BEHIND THE STORIES Gail Veley
Gail Veley has one particular mentor to thank for influencing the way she writes today. His name is Bob Jackson, who, back in the early 90’s, was the editor of a tabloid type promotional “newspaper” she regularly wrote for. However, during one particular meeting they had, he greatly stressed the importance of not only painting a picture, but also infusing smooth and easy to follow transitions from one sentence or paragraph to the next. Transitions may have been her shortcoming then, while she was in her early 20’s, but now at age 55, Veley feels as though it has become one of her strengths as a writer. She took Jackson’s advice to heart, and never writes one article without seeing his face or hearing those words. Today she regularly writes magazine articles for 13 state deer farming associations and gives horseback riding lessons, which is her other lifelong passion. She has also written a book entitled “My Top Ten Favorite Horse Stories — and the lessons learned”. It is available on Amazon or the Kindle bookstore.
Rachel Fixsen
After growing up on the east coast and earning degrees in English and Art from the University of Maryland, Rachel moved to Utah in 2010 and fell in love with the deserts, mountains, rivers and canyons. She has worked as a wildland firefighter, a park ranger, a field research technician, and a builder. She now lives in Moab, where she writes for the Moab Sun News and the Moab Area Real Estate Magazine. She loves rock climbing, hiking, trail running, and summiting mountains. She also enjoys learning more about Utah’s history and culture, and how we are all adapting to a changing world.
Heather L. King
Heather is a food and beverage writer and anonymous restaurant critic for a variety of publications in Utah. She’s happy to have reported on Utah’s changing food landscape for more than 20 years. When not dining out, you’ll often find her at local farmers markets shopping for fresh produce and meeting local vendors. During the pandemic lockdown, she spent her time perfecting gin cocktails — often using locally produced spirits and garnishes. She shares her love of great food with her husband and two Great Danes. Her passion for traveling is fueled by experiencing the food cultures of other countries and regions. She owns SLCLunches.com, and you’ll find her sharing her favorite dishes @slclunches.
6 | utahstories.com
