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EXPERT BIOS: Animal Care - Humor (A - H)  
Also see Experts I-W

  AGING  ·ANIMAL CARE · ART · BUSINESS GROWTH  · CAREERS  · CHILDREN'S BOOKS  · CHRISTIAN-THEMED
CINEMA and TV   · COOKBOOKS  · CRAFTS · CRIME  · DISABILITIES  · EMPOWERING WOMEN  ·
EQUESTRIAN
· ETHICS  · FICTION  · FISHING  · GARDENING  · GHOSTS  · GRIEF  · HEALTH
HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
  · HISPANIC  · HISTORICALS  · HISTORY AND MEMOIR · HOLISTIC HEALTH · HUMOR

 

 

 

AGING

Raised in the South on a tenant cotton farm, Shirley W. Mitchell had a passion to make her life and others' lives more productive. Seeing what aging did to those, her quest has been to "Promote Positive Aging" for all, especially for those who are approaching or are Golden 50 or beyond.  

A National Author/Columnist/Writer/Speaker and Celebrity Radio Talk Show Host, Shirley is known as "The Golden Egg of Aging™" and " the Original Baby Boomer Promoter" because of her tremendous insight years previous to the coming of the Baby Boomer Wave of Aging Younger. She’s a mother of three and a grandmother of eight. An unexpected divorce later in life promoted a more positive approach to her future and what was to play in it.  

Her books are The Beauty of Being God's Woman (Strode Publishers 1981), Spiritual Sparks for Busy Women (Strode Publishers 1982), The Christian Writer's Diary (self-published), Fabulous after 50™ (New Leaf Press 2000) – the first book in the series of Inspirational and Motivational books, with two more slated for publication, and Sensational after 60™ (New Leaf Press 2005). Shirley is also the Co-Author of three books - Love Notes for Mom, Love Notes for Dad and 101 Great Ways To Improve Your Life with Self Growth Inc..  

Her weekly newspaper Column, "Fabulous after Fifty™" in the Sand Mountain Reporter has been going on strong now for over 15 years, and is the model for her On-Line Syndicated Column, "Spiritual Sparks for Baby Boomers™"". She also has an On-Line Newsletter called, "Passionate Sparks™". Shirley became a regular Contributing Columnist for the On-Line "Senior LifeStyles Magazine" out of Westminster, Colorado, and a Featured Columnist-Writer for "Passionate for Life Magazine" out of California. Shirley is Managed and Represented by Lighthouse Coastal Literary™ in Daphne, Alabama.  

Agent@lighthousecoastalliterary.com,

Shirley is comfortable writing or speaking about: 

Aging...

BabyBoomers...

SeniorLife...

Aging Outside theBox...

Fighting Mid-LifeFears...

The Important SecondHalf...

How to be Fabulous after50...

Exercise - Aging's GoldenEgg...

How to be Sensational after60...

Ageless Living and EndlessEnergy...

Passion + Persistence + Prevailing = PIZZAZZ

 

                                                                                                                              

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ANIMAL CARE

Penny Leisch has a passion for working with animals. Pets by Penny and Reiki4Paws are designed to serve pet guardians and pet care professionals. Penny is an Usui Reiki Master Teacher, a Karuna Ki Reiki Master Teacher, a Sacred Flames Reiki Master Teacher, and an empath and animal communicator. Although she is an AADP Board Certified Holistic Health Practitioner, she continues to study with special emphasis on courses that promote wellness, as well as those that facilitate healing and comfort in ill or injured animals. She is also fully certified to treat humans in the same areas.

She and her husband have been actively involved in rescue work for over twenty years and often adopt special needs and/or senior animals. In addition, her traditional education includes training and experience in psychology, medical social services, and business. Like many holistic practitioners, Penny comes to holistic studies from a background dominated by science and was not easily convinced of the value of nontraditional treatments.

Personal experience and research convinced her, not only of the value, but that there is a need for practitioners, teachers, and information. She points out that the scientific evidence and research supporting nontraditional treatments for humans and animals grows daily. Today professional practitioners of nontraditional modalities are highly skilled, ethical, and well-educated. Of course, as with all services, traditional and nontraditional, one must shop carefully.

As a writer, teacher, and small business consultant, her client list includes Florida Pet Book, WriteCraftweb, Inspired2Write, the City of Tempe, Garden and Hearth, Walsh America, Allwoodwork.com, Funds For Writers, Camping & RV Magazine, Warner Wrangler, Loving Pets Magazine, KTVK, and others. Her mother-son story, Like A Rock, appears in Cup of Comfort for Mothers & Sons http://www.pennyspensandpics.com/pennyleisch/cocmsinfo.html (Adams Media), released April 19, 2005.

Penny also writes ad and web copy for pet industry businesses and businesses with a holistic lifestyle mission. Her latest client is Embracing Hue Ltd. She says it is an area that requires the special touch of someone who knows the industry intimately. Selling cars, soft drinks, and floor covering is just not the same. In this industry, clients need someone to craft words that convey their vision through their product or service.

http://www.pennyleisch.com    http://www.petsbypenny.com

Penny writes on most subjects related to the following and offers workshops, seminars, or speaking in Arizona:

* Benefits of Reiki for people and pets
* What is Animal communication? Does it work? Who do I trust?
* Aromatherapy for pets and people
* What is a medical intuitive?
* Holistic therapies and New Age Modalities - How do I sort it all out?

 Some reprint articles are also available for a very nominal cost.

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ART 

Raised among books and art, Suzanne Blaney first chose the art route, becoming a nationally known, award-winning artist with many one person exhibitions and a list of patrons throughout the U.S. and Europe. From 1986-1998, she served on the Board of Directors for the international organization, Pastel Society of the West Coast. In 1992, Suzanne was appointed “Fellow” of the Royal Society of Arts, Manufacturers & Commerce, London, England, and six years later was invited to attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace celebrating the Royal Society’s 250th anniversary. She was introduced to HRH Prince Phillip at this “extraordinary event” attended by about 4,000 people from around the globe.  

Her first book, utilizing her knowledge of art, is The Little Book About Pastel (ZANDEL Books 2003).  

Suzanne lives in Northern California. 

http://www.suzanneblaney.com

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BUSINESS GROWTH

Pamela Harper is founder and president of Business Advancement Inc. (BAI), which helps companies accelerate progress toward their key business objectives. She graduated with honors from Northwestern University, where she majored in Organizational Behavior, and has been an adjunct faculty member at New York University's Management and Marketing Institute.

Pamela is author of Preventing Strategic Gridlock: Leading Over, Under & Around Organizational Jams to Achieve High Performance Results (Cameo Publications 2003). She explains that "the book is based on lessons learned from more than 20 years' experience as both an internal and external consultant to leaders of high growth/high change companies."

http://www.businessadvance.com

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Tricia Molloy is a seasoned entrepreneur and business consultant who knows how to work joyfully on purpose. She started her own marketing and public relations firm in 1988 to support the success of other passionate small-business owners.

As a New Thought business leader, Tricia applies universal principles to run her company and counsel clients and colleagues. She is also a coach, speaker, workshop leader and freelance journalist who has written more than a hundred business profiles and stories for newspapers and magazines.

Divine Wisdom at Work™  10 Universal Principles for Enlightened Entrepreneurs (Aha! House 2006) is the first in a series of books.  

Tricia graduated from New York University with a BA in broadcast journalism. As an executive radio talk show producer in the 1980s, she won several Associated Press awards.  

Tricia lives in Marietta, Georgia, (a suburb of Atlanta) with her husband, Rick Reyer, their 11-year-old twins, Connor and Allyson, and their “joyful” Golden Retriever, Honey. J

For more information on Tricia Molloy's marketing and public relations services,   please visit http://www.molloycom.com Molloy Communications.

You can reach her at 770-565-1231 or tricia@divinewisdomatwork.com.

http://www.divinewisdomatwork.com

 

Tricia can discuss or write articles on these topics:

  • Tap into Divine Wisdom using five simple strategies (meditation, intuition, “God Winks,” dreams and prayer)
  • Define your life purpose and make it your life's work
  • Increase prosperity in all aspects of your business
  • Engage the Law of Attraction by using your thoughts to create your reality
  • Visualize and affirm success
  • Cultivate an attitude of gratitude for a lifetime of blessings

 

Jacque Miller, owner of Career Dimensions of Arizona is a Human Behavior and Nutritional consultant who passionately supports local and national issues regarding small business, education and women's health. As a radio talk show host in Denver, Colorado, she gave voice in the 1980's to a variety of similarly related topics, interviewing those who supported and opposed such matters. Today on her internet radio show “HealthStyle Choices” she gives voice to Business, Health and Christian topics.

Jacque has been active in the Arizona Small Business Association and the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce; serving on the latter's Workforce Readiness Task Force. As a business advisor and facilitator for the Academy for the Advancement of Small, Minority and Women Owned Enterprises (AAAME), and participated in developing and updating the organization's programs and curriculum. Jacque has also been a mentor in the NAWBO Business-to-Business Program. Over the past several years, she has served as president of several women's associations in Phoenix and Denver. Since 1981, she has received numerous awards for her community and business-related endeavors.

Jacque is known nationally for her dynamic, energetic, humorous and down-to-earth trade mark style. She specializes in customizing behavioral-based programs by combining professional know-how with personal attitude development. She has created the nationally known training program “Success by Networking - The Art of Building Your Business through the People You Know” and the networking card game “Promotion Motion” as well as the motivational and inspirational presentation, “Get Your G.B.A. Degree.”

Jacque believes that today's business workplace calls for employees who are happy and productive both at home and in the workplace. Her goal is to present programs and seminars that create a learning environment while focusing on the whole person, allowing each to realize success at his or her own level. She has received consistent acclaim for her unique ability to identify the needs of today's business community. As a speaker, trainer, author, consultant and coach, Jacque has contributed ideas that can and do change the lives of her clients and participants.

Jacque's client list includes such nationally recognized companies as US West (5 Divisions), Toshiba, Discount Tire Co., Woman's World Shops, King Soopers (Kroger), Clayton College of Natural Health, Ohio State University, Circle K Corporation, Club Managers Association of America, Hyatt Resorts, Double Tree Inc. as well as select and non-profit departments within the United States government.

Jacque has survived the deadly grip of cancer, even in the face of a terminal diagnosis. She shares her experience in her book, The Lopsided Gal, and travels nationally, teaching individuals and families the art of dealing with crisis and taking charge of their own health. Out of this life experience, Jacque developed the HealthStyle® Choices wellness program and is a Masters Candidate in Holistic Nutrition.

More information will obtained by visiting
http://www.cdoaz.com

or www.jacquemiller.com

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Stephanie Chandler is the author of The Business Startup Checklist and Planning Guide (Aventine Press) and From Entrepreneur to Infopreneur: Make Money with Books, E-books and Information Products (Wiley, coming Fall 2006).

Stephanie is also the founder of http://www.BusinessInfoGuide.com, a directory of resources for entrepreneurs and the owner of Book Lovers Bookstore (http://www.BookLoversCafe.com) in Sacramento, CA.

A frequent speaker at business conferences and events, Stephanie also serves as a small business consultant and has published articles in dozens of magazines and newspapers. She is available to speak on topics including business start-up, making money as an infopreneur, online marketing, and numerous additional subjects.

Stephanie Chandler can be reached at 916-214-0708 or Stephanie@BusinessInfoGuide.com.
http://www.StephanieChandler.com


 

CAREERS AND EMPLOYMENT

Mrs. Francina R. Harrison, "The Career Engineer," has over ten years of experience in workforce development services. She has contributed to programs designs for welfare reform, correctional treatment, private rehabilitation and faith-based groups, which has helped thousands of individuals return to work. As the co-owner of Harrison & Associates, a career consulting company, she provides work/life consulting services, coaching services and conducts career development seminars for career seekers, professional groups, business owners, non-profits, universities and adult education centers.

Francina is the host and creator of "Push Up Your Career" Internet TV show, is a freelance columnist and speaks on matters concerning workforce development and increasing human potential. It's this "non-traditional" and "soul" stirring delivery of career consulting that has this Navy spouse and Norfolk State University graduate interviewed on the Tavis Smiley nationally syndicated radio show, Chicago Tribune, Next Step Magazine and as a featured writer in The Black Collegian Magazine. Mrs. Harrison is also featured in regional, national media outlets and hundreds of sites on the Internet, branding her presence, around the globe.

Francina has released her first book titled, A Mind to Work: the Life and Career Planning Guide for People Who Want Need to Work (iUniverse 2004) and she is also the creator of the "Don't Get Anxious - Get Prepared" audio CD series which launched nationally in August 2005. The motivator is a member of the National Association of Female Executives, Human Capital Institute, Empowerme Network, Career Engineers Network, Business Network International, Commonwealth Workforce Network and participates in a host of other professional associations.

Francina graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor in Social Work and received her Masters in Social Work (MSW) from Norfolk State University in 1997. She is married to an active duty Navy Senior Chief Petty Officer, has two wonderful children and resides in Virginia Beach, VA.

http://www.thecareerengineers.com

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Cliff Hakim is founder and principal of Rethinking Work, a Boston-based career-consulting firm established in 1990 and focused on mid-life transition and change. He earned a master's degree in special education at Boston College and subsequently counseled learning disabled young adults on work issues and placed them in jobs. From here, Cliff joined an executive search firm specializing in the placement of training and development professionals. Later he started his own search firm which opened the door to his current practice. Cliff has always been a compassionate and curious soul. When he was nine and friends mocked a crippled man selling pencils, Cliff wept inside - here the man was expressing himself - simply doing his best.

Cliff is author of We Are All Self-Employed: How to Take Control of Your Career (2003) and When You Lose Your Job (1993) both published by Berrett-Koehler Publishers. http://www.rethinkingwork.com

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A glance at Heather Resnick's two websites reveals someone passionately interested in the plight of women and families. http://www.womenreworked.com is about empowering women in employment transition, from getting back into the workplace after an extended absence, switching careers or becoming an entrepreneur. She is pleased to be connected with F.A.C.E. - Family Abuse Crisis Exchange http://www.facel.org where a portion of her proceeds will be donated; that helps empower families to become financially self-sufficient. http://www.mshumptydumpty.com is the site of Heather's first novel, Ms. Humpty Dumpty, about a woman who falls off the wall and tries to put her pieces back together again (no publisher as of yet).

A cancer warrior, lover of life-long learning who earned a B.A. in later life and community volunteer, Heather is author of Women Reworked (2006, to be published by Creative Bound Inc. and available late December, 2005). Thought-provoking stories of many inspirational women who jumped hurdles to achieve success fill Women Reworked. It is unique in that it is also an extensive resource guide to help women discover the myriad of government and non-profit agencies across the United States and Canada which will help them achieve their dream career. Heather provides her message of fulfilling your life's purpose by motivational speaking and advising women. She is a regional representative for the International Women's Writers Guild - IWWG - http://www.iwwg.org

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Called a networking expert by the Chicago Tribune, Lillian D. Bjorseth is a speaker, trainer and author who helps to improve business networking skills to insure more sales and career success. She spent more than ten years at AT&T where she trained top executives in public and communication skills, and spearheaded the company's public relations efforts internationally when it entered the commercial computer marketplace. In 1990, Lillian founded Duoforce Enterprises, a successful Chicago-area business leads organization. Lillian is author of Breakthrough Networking: Building Relationships That Last (Duoforce Enterprises 2003).

A graduate of the top 10% from the University of Missouri School of Jouralism, Lillian had spent a few years in the newspaper business, "but the pay was so poor, my first husband practically had to subsidize me to pay the baby sitter, and, especially if I wanted to eat 'out,'" she recalls. "I spent many years in PR, including 11 at AT&T before I started my own business. I always liked to schmooze and promote and was naturally persuasive. I 'fell' into networking when I started my business and realized my contacts were on the east and west coasts and I lived in the Midwest. Every time I thought about having to work for someone, I networked all the more. Eventually, it became my forte. The rest is history!" http://www.duoforce.com

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Paul and Sarah Edwards have been called the nation's "self-employed experts" and "gurus of the home office."

"Our focus is helping individuals and couples identify post-corporate careers," declare Paul and Sarah, who have developed self-employment lifestyle expertise over 25 years. "We came to this field from practicing law and psychotherapy," they say. "What attracted us was the very real possibility that, unlike our parents, we live in a time when we could do work we like doing while living the lives we want to live. We've shared the story of how we did this for ourselves in our book, The Practical Dreamer's Handbook. Now through both our books and our special approach to counseling and coaching, we focus on helping others define and realize fulfilling and rewarding lifestyles."

Paul and Sarah Edwards are authors of 16 books, all published by Jeremy P.Tarcher/Penguin Books, except for the For Dummies books: Working From Home, now in its fifth edition and the first commercially published book on the subject, The Best Home Businesses for People 50+, The Best Home Business for the 21st Century, Changing Directions Without Losing Your Way, Cool Careers for Dummies, The Entrepreneurial Parent, Finding Your Perfect Work, Getting Business to Come To You, Home-Based Business for Dummies (For Dummies), Home Businesses You Can Buy, Making Money with Your Computer at Home, Secrets of Self-Employment, Teaming Up: The Small Business Guide to Collaborating with Others, The Practical Dreamers Handbook, Why Aren't You Your Own Boss?, and Making Money in Cyberspace, which received the best general computer book award from the Computer Press Association.
http://www.workingfromhome.com
http://www.pinemountaininstitute.com

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Wes Spence is a recognized authority in the fields of employee relations and personal time management. He has authored two books: The Busy Manager's Guide To Employee Relations Excellence (Author House, 2003); and Day Planners, Your Ultimate Success Tool (Author House, 2005). He is known for down-to-earth solutions for challenges facing today's managers. Most recently, he has been focusing on doing seminars on personal time management. Those seminars have been very well received.

Wes is an honor graduate of Lamar University and a graduate of the State University of New York. Among his other achievements, he is a Certified Management Consultant (CMC) and a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR).

--------------------------------------------

 

CHILDREN'S BOOKS and BOOKS FOR PARENTS/TEACHERS/LIBRARIANS

Max Elliot Anderson was a reluctant reader as a child, despite having a father who authored more than 70 books. Ken Anderson was author of the popular Winky Series of the 40's and 50's and owner of a film production studio. Max grew up in the business and in 1978 was named Best Cinematographer for his work on the feature film, Pilgrim's Progress - the first feature film for actor Liam Neeson.

No one could have imagined that Max would become a writer - and he has surely exceeded anyone's expectations. In just a few years, he completed 33 manuscripts for a chapter adventure series for boys 8 and up, seven of them already published. The books are written from a Christian perspective and Max uses the elements of mystery, suspense and a few good, old fashioned scares from his childhood radio shows as the basis for his novels - from a stolen car plot in The Newspaper Caper, to a foiled terrorist plot in Mountain Cabin Mystery, to an international wildlife poaching operation in North Woods Poachers. Readers tell Anderson that his books read like exciting movies - which he says helps him bridge the gap between today's electronic distractions and a need for kids to develop good reading skills.

A teacher has been reading Max’s books to her third grade class and the students beg her to keep reading. She told one of her boy’s parents about how much their child enjoyed one of the books and they have gotten all seven that are out. “At last we’ve found something that will interest him in reading.”

Max’s eighth and most recent book is Reckless Runaway for readers 8 and up, especially boys. All his books are published by Baker Trittin Press. 

 http://maxbooks.9k.com

Reviews: http://maxbookreviews.blogspot.com

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Sybilla Cook received her MALS from Dominican University in Illinois and a Masters in Curriculum and instruction from the University of Oregon. She has been a media specialist in Illinois and Oregon, taught library science at the college level, and is the co-author of three books about the Battle of the Book program. (A 70-year-old program that uses in-school contests to promote and encourage children's reading). Sybilla was the first person to receive the Elementary Library Media Specialist of the Year award from The Oregon Educational Media Association.

Sybilla is co- author of Books, Battles and Bees: A Reader's Competition Resource for Intermediate Grades (American Library Association 1994), Battle of the Books and More: Reading Activities for Middle School Students (Highsmith Press 2001) and Elementary Battle of the Books (HIGHSMITH 2005). She is the author of Walking Portland (Falcon Press, now part of Globe Pequot 1998), now in its third printing, a book reviewer, and has published articles in many journals and magazines.

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Lana Jordan earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English with a minor in journalism from Texas Tech University in 1986 and has been writing, editing, and publishing ever since. Over the last 18 years, she has worked as an editor for a magazine publisher, a family history publisher, and for individual writers.

Lana is the author and publisher of two books: Journey to Motherhood (a guide to pregnancy and childbirth from a mother's perspective) and The Sleepytime Ponies Trick a Trickster (a read-aloud storybook about magical flying ponies that take children and their mother on an adventure to Thailand).

Lana is the founder of Jorlan Publishing, an author services and book publishing company, for which she is a publishing consultant and an editor. Areas of expertise include publishing (with emphasis on self-publishing), editing, and home-schooling. Lana has home-schooled her children for the last ten years, and has served on her county school district's Homeschool Advisory Board for four years.

http://www.jorlanpublishing.com
http://www.lanajordan.com
http://www.flyingponies.com

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Wendy Orr's dad was in the Air Force so the family moved around a lot. Wendy was born in Canada and grew up in France, Canada and England. After meeting her Australian husband, the couple moved to Australia, where their two children were born. Wendy worked as an occupational therapist until suffering a serious auto accident.

She is author of 24 books for children, teens and adults including an ALA Best Book for Teenagers, Peeling the Onion. Her book, Nim's Island (Allen & Unwin 1999) is in development as a feature film with Walden Media and 20th Century Fox, and she has set up a blog just for the book, offering news about the film and suggestions for using the book in the classroom. http://www.nimisland.com/blogspot.com. The book can be found in bookstores in Australia, New Zealand, the UK, USA, Canada, Korea, Spain (in Basque as well as Spanish editions), Italy and Germany, and will soon also be available in Brazil.

http://wendyorr.com

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John Prophet earned a Master's Degree in Special Ed from Boston University and has had careers in teaching, management and sales. He writes suspense mysteries for young adults and has turned out five Casey Miller mysteries since 2001, all from iUniverse: Mystery At Salt Marsh (2001), Body In the Salt Marsh (2002), Mystery at Salt Marsh Winery (2003), and Body in the Salt Marsh Boatyard (2004). A Jaded Affair (2005), the fifth Casey Miller mystery, is now available at all major outlets. To order call toll free: 877-823-9235.

John chairs two writers' groups in Harwich, Mass and frequently visits schools. www.authorsden.com/johnprophet 

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Kate Stormer is the author of Casey's World books (named for Kate's miniature schnauzer). Currently, there are three picture books in the series: Casey's Four Holiday Celebrations (2003); Casey's Unexpected Friend (2003) and A Stranger in Casey's World (2004). The Rescue of Little Red (2005) is the first book in the new Casey's World chapter book series.

“Having a series of books allows me to build characters and messages that I can share from one book to the next,” says Kate. “Every story lets me repeat important statements, which help children understand and cope with certain life issues. Children become emotionally attached to each doggie character, and identify with the problems and struggles of each dog in the books. It is from here that the child can connect his or her own situation and problem resolution to those of Casey and her friends.”

For example, A Stranger in Casey's World carries one of Kate's most important and wide-spread messages…we must encourage our children to become aware of what is happening around them at all times. This awareness will help reduce the possibility for a stranger to approach them. Kate adds that it could be difficult for a child to quickly recall a parent's instructions regarding strangers because that message is only one of so many other instructions given regularly to a child (“eat your vegetables, look both ways before crossing the street, brush your teeth, be kind to everyone, don't go anywhere with a stranger, etc.). She firmly believes that the child will more easily and quickly remember the lessons shared in A Stranger in Casey's World, and will take the appropriate action. “This book will save a child's life someday,” emphasizes Kate, “and that will make all the writing, marketing and money I have invested in this book worthwhile.”

Kate created an entire program to emphasize this message, and has presented this program at the Wisconsin Early Childhood Association annual conference. In this program, she guides educators through the customization of a lesson plan that uses A Stranger in Casey's World as the central tool to teach awareness and “stranger safety,”as well as offers an accompanying Parent's Guide that the educator can copy and send home with each child. “We must, of course, have help from the child's parents or guardians to continue this education at home,” explains Kate.

A Wisconsin resident, Kate is passionate about delivering these special lessons to children and their parents. In addition, Kate has formed a group called Authors To Go!, in which a small group of local authors speak to groups about book writing, publishing and their experiences in creating each of their books. They appear at no charge and have been warmly welcomed at retirement communities, libraries, schools, book organizations, community events, community organizations, and local businesses. If anyone is interested in starting an Authors To Go! group in their town, please contact Kate at kate@caseysworld.net or 608-335-0401.

Please visit the Casey's World website at http://www.caseysworld.net

Kate can write or talk about the following:

* several avenues of publishing, including what to consider and what to avoid

* co-authoring

 

 

 

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Margot Finke is an Australian-born children's book author who lives in Oregon. The first two of her 7-book series of rhyming picture books about Australian and U. S. critters are published by Writers Exchange E-Publishing: Kangaroo Clues (2004) and Never Say BOO to a Frilly (2005). They can also be purchased from her website. Margot says, "My rhymes are more non-fiction, because they tell about the real animal, not some imaginary story that involves them. They are educational and fun, all at the same time.” Margot finds it advantageous to be an Aussie author. “My accent intrigues kids and teachers,” she says, “Australian animals are wonderfully different and intriguing."

http://www.margotfinke.com

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After Elaine Masters and her husband moved to Hawaii 17 years ago, she became fascinated by its history and ethnic diversity. She has since written many children books, all with Hawaiian themes and published by Island Heritage Publishing. The Thief in Chinatown (1998), followed by Yumi and her Best-Forever Friend (2000) and Kalani and the Night Marchers (2001), high-low chapter books, make a trilogy about the early Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese, and Hawaiian immigrants. Her latest book is Momi's Birthday Surprise (2006).

Lullaby Moon, published in 2002 and illustrated by well-known illustrator Tammy Yee, received the Po'okela Ka Palapala award for best children's book published in Hawaii in 2002. The Royal Waker-Upper (2003) was a nominee for the same award a year later. Footloose the Mongoose & The Jumping Fleas and Lullaby Moon both made the best seller list in Hawaii. Elaine is also published on the mainland, with Teach Us to Pray, translated into more than fourteen languages, and Handbook for Day Camp and Day Care, a how-to book for running children's programs in churches.

Elaine graduated with honors from UMKC and is listed in Who's Who in America, Who's Who in the World, Who's Who of Authors, and Who's Who of Women. Elaine has also had many articles published in magazines, particularly in the field of education, Christian living, foreign travel, and fiction for children. Now, she uses her past classroom teaching experience to visit schools, enticing children into the wonderful world of books.

http://www.authorsden/com/elainemasters

Elaine can write and speak on:

* the craft of writing
* the business of writing
* how to write books for children
* helping children succeed
* Christian married life
* helping immigrants adjust to America
* teaching English to immigrants

 

 

Rae Pica, a children's movement specialist, has written more than a dozen books for educators, such as Teachable Transitions: 190 Activities to Move from Morning Circle to the End of the Day (Gryphon House 2003), and Wiggle, Giggle, Shake: 200 Ways to Move & Learn (Gryphon House 2001). Your Active Child: How to Boost Physical, Emotional & Cognitive Development Through Age-Appropriate Activity (McGraw-Hill-Contemporary Books 2003), is her first trade book Written for parents, it details the importance of physical activity in the child's life and education.

A lyrist and vocalist for the Moving & Learning Series, Rae has made presentations throughout North America and is the most widely published author in the field of movement education. She served as adjunct faculty with the Department of Kinesiology at the University of New Hampshire for 13 years and has shared her expertise with such groups as the Sesame Street Research Department, the Head State Bureau, Centers for Disease Control, and Nickelodeon's Blue's Clues.

http://www.movingandlearning.com

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Called a "rising star" by Multicultural Review, Cynthia Leitich Smith writes fiction for everyone, but has a particular affection for young readers, from kids to twenty-somethings. Her writing is known for its diversity, humor, lyricism, and mid-to-southwestern settings. To date she has published three children's books, short stories for middle grade and YA anthologies, and looks forward to upcoming releases.

All three published books have won a multiple of awards. For example, Jingle Dancer (Morrow/Harper 2000), for ages 4-up, Indian Shoes (Harper 2002) for ages 7-up, were both named a Notable Children’s Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies; and Jingle Dancer and Rain Is Not My Indian Name (Harper 2001), for ages 10-up, were both finalists for the Oklahoma Book Award. Cynthia's upcoming books will be Santa Knows (Dutton, 2006), a hoilday picture book for ages 4-up, and Tantalize, a gothic fantasy for ages 14-up.

Cynthia’s website at http://www.cynthialeitichsmith.com, offers articles, interviews, reading recommendations, publishing news, and annotated links. It was named one of the top 10 writer sites on the Internet by Writer’s Digest, and it was recognized among "Great Sites for Kids" by the American Library Association in the "Authors/Illustrators" category.

Cynthia lives in Austin, Texas, with her four cats and her husband, award-winning children's book author Greg Leitich Smith http://www.gregleitichsmith.com. His comedic 'tweener novels include: Ninjas, Piranhas, and Galileo (Little Brown, 2003), which won a Parents' Choice Gold Medal, as well as Tofu and T.Rex (Little Brown, 2005).

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After editing for a major publishing house, Hetty Gray formed Sugar Creek Publishing, publisher of her three books, Net Prophet: The Bill Garrett Story (2001), a biography of the first Negro to play basketball in the Big Ten Conference at Indiana University in 1947; a work of fiction, The Brown Paper Sack (2002), written expressly to raise funds for The Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel; Love to the Third Power (2004), a series of five Christian stories, each followed with a reference to passages from Scripture, and A Bee On Your Face (2004), a children's book tailored for toddlers to second graders replete with hand painted illustrations by professional Indiana cartoonist Dee Bonner.

A former college lecturer and high school teacher, Hetty finds educators and librarians to be some of her most loyal and enthusiastic supporters - along with churches due to the strong moral messages of her books. Regarding Net Prophet, she says: "School librarians tell me that they can't keep the book on their shelves!" Today's children benefit from learning about an athlete who is a stellar role model and exudes a strong faith in God.

Hetty's weekly newspaper column, In Defense of Common Sense, highlights good old-fashioned values peppered with a healthy dose of Hoosier humor. Her solid American values and her profound love for writing blend to offer wholesome books to readers from grade school to retirement. A popular keynote speaker, she gives convocations to students K-12. K-4 grades enjoy "Fuel UP!" --- a program emphasizing the critical importance of reading. Middle and high school students sit rapt during "High Hopes," a convocation focused on how t accurate history is a prime benchmark with which to judge current events. As she puts it, "If you don't know where you've been, how can you know where you're going?"

Hetty holds a Thesis Master's Degree from Butler University in Indianapolis. She and her husband Gerald farm and operate a seed business in Central Indiana. They are the parents of four grown children and twelve grandchildren, ten of their own and two lovingly embraced for deceased friends.

http://www.sugarcreekpublishing.com  

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CHRISTIAN-THEMED

Floriana “Flossie” Hall, 78, is a late bloomer. As recently as 1995, while in church, she was inspired to write her first poem, Love Never Dies, which won the Editor’s Choice Award in The National Library of Poetry’s Anthology, Sea of Treasures. She went on to publish about 400 poems in various books and magazines in the United States, Great Britain and India, winning 10 first prizes, four second prizes, six third prizes, nine Editor’s Choice Awards and eight Honorable Mentions. Flossie is founder and coordinator of The Poet’s Nook, local poets who meet monthly at the Cuyahoga Falls Library in Ohio.

Her first book, self-published in 1999, is Small Change (now called The Adventures of Flossie, Robbie and Juney), the true story of her life as a child during The Great Depression. This was followed by Daddy Was a Bad Boy (CeShore Publishing Company 2001), an adult version of Small Change - written in a Christian manner - about not blaming childhood for adult failures.

Flossie is also author of Out of the Ordinary (AuthorHouse 2002), a compilation of her short stories about angel happenings and God-incidences, and Touching the Hearts of Generations (Floriana Hall 2005) poems for all ages.

Flossie’s latest book, Hearts On The Mend (PublishAmerica 2006), is designed to help surgeons and patients understand what patients experience during recovery. The book was inspired by Flossie’s quadruple bypass surgery two years ago. “Did you know that heart disease is the number one killer of women?” she asks. “I would not be here today except for a chance remark to my doctor, for I had no symptoms, but finally four tests discovered I was 100% blocked, so I had quadruple heart bypass September 4, 2003.” 

http://www.expage.com/flossiesbooknook

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Pamela S. Thibodeaux is author of both fiction and non-fiction books, short stories and essays. Her writing has been tagged as "Inspirational with an Edge!" and reviewed as "Steamier and grittier than the typical Christian without decreasing the message."

She is also a multiple award winner, including three Coeur awards given by Coeur de Louisiane, a non-profit corporation affiliated with Romance Writers of America, whose goals are to promote excellence in romance fiction. Pam is co-founder of the Bayou Writers Group in Lake Charles, La.  

Since the initial publication of Pamela’s two novels, Tempered Hearts and Tempered Dreams published in 2000/2001 by Writer Exchange Epublishing, the entire five-part series has been contracted by Com Star Media, a small press publisher. The newly edited versions of Tempered Hearts and Tempered Dreams were released by Com Star Media in Nov. 2005.   

A committed Christian, she firmly believes in God and His promises. God is very real to her and she feels that people today need and want to hear more of His truths wherever they can glean them. Although her writing is Inspirational, she does her best to encourage readers to develop a personal relationship with God. 

The grandmother of two lives with husband Terry in Louisiana.

http://www.pamelathibodeaux.com

 

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John Stoddard Klar is the author of Christian Words, Unchristian Actions: George W. Bush and the Desecration of Christianity in Modern America (WinePress Publishing 2006). He was an accomplished attorney when his life was irrevocably changed by crippling fibromyalgia, caused by Lyme disease. In the depths of his physical torment, this lifelong hedonist found God for the first time, and was led to a devout trust in the Truth of Jesus Christ. He lives in rural Vermont, where he took up the task of writing this book despite debilitating pain, in order to serve Jesus Christ and humanity. 

 

“Christians are called by the New Testament to emulate the example of Jesus Christ, and to shed their past lives and become more like Him,” John contends. “Is a nation that calls itself Christian exempted from this mandate? Have America’s Christians held their country’s government accountable to Christian standards?”

 

This conservative Christian attorney holds George W. Bush accountable to the standards of Christianity that Mr. Bush espoused to gain office. “George W. Bush gained the White House by bearing the standard of Christian faith,” says John. “But if George W. actually represented just more politics as usual, and not a shift in the Oval Office toward Christian integrity, wouldn’t the American Christians who trusted him want to know?”

 

John practiced in court for years as a criminal, family and personal injury litigator. He represented the University of Connecticut School of Law in the 1989 National Appellate Advocacy Moot Court  Competition, and was a member of the Law School’s moot court board.

 

After closing his law practice, John and his wife moved from Connecticut to Vermont and farmed for seven years, before selling the farm last year.  

 

John is comfortable writing and speaking about most political and legal issues, and many issues relating to Christian faith.

 

As his book reflects, he has a strong Christian faith which he brings to most subjects, hopefully not too forcefully.

 

His chief focus presently is his current book’s thesis – that George W. Bush walks a decidedly unchristian walk.

 

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CINEMA

A retired college dean, Betty Jo Tucker serves as Lead Film Critic for ReelTalkReviews.com and is the author of two movie-related books: Confessions of a Movie Addict (Hats Off Books 2001) and Susan Sarandon: A True Maverick (Hats Off Books 2004). She writes monthly film commentary for The Colorado Senior Beacon, and her movie reviews also appear on Z Review in the United Kingdom as well as on The Romance Club Website and on News First Online, an NBC-affiliate television Website. She discusses movies every Monday afternoon with host Don Grady on his popular Louisiana Live radio show and is the resident movie reviewer for “Laura's Much Ado about Books,” a new radio talk show on Voice America. She teaches an online writing class titled “The Reel Deal: Writing about Movies” for the Long Story Short School of Writing.

Betty Jo's academic credentials include a doctorate in educational psychology from the University of Northern Colorado and a master's degree in counseling from Colorado College. While serving as Dean of Humanities at San Diego Mesa College, Betty Jo supervised expansion of the film studies curriculum, designed an “Exploring Human Values through Film” course and coordinated the “Reel to Real Film Forum” program. She belongs to the Online Film Critics Society and is a founding member of the San Diego Film Critics Society.

Because of a passion for film, Betty Jo and her husband Larry, who co-authored a little romantic memoir called It Had To Be Us (under the pseudonyms of Harry & Elizabeth Lawrence), see approximately 200 movies a year. They live -- where else -- only ten minutes away from Cinemark's Tinseltown, the only multiplex theater in Pueblo, Colorado

http://authorsden.com/bettyjotucker

Betty Jo can talk and write about (but only on radio):

* Movie reviews
* Writing about movies
* Conducting celebrity interviews
* How to tell if you're a movie addict.


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Genie Davis is a novelist, writer of non-fiction articles for magazines and e-zines, and a screenwriter. She is currently producer/writer/director for Liza Boo Productions in Hermosa Beach, CA.  

Other credits include reality programming HGTV's Weekend Warriors and House Hunters; The Learning Channel, A Personal Story, (2001-2003). Documentaries for PBS, Hospital Satellite Network, Art in Your Eye (1997-1999). She was a staff writer for ABC Daytime Television, Port Charles (1999-2000); and screenwriter on several feature film scripts optioned/in development; a comedy, Losing Hope (2001) produced.
 
Her books include The Model Man (Kensington/Zebra 2006); and Dreamtown (Fiction Works 2002). Coming soon are Rodeo Rider (as Nikki Alton) (Kensington/Aphrodesia July 2006) and Five O'Clock Shadow (Kensington/Zebra January 2007) 

A graduate of Boston University, Genie did graduate studies in film at UCLA.

http://www.geniedavis.com

Genie can write and talk about the following areas:

Screenwriting, novel to script, script to novel, writing for genre fiction, following your writing muse

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COOKBOOKS

Karen Adler is the president/owner of Pig Out Publications, Inc. Since the company was founded in 1988, it has earned several superlatives - it's the only company in the world specializing exclusively in publishing and wholesaling BBQ and Grill cookbooks. It's also the only book publishing company to exhibit at national barbeque trade shows like the Hearth Patio & Barbecue Association. And it is one of only a few publishing companies that make people laugh when they hear the name.

Karen built a relationship with many of the publishing companies she wholesales for. In 1999, Ten Speed Press invited her to write a series of 4 small grill books. She said, "YES!" The series is the Best Little BBQ Cookbook Series which has sold over 100,000 copies. She introduced her friend, Judith Fertig to the president of Harvard Common Press, then became Judith's agent and signed her to a 3 book contract in the late 1990's.

Another opportunity came to both of them when Harvard Common Press lost an author for a book on grilling fish. (Karen had self published Hooked On Fish On The Grill in 1992.) When they told the publisher that Karen was an expert on the subject, he signed them to write Fish & Shellfish Grilled & Smoked. Two years later he signed them for four BBQ Queen cookbooks to be released in 2005-2008. The first, BBQ Queens' Big Book Barbecue, was released in April 2005. Weeknight Grilling with the BBQ Queens will be released in March of 2006.

The two BBQ Queens, Karen and Judith, have competed in The Battle of the Sexes BBQ Contest, and have won more times than not. They teach cooking classes throughout the country at schools like the Viking Culinary Centers, Central Market's Cooking Schools in Texas, Dorothy Lane in Ohio, KitchenArt in Indiana, etc. They also headline cooking festivals like the Seattle Grillfest, Wegman's Culinary Festival in Pennsylvania, and a Season of a Taste in North Dakota. They have appeared on the DIY Network, The Food Channel, and the Better Homes & Gardens Cooking Show. They continue to hone their skills and broaden their market with an upcoming tour as they host a BBQ Queens Meet the Gauchos Culinary Tour of Argentina.

Learn more about their dynamic accomplishments and the breadth of their careers at http://www.BBQQueens.com. Learn more about Karen's wholesale company at http://www.pigoutpublications.com

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David Lebovitz is a popular and enthusiastic cooking instructor around the world.

His classes feature extraordinary and outstanding desserts that are easy to prepare for home cooks using the best seasonal ingredients. He received much of his training at Alice Waters' world-famous restaurant Chez Panisse in Berkeley, California, where he spent over 12 years in the pastry department working with Lindsey Shere, creating desserts to complement the seasonal menus. His culinary education includes learning the art of chocolate at Callebaut College in Belgium and advanced coursework in baking and the art of confectionery at the renowned Ecole Lenôtre in Paris.

David was named one of the "Top Five Pastry Chefs in the Bay Area" by the San Francisco Chronicle, and he's received critical acclaim in such publications as Bon Appétit, Chocolatier, Cooking Light, Food and Wine, Gourmet, Condé Nast Traveler, Cook's Illustrated, Newsweek, The New York Times, People, Saveur, Sunset and USA Today. David has appeared on both local and national television programs on PBS, the Discovery Channel and NBC's Today Show.

His books are Room for Dessert (HarperCollins 1999), a finalist for an IACP/KitchenAid Cookbook Award; Ripe for Dessert (HarperCollins 2003) and The Great Book of Chocolate (Ten Speed Press 2004), cited as one of the top books of the year by The New York Times and Food and Wine magazine. David lives in Paris and leads lively one-day Chocolate and Bakery Tours of Paris http://www.davidlebovitz.com/paris.html, as well as week-long chocolate tours of Europe http://www.davidlevobitz.com/tours.html , including France, Belgium, Spain, and Italy several times a year.

David recommends to other cookbooks authors to concentrate their energies around the holidays. "That's when most people buy cookbooks, for gifts or holiday baking."

http://www.davidlebovitz.com

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CRAFTS

During the day, Linda Repasky is a full-time manager with the federal government. In her spare time she writes and does punchneedle. Her book, Miniature Punchneedle Embroidery, will be released in January 2006. The publisher is Martingale/That Patchwork Place, “After having read so much about how book promotion is generally left to the author,” says Lind, “I was stunned when the publisher contacted me and asked me to promote the book last month at the International Quilt Market in Houston, which is the largest trade show for the quilting trade in the world. They paid for my travel/lodging/expenses, and sponsored my doing two formal presentations during the show's “schoolhouse” for shopowners, and then had me at the publisher's booth for two days doing demonstrations and mini-lessons. “Even though the book hadn't yet been released, there was a huge amount of interest (yippee!), so that was heartening to see.”

Along with teaching the craft, Linda “makes and sells some of the related tools, mainly to help make this somewhat obscure form of needlework more accessible to others,” she says. “Actually, punchneedle has suddenly become 'hot' and is now being sought out by many quilters, rug hookers, needleworkers, and others, so it's coming out of the shadows and getting a good bit of attention (this surely is why the publisher has been so eager to promote the book so actively).”

http://www.woolenwhimsies.com

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CRIME

Jayne A. Hitchcock is an author and an internationally recognized cyber crime expert. She volunteers with the U.S. Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime, the National Center for Victims of Crime, and numerous law enforcement agencies worldwide. Jayne is a valued resource to these agencies in the solving of Internet related crimes. Additionally, she has worked tirelessly with our legislators in the drafting and passing of many of this country's Internet laws.

As president of two all-volunteer organizations, WHOA (Working to Halt Online Abuse) at www.haltabuse.org and WHOA-KTD (Kids/Teens Division) at www.haltabusektd.org, Jayne continues a mission to educate adults and children in safety online. WHOA is the oldest online safety organization that helps adult cyberstalking victims.


Jayne's speaking schedule on cybercrime and cybersafety has included many high schools and colleges. She also lectures at libraries, for staff and the public, and presents many law enforcement training seminars for local, county, state, military and federal agencies. She has traveled throughout the United States and Canada and as far as Sookmyong University in Seoul, Korea, for speaking engagements and workshops. She has been featured on CNN, 48 Hrs., Primetime, Good Morning America, The Montel Williams Show, and numerous local, national and international newscasts, and was selected by Lifetime TV as their "Champion For Change.”
 
Jayne has worked for the University of Maryland University College since 1996. She writes regularly for several magazines including "Laptop", "Naval History", and "Link-UP". Jayne's eighth book is Net Crimes & Misdemeanors 2nd edition (May 2006). She is also on the editorial board of the International Journal of Cyber Crimes and Criminal Justice (IJCCCJ) at cybercrimejournal.co.nr
http://www.jahitchcock.com

 


DISABILITIES

Shirley Cheng (b. 1983), a blind and physically disabled poet and the author of five books by age twenty-three, has had severe juvenile rheumatoid arthritis since only eleven months old. Owing to years of hospitalization, she received no schooling until age eleven. Having mastered grade level in all areas after only about 180 days of special education in elementary school, she entered a regular sixth grade class in middle school. Unfortunately, Shirley lost her eyesight at the age of seventeen. After a successful eye surgery, she hopes to earn multiple science doctorates from Harvard University.  

As she says, "Although I'm blind, I can see far and wide; even though I'm disabled, I can climb high mountains. This is the kind of spirit and attitude that has allowed me to go for the gold medal and accomplish my life's passions, including writing and publishing three books after I lost my eyesight, doing math and chemistry in my head without Braille or vision, and finishing the entire elementary school with merely 180 days of attendance (and on the first day of school, I didn't know English)." 

Shirley is the author of Daring Quests of Mystics (Lulu Press 2005), a soothing read to relax the mind, body, and spirit; an empowering autobiography, The Revelation of a Star's Endless Shine: A Young Woman's Autobiography of a 20-Year Tale of Trials and Tribulations (Lulu Press 2005), to bring humor, hope, and healing; and Dance with Your Heart: Tales and Poems That the Heart Tells (Lulu Press 2004), a collection of inspirational and fantasy short stories(fairy tales, fables, and myths) and poems for the heart from the heart. She wrote her books using a screen reader on the computer and completed every self-publishing task, including formatting her manuscripts, on her own without vision. She type with only her two index fingers at about 60 words per minute. 

With highly acclaimed experts like Dr. Wayne Dyer, Tony Robbins, and Brian Tracy, Shirley co-authored Wake Up...Live the Life You Love: Finding Your Life's Passion, Second Edition (2007), the latest installment in the bestselling Wake Up...Live the Life You Love series; she is also the co-author of 101 Great Ways to Improve Your Life, Volume 2 (Self Improvement Online Inc. 2006), along with leading experts Jack Canfield, John Gray, Richard Carlson, Alan Cohen, Bob Proctor, et al. 

She had been published twice before her writing career. One of her short stories, Mary Miller, the Elusive Lady, received Honorable Mention and was published by the Poughkeepsie Journal in 1997, and a poem, The Colors of the Rainbow, earned merit status and was published in Celebrate! New York Young Poets Speak Out in 1999. 

In 2006, Shirley tied for 1st place in the national writing contest for Be the Star You Are! founded by New York Times bestselling author, TV/radio personality Cynthia Brian, garnering her a third appearance on Cynthia's live radio show. Shirley's winning entry, titled The Jewel from Heavenly Father, is dedicated to her beloved mother Juliet Cheng. 

Shirley is also an advocate of parental rights in children's medical care, and aide/caregiver monitoring and screening for students with special needs and disabled people. As a parental rights advocate, she wants to help today's loving parents protect and keep custody of their children. "When doctors ask yes or no, parents should have the right to say no," says Shirley, who is the survivor of the 1990 five-month internationally broadcast news of mother Juliet Cheng's custody battle with a doctor. Juliet was on CBS This Morning with Paula Zahn. 

Shirley promotes aide advocacy for the disabled because she was mistreated and abused by one-to-one aides when she attended school. "The trouble with the uncaring aides actually lies in the authorities," she says. "If they listened to my complaints and kept a close watch on the aides, I wouldn't have gone through all the suffering." 

Shirley is available for interviews, speaking engagements, book signings, and inspirational events. She has been on nearly 20 radio shows, including Be the Star You Are! three times, The Donna Seebo Show, and Stu Taylor on Business. She was featured in World Journal, the largest Chinese national newspaper in North America, in July of 2004.

Visit her website at http://www.shirleycheng.com and e-mail her at AuthorShirley@yahoo.com

 

Shirley can speak and write about inspirational and motivational topics, such as:

* How positivity can make you "ultra-abled"
* Counting our blessings, overcoming challenges
* Disability
* Students with special needs, specifically with
   one-to-one aides in schools
* Screen readers for blind computer users* Parental rights in children's medical care
* Parental rights
 *Minors rights
 

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"My world turned dark, but my life became radiant with hope," says Jan Eckles. Although she has no physical sight, God graced Jan with insight as an inspirational speaker and writer. In addition to being published in five books, and in national and regional magazines, she is the author of Trials of Today, Treasures for Tomorrow: Overcoming Adversities in Life (Xulon Press, 2004).

Her website www.janeckles.com  was chosen as one of the top 10 web sites by Writers Digest
magazine.

Jan's experiences have been captured by the media. Stories about her were featured in The New York Daily News, St. Louis Post Dispatch, Orlando Sentinel, and the latest in The New York Times.

She also appeared as a guest in regional radio programs as well as an international television show.

Jan's passion is to impart, through her writing and speaking, insight to reach excellence and success in spite of physical or emotional challenges.

Jan graduated from Southeast Missouri State University. In addition to her writing and speaking career, she serves as a Court Spanish Interpreter.

Originally from Bolivia, Jan now lives in Orlando, FL with her husband of 30 years, Gene. Their oldest son Jason, wife Rachel and their middle son Jeff also live in Orlando. Joe, their youngest, enjoys the glory of heaven since 2002.

www.janeckles.com

Jan can write and speak about:

*Turning disabilities such as  blindness to abilities with creativity and
tenacity
*Professional success for the handicapped (Paths to reach the top despite
physical challenges)
*Finding peace in the midst of emotional storms
*Recovering from the loss of a child
*Marriage (Rebuilding after infidelity)
*Inspirational messages drawn from personal experiences
 

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EMPOWERING WOMEN

Prill Boyle is a classic late bloomer. Years ago, she dropped out of college, married young, and had two children. She ended up at Harvard-as a secretary, not a student. Twelve years later, divorced, remarried and tired of doing clerical work, she enrolled at Georgetown University and earned both a B.A. and M.A. in English. After graduating at age 38, she became a high school teacher.

Then in January of 2000, Prill read an article in The New York Times about a 65-year-old Kentucky woman who had waited 39 years to join the Peace Corps and was leaving that day for Ukraine. Boyle was so inspired by this woman's persistence and courage that she decided to take her own leap of faith. At age 47, she left her teaching job, became a full-time writer, and today is the author of Defying Gravity: A Celebration of Late-Blooming Women (Emmis Books, hardcover 2004, softcover 2005). Profiled among the 12 in-depth stories--13 including Prill's--are a woman who became a flight attendant at 71 and another who became a medical doctor at age 50. The book has been translated into Chinese and will be coming out in Taiwan in late 2005.

Now 51, Prill and her husband live in Westport, Connecticut where she is working on her second book. She has been featured on numerous radio and television programs and has spoken to groups all over the country, including at the United Nations, about the rewards of late blooming.

For more information, visit http://www.prillboyle.com

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Allyn Evans is founder of QueenPower.com, a dynamic on-line community for women, and author of the newly released book: Grab the Queen Power: Live Your Best Life! A Competent Toastmaster, Evans speaks to audiences about cultural influences and individual choices. She received her undergraduate degree in Psychology from the University of Mississippi and her MBA from Texas Tech University. Published in a variety of on-line and print publications, Evans is working on her second book, Beyond Ophelia

Evans' work centers on her love of writing and her desire to help other women meet the challenges of successful living. As a young woman, Evans found she always got in the way of her own progress creating obstacles and allowing her deeply ingrained fears to stop her at every turn. Compelled to come to grips with herself, the native Mississippian dug down into her cultural heritage to figure out what went wrong and why. This self-study expanded to include the many women Evans interviewed for her work in the uplifting "Grab the Queen Power." The culmination of her community-building endeavor was the creation of QueenPower.com, where many women have found the strength, both in numbers and within themselves, to succeed.

As Evans' daughter nears pre-adolescence, her work on female empowerment zeroes in on creating empowered women by cultivating emboldened spirits in young girls and adolescents. With plans to complete three books in 2006, Evans days are filled writing, interviewing, and speaking, that is, when she 's not playing tennis! Evans now resides in Oklahoma with her husband and eight-year-old daughter.

For more information about Allyn Evans, please visit:

http://www.queenpower.com/Evans/authors.html

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Dotsie Bregel is founder and host of Boomer Women Speak http://www.BoomerWomenSpeak.com, the # 1 site on all search engines for "baby boomer women" now receiving over 1.5 million hits every 30 day period. Due to the success of giving her generation of women a voice she launched the National Association of Baby Boomer Women, http://www.nabbw.com, an association that empowers baby boomer women to find their passions and live life to the fullest.

Dotsie is an expert on all issues concerning her generation of women. She has been mentioned in Time Magazine and AARP Bulletin, among dozens of newspapers across the nation. She has done many radio and internet radio interviews and been interviewed for several publications. She also appeared in the outside audience of The Early Show (CBS)

Her site offers many opportunities to promote your work. Submit for any of the following pages on her site: Resources for Women, Links, and Boomer Books. Her popular online neighborhood offers opportunities for women to talk about middle age, eldercare, empty nest, travel, plus 40-some more topics. Dotsie is always looking for authors to promote in the Featured Author Book Club Forum on her site. Books about writing and books of interest to baby boomer women are considered.

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EQUESTRIAN

Toni Leland grew up loving horses and books and has managed to life her life enjoying both. Her professional life is steeped in the equine industry, where she serves as a graphic designer, advertising consultant, and publisher of magazines, books and videos about horses.

Toni has been writing non-fiction articles about horses for many years. Her fiction career began in 1997 with two children's books. She has since written three novels for adults about - what else - horses: Hearts Over Fences (2004), Winning Ways (2004) and Gambling with the Enemy (2005). All are published by Parallel Press (the fiction imprint of her publishing company, New Concord Press) and are featured selections of the Equestrian Book Club (a Bookspan Book of the Month Club). New Concord Press publishes books in a variety of genres. Toni explains that the parent company--Equine Graphics Publishing--was started 17 years ago. “As we branched out into non-horse books, New Concord Press came into being,” she says. “We also have a division devoted entirely to books and videos about Miniature Horses--SmallHorse Press. . Next Step Writers Services is for authors needing any service to take a rough draft to a polished manuscript, including book design for those who wish to self-publish.

Toni lives with her husband in southeastern Ohio.

http://tonileland.com   http://www.newconcordpress.com

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Charles Montgomery was born, and grew up on, a cattle ranch. His father was a world champion roper who also turned out roping, reining, and race horses. In the early 40's he set three world records with a horse called Jeep B. At the age of 11, Charles rode a daughter of Jeep B and won the California Futurity at Salinas California. After service in the army and graduation from San Jose State, he wrote copy, sold advertising and performed various other jobs at Sacramento Union until its demise. After that he was a consultant and troubleshooter for Freedom News Corp's various newspapers.

In the early 90's he attended the Sierra Writers Camp, a resident four week 24 hour a day camp on writing the novel held by published writers. Charles is author two novels, Killing Judas (Commonwealth Publishing of Canada 1998), and the forthcoming Seduction and Betrayal from PublishAmerica.

At his site, http://www.authorsinc.com Charles holds free classes on writing the all important first chapter of the novel.

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ETHICS

A dual citizen of Canada and the United States, Earle F. Zeigler (Ph.D., LL.D., D.Sc.) has taught, researched, and administered programs at four universities (Western Ontario [twice], Illinois, Michigan, and Yale). Having published 39 books and monographs and 406 articles, Dr. Zeigler writes primarily on North American human values, ethics, and personal decision-making.. The top five awards in his field in North America have been bestowed on him. Zeigler has also received two honorary doctorates and is listed in Who's Who in Canada, Who's Who in America, & Who's Who in the World.

It wasn't until 2002 that Earle's first trade book was published, Who Knows What's Right Anymore? A Guide to Personal Decision-Making. He since written five more, including Telling It Like It Should Be (Challenging Human Values in North America) (2004), all published by Trafford Publishing. 

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FICTION

Lisa Lenard-Cook is a quick study who knows from experience how long it takes to make dreams a reality. The authorlink.com fiction columnist has been writing her whole life, but didn't begin her freelance career until the mid 1990s when a book producer she'd met in Dolores, Colorado contacted her about writing books for a new series. Could she write a book about astrology in three months? Even though she didn’t know anything about astrology, Lisa jumped at the opportunity. The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Astrology is now in its third edition, and Lisa went on to write CIGs to Tarot, Numerology, Palmistry, Drawing, and Reincarnation. She also wrote the Guide to Dreams for DK’s Keep It Simple Series.

In 2000, Lisa saw a brief blurb announcing the Jim Sagel Award for an unpublished novel written by a New Mexican. She uncloseted Dissonance, which she'd first written in 1995, revised it extensively, and sent it off. A year later, she learned from contest judge Kevin McIlovy that he'd selected Dissonance for the award. The book went on to be published by UNM Press in 2003. It’s garnered many other honors, including being shortlisted for the Pen Southwest Book Award and selection as an NPR Performance Today Summer Reading Choice and as the countywide reading choice of Durango-La Plata Reads. UNM Press published Coyote Morning in 2004. 

Lisa is currently revising a novel she first wrote fifteen years ago. She teaches writing in private classes and also mentors both beginning and more experienced fiction writers. “The Art of Fiction,” her monthly column on fiction writing at http://www.authorlink.com/ has been called “a refreshing approach to the art of fiction writing.” She loves to hear from readers and writers, and cheerfully (mostly) responds to queries. Write to her at lisa@lisalenardcook.com

Lisa lives in New Mexico.

www.lisalenardcook.com

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Helen Dunn Frame has been writing and editing non-fiction materials since high school and has been published in the U.S., England and Germany.

Her byline has appeared in the
Dallas Morning News, Dallas Times Herald, L.A. Times, Boston Globe, Scene Magazine, Southern Living, Greek Accent, and other trade publications. After
receiving a journalism degree from Syracuse University, Helen worked in public relations, where she learned the art of promotion. As a result, her news releases often appeared verbatim in The New York Times,
New York Herald Tribune, New York Daily News and International Newsweek, as well as
in countless local newspapers and magazines.


Helen has traveled extensively and is author of Greek Ghosts (iUniverse 2003), based in part on her five trips to Greece. The novel is the first of a series, and the soon to be completed second, Wetumpka Widow, is inspired by the untimely death of her son.


Helen earned a Masters of Arts degree at New York University. After residing for 35 years in Dallas, Texas, she now lives and writes in Costa Rica.

http://www.helendunnframe.com

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Brad Whittington was born in Fort Worth, Texas, where he lived for 20 years before leaving in mid-90’s. Before writing his first book, he lived in Texas, Ohio, South Carolina, Arizona, and Colorado, “annoying people as a janitor, math teacher, field hand, computer programmer, brickyard worker, editor, resident Gentile in a Conservative synagogue, IT director, weed-cutter, and in a number of influential positions in other less notable professions.”

Today, Brad is a product manager in the telecommunications industry, a position that requires a lot of travel.

In 2003, his first published novel, Welcome to Fred (2003) was published and in 2004 it won the Christy Award for a first novel. The book is a coming of age story set in the small East Texas town of Fred, Texas. His subsequent books are Living with Fred (2005) and Escape from Fred (2006). He also has a second book coming out in 2006, co-written with Phil Little, called Hell in a Briefcase. All his books are published by Broadman & Holman Publishers.

Brad lives in Hawaii with his wife.    

http://www.fredtexas.com       

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Larry Pontius is author of Waking Walt (iUniverse 2002), an award-winning thriller based on the urban legend that Walt Disney didn’t die but is out there somewhere in cryonic suspension. A former Disney executive, he joined the organization in 1974 as director of marketing for Walt Disney World. Two years later he was promoted to vice president of marketing for Disneyland and Walt Disney World and transferred to Disney corporate headquarters in Burbank. He left the Walt Disney Company in 1980 and returned to Central Florida where he founded his own advertising and video production firm. 

Waking Walt won the Florida Writers Association’s Royal Palm Award for 2003 as best speculative fiction book of the year.

Raised in Jackson, Michigan, Larry Pontius attended Michigan State University, graduating in 1962 with a master's degree in Advertising. Following graduation, he spent ten years in the advertising agency business; as a copywriter at Leo Burnett Company in Chicago, a copy supervisor at Grey Advertising in Detroit, and as creative director of Grey Advertising’s two Australian offices in Sydney and Melbourne.

Larry has won the Effie Award from the American Marketing Association, an Andy from the Advertising Club of New York, a Clio for international advertising, and Bronze Lions from both the Venice and Cannes Film Festivals. In 1978 he was chosen as the Outstanding Alumni of the College of Communication Arts at Michigan State University.

In addition, he is the author of the poetry book, Lyrics of Life in four-part harmony.

Larry lives in Longwood, Florida with his wife, Harriet. Currently, he is working on his second novel: Future King

http://www.wakingwalt.com

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One month before graduation from high school in her native Indiana, Carolyn Smith, aka Carolyn Russell, learned she’d been adopted. She relied heavily on this experience for her first novel, Beyond the Lies (www.wings-press.com 2003). Her second novel is Hole in Her Heart (PublishAmerica 2004).  
Marriage took her to Michigan and Illinois. Following her divorce, Carolyn lived in South Carolina for two years before accepting a position at the University of Southern Indiana. She later retired and moved to Missouri to be near her grandchildren.  

  
While raising five children in Indiana, Carolyn received a bachelor’s degree in special education and a master’s degree in student personnel administration in higher education at Ball State University. After four years as a special education teacher, Carolyn moved into academia.  


Carolyn’s short stories have been published in the Dan River Anthology and in a mystery/horror anthology Beyond the Mundane: Unraveling, winner of the 2005 Eppie Award in its category. Reviews are posted on her web site at http://carolynrussellbks.com where links are available to purchase her books. 

Carolyn recently completed her third novel, which caught the eye of a literary agent. As she waits for good news about the placement of this third novel, Carolyn completed a fourth and is currently plotting a fifth.

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Judith Woolcock Colombo was born and raised on the island of Jamaica. She came to the United States in 1969 to attend Fordham University where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree. In 1978, Ms. Colombo earned a Masters in Philosophy from the New School for Social Research.

For over twenty years, Judith taught at various New York City colleges as an adjunct English Instructor. In 2000, she and her husband, Vincent, a retired N.Y.P.D. Sergeant of Detectives, moved from Park Slope, Brooklyn to rural upstate New York.

Judith author of The Fablesinger, a fantasy set among the myth and magic of the Caribbean, was published by The Crossing Press in 1989 and republished as an Authors Guild Backinprint.Com Edition in June 2001. When it debuted, The Fablesinger was well received and mentioned in the Year's Best Fantasy and Horror published by St Martin's Press in 1990.

AmErica House Book Publishers published her second novel Night Crimes, a mystery/suspense tale, in April of 2001. In 2003 the foreign rights to the book was sold to Yacom Publishers of Seoul South Korea. Her third novel and second mystery, Terrible Truths, is in the editing stage.

The author's non-fiction works have also appeared in the anthologies Voices from the Couch, Mothers, and in the magazine Blue Moon. Judith also freelances and writes a bi-monthly review column for The Weekly Gleaner a Jamaican -American newspaper. She also writes book reviews for Scribe and Quill, a literary e-zine.

http://odin.prohosting.com/night01

Judith can write and speak about:

* what the writing process is for me.
* the difficulties of getting a book published
* how to be sure that you know what type of publisher you are sending your book to in advance.

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Tricia McGill spent most of her working life in the fashion industry. It wasn't until she retired early that she was able to fulfill her dream of being a full-time writer. Although her published novels cross numerous sub-genres (Historical, time-travel, futuristic, contemporary, mainstream) they are all romances. Traces of Dreams won the Romance Writers of Australia's Romantic Book of the Year Award in 2003. Her Time-Travel, White Clover, was voted Best Electronic Book of 2001 by the Romantic Times Book Club Reviewers, and Amaryllis was a finalist in the Romance category at the Independent E-Book Awards.

Tricia's short stories have been featured in the Australian Woman's Day magazine. She compiled, collated, and edited two books of poems and short stories, with the proceeds going to a local community group doing valuable work providing disabled and housebound children and adults with computers.

Tricia was born in London but settled in Australia years ago, near Melbourne in Victoria, where most of her contemporary romances are set.

http://triciamcgill.com

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Erica Miner was a violinist with the Metropolitan Opera, who had studied music at Boston University and the New England Conservatory of Music. Performing in this high-pressured milieu while raising her two children on her own, she felt gratified, confident that she had reached the pinnacle of her field. Then a car accident ended that career.

Searching for a new artistic outlet, she drew upon her lifelong love of writing to give her inspiration. She studied screenwriting with famed script gurus Linda Seger and Ken Rotcop, as well as poetry, winning a number of awards in both categories.

Eventually Erica set out to write about her life as a musician and single mother and published her first novel, Travels With My Lovers (Authorhouse 2002), winner of the Fiction Prize in the 2003 Author Book Awards. Drawing from her experiences and adventures traveling solo in Europe with and without her children, Erica penned her novel with a dual goal: first, to entertain; and second, to speak to all generations of women, past, present and future, and encourage them to express their emotional freedom. She has now completed the screenplay adaptation of her novel.

In addition, Erica has developed a number of seminars and lectures related to writing in general and Travels With My Lovers in particular. Highly rated on her recent lecture tour with Celebrity Cruise Lines, Erica has been booked for two more series in coming months.

Erica has just completed her second novel, Murder In The Pit, a suspense thriller about assassination and intrigue at the Metropolitan Opera. Presently she is hard at work on her semi-autobiographical novel series, tailor-made for "baby boomers," which chronicles the life journey of a young girl from her adolescence during the politically and socially volatile '60s through the transition into the New Millennium. www.ericaminer.com 

Erica can speak on: 

      *   A journey from violinist to novelist: how you, too, can re-invent yourself

*  Journaling as a tool for healing, self-wisdom and empowerment

*  Journaling in Films: the impact of journals on the silver screen

*  Jumpstart your Journaling: Methods and exercises for journaling success

      *   How to integrate Journaling into your own life 

      *   Sex and the Single Mom: how to be a single mom and still have a personal   life

      *  How not to be a ‘Desperate Housewife’

*  Confessions of a violinist: Opera Stars I Have Known


She has written on:

  1. A Spirited Woman’s Journaling Voyage
  2. The Power of Journaling for Writers
  3. Travel Meets Journaling: a spiritual exploration
  4. We Crash Landed in Alabama: a Civil Rights memoir
  5. The Ten Best Italian Tenors
  6. Romantic Italy... Aah!
  7. Italy: a music lover’s paradise

 

 

                                                                                                           

 

After writing in the early morning hours, Aaron Lazar works as an electrophotographic engineer at NexPress Solutions Inc, in Rochester, New York.  

Double Forté  (2005) is his first book in the LeGarde Mystery Series, (www.legardemysteries.com); Upstaged (2005) is the second. Numerous books have been written and ready to go. Aaron just finished writing Counterpoint, his ninth. His books are published by PublishAmerica. 

His column, Seedlings, can be found on Bob Burdick’s The Back Room, A Cozy Retreat for Writers and Readers www.bobburdick.com/thebackroom and The Futures Mystery Anthology Magazine. www.fmam.biz/whatsnew.shtml

Aaron resides in Upstate New York with his wife, three daughters, two grandsons, mother-in-law, dog, and four cats. 

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Marilyn Meredith is the author of the Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery series, published by HardShell Word Factory and Golden Eagle Press between 2000 and 2004 and the latest, Calling the Dead from Mundania Press, in August of 2006.

Hard Shell Word Factory has just published Wishing Makes It So (2006), “one of the most bone chilling novels I have ever read!” wrote Amanda Killgore for Huntress Reviews.

One of the first authors to embrace e-publishing, Marilyn has several books that are available in both e-format and trade paperback, among them, the award winning mystery Guilt by Association (Treble Heart Books 2002).

Christian horror is another of the genres she writes in - The Choice (PageFree Publishing 2002) and Deeds of Darkness (2003) and Cup of Demons (2005) both from Treble Heart Books, are prime examples.

Marilyn is a writing teacher, serves as a judge for many writing contests, and is a popular speaker at many writing conferences. She is a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, EPIC, and The Public Safety Writers Association. 

She spent the first part of her adult life following her Navy husband around from one duty station to another, having and raising five children. During this time she was also a telephone operator, pre-school teacher for developmentally disabled children, and day care center teacher. “At the same time hubby and I opened up a residential facility for six developmentally disabled women, I began writing and publishing in earnest,” she says.

The couple is no longer operating the facility but Marilyn continues to be involved in the business in several ways. She’s the training chairman for an organization of residential care providers, does their monthly newsletter and writes program plans for new people going into the business)

Marilyn is a prime example of a “never give up” attitude. Her first book was rejected nearly 30 times before being accepted for publication.   

http://fictionforyou.com

http://www.marilynmeredith.blogspot.

 

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Lisa Drucker, writing under the pen name, Jacqueline de Soignee, is author of a humorous novel called Princess-in-Training Manual (Red Dress Ink/Harlequin 2003). RDI is Harlequin’s chick-lit imprint, and did a ton of promo upon publication, including a Times Square billboard, US Weekly hot book pick, and booksignings at Bloomingdales.

Currently managing editor for a reference publisher, Lisa was senior editor for seven years at a prominent lifestyles publishing house whose main title was Chicken Soup for the Soul.

A cum laude graduate of Vassar College, Lisa has a master’s degree in communication from the New School for Social Research in NYC.

The New York native lives in South Florida. Though specializing in non-fiction, Lisa’s first love is fiction and she is busy at work on several fiction projects. However, she only began writing fiction after relocating to Florida, “where the tropical heat seemed to percolate” her creative nature.

http://www.princessintraining.com