Heide Brandes is an award-winning journalist and editor with more than 20 years of published work. As an investigative reporter for numerous newspapers and for Reuters News Service, Heide now freelances fulltime for such publications as Gannett, National Geographic, BBC Travel, Roadtrippers, Sierra Magazine, ROVA, Travel Awaits, Cowboys & Indians and more. She also has bylines in such publications as OK Pets, National Geographic, BBC, Sierra Magazine, Cowboys & Indians, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, Hemispheres and others.

Heide serves as president of the Society for Professional Journalists Oklahoma Pro-Chapter and is a guest lecturer at regional universities and schools.

Her work can be seen at www.heidebrandes.com.

Besides freelancing fulltime, Heide is an avid traveler, medieval warrior, hiker, professional bellydancer and bellydance instructor and kind of a quirky chick who lives in Oklahoma City.

And she loves drinking beer!