Tuesday: Please check out my latest pending story needs (and here's what I'm watching this week!)

Happy Tuesday!

After a long weekend, it’s always a bit hard to get back into the normal routine of the work week — but it helps to have a lot of fun plans in store.

I am attending a wine dinner tonight I’m really excited about, later this week I have dinner plans with great friends I haven’t seen in a while, and there’s tons of TV to look forward to this week. The Bear comes back this week, as does And Just Like That! (More on that in the pending assignments section…)

And…the first episode of the new season of Outlander came out a few days ago! I watched and I have lots of feelings — I don’t want to spoil anyone, but email me if you want to chat!

But lets segue to work stuff for a bit…

Open query: I have an ongoing need for really fun and interesting cocktail/food trends, fun unique TikTok/Instagram cocktail/spirit related trends, or really unique cocktail/food concoctions to consider for coverage, or inventive food/cocktail themed hotel/travel experiences, from really unique room service experiences/mini bar options to food/wine/cocktail themed stays at properties or tours or destinations - recent examples would be the dirty martini pasta, the everything bagel spice martini, the martini-themed hotel suite, and many others — if you have a client doing anything that may be a fit, please email me!

Newly published or freshly updated

Since people are often asking about the status of stories from a while ago, and I only share stories in this newsletter that were published or updated in the current week, I have created a list of my author pages at various publications to which I contribute. Bookmark it and make your life a bit easier.

This list will live on my Substack URL and be updated as necessary. That way, you can see what I’m doing at any publication, at any time, from types of stories to general structure of stories to even volume and frequency of my content at that outlet.

This can also help you to target pitching a bit better. That makes your job easier, and mine too!

PS: I love doing podcasts! Check out my guest appearance on the Italian Wine Podcast this week, where we discussed all things Substack. Other recent podcast appearances include the Pitchin’ and Sippin’ podcast with the incredible (and super fun!) Lexie Smith, where we chatted about everything from press dinners and events and trips to, well, sippin’! I’ve recorded a few others that should be live soon as well and I’m always open to doing more — email me at alywalansky@gmail.com.

• Forbes.com: 20 Perfect Cocktails To Enjoy This Independence Day

• Pawp.com: Is Your Dog Afraid Of Fireworks? 8 Tips To Calm Your Anxious Dog

• Parade.com: Caterers Say These Are the 8 Craziest Wedding Food Trends They’re Seeing This Summer—Are They on Your List?

• Southern Living: What Are White Peaches?

• Clean Plates: 22 Trader Joe’s Foods That Help You Destress, Say Nutritionists

• RetailMeNot: Stores Open Fourth of July + Fourth of July Store Hours

• Food Network: I Tried TikTok’s Dirty Martini Pasta – And It Belongs in Your Weeknight Pasta Rotation

• Food Network: This Distillery Is So Proud of Their Gin, They Found a Way To Wear It

  If you or your client are featured in any of these stories, I super appreciate any social media shares! Please remember to tag @alywalansky and the outlet.

Here’s what I’m working on:

Be sure to read the below list carefully. Many are stories I posted about yesterday, but some of yesterday's stories are no longer listed and a few new ones have been added since yesterday. This (below) is everything that is still a currently open opportunity as of today.

Please remember when pitching me: Email me at alywalansky@gmail.com - do NOT just hit reply on this newsletter, or there’s a good shot your email will be lost in the heap. Give your email a subject line that makes it clear which story you are pitching me for — it’ll help you in the long run.

Please consult my industry insights guides on submitting expert commentary, sending emails that will catch a journalist’s attention, how to craft pitches journalists will say ‘yes’ to, and the right and wrong way to submit photos, if you need any extra guidance before sending your pitches.

Forbes.com

And Just Like That… is returning soon and that means a lot of people will be drinking a lot of nostalgic cosmos. I’m looking for creative variations on the cosmo that even Carrie Bradshaw would approve of. If you have something available at your bar or restaurant - be it a cocktail, even a dessert, or even a cosmo-themed appetizer, I’m into it - please pitch me with the following info — where it’s available, what it is, a description, a quote about it and an image with appropriate credit info. The more unique and fun, the better! Thanks!

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Affiliate marketing is complicated, and it seems that the landscape keeps changing. If you are looking to be prepared for gift guide season and all other shopping-related content, you may want to try the Ultimate Masterclass and Introduction to Affiliate Marketing for Publicists. It's a brilliant course and it'll answer all your questions (including some you didn't know you had!)

Virtual (and now in-person!) consulting sessions...

Looking for a consult as you plan your next event or trip? Or just want someone to take a look at the pitches you’ve been sending and give some feedback?

I've been popping into a lot of PR team virtual meetings and some other fun stuff and making myself available to answer all sorts of questions about pitching, events, and trips from a media perspective.  I like to keep these things chill and comfortable and relaxed all by sharing perspective and learning from one another. Note: I’m also available to travel for consulting sessions as long as travel expenses are covered. We can chat!

If you are interested in setting anything up for your own team in the coming months, please email me and we'll get something on the books! This is available for entire agencies or smaller group lunch and learn type concepts. If you are a freelance publicist and want to join in with a few other freelance publicist friends and set something up, we can do that as well!

Have a great day!

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