This month, fittingly in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I had the privilege of sitting down with one of my favorite bloggers, Ms. Tia Walker of The Quest For “It”, a blog that covers all that’s hot in the world of art, fashion, media & beyond with coverage in NY, LA, Vegas, Miami and London. Tia gave me the “exclusive story” on her courageous battle with Cancer, some tips that all women should keep in mind, and a little insight on how she continued to grow her name & her brand throughout this life-threatening process.

AC: So Tia, tell us a little bit about how this blog evolved and how you were initially able to get it off the ground?

TW: The blog began in September 2005 originally based on a combination of two things: fashion and events. Actually the blog was as an outcry of me not being able to “officially” cover Fashion Week (then Olympus Fashion Week) as press. I had attended the shows at the tents since 2004 or so but wanted to go to more shows. Once I realized that registration was required, I contacted IMG the governing body that produces the entire event. It was explained to me that registrants included industry people: hair stylists, make-up artists, press etc. Press? Well I will just become press I thought, I’d love to report on the shows. In February 2006, my blog which began on Friendster went from a sub domain of Friendster.com to Thequestforit.com and I registered officially in February of 2006 for the Fall 2006 shows. In effect, although I did not know this at the time, I was one of the first bloggers ever to “officially” cover Fashion Week as press. The only others were Glam Media’s Glam.com and Fashiontribes.com, both of whom I later joined forces with in some capacity. Now there are so many people trying to get into the tents under this method but most are turned away, the quality has to be there, the dedication has to be there, and one cannot just write fluff or do this just to go to Fashion Week–that is not what this is all about.

AC: You’ve come a long way in 3 short years (since 2005). What are some of the biggest milestones or accomplishments to date?
TW: Thanks, although it doesn’t seem like I’ve accomplished that much at all from my end as I am always striving. Milestones? The number one was realizing that The Quest for “It” was one of the first blogs ever to cover Fashion Week officially as press, I am so very proud of this fact. Successfully doing the red carpet at the The 6th Annual Tribeca Film Festival in 2007 was another big moment–it was my first run ever, I had wanted to be part of it for so long. My first time out I covered it by video and produced 5 incredible segments getting on-air interviews with Sarah Michelle Geller, John Leguizamo, and Model Shalom Harlow…it was AMAZING. The co-host I signed on landed an interview with Rosario Dawson, too. I have never done any other project that made me feel as proud or successful, it was just such a good outcome for me, at that time!

AC: What’s in the name?
TW: The Quest for “it” was originally about my quest to get to the A-List, meaning the amazing life that I would see all around me, the life that celebs and socialites seemed to have–I wanted the site to be an aspirational lifestlye blog for sure. I originally hoped to shed some light for women everywhere by exploring all sorts of fields like art, fashion, media etc.. I wanted to be the ultimate chick on the quest. Looking back, it all sounds so superficial but I think everyone has a quest, whether it is to lose weight, or be happier in life, or whatever. Conceptually, I think everyone can relate somehow no matter what his or her quest might be.

AC: What does a typical day look like for you?
TW: I am up anywhere between at 6:00am to 7:15am (at the latest) to set the (blog) post for the day. Sometimes I am stumped as to what to write and it’s a toss up; either I “owe” a write up-meaning I’ve attended an event and the I know the publicist will be after me as to when the write-up will appear OR I’ve combed the online periodicals and entertainment mags and there is some “current” news that needs to go up. In the case of a blog like The Quest for “it” current news means anything that happened in the last 24-48 hours in entertainment, fashion, etc. The least pressing posts are product driven ones, as they are not “time sensitive”. News gets old FAST when you are a blogger, so sadly, I do not get to product reviews as much as I’d like.

AC: Today, it seems like you’ve achieved your quest for “it”! You have access to Manhattan’s elite, and I always see you in photos with the “who’s who” of the social crowd. Who are some of your favorite subjects to report on?
TW: Now there’s a question! I am not sure if it’s subjects as much as it is people. I mean I love art, fashion etc. which is why I emphasize those topics but the “people” are EVERYTHING! Genevieve Jones was my all time favorite. I reported on her for my blog, about 3 months before Terry Agins from the Wall Street Journal did… I was lucky that she was so gracious early on, and that I really got to spend time with her over 2 days. I do not report on Gen as much anymore because she is not a fan of blogs in general. It’s best to report on those who are really into the whole idea of being reported on via a blog first hand. I love to report on Luigi Tadini the male socialite, he is just impressive, so much fun. He is very attractive, well traveled, of course wealthy and so sweet and full of energy and sincerity, he is by far the most sincere and honest person in his social circle—an every woman’s fantasy type of guy! Then there are others who come across so animated in pictures but are actually very quiet, like Kristian Laliberte, he is actually pretty soft spoken in real life even though he is the life of many parties!

*Celebrity Lifestyle Blogger Tia Walker & Society Blogger Emily Brill at 2008 Mercedes-Benz Polo Challenge at Blue Star Jets Field, Bridgehampton, NY 07.26.08 Photo by Nick Hunt/Patrick McMullan

AC: You & I have worked together on a quite a few stories now. What is your take on PR and PR people in New York?
TW: Well I have a PR background myself, kind of, but it was a bit specialized and involved getting media placements for celeb DJs. In general, I am a BIG fan of PR, this is another one where “people” get in the way. Some PR firms can be really insufferable (they know who they are), very elitist, but that is far and few between. Most are cooperative and some are even generous, providing tons of samples etc… that is always welcome! PR chicks in New York are rush, rush , rush, the ones in LA are super laid back so I guess the girl matches the city she is in.

AC: What do you love & hate about PR?
TW: I love the energy, I love when PR firms, such as AMP3 PR for instance, appreciate the power of a quality blog post on a blog like The Quest for “it”. I loathe PR firms that are so close-minded that they don’t recognize the significant role that new media plays in the world of journalism and ultimately society.

AC: Thanks for the plug !! Now for the serious stuff. You’ve had a pretty remarkable year so far. What most of my readers probably don’t know is that you have been working hard, accomplishing all of this success AND dealing with breast cancer. When you first casually told me over a business meeting, I was shocked! Tell us about this experience?
TW: I was diagnosed on February 27, 2008. I received a phone call from my gynecologist who gave me the results of a recent series of tests that I had which included a core biopsy. I was told my results indicated that cancer cells were present in a lump I had found in my right breast. It was bizarre. It wasn’t possible. I thought,“I am a healthy chick,” “no way, come on!”–but it was true. I’d felt a lump 2-months before on the side of my right breast near my armpit, it felt like a small egg. After the diagnosis, I realized that I would have to get into treatment as soon as possible–there was no time to waste. It took longer than I expected because I was uninsured. Being primarily self-employed as a blogger, it did not afford me a cushy HMO I had years before. So I did not begin chemo until April 11th. My goal from the minute I was diagnosed was to let other women know. I wanted to save the world from being shocked like I was. I had no time to save my eggs; I learned that chemo could potentially harm the egg supply of a woman in treatment. The option is to freeze one’s eggs and have them stored for future use, kind of like sperm banking. Unfortunately I had no time to store them as it is done in conjunction with ovulation etc.. I had to begin treatment ASAP. During the treatment, a drug is administered to stop eggs from being released and this can also stop the eggs from ever being released again. At this point, even though my chemotherapy treatment is over, the eggs may or may not be released again so it is possible I may not be able to have children, sadly the jury is still out.

AC: Wow, that is definitely an aspect of Breast Cancer I wouldn’t have thought of, and have never heard discussed. So, how did you have the energy/strength to keep your focus on The Quest for “it” and remain so present, in the media?
TW: I love what I do; it is really just that simple. My illness, I believe, stemmed from wearing down my immune system and writing ALL the time: day and night. Never resting enough. When I was diagnosed I decided that’s it, I am going to go out MORE and blog LESS and that is just what I did…or I tried to do. It is hard to pull me away from my computer. I’d say I have definitely been more visible (photographed more) between the months of March 2008 and August 2008 than I’d ever been before and I’m still going!

AC: What was the most difficult part, and what, if anything, has changed about you now? Have you changed your outlook, or changed anything about the way you live life or the way you work?
TW: Nope I am still just as happy and busy as I was. I just make time to rest more now.

AC: What advice do you have for others (who are dealing with cancer)?
TW: To read as much information on the process of treatment as one can. Educate yourself and do not just settle for one opinion if something does not seem right.

AC: How is your health today?
TW: I feel really, really good. I am bouncing off the walls, seriously after surgery I felt like a weight had been lifted. I began radiation yesterday, on October 13th Columbus Day.

AC: So what’s next on Tia’s horizon? What are you looking forward to covering? Any exciting new developments we should know about?
TW: Nothing I can share, we need to keep the really BIG stuff under wraps in regards to the blog. However, I am looking to transition into TV hosting full time–that is my goal and passion. I have wanted to be a TC Host since I was in high school really but always fell into other things, a little modeling, then this, then that. The video coverage I have done of Fashion Week and the red carpet reporting I have done of the Tribeca Film Festival has prepared me. I produced all of my own segments and this afforded me to be able to work with Estee Lauder who recently sponsored one of my projects. So look for me to host a show on fashion or entertainment or travel or SOMETHING sometime soon…it’s coming I can feel it…at least I hope it is!

AC: Final weigh-in: PR yay or nay?
TW: PR? YAY!

*Celebrity Blogger Tia Walker attends Edwing D’Angelo Spring 2009 Collection at the Westin Hotel during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week on September 5, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Thos Robinson/Getty Images for Edwing D’Angelo)

(Alyson Campbell for Its All Very PR)

Tags: Alyson Campbell, amp3, AMP3 pr, AMP3 Public Relations, Celebrity Blogger, It's All Very PR, The Quest for "it", Tia Walker

This entry was posted on Tuesday, October 14th, 2008 at 3:45 pm and is filed under meet the press, people to watch. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.