It’s a new package i offer with my book and music publicity firm The Smart Cookie Philes. I would basically find 20 bloggers to review and feature your book that are genre specific and 10 Instagrammers to review and feature your book.
All for $400. I would also make a custom graphic that i feature on my website to help promote you that i would cross feature across all my social media platforms.
If interested, please email Chelsea to get started.
For Immediate Release
September 4, 2022
Chelsea DeVries
Publicist
chelseadevries@thesmartcookiephiles.com
Author of Sticks and Stones wins Finalist place in Art Contest
Chelsea DeVries, author of Sticks and Stones: Full Story Edition, was recently named a finalist in a Art Show International Figurative art contest. Her piece “Drowning in an Ocean of No Tomorrows” was awarded the prize.
For more on the list of winner’s, visit here. To purchase this art piece, visit the author’s etsy shop here.
Author Bio:
Chelsea DeVries wanted to be a writer at the age of 7. Her first publishing credit came at the age of 14 with a poem in a student anthology. She then wrote nonstop while doing IB classes in high school. She published two YA novels while still in high school which after over 10 years she rewrote as a NA romance that she looks to put out as her next publication.She is a seeker of justice and uses her words to free this world’s outcasted, peculiar, and underdogs from the chains that bind them. When not writing she runs and does PR for authors and musicians with her bookish brand The Smart Cookie Philes. Though she’s Florida born and raised, she has New Jersey in her veins. She currently lives in Port Richey, FL with her squad of two dogs.You can follow her on Instagram and Facebook at @chelsealynnpoetry, and her squad at @dasquad26. In October 2020, DeVries was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome which is a form of Autism.
About Art Show International: A virtual online art gallery soon to be housed in a physical location in Los Angeles, CA. check out artshowinternational.com for more information.
Creatives: How to Get Your Work Seen
Being a creative entrepreneur is a unique and challenging experience where uncertainty can be a constant obstacle. Succeeding in a field such as art, fashion, music, or writing requires that people see and engage with your work, and achieving this can be challenging. By taking the right steps and being willing to leave your comfort zone, you can have the creative career you’ve always dreamed of.
You Need an Audience
For your work to go anywhere important, you’ll have to get it in front of the right people. If you create visual art or clothing, starting with local shows and events can help you get your feet wet and reduce anxiety about how your work will be received. These initial audiences can also give you a good sense of how your work may be interpreted and help you tweak aspects that aren’t resonating. Consider submitting work to trusted publications and contests too. Network and collaborate with fellow creators to share contacts and networks and speed up this process.
A Business Can Legitimize You
As you grow in your craft and attract more customers or clients, you’ll encounter tax requirements and other legal restrictions that make it beneficial to have an LLC. Structuring your business as an LLC empowers you to do business under a protected name and can reduce your personal liability in case your business faces legal or financial difficulties. LLCs also yield tax benefits. Each state has its own rules for LLC formation, so check the rules in your state.
Marketing Is Key
You must believe in your brand if you want others to support and invest in it. Marketing your work can be nerve-wracking, but it’s necessary to expand awareness of your brand. One way to help make your work more marketable is to create a quality logo. A logo gives potential customers brand awareness and differentiates you from other artists and competitor businesses. Hiring someone to design a logo can be expensive, but online tools are available that allow you to do it yourself for free. Select icons, insert words in a variety of styles, and choose colors that resonate with your brand.
You Need Space To Work
Having a consistent and peaceful place to work on your craft is invaluable for growing as a creative. Instead of renting an external space, consider updating an old/unused room into a new multipurpose room to suit your needs. This is a great way to save money and potentially add value to your home. After making any significant improvements to your property, record these changes so the home might appraise for a higher value when the time comes to sell it. Be mindful of the costs of potential renovations and how much space you really need.
Believe in Yourself
Putting your work out there is scary and takes confidence and resilience. Consider starting a business to simplify the financial aspects. Design a logo to increase brand awareness, and use creative marketing techniques to attract attention and stand out. For additional help with marketing your creative endeavors, contact The Smart Cookie Philes.
For Immediate Release
June 23, 2022
Chelsea DeVries, Publicist
chelseadevries@thesmartcookiephiles.com
Author of ‘Sticks & Stones’ Interviewed on Podcast Themed Around Resilience
Chou Hallegra, mental health consultant and owner of grace & hope consulting, recently interviewed Chelsea DeVries on The Grace & Hope Consulting Podcast. The 17 minute episode is focused on DeVries’s experience working in a toxic workplace and how it impacted her mental health but yet she found the strength to overcome from that experience by writing and compiling her poetry collection Sticks and Stones: Full Story Edition. This episode is available here or on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts.
About The Podcast: This podcast is an outreach marketing effort expanded on Grace & Hope Consulting, LLC is a person-centered and community-focused company providing mental health, personal development, and inclusion supports to individuals, families, organizations, churches, and communities. Through con
sulting, counseling, coaching, training, writing, and publishing, we help individuals achieve mental and emotional wellness, reach their full potential, and live fulfilling lives. We are committed to promoting social-emotional learning, human potential, diversity, inclusion and belonging. Find out more at www.graceandhopeconsulting.com
About the Author: Chelsea DeVries wanted to be a writer at the age of 7. Her first publishing credit came at the age of 14 with a poem in a student anthology. She then wrote nonstop while doing IB classes in high school. She published two YA novels while still in high school which after over 10 years she rewrote as a NA romance that she looks to put out as her next publication. She is a seeker of justice and uses her words to free this world’s outcasted, peculiar, and underdogs from the chains that bind them. When not writing she runs and does PR for authors and musicians with her bookish brand The Smart Cookie Philes. Though she’s Florida born and raised, she has New Jersey in her veins. She currently lives in Port Richey, FL with her squad of two dogs.You can follow her on Instagram and Facebook at @onegirlrevolution26_, and her squad at @dasquad26. In October 2020, DeVries was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome which is a form of Autism.
Upon first releasing the poetry collection in 2020 during a pandemic, Sticks & Stones has now charted on Amazon Kindle Top 100 in Inspirational and Religious Poetry four times. The first was on Amazon India at #54 which held for an entire month following the release of the collection. The second time was on Amazon Canada at #11 upon releasing the Full Story Edition, the third was on Amazon US at #67 and the fourth time was #74 on Amazon US alongside other world renowned poets in that category such as Rupi Kaur and Morgan Richard Olivier. DeVries just held her first LIVE poetry reading last week on May 25, 2022 in Pasco County, FL in conjunction with Mental Health Awareness Month.
About The Book: In Sticks and Stones, DeVries paints a poetic picture of rising above toxicity, love found and love lost, and delves into what it means to find strength in the human spirit. Through poetry, the reader finds a voice of strength and the rebuilding of one’s heart a home with all the sticks and stones thrown upon it. Newly expanded with more full color photos, 41 new poems, and a rewrite of Drowning in An Ocean of No Tomorrows, DeVries shows a full poetic picture of turning pain into poetry in order so you can rise above whatever is pulling you under.
Author Bio: Chelsea DeVries wanted to be a writer at the age of 7. Her first publishing credit came at the age of 14 with a poem in a student anthology. She then wrote nonstop while doing IB classes in high school. She published two YA novels while still in high school which after over 10 years she rewrote as a NA romance that she looks to put out as her next publication. She is a seeker of justice and uses her words to free this world’s outcasted, peculiar, and underdogs from the chains that bind them. When not writing she runs and does PR for authors and musicians with her bookish brand The Smart Cookie Philes. Though she’s Florida born and raised, she has New Jersey in her veins. She currently lives in Port Richey, FL with her squad of two dogs.You can follow her on Instagram and Facebook at @onegirlrevolution26_, and her squad at @dasquad26. In October 2020, DeVries was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome which is a form of Autism.
Tampa Pro is my favorite event of the year. And there are many reasons for that. You can get a tattoo or a massage right at the contest. You can get free drinks each day of the contest. And you can literally walk right up to hometown heroes like Jake Illardi or Olympic athletes like Felipe Gustavo and wish them luck. Yet, my favorite thing about Tampa Pro and as an extension visiting Skatepark of Tampa is the hospitality and love you feel when you walk into the shop, the park, or talk to anyone who works there or is a fan/spectator themselves.
Heading to the shop on Friday to buy a Tampa Pro tshirt to commemorate the event, we talked to one of the guys in the shop helping ring us up for the shirts.
“It’s true. We love everyone at Tampa Pro.”
Everything about the contest screams that message including this year the course design by french artist Lucas Beaufort.
It is true. I’ve been visiting the contest since 2006 and back then the contest was run by the SPOT, they had one hot dog cart and a beer cooler.
And I remember how cool I thought it all was.
Then, later that year, I returned to SPOT to be an extra in the indie film Street Dreams. It was ghetto for a movie set but this was my chance to be caught on camera next to the sport’s heavy hitters. We were filming a scene until all of a sudden Rob Dyrdek was in front of me and said that I had to move to the back of the scene. He put his hands on my shoulders as everyone in that hot metal warehouse was looking at me.
It was a surreal moment of divine timing and alignment. And those are commonplace for SPOT and at Tampa Pro but what stands out is that I always feel welcomed, accepted, and a part of something bigger than myself.
One thing is for sure at Tampa Pro, you will come for the hype and good vibes but you will leave with love in your heart, every single time.
For Immediate Release
April 18, 2022
Chelsea DeVries
Publicist
chelseadevries@thesmartcookiephiles.com
Chelsea DeVries to give Author Talk at Centenniel Park Library
Author To Read Poems From Her Collection ‘Sticks and Stones’
Chelsea DeVries, local poet and author of Sticks and Stones Poetry and Prose: Full Story Edition will do a reading/discussion or author talk at the Centenniel Park Library on Wednesday May 25, 2022 from 4-5:55 p.m. A small signing will follow the live reading and discussion of her poetry. The author talk event is Chelsea DeVries’s first live local appearance regarding her poetry collection that details the story of her experience working in a toxic workplace with themes of mental health, suicide, love and heartbreak. The Centenniel Library is hosting her during May in order to honor Mental Health Month, and the library is located at 5740 Moog Rd, Holiday, FL 34690. For more about the event, visit https://pascolibraries.evanced.info/signup/calendar?&lib=1 or contact Chelsea DeVries at chelseadevries@thesmartcookiephiles.com
About The Book: In Sticks and Stones, DeVries paints a poetic picture of rising above toxicity, love found and love lost, and delves into what it means to find strength in the human spirit. Through poetry, the reader finds a voice of strength and the rebuilding of one’s heart a home with all the sticks and stones thrown upon it. Newly expanded with more full color photos, 41 new poems, and a rewrite of Drowning in An Ocean of No Tomorrows, DeVries shows a full poetic picture of turning pain into poetry in order so you can rise above whatever is pulling you under.
Author Bio: Chelsea DeVries wanted to be a writer at the age of 7. Her first publishing credit came at the age of 14 with a poem in a student anthology. She then wrote nonstop while doing IB classes in high school. She published two YA novels while still in high school which after over 10 years she rewrote as a NA romance that she looks to put out as her next publication. She is a seeker of justice and uses her words to free this world’s outcasted, peculiar, and underdogs from the chains that bind them. When not writing she runs and does PR for authors and musicians with her bookish brand The Smart Cookie Philes. Though she’s Florida born and raised, she has New Jersey in her veins. She currently lives in Port Richey, FL with her squad of two dogs.You can follow her on Instagram and Facebook at @onegirlrevolution26_, and her squad at @dasquad26. In October 2020, DeVries was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome which is a form of Autism.
For Immediate Release
January 6, 2022
Chelsea DeVries, Publicist
chelseadevries@thesmartcookiephiles.com
Sticks and Stones Turns Pain Into Poetry
They tell you about the dangers of riptide but no one warns you that you could be swept down into the riptide of who someone else is.
-Drowning In An Ocean of No Tomorrows
In Sticks and Stones, DeVries uses poetry to paint a poetic picture of her experience working in a toxic workplace, toxicity and bullying she faced in her youth, her struggles with anxiety and depression due to undiagnosed Asperger’s, and turning the pain of love and heartbreak into poetry to help any reader find the strength to overcome whatever is pulling them under. The book is available in hardcover and ebook wherever books are sold but in the US at Amazon, Etsy, Barnes and Noble, Walmart.com, and Target.com.
About the Book: In Sticks and Stones, DeVries paints a poetic picture of rising above toxicity, love found and love lost, and delves into what it means to find strength in the human spirit. Through poetry, the reader finds a voice of strength and the rebuilding of one’s heart a home with all the sticks and stones thrown upon it. Newly expanded with more full color photos, 41 new poems, and a rewrite of Drowning in An Ocean of No Tomorrows, DeVries shows a full poetic picture of turning pain into poetry in order so you can rise above whatever is pulling you under.About the Author: Chelsea DeVries wanted to be a writer at the age of 7. Her first publishing credit came at the age of 14 with a poem in a student anthology. She then wrote nonstop while doing IB classes in high school. She published two YA novels while still in high school which after over 10 years she rewrote as a NA romance that she looks to put out as her next publication. She is a seeker of justice and uses her words to free this world’s outcasted, peculiar, and underdogs from the chains that bind them. When not writing she runs and does PR for authors and musicians with her bookish brand The Smart Cookie Philes. Though she’s Florida born and raised, she has New Jersey in her veins. She currently lives in Port Richey, FL with her squad of three dogs.You can follow her on Instagram and Facebook at @onegirlrevolution26_, and her squad at @dasquad26. In October 2020, DeVries was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome which is a form of Autism.
If you are looking for greatness, where would you picture you would find it?
Most people picture greatness as Olympic athletes and during Sunday night football but I’ve been visiting a place that’s full of greatness all year long.
William Shakespeare is famously known for the quote from his play The 12th Night, “Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon ’em.”
Greatness is easy to see and spot at the Skatepark of Tampa specifically during the annual Tampa Pro contest.
Each year for the past 27 years, the Skatepark of Tampa has hosted the Tampa Pro skateboard contest. The prize has greatly increased since the first one, and both the sport and the venue have evolved with the constant progression of the times but you can expect to go to the local skatepark on the West Coast of Florida and be inspired, be handed a free beer, and a chance to tell your favorite skater how much that backside smith grind down the hubba they did in their last run, stoked you from head to toe.
Here is what a weekend at the Skatepark of Tampa looks like during Tampa Pro weekend. Welcome To Town parties start Thursday evening followed by trivia usually at the Bricks in Ybor City. Yes, that means you can share a pitcher of beer with Mark Appleyard or Mike Valleley, it’s a free country and you can do it.
As an avid 17 year fan of street skateboarding who doesn’t actually skate, people ask me all the time what I love about skateboarding or about the Tampa Pro.
For me, this year I was insanely moved by Felipe Nunes. Seeing out there on the course killing it made me feel that this is a place and an event where anyone can come and feel like they are a part of something greater than what they are currently facing in their day to day life. Sure, books, music, and movies are a great escape but hands down, I’d rather be at the skatepark during Tampa Pro weekend.
Whether it’s your first time or you’ve been here 10 times, Tampa Pro is an event that’s high vibrational, continuously gets better every year, and even allows women skateboarders to compete. One thing is for sure, it certainly will have you coming back again next year because everyone who’s anyone can come and just hang loose.
Thanks Paul and all who put on such a fun time down in hot and sunny Tampa, FL. I can’t wait for next year’s event in April.
Watch my entire weekend from start to finish.
It happened. The dreaded moment in an author’s book launch when social media was no longer pushing sales.. so i took a page out of the book I always use for my clients as their publicist and said: you need to be out in the open and meet people in real life. So I found […]
My first time attending the Tampa Indie Author Book Convention…. — One Girl Revolution
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 2021
Taking Local Bookish Love to the Internet:
3rd Annual RV(irtual)A Booklovers’ Festival
Chelsea DeVries is delighted to announce they will be participating in the Author Expo at the 3rd Annual RVA Booklovers’ Festival this Saturday, May 8, 2021 from 11 am to 5 pm EST! This year’s event, RV(irtual)A Booklovers’ Festival, will be accordingly hosted online on Hopin. Register for your free ticket here!
The Festival’s Author Expo will feature books by authors of many genres from around the country, as well as indie presses and literacy organizations. The Main Stage will boast several excellent panels like Framing History through Fiction, Middle Grade Magic, and Get Lucky: Romance, featuring authors like Amanda Quick and Simon Van Booy. The Kids’ Stage will feature book readings all day long, while the Poet-tree Stage will explore some spoken word, readings, panels, and more, emceed by Virginia’s first ever…
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For Immediate Release April 13, 2021 Chelsea DeVries, Publicist smartcookiepr26@gmail.com Sticks and Stones currently #1 in Drama and Poetry Sticks and stones by Chelsea DeVries, which is a collection of prose and poetry for anyone healing from a painful experience bringing up themes of mental health, suicide, and love and heartbreak. It is currently nominated […]
Press Release: Sticks and Stones Nominated For Book of The Year! — One Girl Revolution
As most of you know, I love my dogs more than anything. They are my world and basically give my life both meaning and purpose.
Yet, so many dogs and cats are killed in shelters around the USA and I don’t think any furry friend should have to die just because it hasn’t found a home. About 3 or 4 years ago, I came across Best Friends Animal Society. They are a non-profit that advocates entirely for both dogs and cats to be rescued from kill shelters so that they have a chance at a decent and humane life. Every animal has it’s purpose, right?!
In order to help them in their no-kill 2025 initiative, every hoodie and dog bandana will 100% benefit Best Friends Animal Society and their life-saving work for this planet’s most precious and vulnerable creatures.
The Hooman Hoodie is available in a selection of primary colors and runs at $48 with $20 being donated to Best Friends Animal Society.
The dog merchandise has the same “fur-ever friends” design and is available in my new Squad shop but also still benefits Best Friends Animal Society. I will be adding more designs from past squad days in the shop soon but for now get a matching Dog Bandana here. The Dog Bandana is only available in white but is very large to fit any size furbaby. It is priced at $15.97 with 10% of that going to Best Friends Animal Society.
If you or someone you know is an animal advocate, please share this with them.
Until next time, We wish you a Happy Valentine’s Day!
It all started with a dream five years ago…just like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. I was not going to let anything come between me and my dream of helping authors and artists get the right exposure for their project.
Like a fairy dust kiss from above, only one month after launching the site, I got the news that I was selected as a member of Rachel Platten’s Wildfire Tour Crew.
And I will never forget her words before she sang her anthem “Fight Song” the night of the concert. They had me tearing up and I knew without a doubt that this was what I wanted to do, where I belonged, and I wanted others to feel this way too.
So I began by building my audience. I started posting book and music reviews that nobody paid me for. And I launched both my Twitter and Facebook page so I could network with the people in my niche: other writers, musicians, and people who were just looking for a place to express themselves freely without any judgement.
I created a hashtag game to get people aware of my brand messaging without cramming it down their throat.
#ESPRESSOYOURSELF was a trending hashtag on Twitter when the game launched and it was fun for a while.
Yet, it became more of a burden than a blessing and I ended it in 2018. Yet, the site began to get offers for affiliates, brands that wanted to work with us, and even a queue filled to the brim with review requests.
I took a leap of faith the following year and launched my PR firm in hopes that I could be paid to do the work that I earned a college degree in. Turns out, authors were willing to work with me because they knew me to be a genuine supporter of all things creative and especially authors. (I am a bibliophile to my core).
Today, my first ever signed client is still with my firm!
In 2018, I wanted to begin giving back in a new way so I created a merchandise line through Teespring that is 100% cause based. Each design is created with love for a cause that I believe in. And I felt like maybe there were other people who would believe in them too. In 2021, we now have over 19 products currently available and 6 cookie based designs that 100% came from my brain, although I hired an artist to create them for me, and 7 causes that they 100% support.
In 2019, I gained the most clients I ever had at one time in my firm but sadly lost most of them at the beginning of the 2020 pandemic. Yet, do to supportive donations and an ad campaign featuring my dogs, I was able to withstand the stormy weather and I learned how freeing it is to dance in the rain.
My reviews and marketing services are sought after from traditionally published authors, independent authors, other publicists, and even independent music blogs and musicians. My clientele and brands that we’ve worked with span from small to huge but it hasn’t at all changed the reason why I began this site: if I have a dream and a vision, chances are other people like me do too so why not work together to create a community that is inclusive and welcomes art and projects from people of all walks of life.
This year I am excited to announce that my goal for 2021 was to READ MORE and Worry Less.
With that being said, I am making reading a daily priority this year because books are the world I choose to live in, and I refuse to apologize for that. Yet, this is a business that I truly care about and want to continue to see it succeed which is why I am revamping all my services this year.
First I am launching my review service for a nominal fee and you get a lot for a little chunk of change (As always). And this week only, if you request a review for your book, I will guarantee you I will get it done in 20 days or less or it’s free. For me, I want to be accountable this year and every year to come so this guarantee will allow me to do that to start. The guarantee is only good for this week only. After 1/24/21, it’s $40 regardless of how long it takes me to read your work. Sign up here today! This unfortunately means I will no longer offer free reviews so please let people know that I no longer offer those.
Second, I am re-launching my PR services. There will be two types I offer: freelance and contract.
My freelance services are perfect for artists or authors on a limited budget or local businesses looking for marketing assistance.
Lastly, I am pleased to announce that I am raising my publicist fees. Anyone who now signs with my firm will now be required to sign an annual contract and agree to the monthly retainer fee to secure me as your publicist. Big time agencies charge way more than I am but I am willing to believe the value of my work is worth every single dollar. And besides, every dollar earned is always re-invested in making my services or my brand more curated to fit the needs of any and all clientele, and with these new prices I hope to do that but I honestly also hope to attract clients that value my services 100% and want to grow together, and trust me above anything else.
Before I end this rather long personal statement, I wanted to announce that The Smart Cookie Philes is featured in a Book Promotion Directory for 2021. It includes 180 bloggers who will feature your book as well as 40 companies (mine included) who want to help you promote your work at affordable efficient rates.
As always, you can reach me by email at smartcookiepr26@gmail.com 24 hours a day!
And thank you to everyone who has allowed me the chance to work with you, given you a safe haven to belong to, and supported me and this dream for five years!
I am so glad I took a page out of Dr. King’s book and boldly declared “I HAVE A DREAM…”
To the unicorns, the outcasts, and the dreamers,
We welcome you and I just want to say thank you all so much for sticking around.
It means so very much to me!
So much love,
Chelsea DeVries
Publicist and Founder of The Smart Cookie Philes
2020 was a rough year for everyone for various reasons but I never felt so far away from everyone myself but thankfully within the book community, we always end up meeting people who are both on the same page and also inspire us to share more of our story on blank pages..
Kriti from Armed With a Book is one of those people who I came into connection with through a client but I also really liked her review style as well as her professionalism. She has a unique way of sharing about authors, creators, and even about the people who support them such as myself as a publicist. Honestly, as I come up to my 5th year as a publicist and my own boss, it felt like such a nice way to cement that into being.
You can read her amazing post by clicking my custom creative roulette wheel below.
Bess The Book Bus Shirt: $21.99
Adopt A Classroom Tote: $15.00
Christina Grimmie Foundation Socks: $15.99
COVID-19 Shirt (Books, Coffee, and Music are my essentials): $25.87
Project Semicolon Backpack: $49.99
COVID-19 Hoodie: $49.99
COVID-19 Mug: $14.98
COVID-19 Long Sleeve: $30.99
Eco COVID-19 Tee: $27.78
Organic COVID-19 Tote: $24.99
The following designs help benefit the continue running and content creation of The Smart Cookie Philes:
Main Logo Mug: $14.99
Landscape Stickers: $6.00
Leggings: $44.99
Beach Towel: $30.99
Blanket: $45.00
When I graduated college, I knew without a doubt I wanted to be a publicist.
Not for all the perks but because I wanted to use marketing in a fun way.
As someone who made a career since her teens as a fangirl, I have a gift for encouraging others and highlighting the good that others say and do.
Some within the writing and music community, especially indie artists, are unfamiliar with the term “publicist.”
A publicist is a person whose job is to generate and manage publicity for a company, a brand, or public figure or for a work such as a book, film or album. Publicists are public relations specialists who have the role to maintain and represent the images of individuals, rather than representing an entire corporation or business.
Publicists are also hired by public figures who want to maintain or protect their image.
Publicists brand their clients by getting magazine, TV, newspaper, and website coverage. Most top-level publicists work in private practice, handling multiple clients.
A typical day for a publicist consists of being on the phone, networking through e-mails, and can make themselves available at all times of the day for when conflict arises.
The #1 I became a publicist is because I wanted to use my gift for writing from a marketing standpoint. And as someone who published novels before without an ally, I wanted to be that specifically for authors and musicians.
Publicists always do the work with the best interests of the client being served, and most of the times, it is a very thankless job.
If you’ve stumbled upon this post, and you believe you need a publicist with a heart for writers and artists who the world has tried to silence, let me be your voice. Let me help you shine.
Some people hire a publicist but realize they just want book launch publicity and that’s it.
If you have a book or album about to come out, please check out the other service packages I have available.
It’s my favorite time of year. It’s Tampa Pro season y’all. Urethane wheels on concrete. Free beer. Open bar. Pro skaters so close you can ask them for a selfie. The buzzing of a tattoo needle mixed with old school hip-hop.
I am no stranger to Tampa Pro. I have been attending since 2006 but am well aware Skatepark of Tampa has been helping the local Tampa community have a safe space to be completely themselves since 1993.
Back in 2006, I went to Skatepark of Tampa for the first time that March. At that time, Tampa Pro was still a homegrown event. So all they had out back was a hot dog cart and a cooler with drinks. No open bar sponspored by Monster Energy. No vendor tents. It was very local and for the locals still but you could sense that something was building the platform when Rob Dydrek decided to shoot his indie film about skateboarding for skateboarders, “Street Dreams” right there later in 2006.
Back in 2006, I was just starting to get into skateboarding. I didn’t realize the gravity of what Tampa Pro meant to the skateboarding world and barely knew any pros when I was there as I was a newbie enthusiast at that time but I definitely knew Ryan Sheckler was going to blow up and become a household name in skateboarding as well as pop culture. Look at that cute young face. It was made for reality tv.
But the surreal moments I had at Tampa Pro in 2006, led me to come back for another year in 2007 where I met Jereme Rogers. I mean, he left skateboarding to forge a rap career but in this day and time, Jereme Rogers was one of the top in the sport.
From here, I took about 3 years off Tampa Pro because I was kind of focused on other things, and also wanted to make sure I really liked skateboarding for skateboarding, and not just because I had a long-term crush on one of the professionals.
Turns out, my love was with skateboarding and not with that young man who ended up marrying someone else so I returned to Tampa Pro in 2010.
Look at young T-Puds.
Look at Nyjah back when he had dreads…
2010 was when Chaz Ortiz was on top of his game…don’t know why I never see him at the Pro anymore but he needs to come out.
2010 Chris Cole who came back out and skated the contest this year. Can you believe it?
The last Tampa Pro I seen Mr. Sheckler at was 2019 but he’s building his own board company now. Told you he would be a household name and a pop culture icon.
As you can see from the previous collage…each year that I’ve ever come out to Tampa Pro has been a good vibe and a good time and this year was no exception.
The first pro I spotted this year was Chris Cole which had me hyped since I haven’t seen him at the Pro in a few years although I believe in 2021 or 2022, he was a judge of the contest instead of a competitor.
When you walked into the event this year, they gave out a gift bag for the 30 year celebration. It was a nice assortment of stuff.
From here, my guest and I decided to grab a drink and just explore the courtyard.
Here’s some cool shots from Friday’s practice.
One thing you will always see is the skaters all joking and bonding with one another. I’ve rarely ever seen one pro show animosity to one another, only love and comraderie.
All in all, visiting Skatepark of Tampa is always a good time, good vibes, and an all around good experience. You learn so much about your local community, and you witness a community that loves and supports all people. And that’s definitely one I can get behind.
Congratulations Skatepark of Tampa on 30 years! That’s amazing. You and I are almost the same age.
Must have been a divine connection for sure. Thanks for always hooking me up with surreal moments, unforgettable interactions with pros and amateurs alike, and for always allowing me to be completely myself in a world that outside those warehouse walls is harsh, hard, and increasingly very very pressing. Love you guys. Thanks for allowing me to carpe fucking diem!
GUEST POST BY KATIE CONROY
Since we spend so much time at home, it makes sense to think of ways to use our properties to the max. And if we can do what we love to do from home, too, then why not? So if you’re a creative like Chelsea DeVries, here’s how to create the home studio of your dreams.
Pick a room, any room
You’ll need some space to do your hobby, whether that’s music, dance, writing, or art. ● Any room could potentially do for your at-home studio, but it should ideally be separate from your living quarters. ● You may need to upgrade the room with particular renovations to make it more livable. For an attic studio, the ceiling may need to be redone. A ballpark range for a ceiling install should be easy enough to find online.
Make sure it is practical
Whether you have a small or large space to work with, you have to make it practical.
● Organize your home studio in such a way that everything has its place. Implement an organizational system that’ll prevent you from having to look for things when you need them. ● Ensure your studio is practical from a budgeting point of view too. For example, if you can repurpose old containers, shelves, and furniture, then this can save you money in the long run. ● Proper lighting for your home studio is essential to help you see every detail. ● Inspiration is key. Feel more calm and relaxed in your home studio by painting your walls warm, muted colors.
Safety first
Besides being a practical space, your home studio should also be safe to use. ● Ensure that you have ample ventilation. Adequate fresh air will help prevent stale and musty odors from developing, as well as prevent the build-up of mold. ● You should have adequate space to work or perform in. So, clear away any items that might get in your way.
Benefits of having an at-home studio
There are many benefits to having your studio at home, including unlimited time to perfect your passion.
● You can make it as comfortable as you like. So choose furniture that will help you do what you do best. ● It’s easy on the pocket. Look at it this way; you don’t have to fork out cash to enroll at an art studio to get the practice you need. ● Another added advantage of having a home studio is that you can practice as much as you want whenever you want. ● You can increase your home’s resale value depending on the upgrades you’ve made to it. For example, if you’ve managed to transform an awkward nook into something magical, you can be sure this concept will resonate with the buyer. ● You can even do an additional side hustle from your home studio.
Your at-home studio is sure to work out well if you make it suitable for you and what you like to do, whatever that art form may be.
Why are we so scared of what is different?
We judge. We shun. We shut out. We close our minds to what we don’t understand but yet we could learn so much from someone who leads a life in an unorthodox way or thinks differently than us.
Kya is the pariah of the marshes of the North Carolina Bayou. Forced to raise herself when her family leaves her alone in a shack near the bayou and she must learn the art of human survival. The entire town doesn’t rush to help her but instead believes the absolute worst of her, and outside of a fisherman’s wharf style shop near the bayou, she learns to survive one pot of grits at a time.
The plot and character cadence reminded me of a Bayou version of Little House on the Prairie at first, but unlike Laura Ingalls, Kya’s closest friends are the beachside seagulls.
My favorite aspects of this story were how the author chose to entwine nature and poetry throughout which kept me reading, along with this heart-wrenching pull in my soul to see Kya grow stronger and stronger as the pages turned.
It reads like a good murder mystery but with the strong emotive pull of poetic prose, with a love against all odds storyline thrown in. The descriptions of the marshlands were my favorite and spoke to the author’s background in Zoology and Animal Behavior.
The moral of Where The Crawdads Sing to me is not to use one aspect of someone’s identity to box them in or come to conclusions about them. There is treasure -curious humans that we are- hidden in the depths. The depths of the Bayou, the depths of a poem, and the depths of any human soul.
Sometimes you must dare to venture forth an uncharted path to find the treasures of life, even precious human life.
This review was written for no compensation and is originally written in response to the reading of Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. If you enjoyed this review, feel free to buy me a coffee.
Do you have a knack for writing compelling stories and engaging your readers? If you’re still in school or you’ve just graduated, you could earn money by becoming a freelance writer, working as much or as little as you’d like. Here, The Smart Cookie Philes shares some tips on how you can hone your skills, find writing gigs and attract clients:
Enhance Your Writing Skills
Getting a degree in English isn’t the only path to becoming a successful writer. A degree in journalism, communications, or linguistics can also lead to a fulfilling and rewarding writing career. Additionally, you can take classes in creative writing at your local community college, attend workshops and seminars, and submit your work to writing contests: some of them will even give you feedback that will help you further develop your craft.
Besides language arts, there are many college majors you can parlay into writing gigs: technical writers are in high demand, so if you have a gift for clearly explaining complex things, you can find yourself a niche and write about finance, technology, mechanics, cryptocurrency, or physics. And if you want to get a competitive edge, become a social media maven and learn all about SEO and online marketing, and improve your skills by writing blog posts and other content material for business websites.
Find Writing Assignments
Build a writing portfolio with samples of your best work. Make sure its design is simple, uncluttered, with fonts that are easy to read and add thumbnail images to make each sample stand out. Don’t forget to include your email address and other contact information!
Creating a professional-looking portfolio and posting it on online platforms dedicated to showcasing writers’ talent will help you get discovered by potential clients. Post some of your work on your social media accounts and link them to your website so that people can easily find you when they need your services.
Attract and Retain Clients
Once you’ve decided to make a career out of the written word, you need to find a market for your work. One of the best ways to get published is to find your niche and start writing for a target audience. If you have specific knowledge on a particular topic, you can share your expertise via blogs and ebooks and start making money. Grant writing, technical writing, and ghostwriting are all lucrative options for freelancers. B2B vendors and creative agencies usually have in-house copywriters, but small businesses may not have technical writers on staff and may turn to freelancers for their white papers, blogs, advertising copy, and press releases.
If you’ve just graduated and aren’t sure where to find your first writing gigs, the internet is a good place to turn to in order to find clients for your budding business. Browse through online job boards and find writing assignments you feel comfortable completing. Each time you deliver stellar content, your clients will keep coming back for more.
If you’ve ever thought of becoming a freelance writer, there are many avenues you can explore whether you’re still in school or you’ve already got a degree. Online platforms let you showcase your writing, and an increasing number of clients are looking for fresh content from people just like you. So get writing and get the gigs!
Image via Pixabay
The Smart Cookie Philes 
