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.naplesnews.com/news/2011/aug/05/Katie-Schweikhardt-Harry-Chapin-Food-Bank-Lunchbox/New clients: Naples lawyer trades legal pleading for hungry feeding - PHOTOSSat, 06 Aug 2011 00:45:00 -0000http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2011/aug/05/Katie-Schweikhardt-Harry-Chapin-Food-Bank-Lunchbox/http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2011/jul/02/Ty-Edwards-cody-Bear-Veterans-Hospital-Afghanistan/Naples-trained service dog helps wounded Tampa Marine find independence - PHOTOS/VIDEOSat, 02 Jul 2011 16:30:00 -0000http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2011/jul/02/Ty-Edwards-cody-Bear-Veterans-Hospital-Afghanistan/http://www.marconews.com/news/2011/jun/23/get-growing-news-garden-community/Get Growing: news from the garden communityThu, 23 Jun 2011 19:37:00 -0000http://www.marconews.com/news/2011/jun/23/get-growing-news-garden-community/http://www.marconews.com/news/2011/jun/16/loving-hut-offers-something-different-vegan-cuisin/Loving Hut offers something different: Vegan cuisine, uncommon ingredientsThu, 16 Jun 2011 20:21:00 -0000http://www.marconews.com/news/2011/jun/16/loving-hut-offers-something-different-vegan-cuisin/http://www.marconews.com/news/2011/may/13/cafe-naples-fifth-ave-worth-stop-perhaps-not-trip/The Cafe on Naples' Fifth Ave. worth stop, but perhaps not tripFri, 13 May 2011 14:36:00 -0000http://www.marconews.com/news/2011/may/13/cafe-naples-fifth-ave-worth-stop-perhaps-not-trip/http://www.marconews.com/news/2011/may/12/get-growing-pesticide-training-plant-clinic-and-or/GET GROWING: Pesticide training, plant clinic and orchids Thu, 12 May 2011 16:02:00 -0000http://www.marconews.com/news/2011/may/12/get-growing-pesticide-training-plant-clinic-and-or/http://www.marconews.com/news/2011/apr/27/queen-tarts-lisa-mcdonnells-french-pastry-skills-h/Queen of tarts Lisa McDonnell’s French pastry skills honed on crusted cuisineWed, 27 Apr 2011 13:16:00 -0000http://www.marconews.com/news/2011/apr/27/queen-tarts-lisa-mcdonnells-french-pastry-skills-h/http://www.marconews.com/news/2011/apr/21/get-growing-plant-problems-and-clinics-diagnose-th/GET GROWING: plant problems and clinics to diagnose themThu, 21 Apr 2011 13:34:00 -0000http://www.marconews.com/news/2011/apr/21/get-growing-plant-problems-and-clinics-diagnose-th/http://www.marconews.com/news/2011/apr/14/dining-review-french-american-bistro-serves-both-h/Dining Review: French American Bistro serves up both hits and missesThu, 14 Apr 2011 17:09:00 -0000http://www.marconews.com/news/2011/apr/14/dining-review-french-american-bistro-serves-both-h/http://www.marconews.com/news/2011/apr/07/federal-government-shutdown-open-close-collier-lee/Parks to close if federal shutdown; most Collier, Lee services would continue PHOTOSFri, 08 Apr 2011 00:00:00 -0000http://www.marconews.com/news/2011/apr/07/federal-government-shutdown-open-close-collier-lee/