Work with McKenzie

words per year

years in book marketing & publishing

happy indie authors, poets, small presses, & literary magazines

years of editing experience

happy hotels, restaurants, small businesses, & dream travel destinations

years in social media, product descriptions, & UGC

If you’re in a tourist destination like me, it’s never too late to do the work to help tourists find you and select your experience, whether you’re running a restaurant, a hotel, or other tourist hot spot.

I moved to Croatia during the pandemic in 2020 and have spent the almost five years since throwing myself into the culture here, learning all that I can, and taking chances. That quickly turned into opportunities to review restaurants, small businesses, and other locations, and I’m excited to formally offer this as part of what I do as a writer.

My latest restaurant visit got back to me a few weeks ago, thanking me for coming out, writing an article about them, and also sharing my experiences in my Instagram stories, because he had seen an obvious uptick in their number of visitors (some of which even mentioned they had heard about the restaurant online). I’m excited to be a part of more shifts like this and would love yours to be one of them.

Travel & Food Writer for Hotels, Restaurants, & Your Dream Destinations

In-Depth Review of Restaurants, Hotels, & Experiences

- - In-Depth Review Articles
  - Long-Form Personal Narrative with Links to Experience
  - Long-Form Guide to Restaurant Scene, Tourism Scene, Etc., with Emphasis on Your Location

Social/Short Form Coverage of Restaurants, Hotels, & Experiences

- - Series of Blog Posts
  - Series of Instagram Posts/Photos (Can Also Be Used for Facebook)
  - Instagram Stories Series
  - 1-5 one-minute TikTok videos

UGC-Style Photography for Social Media, Articles, and Website Usage

- - 3-5 photographs (the price increases for ongoing use instead of one-time usage rights)
  - Larger Photo Packs Available
  - Images Cropped for Preferred Platforms
  - Prices increase depending on photo usage

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I remember the very first time I watched Julie & Julia starring Meryl Streep & Amy Adams, I was so taken by Meryl’s portrayal of Julia Child’s excitement upon entering her Parisian home for the first time. She elegantly twirls her way through the space, ending up in a beautiful, classy, & just so Parisian bedroom with fluffy floral prints.

And then Julia happily flops down on her bed, only to discover that she’s much too tall for it, her feet dangling off the end of the bed.

After living in coastal Croatia for 3 years, I realize that living as an expat, mom of 3 bilingual kids, & freelance writer is a lot like sleeping with feet hanging off of the bed.

The situation is imperfect… but that bedroom is still stunning.

I’ve dealt with culture shock, bureaucracy, language learning troubles, food sensitivities, undiagnosed conditions, family estrangement, & staggering social anxiety… but I’ve lived on a beautiful coast, experienced healing springs & mudbaths, taken up hiking & bike trailing, & started a literary magazine, too. To use a cliché, there can’t be dark without light; there can’t be immersion without some cultural adjustment, & there can’t be beautiful beds without feet dangling off of them (well, maybe you’ve got me there).

– McKenzie Lynn Tozan, Mediterranean & Me on Substack

McKenzie and Cadence at Zadar's Sea Organ

food & travel

Mediterranean & Me

On Substack

A travel & food Substack following a Midwestern mom transplanted from the cornfields of Northern Indiana to the Adriatic Sea on the coast of Croatia. Stumbling through learning Croatian, enjoying European cuisine, trying her best to embrace her inner Julia Child/Stanley Tucci/Cheryl Strayed, unlearning & recreating herself, & loving every minute of it.

mediterranean & me - on substack