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Richard Varr
Location: Houston, TX, United States
Member Since: 25 May 2001
Professional Associations
Travelwriters.com
Society of American Travel Writers
Introduction
Richard Varr is a well-rounded freelance writer with more than 25 years writing experience. A member of the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW), he specializes in travel and feature writing, and is the author (main contributor) of the Dorling Kindersley EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDE TO PHILADELPHIA AND THE PENNSYLVANIA DUTCH COUNTRY. His first novel, WARMING UP TO MURDER, is available online through Xlibris.com or BarnesandNoble.com.
Richard also writes frequently for magazines found on board cruise ships of several cruise lines including Carnival, Holland America, Radisson Seven Seas, Princess, Disney, Celebrity, Royal Caribbean, Cunard, Seabourn, P&O, Costa and others. His work has also been published in THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR, THE SYDNEY (Australia) MORNING HERALD, THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS, THE NEW ORLEANS TIMES-PICAYUNE, PORTHOLE CRUISE MAGAZINE, ISLANDS MAGAZINE, AAA Arizona HIGHROADS, THE ROTARIAN, HEARTLAND USA, GERMAN LIFE, FRENCH MAGAZINE (UK), ARUBA NIGHTS, PORTUGAL MAGAZINE (UK), NATIONAL MOTORIST (CA), GRIT, COAST TO COAST, Good Sam Club's HIGHWAYS, HOUSTON WOMAN MAGAZINE, LONGWEEKENDS, CAMPING TODAY, INTERNATIONAL RAILWAY TRAVELER, NEW JERSEY MONTHLY, THE (Tucson) ARIZONA DAILY STAR, THE WORCESTER SUNDAY TELEGRAM, THE LOWELL SUN, MAIN LINE (Philadelphia) LIFE, and a host of Internet travel websites, including the trip-planning website HOME AND ABROAD (www.homeandabroad.com), where he is noted as the Philadelphia city expert. He has traveled extensively throughout North America and Europe, and has taken trips to Africa, South America, Asia and the Caribbean
Visit his blog: www.varrtravel.wordpress.com
Richard's other specialty is business writing and copywriting. He has researched and ghostwritten corporate history books on two prominent Philadelphia area companies -- Commerce Bancorp, Inc. and Day & Zimmermann, Inc. His client list also includes Arthur Andersen Consulting, GlaxoSmithKline, Mercy Health System, Pep Boys Auto, as well as advertising and public relations agencies. He has been published in THE PHILADELPHIA BUSINESS JOURNAL.
Drawing from his extensive television background, Richard freelanced as a special projects producer and news writer for two local Philadelphia television stations -- NBC-owned WCAU-TV and Tribune-owned WPHL-TV. Formerly a television and newspaper reporter, Richard reported five and a half years for KRIV-TV, Houston's Fox-owned television station; more than six years for KTBC-TV in Austin, Texas; and at stations in Waco, Texas and Elmira, New York. For three years, Richard taught reporting and news writing to students at the Connecticut School of Broadcasting in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.
Richard began his journalism career by working three years as a reporter for the suburban Boston daily, THE MIDDLESEX NEWS. That was his first journalism job after graduating from Boston University with a M.S. degree in Broadcast Journalism.
Experience & Expertise
Richard Varr is a well-rounded freelance writer with more than 25 years writing experience. A member of the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW), he specializes in travel and feature writing, and is the author (main contributor) of the Dorling Kindersley EYEWITNESS TRAVEL GUIDE TO PHILADELPHIA AND THE PENNSYLVANIA DUTCH COUNTRY. His first novel, WARMING UP TO MURDER, is available online through Xlibris.com or BarnesandNoble.com. He has traveled extensively throughout North America and Europe, and has taken trips to Africa, South America, Asia and the Caribbean.
Publishing Credentials
Magazines found on board cruise ships of several cruise lines including Carnival, Holland America, Radisson Seven Seas, Princess, Disney, Celebrity, Royal Caribbean, Cunard, Seabourn, P&O, Costa and others. Richard's work has also been published in THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR, THE SYDNEY (Australia) MORNING HERALD, THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS, THE NEW ORLEANS TIMES-PICAYUNE, PORTHOLE CRUISE MAGAZINE, ISLANDS MAGAZINE, AAA Arizona HIGHROADS, THE ROTARIAN, HEARTLAND USA, GERMAN LIFE, FRENCH MAGAZINE (UK), ARUBA NIGHTS, PORTUGAL MAGAZINE (UK), NATIONAL MOTORIST (CA), GRIT, COAST TO COAST, Good Sam Club's HIGHWAYS, HOUSTON WOMAN MAGAZINE, LONGWEEKENDS, CAMPING TODAY, INTERNATIONAL RAILWAY TRAVELER, NEW JERSEY MONTHLY, THE (Tucson) ARIZONA DAILY STAR, THE WORCESTER SUNDAY TELEGRAM, THE LOWELL SUN, MAIN LINE (Philadelphia) LIFE, and a host of Internet travel websites, including the trip-planning website HOME AND ABROAD (www.homeandabroad.com), where he is noted as the Philadelphia city expert. He has traveled extensively throughout North America and Europe, and has taken trips to Africa, South America, Asia and the Caribbean. <p> Visit his blog: www.varrtravel.wordpress.com
Awards Received
SATW Central States Chapter Writing Contests. 2010: First Place for best magazine article on foreign travel; second place for best maritime article. 2009: Honorable Mention. 2008: First Place for best magazine article on foreign travel.
Clips & Samples (View All 28)
The Source of Serenity -- When you’re hiking in Nevis your head is in a better place, Porthole Cruise Magazine
Tour of Pharaoh Egypt, AAA Arizona Highroads
