Carmen Shirkey

Carmen Shirkey Collins is a multi-award-winning social media marketing professional who got her start as a copywriter. As a trained journalist, Carmen considers herself a storyteller more than anything else, and enjoys helping others transport themselves into someone else's experience through a good narrative.

She was raised in Staunton, Virginia, and grew up knowing that she was destined to be a Wahoo at the University of Virginia - where she studied Communication and History. She honed her writing skills as a sports editor for one of the two school newspapers. After graduating, she continued her creative pursuits as a writer, editor and marketer.

Carmen once opened a fortune cookie that said, "You will step on the soil of many countries." Her love of travel made that an easy life goal, and to date has been able to add over 25 countries to her passport.

She found true partnership and soul connection with her now-husband, Jim, who is her adventure partner and biggest fan. Together they've lived in North Carolina, Florida, and now back "home" in Virginia's capital city of Richmond with their cat - an orange tabby named Zucca (Pronounced Zoo-ka, which means "pumpkin" in Italian, inspired by their Sorrento honeymoon.) Together they dream of a European retirement full of train travel and good food - and documenting more stories.