they’re living in Bali, they’ll send them to Kampala to school. But they graduate with a degree and there’s no jobs. There’s nothing. There’s nothing they can do.
And I’m in love with this family. Gersham just came to town and we spent a day or two together. There’s a rabbi who got him speaking engagements all over the country.
Lisa Niver:
So if people want to help, what’s the best way to help?
Judith:
I don’t know now. I would have to find out. I really can’t tell you because all of the people that I worked with have all grown up, and when they grow up, they move to Kampala and Kampala is a big city.
Lisa Niver:
And that’s six hours away. And you’re going there for your next project?
Peter:
Yes. This summer.
Lisa Niver:
When you come back from Africa we’ll have to chat again because we’ll want a big update. It’s so inspiring to people that you’ve taken so much of your time to help people on another continent, people that maybe get forgotten about.
Judith:
I don’t know whether Peter has gotten this or not, people will say to me, there’s poor people here. I have an uncle who passed away, who I’m sure you knew, Haskell Wexler.
Peter:
Oh my God. Really?
Judith:
Yeah. He was my closest relative, he died at 95. He comes from a different generation. Here’s the difference, we have safety nets here. You may think that they’re terrible, but they have none. If they don’t have money to pay for health care, they’re gone. That’s it. They’ll die by the street. But people made me feel guilty thinking I should be helping more locally.
Peter:
What you’re saying is true. In the refugee camp in Kenya, in Ethiopia, it’s hard to think about what someone could do to make their situation better. There are very, very few options.
Lisa Niver:
I will put in the notes how people can find out more about your film, and Judith is an incredible photographer so we’ll put a link to her website. And when Peter’s film is done and the book is out, you’ll come back and you’ll tell everybody more. Thank you for all of the work you do and the change that you make in the world.
Judith:
You’re welcome. Thank you.
Peter:
Thank you.
Lisa Niver, Judith Gigliotti and Peter Decherney June 28, 2023 Santa Monica, CAProfessor Peter Decherney’s websitePenn Global Documentary Institute
Info about Dreaming of Jerusalem
Judith Gigliotti websiteLISTEN on APPLE PODCAST: MAKE YOUR OWN MAPLisa’s book: Brave-ish, One Breakup, Six Continents and Feeling Fearless After Fifty
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July 27, 2023
Enchanting Escapes in Northern Ireland’s Beauty!
After Travel Classics Ireland, we wandered on the Wild Atlantic Way and then went to explore Northern Ireland’s enchanting escapes-from Royal Residences to Enchanted Forests, Unveiling the Gems of Lough Erne Resort, Armagh Cider Company, Ballinteggart Farm, and More!
Welcome to the enchanting beauty of Northern Ireland, a land that beckons with its rich history, lush landscapes, and captivating experiences. In this mesmerizing realm, where past and present seamlessly intertwine, you will discover a tapestry of delights that span from majestic royal residences like Hillsborough Castle & Gardens to the charming allure of Armagh Cider Company and the serene charm of Ballinteggart Farm. Get ready to embark on an unforgettable journey as we explore the wonders of Lough Erne Resort, the majestic Slieve Donard Hotel, and the mystical Bike Mourne trails of Tollymore Forest Park. From the legendary realms of Game of Thrones to the iconic Guinness Storehouse Tour in Dublin and the stylish charm of The Grafton and The Davenport, Northern Ireland awaits with an abundance of enchanting escapes. Join us as we venture into this magical world where history, nature, and culture intertwine to create an experience like no other.
Where to STAY? Lough Erne Resort, Ireland Lough Erne Resort is an awe-inspiring property nestled amidst the breathtaking landscapes of County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. With its luxurious accommodations, world-class golf courses, and tranquil spa, it offers an unforgettable escape. Boasting stunning lake views, exceptional dining options, and impeccable service, it’s the perfect haven for discerning travelers. Additionally, younger guests can embark on a magical adventure through the resort’s captivating enchanted forest walk. This immersive experience combines the beauty of nature with whimsical sculptures and interactive elements, creating a truly enchanting experience for kids. From exploring the wooded areas to discovering hidden surprises, Lough Erne Resort ensures that guests of all ages create lifelong memories in this extraordinary setting.
I enjoyed my stay Lough Erne Resort with stunning lake views and the enchanted forest walk. Amy and I stayed in a 2 bedroom tower which we LOVED! AND!! we saw baby sheep near the golf course.
Dining at Lough Erne Resort is a culinary journey that delights the senses. The resort offers a range of exceptional dining options, each providing a unique and unforgettable experience. From fine dining at the award-winning Catalina Restaurant, where guests can savor innovative and exquisite dishes crafted with locally sourced ingredients, to the cozy and relaxed atmosphere of The Blaney Bar, serving up delicious pub-style fare, there is something to satisfy every palate. With impeccable service, breathtaking views, and a commitment to culinary excellence, dinner at Lough Erne Resort is a true gastronomic delight.
My morning stroll at Lough Erne
These photos are from my morning walk across Reeds Bridge before breakfast. I also loved our walk around the water! Thank you to the entire team and my group for a wonderful time!! I felt like a story book princess like Rapunzel in my second story bedroom in the turret tower!! Thank you!!
We experienced the serene beauty of Erne’s waterways on our all-electric slow boat tour, Island Discovery. Glide through the picturesque landscapes, enjoying the peaceful ambiance while minimizing your carbon footprint. Discover hidden gems and unwind as our eco-friendly water taxi offers a unique, sustainable way to explore Erne’s enchanting surroundings. We loved seeing the sights, the swans and tasting the specialty cocktails!
Armagh Cider Company
and Ballinteggart Farm 
Ireland Welcome to Ballinteggart Farm, a haven of apple enchantment. Stroll through the picturesque orchards, where vibrant apple trees bear the fruits of nature’s labor. I loved being at Armagh Cider Company!! I love APPLES! Taste the juicy apples straight from the branches, savoring their crispness and sweetness. We also ate delightful apple tarts lovingly crafted from the freshest harvest made with Armagh Bramley Apples PGI. Ballinteggart Stud is well-known for breeding Irish horses and ponies! They also have sparkling waters in many flavors and make Honeyhill Rosettes! You can stroll through the Heritage Trees which are registered with the Woodland Trust. WE LOVED OUR VISIT and cannot wait until Philip and Helen have a B&B so we can stay overnight! The Troughtons have been growing apples in Co Armagh for 5 generations since 1898. They produce an amazing 34 apple varieties from the 80-acre ancient plantation. My favorite dessert of the entire trip was the apple pie made from their apples!
Northern Ireland’s royal residence: Hillsborough Castle & GardensExplore Northern Ireland’s royal residence, Hillsborough Castle, where worlds and minds meet. Relax in 100 acres of picturesque gardens, explore the State Rooms still used today. Embark on a captivating tour of Royal Hillsborough Castle and its exquisite gardens. Marvel at the vibrant floral displays, tranquil lakes, and enchanting woodlands. Knowledgeable guides will reveal the castle’s fascinating history and incredible artwork. Explore hidden corners and meandering pathways, immersing yourself in the castle’s rich tapestry of stories. Discover the harmonious blend of nature and heritage that makes Royal Hillsborough Castle’s gardens truly extraordinary.
Where to STAY? Slieve Donard Hotel, Ireland Discover the rich history and unforgettable experience of Slieve Donard Hotel. Since 1898, this iconic destination has welcomed discerning travelers seeking timeless elegance. Set against the majestic Mourne Mountains, it offers luxurious accommodations, breathtaking views, and a tranquil ambiance. Immerse yourself in its grandeur, relax in the spa, and explore the natural beauty of the surrounding landscape. Slieve Donard Hotel is a place where history and comfort intertwine, creating a truly remarkable retreat. AND! Step behind the scenes of The Seven Kingdoms at the official Game of Thrones Studio Tour. The Game of Thrones Studio Tour Package includes overnight accommodation at Slieve Donard!
Enchanted Exploring with Bike Mourne: Tollymore Forest Park, Game of Thrones and Bloody BridgeThank you to Bike Mourne! I had the most beautiful day in County Down, Northern Ireland. Some of my group went by e-bike while I had a walking and photo tour. I loved the rock sculpture, walking trails and coastal beauty near Bloody Bridge which gets its name from the Irish Rebellion of 1641. I took photos at Barbican Gate in the enchanting Tollymore Forest Park, at the foot of the majestic Mourne Mountains. It has been featured in movies and TV shows like “Game of Thrones.” The picturesque landscapes and biking and walking trails take you by the park’s ancient trees, bridges, and cascading waterfalls.
I loved taking photos at Barbican Gate in the enchanting Tollymore Forest Park, at the foot of the majestic Mourne Mountains. It has been featured in movies and TV shows like “Game of Thrones.” The picturesque landscapes and biking and walking trails take you by the park’s ancient trees, bridges, and cascading waterfalls. Thank you to Team Bike Mourne!
While hula hooping my way through the enchanting landscapes of Ireland, I added a playful twist to my adventures from Slieve Donard in Northern Ireland to Dublin. From twirling amidst the stunning mountains of Slieve Donard to dancing along the vibrant streets of Dublin, hula hooping infused my journey with joy and rhythm, creating unforgettable memories in both natural and urban settings.
On May 1, 2023, we celebrated Percy French’s 169th birthday at Slieve Donard’s Percy French restaurant which was one of my most favorite lunches! Amy and I hula hooped as a tribute to the renowned Irish songwriter and painter. and there is a Game of Thrones DOOR!
The Guinness Storehouse Tour in Dublin, Irelandhttps://youtube.com/shorts/8lByetgs9YQThe Guinness Storehouse tour is a captivating journey through the rich history of Ireland’s most famous #beer. From the brewing process to iconic advertising campaigns, visitors immerse themselves in the brand’s legacy. The panoramic Gravity Bar offers breathtaking views of Dublin while enjoying a perfectly poured pint.
Where to stay in DUBLIN? The Grafton
The Grafton Dublin is a unique and memorable hotel in the heart of Dublin’s city center. Housed in a historic building on Grafton Street, it offers stylish accommodation with modern amenities. Centrally located near Trinity College and Dublin Castle. I recommend it for comfort, convenience, and charm.
Dublin’s Dazzling Delights: Unveiling the City’s Charms and Cultural Gems!
Where to STAY in Dublin? The Davenport
Davenport Hotel Dublin: Timeless Elegance in the Heart of the City. Immerse yourself in the rich history and impeccable service of this luxurious gem. Stylish accommodations, delectable dining, and easy access to Dublin’s iconic attractions await, making the Davenport Hotel the epitome of hospitality.
Exploring Dublin’s Enchanting Bookstores. At Hodges Figgis, Ireland’s oldest bookshop serving Dublin and the wider world since 1768, I found two of my favorite authors— Lisa Barr and Elizabeth Gilbert! Books help us understand ourselves. Immerse yourself in a timeless tale and discover a treasure.
Saba Dublin: Embark on a Flavorful Journey to Thailand, Right in the Heart of Dublin. Indulge in Authentic Thai Cuisine, Where Vibrant Flavors, Fresh Ingredients, and Exquisite Culinary Craftsmanship Await. The FOOD is EXCELLENT and the signs made me LAUGH! I loved it all so much I forgot to take PHOTOS of the dishes. I have to go back!
What an absolutely remarkable and awe-inspiring journey in Ireland! From the heart-pounding adventures of skeet shooting and falconry to exploring the captivating landscapes of the North, this trip had so many highlights especially my travel partners! As I board my AerLingus flight home, I am filled with immense gratitude for the opportunity to attend the Travel Classics Magazine conference and learn so much. I LOVED seeing more of Ireland and my return to Ashford Castle.
See all my posts about Ireland and my videos:
Thank you to Ashford Castle, Travel Classics Ireland and Tourism Ireland for my amazing adventures!
Enjoy more of my travels in Ireland
Read more of my Adventures in Ireland in my book, Brave-ish, One Breakup, Six Continents and Feeling Fearless After Fifty!
The post Enchanting Escapes in Northern Ireland’s Beauty! appeared first on We Said Go Travel.
July 23, 2023
From Pen to Print: Insights from Prolific Professor Susan Shapiro
Thank you to Susan Shapiro for joining me on my podcast. We met this month at Zibby’s Bookshop for her live and in-person Los Angeles Summer Writing panels.
Lisa Niver, Yvonne Liu, Susan Shapiro and Melissa Monroe at Zibby’s Bookstore 7/11/2023Listen or watch our interview on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube or your favorite podcast platform
READ THE TRANSCRIPT OF OUR INTERVIEW BELOW
Lisa Niver:
This is Lisa Niver from We Said Go Travel, and I’m so honored and excited to be here with the prolific writing professor, Susan Shapiro. I’m so excited to actually see you live at Zibby’s Bookshop today.
Susan Shapiro:
My former student.
Lisa Niver:
She is prolific. She must’ve learned well from you.
Susan Shapiro:
She mentioned me in her fantastic memoir, Bookends. She talks about taking my class where she first got published.
Lisa Niver:
I did read about you in Bookends. You and I have a lot of connections, because I know in your book The Forgiveness Tour, you talk about the Los Angeles Press Club.
Susan Shapiro:
Yes. I’ve done great events there. I love the LA Press Club.
Lisa Niver:
I love the LA Press Club, too. One of the things everybody might not be know about you is that you have written 17 books.
Susan Shapiro:
I always say that I’m the author / co-author of 17 books my family hates. One of the rules for my class is that the first piece that you write that your family hates means you found your voice.
Lisa Niver:
You have a lot of very clever, pithy statements. What is the one about your class?
Susan Shapiro:
“Instant gratification takes too long” is my method where the goal of the class is to write and publish a great piece by the end of the class. Many people do.
Lisa Niver:
Many people have loved your books. The Book Bible, I think it’s a great name for it, because people really use that to get published.
Susan Shapiro:
Thank you, and Byline Bible, also. Byline Bible is to help people publish newspaper, magazine, literary short pieces, and in The Book Bible, I tackle 20 different book genres.
Lisa Niver:
Please tell people about your upcoming class this summer. In your book you talk about: pitch vs write and the core part of a pitch “why you, why me, why now?”
Susan Shapiro:
What’s really exciting is the online class. I taught in person for 25 years. During the pandemic, I realized how much fun the online classes are and how successful they are. The goal of the class, in five weeks, is to publish a piece in a good newspaper or magazine or literary journal and get paid for it.
Through trial and error during the pandemic, what I found was that what people loved the most was meeting editors, because especially people who were outside of New York just never get a chance to meet people from the New Yorker, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Magazine, and they just don’t know who to pitch. They don’t know which editor to try.
What I started doing is having as many great editors as I can during the class. What people hated the most was, in my long, 15-week, four-hour-a-week classes, we used to read long pieces that people wrote, modern blogs or a thousand-word pieces, and people hated that online. They just thought it’s really boring.
During the pandemic, it seemed as if there was a switch where, instead of wanting full, fleshed-out pieces, a lot of editors would prefer short pitches. So, you say the title of your piece and what your piece is about. As you said, why me, why you, why now? And a lot of editors were saying yes, and they’d prefer to see the pitch first with the title of the piece and the subtitle, one line about you. So, they like short pitches.
Since what people like the most is meeting editors and what they like the least is reading long pieces, I focused on pitches. The first time I tried it, it was like a miracle. Out of 40 people in the class, 30 got published right away in the LA Times, the New York Times, New York Magazine, 500 dollars, 1,000 dollars, and then in the Washington Post, and then people started selling books. They would publish a short piece, and an editor would say, “I love this. Is there a book in it?”
It just got so exciting. What’s really interesting is a lot of my students in New York just want a refresher course, so they started Zooming in too. Another great thing is that anybody that’s getting published, the five-week class is 500 dollars. So, everybody that’s making 500 dollars or more takes the class again because they want to meet 15 new editors.
I had one student that said one of the editors who pays 500 dollars a pop, she said she has done 12 pieces in a row for him. Because it is online, it’s not only all around the country now, but I’ve had Japan, Malaysia, Vietnam, Brussels, India. On one Zoom, you’ll see people from Asia, and it’s light out, and they’re outside on their balconies in the morning, and in the same Zoom in Brussels and Italy, it’s night, and you could see that it’s dark.
What people say is that even if they have to start really early or stay up late, there’s really no other way to meet all these editors. I’m constantly switching them around because they’re all switching around themselves.
It’s perfect for a beginner. I’ve had a 14-year-old, and I’ve had a 90-year-old in different fields. It is okay if you don’t know where to start because you get these great editors that’ll just say, this is what I want. I’m looking for short, funny pieces that are 700 words that play off the news, and this is what I don’t want, and could you…and they’re so specific, and it’s exciting, and then, interestingly, I’ve been getting, lately, a lot of book authors whose agents and editors say to them, okay, your book is coming out. Now you have to do short pieces. Go try to publish a few short pieces in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, Boston Globe, Washington Post, and they say, how do I do that?
And they take his class. I’ve had a lot of authors, who you would think…they certainly know how to write, but they just don’t know how to pitch this specific thing. So, it turns out, I get this really fascinating mix of people, and I’ve got a lot of students who’ve taken my classes before, and what’s so funny is they say, I took it last time, and I published three pieces, but are they the same editors coming?
There’s some of the same editors, because if they keep buying stuff from my students, that’s the goal. So, I’m going to keep having them come, but I said, what? They were 15, and you only sold work to 3. So, that leaves 12 that you didn’t get a yes from yet, so might be worth it to take again, and then they take it again and get more clips. I didn’t expect it because I’m a technophobe, but it’s really fun.
I also feel like people have been publishing some really important stuff, especially during the pandemic. There were a lot of brilliant George Floyd pieces, including a book that came out of it. There’s articles in response to anti-Semitism and anti-Asian, horrible slurs that were happening. People have taken on a lot of medical misconceptions concerning what was going on with the pandemic as well as abortion. Important work is coming out of it which is so cool.
Lisa Niver:
Wow. I’m ready to sign up. It sounds fantastic. I know one of the things that I’ve read about you say: write the story only you can write. Can you talk a little bit more about what does that mean?
Susan Shapiro:
What happens is that some people write a straight A paper where they’ll write something well, whether it’s the humiliation essay, which is write about your most humiliating secret or the op-ed assignment, which is it really pisses me off when. They’ll write something, and it’s well written, and it’s well thought out, but you just heard it before.
We know that war is bad and that COVID sucks and that breakups hurt and public schools don’t have money. We already know that. Tell us something we don’t know.
People have asked me to record my classes.
But truthfully, I think the reason it works is I’m a really tough critic. I think that’s part of why people have luck, because, I’ll read a pitch, and I’ll say, yes, this is smart. It’s boring. I’ve heard it before. What can you tell me? And I’ll start asking…I’ve been in therapy a million years, so I’ll start asking really intrusive questions, and they’ll uncover something.
And I will say, “ Oh my god, now that, I never heard.” So, pitch that, and it’s not like getting an MBA or a medical degree or a law degree where you follow a certain path and you’re just going to be successful. It’s complicated and editors have to fall in love with what they’re reading to decide if they buy a piece or not.
I help my students figure out: is this original? Is it something new? Is there something we haven’t heard before, or is it provocative? I think it’s Arthur Miller who said the only thing worth writing is the unspoken and the unspeakable. I try to get people away from from their comfort zone and writing things that are too easy and to take a risk and be more provocative.
Lisa Niver:
You bought up years of therapy, which reminds me of your book that I loved so very much, The Forgiveness Tour.
Susan Shapiro:
Thank you.
Lisa Niver:
I really love that book and the journey you went on through different faiths. I’m also Jewish, and I have a memoir, Brave-ish, One Breakup, Six Continents and Feeling Fearless After Fifty, coming out in September. The whole piece about– forgiveness doesn’t mean what someone else did is okay— really spoke to me. Can you tell people that haven’t had the opportunity yet to read The Forgiveness Tour about the journey you went on?
Susan Shapiro:
Thanks. The big question with The Forgiveness Tour was what if someone who you care about, who’s important in your life, hurts you and they refuse to apologize, and can you forgive them? And that’s what happened to me, and it was a confusing mind-bogging situation, because I wanted to forgive, but when I said I think you owe me an apology, he said, I’m sorry for the imaginary crime you think I committed. So, that’s not so great. That makes me want to commit a real crime.
I really struggled with it for a long time, and the book took 10 years to finish. I was trying to figure that puzzle out, and at the time, I was working at Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen with the really brilliant Reverend Liz Maxwell. She explained to me the concept of forgiveness and when Jesus said forgive them, for they know not what they do. And then I have all these rabbis in my life, from conservative to Hasid to reform.
And I asked their opinion, and there were really fascinating stories about it. In Judaism, you’re mandated to forgive, and if somebody asks your forgiveness three times and you don’t give it, then you have to ask forgiveness for not forgiving. So, that was this interesting concept, and then, in the meantime, I had a friend who was Hindu and actually gave me a really brilliant, Hinduistic viewpoint, and Buddhist.
I wound up asking people from all religions to explain to me their concept of forgiveness and can you forgive somebody who doesn’t apologize? And just as I started figuring out I can and how I could do it…and by the way, you could forgive someone and decide never to see them again in your whole life. So, forgiving someone doesn’t mean that you have to continue the relationship in any way.
So, just as I was at the point where I was about to be able to forgive without wanting to see the person again, they came back and apologized. So, it was a mind-blowing…I mean, it pissed me off because one of the first critics of the book, on Goodreads said, I really liked it, but I didn’t like the ending.
There was a happy ending, and I wanted it to be more realistic, and I waited 10 years until I had a happy ending because I didn’t want to write this manically depressive book about someone who never gets the apology they needed and is bitter and angry. So, I finally figured it all out, and they were complaining that it was too happy an ending, but I waited a long time for that ending.
Lisa Niver:
I think that’s a really important story for aspiring writers to hear, that everything doesn’t have to happen right away, and I think you talk about that in your class. That you’re only one yes away from it working.
Susan Shapiro:
Right, and there’s also a difference when I say instant gratification takes too long, I’m talking about very short pieces. There are editors who will buy 3, 4 and 500-word pieces and 1,000-word pieces, which are 3 or 4 pages. I could absolutely teach somebody how to do that in five weeks. A book is a different animal, and there are certain books that I think one could do in six months or a year. My first novel, it took 13 years from start to finish. So, instead of a book launch, I got a book mitzvah.
Lisa Niver:
You’re so funny. You had a book mitzvah?
Susan Shapiro:
Thank you. I had a book mitzvah, and I had a cake, and people came up and lit candles, all the people that sort of helped me with the book over the years. I’ve been doing this for a long time, and I did a lot of therapy, and I’ve had a lot of mentors. What’s actually exciting about teaching it, about writing the writing guides, is that it feels like all my mistakes are worth something.
I was writing full time when I was 20, and my first real book, Five Men Who Broke My Heart, came out when I was 43 years old. That took a really long time to figure out. What’s so great is that all the mistakes that I made —I could use everything that I learned to help other people so that they don’t have to go through all the suffering, and also, there are some shortcuts, and there are some things that I didn’t realize for a long time.
What is your goal? And you could have a different goal for each piece or each book, but everybody wants to have some standard rule, and there is no standard rule. What do you want? What’s going to make you happy in your life? For my classes, I ask people, what’s your goal? If you’ve never had a clip, sometimes it’s just really good to get paid for your clip, but some of my students already have clips. So, they want to give themselves a promotion and write for a better place.
Some people want to change the world with their opinion, or sometimes I have doctors and therapists who want to impart wisdom during a rough time. Some people want to sell a book, so let’s think of a short piece that’s going to get editors and agents interested in your book. Based on my own rejections and failure for so many years, I can work with writers at any stage and help them get to the next step.
Lisa Niver:
I know that you had written about Barbie and that you had 68 Barbies, and the movie’s coming out, and I loved your piece in The Sun about Barbie.
Susan Shapiro:
Thanks, and I just did one for Tablet, and I’m working on another piece, too, about, why Barbie’s a feminist and what the women’s movement always got wrong about her.
Lisa Niver:
It’s really interesting how people are mesmerized by Barbie.
Susan Shapiro:
Yeah, there’s good reasons. She was a very important role model. When the doll came out in 1959, a real-life woman could not get a credit card in her own name or buy a car or an apartment. And then you had this teen model who has not only one job, she had many. She could be a college grad, a nurse, an astronaut. She had all these different professions. And her own Dreamhouse.
Ken didn’t buy the Dreamhouse. There’s no father in the picture. She had her own Dreamhouse. She had her own car. Pretty soon, she had her own airplane, and that didn’t exist. For myself, I know there were really cool fantasies attached, and it was very empowering and a lot of people don’t realize how empowering it was.
It really wasn’t until 1974 that a woman was able to get a credit card in her own name without a father or husband co-signing. By that point, there were black Barbies, and there were president Barbies. So, Ruth Handler, the woman who invented it, she was very ahead of her time. She was really an important trailblazer, and I don’t think people realize that she made the doll in her own image.
Lisa Niver:
I knew her name, but I did not realize it was so much in her own image. That’s amazing.
Susan Shapiro:
At a very young age, her family gave her a car. She had her own car at 16. When she found her husband, the guy that she liked, she was the one who proposed to him. Her family let her go out to California as a teen and work at Paramount Pictures. She was living in an apartment with girlfriends, and this is the ’30s.
Ruth had a very unusually independent life, and then her kids were named Barbie and Kenneth. She named the dolls after her family, and she was a clothes horse. She was a workaholic and a clothes horse who loved jewelry and makeup. There was a lot of stuff from her own life in the dolls. She had experienced anti-Semitism, and so it was very important to her to have a black Barbie in 1968 during the race riots. That was a really important statement. Many people don’t understand how prescient and important the doll really was.
Lisa Niver:
Before you leave us, can you tell people about your new book that’s coming in November?
Susan Shapiro:
That’s called American Shield, and I’m co-authoring it with Sergeant Aquilino Gonell, who’s a veteran, and he was a sergeant who almost got killed during the January 6 insurrection. He wrote a great piece for the New York Times Opinion Section, “I was betrayed by President Trump.” So, while Trump was announcing his bid in his 70s to run for office again, the real hero Aquilino Gonell can no longer be on the police force based on injuries he sustained trying to defend democracy. The event I’m doing in LA tonight is with my Counterpoint editors for that book, so I’m excited.
Lisa Niver:
You have done so many incredible books and stories and helped so many writers. I want to read you one sentence I loved so much from your Forgiveness book, which was: “Forgiveness takes back your power. You refuse to let someone else’s misdeed rattle your soul any longer.” I think the book you’re working on now and the class you’re doing is really helping people change their lives. Thank you.
Susan Shapiro:
Thank you, and if anyone wants to email me, four of my books are about addiction. Now that I quit all my other addictions, I’m addicted to email. Message me: ProfSue123@gmail com
Lisa Niver:
Where’s the best place for people to find you on social media or your website?
Susan Shapiro:
My website is SusanShapiro.net, and I’m on Facebook and Insta and Twitter. I like all of them.
Lisa Niver:
Thank you so much for spending this time with me. Congratulations on the new book, and I’m going to sign up for your class, too.
Susan Shapiro:
Fantastic. Thank you so much.
Lisa Niver, Melissa Monroe, Yvonne Liu and Tara Ellison at Susan Shapiro’s event July 13, 2023My free L.A. Writing panel is Thurs 7/13 7:30-9:30 pm with @tomzoellner @AlisonSinghGee8 @latimes editor Elena Gooray agents Dara Hyde (literary) @michaelwilson (TV/film) Profsue123@gmail.com RSVP #writing #publishing #books #essays #reviews #opeds #memoirs #fiction #tv #film pic.twitter.com/3WwKcUAEAN
— Susan Shapiro (@Susanshapironet) July 8, 2023
View this post on InstagramA post shared by Susan Shapiro (@profsue123)
LISTEN on APPLE PODCAST: MAKE YOUR OWN MAPIn her new piece for @tabletmag, NBCC member @Susanshapironet mentions the upcoming "Barbie" movie by Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach, and several top Barbie books, along with research (and outtakes) from her own 2019 book "Barbie: 60 Years of Inspiration": https://t.co/wJjY6CPMcF
— National Book Critics Circle (@bookcritics) July 10, 2023
Lisa’s book: Brave-ish, One Breakup, Six Continents and Feeling Fearless After Fifty
The post From Pen to Print: Insights from Prolific Professor Susan Shapiro appeared first on We Said Go Travel.
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