“The interview process with Steph was like a hot scone out of the oven… a warm and honest experience with plenty of space for both fluffy laughs and brutal honesty. Steph is a magnificent storyteller and is able to really dig to capture the full scope of what the interviewee is wanting to convey. Her approach makes for authentic articles and she is dedicated to making sure that you are happy with the results – which I was.”
Jorja Creighton – adventure cyclist
“Steph approaches her interviews with a curiosity and sensitivity that makes her subject (in this example, twas I) feel comfortable and safe. Steph very quickly developed rapport that allowed us to have a free flowing, conversational style interview. I can say that post interview I felt as though we had spoken quite an amount with no substantive matters being covered, however, after reading the article it became clear that Steph was listening for the human elements, the relatable and real story, unfettered by the clutter surrounding it.”
Ben Jackson – farmer, DJ, sheep artist
“I loved chatting with Steph. She had done such an insane amount of research and asked such thought out questions. I was thrilled with the final result, it really told my story in a way that represented me both as an artist and as someone who grew up in the bush.”
Fanny Lumsden – singer-songwriter
“I wanted to share my story for Mental Health Week, and Steph made the entire process so easy and comfortable. In just an hour, she transformed our conversation into the most beautifully written and heartfelt piece that captured my experiences perfectly. Her talent as a writer is incredible, and she’s an even better person to work with. I can’t recommend her highly enough.”
James Lander – music photographer
“I was interviewed by Steph for a piece she did on me and my business for the November 2024 issue of FOUND Regional Magazine, and from start to finish the project was exactly what I had hoped for. Steph made me feel completely at ease during the very relaxed interview, it was like sitting down for a chat with an old friend. Steph has a way of connecting with the people she interviews, and shows a genuine interest in your story. And I believe that is what makes a journalist great, you have to see the person behind the story, and you have to become a storyteller, and that is Steph in a nutshell. The process leading up to the finished article was so easy and Steph made sure I was involved every step of the way, feeling that I was in control of my own story and knew exactly what the article would look like, layout and all. I couldn’t have been happier with the outcome, and I feel grateful for having seen Steph’s creativity and passion for storytelling up close.”
MIKA INGVARSDOTTER – FLORIST
“Being interviewed by Steph was an absolute pleasure. From the very beginning, Steph made the entire process incredibly easy and stress-free. The writing process was smooth, and she captured my story perfectly while staying true to my voice. The approval process was seamless, with clear communication and attention to detail. When the final feature was published, I couldn’t have been happier – it beautifully highlighted the key aspects of my work and personality. I had people from everywhere accessing the article and loving the story. Steph has a genuine talent for storytelling, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to work with her!”
LAchlan skinner – onemob radio
“Being interviewed by Steph was one of the highlights of our early days in a new town. The article that followed made our family and friends shed a tear as they read such glorious depictions of us. It emanated a poetic realism that inspired me to reflect and further appreciate this stage of our life.”
JAMIE-LEE garner – artist
“Steph has a way with words, and beyond the words has proven herself to be a genuinely caring human being; a human being that happens to have god-tier interviewing and writing skills. What seemed like a few short hours of being interviewed over tea and scones at our home became several glorious pages colouring between the lines of our life for FOUND's audience to consume, and being given the chance to review the piece ahead of publishing cemented further the knowledge we'd been interviewed by one of the best in the biz. We love our article and often hear from members of the community how much they enjoyed it too.”
Jim A. BARKER – PHOTOGRAPHER
“Steph Wanless was a delight to work with and I enjoyed my interview with her immensely. She asked interesting and insightful questions, giving lots of space for comprehensive answers while maintaining direction for the article with masterful skill. She took care over details, giving me the opportunity to review her work to ensure accuracy, and at all times respecting the ways in which my words and character were interpreted and represented. As someone who has been selectively quoted and misrepresented in print media before, I am grateful to Steph for the safe space she created for my interview, and I felt honoured and seen throughout the process. The end result was beautifully written and formatted – a testament to the high quality of journalism Steph has set as her bench mark, and the skills and experience she brings to the table in her field.”
hester fraser – musician
“Being interviewed by Steph was a smooth and enjoyable experience. It was sincerely like talking to a friend. As a private person, I was quite nervous about being interviewed. Steph made the process seamless and was always gracious and fantastically witty. Her questions were thoughtful and the communication clear during both the writing and approval stages. The final feature was excellent, and I was really happy with how it represented my story.”
SIMON JONES – CHEF
“Working with Steph has been an absolute joy. She is a consummate professional – the level and detail of care, attention and devotion to her craft and publication, FOUND Regional, is nothing short of inspirational. Steph works tirelessly to promote, acknowledge and champion regional artists and I deeply value her commitment to showcasing individual dreamers and creatives. It was a pleasure to be interviewed by Steph. The manner in which she conducts her interviews is caring, sincere and supportive. I am grateful to have shared my writing and personal journey with Steph – it meant the world to me to share The Golden Thread with FOUND Regional readers and promote the book’s message and mission. I wholeheartedly endorse and support Steph – what a star!”
AMELIA Donnelly – author
“I was delighted and honoured to be contacted by Steph to be the front cover feature of FOUND Regional. To me, the publication is classy, sophisticated and quirky but also super relatable – Steph promotes and celebrates all types of highly creative individuals, artists, businesses and fun features of the region. Meeting Steph was a joy – she is a bubbly, fun-loving and warm-hearted person. She was able to ask me great questions which enabled me to comfortably open up and tell my life story. So many of my family, friends, and fans have a copy of edition #2 and they always tell me how much they love reading my interview with Steph and learning about my journey as a professional Blues musician. I highly recommend Steph to anyone and I fully support all the work she does.”
SAM BUCKLEY – BLUES MUSICIAN
“Being interviewed by Steph was an absolute pleasure. The process was seamless and enjoyable – she made me feel completely at ease, and her thoughtful questions really brought out the best of my story. The writing and approval process was smooth and collaborative, and I couldn’t be happier with the final feature. It captured my voice and vision perfectly!”
SERA J Wright – photographer
“Working with Steph was an absolute pleasure and a perfect blend of professionalism and fun – everything you'd want when collaborating with a publication. From the moment the interview started, the process felt relaxed and natural. Steph made us feel completely comfortable and connected with us, which allowed her to capture the heart of our story in such an authentic way. Throughout the entire process, communication was clear, concise, and efficient, especially when it came to deliverables and the approval process. We always knew exactly what was expected and when, which made everything run smoothly and stress-free. The approval process itself was straightforward and easy to navigate, which we really appreciated.
“When we saw the final feature on Gilay, we were blown away! The visuals were spot-on, and the tone of the story perfectly captured the passion and love we have for our business. The end result exceeded our expectations in every way. Steph is extremely trustworthy and professional, and we’re hopeful we’ll have the opportunity to collaborate again in the future!”
SANDY and Alexandra rogers – gilay estate
“Working with Steph was a seamless experience from start to finish. Her professionalism, warm nature and clear communication was refreshing. The end result was a wonderful feature piece that captured my story and key messages beautifully. Thank you Steph!”
Steph trethewey – motherland australia
“Seeing my prints in a magazine like FOUND Regional was a really exciting and gratifying moment for me. My work was so beautifully presented and uplifted my work to the level I'd always hoped to see. Steph was a delight to work with, the interview process was comfortable and straightforward. The end product felt like an authentic depiction of me and my work. I'm so grateful to have been featured in the inaugural edition! The process was easy and the exposure was amazing!”
GEMMA KING – ARTIST
“I was interviewed by Steph over the phone, something that could be a barrier to the subject opening up in an amateur’s hands. But Steph was so personable and interested in my story that I quickly relaxed, and it felt more like a warm chat with someone I’d known for years. Seriously, Steph couldn’t have made me feel more comfortable if she’d poured me a hot toddy and wrapped me in one of Nana’s crochet rugs! Part of Steph’s magic is that she is clearly passionate about this part of the world and wants to showcase people who bring their talent and toil to making it the vibrant place that is. Steph’s interest in regional NSW goes beyond the ‘Best Places to Find…’ lists that give city writers and fly-by-nighters a reason to claim a weekend away as a tax deduction. Steph’s authenticity is apparent from the moment you meet her, and this, as well as her literary and publishing skills, sets her apart.”
KELLY McLoughlin–Wilden – COMEDIAN
“Steph interviewed me for an article in FOUND Regional. The process was very positive from the first point of contact, with focused questions and clear direction as to where she was hoping to take the story. At all stages she took a collaborative approach to ensure I was happy with sharing my story. She took great care at final edit time to allow me to fact check her story for accuracy and authenticity. The final piece was great and sat very much in alignment with the focus and ethos of the magazine. A great experience all up and Steph is a talented writer.”
LISA MARGAN – MARGAN WINES & RESTAURANT
“Being featured in FOUND Regional magazine was smooth as. The interview felt like a fun chat with an old friend, and the writing and approval process was so seamless it could have been choreographed. When I saw the final feature, I was stoked – Steph perfectly captured my work and what I’m all about. Huge kudos for putting together such a cracking publication that champions local talent in style.”
AIDAN JARVIS – ARTIST
“When Steph approached me to have an article in the first issue of FOUND Regional magazine focusing on my creative journey to date, I knew it would be a challenge to unpack all the moves, different jobs, and timeframes for a magazine audience. I was so pleasantly surprised when Steph sent back the edited draft and had not only made sense of my ramblings, but made the article into a digestible and fun feature timeline style layout. Where I struggled to patch together my own words, Steph so effortlessly tweaked areas to still sound like my tone of voice, but clearer. An absolute pro and pleasure to work with.”
ALY pearson – artist
“Steph interviewed me for an article about my practice as an artist. I found working with her really enjoyable, her process was relaxed yet thorough. I really appreciated her care and accuracy with some of the topics covered, particularly the references and terminology around my son’s disability. Steph checked in with me several times to make sure we were represented the way we wanted.”
KARLEE RAWKins – ARTIST
“Steph wrote a wonderful article about me and our place and the entire process was fantastic. She was incredibly easy to work with and very approachable. Steph asked thoughtful questions to ensure she had a clear understanding, which really came through in her writing. She shared the article quickly, and I appreciated how open she was to making any changes or adding details I suggested. Overall, I loved that we were thought of, the process was seamless, and I’m thrilled with the final article!”
ALLANA PRICE – BEN’s falls retreat
“When Steph reached out to be a feature artist I was so nervous to be on the cover, but she made me feel so comfortable about the whole process. She was more than happy to hear my thoughts and hear my many nervous questions. She was just great to deal with all round.”
lauren freestone – ARTIST
“I highly recommend Steph. She interviewed me about my personal story and I was so nervous. I didn’t know if I could do it, what would I say, how would it come out at the other end? She created an amazing, nurturing, professional and safe space. She followed up and I felt like I had agency over the whole process.”
ALi flynn – performance coach
“What a treat it was to work with Steph – she’s a dream to work with and makes you feel like an absolute super star. She is a magician with words and can turn anything into gold. I enjoyed the experience from start to finish.”