Judy Royal is a freelance writer who grew up vacationing in Carolina Beach before making it her home in 2008. Prior to this, she lived in Wilmington's River District for eight years. A North Carolina native and lifelong resident, Judy graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Journalism and Mass Communication and has worked at newspapers, magazines and other publications throughout the state since the 1990s. She enjoys boating, bicycling, good food, trips to the Florida Keys and animals, especially her rescue dog Truffle.