Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Stephanie Claytor . We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, Stephanie thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What sort of legacy are you hoping to build. What do you think people will say about you after you are gone, what do you hope to be remembered for?
I hope my legacy will be that I inspired Black families and children to travel the world. I want them to avoid believing in stereotypes about how others live and travel to destinations near and far to see for themselves. I hope to change curriculum in schools, by inspiring teachers to share more diverse stories with students. With my freelance writing, I seek to help the Black population become more successful in life by telling stories that keep them informed. Long story short, I hope to make a difference in changing the narrative of stories shared about Black families.
Stephanie , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
My name is Stephanie Claytor. I am a bilingual freelance journalist, author and travel blogger. I previously worked as a television reporter for nearly ten years at television stations across the United States. I’m also a Fulbright alum, having served as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant in Bogota, Colombia.
I am the author of two books, children’s book “Kyler Treks to Ghana,” and travel memoir, “Blacktrekking: My Journey Living in Latin America.
“Kyler Treks to Ghana,” is about an African American family who travels to Ghana to learn about the customs and traditions their ancestors left behind, when they were captured and enslaved in the Americas. This children’s book captures the attention of children of all ages through its vivid, authentic imagery and it inspires them to want to travel to Africa and beyond.
“Blacktrekking: My Journey Living in Latin America,” is about my journey living as a Black American woman in Colombia and the Dominican Republic. It also compares and analyzes Black culture and history in both nations. It gives readers a glimpse of what it’s like to live abroad in these Latin American nations.
I am the founder of the family travel blog, www.blacktrekking.com. My blog helps families travel the world by providing itineraries and tips for doing so. The trips range from traveling with toddlers, solo trips, mother/daughter trips and couple’s trips. So far, we’ve visited 15 countries and three territories, including Japan, Ghana, Costa Rica, Belgium, France and Bora Bora.
I write for a local publication in Lakeland, Fl, lkldnow.com and for The Florida Courier, a statewide newspaper which focuses on the Black community in Florida. My work has also been featured in The Poynter Institute and Sisters AARP.
As a communications expert, I also provide companies media training, teach a course on how to publish books, and help business owners gain media coverage.
I’ve always loved to write. I began my career by studying Broadcast Journalism, International Relations, and Spanish at Syracuse University. After living in Colombia for 10 months after graduation, I started working as a television reporter. During that time, I wrote my travel memoir, and created my blog. In 2020, after the birth of my son, I left my television reporting job to become a freelance writer, blogger, and author.
What sets me apart is my storytelling. My stories are usually very authentic, detailed and accompanied by vivid imagery. My blog readers love hearing about how I utilize creative ways to pay for my trips. I share a lot of tips for how to save money for tips. And I’m known to travel off of the beaten path to places where tourists may not normally visit.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
My goal is financial freedom. I switched to being a freelancer because I also wanted to stay home with my son, work remotely, and have control over my schedule. I enjoy being able to choose the work I engage in, my hours and base my schedule around my family’s activities. Being present for my family is very important to me. My goal is to earn six figures doing what I love, traveling and writing books and stories.
My other mission is sharing more diverse stories about the Black community, everyday life, and culture. There aren’t enough Black writers sharing stories about our experiences and I hope to change that.
What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?
Consistency is key. Most of my followers I’ve met through social media. I am constantly sharing content on Instagram and Facebook. Instagram reels are a great way to attract new followers. I’ve also met many of my followers by participating in local markets, where I sell my books. It’s a great place to network and introduce people to my brand. Amazon has been great for selling my books.
And I’ve done a lot of interviews in newspapers, on local tv stations, podcasts, and online publications. I’ve also done virtual book fairs and chats. Those have also been helpful in attracting new followers of my brand.
Contact Info:
- Website: blog link: www.blacktrekking.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blacktrekking_/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blacktrekking
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanieclaytor/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/claytorreports
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPm40Zl1DVKMNRKHs6XhyTQ
- Other: Link to order books: 1. Kyler Treks to Ghana link: https://www.amazon.com/Kyler-Treks-Ghana-Stephanie-Claytor/dp/0578331780 2. Blacktrekking: My Journey Living in Latin America – https://www.amazon.com/Blacktrekking-Journey-Living-Latin-America/dp/0999884239/ 3. How to Gain Media Coverage webinar – https://stephanieclaytor.gumroad.com/l/ZJExte
Image Credits
Earnest Odom – me with son and book pic Anthony Moore – pink off shoulder dress pics The rest I took