BRENDA HAWKINS

Staff Writer - Collier Citizen

• Contact BRENDA via e-mail
• Call BRENDA at 239-403-6155

Brenda Hawkins has been a writer since she was first published in fourth grade. Naturally, she became editor of her high school paper and correspondent to her hometown newspaper in Ohio, but when she came to Florida, after graduating from Miami University, it was to teach high school English and radio/TV in Vero Beach.

Young and eager to see the world, Brenda landed on Florida’s not-yet-booming left coast where she began her journalism career in earnest, in 1978, as editor of Naples Now and See Naples magazines. Sometime later, she found herself working as a feature writer for the Naples Daily News, with a “beat” in Bonita Springs—way back when the civic association banquet was held at the bowling alley and long before US 41 had four lanes.

She went on to produce an international real estate newsletter, dabble in public relations, ghost-write a book and do some high-end telemarketing, as well as sell both radio and print advertising, before coming home to the Collier Citizen.

Brenda and her daughter, Kylie, a student at Florida Gulf Coast University, live in Golden Gate with Mandy, the indubitable dachshund, and Khaki, the calico cat.

Recent stories:

• Water: What you pay depends on where you live
  July 28, 2008
• A parade of history: Fourth of July celebrations explained
  June 29, 2008
• Your Food Review: Watermark Grill is a unique place
  June 22, 2008
• Summer heating up, but blankets on Winters’ mind
  June 18, 2008
• Dish the screen — put on the sunscreen
  June 15, 2008
• Your Food Review: Red Lobster’s tilapia is the best
  June 15, 2008
• Your DVD Review: Too many famous people in the world
  June 8, 2008
• Your Food Review: Cici’s has great pizza
  June 8, 2008
• Your DVD Review: "The Slow" is a great movie
  June 1, 2008
• Your Food Review: Couple impressed with Fifth Avenue restaurants
  May 18, 2008
• See full list of stories by BRENDA HAWKINS...