J o e  R a d a
writer & editor



Birmingham, AL       
205-914-3758        joe@joerada.com

 
A few excerpts...

Islands, those natural metaphors for isolation, tickle the imagination like a sea breeze on the back of your neck.
from my story about
the South's best secret islands


The first time I saw Myrtle Beach, I tried to eat it. Parked at the high tide line in my two-tone convertible, a  '58 stroller, I licked at plastic shovelfuls of sand.
from my story about
revisiting a childhood beach


In the beginning, mankind could fly no better than bricks.

from my story about
a hang gliding pioneer

Skiers pile up in tangles
of gear as alien to them
as socket wrenches to salamanders.

from my story about
a ski school for beginners





I am a versatile journalist with a knack for getting just the right quotes to capture the essence of a story.

Whether I'm profiling artists, entrepreneurs, chefs, or community leaders, exploring destinations, taking part in outdoor adventures, digging up news stories, or editing others' writing, I bring a creative energy to any project.

A former baker, street musician, ship painter, cannery worker, delivery driver, and newspaper reporter, I use that rich diversity of experiences to connect with all kinds of people and develop compelling, informative, memorable stories.
During 21 years on staff at Southern Living I wrote extensively for the magazine's Travel and Feature sections.

Casting anchor on North Carolina's Outer Banks

Born to travel

I began hitchhiking around as a teenager toting a guitar
and a notebook and soon had explored all 50 United States,
Canada, and a dozen European countries. Since then curiosity
and assignments have led me to adventures in Costa Rica,
Belize, the Caymans, the Virgin Islands, the Bahamas, Puerto Rico,
all across the American South, and elsewhere.


BakeryBoyBlog

As Bakery Boy I blog about life, baked goods, and bakeries. I was raised in a bakery, worked in several, have visited hundreds, and share my finds with like-minded bakery fans. See BakeryBoyBlog.




SKILLS
writing, editing, 
interviewing


INTERESTS
canoeing, hiking,
baking, traveling,
motorcycles, music

PREVIOUS WORK
baker
street musician
newspaper reporter

radio technician

ship painter
lifeguard
land surveyor
delivery driver

cannery worker

SERVICES
editing manuscripts,
business reports,
books, magazines,
newsletters, etc.
for grammar,
style and content