Amy Anderson worked as a chef before her invisible disability caused her to pursue a writing career instead. She’s worked with The Sacrifice anthology, Aelurus, Wild Photon, and The Bird and Dog. E-mail her at contactamyanderson@gmail.com or follow her on Facebook at ShadowLinesWriting.
Kate E. Anderson is a three-time contributor to the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. Mother of five, she runs for health and sanity. In recent years, her amazing niece Sariah has been her running partner, motivation, and inspiration. Kate shares her Northern Utah home with her breathtaking husband, their kids, and two precocious Beagles.
Michelle Anderson lives in the Midwest with her husband and two cats. She runs as much as she can when the icy sidewalks allow. Her best racing memory was beating her goal at the Twin Cities Marathon and bursting into tears as she crossed the finish line. This year, she’s planning to give triathlons a try.
Allison Andrews is an Emmy Award-winning television producer who is working on her first children’s book. She loves adventure, which is good considering she’s a single mom of a teenager. She’s planning to visit 50 places the year she turns 50 and is tracking all the crazy on Twitter @milemarker_50.
Dr. Colleen M. Arnold is a writer and family physician in Lexington, VA. She is a widow and mother of three young adult daughters. She enjoys hanging out with family, taking care of her patients, writing, walking, and working on her blog, “Living and Loss: Learning Lessons, Finding Joy.” Learn more at colleenarnold.org.
Dana Ayers accidentally became a runner more than 10 years ago and has logged a vast array of average finish times since. Read more of her (mis)adventures in Confessions of an Unlikely Runner: A Guide to Racing and Obstacle Courses for the Averagely Fit and Halfway Dedicated.
James Barrera was a soldier in the Canadian Armed Forces from 1997 to 2014 with several deployments to Kandahar, Afghanistan. He plans to write a book about his experiences.
Lisa M. Bartelt has an incurable case of curiosity, loves a good story and won’t start her morning without a cup of coffee. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and two kids, and writes about life’s unexpected turns on her blog, “Beauty on the Backroads” at lisabartelt.com. This is her second story published in the Chicken Soup for the Soul series.
Michelle Barton is an ultrarunner. She has won over 80 races in 14 years and holds over two dozen course records. She has competed in some of the toughest races on the planet. Michelle loves to mountain bike, road bike and swim. She loves Yosemite and the Canadian Rockies. Michelle has a daughter and lives in Laguna Niguel, CA.
Niko Bellott is a San Francisco-based writer and traveler who writes about the tenderness of the human experience. She stays up at night thinking about chance encounters, irrevocable memories, liminal spaces, subverting the status quo, and what it means to love and be loved. Her first manuscript is a work in progress.
Helen Boulos is a mother to three children, four cats, and two very naughty dogs. She received her Master’s of Education from the University of Virginia. She uses her degree to try to understand the secret language of teens and husbands. She is a writer for a local magazine in Delaware and is working on short stories.
D.E. Brigham is a retired educator who lives and writes in Tellico Village in Eastern Tennessee. He enjoys pickleball, kayaking, bridge, and hiking. E-mail him at davidebrigham@gmail.com.
After a lifetime of being inactive and overweight, Elizabeth Calcutt, made it her goal to get fit and help others do the same. She is a certified personal trainer and fitness blogger for FireYourTrainer.net. Her life’s mission is now to empower individuals to embark on their own fitness journey confidently and competently.
Lorraine Cannistra is a writer, speaker, blogger, and wheelchair ballroom dancer. Her first book, More the Same than Different: What I Wish People Knew About Respecting and Including People with Disabilities, is available online. She shares her home with her fabulous and phenomenal service dog, Leah.
Eva Carter is a freelance writer and amateur photographer. Her background is in telecommunications where she spent 23 years in finance. She and her husband live in Dallas, TX. E-mail her at evacarter@sbcglobal.net.
Jen Chapman has a Bachelor of Arts in Print Journalism from Marshall University. She and her husband Shawn have been married for 21 years and have an 18-year-old son, Noah. Jen is a freelance writer, blogger, and church secretary in Huntington, WV. Her ideal day would include pajamas, books and Gilmore Girls.
Darin Cook is a freelance writer based in Chatham, Ontario who draws material for his travel essays and works of nonfiction from all of life’s experiences, whether traveling the globe, journeying into his past, or exploring the mundane aspects of daily life.
Tracy Crump has eagerly anticipated the release of each of her 21 stories in the Chicken Soup for the Soul series but not as much as the arrival of her third perfect grandchild (with whom she will walk, not run). Visit her at TracyCrump.com or find her course on writing at SeriousWriterAcademy.com.
Billy Cuchens is the father of five through transracial foster and domestic newborn adoption. He lives with his family in Texas.
Karyn Curtis is a lifelong runner, writer and avid chocolate fan. It is claimed by some that she ran her first ultramarathon solely to avail herself of the chips and cookies at the aid stations. She has run numerous marathons with her friend, Karen. She lives in Ottawa with her husband, two boys and two cats.
Nancy Lee Davis has been a writer since the times of the big black typewriters. She wrote her first play at age 12, and later had a small column in a small town weekly newspaper. Mother, grandmother and now, great-grandmother, Nancy draws on plenty of past experiences and hopes, bits of wisdom and humor to pass on.
Jill Diaz is a seasoned runner who resides in the Chicagoland area with her husband and two young children. To date, she has run seven marathons, one of which she qualified for was Boston, and 16 half marathons. She works in higher education doing college counseling. In addition to staying active she loves to write.
Miriam Díaz-Gilbert has an M.A. in Theology and is an adjunct professor. She has been running 30-plus years and has run ultramarathons since 2005. She and her husband are avid gardeners and love to hike in national parks. She is working on her memoir, Come What May; I Want to Run.
A native of Cleveland, OH, Joan Donnelly-Emery earned a BFA in Musical Theatre from Syracuse University and performed both regionally and nationally following graduation. Her cancer is now in remission, and she enjoys a quiet writing life in Franklin, TN along with her husband, Alan, and Terrier, Dottie.
R. A. Douthitt is an award-winning author of books for middle grade readers and writes inspirational fiction for women. She resides in Phoenix, AZ with her husband and two little dogs. She enjoys running marathons, traveling, painting, drawing, and volunteering, and plans to write more inspirational fiction.
Denise Murphy Drespling received her MFA in creative writing from Carlow University. She lives in western Pennsylvania with her husband, two daughters, three cats, and vast book collection. When she’s not writing, editing, or reading, she can be found exploring nature or remodeling her house. Learn more at www.DeniseDrespling.com.
Melissa Edmondson is thrilled to have her seventh story published in the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. She is the author of her own collection of stories, Lessons Abound, which is available online. She is a real estate paralegal in North Carolina and a wife and mother of four great kids. Read her blog at missyspublicjunk.wordpress.com.
Shawnelle Eliasen is married to her husband Lonny and is the mother of five sons. She home teaches the youngest two, and they live near the Iowa banks of the Mississippi River with a yellow Labrador named Rugby.
Tanya Estes spent most of her career as a librarian and bookseller. Now she is a writer who delights in experiencing her son’s enchanted world each time he says “Fee Fi Fo Fum” while climbing a tree. You can find her little family hiking through the woods of central Texas.
A teacher’s unexpected whisper, “You’ve got writing talent,” ignited Sara Etgen-Baker’s writing desire. Sara ignored that whisper and pursued a different career; upon retirement, she returned to writing. Her manuscripts have been published in a host of anthologies and magazines including the Chicken Soup for the Soul series and Guideposts.
Shaun P. Evans, a Physical Therapist, lives in New York with his wife, Nichole, and sons Shamus and Simon. He is VP of Education for Ainsley’s Angels, an organization advocating inclusion for individuals with disabilities. In 2015 he and Shamus ran 3,200 miles across America promoting inclusion. Follow him @power2push.
Melissa Face lives in Prince George County, VA, with her family. Her essays and articles have appeared in local and national publications, including Richmond Family Magazine, Sasee, and Farm and Ranch Living, as well as in 20 Chicken Soup for the Soul books. Learn more at melissaface.com.
Kristi Cocchiarella FitzGerald is a Willamette Writer’s member and a four-time NaNoWriMo finisher. She has had articles in Renaissance magazine and five stories published in the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. She has also had poems, stories and essays published in Fine Lines, a creative journal where she is an online editor.
Millicent Flake is a retired school media specialist who lives with her husband in an old farmhouse in the country. Her son, daughter-inlaw and granddog Molly live in Atlanta. She loves reading all kinds of books, working in her flower garden, and running. Read her blog at maflake.com.
Marianne Fosnow lives in Fort Mill, SC. The mild climate allows for walks and runs year round. It’s hard not to feel happy under a Carolina blue sky. She also enjoys reading and jigsaw puzzles.
Patricia A. Gavin received her Bachelor of Arts in Russian, magna cum laude, from Emmanuel College in 1966. She has six sons, two daughters and 25 grandchildren. She works in elder services and is an active volunteer in her community.
Karl W. Gruber is an avid, life-long runner and running coach. He has a Bachelor’s in Communications from Ohio State. Most of Gruber’s adult life has been spent as a professional radio disc jockey; now he does freelance writing and life coaching. Most of his time is spent in Ohio, and the rest in the sunshine of Hawaii.
Kenneth Heckard is a graduate of Seattle University. He enjoyed 35 years in the newspaper industry, mostly in the Seattle area. Retired, Kenneth enjoys spending time with his wife Gale and running. He competes in races from 5Ks to marathons and in 2017 crossed the Boston Marathon off his “bucket list.”
Ruth Heidrich, Ph.D. is an author, speaker, nutritionist, triathlete, and now a “movie star.” She’s starred in the ground-breaking documentary, Forks Over Knives. Still competing at the age of 84, she’s won over 900 medals and was named “One of the Ten Fittest Women in North America.” Learn more at www.ruthheidrich.com.
Eileen Melia Hession lives in Long Beach, NY, and enjoys daily runs (or walks) on the boardwalk. She has been published in many periodicals and has one published book of poems, Vittles in Verse. She enjoys visiting her daughter’s home in Maine where they hike and ski and eat in fabulous restaurants.
Tracy Chamberlain Higginbotham is a 24-year woman entrepreneur and public speaker. She is the Founder of Women TIES, LLC and the Women’s Athletic Network. She promotes women in business, sports, and politics. She is a feminist at heart. She has a husband Scott and two sons, Thomas and Adam, who love her “pink” spirit.
Kristin Baldwin Homsi lives in Houston, TX with her husband and three children. Kristin began writing after the premature birth of her twins drastically altered the trajectory of her life. She chronicles her attempts to manage life with three babies at raisingtrinity.com and on her Facebook page, Raising Trinity.
When not writing, Larry Hoy can be found on the back of his motorcycle. If you are fortunate enough to see him out and about, please wave him down and tell him how much you loved his story. E-mail him at LarryHoy@att.net.
Heather Martin Jauquet is a school reading specialist turned stay-at-home mom who lives in the suburbs of D.C. with her husband and four children. She tries to live by her favorite sentiment and parenting practice: “We are called to serve one another.” She can often be found reading, writing, running, and crocheting.
Rene Jordan is a 54-year-old runner, married to Mike and mother to 13-year-old Macy and two vivacious Boxers. She loves the beach, photography, and is an avid reader. She is a seasoned cosmetologist of 36 years, owning two hair salons. She spends her off time running around their 1,200-acre farm that produces peanuts, cotton, and cucumbers.
Tammi Keen is an Army National Guard Officer, a leadership development coach and analyst for the federal government. A lifelong learner, she holds bachelor’s degrees in music education and English, master’s degrees in music and emergency management, and plans to pursue a Ph.D. in strategic leadership.
Heidi Kling-Newnam received a Doctor of Nursing Practice from West Chester University in 2017. She is employed as a nurse practitioner in Pennsylvania. Heidi enjoys writing, hiking, and camping.
Kristen Knott holds a University of Toronto creative writing certificate and posts at www.kristenknott.com. She lives in Oakville with her family and two fat cats. She has written her first fictional novel, Cawaja Roots, about love and a family secret. Kristen is a believer in all things female and a Wonder Woman want-to-be!
Lisa Leshaw divides her time between conducting empowerment groups for women, motivational seminars for seniors, and freelance writing. Her favorite pastimes are meeting new people and cuddling with those she already loves.
Robert Allen Lupton is a commercial balloon pilot in New Mexico. He runs and writes every day, but not necessarily in that order. Over 100 of his stories have been published in anthologies and online. His novels, Foxborn and Dragonborn, and his collection, Running Into Trouble, are available online and in finer bookstores.
Susan Lynn is a consultant and former adjunct professor. Throughout her career, she has held positions in finance, strategic planning, organizational development, and human resources. Susan is an author and frequent contributor to articles, blogs, and books. She resides in the Northeast with her husband.
Doug Malewicki of Irvine, CA has a Masters of Science degree from Stanford University and is the author of Fit at 75! Doug turned 80 this year. He is doing a year-long series of trail running, hiking and cycling challenges meant to inspire others that they too can retain their physical powers into their elder years. See his 80th year challenge list at www.InventorDoug.com.
A.J. Martin is an amateur author with a passion for crafting stories that stick with readers. He is Ohio born and raised, and aims to publish novels of the fantasy fiction variety.
“Barefoot Ted” McDonald is a primal lifestyle pioneer living in Santa Barbara, CA. He is recognized as an independent athlete committed to encouraging the rediscovery of natural human movement capacities for health and happiness. These days he is mostly occupied with the role of spokesperson for his award-winning sandal company, LUNA Sandals.
Dimity McDowell founded Another Mother Runner in 2010 with Sarah Bowen Shea, a fellow freelance writer and runner. The duo has written three books: Run Like a Mother, Train Like a Mother, Tales from Another Mother Runner, hosts a weekly podcast, and offers training programs in the Train Like a Mother Club.
Angela McRae can’t remember a time when she wasn’t writing. A former newspaper reporter and magazine editor, she now edits books and recently published her first cozy mystery, Emeralds and Envy. She and her husband live in Georgia, and when she isn’t writing and editing, she enjoys cooking, quilting, and junking.
Ed Meek writes poetry, fiction, articles and book reviews. His most recent book of poems is Spy Pond and his collection of short stories is entitled Luck. He lives in Somerville, MA with his wife Elizabeth. Ed is working on another book of poems. Follow him on Twitter @emeek.
Jen A. Miller is the author of Running: A Love Story. She lives in Audubon, NJ with her dog Annie Oakley Tater Tot.
Kathy Lynn Miller is a writer of poetry and fiction and resides in Allison Park, PA.
Connie Biddle Morrison grew up near the Eastern Shore of Delaware, delighting in the smells of the salty marshes. She attended the University of Delaware, and with her husband and two children, moved to north central Florida in 1978. She has stories published in e-zines, magazines, and the Chicken Soup for the Soul series.
Ann Morrow is a writer, photographer and frequent contributor to the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. She lives in the Black Hills of South Dakota, where she consults the trail often. Read more of Ann’s work, and see her trail photos at annmorrow.net.
Diane Morrow-Kondos writes a weekly blog about grandparenting at www.tulsakids.com/Grand-Life/. Her book, The Road to Happy: A Sister’s Struggles Through her Brother’s Disabilities, will be released in September 2019. Diane is also a triathlete and open water swimmer. Learn more at www.dianemorrowkondos.com.
Peter J. Neiger is a combat veteran of the United States Army who was raised in Oregon. After his service he earned a B.S. in Economics from the College of Charleston. He now lives in Wilmington, NC, where he works with local governments on affordable housing issues and is currently training for his first triathlon and marathon.
Kimberly Nichelle, an author and filmmaker in Atlanta, owns Kimberly Nichelle Entertainment (www.snackratproductions.com) and has several film and television projects on the horizon. Her short film, Exposed Destiny, will be screened at several film festivals in 2019.
Risa Nye co-edited the anthology Writin’ on Empty: Parents Reveal the Upside, Downside, and Everything in Between When Children Leave the Nest. She writes as Ms. Barstool for berkeleyside.com. Her memoir, There Was a Fire Here (She Writes Press) was published in 2016. Learn more at www.risanye.com.
While Olivia O’Toole hasn’t received any formal writing education, she likes to think of herself as somewhat of a wordsmith. She has been running competitively for five cross-country seasons and plans to keep at it until her knees give out. She aspires to travel the world, and hopes to one day weave her own world with words.
Jon Penfold is the author of The Last Indians, a novel, and The Road and the River: An American Adventure, which tells his true story of traveling across the United States by bicycle and down the Mississippi River by canoe. Jon currently lives and writes in the Pacific Northwest.
Francesca Peppiatt is a writer and actor living in Chicago, IL. Her theater company, Stockyards Theatre Project’s mission statement is “giving volume to the voices of women.” She continues writing her blog, books, plays, a musical adaptation of Treasure Island and developing inspirational books to enhance her speaking career.
Perry P. Perkins is a writer and professional blogger whose work has been published in magazines from Guideposts and Writer’s Digest to Bass Master and Bible Advocate. Perry’s essays have been included in 16 Chicken Soup for the Soul books. Learn more at www.perryperkinsbooks.com.
Burr Purnell is a creative director, with nearly 25 years in the advertising industry. He received his Bachelor’s degree, with honors, from Northeastern University in 1994. Burr has lived in the San Francisco Bay Area for 20 years with his wife and two daughters.
Annie Randall is a wife and mother of four. She is also a university student, pursuing a B.A. at Concordia University of Edmonton in Alberta, Canada. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family and hanging out with friends.
Carol Randolph’s first story appeared in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Divorce and Recovery. She is the Founder of New Beginnings, a Washington, D.C. nonprofit for separation/divorce since 1979 (www.newbeginningsusa.org). She believes that the quality of our relationships gives our lives meaning and can be our greatest legacy.
Brian Reynolds is an elite bilateral below the knee amputee distance runner. He has set the world record for bilateral below the knee amputees in the marathon multiple times. He lives in Northern New Jersey with his wife and two children. He plans to continue racing at an elite level both in marathons and the paratriathlon.
Sarah A. Richardson is a running enthusiast, “back of the packer,” certified coach of frustrated runners, and author of From Side Lines to Start Lines. She has made it her mission to help runners ditch self-doubt, fall in love with running, and to do it safely, with confidence, and from the heart. E-mail her at sarah@riseandshine.run.
Paula Roberts-Banks is a former academic turned translator, photographer and artist, based in Muskoka, Ontario. She obtained her B.A., M.A. and Ph.D. at the University of Toronto. She enjoys being outdoors running, playing with her dogs, or taking pictures. She is writing and illustrating her first children’s book.
Patricia Ann Rossi has served as a volunteer running coach for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s “Team in Training” program. Patricia is a volunteer facilitator for “Writing to Heal” workshops for breast cancer survivors. Patricia also volunteers weekly as a writing club instructor at a local library for developmentally challenged adults.
Ruth Roy loves to write! She has had stories previously published in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Angels Among Us and Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Dog Did What? She lives on a farm with her husband and has accumulated many more ideas from which to write as she tends to her animals and recognizes their inspiring uniqueness.
Carolyn Roy-Bornstein’s nonfiction stories have appeared in The New York Times, The Boston Globe, Poets & Writers, and The Writer magazine. Her memoir Crash: A Mother, a Son, and the Journey from Grief to Gratitude was published in 2012. She just finished a new memoir titled Last Stop on the Struggle Bus: A Memoir of Love.
Emily Rusch is the mother to three active boys. She works as a holistic health practitioner, a health and wellness advocate and fitness instructor. She lives with her family in beautiful Northern Virginia.
Yasir Salem is a man on a mission. Starting with the 2018 New York City marathon, he will run 50 marathons in 50 states in one year. Yasir is taking on this feat to honor his late wife, Gweneviere, who passed in July 2018 from lung cancer. Through the Gweneviere Mann Foundation he is spreading awareness for early detection. His story was written with Dawn Sheggeby.
S. Scott Sanderson grew up in Kentucky and is proud to be a country boy from Appalachia. Now married and living in the sunshine of Florida with his wife and dog (queen of the house), S. Scott is a scholar with advanced degrees in Geography and Religion. His inspiration comes from the beauty and uniqueness in the world around him.
John M. Scanlan is a 1983 graduate of the United States Naval Academy, and retired from the Marine Corps as a Lieutenant Colonel aviator. He currently resides on Hilton Head Island, SC, and is pursuing a second career as a writer. E-mail John at ping1@hargray.com.
Sherrod C. Schuler is a motivational speaker and author. He received his BBA from Grand Valley State University and MBA from Spring Arbor University. He lives in Michigan with his wife, Bridgette, and is the proud father of a remarkable daughter, Autumn. E-mail him at info@sherrodspeaks.com or on Instagram/Twitter @sherrodspeaks.
Deb Sinness lives in Michigan with her life partner Annie and their two Australian Shepherds: Petunia and Buddy. She is a proud veteran of the Army Reserve, Marine Corps, and Air Force Reserve. Deb is a published poet and is currently writing a memoir. Learn more at DebSinness.com or on Twitter @DebSinness.
Andrew Todd Smith received his B.S. in Journalism (basically a redundancy) from Texas A&M University in 1993. He and his wife, Lisa, have four children and live in north Houston. He enjoys running, writing, and helping others attain their goals.
Ruchi Sneha is an ambitious 18-year-old writer, who likes to read, play video games and find new music.
Michele Sprague, a Michigan-based writer, is the author of the book Single Again 101 and has written hundreds of stories for corporate magazines and newsletters. Her pieces have also been published in many online publications. Learn more at portfolio.michelesprague.com.
Diane Stark is a wife and mother of five. She is a frequent contributor to the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. She loves to write about the important things in life: her family and her faith.
Kelly L. Swan Taylor is a Boston-based Business/Intellectual Property attorney, who lives in Providence, RI with her husband, Jonathan. As an avid runner and traveler, Kelly has run races all over the world, from Iceland to Hawaii. Her proudest running achievements include completing the Boston, New York City, and Chicago Marathons.
Ingrid Tomey wrote for several magazines and several Detroit papers for 10 years, then turned to writing books for children and teens. She has five published books. She no longer runs but bikes, hikes and does yoga. She grew up in Michigan but now lives in Florida on an island near St. Petersburg.
Erika Tremper’s twin girls are almost grown now, and she devotes her non-working hours to meditation, swimming, reading, traveling, and hiking. Goals, ambitions, aspirations? No, thank you. Something always presents itself. E-mail her at erikatremper@comcast.net.
Heather Truckenmiller is a farm wife in central Pennsylvania. Recent empty nesters after raising and homeschooling four children, including twins, she and her husband enjoy geocaching and exploring local small towns and their unique restaurants. Heather runs a blog for crafters, and is currently writing a book about the empty nest years.
Diana L. Walters is the administrator of an assisted living facility in Chattanooga and part-time writer who has been published in the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, Upper Room, and Purpose magazine. She and her husband develop material for ministry to people in care facilities. E-mail her at dianalwalters@comcast.net.
Mild-mannered librarian, humor writer and writing coach Roz Warren writes for everyone from the Funny Times to The New York Times and has appeared on both the Today Show and Morning Edition. Roz is the author of Our Bodies, Our Shelves: Library Humor. E-mail her at roswarren@gmail.com.
Mary Z. Whitney has contributed to over 30 Chicken for the Soul books. She also contributes to Angels on Earth, a Guideposts publication. Mary enjoys walking with her husband John and their little dog Max. Max has his children’s book entitled, Max’s Morning Watch.
Brian Wong is a traveling teacher and aspiring digital nomad with a background in technology and business. In 2015, he left his city job to pursue a sustainable life abroad. He has many stories to tell about his experiences.
Rebecca Wood is a freelance writer in Zionsville, IN. She’s in a mixed-marriage (runner and non-runner) with her husband Chris. Together, they parent four boys. Rebecca’s work has been included in numerous publications and blogs, including Runner’s World online. She’s run 12 marathons, including four Boston Marathons.
Susan Yanguas is a repeat contributor to the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. Her short stories have appeared in regional magazines and her novel Bluff was awarded a BRAG Medallion. She is also an editor and teaches a writing workshop at a local prison, when not walking around her neighborhood.