Who am I?

     Hello, my name is Thomas Reznich, and I am available for freelance writing and photography assignments. I worked as a photojournalist at the Houghton Lake Resorter, a small weekly newspaper in Northern Lower Michigan, for 28 years. From September 1990 through October 2018, covering a full range of subjects, from sports to law enforcement, to environmental issues, to township government, along with a little of everything else thrown in.

     After leaving the paper, I spent a year in Los Angeles, taking care of my grandson, who was five months old at the time. I was surprised to learn just how many diaper changes a baby needs every day (six or eight in my grandson’s case), and I was also able to help him get started in his exploration of the world, by taking him places, as well as by cranking up the music so we could dance as soon as his parents left for the office every morning. (The boy still has a hard time staying still when he hears music.)

To augment my income as  well as learn the lay of the land in LA, I did Door Dash on the weekends.

     When my nannying was over, as I was driving back to Michigan, I noticed how many trucks there are in the world, and thought to myself that I could do that, since driving long distances is about as hard for me as sitting on a couch, watching television and staying awake. So when I got home to Houghton Lake, I took a three-week course to get my Commercial Driver’s License, then got an over-the-road job with US Xpress.

     I drove for three years without causing injury to myself or anyone else, driving through parts of 44 of the lower 48 states in my first year. Out of the 48, the only states I haven’t driven a semi in are Maine, Vermont, Rhode Island and South Dakota. 

     Anyway, I figured I shouldn’t press my luck for more than three years, and decided to come home and go freelance using the skills I honed during my 28-year newspaper career.

     My strong suite is as a storyteller, and I can both tell stories and find stories, producing content for any type of publication on just about any subject. I have also done editing work on written pieces and am available to do general still photography on any subject. I always come back with something.

     I have been an avid fisherman and so-so hunter for most of my life, and live in an area that lends itself to those as well as a full range of other outdoor activities, so my access to these types of story subjects is kind of built in.

     One of my better ideas over the years has been what I like to call pretty flower picture therapy.

     I came up with the idea when an aunt of mine became seriously ill. Living 200 miles away from her, I decided I would text her a flower picture every day, with a little description included. I eventually extended pretty flower picture therapy to over 130 of what I like to call “My People”. 

     Begun in June of 2018, I see pretty flower picture therapy now as a more than five-year-long illustrated poem, which I continue adding to every day, and will now make available to everyone, here on my website and also on my Instagram account.

     I am 64-years-old, in good health, the father of three children, and grandfather of two.

     To ask questions or if you have a story assignment for me, please  contact me at thomasreznich@swamphawkcontent.com