We had the good fortune of connecting with Anna King and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Anna, any advice for those thinking about whether to keep going or to give up?
Every good idea is propelled by passion. If it’s something you truly believe in, then you never give up. In the 1990s, I began research for a nonfiction book about a ragtime musician. Because so few records from pre-1920 had been digitized at that time, the travel required to conduct on-site research from Los Angeles to Miami was both time and cost prohibitive. I set it aside until about a year ago and have been amazed by what is now easily accessible online. I’ve hit dozens of brick walls but my subconscious works on approaching them from different angles while I hike with my dog. Sometimes, it’s just a timing issue. Sometimes, you discover which string to pull through trial and error. If it’s something you can’t stop thinking about, don’t let it go.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My background is in Finance and Human Resources. In 2019, I took a leap of faith and began working with a war correspondent to produce an independent television series. Everything takes longer & costs more than expected. We take photos & shoot video everywhere we go because you never know what will make a great story.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
With the exception of June, everything I want to do in Tucson is outdoors. And even then, it’s an easy drive to Mt. Lemmon or Madera Canyon. You could probably hike a different trail every day of the year and still miss a ton. Trident Grill (the OG on Speedway) is a must. People watching along Congress at night is free entertainment.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My grandmothers indulged my endless questions and encouraged my passion for writing and research. They always believed I could.

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