Commercial Writing
Commercial clients include:
Ghosts and Gravestones Boston: Script and Social Media Copywriting
Ghosts and Gravestones is a theatrical ghost tour that runs under the umbrella company of Historic Tours of America. There are Ghosts and Gravestones franchises in Boston, Key West, Savannah, and St. Augustine. Each city has a different style and itinerary for their ghost tour.
I worked at the Boston location from 2018-2021. The G&G Boston tour is the highest rated of the four franchises on TripAdvisor, and we credited this to our particularly unique creative approach. Each G&G Boston tour guide is a trained actor who auditions for the job in the same way one would audition for a theatrical production.
Once cast, the tour guide creates a “ghost” persona and leads the tour in-character, complete with their own makeup, costume, and backstory. G&G Boston employees have a large selection of Boston ghost stories to tell visitors, and only two of those stories are required to be in each guide’s tour. This means that each tour guide has a completely unique tour based on the stories that they want to tell the most– no two tours are the same, which adds to the our resale value. G&G Boston also has exclusive after-hours access to the most historic burial grounds in the city (The Granary, King’s Chapel, and Copp’s Hill), and each tour will visit two of these graveyards based on the route that has been scheduled for the evening.
Because I came to Ghosts and Gravestones with a background in writing and research, I ended up researching and writing new tour content, as well as social media posts. Click the links below to read selected samples of my tour scripts, my social media posts, and the monologue that I wrote to introduce my ghost character, “Violet Fox,” at the beginning of my tour.
Seaquest Stonecrest: Blog
Seaquest Stonecrest is a small aquarium/nature center that is about to re-open after a number of renovations and staffing changes. Lilianna Silva, the aquarium’s new Zoo Husbandry Director and Director of Education, asked me to write a blog post announcing the re-opening. She requested that the blog highlight several particular things: the aquarium’s story, the new leadership, and the renewed focus on community and animal welfare.
While this blog post has not yet gone live on Seaquest’s website, I have gotten permission to include it here in full.
Scales, fur, and feathers, and fun!
A new opportunity for immersive education is swimming its way to Stonecrest
It’s time to go on a new adventure, with no planes, trains, boats, or ITP traffic necessary— because Seaquest Stonecrest is back and better than ever. After closing to the public last June to renovate and upgrade our facilities, we are excited to finally re-open our doors!
Seaquest Stonecrest brings the coolest animals from the great outdoors within driving distance. You’ll be able to experience animals from all over the world in one terrific place! Our team of educators, scientists, and animal lovers are passionate about animal conservation and education. At the newly-reopened Seaquest Stonecrest, they’ll bring you face-to-face with toucans, lizards, snakes, and more! Whether it’s an immersive animal encounter, a science lab, or a special demonstration; there’s lots of educational fun to be had at Seaquest.
OUR REVAMPED PRIORITIES
But the facilities aren’t all that we’ve been working on— we refreshed our leadership to build a greater focus on animal welfare and our own community. Our champion keepers, aquarists, and guest service team members receive specialized and comprehensive education in keeping our animals happy and healthy, and to make your day at Seaquest Stonecrest the best it can be.
MEET OUR LEADERSHIP
We’re proud to introduce the amazing animal lovers who are bringing Seaquest Stonecrest to the next level.
Jonathan Hughes: General Manager and Director of Operations
Jonathan started at Seaquest as a guest, drawn in by his excitement for such a unique experience so close to his home. He immediately knew that he had to get involved, so he applied for an animal care position. However, his skills and background made him the perfect candidate for Assistant General Manager. Once the revamp began, Jonathan took on the role of General Manager.
“As General Manager and Director of Operations, my priorities here are two things: animals and people. We want to hold a high standard of care and education at our facility when it comes to the animals. We also want to show that same level of care towards our employees and the community.” -Jonathan Hughes
Lilianna M Silva: Zoo Husbandry Director and Director of Education
Lilianna began visiting and volunteering with nonprofits as a teenager and young adult, and it was through these experiences that she fell in love with animal science and wildlife conservation. She first came to Seaquest Stonecrest as a guest, but quickly joined the team and dedicated herself to changing minds about animals through community and immersion. As one of the new leaders at Seaquest Stonecrest, she’s honored to fulfill her life’s greater mission of inspiring humans to treat animals with empathy and curiosity— just like she does!
“Seaquest Stonecrest is all about care and creating a connection between our animals and the community! It's our mission to inspire our guests to hold wonder and compassion for the world’s wildlife, and we can't wait for the public to visit us and see what's changed!” -Lilianna Silva
Arin Plummer: Marine Husbandry Director
Arin was part of the original build out crew (she actually moved to Georgia to help build the aquarium!), but it wasn’t until she started getting her hands dirty that she knew she had a true home at Seaquest Stonecrest. By working hard, building relationships, and sharing her deep passion for marine biology; Arin was able to cement her place on the Seaquest Stonecrest team. When she was given the opportunity to have a larger role in bringing Seaquest Stonecrest back, she knew that she could lead with dedication and innovation.
"My main goal as a Black marine biologist is to inspire and educate the next generation. I want people to get in the tanks with me, learn new things, and fall in love with animals and water just like I did.” -Arin Plummer
COMMUNITY-DRIVEN FUN!
But our final superstar requires no special introduction: you! Our renewed focus on community means that you’ll be able to take an active part in our charge to conserve nature while having fun. We’re offering new S.T.E.A.M (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math)-driven learning opportunities for children, as well as providing educational outreach programs for schools and events. Teaching your class about reptiles and want them to see the real thing? We can bring Seaquest to your classroom so your students can learn from our team and animals without having to deal with the drama of a single permission slip. But if you want true immersion, don’t hesitate to come join us on-site for a field trip! Or a birthday party! We love our animals, and we want our community to be able to join in on the fun.
ARE YOU READY TO MAKE A SPLASH?
Our animals and staff are so excited to dive into this new chapter together, and we’re even more excited to bring our community along for the ride. After all, conservation requires passion from all of us, and we can’t wait for you to join us for such an important mission.
bibi + ni: Bios
Naomi Spector, who is one half of the herbal care and birthkeeping duo bibi + ni, approached me to rewrite the bios for both her and her partner Sarah. The original bios were a little too vague and lacked their unique qualifications.
Naomi specifically wanted these new bios to highlight both of their educational and teaching backgrounds, as well as promote their books.
Revised Bios:
NAOMI SPECTOR
Naomi is an ethnoherbalist, plant historian, and educator whose practice draws on Sefardi, Ashkenazi, and Mediterranean plant traditions. She provides holistic plant-based care (physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual) to those seeking root cause changes in their lifestyle, with a focus on ancestral plant medicine. She is the author of two books, 50 Illustrated Jewish Sayings and The Jewish Book of Flowers.
Naomi is also an accomplished and deeply passionate educator, and has led courses and workshops through both bibi and ni and partnerships with other organizations including various synagogues. Topics have included introductory Jewish herbalism, Sefardi herbalism, Jewish amulets, infused oils, honey elixirs, and Jewish flowers. Naomi is the Caucus Educator for Kavod’s JOCISM (Jews of Color, Indigenous, Sefardi, Mizrahi) caucus, where she organizes events to serve her community and partners with Jews of Color/Sefardi/Mizrahi/Indigenous Jews across the greater Boston area on different projects and events. She holds a Masters of Arts in Education from Tufts University.
She is one of the co-creators of the Jewish Herbalists Network, an affinity group within the Jewish Farmer Network, and was the keynote speaker at LimmudFest Atlanta 2023. Some of her favorite plants include garlic, pomegranate, chamomile, mulberry, and cedar.
SARAH SERRANO
Sarah is a birthkeeper, urban farmer, ethnoherbalist, and educator. Her practice draws on Indigenous and Afrodiasporic plant medicine and history, as well as birthkeeping traditions from Turtle Island. She focuses on Taíno, Kalínago, African-American, and Caribbean folk remedies and birthing ceremonies. Her book, Ahiyakawo Ke (Land, Speak to Us): Taíno and Kalínago Herbalism, explores the botanical wisdom and ancestral plant traditions of the Taíno and Kalínago peoples.
Sarah holds a Masters of Arts in Education from Tufts University and is a certified fertility and postpartum doula by the National Black Doula Association, certified Childbirth Educator and Placenta Encapsulation Specialist by BEST Doula, and Nneka Hall certified PAIL Advocate (Pregnancy and Infant Loss). She has also completed end-of-life care for doulas and green burial coursework with ReDesigning the End.
She has five years of experience in urban farming and garden education as well as one-on-one and group birthkeeping care, with a specialty in teenage and young adult pregnancies, poor and working class pregnancies, womb wellness, postpartum care, and nutrition. She has also created blogs and graphics for the BIPOC-women led startup BirthX (a developing app for prenatal, birthing, postpartum, and pediatric healthcare reviews from BIPOC women). Currently, she is the nutritionist for the YMCA of Greater Boston and provides wellness classes to folks of all ages. Some of Sarah’s favorite plants include sunflowers, okra, cashew, cassava, and tobacco.