I can honestly say that I enjoyed most all of the speakers but my favorite was Lisa Alpine. I really liked that she was a woman and such a believer that women could accomplish as much as men quite easily. I particularly remember her point about rejection and how it is inevitably going to happen everyone. I loved that she was horribly rejected, including by a well known author, but still did not let that stop her. She simply sent it to the top of the ladder in the editing world at that time, Don George, and he published it. That was extremely inspirational! (student, St. Mary's College 1/2010)

I would have to say my favorite guest was Lisa Alpine because I feel as though she helped our class the most with our writing. Not only did she give advice as how to go about self-publishing and getting our name out there, but she also gave us tools to become better writers. I also liked how we did a writing exercise in class. (student, St. Mary's College 1/2010)

Out of all our guest speakers, my favorite was Lisa Alpine. I really enjoyed her coming into our class because i loved the stories she shared with us about her travels, and I liked how she choose people in the class on something that they are interested in and helped develop it into a travel article or story. The most important thing i will talk away from this talk with Lisa is that you have to having something you are passionate about because that will ultimately make you a stronger writer and also when you have writers block, just take a break and a walk away from your work and ideas will come flowing back to you. I also liked how every morning she does her senses journal as a writing warmup and to always write things down in your journal so you never forget any key details. (student, St. Mary's College 1/2010)

I really enjoyed Lisa Alpine, she seems like an incredibly smart and focused lady and I really liked what she had to say. Since she was one of the first guest speakers we had in the class, she left an impression on me and she was very encouraging about the idea that stories can come from any experience. The slogan on my blog is actually something she had said in her talk that day. (student, St. Mary's College 1/2010)

Your class rocked, really the best money I've spent on writing classes in a long time! I'm working on the homework today. Love that you gave homework. - Marcie Beyatte (student at 7/25/09 travel writing workshop).

I want to thank you for the excellent class I attended on February 7th, 2009 at the Writing Salon. Your concepts were so very thorough, and the unending advice on how to turn our words into saleable articles was just great! I'd attend the March 28th class, but I will be in Paris (hopefully writing my head off). Just wanted to thank you for being an excellent teacher. I learned a lot. - Andrea Fulton ("One Crazy Lady" Restaurant Reviewer)

Just wanted to drop a note and tell you how invigorated I was by your workshop on Saturday. Despite the fact that I've been a professional writer (staff and freelance) off and on for some 25 (!) years, I have found myself in the doldrums lately as I try to redesign my life. Besides enjoying your energy and humor, I really appreciated the concrete tips on everything from vivid writing to drumming  up business. You certainly packed a lot into a one-day class. It made me feel that it *is* possible to do some of the things I've dreamed of. - 2009 Travel Writing workshop student.

Thank you for an extraordinary day! Your exuberant nature charged us all. The antidotes for rejection where completely uplifting and provided a whole new perspective. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you for having this class. - PJ Walker

As I was filming my 61-year-old husband surfing on Maui this last week, I was listening to the surf and thinking, thinking, thinking about the sounds and how best to describe them!!!! What an impact your class has had on me. - Jill

I thoroughly enjoyed your travel writing class! It helped to make me even more excited about writing and traveling, and I appreciated the encouragement you gave me. I'd take another class from you in a heartbeat - it was fun and as I was telling my partner and friends, the time went by so quickly and held my interest for the whole 6
hours! Thanks again and happy journeys to you! (I'm going back to Buenos Aires in October and I can't wait to write about it!) - Arlena

I just wanted to say thank you so much for the wonderful travel writing workshop.  The information you provided was very useful--I felt like I really got a sense of how to approach travel writing from a business perspective (which is something that I was really unfamiliar with before) and I really felt inspired by the whole workshop.  I think the best advice you gave was to keep on writing and keep on working on improving your writing.  I am the type of person who has a lot of good ideas for travel writing, but I rarely finish my stories.  However, since the workshop I have been working on setting deadlines for myself and just setting aside time every day for the purpose of writing.  I begin graduate school next week (MA in English) and I'm sure that I will be doing tons of reading and writing for the program--but your advice holds true to all forms of writing, travel or otherwise.  My life is quite busy right now and I don't know how soon I will actually finish my travel stories and send them out, but I know that it is something that I really want to do, and your workshop was definitely an inspiration to keep plugging away at it.  And, besides some weekend getaways I have planned in the near future, I'm planning a trip to south America (Buenos Aires, Uruguay,  Santiago and some of the Chilean wine region) so I'm sure I will have lots of ideas to put to work.  Well, that's all for now, good luck with your endeavors and thanks again for being such a great teacher. - Kareasa Wilkins

Thanks for the gift of self belief because without you my writing career would still be an idea to consider.  It’s the well placed “call yourself a writer” that catches my attention and talks to my heart and makes me think hard for a week.  I know that when I come to your class that I only have to think a question due to your keen ability to answer every one of my unasked questions at exactly the right time.   I come away feeling completely validated and inspired.  How you can accomplish this for a room full of students is amazing.  Talk about intuition! - Phoebe Beringer

Thank you so much for your guidance and words of encouragement today.  I feel as though the journey has officially begun. - Angela Hale

I thought your class was entertaining, inspiring, informative. A perfect class. Thank you so much. I enjoyed looking at your website, and so many of your interests are ones that I share, that I'm sure I've read many of your travel articles without knowing they were by you. - Kate

Thank you for the inspiring class last Saturday. I was sad to see the day end. You gave us practical details and also for me, a glimpse into the absolute pleasure of writing about place. I was embarrassed to return from lunch late but I lost track of time on our assignment to collect dialog. I was amazed at your insight into what each of us shared-it was like you had a tiny, tiny beam of light and you were able to point it exactly at the heart of the intent. That was cool. I finally understand the role of becoming part of a writer's group. Now it seems essential. Thank you again. It was an absolute pleasure. - Bonnie Smetts

Thank you so much for today! I am inspired, wired and ready to plug in! Iam finally feeling that I've met the right person to help me get published! YEAH! Thank you, thank you, thank you! - Cindy Fisher, MA, CPCC

Thank you for being such a generous teacher and writing guide. You are really gifted at cutting to the chase, finding the core essence of a piece, concept or scene, and helping writers focus on the meat. Thank you, thank you for inspiring me to believe I can actually do this writing thing, and possibly even make a living with it. Thank you again for everything, Lisa. You're a true writing sister!! - Annette Lindemann

Thank you for a day of inspiration & creativity- napping, learning, eating & laughing in such a nurturing space put me in a very good place. In fact, I started my homework assignment just last night! Listening to Brazilian music at Cafe Amsterdam, my friend leans over & whispers, "do you know who that woman is sitting to your left?" Turns out, it was Dori Green, a jazz legend who played with Sinatra.

I grabbed the opportunity and asked her if we could set up an interview and she said yes! She's in the process of writing her memoirs and my article could promote the book- too cool, huh? Must be divine intervention- God got sick of listening to me babble on about wanting to be a writer & never putting myself out there. Well, I'm out there now!
 
The ball is rolling & I thank you for getting it started. - Debbie Elkington

Many thanks for the memories of our session at your beautiful table in your beautiful home with your beautiful view -- AND, moreso, thanks for our connection, your warmth, talent, interest, and for rekindling my desire to get this piece done, done right, and out the door. - Darcy Symes