A lawyer who
decided to write
everything down.
Connecticut Bar attorney. Screenwriter. Film producer. 25-year tennis club owner. Credentialed travel agent. And now, the author of 1,105 guides on everything worth knowing — travel, lifestyle, history, careers, languages, and policy.
"Most travel writing is a postcard with the price tag still on it. Mine's the receipt — what it actually cost, what it was actually worth, and whether I'd go back." — Stephen A. Joyce, travel writer & founder, Stevie J Travel Publishing
Stephen A. Joyce — travel writer & attorney
- Connecticut Bar Attorney
- Screenwriter & Film Producer
- Newport Beach Tennis Club · 25 Yrs
- ARC / CLIA Credentialed
- Expedia TAAP · Delta Standby
- Las Vegas, Nevada
Key facts about Stevie J
Years Traveling
50+
New York born. New England raised. Newport Beach for 40 years. Las Vegas now.
Guides Published
1,105
Travel, lifestyle, history, careers, languages, policy. One voice. Zero filler.
Retail Platforms
6
Google Play · Apple Books · B&N · Kobo · Draft2Digital · IngramSpark
Favourite Destination
Cabo
"I've been to 50+ countries. Cabo wins. I wrote the guide. Read it before you go."
The Core Promise
Whatever you're curious about, I've already done the work.
Most travel writing is a postcard with the price tag still on it. Mine's the receipt — what it actually cost, what it was actually worth, and whether I'd go back.
The full story.
I was admitted to the Connecticut Bar in 1984 and practiced law for several years before the entertainment industry pulled me sideways. That happens to lawyers more than people think. Since 1993 I've been working as a screenwriter and film producer — which is a job that teaches you, above all else, that stories need to be true to something, even when they're fiction.
In 1999 I became the owner and operator of the Newport Beach Tennis Club, which I ran for 25 years. We hosted the Davis Cup and World Team Tennis. Running a serious sports venue for a quarter century teaches you operational precision, how to deal with difficult people gracefully, and exactly why the details that seem small usually aren't.
I've been traveling for over five decades. Not the Instagram kind — the kind where you stay long enough to understand what's actually happening. I'm a credentialed travel agent (ARC/CLIA, Expedia TAAP) and a Delta standby flyer, which means I travel on time and I travel smart. Favourite destination: Cabo San Lucas. I've written the guide. Read it before you go.
In 2025 I founded Stevie J Travel Publishing and started writing down everything I know. The result is 1,105 guides — and counting — on travel, lifestyle, history, careers, languages, and the complicated topics that nobody explains straight. The pen name is Stevie J. The writing is mine. The receipts are real.
The guides are what's left after you strip out the hedging, the sponsored content, the vague "it depends," and the advice that costs $300 and is wrong. They're how I'd answer if you asked me at dinner.
Career Timeline
-
Connecticut Bar Attorney
Admitted to the Connecticut Bar and practiced law. The foundation of everything that followed — attorney precision, evidence-based thinking, the habit of reading the contract before signing anything.
Law -
Screenwriter & Film Producer
Transitioned into the entertainment industry as a screenwriter and film producer. Spent three decades learning that stories need to be true to something, even when they're fiction.
Entertainment -
Owner & Operator, Newport Beach Tennis Club
Owned and operated the Newport Beach Tennis Club for 25 years. Hosted the Davis Cup and World Team Tennis. Learned operational precision, people management, and exactly why the details that seem small usually aren't.
Business -
Founder, Stevie J Travel Publishing
Founded Stevie J Travel Publishing and began writing down everything — travel, lifestyle, history, careers, languages, policy. 1,105 guides published. More coming every week.
Publishing
Why the guides sound different.
Attorney Precision
When Stevie makes a claim, it's because he can defend it. Every guide is researched, not opinionated.
Storyteller Warmth
Information delivered through narrative. Even the practical parts have personality.
Cut-the-BS Bluntness
No corporate hedging. No "it depends." Every guide takes a position and defends it.
Earned Irreverence
Slightly cranky, occasionally sardonic, never mean. Punches up at industries, not down at people.
Practical Generosity
The point is always to be useful. The wit is the seasoning. The answer is the meal.
Five things you'll find in every guide.
These aren't formatting choices. They're the whole point.
Reality Check
Most travel agents won't tell you this, but the "luxury all-inclusive" in Cancún is owned by the same parent company as the budget one next door — same kitchens, different lobby furniture, 40% price difference.
Counsel's Take
Read your timeshare contract's rescission clause before the agent walks you to the parking lot. In most states, you have 5–10 days. After that, you own it forever.
Bottom Line
Skip the resort. Stay downtown. Eat where the staff eats.
Stevie Says
"If a guide tells you every restaurant is 'a hidden gem,' it was written by someone who's never been there."
— Stevie J, travel writer
Ready to read the receipts?
1,105 guides. Pick the one you need. Or let Stevie pick for you.