For those visiting my blog for the first time, don’t be alarmed. This isn’t a self edifying list of accomplishments. Far from it. I usually post these latest news blurbs and updates. After all, I am running a freelance business and need to show some return on investment.

September and October were unreal in terms of work and back-to-back travel that was quite strenuous on some level. So much so that by the time I got to the wonderful Travel Blogger Elevator conference in Genoa, Italy (dedicated blog post coming soon), my body physically shut down. And I was traveling with my 8-month old as well.

Rest assured, I’ll be penning a blog post on that awful experience that scared the crap out of me and why I don’t want to ever be, or strive to be superwoman.

[ Publications ]

CNN Go - Insider Guide: Best of Stockholm - Read Article

Expressen - Kultur Section – Pride Photography - View Article (In Swedish)

Fodor’s – Updated and fact-checked Sweden chapter – European Port of Calls, 3rd Edition

National Geographic Traveller - Photographs for Sicily feature - View Feature | Read Online (Print – UK)

National Geographic Online - Best Adventure photos – Sledding across Lake Skabram - View Online

Sweden.se - 10 Things to know about Sweden’s food culture - Read article

Sweden.se - 10 innovations you didn’t know were Swedish - Read Article

Sweden.se - 10 Swedish companies shaping the world - Read Article

The Local (Sweden) - Five things you didn’t know about Sweden’s diversity - View Article

Upcoming publications: National Geographic Traveller, BBC Travel/Lonely Planet, Lifestyle + Travel, Qatar Airways’ Oryx

[ Projects ]

- I recently returned from South Africa on assignment with National Geographic Channel as one of three Nat Geo photographers being filmed for a vignette called “Through the Lens” that will air in January 2013. Here is the official press release associated with the project.

- Finally ready to start my Sutro Media travel app covering Sweden.

[ Press & Interviews ]

Travel Writing 2.0 - An interview with Lola Akinmade-Åkerström - Read interview

National Mirror - Showing an Africa where there is joy - Read interview

Business Day - KwaZulu-Natal through Åkerström’s Lens - Read interview

South African Tourism - The world according to Lola - Read interview

And other mentions in Expedia (India) and Conde Nast Traveller (Italy).

[ Speaking Engagements ]

Was also in Genoa, Italy presenting two workshops at the fabulous Travel Blogger Elevator conference. Here are slides from the two workshops I ran:

• Finding your travel blog’s voice
• Developing lasting relationships with your local tourism board

Will be doing a summary blog post about the conference.

[ Awards ]

Super honored to be nominated in the “Best Travel Blog” category of the Nigerian Blog Awards. I probably won’t win because it requires voting and I’ve vowed never to put my family, friends, and social network through this again after my hotly contested and painful bid for the North Pole last year.