Professional Experience
As an award-winning writer, I've covered everything from luxury cars and travel to business, healthcare and technology. My work has appeared in newspapers, magazines and websites around the world, and in addition to writing books on music and business, I've also been published in a few college textbooks. I love finding and telling a good story, and absolutely live for the opportunity to put words on a page. As science editor of Live Happy magazine, I cover the art and science of living a happy life - and am fortunate to be able to practice it every day.
Expertise
- Writer 31 Years
- Editor 20 Years
- Book Author 15 Years
Specialty
- Music 25 Years
- Automotive 15 Years
- Health 20 Years
Industries
- Publishing (non-book) - all 31 Years
- Book Publishing Consumer 15 Years
- Online/new media 15 Years
Media Client List (# Assignments Last 2 Yrs)
- Live Happy magazine(10+)
- Private Clubs magazine(6-10)
- HI Luxury magazine(6-10)
- Dealstruck(# projects)
Corporate Client List (# Assignments Last 2 Yrs)
- Kimberly-Clark(10+)
- Thomson Reuters(10+)
- Lennox(10+)
- Nationwide Insurance(10+)
- American Pharmacists Association(6-10)
- Freeman Company(10+)
- Anthem(6-10)
- Wiley(10+)
Other work history
Includes being managing editor of Performance magazine, lifestyle editor of American Driver magazine, editor of WHERE DALLAS magazine, editorial director for four Dallas Market Center magazines, and editor of Natural Living magazine. Former assistant managing editor of A.M. Journal Express, a daily commuter paper in Dallas. As a freelancer, I've written for Successful Living, Life & Style Weekly, GrandLuxe Magazine, B&H Photo publications, Forbes Custom, AAA magazines, Fort Worth Star Telegram, The Dallas Morning News and many others. I've covered many different aspects of healthcare and fitness for such publications as Mended Hearts, Health Waves, Fit, Texas Health and the American Heart Association. On the business side, I've created content for the University of Texas at Dallas School of Management, Kimberly-Clark, Texas Instruments, Hewlett-Packard, Samsung, Insignium, Energy Solutions Center, DFW Elite Auto Rental, and industry associations. I have worked on more than a dozen book projects.
Computer skills
I speak both Mac and PC, proficient with Office 365 and all related programs.
References
Available upon request.
Awards
Please see a complete list at http://www.paulafelps.com/mywork/awards/
Associations
Association of Managing Editors
Science of Happiness
Find Happiness in Your Headphones
(Live Happy 6/1/2016)
Music is known to get your feet moving, but it also does wonders for your heart and soul. New research uncovers how music aids physical and emotional healing and helps release feel-good chemicals in your brain.
Floating Toward Happiness
(Live Happy 4/5/2016)
Once discounted by the medical and psychiatric communities, today Restricted Environmental Stimulation Therapy - also known as floating - has resurfaced. New research is showing it can be effective for everything from chronic pain to PTSD, and it's also good for boosting creativity.
Jack Kornfield Finds Freedom in the Moment
(Live Happy Magazine 5/1/2017)
Best-selling author Jack Kornfield is one of the leading teachers on mindfulness and well-being. Here, he explains how to make the most of every moment, regardless of what is happening around us.
Embracing Awe
(Live Happy Magazine 6/1/2017)
Research shows that awe can actually slow down our perception of time ... and make us feel happier and more relaxed.
7 Happy Songs Guaranteed to Make You Cry
(Live Happy 9/15/2017)
Did you ever wonder why happy songs can induce a flood of tears? Well, I did - and here's what I found out.
Pound It Out
(Live Happy 8/1/2016)
How a positive attitude, drum-based exercise and hip-hop music helped one teen recover from a traumatic brain injury.
Be Happy to Live Longer
(Live Happy 1/13/2018)
A long life may make you happy, but now science proves that being happy can lead to a long life.
What Happens in Vagus...
(Live Happy 8/18/2016)
If you think happiness is all in your brain, you're on the right track. Here's a look at the role the mind plays in achieving happiness - and tips on how to make the most of it.
This is Your Brain on Humor
(Live Happy 2/24/2017)
A funny thing happens to your brain when it hears a joke. We'll tell you what that is!
The Sound of Food
(Live Happy 9/2/2016)
Can the music you listen to really change the way your food tastes? Science says yes, and researchers are looking at how this can be used in a medical environment. Meanwhile, everyone from airlines to restaurants are looking at how this can change the way they appeal to customers.
Is Facebook Making Us More Jealous?
(Live Happy 11/2/2016)
Social media didn't invent jealousy, but it certainly has exploited it. Here's how social media can change the way we view ourselves and what to do about it.
Living for the Likes
(Live Happy 6/3/2016)
As we obsess over how we present ourselves on social media, it can diminish how we feel IRL.
The Hidden Power of Thank-You
(Live Happy Magazine 1/13/2018)
What if living longer (and better) was as simple as learning how to say "thank you?"
Travel
Under the Northern Lights
(HI Luxury 5/1/2016)
Norway's Lofoten Links provides spectacular views ... and an incredibly rugged, challenging golfing environment.
A Taste of Ireland
(HI Luxury 4/1/2017)
Glaciers began creating Erin Hills Golf Course thousands of years ago, but designers finished the Wisconsin course about a decade ago.
Fairway to Heaven
(HI Luxury 1/1/2017)
At Four Seasons Resort Lanai, guests can enjoy their own island.
5 Reasons You Need a Vacation
(Live Happy Magazine 5/8/2017)
It's true - you NEED a vacation. This story looks at what travel does for your mind, body and soul and tells you how to make the most of it.
Welcome to the Buckeye State
(CORT Furniture Rental blog 6/6/2017)
If you're a student experiencing Columbus, Ohio, there's a way to do it on a shoestring. Here's a look at how to live it up on a student's budget.
Golfing Italian
(HI Luxury 9/1/2016)
Rosewood's Castiglion del Bosco in Tuscany offers an exceptional experience - whether you're on the golf course or not.
Thrice is Nice
(HI Luxury 8/3/2013)
A look at the storied history of Oak Hills Country Club in Rochester, NY.
Profiles
Kevin Pratt & Teemu Selanne
(Private Clubs magazine 6/6/2017)
What does a hockey great do when he retires? Open a successful restaurant with a friend, of course!
Brendan Droppo - NASCAR artist
(Nationwide 6/6/2017)
Brendan Droppo grew up watching NASCAR - and then drawing his own ideas of how the cars should look. Here's how he parlayed that passion and persistence into the job of his dreams.
Still Rocking _ Kate Pierson
(Live Happy 5/1/2015)
Kate Pierson of The B-52's is instantly recognized by her bright red hair, but today she's making more than music; she's also spreading happiness as the owner of two very fun and funky hotels.
Phil Ehart, drummer, Kansas
(Private Clubs 3/1/2017)
Drummer and founding member of the rock band Kansas reflects on the group's staying power and what's next for them.
Jordan Spieth
(Private Clubs 3/1/2009)
Jordan Spieth was a 15-year-old golfer with a promising future when I first interviewed him for Private Clubs magazine.
Maya Angelou: Be Courageous and Prepared
(Live Happy 3/12/2014)
When I interviewed Maya Angelou just two months before her death, she offered an entertaining lesson on the importance of taking a stand - and being prepared.
Automotive
7 of the Coolest Motorcycle Names of All Time
(Nationwide Insurance 2/22/2017)
This was such a fun piece to write! While writing about cars and motorcycles, I collected a few interesting and unexpected names. Here they are...
Cruise Down Memory Lane at Lane Motor Museum
(Hertz Automotive Blog 1/13/2018)
Some of the best cars you've never heard of can be discovered at Lane Motor Museum in Nashville. Mostly foreign and largely unknown to the general American public, this collection is a car lover's paradise.
Texas' DFW Toy Museum
(Hertz Automotive Blog 1/13/2018)
When Ron Sturgeon's collection of toy cars became too big for his house, he did what any multi-millionaire would do: He opened a museum. And then he bought more toys.
A Cadillac With a Colorful Past
(Hertz Automotive Blog 1/13/2018)
When Hunter Byington found a rare 1938 Cadillac, he began a love affair that would span decades.
Podcasts
The Happy Traveler
(Live Happy Now 6/22/2017)
Want to get more out of your vacations? Travel expert and happiness researcher Jaime Kurtz tells how to make the most of those getaways.
The Attitude of Gratitude
(Live Happy Now 1/13/2018)
Author MJ Ryan says that gratitude will not only make you happier, it can change your relationships at work and at home.
How to Make Better Resolutions
(Live Happy Now 1/3/2017)
If you want your resolutions and goals to be a success, you have to know how to set them, measure them and stay motivated to achieve them. I talk with Jan Stanley about how to turn this year's resolution into a victory.
How to Create the Perfect Exercise Playlist
(Live Happy Now 1/3/2017)
The right music can keep you moving and motivated. Here's a look at what it takes to make the right playlist to find your workout groove.
Change Your Brain, Change Your Life
(Live Happy Now 3/12/2017)
Dr. Daniel Amen talks about how to improve your brain health and why what you eat affects the way you think.
Mindfulness is Pure Awareness
(Live Happy Now 2/7/2017)
Internationally renowned author, scientist and meditation teacher Jon Kabat-Zinn talks about the importance of meditation and how mindfulness can improve our health and boost our happiness.
Healthy Holidays with Tana Amen
(Live Happy Now 12/15/2016)
Best-selling author Tana Amen of the Amen Clinics explains how to keep your food choices healthy during the holidays - and why it matters to your brain.
Inspiring Children Through Music
(Live Happy Now 4/3/2017)
Children's recording artist Laurie Berkner provides insight into how music can help children learn, grow, and even let go of self-criticism.
The Sound of Food
(Live Happy Now 9/12/2016)
Audio branding expert Steve Keller explains how different sounds affect the way we taste food - and what that could mean for the future.
Lifestyle
Living Lagom
(CORT Furniture Rental blog 9/20/2017)
It's the latest trend from Scandinavia, and it's all about doing well with less. This story looks at what "lagom" is all about -- and how to implement it in your own life.
8 Quirky and Creative Ideas for Your Headboard
(CORT Furniture Rental 9/20/2017)
Tired of the same old look? Here are some off-the-wall ideas for customizing the look and feel of your bedroom.
Business
Dream Jobs
(Forbes.com 3/12/2014)
When Mary and Tony Miller created the Dream Manager Program, they not only boosted their bottom line, but they improved the lives of their employees.
Metrics and Milestones: Why Your Business Needs Them
(Dealstruck 3/24/2016)
Mapping out a clear-cut plan of your goals and milestones is the best way to reach them.
Is Design Thinking Missing in Your Corporate DNA?
(Insignium Quarterly 3/16/2015)
Design thinking, which began as a way for product designers to tackle problems with creative solutions, now has become a methodology that's applicable to business strategies.
How Secure is Your Business?
(Dealstruck 9/22/2016)
The same technology that has been valuable for helping businesses expand their reach also has made those businesses more vulnerable. This story looks at how small businesses can secure mobile devices.
Wise Up: You Need a Website!
(Dealstruck 7/14/2016)
According to one recent survey, nearly half of all small businesses do not have a website. Here's a look at why every business needs a website - and tips on how to stand out online.