MDH: The business of luxury is always changing. What
are your thoughts on this? What do you enjoy about
it? Where do you see it going?
LA: I think the business of luxury is going to grow more rapidly
than ever. Regardless of the state of the economy, there will
always be people who want the best of everything and can
afford to buy it.
MDH: If you were stranded on an island, name one
person and three items you would bring.
LA: My daughter would be the companion I'd choose. I'd bring
the biggest notebook I could find, a handful of pens/pencils and
a water purifier.
Lillian Africano
MDH: What is your writing process?
LA: I just sit at the computer and start writing. Many years ago,
I would labor mentally over every single sentence before I
started typing. Then I attended a workshop where the speaker
said there was nothing worse than a blank screen. Just get it
down any old way, he said, and you can polish it up later. So
that's how I work.
MDH: When you get the chance to pick your travel
destination, where do you go?
LA: Italy -- anywhere, but Tuscany is a favorite -- and France.
MDH: If you could be anyone else, who would it be?
LA: That's a scary question because I can't imagine living in
someone else's skin.
MDH: What motivates you to be a luxury journalist?
LA: I love luxury travel. Who wouldn't? I love writing about
luxury hotels, luxury cruises and fabulous restaurants.
MDH: What is one of your favorite experiences while
traveling?
LA: A few years ago, I traveled to Florence and Rome, tasting
(and writing about) good food everywhere I went -mouthwatering cheeses, delectable gelato and wonderful
examples of Slow Food. (I also met the leaders of Italy's Slow
Food movement.) That was one of my more memorable
experiences.
MDH: Do you have a favorite dish or chef?
LA: I have eaten a lot of truly sublime food. Thomas Keller is
my favorite chef. But when I'm at home, my favorite dish is a
really good pizza.
MDH: How do you enjoy spending your free time?
Hobbies?
LA: In the summer, I head for the beach after work. My hobby,
if you can call it that, is writing for my own pleasure instead of
for work.
MDH: If we came to your hometown in New Jersey,
what would we do? Tell us about your favorite places.
LA: If you came to the area where I live now -- the Jersey Shore
-- you would definitely go to the beach. After a day of sun and
sand, you'd head out for some good Jersey Shore food, either
seafood at Ollie Klein's in Belmar or my favorite pizza at
Federici's in Freehold (Bruce's favorite, too). And if you felt like
playing for a couple of hours, there's always the boardwalk in
Asbury Park.
MDH: What are three necessities you won't travel
without?
LA: My netbook, my medicine baggie and my iPhone.
MDH: What does Luxe Beat Magazine mean to you?
LA: I think Luxe Beat is a wonderful showcase for good writing.
Thank you Lillian. You can learn more about Lillian at
http://www.lillianafricano.com. I encourage you to
check it out, as it showcases her blog, articles,
columns, sites, magazines and a wealth of other
information.