Sandra Essary

Location: Bakersfield, CA, United States

Member Since: 14 March 2004

Professional Associations

 Travelwriters.com

 National Writers Union

 North American Travel Journalists Association

Introduction

Writing has been in my blood from a very early age. I remember writing my first "book" when I was 10 years old... 99 pages handwritten. Never published it of course, but it sure felt like a book to me. I wrote a second book at age 16 just basically for the fun of it. It wasn't until high school that I finally was published in a national magazine, "Parents Magazine". After that, being an English major in college with a minor in creative writing took up most of my time. I studied in Bordeaux, France my junior year in college and had the opportunity to travel extensively throughout all of Europe (including Greece) except Austria. I immersed myself in European culture for a year and never went into a new country without learning at least the basics of the language. I grew up in New Mexico and Texas, then moved to California as a teen. A number of years after college, I moved to New Jersey, where I lived for 15 years and grew to love NYC. Currently I reside in California. Any time the Baby Boomers have hit a certain age, age-relevant markets have been greatly affected. Baby Boomers caused the sharp rises in the sales of toys, cars, homes, medical care costs, and anything that was in line with their age at the time. With retirement coming up soon, I predict the travel industry will boom right along with the boomers. Already Boomers are starting to take more car trips, cruises, vacations -- whatever the can fit into their budget. Baby Boomers look for articles that provide more information, first-hand experiences, off-beat places to go, eco-tourism, luxury travel, and basically the "inside scoop" on what to do and where to go. I'll give you an example. It's about where to find the tastiest conch in all of Nassau, the Bahamas, and Paradise Island. Once eaten, you are going to be a snob about conch-eating because you will have eaten the best, and "tourist conch" just won't do it for you any longer. This is all because YOU know where the best conch on the island is, and you now realize the locals don't give up this information easily. On one occasion when I visited Nassau, I caught a cab to take me to see the Atlantis hotel. I mentioned to the driver that I hadn't yet had conch to eat and was looking forward to it. On a bold whim, I asked him where the locals go for good conch. He told me it was "over the hill" in the non-touristy section of town and really didn't think I should go there. I persisted, assuring him I would be all right and that I would even buy him dinner. A little laughter thrown in, and soon he agreed to take me there. We drove "over the hill" and stopped in front of what looked like a bar. He took me inside, where I noticed a full bar, a TV with some sports game on it, two eating tables, and rows of dark faces staring at my white face. I am sure they wondered why a tourist would want to come into their realm. It was a far cry from the Atlantis, after all. At this point, I seriously doubted that this "dive" could cook up anything decent. After the first taste of that sweet, tender, batter-fried conch, I was amazed. This was hands down the best conch I had ever had -- I didn't know it could even taste like this! I smirked inside, because out of all the tourists eating conch on the island right now, I was the only one eating the best. To this day, I remember the taste of the best conch I have ever eaten. Not even a five-star restaurant has beaten it. When I go back, I know now exactly where to get the best island conch. Tidbits of information such as this -- geared toward all levels of income -- are what readers are looking for. I am here to seek these tidbits out, these jewels of information, and deliver them in an exciting, informative, and in-depth piece that will set your publication apart. If you are interested in letting me show you what I can do, please call or email me and let's put together some fantastic ideas for travel articles, columns, or clips.

Experience & Expertise

My travel background includes: - studying in France for a year and traveling in most major European countries except Austria; traveled extensively by car and train - traveling to about half of the States plus some of Mexico - traveling to the Bahamas, Granada, and the Grand Caymans - shooting pictures wherever I go - have studied composition & other techniques of taking good pictures - staying in a wide variety of accommodations including five-star hotels and resorts, regular chain motels, bed & breakfasts, condos, etc. - camping extensively throughout the U.S., esp on the West Coast, in the Southwest, and in the Northeast Have been to New England in the fall, the Rockies in winter; have walked down Bourbon St. in New Orleans, Times Square, the Champs-Élysées, and even atop the Hopi Mesas in Arizona -- where the oldest continually habited town in the Western hemisphere exists. I love meeting the people and really getting into the local culture wherever I go, including tasting the local fare.

Publishing Credentials

Online: Currently am the Associated Content Travel Editor. Associated Content writer since January, 2007, 151 articles published as of 3-1-10, many are travel or camping-related (see full list of articles at: http://www.associatedcontent.com/user/46509/sandra_essary.html), ghostwrote a number of short travel pieces about various places in Germany, Mallorca, Majorca, Spain, etc. Magazines: non-travel pieces for Parents Magazine, Black Belt Mag, Kung Fu Illustrated

Awards Received

Top 1000 (producing writers) 2009, Associated Content National Merit Scholarship Award (academic) California Honors Society, lifetime member (academic)

Clips & Samples (View All 8)

Psychiatrist Says Policemen and Air Traffic Controllers Are Psychologically Sick , Associated Content

La Source Resort & Spa: A Luxurious All-Inclusive Caribbean Bargain , Associated Content

How to Choose Where to Study Abroad , Associated Content

Chelsea Lodge and Chelsea Lodge Suites in New York City: A Review , Associated Content

Colorful Compass Point in Nassau, The Bahamas: A Review , Associated Content