A registered nurse with over 33 years’ experience, Noreen had the travel bug since childhood when her family traveled extensively. Married to a retired Naval Officer, she then had the privilege of living in Italy enabling her to travel to 17 different European countries. Now as a travel writer, she not only travels but writes about exciting destinations like Europe, Mexico, the Caribbean and Hawaiian Islands. In less than three years, Noreen’s 235 published articles have appeared in 28 different online and print publications. She is a regular contributor for four magazines. Noreen is also the pioneer of Great Escape Publishing’s Travel Writer’s Café, an exclusive writing group designed for travel writers. You can read some of recent articles below.
When I launched my travel-writing career in 2014, I had no idea I’d be writing about food. Travel, yes. But food? Then it happened—the perfect story just fell into my lap. I was a new writer, on vacation with my husband in Mexico’s Riviera Maya, and discovered an amazing restaurant in Playa del Carmen. It […]
“I spent 34 years saving lives. Now I’m saving mine.” This is how I explain my transition from full-time registered nurse to travel writer. The transition didn’t happen overnight. But the moment I realized that travel writing was my answer to retirement and the rewarding second career I was seeking, I was determined to make […]
When an infant finally lets go and walks on her own for the first time, she gains a sense of confidence and independence. She’ll get better and steadier in time. Then she’ll move on to the next challenge. It’s not so different in the world of travel writing. In fact, taking baby steps has helped […]
A few months ago, I was on a flight to the Big Island of Hawaii—seated next to an almost 70-year-old gentleman from San Diego traveling to Hawaii to compete in the Ironman Triathlon. This seemed a miracle in itself. Then I found out that Mike has been training for this competition while undergoing chemotherapy for […]
I’m not a fan of New Year’s resolutions. People make them, break them, and then feel guilty and regretful afterward. So when I began my travel-writing career in the fall of 2014, I set a professional travel-writing goal the following New Year that I called a “promise to myself.” I was approaching retirement and wanted […]
I remember my first step to become a travel writer like it was yesterday. It was September 2014 and I was sitting at the Ultimate Travel Writer’s Workshop in my home town of San Diego. A travel writer was on stage sharing his story of how he broke into the field of travel writing. He […]
Comic strip artist Addison “Mort” Walker once said, “It’s not true that nice guys finish last. Nice guys are winners before the game even starts.” This sentiment couldn’t be truer in the life of a travel writer, and here’s why… One of the best parts of a travel writer’s life is the perks that come […]
In 2016, fellow travel writer, Theresa St. John and I were headed to the Ultimate Travel Writer’s Workshop in New Orleans as guest speakers. We’d each been to a workshop in the past… used what Jen Stevens taught us to become travel writers… and when we met at a prior workshop, we became friends. Both […]
Three years ago, when I became a travel writer, I had no idea that a press trip could be so incredible! These all-expense-paid adventures have taken me to places I’d always had on my travel bucket list and also all around the United States. Recently, I took one of my favorites. It was a trip […]
I’ve been afraid of heights since childhood. It all started when, after watching the original Peter Pan movie, I believed that if I worked hard enough, I too could fly. For days, I tried jumping off my bed, flapping my arms, but nothing happened. So, I climbed to the roof (yes, the roof). Now I […]