GENERAL
-- Hard and feature news stories
-- Business communications: proposals, memos, presentations
-- Content for social media presence
FIELDS of KNOWLEDGE/FAMILIARITY
-- Higher education/academia
-- College English curricula
-- Creative writing
-- Small animal care industry
-- Buddhism
-- Hatha yoga and T'ai Chi
-- Golf
-- Acrylic painting
-- Cooking and baking
-- French language
Maria's creative writing projects are currently a travel memoir about her 2019 six-month trip to Europe and a comedy series about life in academia which she hopes to one day see on the big screen. (Okay, any size screen will do.)
Maria is a fan of novelty and variety, so she has quite an eclectic taste in interests and activities. Recently she discovered the excitement of acrylic painting, and now she is enjoying seeing the world in more colors and shapes than ever before.
Another relatively new hobby is golf, which she never thought she'd say, but is now a proud member of Las Vegas' MGA, the Mediocre Golfers Association. Part of that enjoyment is doing a sport that takes her out into nature, so it follows that she is also an avid hiker and birdwatcher.
After 10 years of learning to play the mandolin, Maria still knows only 4 chords but enjoys jamming anyway.
Other areas of interest and knowledge include Buddhism and meditation, cooking and baking, watching NFL and the PGA Tour, animal care, homeownership, yoga, and T'ai Chi.
Studied various modes of communications, namely journalism, PR, and advertising.
Studied form and theory of fiction and poetry. Wrote a 100-page thesis, a collection of short stories.
Maria has been teaching college English writing and literature courses for over two decades. This work has included creating/designing, writing, editing, and proofreading all instructional and course materials.
As a staff writer for a Bay Area real estate newspaper, Maria wrote hard and feature news articles on real estate trends.
Maria has traveled extensively in Europe, as well as to Nepal and Bhutan.
Maria worked for several years as an animal health technician for small- and large-animal veterinary hospitals in California and Idaho.
As a daughter of a dewing teacher, Maria has a good working knowledge of basic sewing skills and terminology.
Maria worked as Assistant Editor for a university press where she assisted the Editor, including copy editing scholarly book manuscripts.
As a journalist for several print publications for over 3 decades, Maria S. knows how to fine-tune writing so it is engaging, informative, and concise, ready to reach its intended audience.
As the Tourism Manager for a northern Nevada chamber of commerce/visitors bureau, Maria was responsible for reporting, writing, designing, and editing the members' monthly newsletter.