Meet Wanda Haynes

We recently connected with Wanda Haynes and have shared our conversation below.

Wanda, so excited to have you with us today. So much we can chat about, but one of the questions we are most interested in is how you have managed to keep your creativity alive.

I have always been creative and the smallest inanimate object can ignite my creativity.

I can tell a compelling story from a trip to the local market and invent characters to fill in the blanks.
Daydreaming allows my creative spirit to take flight into a world that I create.

My photography has become nationally published over the past three years.
When it comes to photography, I love absurdity and I blend objects that wouldn’t other wise collaborate.
Creativity is a thriving pulsating entity that has a lifetime commitment with me.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I am a wine educator, wine photographer, and wine columnist for several publications.
The Cincinnati Herald in Ohio, 55+ Lincoln Magazine in Nebraska, Montana Senior News in Montana, and The Idaho Journal in Idaho.
My columns are laced with wonderful information about wine, how to pair wine, and what to expect from the wine itself.
Last year I merged my weekly wine column to include fine dining restaurant reviews.
I see folks eating fast food in the front seat of their car on social media videos. I wanted to present a refined woman of color with a voice in the fine dining platform. The reviews are popular with restaurants and my readers.

As of 2018 I began a career as a slice of life columnist for Montana Senior News. The articles are packed with humor and a narrative that is rarely heard. I keep it real in the articles and offer personal growth for my readers.

As of January 2024 I have a collaboration with a high end wine distributor in New York. This allows me to sample more wines from around the globe and share the reviews with my readers.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

I am always looking to grow as a human being and develop more qualities that benefit my life and my world.

1. Learning how to write properly and communicate with my readers is key and taking the time to find the correct words is a pleasure.

2. There aren’t cheat sheets in developing a fine wine palette, it’s all about the adventure.

3. Story telling is about expressing the story in a way to take the readers breath away in the first couple of sentences.
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Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?

When I was a young woman, I loved wandering around downtown and going into curio shops.
One day I went into a shop and bought a book on how to set a table and manners for getting ahead,

The hardcover book cost $3 and it changed my life. I wanted to learn how to exchange witty dialogue during dinner, fold napkins which resemble swans and learn all about wine.
I read the entire book in a few days and soaked up the value of being tasteful and how to respond to uncomfortable questions.
What fork to use, how to cut meat, becoming a better listener, and how to fold napkins in interesting formations.

On page 60 there is a quote that read, ” watch what you say, it can’t ever truly be taken back”.
Years later I gave the book away to another young woman in search of excellence.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://thecincinnatiherald.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/classywineart/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wanda-haynes/
• Other: https://55lnk.com/

  https://www.montanaseniornews.com/

  https://www.idahoseniorindependent.com/

  https://my.viebit.com/player.php?hash=nucpBqwo34dUS4KK

  https://my.viebit.com/player.php?hash=zPfcdhR3h2ahabz9

Image Credits

Wanda Haynes