From travel essays to deep-dive cultural features, I write stories that explore people, place, culture, politics, art and the coastal lifestyle. My work has appeared in national publications including GO Magazine, Latitudes and JCK Magazine. Regionally, I write for Pensacola Magazine, Northwest Florida’s Business Climate Magazine and Coming of Age Magazine.
Each feature reflects my editorial approach, combining thorough research, strong reporting and writing that brings subjects to life through detail and observation.
Pensacola Renaissance
Latitudes (American Eagle In-Flight Magazine) | Feature story | 2015 | print and digital
Known affectionately as the city of five flags, Pensacola has been claimed, at different times, by Spain, France, Britain, the Confederacy and the United States. With well-preserved military forts, a historic village and a number of significant shipwrecks off the coast, Pensacola is a history buff’s dream. And though locals are proud of their town’s past, it is the city’s present and future that have everyone abuzz.
Shop Talk
Stores We Adore
JCK Magazine | National trade publication | 2015 | print and digital
In the 455 years since Spanish conquistador Don Tristán de Luna y Arellano set anchor in its bay, Pensacola, aka the City of Five Flags, has fallen under various rules: Spanish, British, French, Confederate and U.S. That cultural heritage is alive and well in downtown Pensacola’s vibrant urban core, particularly on the main thoroughfare, Palafox Street, home to eclectic boutiques like Susan Campbell Jewelry.
Longleaf Pine
A Southern Revival
Pensacola Magazine | Cover story | 2024 | print and digital
Centuries ago, the majestic longleaf pine forest covered an estimated 92 million acres of the southeastern United States—running from Virginia to Florida and along the Gulf Coast as far west as Texas. With one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world, the longleaf pine, with its long needles and tall, sturdy trunks, once dominated the southern landscape, but has since nearly disappeared. Fortunately, many public, private and nonprofit organizations are working together to restore this iconic species.
The Marzoni House
A Queen Anne Castle in Old East Hill
Pensacola Magazine | Cover story | 2023 | print and digital
Nestled in the heart of the Old East Hill Preservation District, the Marzoni House offers up a lovely example of Queen Anne Victorian elegance and a slice of Pensacola history. Originally built in 1890 by Louis D. Marzoni, chief lumber inspector for lumber tycoon Henry Baar, this one-of-a-kind home exemplifies the quality materials and workmanship so often seen in homes from that era. In fact, The United States Department of the Interior placed the Marzoni House on the prestigious National Register of Historic Places in 2016, a testament to its superb craftsmanship, historic preservation and structural integrity.
Art Watch
Pensacola’s Thriving Art Scene
Pensacola Magazine | Cover story | 2022 | print and digital
Born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela, De Castro Sucre’s work is often informed by the culture and beauty of her native country. “Growing up in Venezuela was really wonderful,” she said. “Our culture is very family oriented, and I have a big family. So, that is very much my memory of it. And the culture is also so focused on nature. The nature scene in Venezuela is insane—it’s so beautiful. It’s incredible. My mom would always find me outside looking at leaves when I was a kid. So, I grew up with this appreciation for nature.”
A Celebration of Imperfection
Pensacola Magazine | Cover story | 2022 | print and digital
Eight years ago, local artist James Amerson and his husband, kitchen designer Jeff Griffey, purchased an Old East Hill home that would have scared most buyers away. In fact, it actually did. “Our realtor told us that a couple had looked at it earlier and the wife broke into tears and locked herself in the car because it was so horrifying inside,” Amerson recalled. As veteran remodelers themselves, Amerson and Griffey weren’t scared away by the condition of the old home. They were excited.
Trust the Process
Breaking Down the Artist’s Methods
Pensacola Magazine | Cover story | 2020 | print and digital
“You are an explorer. You understand that every time you go into the studio, you are after something that does not yet exist.” – Anna Deavere Smith, Letters to a Young Artist
For many artists, inspiration begins with a spark, an idea, a vision—and although they may have a clear sense of what they’d like to create, that sense can, and often does, change during the process of creation. Perhaps that is what makes creating art so enticing— the idea is tested through the controlled chaos of process, and even the artist can’t always predict the exact outcome.
Crafting a Community
Pensacola’s Booming Craft Beer Scene
Pensacola Magazine | Cover story | 2021 | print and digital
Not too long ago, McGuire’s Irish Pub was the only option available for Pensacola beer enthusiasts looking for something unique and local. Cut to 2021 and the craft beer scene has exploded, not just downtown, but across the greater Pensacola area. By our count, the Pensacola area is clocking in with an impressive 16 craft breweries. That’s a 4.5% share of the Florida craft brewery market. In fact, a 2019 study by market research company, C+R Research, ranked Pensacola as the city with the ninth most breweries per capita—pretty cool for our once sleepy little town. For this special beer-centric issue of Pensacola Magazine, we spoke with four local breweries about the challenges they faced in establishing their businesses and how the craft beer culture fosters unique communities both internally and externally.
Healthcare Workers On The Front Line
Pensacola Magazine | Cover story | 2020 | print and digital
Across America, healthcare workers have been on the front line of the fight against the COVID-19 virus—working day and night on 10- to 12-hour shifts. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), healthcare is the fastest-growing sector of the U.S. economy, employing over 18 million workers. Healthcare workers are also at the highest risk of any industry sector for occupational injury and illness. As of April 15, around 9,000 U.S. health workers have contracted COVID-19. Many workers have taken extreme measures to protect themselves and their families from contracting the virus: staying in hotel rooms, isolating themselves to sections of their house away from their family or even sending their children away to stay with relatives.
Kelly Oden 