Hello there! I’m Katie, a journalist and Scottish islander based in New York City, and the writer behind Stories my Suitcase Could Tell.
Here on the blog you’ll find immersive storytelling that inspires you to explore the world – whether that’s the next town, or another continent.
My hope is that these stories will make you feel as if you’re coming along with me on my adventures, while also giving you the practical details you need to make the trips a reality yourself.
Since visiting Turkey on a family holiday at the age of 12, I’ve travelled to 22 countries across four continents (and lived in three of them). But I believe there are all sorts of ways to explore the world. You can explore the world with a one-way ticket to China (as I did in 2010!), or spend a long weekend in the town next door. You can experience the world through the pages of a book, or the flavours on the table at a restaurant in your own neighbourhood.
Because of that, on Stories My Suitcase Could Tell you’ll find blog posts on everything from travel tips for various destinations and recommendations of where to eat, to expat confessions and personal travel stories. You’ll also see a lot about the Outer Hebrides, where I grew up (the islands are my favourite place in the world), as well as the USA, where I’m based.
Whether my suitcase is packed and on the road or in storage at home, I’m always writing. I began blogging while living in China, with my expat blog Tianjin Tales, and enjoyed the experience so much that I started Stories My Suitcase Could Tell at my parents’ kitchen table in Scotland when I returned in 2011.
Since then, this blog has won multiple awards, and been featured in the likes of Cosmopolitan, National Geographic Traveller, and AFAR. (You can check out the press page for more details.) I’ve also been a journalist for nearly 19 years, and my writing has been published in places like AFAR and BBC Travel, as well as local and regional publications in Scotland.
I’m not a full-time blogger, though: since 2018 I’ve spent my 9-5 working in book publishing, and my early mornings writing (which means I know first-hand what it’s like to have to maximise your travel time around limited days off!).
When I’m not travelling and making the most of those holidays, you’ll find me at home getting lost in a good book, trying out new restaurants with my husband, or taking our mischievous puppy, Winston, for a walk.
No matter your travel style, whether you have a weekend to spare or three months to explore, I hope you’ll find a story or two here to inspire you.
Looking for a particular destination? Here’s where I’ve been…
22 countries: The Bahamas, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, The Netherlands (including Aruba), Poland, Portugal, Spain, Taiwan, Turkey, the UK (Scotland, England, and Wales), the USA, and The Vatican.
23 U.S. States: Arizona, California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maine, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Nevada, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin (plus Washington, D.C. and the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico).