Feeling Sheepish

Back in action; a really cool award; and the collective frustration around crickets

These woolly fellas are always hanging out around this wooded area near our house — not a baaaad view for a midday walk.

Hello, dear readers, it’s been a while, hasn’t it? I think this is the longest I’ve gone without writing a newsletter since I started this shame [hangs head in shame]. But in my defense, it’s been a helluva busy time across all fronts. I’ve been deep into 100 Haunts research, and have just filed my first batch of book entries (hallelujah!). I traveled to hang with my brother for a bit in the States (where, while driving, I got hit by a Mack truck, kid you not — more on that later), then my dad and I ran around the U.K. chasing ghosts. In other news, the little guy broke his arm (in two places) several weeks ago, which means no bikes — which means we have to navigate public transit for everything now, since we don’t have a car (i.e., I really, really miss riding to school drop-offs and pick-ups). I did a week-long stand-in editing gig and have another (shorter) one on the docket next week. Oh, and let’s not forget the annual torture that is taxes — made infinitely more excruciating since we live abroad.

All of which is to say: this wee newsletter took the brunt of my time-crunched schedule. Moving forward I will do my damndest not to let so much time slip by between publishing.

The good news is that this is May, the month of seemingly infinite holidays (Liberation Day, Ascension Day, Whitsun … ), and both today and Friday are bank holidays/school closures. I’m going to take that as a cue to take it super easy, too.

I’m a Winner, Y’all!

I didn’t write the headline, which admittedly is not my favorite, but I’ll still take it!

I’m delighted to share that a couple of weeks ago (a couple of days after my Mack truck debacle, in fact), I received the excellent news that my CNN Travel story about the often-unseen world of what happens when you die abroad won a travel award from the American Society of Journalists and Authors.

Here’s what the judges had to say about my piece:

This story stood out because it presents a routine and often mundane place — the airport — in a new light. It offers an interesting glimpse behind the scenes and plenty of facts, but is especially effective because the piece is sure to make readers think a little differently and look a little closer whenever they fly.

When it comes to awards like this, for the longest time I felt like the kid who was picked last for the dodgeball team, watching so many friends and colleagues win accolade after accolade. This recognition from ASJA — coupled with an award from the North American Travel Journalists Association I won last year — feels pretty darn good.

Crickets and LinkedIn Love

Like many journalists, I’ve been using LinkedIn far more frequently over the past year or so — and except for the vast amounts of AI slop written by “thought leaders,” I find the platform extremely valuable. I recently shared a not-so-great interaction with a publicist, and wow did it resonate. Here’s the post.

It also forced some self-reflection: I am occasionally guilty of doing the same thing this publicist did. But if we want to build relationships that really matter, which is key for survival in this nutso industry, we can all do better. It takes 30 freaking seconds to thank someone you’ve worked with — and hope to continue working with.

On Deck

I’m headed in two weeks for a quick trip to Antwerp, and the following week (first week of June, holy crap how it is already almost June?!?) to Romania (the Cluj-Napoca area). I’ll have limited time in both, but if you have a cool client, story, angle, etc. in either place, let me know!

And That’s a Wrap!

Now, I’m off to a matinee with the little guy, before an early dinner with a dear friend who’s also a publicist — let the industry gossip commence!

‘Till next time,

Blane