Last Minute Pitches Needed
From Arctic freeze to intentional flow. Let's work together more meaningfully.
Hope everyone managed to stay clear of the Arctic freeze. I mostly stayed home — curled up on the couch with my cat, watching movies, and letting my body slow down for once. It felt unfamiliar… and necessary. Thankfully, a few thoughtful editors reached out with assignments (always grateful for that steady rhythm of trust).
And yes — I am looking for a few last-minute pitches today (sorry, I know 😅).
Over the past few weeks, I’ve been reading through colleagues’ Substacks, and there’s a shared undercurrent:
travel burnout, financial risk vs. reward, and becoming more selective about press trips.
It’s comforting to know I’m not alone in feeling this.
For years, my calendar has been packed — airport lounges, hotel check-ins, back-to-back itineraries, and the quiet scramble to turn experiences into stories before the next departure. There’s privilege in that pace. But there’s also exhaustion.
I’ve realized that even when a press trip covers flights and hotels, there are hidden costs:
the time away from family
the opportunity cost of stories not yet written
the physical toll of constant movement
the mental bandwidth required to be “on” all the time
And then there’s the deeper question: Is this trip aligned with the stories I most want to tell?
This year, I’m slowing down.
Not stepping away — but recalibrating.
I want 2026 to be the year I move from quantitative to qualitative travel writing.
Fewer passport stamps.
More substance.
More depth.
I want to use my voice to elevate underrepresented communities, document stories that haven’t been told, and ask harder questions about tourism, sustainability, labor, and cultural preservation. The kind of reporting that requires time — time to observe, to listen, to follow threads beyond a curated itinerary.
That’s why I’m heading to Travel Classics International in Switzerland this April. Not for another whirlwind press schedule, but for perspective. To reconnect with editors. To sharpen my craft. To remember that storytelling isn’t about movement — it’s about meaning.
Sometimes we don’t need a new destination. We need a reset.
And on a personal note: it’s also my birthday and wedding anniversary month.
In past years, I’ve celebrated in places like Venice or Fiji, marking milestones with another bucket-list adventure. This year, I’m staying home. I’m booking a massage. I’m working out. I’m going out with friends and family. I’m choosing presence over passport stamps.
Because self-love isn’t indulgent. It’s foundational.
If you’ve been feeling the same pull toward slowing down — toward intention over accumulation — know that you’re not alone. Maybe this is the season where we redefine success, not by how far we travel, but by how deeply we show up.
And if you have a story idea that aligns with this shift—meaningful, underreported, and community-centered —send it my way.
Here’s to a year of depth.
Follow along my journey on Instagram…
I am speaking at:
I would love to work with you if I am traveling to an area for personal or professional reasons.
Please reach out if you have clients in Charleston, Japan, Switzerland, Milan, or Turkiye.
Recently Published:
Ghee Indian Kitchen Review - Georgia Trend Magazine (Print)
Desi Tadka in Atlanta - Khabar Magazine (Print)
What It’s Really Like Traveling to China Right Now - Go Eat Give
Patisserie on Main - Georgia Trend Magazine
Healthy Traditional Indian Beverages for Dry January - Khabar Magazine (Print)
Best Trips of 2026 - Explore Georgia official state guide (Print)
Finding the Best Caribbean Island for You - AAA The Extra Mile
Best of Atlanta shopping guide - Atlanta Magazine (Print)
Healing with the Land - Good Grit Magazine (Print)
Call for Pitches:
Always open to pitches as long as they are attention-grabbing. Please take a moment to read my Substack post about what I cover and the kinds of stories I would like to be pitched.
For HuffPost: (listicles, best/ worst style stories do best) Travel expert-specific perspectives. Knowing your rights when it comes to traveling, specific surprising facts about nutrition, food safety, and myth-busting trending topics. Deadline Feb 3
For Khabar Magazine: Southeast Asian restaurants and chefs in metro ATL; cookbook authors, food and drink products or trends (anywhere in the world but available in the US), festival or season-centric stories. No “authentic, elevated, inspired by grandma” cooking, please! Deadline Feb 5
For Georgia Trend Magazine: GA-based culinary trends, new restaurant/ business openings, festivals, products, and human interest stories in the food and drink space. Deadline Feb 5
Always check the voice of the publication and that the publication has not already covered your topic before pitching.
Hi Sucheta, I have a business pitch for consideration in Georgia Trend magazine. "The AI-Era Agency Is Here—and ATL-Alloy Is Building It." What's the best way to share with you?