Professional/Personal Overview
As a professional writer/editor with a literary background, I've worked for both regional and national publications, writing everything from Nightlife chapters for Fodor's guidebooks to a full-length book about becoming the pope ("How to be Pope," Oct. 2005) and as a regular contributor and co-author of the "Worst Case Scenario Survival Guide" series, with two books ("WCS Almanac: History" and "WCS: Life") both out in 2006. Currently, I'm working for NBC's Entertainment blog, The Feast (thefeast.com), regularly contribute reviews and features to NBC's Popcorn Biz movie blog, and am the film critic for two.one.five (215mag.com). After receiving my MFA from George Mason back in '95, I worked as a film critic and arts writer in DC, Tucson and Philadelphia before landing in the online space with both feet. I've written sports and DVD columns for AOL and dozens of celebrity features and interviews for both local and national sites.
Work Info
Expertise
Content Editor (online)
7 Years
Editor
12 Years
Writer
12 Years
Specialty
Entertainment
10 Years
Sports & Recreation
5 Years
Travel
5 Years
Total Media Industry Experience
10 Years
Media Client List (# assignments
last 2 yrs)
AOL (11+), Little Giant Media, Inc. (11+), NBC/Universal (3-5), Chronicle Books (3-5), Fodor's Guidebooks (3-5), Quirk/Quirk Packaging (3-5), Not For Tourists (1-2), NPR (1-2)
Corporate Client List (# assignments last 2 yrs)
Silver Oak Title Co. (3-5), IMC, Inc. (1-2), Scott Rudin Productions (1-2)
Other Work History
Editor, thefeast.com/play
Computer Skills
Programs: Word, Excel, Photoshop, Illustrator, light HTML, Front Page. Operating Systems: OSX, Windows 98, 2000, XP
Technical Skills
Video editing: Final Cut Pro. Photo editing: Adobe.
Equipment
Mac Book Pro, scanner, printer, voice recorder, digital camera, video camera, cd/dvd burner, Photoshop, Final Cut Pro, Illustrator, Final Draft.
Foreign Language Skills
A smattering of Spanish.
Work Permits & Visas
Dual citizenship with Great Britain. Passports both for Britain and USA.
Unions
None.
References
Kiersten Aschauer, (AOL), kierstena@kierstena.com
Awards
University Fellowship for Fiction Excellence, 1993, 1994
Associations
Media Bistro, if that counts.
Other
My MFA is in creative writing, and I still consider fiction my first love, but my passion for writing has spilled over into my love of film, travel and sports.
Freelancer Availability
I freelance full-time. I live near Philadelphia, PA. I am willing to travel anywhere. I have a driver's license. I have access to a car.
Work Samples
Cover Stories
(Tucson Weekly , 1/9/1997)
A first-person cover story on the author and his teammates trying to reclaim their dormant basketball jones via a training course.
(Tucson Weekly , 8/8/1996)
Cover story on what happens to a dwelling after a brutal murder has been committed there.
Criticism
(Philadelphia City Paper , 9/23/1999)
A book review of Susan Perabo's collection of short stories, "Who I Was Supposed to Be."
(Philadelphia City Paper , 12/17/1998)
A comparison and review of the "Best American Short Stories" and the "O. Henry Awards."
(Tucson Weekly , 12/5/1996)
A review of "The English Patient."
(Philadelphia Weekly , 9/14/1996)
A film review of "Spawn," from the gala opening in Phoenix.
Sports/Recreation
(AOL , 10/25/2000)
A weekly column devoted to the NBA's Philadelphia 76ers.
(Philadelphia City Paper , 6/10/1999)
A feature on mountain biking in the Philadelphia area and why people are so drawn to the sport, as well as a beginner's guide to get started.
Features
(Philadelphia Weekly , 4/8/1998)
A feature on Michael Moore and a critique of his film, "The Big One."
Books
(Chronicle Books , 10/31/2005)
An engaging look at the rigors of wearing the white papal robes of office -- and what to do once you're elected to the Vatican.
Fiction
(Unpublished Short Story , 1/5/2002)
A short story about agoraphobia and drivers' ed class.
(Unpublished Short Story , 2/10/2001)
A short story about the ways in which parents screw over their children.
(Unpublished Short Story , 1/1/1995)
A long-form short story about a kid's resentment to his father and older brother, as expressed on the basketball court.
Magazines
(Little Giant Media, Inc. , 12/18/2007)
The first issue of my Philly-based magazine, featuring DJs, skaters, casinos, preemption and the history of the MOVE bombing.
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June 4, 2013 | San Francisco
