Welcome! This site does two things, it’s my entrepreneurial resume and a place to post random articles I write for the sake and pleasure of writing. With a career path comprised predominantly of publishing initiatives and other projects, I wanted to create somewhere I could record my forays. This is more of a personal reminder than for any promotional potential. The journey of life can dull one’s memory.
Writing has long been an intermittent hobby and habit. From youthful journalling, letter and postcard updates from many trips abroad during the predigital era and then self-inflicted commissions for the books, magazines and deck of cards publications I’ve printed over the years. These essays are a result of a near-daily practice of writing 750 words.
You’ll also find links to my social media accounts, the most active, personal and relevant ones. Plus links to a few other key places such as my Airbnb apartment in the centre of Melbourne where this photo was taken. Melbourne Central City Warehouse Apartment is a pretty magical space in the absolute centre of the city. The light, the soaring ceilings, the silence and convenience calms and soothes. Ethan Hawke knows what I mean, he lived here in the fictional 1970s of New York City in the Melbourne-made move Predestination.
Matt and Vanessa of Rooftop Honey keep hives on the roof. These happy bees have the luxury of more than half a dozen parks within 1500 metres to choose from each day they head out to work. Guests have a similar level of choice with some of Melbourne’s favourite under your nose to the left and right of the laneway in the form of Tipo 00 and Brother Baba Budan.
As a publisher and content creator of city guides Michelle has spent nearly 20 years observing, researching and identifying innovative, independent retailers, restaurateurs and bar owners across number publications and platforms.
Commencing with Shopping Secrets books for Sydney and Melbourne, then a street press title called A7 for city workers and residents discovering that Melbourne’s CBD was no longer the dead heart with life flowing out as city workers returned home to the suburbs. Followed by the best-selling Bar Secrets guides revealing the newly emerging laneway bar culture. Bar Secrets grew into Deck of Secrets a publishing brand that released titles for bars around the world including London, Dublin, Edinburgh, Barcelona, Ibiza, Hong Kong (bilingual), Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane. There was also a CD concept, Secret Sounds, incorporating bar-friendly tunes and a guide to the best bars across Australia.
Her current brand, Luckie Guides, adapts the Deck of Secrets concept and incorporates the wisdom of curators sourced locally to better capture the increasing complexity and sophistication of the hospitality industry.
She’s won numerous business, tourism and design awards.
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