Meet Kathy Condon | Travel Writer and Award-winning Author

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kathy Condon and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kathy, maybe we can start at the very start – the idea – how did you come up with the idea for your business?
Before the pandemic, I was a successful trainer on the subject of face-to-face networking. I wrote a book called “Face-to-Face Networking: It’s All About Communication. I was training all over the nation on how to meet people and keep conversations going. Engineers found it particularly helpful since I taught a step-by-step process.

With face-to-face networking seemingly doomed, because we had no idea when we would be mingling again due to COVID-19. Living completely alone, I started the process of rethinking my career.

Since Junior High School, I’ve had people tell me I’m a good writer. Then I got to thinking how my Mom instilled in our family the importance of traveling and keeping learning. I started to research and found an online class on travel writing. With plenty of time on my hands, I relish the thought of keeping my mind active during this trying time.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am a writer and storyteller. All my life, people have told me that when they read my writing, they feel like they are in the setting with me. Thus, my writing, hopefully, tells stories about places, with not too many details that cause a person to drift away from hearing my message.

Attending the University of the Virgin Islands-St. Thomas proved to be a challenge. As the wife of the Vice President, professors knew who I was, and admitted they were particularly tough on me, after I had my four-year BA in my hand. However, looking back on that time, they taught me discipline, and continued to stretch me, for which I am now most appreciative.

For about two years, I wrote a weekly business column for a newspaper on communication issues. It was aimed at business people; thus, no superficial words were used: Give me the facts.

Once I moved to a travel writer, I received feedback that my writing was “too” business-like. I needed to use more descriptive words when describing a place. Frankly, I still struggle, but I’ve found that reading more travel writing stories has strengthened my own travel writing articles.

Today, I have made it my ethical promise to myself that I will never write or promote a place I have not personally experienced. I want people to know that my voice is authentically writing about what I observed on a visit.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Living in Coachella Valley gives me significant leeway to meet the interests of any visitor to the area. However, I do have a tour I love to give:

Start with an overview over lunch at Ruben and Ozzy’s for their outstanding fish tacos. Coachella Valley has nine separate communities, each with its city government and personality. People say they are coming to Palm Springs, but may be in Indio, a city 30 miles from the Palm Springs International Airport.

Tour the Palm Springs neighborhoods to see movie stars’ homes, Pioneer Cemetery, and share stories.

Head to Sunnylands in Rancho Mirage–The former home of Walter and Leonore Annenberg. The grounds are beautiful and encourage one to slow down. The documentary film in the Educational Building illustrates the importance of this magnificent place in our history.

Drive through the Valley on Highway 111, and see the giant palm trees lining the highway in Indian Wells, and point out the exquisite tennis stadium–often seen on TV for the numerous tournaments.

Stop at Shields for a date shake, walk the grounds, and watch the film, “Romance and Sex Life of a Date.”

End the tour at Jackalope–a surprising place with an expansive yard with a waterfall and sculptures. Sitting there, with a cocktail in hand, watching the ducks is so good for the soul.

IF my visitors like spas, a day pass at The Spa at Sec-he is a must–named the top spa in the nation. Notice I said “Day Pass,” that’s the only way to fully appreciate and explore the various segments of this 70,000 square foot space and enjoy the mineral pool.

IF the visitor loves the arts and wants to be evergreen trees, instead of palm trees, Idyllwild, 45 miles away, is truly a wonderful day trip.

Finally, Joshua Tree National Park is 45 minutes away. Again, you have to plan a day for the park, but I can assure you there is so much more to discover near it. Gubler Orchid Farm is one of my favorite Stops, and the Integratron for sound bath is a truly unique experience.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Mary Charlesbois became my mentor, who had a successful career in travel writing for 10 years when I met her. I picked her out of a chat room because I noticed how willingly she gave information on all aspects of travel writing. Before I knew it, we were talking regularly. I trusted her and followed her suggestions, which resulted in a significantly shorter learning curve.

For instance, she asked me how I keep track of the publications I have pitched. I replied on sticky notes. She sent me an example of her Excel spreadsheet, and to this day, I use it and always know even the date I pitched a publication.

TravMedia has annual regional meetings called IMM. I was selected to attend for three years. Not only did it help me mingle with people in the industry, but it also allowed me to learn about places. I recently had stays in Juneau, Alaska, Tucson, and Eau Claire, all the results of face-to-face appointments at IMM in New York City.

All of them are a wealth of information for articles I am or will be writing.

Website: https://www.PalmSpringsInsiderGuide.com

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Image Credits
Kathy Condon