Our Writers
Travelin’ Local means many different things to our diverse readers. Each and every category and story that we cover has a core audience. As we evolve, our coverage will expand as well, to give succor for those that have interests that are entrenched in absorbing, and celebrating Los Angeles and Southern California’s vast multi-faceted urban landscape. That’s the heart of our core mission. Nothing further needs to be said—merely written about.
To that end, Travelin’ Local has several authors who each have their own unique approach to the subject of their passion. Let me introduce them to you:
Tom Jones is our “mystery writer,” who desires his anonymity. His writing and critical reviews are based on his literary education, art dealings, and professional acumen. His sharp wit and keen observations add that extra “it” factor that’s rare to find, and is integral to the success and professionalism for Travelin’ Local.
Lindsay Pullin is a recent graduate of the College of Creative Studies at UCSB, with a degree in Literature. She was born in Santa Monica, and grew up in Long Beach and Orange County. Lindsay spent the past 4 months backpacking in South East Asia, and is now enjoying being back home in California. She was an assistant editor of the literary journal Spectrum, and a section editor of the La Cumbre Yearbook at UCSB. Lindsay is now Travelin’ Local’s Intern writer, covering the Los Angeles night life, band and music scene, and everything cool that’s part of the Los Angeles and Southern California lifestyle.
Tim Ajioka is a native Californian, born and raised in Fullerton CA. He’s a true North Orange County resident for his entire life, and earned his B.S. degree in Journalism from Cal State University Fullerton. Currently, He’s a freelancer for such diverse publications as the Orange Coast Magazine, Skratch Magazine, BAM Magazine, & Mean Street Magazine. His passion for Southern California culture, its diverse people, our myriad of places, music, art, food, and everything else that goes along with it is one big amusement park for Tim and his passion in his writing is testament to this fact. Tim is not one dimensional—he’s active in the O.C./L.A. hip-hop scene. He started out in the late 80s playing bass in punk rock bands and subsequently is a producer and eventually went on to become a a hip-hop emcee/producer in 1995, producing his own 8-member crew, “The ‘Chise,’” since 2002. The ‘Chise,’ opened up for E40 last month at the Grove in Anaheim, Method man in H.B. (two months ago), and The Game/Nipsey Hussle (last year at The Grove). Obviously, this man’s got it going on. And we’re lucky to have him as a contributor, because at this pace, we hope he’ll remember our names. Tim has rocked the Knitting Factory, The Roxy, The Whiskey, The Key Club, and many other L.A. venues. Currently, he’s involved with producing such hip-hop names including Studious Knowledge (S.K.1) and has produced tracks for artists including The Game, Freck Billionaire, and Cadillac Kaz along with his own crew. We’re honored and fortunate to have a genuine character, and good guy now on staff, and he’s no doubt on his way to stardom. In the meantime, he’s quickly and unabashedly, embraced us with his take on who we are: “Travelin’ Local is my forte because I never plan to leave Southern California. I’ll probably end up dying here and still not have seen all that the Southland has to offer.”
Sarah Roullard recently graduated from UC, Irvine with dual degrees in Sociology and International Studies. She enjoys discovering fun happenings in Orange County, exploring local businesses, and maintaining her blog, "Broke in the OC".
Based in Southern California, Sandy Schroeder has 12 years editorial experience in Healthcare. She’s also been an advertising copywriter, community news reporter and editor of collector auto publications. She enjoys researching autos, touring the back-roads of California! Recently, she began writing motivational health and well being articles online with an emphasis on stress management, meditation, exercise and life attitudes. She has a Bachelors of Arts in journalism and a Masters of Arts in communications from Bradley University, Peoria, Illinois.
Sean Belk is a Long Beach, CA native and community journalist with a passion for the environment, science, and the “green” economy. He maintains his own news blog “Eye On Ecology” at www.eyeonecology.net. Other publications he has written for include: the Long Beach Press-Telegram, the Seal Beach Sun Newspaper and the Long Beach Beachcomber Newspaper. Sean graduated from from Cal State University, Fullerton, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications.
Kristi Rimkus is the publisher of the Mother Rimmy’s Cooking Light Done Right blog. Currently she’s studying to complete her wellness and nutrition degree. She decided that many cooking blogs lacked the calorie, nutrition, and other information that people need to lead a more healthy lifestyle. Kristi’s recipes and blogs are part of the passion she embodies–both in her light cooking recipes, and to serve as an inspiration for others to improve their health.
Susana Fare hails from the heart of Silicon Valley in San Jose, CA. She’s been a vegetarian for more than twenty years, and is now Travelin’ Local’s new all-Vegetarian contributing writer for our food and recipe section. Susana is passionate in her lifestyle and cooking. Whether it’s cooking healthy meals for her family, friends, and others, she takes the time and effort to share her Vegetarian Mediterranean-style based diet, recipes, and delicious meals that she inherited from her ancestors, at her blog, Spanish Steps.
Rick Ray has contributed content to various skateboard websites, most notably news and interviews of amateur/professional team riders for Sugar Skateboards. He’s studied under Los Angeles based renowned author of poetry, short stories and novels, Jim Krusoe – also a creative writing professor and founding editor of the Santa Monica Review. Rick was awarded 1st place honors for his short story “Vargas” in the 2008 LACC Annual Writing Competition. Rick presents for us here at Travelin’ Local film reviews and alternative – traditional sports coverage.
Carbon McCoy is a car-obsessed maniac who will go anywhere and do anything in an attempt to quench his insatiable thirst for fast cars and fast motorcycles. Carbon’s life-long pursuit of the ultimate car adventure has resulted in a diverse resume of experience and relationships. Currently, Carbon authors The Berlinetta Letter, a monthly online Ferrari newsletter for BerlinettaMotorcars.com. His writing style is unique, funny, and dead-on real world accurate.
