Introducing The (Not So) Underground Seattle Travel Writing Mafia

Some of us write for newspapers. Some write for magazines. Others pen guidebooks or ghost write.  Almost all of us have a blog of some sort or write for one. All of us love the Puget Sound and Seattle.  All of us call this area home.  All of us have a passion for writing and travel.  Some of us are really into gelato too, but that’s beside the point.

Then one day when this lady met this fellow, and they know it was much more than a hunch. That this group would somehow form a Mafia. That’s the way we all became the Seattle Travel Writing Mafia.  And what a fun loving bunch of hoodlums it is.  I’ve only been hanging with the group for about a year and a half , but I’ve been very pleased with how the community….errr…..crap, no, I mean, Family, is a fun place to be.  Without actually being a place, because it’s the people.  Just like Rush would not be a band if it were not for the people.  It’d just be a bunch of expensive instruments laying about on stage.  We’re just like Rush.  I call dibs on being Neal Peart! And we’re going to have a LOT of backing vocals.

One of the things I’ve liked best about the Mafia is how open we are to visiting dignitaries from the writing world.  Any time someone mentions coming to town, the battle cry is raised and we find a bar or coffee shop at which to gather.  Some place with wifi, probably.  And treat our guest as one of our own.  I like that about this Mafia.

Now then, if you’re coming to town, I thought I’d put together an unofficial register of the Mafia to make life easier for you.  This list is not complete, it never will be.  I’m only starting of with a few people I know who are in the Mafia (we have no formal Don so we can never be taken down) and are open to receiving visitors to Seattle.  Email me if I left you off the list, it’s not intentional, I’m just trying to get to the ferry before the line becomes too long.

The (Not So) Underground Seattle Travel Writing Mafia

(in no particular order)

• Peter West Carey – The Carey Adventures – @pwcarey
• Pam Mandel – Nerd’s Eye View – @nerdseyeview
• Kelly Goodman – Travellious (two Ls, people!!) – @kag2u
• Austin Hill – Travellious – @aghman
• Debbie Dubrow – Delicious Baby – @deliciousbaby
• Beth Whitman – Wanderlust & Lipstick – @wanderluster
• Michelle Duffy – Wander Mom – @wandermom
• Mary Jo Manzanares – Traveling With MJ – @flyawaycafe
• Geraldine – The Everywhereist – @everywhereist (she’s spooky, with no last name, I think she handles the money)
• Charyn Pfeuffer – Global Citizen Project – @global_gourmet
• Jonna Bell – Vas-Y Fille – @vasyfille
• Chris Gray Faust – Chris Around The World – @caroundtheworld
• Special Portland, OR representative: Jessica Spiegel – Italylogue – @italylogue
• Mary-Alice Pomputius – Dog Jaunt – @dogjaunt
• Emily Hyndman – Her Blog Has No Name – @eehyndman (she’s more secretive than Geraldine, I think)
• Harriet Baskas – Stuck At The Airport – @hbaskas
• Meg Paynor – @mpaynor (secret underground mole who successfully infiltrated the PR industry)
• Andrea Duchon – The Flying Salmon – @AndreaRenee
• Lora Shinn – Cascadia Kids – @cascadiakids

If you’re traveling to Seattle, look up one of us and ask us to show you around.  Some of will be nice, some will be mean. It’s like sitting next to someone on the bus, without the stench.

http://www.dogjaunt.com