Media Moment – Myrna Haskell

March 17, 2026

Over the years, our team has had the pleasure of working with Myrna Haskell at Sanctuary, an online magazine committed to empowering and inspiring women. We recently had the opportunity to learn more about Myrna’s career and personal background, and are honored to share her story with our own readers.

Continue reading to get to know Myrna!

Thank you for being our guest! Can you tell us a bit more about your current role?

I am the founder and executive editor of Sanctuary magazine. As a small business owner, I wear many hats. I manage editorial calendars, social media scheduling, sponsorship contracts, budgets, website design/layout and copy editing. I am also the face of the magazine, so there is always the next networking event, exhibition or opening to attend — right now, I’m on my way to the press preview of The Whitney Biennial in New York City.

I’m always planning something. I have sticky notes on my night table, so I can jot down an idea that comes to mind in the middle of the night, let it go and fall back to sleep. Ha!

How long have you been writing/editing, and what led you to this field?

 I’ve been working in the publishing industry as a writer, editor, columnist, author, speaker — you name it — for over 35 years now. In high school, I imagined being the next Stephen King. I had creative writing on my mind at that time and I was writing reviews of King’s books for my high school newspaper’s review section. As I made my way through school as an English literature major (both as an undergrad and graduate student), I realized I also enjoyed writing critiques of others’ works — reviews were some of my first publications.

When my son was born, I found that freelancing was a good option for me. So, I segued into writing about children’s health and development, since I was consumed with child rearing at this time. My daughter was born less than two years later, and in the mid-90s, I began to network with publishers and editors of family and parenting magazines, which were popping up all over the country back then.

For years, I had a very busy career as a feature writer and self-syndicated columnist. Once I became an empty nester, I started thinking about editorial management or starting something of my own. Sanctuary launched its first issue on May 1, 2016.

What topics or stories are you most excited to report on for your audiences?

 I’m inspired by stories that celebrate women who have reinvented themselves or those who have had a positive impact on their communities through humanitarian pursuits. Featuring women in all art genres is also a passion of mine. I was a fine arts minor in college and worked as a choreographer for NCAA gymnasts. I also appreciate many genres of music and love to attend live music performances.

What is one of the most memorable stories you’ve written so far, or what is one of the most memorable experiences you’ve had as a journalist/editor?

I managed to book an interview with world-renowned autism advocate, Dr. Temple Grandin. It was known that she was extremely hard to book. It took a bit to get her to open up to me, but she did. I am very proud of this interview, which was featured in our annual Autism Awareness and Acceptance issue in April 2018. Temple was thrilled with the piece, and she shared it on her personal Facebook page and newsletter.

Tell us – we promise not to hold it against you – what is your biggest PR pet peeve?

Sloppy correspondence. If I receive a query, I want to see that the PR agent or organization has taken the time to do more than a cursory scan of Sanctuary. I’ve received emails from places that have obviously never even looked at what we do. I open all correspondence and there is an enormous amount of it. Spending time on slipshod queries is very frustrating for me.

A related point is a lack of careful reading. I cannot tell you how many times I’ve had to send a follow-up note because someone didn’t read a succinct bulleted list of items carefully.

What is one thing most people might be surprised to learn about you?

I was a competitive gymnast in high school and college. My one-arm handstand on the balance beam was always a crowd pleaser. I went on to be a Junior Olympic level 10 judge and NCAA Division I judge. I was the judges’ education program coordinator for Vermont and won a regional leadership award in recognition of the work I did to help newbie judges and coaches.

What’s your favorite Hudson Valley gem that locals and visitors alike should check out?

The Falcon in Marlboro, New York. I love this venue which overlooks the Marlboro Falls. They book world-class musicians and the food is tasty. There’s a unique donation-based system and the atmosphere is intimate and chill. I’ve booked several amazing artists after watching them perform here: Alexis P. Suter, Jane Bunnett, Becca Stevens, Samara Joy and Camille Thurman.

A little birdie told us you have a big anniversary coming up… your publication, Sanctuary, is celebrating 10 years! Can you tell us about the magazine’s history?

In 2015, I was working on a start-up project with two other writers: Nancy Burger and Emily Dodi. That project didn’t work out, but we  decided it would be fun to start something ourselves. That’s when the idea of Sanctuary was born. Although these two women have long since followed other pursuits, Sanctuary has continued to grow into what it is today. It’s amazing to think about that first issue. We published two interviews, one health piece and a book excerpt. Since then, we’ve added diverse content sections, including an expanding interactive space for readers. Most recently, we’ve been publishing an event-driven Community Compass every other month. My team grew from three writers to a team with five senior editors and five regular contributors. We also have two incredible panel experts who have been facilitators for our online workshops and podcasts. I’ve had several industry advisors over the years as well.

What are some of your favorite stories shared in Sanctuary in the past decade?

There are so many. Some I’ve written. Some were written by others. A few that come to mind: Tara Storch, co-founder of Taylor’s Gift Foundation, a nonprofit committed to providing emotional and grief support to organ donor families; Ann LeBlanc, co-founder of Mercy Chefs, a nonprofit providing professionally prepared meals to victims, volunteers, and first responders during natural disasters and national emergencies; the late Gloria Vanderbilt; six-time Grammy Nominee Bettye LaVette; and so many others. In addition to featuring women throughout the U.S., we’ve interviewed women from across the globe: Argentina, Australia, Barbados, Canada, Denmark, England, Estonia, France, Germany, Guatemala, India, Ireland, Israel, Mexico, Montenegro, New Zealand, Nigeria, Scotland, and Sweden.

If someone wants to follow you, where can they connect with you and/or connect on social media?

Find Sanctuary on:

Facebook: @sanctuarymag2016

Instagram: @sanctuarymag2016

X: @Sanctuary2016

LinkedIn: @Sanctuary2016

YouTube: @Sanctuary2016

Find me on:

LinkedIn: @myrnahaskell

Write to me at: editors@sanctuary-magazine.com