My latest for Daily Mail is an "as-told-to" essay with
Kesi Irwin, who tells all about her experience working as a chef on private yachts for the last decade, from cooking in nothing but an apron, to hooking up on board, to guests puking on her. www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/escap...
Update as I'm getting a lot of irrelevant pitches so I want to specify that by "makers" we're looking for physical artisanal products — not business owners.
Although I’ve only written five articles so far this year, I’m grateful that they’ve been well paid ($300, $400, $680, $814, and $1500). Yesterday I got an assignment for $2,500 — the most I've ever been paid for a single article.
More in my newsletter: lolatheescritora.substack.com/p/february-2...
I wrote as-told-to essays in Feb after finding unique sources. I pride myself on finding sources, no matter how obscure. It’s one of my favorite challenges as a journalist and I’m keen for more of this sort of work.
More in my newsletter: lolatheescritora.substack.com/p/february-2...
I wrote 3 articles in February (2 were commissioned, 1 was an assignment). One was a $2/word story. I sent 41 pitches in February — 2 were commissioned, 1 is being considered, and 5 were rejected.
See more in my newsletter: open.substack.com/pub/lolathee...
I'm looking to interview a flight attendant for a tell-all article about what it's really like to work onboard a plane. Leads to lolaannmendez@gmail.com
I'm looking to interview a cruise ship worker/captain for a tell-all article about what it's really like to work on a cruise. Leads to lolaannmendez@gmail.com
I'm profiling immigrant or BIPOC makers with successful small business from a across the USA, ethnic background, ages, and product categories. For consideration send over bios (photo, name, age, location, & product overview) to lolaannmendez@gmail.com ASAP #journorequest
Thanks, Sam! What do you pay for the guest posts?
@prisblossom.bsky.social
Giving Bluesky the writing advice I gave to a writer on FB:
“Every time you think about wasting a paragraph on an online buffoon, take that time and write a pitch and email it to an editor.”
If you're an editor looking for pitches, consider replying with your contact info / pitch requirements.
For over two years I've shared every public call for pitches I've seen for travel writing on www.instagram.com/traveljourno.... I did so anonymously and am finally taking credit for the work . The account will always be free in an attempt to do my part to tear down gatekeeping in the industry.
Could men-only wellness retreats help ease the so-called male loneliness epidemic? Find out where these guys vacations are happening around the globe in my latest for Cool Material. coolmaterial.com/feature/best...
I recently made my debut in Smart Luxury with a travel guide for Portofino. The Italian costal town has been a hotspot on the Riviera for the elite for decades from Taylor Swift to Elizabeth Taylor.
www.smartluxury.com/advice/porto...
My latest for Oceania Cruise Magazine is a mini guide to arguably Italy's most unique port city — Trieste. brochures.oceaniacruises.com/view/8971838...
I’m looking to interview lawyers, human rights organizations, travel advisors, and beauty tourism experts about trusting reviews in countries where defamation is illegal even when true. Please get in touch via lolaannmendez@gmail.com with credentials and relevant expertise by Feb 11th.
I've just published my January 2026 Newsletter. Check it out to see the five articles I had come out, see how my pitching went, how many stories I wrote, and where I traveled. open.substack.com/pub/lolathee...
Thrilled to finally be able to unveil my 2026 travel column. It's in each Porthole Cruise Magazine issue this year and is about how to use your astrocartography chart to decide where to cruise based on astrocartographer Helena Woods' insight. The first issue is all about the Venus line.
I made my debut in Hotels Above Par this week with a review of the luxurious Uniworld Cruises I took last year down the Nile River to revisit one of my favorite destinations, Egypt! www.hotelsabovepar.com/articles/gui...
Ran into one of my favorite editors to write for at TravMediaUSA IMM and he praised my ideas, clean copy, and that I always file before the deadline. I was super touched. But, what he told me that shocked me is that many writers never even file invoices for their work.
For Gay Cities I wrote about why (and where) LGBTQ+ couples from the USA are choosing to get married overseas. www.gaycities.com/articles/103...
In my latest article for Fodor's Travel I unveil all my top passport and visa hacks to ensure smooth overseas travels. www.fodors.com/news/photos/...
Latinx landmarks are disappearing across the country due to a lack of conservation as there's never been a national inventory of Latinx landmarks, until now. Learn about the Endangered Latinx Landmarks campaign in my latest for Fodor's Travel. www.fodors.com/news/history...
This year is kicking off with a $675 assignment and a $1500 assignment. These articles were assigned to me by editors I've never worked with before. They were both recommended to me by their colleagues who I wrote for last year. May this be a lesson to always turn in clean copy!
For a feature, I’m looking for a subject from a small Midwestern town who is 25+, queer, female or nonbinary, and has a mental health diagnosis yet struggled to find a provider who understood and accepted their gender/sexuality. Please get in touch ASAP to lolaannmendez@gmail.com.
The White House says the Smithsonian Institution must submit materials about current and upcoming exhibitions and events for a review that will determine whether they express "improper ideology." n.pr/4583d8f
An ICE agent shot and killed Keith Porter, a Black U.S. citizen, on New Year's Eve in Los Angeles. 2025 was the deadliest year in ICE’s existence, with reports of 32 people dying in custody. ICE seems to have total impunity to kill anyone regardless of their race, gender, sexuality, or citizenship.
Why are ICE agents armed? Immigration violations are administrative. Being in the U.S. without authorization is a civil violation, not a criminal offense.
ICE agents don't have the right to decide who is guilty or innocent — or kill someone they assert is guilty. Jonathan Ross assassinated Good at point-blank range. If he were concerned for his safety, he could have shot the civilian’s tires. Allegedly, he was injured by a fleeing driver in 2025.
Videos have surfaced showing ICE agents ramming cars and then blaming it on the other drivers. Are they trained to shoot at cars? Are other law enforcement agencies allowed to shoot unarmed people in their vehicles?
