http://www.marconews.com/staff/katy-torralbas/■ Find me on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/NDNKatyBishop" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a href="http://www.twitter.com/ndn_kbishop" target="_blank">Twitter</a> and <a href="http://www.linkedin.com/myprofile?trk=hb_side_pro" target="_blank">Linked In</a>. <br> <br> When I was about five, I started making construction paper books and writing stories starring the family pets. Maybe I should have realized then that writing was the career for me, but it took me years to figure it out. <br> <br> I grew up in a small, upstate New York town called <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?q=feura+bush,+ny&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&ie=UTF8&split=0&gl=us&ei=SKFcSu3BNovyNNqxhZIH&z=13&iwloc=A" target="_blank">Feura Bush</a> and after high school spent four years studying English, history, Spanish and Latin America studies at <a href="http://www.cornell.edu" target="_blank">Cornell University</a> in Ithaca, NY. I swam in the <a href="http://www.visitithaca.com" target="_blank">gorges</a>, stressed about classes and pulled all-nighters in the library like all other the students, but I also spent thousands of hours at the downtown office of <a href="http://cornellsun.com/" target="_blank">The Cornell Daily Sun</a>, the independent student newspaper. <br> <br> As much as I loved my home state, I was ready for a change when I graduated. I wanted to live in a warmer place by the ocean where I could put my years of learning to speak Spanish to work. I started at the Daily News as a small business reporter, writing about main street issues, restaurants and retail businesses. Now, I'm a features reporter for the Neapolitan and Showcase sections. I love telling untold stories and writing about dramatic, unique or quirky people and events. If you have an idea for a story please, let me know. <br> <br><a href="http://www.naplesnews.com/news/lifestyle/">SEE WHAT OUR FEATURES STAFF HAS BEEN WORKING ON </a> <br> <br> <strong>■ Stories I'm most proud of:</strong> <br> <br> <a href="http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2008/Jul/12/8-graves-occupy-anonymous-plot-busy-naples-street-/ " target="_blank">Forgotten, hidden, neglected: 8 graves occupy anonymous plot at busy Naples street corner</a> - Delving into this anonymous black graveyard at Goodlette-Frank and Pine Ridge Roads was fascinating - even though I never figured out who they were. <br> <br> <a href="http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2008/jun/07/adrift-no-more-young-cuban-artist-leaves-behind-ev/ " target="_blank">Adrift no more: A young Cuban artist leaves behind everything he knows to begin again</a> - This young man's immigration story moved me. <br> <br> <a href="http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2008/feb/23/evolution-equality-lifetime-support/" target="_blank">A lifetime of support: 'Mother Perry’ has battled segregation, fought for civil rights — and at 98 continues to inspire</a> - She was a midwife who delivered 514 babies in 25 years and an advocate for children whose life inspired many. I was lucky to get to know Mother Perry before she died in 2008. <br> <br> <a href="http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2007/mar/31/paying_price/" target="_blank">Paying the price Is Fifth Avenue South in jeopardy from its own success?</a> - As a small business and retail reporter, I learned a lot by digging into the reasons behind sky-high rents on Fifth Avenue South before the bubble burst.<br> <br> When I'm not working, I love to dance salsa, try new restaurants, discover new recipes, do yoga and spend time outside kayaking, beaching and enjoying the Florida sunshine. <br> <br> <strong>A few of my favorite things:</strong> <br> <br> <strong>■ Outdoor places I have (or want to) visit</strong> <br> <br> <a href="http://www.corkscrew.audubon.org/" target="_blank">Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary</a> - This swamp is one of the most beautiful places in Southwest Florida. I've seen herons, egrets, roseate spoonbills, a bear, alligators and the famous ghost orchid. <br> <br> <a href="http://visitadirondacks.com/" target="_blank">New York's Adirondack Mountains</a> - I grew up camping in the Adirondack mountains and they'll always hold a special place in my heart. <br> <br> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galapagos_Islands" target="_blank">Galápagos Islands</a> - This trip hasn't happened yet, but I hope to go in the not-so-distant future -- and write a story about it. <br> <br> <a href="http://www.iguazuargentina.com/espanol/" target="_blank">Waterfalls at Iguazú</a> - If you're going anywhere near this waterfall, GO SEE IT. It's breathtaking. <br> <br> <strong>■ Food sites</strong> <br> <br> <a href="http://smittenkitchen.com/" target="_blank">Smitten Kitchen</a> - This site will make you hungry. I guarantee it. <br> <br> <a href="http://bitten.blogs.nytimes.com/" target="_blank">Mark Bittman</a> - This NY Times food writer often inspires me to try new recipes. <br> <br> <strong>■ Writers and journalists</strong> <br> <br> <a href="http://www.tampabay.com/writers/lane-degregory" target="_blank">Lane DeGregory</a> - This St. Petersburg Times writer's stories always make me laugh and cry. If you missed her <a href="http://www.tampabay.com/specials/2008/reports/danielle/ " target="_blank">"Girl in the window"</a> story it's heart wrenching and beautiful. <br> <br> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marilynne_Robinson" target="_blank">Marilynne Robinson</a> - This woman's writing is luminous. I love it. I especially enjoyed her novel Gilead. <br> <br> <a href="http://www.tomwolfe.com/" target="_blank">Tom Wolfe</a> - One of my most memorable assignments was interviewing Tom Wolfe on the phone and then in person. He was friendly and open -- and yes, he did wear a white suit.en-ushttp://www.marconews.com/photos/2010/aug/24/242880/Craig Knierim, Lavigne Kirkpatrick's brother, stands outside campaigning for his older sister along Tue, 24 Aug 2010 17:01:00 -0000http://www.marconews.com/photos/2010/aug/24/242880/http://www.marconews.com/photos/2010/aug/24/242860/Crossroads Community Church at Pine Ridge Road and U.S. 41 North shortly before 10:30 a.m. today.Tue, 24 Aug 2010 14:33:00 -0000http://www.marconews.com/photos/2010/aug/24/242860/http://www.marconews.com/photos/2010/may/22/224852/Drag queen Gina Maserati held up a sign that read &#34;Wildlife vs. Wild Profit&#34; at a Key West wSun, 23 May 2010 00:05:13 -0000http://www.marconews.com/photos/2010/may/22/224852/http://www.marconews.com/photos/2010/may/22/224851/About 150 people filled Old City Hall on Greene Street for a Key West city commission workshop on SaSun, 23 May 2010 00:05:12 -0000http://www.marconews.com/photos/2010/may/22/224851/http://www.marconews.com/photos/2009/dec/21/140479/Guava bars are sweet sugar and oats layered with guava fruit preserve. You can find the guava in tinMon, 21 Dec 2009 16:20:14 -0000http://www.marconews.com/photos/2009/dec/21/140479/http://www.marconews.com/photos/2009/dec/20/140408/Guava bars are sweet sugar and oats layered with guava fruit preserve. You can find the guava in tinSun, 20 Dec 2009 15:15:09 -0000http://www.marconews.com/photos/2009/dec/20/140408/http://www.marconews.com/photos/2009/dec/12/139284/Scotch shortbread cookies made the list for the Daily News' Christmas Cookie Countdown. They're simpSat, 12 Dec 2009 05:15:16 -0000http://www.marconews.com/photos/2009/dec/12/139284/http://www.marconews.com/photos/2009/dec/11/139153/Guava bars are sweet sugar and oats layered with guava fruit preserve. You can find the guava in tinFri, 11 Dec 2009 17:30:20 -0000http://www.marconews.com/photos/2009/dec/11/139153/http://www.marconews.com/photos/2009/dec/08/138659/Classic Tomato Soup recipe from Colorado food blogger Jennifer Yu and her Web site www.userealbutterWed, 09 Dec 2009 00:15:19 -0000http://www.marconews.com/photos/2009/dec/08/138659/http://www.marconews.com/photos/2009/oct/31/128141/Address: 3351 Bolero Way, Naples, 34105 What happened: 24-year-old Edward Lee Starcher is accused ofSat, 31 Oct 2009 21:00:22 -0000http://www.marconews.com/photos/2009/oct/31/128141/