About the most amazing staycation ever...the lockdown published in Easy Reader September 10, 2020. A different format since the link is not yet available on the website. Just click on the link in green which will lead you to a pdf to read. The Lockdown Diaries Easy Reader News
The Lockdown Diaries: Week 8
by Janice Nigro Two months under lockdown. Another month and it will be one quarter of the year. This is unbelievable. And yet, I’m worried that if it’s coming to the end, have I accomplished anything? The lockdown is one of those things like the seasons which we don’t have much of in California. Seasons... Continue Reading →
Easy Reader News 49th Anniversary contest: Counting Cronuts
A bit of luck with a story published in the Easy Reader Beach magazine this summer. Just an adventure in Los Angeles that really started somewhere else in the world. Great fun in seeing a piece in print. Enjoy! P.S. It's the last story in the link... https://easyreadernews.com/49th-anniversary-easy-reader-beach-writing-contest-winners-and-honorable-mentions-2019/
Ice cubes in the sky
It's still gray along the SoCal coast into the middle of August. I'm not complaining. Here's my second haiku, another homage to the marine layer which keeps things cool along the coast in summer. Am I right about the clouds from the marine layer in the afternoon? It also happens to be my favorite time... Continue Reading →
Dialing 911 for pasta
An emergency text from a friend: Hi! We got a pasta making attachment for the KitchenAid mixer. Some recipes say all purpose flour and some say 00 flour. I thought we should ask an expert. That’s how my holiday season started, and it seemed to be a theme that carried through to the end when... Continue Reading →
Making “untradition” the tradition of Christmas
Turkey or ham for dinner in the USA. Pinekjøtt or lutefisk in Norway. Gathering of families usually at the home of the grandmother and grandfather. Yes, we are stuck on tradition, truly stuck if you look forward to eating fruitcake or maybe lutefisk each year for Christmas. I remember a few traditions about Christmases growing... Continue Reading →
Two published stories from one
by Janice Nigro Like a lot of beginning business writers, I waver between those moments of feeling like an imposter and feeling professional. The only way to gain confidence is to go out and do the job. “Say yes” people tell me. Saying yes is the easy part. “Saying yes, 50% deposit thank you very... Continue Reading →
Learning to love LA P.S. A little authentic gelato helps!
by Janice Nigro It's hard work to live in and love LA. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I hear you saying. It’s warm, there is beautiful scenery, and there is opportunity. How hard can it be to love? I am stating the obvious when I say no one likes the traffic or the distances between where you... Continue Reading →
Tips for writing travel stories
by Janice Nigro Since my travel story hit the LA Times, I have been wondering why that one worked while so many others did not. And if I could figure out why, then I might be able to make it happen more often. Or tell others how to do it. There are some straightforward procedural... Continue Reading →
How I got my first byline in a major media outlet
A PhD in biology isn't the direct route to becoming a travel writer, but my wish to be paid for a travel story recently came true. Not only was it my first paid travel article, but it was also my first byline in a major media outlet. “How did you get your article into the... Continue Reading →