Shelley Seale

Location: Austin, TX, United States

Member Since: 30 October 2008

Professional Associations

 Travelwriters.com

 American Society of Journalists and Authors

 Society of Professional Journalists

 South Asian Journalists Association

 International Society for Travel Writing

Introduction

Thanks for stopping in. I'm Shelley Seale, a professional freelance writer and vagabond based out of Austin, Texas. I recently published a narrative non-fiction book: The Weight of Silence: Invisible Children of India. It tells the stories of some of the 25 million children living without parents in India, on the streets or in orphanages; and the inspiring people who are helping to uphold their rights, one child at a time. Go to the Weight of Silence website at http://weightofsilence.wordpress.com, where you can read an excerpt from the book, articles and news about the subject, & much more! My areas of writing specialty include cultural issues, travel, the arts, women & children, nonprofit and social activism, real estate (commercial & residential), relocation, architecture, entrepreneurship, business and interior design. My degree is in Writing and Cultural Psychology from St. Edward's University. My writing has appeared in dozens of publications & websites. I have written for National Geographic, Globe Pequot Press (Insiders Travel Guidebooks), Hotelier International, Travel Intelligence, Andrew Harper Traveler Magazine, Seattle Times, OutFront Magazine, and the Austin Business Journal among others.

Experience & Expertise

I have been a professional writer for over five years, and have just published a new book called The Weight of Silence: Invisible Children of India (http://weightofsilence.wordpress.com). I have a column at The Examiner on volunteer/sustainable travel, and have written for the National Geographic GeoTourism project, Seattle Times, Washington Magazine, Intrepid Travel, Go World Travel Austin Woman Magazine, and many more. My area of travel writing expertise is TRAVEL WITH A PURPOSE; including cultural travel & awareness, immersion travel, voluntourism, reality tourism, sustainable travel, eco-tourism, women's travel, adventure travel, long-term sustained travel, and experiential or learning travel.

Publishing Credentials

National Geographic's GeoTourism Guides Andrew Harper's Traveler Magazine Hotelier International Washington Magazine Seattle Times Intrepid Travel Travel Intelligence Transitions Abroad Go World Travel Magazine Colors NW Magazine Good Life Magazine The VolunTourist InfoChange India World Press OutFront Magazine Eclipse Magazine Global Voices Online Raving Dove Literary Journal Austin Woman Austin Monthly Austin Business Journal Austin American Statesman San Antonio Express News Dance Spirit Texas School Business Magazine Advance for Nurses

Awards Received

Winner of the Intrepid Travel Writing Contest, 2009 Residency awarded at Julia & David White Artist/Writer Retreat in Costa Rica, 2006 Residency awarded to the Prague Summer Program, 2007 Residency & scholarship awarded to the Summer Literary Series, Russia, 2007

Clips & Samples (View All 18)

Class Trips: Experiential Vacations, Andrew Harper's Traveler Magazine

Top 10 Ethical Travel Destinations, MyWorkButterfly

Floating Journeys - Barge Cruises Abroad, Transitions Abroad

Immerse Yourself in a Culture while Learning Spanish, Photography, or Surfing, Transitions Abroad

Lost and Found, Intrepid Travel