Hats off to a talent so professionally accomplished at both the writing and the picture taking. Does she ever get confused as to which role she’s playing at which moment? "I’m not vain," Karen says, "but I have to check the mirror often to remind myself which hat I’m wearing. Actually, if I’m wearing a hat—a Norman Love or Rosemary Beach or Apple baseball cap—I’m in my photography mode. It usually means I’m also wearing my beloved, ragged Dan Bailey’s Fly Fishing School vest. Otherwise, I’m in my journalistic mode. If it’s three o’clock in the afternoon, and I’m still in my pajamas, I’m in my favorite place—The Zone. I’m either editing my photos from the last shoot or—after eons of staring at a blank page—maniacally throwing words on a screen. In The Zone, there is no clock, no day or night … with only a coma-inducing supply of chocolate to fall back on." (You may recall her "Trial by Chocolate" story in our February issue—a true classic of dedicated indulgence.)

Next month in Gulfshore Life, you’ll find our multi-tasker writing stories on sensuous spa treatments and truly feel-good vacation getaways, and you can bet on seeing her travel photos as well. Talk about a contributing editor.

KELLIE REPORTS IN

We’re delighted to point you to our newest columnist, NBC-2 anchor Kellie Burns. Originally from upstate New York, she got her bachelor’s degree from State University of New York at Geneseo (majoring in communications and political science). You know her as an award-winning newsperson in Southwest Florida. It shouldn’t surprise us to learn that the award-winning and anchoring began at age nine, when she presided over Action News For Kids in New York. Her "Scene & Heard" commentary (p. 33) will bring you the people, places and action that make our community the thriving, never-boring place that we cherish. Count on being touched, enlightened, amused and more.