LeAnn and Mark, her husband of thirty-five years, reside in Colorado, where they enjoy their “empty nest.” Their two daughters, Angela and Christie, and son Mitch have “flown the coop” but are still drawn under their mother’s wing when she needs them!
For more information about LeAnn’s books and tapes or to schedule her for a presentation, please contact her at:
LeAnn Thieman, CSP
6600 Thompson Drive
Fort Collins, CO 80526
1-970-223-1574
www.LeAnnThieman.com
email:
[email protected] Contributors
Nadia Ali is an experienced freelance writer. She resides on the Caribbean island of Trinidad with her husband, Khaleel, and two daughters, Shazara and Raisah, who were the inspiration for this humorous story about their grandmother, Azmine Khan. Nadia can be reached at
[email protected].
Hannah Amgott is the author of several poems, professional articles and the 2004 memoir In the Year of the Ox. She is also a career counselor and university administrator in the Philadelphia area, and holds master’s degrees in counseling and German. Please e-mail her at
[email protected].
Gina Antonios received her bachelor’s degree from CCSU and her master’s degree from SCSU. She teaches kindergarten at Carrington School in Connecticut. She is married to her high school sweetheart and loves being a mom to her precious twins. She dedicates this poem to her mom, dad and maternal grandmother.
Linda Apple lives in northwest Arkansas with her husband, Neal, their five children and two grandchildren. She is a speaker for Stonecroft Ministries and contributor to Chicken Soup for the Nurse’s Soul, Chicken Soup for the Working Woman’s Soul and Chicken Soup for the Soul Living Your Dreams. E-mail
[email protected]. Website: www.lindacapple.com.
Tal Aviezer and Jason Cocovinis are Manhattan-based writers who specialize in prose, scripts and copy of all kinds. Their work has previously appeared in Chicken Soup for the Ocean Lover’s Soul.
Nancy V. Bennett lives in British Columbia, along with assorted cats, dogs and a rooster named Coburn. She enjoys history and sewing historical clothing. Her work has previously appeared in Chicken Soup for the Ocean Lover’s Soul.
Susan Chesser Branch, a freelance writer, lives with her husband and three children in Lake Mary, Florida. She does a wide variety of writing: novels, memoirs, magazines and newspaper features. You can e-mail her at
[email protected].
Ellie Braun-Haley is the author of four books. She also has short stories published in Chicken Soup for the Soul, other books and a wide variety of online e-zines. She presents workshops to kindergarten teachers and others in creative dance and movement for children. Please e-mail her at
[email protected].
Renie Burghardt, who was born in Hungary, is a freelance writer. She lives in a beautiful rural area and loves nature, animals, hiking and especially spending time with her own granddaughters.
Bobbi Carducci lives in Round Hill, Virginia, where she writes a feature column for the Purcellville Gazette. Her series of character studies celebrates the unique personality of the area and its inhabitants. Bobbi dedicates “Deposition Stew” to her beloved children and grandchildren. Please e-mail her at
[email protected].
Libby C. Carpenter is a freelance writer living in North Carolina. A former educator, she continues to challenge others to learn and grow through her inspirational writings. Married to Hugh, she is the mother of two daughters and doting grandmother to Taylor, Andrew, Madison and Will. E-mail her at
[email protected].
K. K. Choate is a mother of two and business owner. She writes humorous stories on family and life in general. Currently she is compiling a collection of her stories. Please e-mail her at:
[email protected].
Elayne Clift, a writer and journalist in Saxtons River, Vermont, teaches women’s studies at several New England universities and colleges. Her latest book is Women, Philanthropy and Social Change: Journey to a Just Society (UPNE/Tufts University, 2005). She is now working on her first novel.
Cheri Lynn Cowell, speaker and author, blends her messages with warmth and confidence, sprinkling them with just the right amount of homespun wisdom and practical application. Her let’s-have-a-cup-of-coffee style endears her audiences to her and has them wanting a second cup. To learn more, go to www.CheriCowell.com.
Kathleen Craft Boehmig is an Atlanta native who enjoys writing about her southern heritage. She serves on the board of the Atlanta Writers Club, is a Georgia Master Gardener intern and is currently writing her first book. E-mail her at
[email protected].
Cookie Curci was born during WWII, and most of the articles she writes about are from in and around that time frame. For sixteen years she wrote a popular nostalgia column for her community newspaper, The Willow Glen Resident (Silicon Valley Metro Newspapers in San Jose, California). Her generational stories have appeared in several nostalgia books and newspapers across the country.
Barbara G. Drotar is a freelance writer whose short stories have been published in most of the San Francisco Bay area’s newspapers. She is the mother of six grown children and grandmother of seven. She plans on publishing a book on storytelling soon. Please e-mail her at
[email protected].
Julie Dunbar is an photo editor and writer living in Colorado. She has published numerous essays and recently completed a historical novel. She enjoys traveling, hiking and hanging out with her sons. Julie can be reached at
[email protected].
Jane Elsdon has published many short stories, a children’s novel, a collection of poetry and four poetry chapbooks. A California Poet in the School, she taught experiential writing of poetry to K-12 for many years. She is the Poet Laureate of San Luis Obisipo, California, for the year 2005.
Emily Erickson is a fifth grader in Loveland, Colorado. She won first place in the Colorado State Writing Contest in fourth grade. Besides writing stories, she enjoys playing basketball and tennis. She would like to thank Delores Doyle (Nana) for inspiring her to use her imagination and writing her thoughts.
Susan Farr-Fahncke is the author of Angel’s Legacy and coauthor and contributor to numerous books. She is the founder of 2TheHeart.com (for writers and readers of inspiration) and Angels2TheHeart.com (sending hope to critically ill people) and can be reached at
[email protected].
Norma Favor, a widow, attended Bob Jones University and Clinton Junior College. She served as a pastor’s wife for twenty-five years. She plans to write about her family during the 1900s and her life as one of twelve siblings. She enjoys time with her children and twenty-two grandchildren. Please e-mail her at
[email protected].
Carolyn Mott Ford lives at the Jersey Shore and loves spending time with her grandchildren—she has seven, ranging in age from a beautiful newborn baby to a thoughtful young adult. Carolyn writes stories for young readers as well as poetry and essays, and volunteers in a grade-school reading program.
Sally Friedman, a New Jersey essayist, is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania. A freelance writer for three decades, her work has appeared in national magazines. Her favorite subjects are her husband, a retired judge, her three daughters and seven grandchildren. She is an admitted workaholic and chocoholic. E-mail:
[email protected].
Nancy Gibbs is an author, editor and motivational speaker. She has had approximately seventeen stories in Chicken Soup books. She has written four books and contributed to numerous other publications. Nancy and husband Roy have three grown children, Chad, Brad and Becky, and three granddaughters, Hannah, Halle and
[email protected] www.nancybgibbs.com. Joanie Gilmore is retired from an executive assistant/public relations career of twenty-five years. She is the published author of North Whidbey Pioneer Schools, reminiscent stories of the early pioneers and schools of North Whidbey Island, Washington, where she lives. She enjoys writing, golf and snowbirding in Arizona.
Jean Jeffrey Gietzen is a poet and family essayist whose work has appeared in dozens of secular and religious magazines. She is best known for he
r Christian gift book bestseller If You’re Missing Baby Jesus, published by Multnomah in 1999. She spends winters in Arizona and summers in Wisconsin. E-mail:
[email protected].
Bonnie S. Grau is a freelance writer who enjoys reading, cooking, traveling and spending time with her three young grandchildren. She and her husband live in York, Pennsylvania.
Andrew Grossman is the founder and director of the online cartoon service CartoonResource.com. Under various pen names he has contributed cartoons and cartoon features to many of the leading print outlets in the United States and Europe.
Janet Hall Wigler enjoys her work as a dramatist, writer and director, and she is pleased the Chicken Soup series has chosen her work for several publications. You can reach Janet at
[email protected].
Cynthia M. Hamond, SFO, has numerous stories in Multnomah’s Stories for the Heart and the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. Her stories are in major publications including Woman’s World and King’s Features Syndications. She received two writing awards, and her short stories “Goodwill” and “Friends to the End” are TV favorites.
Ruth Hancock has been published in magazines, hospice journals and several books in the Chicken Soup series: Volunteer’s Soul, Grieving Soul and Caregiver’s Soul. Her stories are based on her life and interests as a hospice volunteer, ombudsman and widow of an Episcopal priest and her extensive fashion career. E-mail:
[email protected].
Speaker-artist Bonnie Hanson is author of several books for adults and children, including the popular Ponytail Girls series, plus hundreds of published articles and poems. Her family includes husband Don, sons, grandchildren, cats, birds and possums! Contact: 3330 S. Lowell St., Santa Ana, CA 92707; (714) 751-7824;
[email protected].
Maria Harden lives and works in Winnipeg, Manitoba. She writes for newspapers, magazines and Web sites, sharing her life experiences. In her spare time she enjoys traveling, playing the piano and spending time with her family, especially her grandson. Contact Maria at
[email protected].
Emily Sue Harvey’s upbeat stories appear in women’s magazines, the Chocolate series, Chicken Soup for the Grieving Soul, From Eulogy to Joy and Caution: Children Praying. Her mainstream fictional novel, God Only Knows, about an all-too-human preacher’s family, is with the Peter Miller Agency in New York. Her current project, Sunny Flavors, is about Sunny, a mill hill girl, and her quest to overcome her family’s shame. Please contact Emily at (864) 439-5358 or
[email protected].
Jonny Hawkins’ cartoons in Chicken Soup for the Grandma’s Soul are dedicated to his beloved Grandma Hawkins.
Barbara Hibschman is a writer and speaker. She is the author of eight books and a contributing author to thirteen inspirational books. She speaks for women’s groups, churches and seminars in the United States and abroad. She enjoys team-teaching at marriage retreats with her pastor-husband, Jim. Contact:
[email protected].
Born in Michigan and raised in Texas, Renee Hixson now resides in beautiful British Columbia with her husband and four children. She has taught Sunday school and high school English and written early childhood curriculum. At the moment Renee is working on a romantic adventure novel. Please e-mail her at
[email protected].
Erin Hoffman is a freelance writer and designer currently residing in Los Angeles. She dedicates this publication to her grandmother, Dorothy Asakawa. Erin was born in San Diego, California, and graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 2003. She specializes in fantasy and young adult fiction. For more information, visit www.erinhoffman.com.
Alaska’s long winters give Valerie A. Horner plenty of time to write and quilt. She runs a bed and breakfast, catering to guests from around the world. She loves traveling, boating and gardening. She is known for her great cooking and has published a cookbook. Her e-mail is
[email protected].
Beverly Houseman is a retired registered nurse. She has published a book about her son, Rusty. Beverly is a contributor to Chicken Soup for the Nurse’s Soul, Chicken Soup for the Caregiver’s Soul, From the Heart books 1 & 2 by Kendall Bell. She is a pro-life counselor with Osceola Pregnancy Center in Kissimmee. Florida. Please e-mail her at
[email protected].
Sheila S. Hudson is published in the “Chocolates for Women” series, including “God Allows U-Turns,” “Stories from the Heart—Volumes 1 and 2,” “Taking Education Higher” and “God’s Vitamin C.” She is a columnist for Athens Banner Herald, contributor for the Christian Standard Magazine and president of Southeastern Writers of America.
Anne Johnson earned a bachelor of science degree and is a registered nurse in Nebraska in an intensive care unit. However, her most rewarding job is being a wife and mother. Writing is her way of relaxing.
Louise Tucker Jones is a Gold Medallion award–winning author and popular speaker. She holds a master’s degree in creative writing and is author and coauthor of three books. Her work has been published in numerous magazines and compilation books, including Guideposts and other Chicken Soup titles. Louise resides in Edmond, Oklahoma. E-mail:
[email protected].
Shirley Jump spends her days writing romantic comedies with sweet attitude for Kensington Books (The Bachelor Committed Pastry, February 2006) and Silhouette Romance (The Marine’s Kiss, August 2005) to feed her shoe addiction and avoid doing housework. Visit her Web site at www.shirleyjump.com.
Kathryn Kimzey Judkins, LVN, has lived in California since 1962. Since retiring in 1998, she spends much of her time writing poetry and short stories. Married fifty-eight years, she has three children, six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Betty King is an author, newspaper columnist and speaker. She is a wife, mother and grandmother and has lived with the disease MS for thirty-eight years. She is read in publications worldwide. Her Web site is www.bettyking.net and e-mail is
[email protected].
Jean Kinsey, a native Kentuckian, enjoys traveling, camping and writing. Her personal experience stories have been published in Chicken Soup, Reminiscence, Live and e-zines. American Syringomyelia Alliance Project has published twelve of her profile columns. Jean hopes to finish soon her novel Brightest Star, about a boy who has syringomyelia. E-mail:
[email protected].
Roger Kiser’s stories have been publsihed in seventeen books in five countries. Roger will never forget how he was treated as less than human while living in a Jacksonville, Florida, orphanage. Roger’s story is at www.geocities.com/trampolineone/survive/noframe.htm. Contact Roger at
[email protected].
J. Kenneth Kreider is professor emeritus of European history at Elizabethtown College (Pennsylvania). He received his Ph.D from the Pennsylvania State University and is author of A Cup of Cold Water: The Story of Brethen Service (2001). He conducts tours and has traveled in over ninety countries and seven continents.
Margaret Lang received her bachelor of arts degree from Brown University in 1963. She teaches women and children’s groups in California. Margaret has one story accepted for publication and others under consideration. Her daughter is a physician/missionary, her son a youth pastor, and she has one granddaughter.
Patti Lawson is an author, lawyer and public speaker who lives in Charleston, West Virginia, with her dog Sadie. Patti and Sadie write a newspaper column, “Dogs . . . Diets . . . Dating,” for the Sunday Gazette-Mail. Patti’s first book, The Dog Diet, will be published in 2005. Visit her Web site at www.thedogdiet.com.
CLASS graduate Delores Christian Liesner of Racine, Wisconsin, delights in sharing her faith-walk with eight grandchildren, radio audiences (Chapel of the Air; Renaissance Racine), by written word (Woman’s World, God Answers Prayer, Renaissance, CBN Internet, Health and Wellness, etc.), speaking inspirationally or creating personalized poetry. Contact: www.deloresliesner.com or
[email protected].
Patricia Lorenz is the proud grandma of Hailey, Hannah, Zachary, Casey, Riley, Chloe, Adeline and Ethan. She’s an art-of-living speaker, author of five books and a top contributor to the Chicken Soup for the Soul books, with stories in twenty-five of them. To hire her as a speake
r, e-mail
[email protected] or visit www.patricialorenz.com.
Alice Malloy is a recently retired social worker from Long Island, New York. Besides writing, her new life consists of long walks by the ocean, good books and, of course, Tuesdays with her grandchildren. Please contact her at
[email protected].
Bettye Martin-McRae, writer’s mentor, founder of Writers’ Ongoing Workshops, has been freelancing since 1972, including daily newspapers, Guideposts, Focus on the Family, The Christian Reader, Texas Folklore Society; national columns inMules and More Magazine, and author of eight western humor and inspirational books. Please contact: www.BunkhouseBooks.com;
[email protected]; (325) 235-9969.
John McCaslin is a nationally syndicated political columnist and author based in Washington, D.C. He’s seen regularly on national television discussing the latest White House and Capitol Hill gossip. In his spare time, he enjoys writing travel articles for numerous publications. Mostly, he relishes time spent with his daughter, Kerry.
Janet Lynn Mitchell is a wife, mother, author and inspirational speaker. She is the coauthor of A Special Kind of Love, For Those Who Love Children with Special Needs, published by Broadman and Holman and Focus on the Family, 2004. Janet can be reached at
[email protected] or by fax (714) 633-6309.
Laura Mueller lives in southern Vermont with her husband, Andy, and their two young children. Laura has published numerous essays, is writing a novel about teenage girls and has recently finished cowriting a play called Mommy Talk with playwright Adriana Elliot. Laura can be reached at
[email protected].
Motivational humorist Jennifer Oliver, a former El Pasoan, resides in central Texas with her husband and four kids. Author of Four Ears: Works of Heart, her stories have appeared in Chicken Soup for the Soul, Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff, Heartwarmers, Stories for a Woman’s Heart and Half Full.
Karen J. Olson is a writer and columnist from Eau Claire, Wisconsin. She writes two columns regionally as well as inspirational magazine articles on local, regional and national levels. She enjoys reading, bicycling and scrap-booking. You may reach her at
[email protected].