Kristi Adams is a travel writer who has written about llamas in Europe, the trials of using German GPS, adventure caves, and more. She lives in Germany with her husband and a curmudgeonly rescue cat and is a proud seven-time contributor to the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. Read more of her work at www.kristiadamsmedia.com.
Anna Anderson no longer lives in the Midwest. She enjoys butter on everything and never eats oleomargarine of any sort: colored or uncolored.
Nora Beason loves writing and has self-published four books. She enjoys researching an historical event, then writing a story around it. Nora has six more thrilling fiction books that she hopes someday will be published and is currently writing a book on an eighteen-year-old female private investigator and her adventures.
Freelance writer Florence Calderone Blake has had over 2,250 stories published in newspapers, magazines, and anthologies. Her memoir has been read on six continents.
Kathy Boecher is a retired granny who spent her life encouraging young people as a drama instructor and public speaking coach. She continues to freelance as a director for children’s theater and loves to write her Christian daily blog. She is living the dream with her artist husband of fifty-three years.
Jan Bono’s specialty is humorous personal experience. She has published five collections, two poetry chapbooks, nine one-act plays, a dinner theater play, and has written for magazines ranging from Guideposts to Woman’s World. Jan is currently writing a mystery series set on the southwest Washington coast. Learn more at www.JanBonoBooks.com.
Laura L. Bradford treasures her family, no matter how crazy they may appear. Having spent thirty-six years as a family caregiver, she’s seen how a little craziness can bring laughter, even to the hardest of days. Now a grandmother to three young children, she’s looking forward to many more years of craziness and laughter.
Christy Breedlove is a Texas girl but now calls Georgia home. She and her husband have two children and an evil dog. She published her first book, When Lightning Strikes, in 2017. She enjoys geocaching, knitting, and annoying her children. Visit her at www.christybreedlovewrites.com.
Cynthia Briggs celebrates her love of cooking and writing through her cookbooks and lighthearted tales of country living in the 70s and 80s. She writes for newspapers, magazines, and publishers. When she’s not writing, Briggs enjoys teaching and coaching budding authors. E-mail her at books@porkchopandapplesauce.net.
D.E. Brigham grew up on a dairy farm in Litchfield, NY. He currently lives and writes in Eastern Tennessee, where he enjoys pickleball, kayaking, bridge, and hiking in the Smoky Mountains. E-mail him at davidebrigham@gmail.com.
Cate Bronson is an accountant turned author of speculative fiction and nonfiction. She is also a Writer’s Digest awarded writer in mainstream fiction, and contributor to magazines and anthologies. In her spare time, Cate lounges with her husband and Greyhounds in Florida, and helps retired racing dogs find loving homes.
Melanie Chartoff is an actor/writer/director/charisma coach residing in L.A. A contributor to Funny Times, Huffington Post, Jewish Journal, Better After Fifty, she readies an essays compilation, Got Medicare, Got Menopause, Got Married for publishing, she voices characters on Cartoon Network’s OK, K.O! and on the Rugrats.
JoAnne Check graduated from Kutztown University and lives in North Carolina. She’s authored six books of historical fiction as well as contributions to the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. Currently, she is working on the novel Mad Mattie. She also loves art, travel, gardening, and camping in the great outdoors. Visit her at www.joannecheck.com.
Mara A. Cohen, Ph.D. is a writer, public speaker, civic activist and mother working on a memoir about family and resilience. Her essays have appeared in numerous literary publications, scholarly journals, and general news outlets. Her greatest joy is spending time with friends and family. Read more of her work at maracohen.com.
Veronica I. Coldiron is a singer/songwriter from Columbus, GA. She has several music CDs and works of short-fiction published and is proudest of being a good wife and mom. Her new full-length suspense thriller, Nightworld Shadows, will soon be available online.
Cj Cole lives between the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic on the eastern shore of Virginia. She has been a radio personality on the shore for fourteen years and was a weekly advice/opinion columnist for twelve years.
Joy Cook is a freelance writer, substitute teacher, and mother of four. Her story, “Family Meeting,” was included in Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Power of Gratitude. Joy’s busy life often leads to plenty of craziness and her kids often joke, “Well, here goes our crazy family again!” They enjoy finding the perfection amid craziness.
Gwen Cooper received her B.A. in English and Secondary Education in 2007 and completed the Publishing Institute at Denver University in 2009. In her free time, she enjoys krav maga, traveling, and spending time with her husband and Bloodhound in the beautiful Rocky Mountains. Follow her on Twitter @Gwen_Cooper10.
Laura Dailey-Pelle received her master’s degree in Health Care Administration from Central Michigan University. She works for a health system in southeastern Michigan as the Director of Radiation Oncology. Laura enjoys walking, reading, writing, and spending time with her family.
Pamela Dawes-Tambornino lives with her husband, two rescue dogs and four cats in the country. After thirty years, she recently retired from teaching English Composition at the college level.
Karen Ekstrom is a frequent contributor to the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. She and her husband David have five children, a dog, and three cats. They live on a Texas cattle ranch; all of which gives her lots of entertaining tales for her quirky, offbeat blog www.FlunkingFamily.com. E-mail her at kcekstrom@yahoo.com.
A forty-four-year veteran of the CIA’s Special Operations Group and of Israel’s Mossad, John Elliott holds a Bachelor of Science degree in business, an MBA, and a Juris Doctorate law degree. Fluent in several languages, he was also involved in law enforcement both in the United States and with Interpol in France.
Madeline Evans received her Bachelor of Arts in English in 2016 from Texas A&M University as well as her Master of Education a year later. Madeline teaches middle school English Language Arts in Southeast Texas, and she plans to continue pursuing her passion for writing.
David Fingerman is a retired court clerk who now devotes his time to writing. He lives in Minneapolis and finds Zen in shoveling snow. He’s sure one day a relative will write a story in a book about crazy families and it will be about him.
Josephine A. Fitzpatrick is a retired attorney, wife, mother, and grandmother. She loves to write. Josephine co-facilitates a memoir writing class at Cal State University, Long Beach. She has been published in the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, Creative Nonfiction, and two anthologies.
Marianne Fosnow lives in Fort Mill, SC. When she doesn’t have her nose in a book, she enjoys photography and jigsaw puzzles. She’s very proud to be a contributor to the Chicken Soup for the Soul series!
Sarah Foster is a wife, mother, and writer. She is also a daughter, granddaughter, and sister. She loves her quirky, crazy, wonderful family with all her heart.
Surrounded by pets, farm animals, and gorgeous countryside, Vera Frances is a retired banker who enjoys frequenting the nearby mountains for fly fishing, hiking, and painting. She is a nature enthusiast by day and writer by night.
Sally Friedman has been writing personal essays for four decades. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, she has contributed to numerous publications including The New York Times, Huffington Post, Ladies Home Journal, Family Circle and other regional newspapers and magazines.
Becky G. grew up in the Midwest in a large family full of love and made the typical dysfunctional family moments ones that brought laughter and good memories. When you live your life from the heart, you cherish each individual for the way they are despite all their quirks, as taught to her by her momma, Cathy.
Pamela Gilsenan has five adult children and assorted grandchildren. She lives in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. Thanksgiving is her favorite holiday.
Marsha Henry Goff is an author, editor, journalist, and former newspaper humor columnist. She lives with her husband in the home they built on a rural Kansas hill. She has two sons, four grandchildren and is rich in family and friends who provide her with great copy.
Jase Graves is a college English instructor and a nationally syndicated humor columnist. He is a lifelong resident of East Texas and a Texas A&M Aggie. His hobbies include spending time with his wife and three daughters and sleeping as late as possible. E-mail him at susanjase@sbcglobal.net.
Virginia B. Harmon lives in beautiful rural Vermont with her wife and son. She is a construction Project Manager by day, and enjoys playing ice hockey, roller derby, and wielding power tools in her spare time.
Rob Harshman was a secondary school teacher for over forty years and has traveled widely around the world. He lives in Mississauga with his wife and spends much time with his family, especially his three grandchildren. Rob enjoys gardening and photography while he continues to write short stories for publication.
Gwen Hart teaches writing at Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, IA. Her poetry, short fiction, and essays have appeared in numerous literary journals and anthologies. Her second poetry collection, The Empress of Kisses, won the Texas Review Press X.J. Kennedy Poetry Prize.
Erika Hoffman received her B.A and her M.A.T. from Duke University. She used to teach teens; now she teaches retired folks for OLLI at Duke. Erika’s nonfiction narratives, essays, and travel articles have been published in magazines, ezines, and anthologies. She has authored books about her 2015 trip to Cuba; they’re available as ebooks.
Gina Farella Howley received her Master’s in Special Education from Northern Illinois University in 1991. She has been a teacher, tutor, and freelance writer. Most importantly, with husband John, she manages the craziness produced by her three sons Martin (thirteen), Joe (eleven), and Tim (nine). She enjoys beaches, books, chocolate and wine.
C. Joy lives in the Midwest, nestled among cornfields and cows. Mother to five children, grandmother to three, she enjoys gardening, reading, knitting, and traveling.
Megan Pincus Kajitani is a writer, editor, and educator. Her writing has appeared in several anthologies, including three other Chicken Soup for the Soul books, and publications such as The Chronicle of Higher Education, Mothering magazine, and Huffington Post. As Meeg Pincus, she also writes nonfiction for children.
Dana Klosner-Wehner’s first foray into writing was selling a script to NBC-TV. She began her freelance journalism career after her kids were born because she wanted to spend mega-amounts of time with them, like her mom did with her. Her work has appeared in major newspapers and magazines. Learn more at www.Danaklosner.com.
April Knight is an author and an artist and never misses an opportunity to walk in the woods, go on a picnic or ride an elephant. She believes life is short and our happiest days, our greatest love and our biggest adventures could all still be ahead of us.
Jeanne Kraus is a retired elementary educator who taught in Florida for over forty years. She now lives in Tennessee and continues to write short stories and poems for anthologies. She has been published in other Chicken Soup for the Soul books and is an author of three children’s books and a Boomer Humor book for women.
Dale Kueter wrote for Iowa newspapers for forty-one years. He grew up on an Iowa farm and graduated with a degree in journalism from the University of Iowa in 1958. Kueter is the author of three books. He and his wife are the parents of five daughters and have fourteen grandchildren. They live in Cedar Rapids, IA.
Joyce Laird is a freelance writer living in Southern California. Her features have been published in a wide range of consumer magazines and she is a regular contributor to Woman’s World magazine and the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. Joyce is also a member of Mystery Writers of America.
Cathi LaMarche is an essayist, novelist, and writing coach whose work has appeared in nearly three-dozen anthologies. When not immersed in the written word, she stays busy reading, cooking, gardening, and walking her three beloved Collies.
With the passing of her mother, Cindy Legorreta has fulfilled one task — that of caregiver. Now she intends to keep a promise made. She will begin her “second life,” post retirement, and relocate with hubby, Ric, to his home city of New Orleans. There Cindy plans to focus her energies — guiding and mentoring NOLA youth at risk.
Barbara LoMonaco has worked for Chicken Soup for the Soul as an editor since 1998. She has co-authored two Chicken Soup for the Soul book titles and has had stories published in numerous other titles. Barbara is a graduate of the University of Southern California and has a teaching credential.
Sarah Lyons is a writer and stay-at-home mom to her six children, including three-year-old triplets. She enjoys cooking, reading, and spending time outdoors with her family. They live in a suburb of Kansas City.
Christie Collins Lypka is a Southern Girl — born and bred. She has been writing short stories since she was four years old. She is currently working on her first book, Into the Abyss. She resides in Michigan with her Yankee husband, Mike.
Betty Maloney is a multi-award-winning painter and artist. A widow, she is surrounded by wonderful grandchildren and Boston Terriers.
Mike McCrobie is a retired high school teacher from Oswego, NY. He writes a column for his local newspaper, The Palladium-Times, and has self-published Our Oswego, a collection of columns about his home town. His children (Matt, Sarah, Brian, and Eric) along with wife Sally have provided plenty of “crazy family” memories.
Bronwyn McIntyre is a writer on a mission to make every story more fun and more human. In her spare time, she walks dogs and drinks coffee in alarming quantities. You can check out her other works at jollywriter.com.
Rosemary McLaughlin has loved stories and storytelling since she was a little girl — writing plays for her friends to perform. After thirty-five years as an English teacher and reading her students’ writing, she is now retired and doing her own writing and enjoying her family. She is proud to be part of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. E-mail her at Rosemarymclaugh@gmail.com.
Janet Lynn Mitchell is an author, speaker, wife, mother, grandmother, and friend. Her passion is to communicate God’s love to others. Whether writing, speaking or hanging out, she hopes to encourage others. Her latest book, A Voice Once Silenced, is soon to be released.
Ela Oakland loves hot dogs. When there are too many buns she makes croutons and feeds the crumbs to the birds.
Senia J. Owensby has always loved to write. Her passion for writing has produced a broad variety of literature, including several books and an assortment of articles for numerous publications. She’s married to the love of her life and is also a mother and grandmother. Read her blog posts at finishingwellinlife.com.
Lucia Paul is an award-winning humor writer whose work has been published in anthologies including That’s Paris: Life, Love and Sarcasm in the City of Light; Motherhood May Cause Drowsiness: Funny Stories by Sleepy Moms; It’s Really 10 Months Special Delivery and Laugh Out Loud: 40 Women Humorists Celebrate Then and Now.
Saralee Perel is an award-winning nationally syndicated columnist. She may be reached at sperel@saraleeperel.com or via her website at www.SaraleePerel.com.
Kay Conner Pliszka is a retired high school teacher and an award-winning author with over thirty-five stories and articles in books, magazines, and newspapers. This marks her twenty-fourth entry in Chicken Soup for the Soul books. E-mail Kay for humorous or spiritual presentations at kmpliszka@comcast.net.
Connie K. Pombo is an inspirational author, speaker, and freelance writer. She is a frequent contributor to the Chicken Soup for the Soul series and other anthologies. When not speaking, writing or traveling, Connie enjoys spending time with her three grandchildren. Contact her at www.conniepombo.com.
This is Mark Rickerby’s twentieth story published in the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. He’s the co-creator/head writer of Big Sky, an upcoming western series, writer for Six Rivers Entertainment, co-author of his father’s memoir, The Other Belfast: An Irish Youth, and lyricist/ singer of fifteen songs for Great Big World, a CD for his daughters, Marli and Emma.
Heather Rodin is an award-winning writer, speaker, and author of two books. She serves as Executive Director of Hope Grows Haiti, a
mission she and her husband, Gord, founded in 2007. With six married children and twelve grandchildren, her life bursts with blessings. E-mail her at hrodin@hopegrows.ca.
Martha Roggli taught elementary school for twenty-five years before retiring four years ago. She now spends her time taking Jazzercise classes, long naps, and writing. She advises anyone who enjoys writing to find a group. The people will become your inspiration, mentors, and best critics.
Bill Rouhana is the CEO of Chicken Soup for the Soul. He is married to Amy Newmark, the Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Chicken Soup for the Soul. They like to tell stories about each other. Their four children think they are equally crazy.
Chana R. Rubinstein is a stay-at-home mom of five children. She loves to write in her spare time. Poetry is the most fun, but she is also currently working on her third novel and has written several children’s books.
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.
Helen A. Scieszka is a former ad executive, psychologist, professor, church pastoral associate, and marriage and family life director; also a published author of three novels and in Chicken Soup for the Soul books. She loves reading, travel, music, photography, art, sports, and family genealogy. Learn more at drhelenscieszka.com.
Troy Seate’s storytelling runs the gamut from Horror Novel Reviews Best Short Fiction Award to the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. His memoirs and essays report fact while his fiction incorporates realism, fantasy, or humor featuring the quirkiest of characters.
Jen P. Simmons is a wife and a new mom who works full-time for an outdoor clothing company. Jen enjoys a good cuppa, being with family, writing short stories, gardening, the great outdoors, and triathlons. She hopes to write content that inspires others to embrace this life motto: live well, laugh often, and love much.
Debbie Sistare, a retired RN and Ordained Minister, has a BSN and a Master’s in Religious Psychology. Her thirty-year nursing career included flight nursing, hospital nursing, nursing instructor, hospital supervisor and private counselor. Her 1st fiction novel, In Search of the Key of David: The Symbol of Knowledge, debuts in 2018.
Adrienne Sladek is a small-town girl from Fruitland, MO, who always looks for peace in the craziness of life. She loves her family and her dog Brutus more than anything, is a baker by profession, and a lover of all things pumpkin. However, most importantly, she is a forgiven child of a loving God.
Reverend James L. Snyder is an award-winning author whose writings have appeared in more than eighty periodicals including Guideposts. In Pursuit of God: The Life of A.W. Tozer, Snyder’s first book, won the Reader’s Choice Award in 1992 from Christianity Today. Snyder has authored and edited thirty books altogether.
Suzette Martinez Standring is a syndicated spirituality columnist with GateHouse Media/More Content Now. She is a recipient of the 2017 Will Rogers Humanitarian Award from the National Society of Newspaper Columnists. E-mail her at suzmar@comcast.net or visit www.readsuzette.com. In God all things are possible.
Jan Kendall St.Cyr is a wife, mother of four and grandmother of six. Always an avid reader, journal writer, and writer of a monthly column in her hometown paper, Jan uses the experiences of her family as fodder for her many stories.
Shannon Stocker is a coma survivor and RSD/CRPS advocate. Shannon has previously written for the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, writes picture books, blogs, is a musician, and is currently writing her memoir. Her world revolves around Greg, Cassidy, and Tye. Follow her crazy life at shannonstocker.com and on twitter @iwriteforkidz.
B.J. Taylor harbors a secret smile every time her brother calls to recount another family caper. She’s an award-winning author whose work has appeared in Guideposts, many Chicken Soup for the Soul books, and numerous other publications. You can reach her at www.bjtaylor.com and check out her dog blog at www.bjtaylor.com/blog.
Dawn Turzio is an award-winning writer whose work has been featured in many publications including The New York Times, MSN Lifestyle, Yahoo! News, and Salon, which can be found at www.dawnturzio.com.
Cheryl E. Uhrig is an author, illustrator, cartoonist and painter. Cheryl’s stories and artwork appear in children’s books, magazines, and in local galleries. She lives in Newmarket, Ontario with her family.
Miriam Van Scott is an author and photographer whose credits include children’s books, magazine articles, television productions, website content and reference books. Her latest titles include Song of Old: An Advent Calendar for the Spirit and the Shakespeare Goes Pop series. Learn more at miriamvanscott.com.
Originally from Seattle, Barbara Walker is a physical therapist, wife, mother, and grandmother living in the Atlanta, GA area. When she’s not helping her patients walk again, she enjoys reading alone, hiking with her husband, playing with her grandchildren and laughing with everyone.
David Warren is the vice president of Lutz Blades and resides in Kettering, OH, with his wife Angela and daughter Marissa. David loves
traveling, music, and writing. He is the author of two children’s books and has stories in various magazines. He survived full cardiac arrest and this is his sixth story published in the Chicken Soup for the Soul series.
S.E. White is an author, blogger, and mom to three tiny destroyers. The kids assist in the writing process by asking when dinner is — every fifteen minutes. Her work can be found on sites like HerViewFromHome, Mamalode, Parent.co and Pregnant Chicken.
Arthur Wiknik, Jr. served in Vietnam with the 101st Airborne Division and has appeared on the History Channel and the Military Channel. This is the eighth Chicken Soup for the Soul book he has been published in. Arthur frequently shares his military experiences at schools and civic organizations. Learn more at www.namsense.com.
Jenny Wilson is a writer, wife, and mother. She is blessed with a wonderful family that pulls together when one member is in need. They’re quirky, but loving, and she counts them among her greatest blessings.
Following a career in Nuclear Medicine, Melissa Wootan is joyfully exploring her creative side. She enjoys writing and is a regular guest on San Antonio Living, an hour-long lifestyle-show on San Antonio’s NBC affiliate, where she shares all of her best DIY and decorating tips. Contact her at www.facebook.com/chicvintique.
Hannah Yoder is a misplaced Tennessean wandering the foreign lands of Southern Ohio. She is a full-time crazy horse lady, part-time trainer of off-the-track Thoroughbreds, and a part-time freelance writer.
Jerry Zezima writes a nationally syndicated humor column for his hometown paper, the Stamford Advocate, in Connecticut. He is the author of three books. He lives on Long Island, NY with his wife, Sue. They have two daughters, three grandchildren and many creditors. Mr. Zezima has no interesting hobbies.
