For over 13 years I’ve written for major publications including the Los Angeles Times, CNN, the Chicago Tribune, the Financial Times and the Global Times. I write engaging, well-balanced and thoroughly researched content, delighting in finding new angles other publications haven't covered and creating talking points. My interviewing and networking skills are first class.
My travel and lifestyle articles have appeared on prestigious platforms including Fodor’s Travel, BBC Travel and Forbes Travel Guide. From hotel reviews and scuba diving to in-depth cultural insights and local cuisine, I enjoy revealing new insights. I’m one of just a handful of Maldives writers with a genuine in-depth knowledge of the country. Other areas of expertise: Sri Lanka, French Riviera, Spain and the Riviera Maya.
I’ve created content for multiple Google Travel projects, written targeted newsletters and case studies for the Financial Times as a copywriter, penned blogs for Outrigger Hotels & Resorts International, Amilla Maldives, Kurumba Maldives, Atoll Homes and Urbngray as well as sales presentations for Hurawalhi Maldives and website pages for brands including Nordic Luxury and AAA Resorts, and many more.
As former News Editor of Maldives Traveller and being one of the few Maldives writers to have actually lived there long-term, I offer unparalleled insights into this unique country, its culture, history and business etiquette. I've been writing about it for a decade, have visited 80% of its resorts and frequently return to refresh my knowledge. I'm constantly asked to write Maldives articles due to my unrivalled knowledge.
I’m trained in SEO, hold a Google certificate in the Fundamentals of Digital Marketing and I'm experienced in managing social media platforms and blogs, including creating lively content which inspires engagement and builds an active follower-base. I’m also adept at using Google Analytics and can advise on media strategy. I can also custom build a digital marketing team for you via Ethical Digital.
Writing, editing, proof-reading, excellent communication skills and people-management, positive attitude, attention to detail, very fast worker. WordPress, Microsoft Office, Photoshop, InDesign, Google Analytics, SEO, French and Spanish. Many of the publications I write for are based in the USA and Asia, so I can switch between AP Style and various British style guides with ease and accuracy.
Nanzy PromratI'm an experienced graphic designer and founder of the Branding Academy and 2456Studio. I help brands develop a strong, unique and stylish profile and how to use images, videos and graphics to create a powerful impact. I also hold regular workshops in Thailand.
Francis Alexandra CastroI'm a translator/interpreter with expertise in Spanish to English and English to Spanish (including legal translations), as well as French to English or Spanish, and vice versa. I have a diploma in Business Administration and Marketing.
Charlotte WilsonI'm an entrepreneur based in Sri Lanka and I make lifestyle and spirituality videos and lead workshops for female entrepreneurs. I'm also a portrait artist, writer and all-round creative! Follow me on Facebook @Charlotte's World & The Pleasure Dome.
With a passion for travel as well as a thirst for conveying the news, I’m fortunate enough to be able to combine the two in my journalistic career. This has led me on adventures around the globe; from writing about climbing a sacred mountain in Sri Lanka for Fodor’s and Maya portals to the underworld for BBC Travel to reporting on the terror attack I witnessed in Nice, France, (resulting in three front page bylines in the print edition of the Los Angeles Times and more than a dozen by-lines in the print and web editions). Many of the publications I write for are based in the USA, so I’m used to writing in American English/AP/Chicago Style as well as British English/Oxford/Guardian Style.
After being awarded a scholarship to Bruton School for Girls and then graduating from Brunel University with a BA Honours in English 2.1 (3.7 GPA) I began my career in journalism. Initially working as a full-time staff reporter in London, I covered news, politics, travel, the environment and celebrity interviews (including Sarah Michelle Gellar, Kelly Rowland (Destiny's Child), Shaun Ryder (Happy Mondays/Black Grape) and Tony Hadley (Spandau Ballet). I then decided to go freelance and wrote about news, travel, lifestyle, culture and the environment for outlets including CNN International and ITN, as well as newspapers and lifestyle magazines.
In 2010 I was offered the role of News Editor of Maldives Traveller in Male’, the capital of the Maldives. I spent a year overseeing the re-launch of the daily news and travel website, reviewed resorts, wrote about regional travel trends and interviewed prominent figures including British TV chef, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall. I then set up Manta Media after recognising the demand for native English-speaking journalists and writers in the Indian Ocean region. As one of just a handful of Maldives writers to have actually lived there long-term, I'm still constantly asked to write about the Maldives and frequently return to keep my knowledge fresh. I've visited around 80% of Maldives resorts and have been writing about it for a decade using my unique perspectives as a Maldives expert who has explored the country from top to bottom with the eyes of a foreigner but the insights and connections of a local.
I've now lived in eight countries on four continents; demonstrating cultural intelligence through my expertise in sensitively working with international teams across cultures and languages. Post Colonial studies was a major component of my English degree and as such I strive to seek out and uplift local voices and talent in my articles.