Wendy Hawkes is a prize-winning essayist whose writing explores resilience, reinvention, and life lived off the beaten path. Her personal essays have been recognized as a Second Place Winner in the Writer’s Digest 2023 Personal Essay Awards and named finalists in multiple other competitions. She’s been published in Business Insider and The Good Trade, and featured on the Writing Your Resilience podcast hosted by Lisa Cooper Ellison.
A former professional dancer, Wendy spent her early career touring the world across four continents. After giving up the stage at 25, she pivoted to the entertainment industry—working behind the scenes as a commercial production manager, associate producer for televised comedy specials, and copywriter for a children’s book app company. Throughout, she honed the storytelling and organizational chops that would carry her into her next act as a writer.
After Hurricane Dorian upended her life, Wendy and her British-born husband moved aboard a “floaty home” and cruised the Bahamas full-time for four years. Today, she writes about nomadic living, creative resilience, and slow travel from her ever-shifting home base. She’s a member of the National Association of Memoir Writers and the author of the Substack newsletter Moving Forward, where she shares essays and dispatches from the road.
