Hi there. Remember me?
It's been a while since I've posted as The Local Tourist. Here's why, and what's up for 2026
If you’re subscribed to The Joyful Storyteller, you may have seen the announcement and invitation below. If not, read on!
Also - if you’re in Chicago, definitely scroll to the p.s. for info on how to get your f-r-e-e ticket to this year’s Travel and Adventure Show.
I wouldn’t be surprised if you don’t remember me. Unless you’re subscribed to one of my other newsletters, it’s been awhile since I’ve contacted you.
August 12, 2025, to be exact.
It’s not like I haven’t been traveling. It was another year I thought I hadn’t been gone much. Turns out I was. 92 days, to be exact. Three months.
But my travel in 2025 was different. Slower. More intentional. LOTS more visits to friends. I spent so much time in Sheboygan, Google Photos thought I lived there.
I spent several days in Chicago, one and two at a time, going on artist dates with friends to the Art Institute of Chicago and Printers Row Lit Fest.
Jim and I took a few adventures. I also went on writing retreats, including a transformative weekend in the Northwoods of Wisconsin, another weekend communing with Mother Nature, and another while housesitting for a friend who lives a mile from Lake Michigan.
Those are stories I’d love to share, and there are many, many more, including car camping in Death Valley and nearly picking up a burro who tried to hitchhike with me in Arizona.
And I will. Just summarizing those adventures makes me twitchy with desire to tell you all about it, so I’ll be resuming regular emails.
There’ve been other changes. In August, I renamed my personal publication to The Joyful Storyteller. Behind the scenes, I’ve been ghostwriting (two full novels and a novella last year) and editing. This freelance work has dramatically changed my life in more ways than I care to share (but ALL good).
With all of that, plus multiple speaking engagements (including the 2025 Mensa Annual Gathering and Author Nation in front of 1200 people!), I needed to take a step back and look at my whole creative life.
And I realized that The Local Tourist doesn’t contain it anymore. I explain in more detail here, but in a nutshell, I’ve launched a new company.
Introducing Pollinate Ink
Pollinate Ink is my creative garden where travel stories, fiction, memoir, and more all grow together. The unifying thread? Seeding joy through story.
That includes TLT, and in 2026, it’ll be better than ever. Forget listicles and “things to do in x” articles. (They’ll make appearances here and there, but won’t be the focus.) Instead, expect stories that bring places to life, tales that make you want to plan your own trip or feel like you’ve been there if you can’t.
The most exciting part of this is my new community, and this is your official invitation to join!
The Pollinators
Who are Pollinators? They’re you, if you light up when you read a good story, whether it’s a real life adventure or an imaginary escape. If you see the good in the world, or want to, and you believe that most people are kind. If you’re curious, you love discovery, and you believe joy matters.
I’m still figuring out the details, but I know this: you’ll get special perks and behind-the-scenes glimpses of where I’m going and what I’m writing. Think of it as the VIP section of my creative world - and it’s completely free.
Want to be a Pollinator? Sign up here and let’s have some fun!
Thanks so much for being part of my joyful world!
Theresa
p.s. This one’s for my Chicago friends! I’m speaking and exhibiting again at the Chicago Travel and Adventure Show and as one of my “Local Tourists,” you can get a complimentary ticket! Click here for the details and to sign up for yours.
p.p.s. If you’re in Southern California, I’m speaking at the LA show, too. I’ll have details for that soon.