Publisher Nicole Miale is excited to announce that the Natural Awakenings Greater Hartford and Fairfield County/Housatonic Valley editions have welcomed a new managing editor as Patricia Staino joins to take a leadership role on the editorial and digital teams.

    Staino has worked as a writer and editor for more than 20 years, covering a variety of industries and topics, including: telecom, electronics, the new world of work, the human side of technology, food, travel, real estate, caregiving, and of course, holistic wellness.

After two decades working for marketing, publishing, public relations and consulting firms, she made the decision to spend more time researching, writing and editing stories about topics she truly loves, and established her own freelance writing firm, Best.Last.Word. One of the first projects she chose to take on was the editorial content of Natural Awakenings, in the process reuniting with Miale, a longtime friend and colleague.

“As my business has grown over the past couple years, it
became apparent that developing a stronger team around me was key to more success,” Miale says. “I am thrilled at the synchronicity that made Patricia available at the exact time I was thinking I needed someone just like her. I am so happy to be working with her again after all these years!”

Staino, who grew up in the northeast but is now based in Raleigh, North Carolina, says she loves being a nonfiction writer because every time she sits down to research and write an article, she has the opportunity to learn about a new topic. “Not many professions offer that kind of perk,” she says. “I’m excited to be working with NA because every bit of copy I read or write will educate me on improving my own well-being, as well as that of our readers.”

Staino’s favorite yoga poses are Downward Facing Dog and Extended Triangle, but she admits to struggling with a wandering mind during meditation. After editing this month’s issue, she has vowed to eat more mushrooms, experience a sound bath and try ecstatic dancing.

“I’m looking forward to working with and meeting the local Natural Awakenings’ communities as we move forward,” she says. “My professional goal is to tell people’s untold stories, or at least tell well-loved stories in new ways. There are so many opportunities for all of us to do that together.”

 

If you have a story you’d like to tell in Natural Awakenings, contact Patricia Staino at [email protected] to discuss opportunities to contribute to or be covered in an upcoming local edition of the magazine.