January 2026 Newsletter

I’ve just returned from a long weekend (laptop-free!) trip to Buenos Aires to see one of my best friends, whom I met in Thailand. It had been exactly a year since we’d seen each other, and it was so lovely to catch up in person. January was a month of non-stop travel, more about where I went at the end of the newsletter.

Thank you for subscribing to my monthly newsletter, which highlights my recently published articles, upcoming calls for sources, and a peek into my travels. If you’d like to support my work, tips via Zelle (lolaannmendez@gmail.com) and PayPal are appreciated. Alternatively, you can subscribe to the paid version of this newsletter for $9.99 a month. If you’d like, buy me a tea here as a token of appreciation.

In addition to traditional journalism, I’m available for paid social media collaborations aligned with my areas of expertise. I have a community of 21,000 followers across Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook who are interested in travel, sustainability, veganism, women’s health, and more.

I’m available for speaking gigs—I’ve given keynote speeches on inclusive LGBTQ+ travel and inclusive terminology for the Latine population. I’m also available to speak with PR teams about media relationships, brand development, and how to spin exclusive angles to help your clients land coverage, etc.

I offer consulting services to PR professionals, brands, and writers. I bring unique skills to the media industry, having worked in New York City as a publicist for seven years and as a freelance journalist for eight years. I deeply understand the inner workings of relationships between PR/brands and writers/publications.

Consultations for brands and publicists include insights on best practices for pitching journalists, fostering relationships with journalists, media training, and more. I’m also available for hire to pen marketing materials, including press releases, media alerts, website copywriting, blog and social media content, and more.

For writers, my consultations include workshopping pitches and the opportunity to pick my brain about the industry. Writers who book consultations are added to my exclusive Facebook group, where I share editors’ calls for pitches and provide access to an editorial database of over 3,000 editor contacts. Learn more here: LolaAnnMendez.com/Consultation

In January, I wrote two articles (about 1,600 words). One was commissioned from a pitch, and the other was an assignment. I sent 7 pitches in January — one was commissioned, and then I was ghosted when I tried to negotiate the rate; one is being considered; five were rejected, placed elsewhere, or I opted to move on due to timeliness, and one is pending a response. Honestly, I’m feeling burnt out on pitching.

My portfolio can be viewed at LolaAnnMendez.com. In January, I had five articles published, including my debut in Frommer’s, Hotels Above Par, and Stuff. I have upcoming pieces in new-to-me publications, including Prevention Magazine, Smart Luxury, and Ultimate Encounters.

I always post my calls for sources on Twitter.com/LolaAnnaMendez. Newsletter subscribers are privy to the first look at what I’m currently writing about. PR folks (and individuals when relevant) are welcome to send pitches for the stories I’m currently working on:

For editors who receive my newsletter, below are working heds for a few pitches I’m trying to place. Fellow writers, if you have suggestions of where to pitch, I’d be super grateful.

• The Highest Polo Match in the World

• This Outdoor Adventure Influencer Reached her Goal of Hiking in All 50 States

• This Latina is Championing Latine Voices in Environmental Conservation

• There’d be no Scotch without Spanish Sherry

• How to have the perfect day in La Barra, Maldonado, Uruguay

• Dubai’s First Vegan Hotel Makes it Easier Than Ever to Travel Sustainably in The Pearl of the Gulf

• This is the easiest country in Europe for vegan travelers — you’ll be surprised why

• The Ultimate Crete Travel Guide

• Interview With Mexican Home Cook Author of New Plant-Based Book

• Neighborhood Guide: Santitham — Chiang Mai, Thailand

I’m back in Uruguay, and my 2026 calendar is very open for press trips. January was a wild travel time. I already told you about the three nights on a plane it took me to get to Thailand. It was so wonderful to be back in my adopted home, and it was torture to leave, but I trust I’ll be back within the year! After nearly three weeks in Thailand, catching up with friends and indulging in Thai massages every other day, I headed to the winter tundra of NYC for IMM and, luckily, got back to Uruguay right before the winter storm hit. I’ve been thoroughly enjoying being back in summer, for now.

I’ll be based in South America through at least August and am super keen to go on press trips to Bolivia, Argentina, Guyana, Suriname, Nicaragua, Honduras, and the Caribbean while I’m in LATAM.

Follow my adventures on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Bluesky, and Threads.