Writers Unbound

Not long ago, I received my copy of the inaugural issue of Coastal Homes Southern Style, a new upscale bimonthly magazine. The magazine focuses on luxury living along the “Sweet Tea Coast,� an area spanning Virginia’s Chesapeake Bay to Florida’s Palm Coast. The magazine is glossy, with lots of color photographs, features and community profiles.

I wrote a story about Palencia, an upscale, environmentally friendly development near St. Augustine, Fla. I covered available properties, feedback from residents and information about the tennis courts, golf course and other amenities. There’s a lot of nuts and bolts information, but the story is also a feature, so quotes from residents and anecdotal information about the community and its history are also included.

The first issue totaled 84 pages and hits newsstands July 31. Coastal Homes is the latest periodical of 35-year-old Leisure Publishing of Roanoke, Va. Leisure publishes 18 titles.

“Coastal Homes provides that connection between boomers and the developers of quality coastal communities,� says Richard Wells, publisher and Leisure founder. Wells says the magazine is “a relocation guide for those who want to compare living on the Chesapeake Bay with the Palm Coast of North Florida…to understand the lifestyle considerations between, say, Nags Head and Hilton Head.�

CH editor Marie Hodge, winner of a National Magazine Award and former New York-based editor of Sesame Street Parents and Longevity, says another important factor in the purchase of retirement/vacation homes is proximity to current residence. “Studies of buying trends suggest the majority of buyers want to remain within a three to four hour travel time from their primary residence,� Hodge says. The magazine’s targeted distribution will be focused geographically within four hours of the coast and in key metro markets where air service provides less than four hours travel time.

I got the first assignment to write for Coastal Homes by way of my Freelance Marketplace listing at MediaBistro.com. Working with the magazine was a pleasure, and I’m working on my second assignment for the next issue.

If you’re interested in submitting, visit the Web site and study the content.

Writers may submit queries directly by snail mail:
Editor
Coastal Homes
3424 Brambleton Avenue
Roanoke, VA 24018

Include a brief bio, your pitch and 2-3 clips of published work.

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