Meet Alexis

Readers of this blog know me as a creative writer, one who’s working on a travel memoir about backpacking solo through Africa.

But first and foremost, I’m a journalist. Now that I’m working for myself, I’m a part-time journalist rather than full time, but that background still influences how I think, write and communicate.

My last day job was with U.S. News & World Report, where I covered hiring trends and job-search strategy. Previously, I spent three years reporting for the Houston Chronicle, covering city hall, then the health beat. My work has also appeared in The Christian Science Monitor, The Chicago Tribune, Mashable, The Huffington Post, USA Today and The New Zealand Herald.

Because my interests are diverse, I’m now cobbling together a career as a slasher — a term coined by Marci Alboher and one I’ve eagerly adopted. I’m a journalist/blog & social media strategist/lifestyle entrepreneur. Much of my income comes from helping small businesses and organizations grow online communities. I also create and sell various eguides and courses, and I share tips for finding freedom in your career through a weekly newsletter, Solopreneur Secrets. Problogger named me as one of their 20 bloggers to watch in 2011.

Most importantly, I’m a dreamer. After years of dreaming about traveling, I left my reporting job in Houston in mid-2008 and backpacked through West Africa, Cameroon and Madagascar, freelancing for various publications along the way. I voyaged by boat to Timbuktu, to Cameroon to deliver a gift to a grieving polygamous family and to Madagascar to discover the howling Indri lemur. I’m now weaving those stories into my first book.

My travels don’t end with Africa; I’ve also bungee-jumped in New Zealand, road-tripped through Ireland and fondue-dipped in Paris. What’s next? South America. Or maybe Southeast Asia. Or Tasmania…

I learned to love journalism at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, where I completed the master’s-degree program. I’m also an alumna of Colby College and have completed writer’s residencies at The Hambidge Center and the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts.

I do some of my best thinking while running.

Want to get in touch? See my contact page. You might also check out my services, subscribe to this blog by email or RSS, or sign up for my free newsletter.