Drew Zandonella-Stannard

I am a writer, mother, and decent human being living in Seattle, Washington. I relish in telling stories, both yours and mine.

In 1988 I won a coloring contest at my local grocery store. The prize was a disposable camera. While everything else has paled in comparison to that early brush with fame, I’ve been chasing the feeling ever since.

In my professional career, I’ve held the very first Amazon Kindle prototype in my hands, analyzed the contents of perfect strangers’ refrigerators, and immersed myself in the worlds of coffee, chocolate, and wine. All while writing my nimble fingers off.

My essays on family, food, and relationships have appeared in Eater, Marie Claire, Good Housekeeping, Saveur Magazine, and elsewhere. I am passionate about storytelling, both in my own personal essays and for the brands I work with. My experience in the realm of consumer research and brand anthropology fuels and informs my approach to writing and branding.

Marie Claire •

My Parents Gave Me a Hyphenated Last Name and Here’s Why I’m Never Changing It

I've spent decades protecting my last name like a younger sibling, defending it against confused teachers, frustrated government employees, and customer service representatives. I've whiled away hours of my life spelling it out over the phone: Z as in zebra, A as in apple, N as in Naples... I've had clerks question my true identity and received letters addressed to the likes of Mr. Drew Zondopela-Snard (or some highly creative variation thereof).