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Well, press from The Seattle Times, anyway. I submitted a short essay to the paper back in February, after they requested personal stories of women in the outdoors.

It’d been a LONG time since I’d submitted anything for publication, but I thought, “What the hell? Can’t hurt, and might feel good to try.”

It did feel good to hit that Submit button. And shazam! Not only did The Times choose my essay, they quoted me in the opening paragraph, and my essay was lead.

https://www.seattletimes.com/life/outdoors/women-are-the-glue-bringing-these-groups-together-readers-share-their-experiences-in-the-outdoors/

Sometimes you get lucky.

The same special section ran a fabulous double-page spread on Melissa Kegler, a fantastic cold-water swimmer, record holder, and all-around beast of a good person. I especially love the good work she’s doing on changing athletic body expectations. Bikini culture! Let’s go!

https://images.seattletimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/02192022_kegler_225848.jpg?d=2040×1397

Nice to see some open-water love in print.

–TJ Wiley