I’m looking forward to the NFPW conference this September in Birmingham, Alabama. I am also looking forward to meeting some of our interesting and talented writers like Deborah Reinhardt of Missouri. She is a recent new member of NFPW and is already busy supporting her Missouri affiliate. I hope you take the time to get to know her better.
Name: Deborah Reinhardt
City and State: St. Louis, Mo.
Deborah Reinhardt
Affiliate and any leadership positions:
Missouri Professional Communicators (MPC). I manage communications (newsletter, social media, website) for our chapter.
Years a member of NFPW: first year, though I was active since 2015
Tell us a little about you.
I’m managing editor for AAA magazines (Midwest Traveler and Southern Traveler). I’ve done this for 27 years, but I still get a kick when the box of newly printed magazines arrive and I open it to see what we’ve made. I’m the weird woman at Barnes & Noble who stands at the magazine stand smelling ink and fingering paper (not kidding). My job allows me to meet and work with ridiculously gifted writers, and I travel once or twice a year to write articles. The last trip was a Route 66 journey from Missouri to the Grand Canyon.
Deborah Reinhardt visiting the Grand Canyon.
Prior to the magazine, I worked several years in community newspapers, starting as a reporter fresh out of college then moving to take over as editor of a small weekly in an unincorporated, semi-rural area. My beat included the sewer and school districts. (Sometimes, they resembled each other.)
I’ve loved writing stories since the seventh grade, and I’m excited about the next book that I hope to launch this fall.
Any career advice you would give?
Don’t allow “no” to stop you. Believe in your talents and pursue these in your career. Be your best publicist.
Which talent would you most like to have?
Once, I’d like to throw a curveball that would buckle a batter’s knees.
If you could live anywhere, where would it be?
Anywhere Paul McCartney is living. Kidding (sort of). I dream about retiring near the water in about 10 years. Maybe I’ll buy an RV and just travel cross-country with Beatles music in the background.
What book are you reading?
The Naked Now
What would people be surprised to learn about you?
That I was allergic to chocolate as a kid, which is a little weird, as my winning entry is a book about chocolate makers in Missouri. Thankfully, I grew out of that and could properly conduct necessary “research” for Delectable Destinations.
Why is your affiliate and NFPW important to you?
I get so energized around other writers and creative people. Our jobs, if we’re not careful, can become dull and routine, but when we have our meetings and conferences, I always meet someone new and make good contacts.
Way to follow you on a website, twitter, Facebook, etc.
deborahreinhardt.com; Facebook under my name and @DelectableDestinations; Twitter is @girlpowerpub
Talking with Teri 