by Amy Newmark
Vicki L. Julian, a University of Kansas alumnus, is an award-winning writer, and editor whose works have appeared in myriad newspapers and magazines. She is the author of six books with two additional to be released soon; and included in ten anthologies. Learn more at www.vickijulian.com.
Jennifer Kennedy is a freelance writer specializing in marketing and public relations content and a senior writer for Story Terrace. This is her second story published in the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, but it is extra special because she is published alongside the best writer she knows — her dad. E-mail her at [email protected].
Mary Potter Kenyon lives in Dubuque, IA, where she is Program Coordinator for the Shalom Spirituality Center. Mary graduated from the University of Northern Iowa and is a certified grief counselor, public speaker, and workshop presenter. She is the author of seven books, including one on creativity to be released by Familius in 2020.
Lori Ann King is the author of Come Back Strong: Balanced Wellness after Surgical Menopause. She is a 2019 U.S. IsaBody Challenge Finalist with a passion for helping others transform physically and financially. When she’s not writing or coaching, you’ll find her with her husband Jim on their bikes, paddle boards, or kayaks.
Mimi Greenwood Knight is a freelance writer and mama of four living on a small hobby farm in South Louisiana. Mimi has thousands of articles, devotionals, and essays in print, including in more than two-dozen Chicken Soup for the Soul books. She and her husband, David, are anxiously awaiting their empty nest years.
Samantha LaBarbera received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Franklin & Marshall College and her J.D. from Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law. An attorney in the pharmaceutical industry, she lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and two children.
Carol C. Lake received her MBA and MA in Geography from SUNY at Buffalo. She and her husband have three daughters and she works in finance for the University of California. Carol enjoys reading and everything family. She plans to write a collection of stories to share successes of overcoming life’s challenges. Read her blog at uniquelytold.com.
Lisa Leshaw is thrilled to be re-launching her empowerment workshops for women throughout the U.S. Her latest endeavor involves a series of videos/books addressing the empty nest phase of parenting, one she is all too familiar with and is still graciously adjusting to.
Ina Massler Levin was a middle school teacher and, later, the editor-in-chief at an educational publishing house. In retirement she has been indulging her love of travel and ballroom dancing with her husband Michael. Ina loves spending time with her family including her granddaughter Elianna Mae.
Bobbie Jensen Lippman is a professional writer who lives in Seal Rock, OR with her cat Purrfect and a robot named Waldo. Bobbie’s work has been published nationally and internationally. She writes a weekly human-interest column for The News-Times in Newport, OR. E-mail her at [email protected].
Joyce Lombardi is a nonfiction writer and nonprofit lawyer/lobbyist who lives in Baltimore, MD, aka Charm City, with her two teenaged children. She writes about power, gender, race, and sometimes water. Her work has been published in Salon.com, The Village Voice, the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, and several local outlets.
Frederick Loomis received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Temple University and Master’s and Doctoral degrees from Penn State University. He is a retired associate professor of education and continues to teach and mentor students. He wakes up each day for his devoted wife, two grown children and four wonderful grandchildren.
Diana Lynn is a freelance writer and business owner in Washington State. This is a milestone for her as it’s her tenth story published in the Chicken Soup for the Soul series.
Carol L. MacKay is a freelance writer who lives in the picturesque town of Qualicum Beach on Vancouver Island. This is her second story published in the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. Carol is currently busy at work on a mystery novel set in the Alberta Parkland.
Mark Mason is a freelance illustrator living in Whittier, CA. His work has appeared in magazines, children’s books and greeting cards. He is passionate about life and living in the moment. When he isn’t at the drawing table, he can be found at the local bakery indulging in a pecan roll. E-mail him at [email protected].
Frances R. McGuckin is the author of the bestseller, Business for Beginners. After a life-altering car accident in 2005 and serious brain injury, she resumed writing in 2015, with two stories published in Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Spirit of Canada in 2017. She loves horses, gardening, and fitness. E-mail her at [email protected].
Kim Johnson McGuire received her Bachelor of Arts in Literature from University of California, Santa Barbara in 1983. She works as a Pilates instructor and enjoys traveling, reading, and playing golf. She joyfully recalls many travel and golfing adventures she shared with her husband.
Jennifer McMurrain has won numerous awards for her short stories and novels, including hitting #1 on the Amazon Best Seller list with her book, Quail Crossings. She has sixteen novels and collaborations published. She lives in Bartlesville, OK with her family. Learn more at www.jennifermcmurrain.com.
Nancy Merczel lives in Illinois with her husband and (senior) cat. She is currently writing a book for tween girls.
Sarah E. Morin is a kid wrangler at a history museum in Indiana. She writes poems, short stories, and unruly fairy tales, including two books: Waking Beauty and Rapunzel the Hairbrained. When she grows up she wants to be a child prodigy.
Ann Morrow is a writer, humorist, and frequent contributor to the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. She and her husband live in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Ann is currently at work on a collection of humor essays that she hopes to have published in the near future.
Diane Morrow-Kondos writes a weekly blog about grandparenting at www.tulsakids.com/Grand-Life/. Her book, The Long Road to Happy: A Sister’s Struggle Through Her Brother’s Disabilities, will be released fall 2019. Diane is also a triathlete and open water swimmer. Learn more at www.dianemorrowkondos.com.
A recent, self-described escapee of the corporate world, Lauren Mosher now enjoys a career with a dog-walking company. She is devoted to her volunteer work with animal-rescue nonprofits and human-welfare organizations. She believes that living life in service to others is paramount. Her favorite color is pink.
Brian Narelle’s career has spanned film, television and theater. A cartoonist at heart, his political cartoons can be found in textbooks worldwide. Starring in the cult film Dark Star in deep space, he has since confined his flying to 10,000 feet. If you need cartoons e-mail him at [email protected].
S.K. Naus has enjoyed writing since grade school and likes to enter contests on a lark. Words are important and arranging them in the right order can create wonderful stories, which is her favourite part of writing.
Marcus A. Nelson is a prolific writer. His debut novel, Born from Weeds & Rats, has received high praise from an audience awaiting his next release. You can find him blogging at www.mafoombay.com with a mix of relevant commentaries, short stories and book reviews. Raised in New Jersey(land), he now lives in Connecticut.
Dr. Noelle C. Nelson is a psychologist, speaker, and author of over a dozen books empowering individuals to be happier, healthier and more successful at work, at home and in relationships. Her passion for inspiring people led her to create @MeetTheAmazings. A competitive ballroom dancer, she also loves reading and travel.
Laura Niebauer Palmer received her graduate degree in English from DePaul University and currently lives in Austin, TX with her husband and son. She enjoys writing, traveling, pool days, and sharing her adventures at palmerpathtoparenthood.com.
Perry P. Perkins’ work has appeared in hundreds of magazines from Writer’s Digest, to Bass Master, to Guideposts, as well as twenty-two Chicken Soup for the Soul titles. The author of over a dozen books he currently writes a monthly column, “Renaissance Dad,” for Vancouver Family Magazine. Learn more at www.perry
perkinsbooks.com.
Kristen Mai Pham is delighted to be an eight-time contributor to the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. She is also a screenwriter and her ultimate dream is to see her stories produced for television and film. Follow her on Instagram @kristenmaipham or e-mail her at [email protected].
Pam Phree retired from Social Service in 2017 to become a full-time writer. She is nearing completion on her latest novel about life in heaven. She lives in Ellensburg, WA with her dog, Bella.
Connie K. Pombo is an inspirational speaker, freelance writer, and frequent contributor to the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. When not speaking or writing, she enjoys traveling internationally where she volunteers her time for causes important to her heart. Learn more at www.conniepombo.com.
Staying positive — and healthy — comes easier with happiness, so that’s what C. L. Pryor strives to do daily: fill her life with joy. Her heart is happiest when she’s writing, spending time with her husband, playing with her pets, traveling (especially cruising), reading, or playing puzzle games on her phone.
Donna L. Roberts is a native upstate New Yorker who lives and works in Europe. She is a university professor and holds a Ph.D. in Psychology. Donna is an animal and human rights advocate and when she is researching or writing she can be found at her computer buried in rescue cats. E-mail her at [email protected].
It is rumored that the first word Sue Ross uttered gave her such satisfaction that she said it twice. “Author! Author!” Finding stories all around her, Sue revels in language that lifts and inspires. With a B.A. in English, she is editing her first novel, Golanski’s Treasures. E-mail her at [email protected].
Award-winning speaker, educator, author and musician Linda Ruescher’s life and career came to a grinding halt with acute onset of systemic lupus. During four years on disability, Linda tried to make sense of what happened to her life. Her research opened the doors to new possibilities and the creation of her own new normal.
Cheryl M. Scott is a nonprofit executive in Bakersfield, CA where she “connects the dots” between businesses, educators, and the community. She enjoys running and hiking, writing, and wine tasting — not necessarily in that order! She and her husband have two sons, two dogs, and an occasional brood of backyard hummingbirds.
Heather Spiva is a freelance writer from Sacramento, CA. She loves reading and writing and hanging out with her two boys and husband. When she’s not doing these things, she’s probably shopping for vintage clothing or drinking coffee… or doing both simultaneously. Learn more at www.heatherspiva.com.
Glenda Standeven is an adventurer, amputee, author, and inspirational speaker. She lives with her husband, Rick, three hours north of Seattle, WA in Chilliwack, BC. Her books, I Am Choosing to Smile and What Men Won’t Talk About… And Women Need to Know are available online.
Suzette Martinez Standring is syndicated with GateHouse Media and wrote The Art of Column Writing and The Art of Opinion Writing. The unseen world sends powerful messages and she listens. Learn more at www.readsuzette.com.
Judee Stapp is an author and speaker for Stonecroft Ministries, retreats, and women’s events. She is a wife, mother of three, and grandmother of four, including precious Kelly (from this story). Judee hopes to inspire people to find happiness through a personal relationship with God. E-mail her at [email protected].
Diane St. Laurent is a wife, mother of three and grandmother of seven. She enjoys swimming, writing, reading, and planning adventures with her family.
Lisa Swan is a University of Texas at Austin graduate who lives in New York City. She has written for a variety of publications, including Guideposts, the New York Daily News, and The Washington Post. Lisa is also a back-of-the-pack runner, triathlete, and eight-time marathoner whose goal is to run marathons in all fifty states.
Jodi Renee Thomas likes to write stuff, and sometimes people like to read it. She is an avid advocate for equal rights for all and has even spoken on the steps of our nation’s capitol. She lives happily in Florida with her husband, best friend, and a dog that likes to sit next to her while she types.
Ingrid Tomey received her MFA from University of Michigan in 1983. She and Paul have a son, daughter, and three grandchildren. Ingrid is a mediator in northern Michigan. She also enjoys yoga, biking, and sitting on her porch and watching the changing weather over Lake Michigan.
“Sunny” Esther Valenzuela is a writer/speaker and Realtor. In between real estate transactions, Sunny and her mom, Charlotte, speak about her mom’s experiences in a concentration camp during WWII. Sunny and her mom speak at civic, church and community events. For more info e-mail her at [email protected].
Sarah Wagner lives in West Virginia with her husband, sons, dogs, and lizards. Her work has appeared in several anthologies and magazines including Flashquake, Chronogram, and the Sigurd Journal. She has four paranormal novels and a science fiction short story collection available. Learn more at www.sarahewagner.com.
Nick Walker is an on-camera meteorologist on The Weather Channel, a voice over narrator, speaker, writer and The Weather Dude®, educating young people about weather through music. He writes the “Tales from a Weathered Man” blog and podcast at nickwalkerblog.com.
Jude Walsh is a writer and a creativity and life coach. Her writing is published in numerous literary magazines and anthologies, including three titles in the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. She is the author of Post-Divorce Bliss: Ending Us and Finding Me (Morgan James Press, 2019). Learn more at www.secondbloomcoaching.com.
David Warren and his wife of twenty-eight years reside in Kettering, OH. They have one daughter Marissa. David’s stories have been in multiple titles in the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. He is Vice President of Lutz Americas and continues to inspire with positive views on life!
Jodi Whitsitt is a blogger, widow, and proud mom of three. She’s a mix of optimism, tenacity, and anxiety. Life has tried to knock her down a few times, but with faith, family, and friendship she continues to rise up. It’s her mission to turn her pain into purpose by keeping it real with her readers at ExtraGraceRequired.com.
Arthur Wiknik, Jr. served in Vietnam with the 101st Airborne Division and was featured on the History channel and the Military channel (currently known as American Heroes Channel) for his participation in the battle of Hamburger Hill. Arthur frequently shares his military experiences at schools and civic organizations. Learn more at www.namsense.com.
Courtney Wright attended Concordia College New York and then earned her Master’s in multi-cultural education from Iona College. She lives in Northern New Jersey where she enjoys hiking, fishing, running, and binge watching Netflix. But her biggest passion is blogging and helping busy women build confidence.
Meet Amy Newmark
Amy Newmark is the bestselling author, editor-in-chief, and publisher of the Chicken Soup for the Soul book series. Since 2008, she has published 160 new books, most of them national bestsellers in the U.S. and Canada, more than doubling the number of Chicken Soup for the Soul titles in print today. She is also the author of Simply Happy, a crash course in Chicken Soup for the Soul advice and wisdom that is filled with easy-to-implement, practical tips for enjoying a better life.
Amy is credited with revitalizing the Chicken Soup for the Soul brand, which has been a publishing industry phenomenon since the first book came out in 1993. By compiling inspirational and aspirational true stories curated from ordinary people who have had extraordinary experiences, Amy has kept the twenty-six-year-old Chicken Soup for the Soul brand fresh and relevant.
Amy graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University where she majored in Portuguese and minored in French. She then embarked on a three-decade career as a Wall Street analyst, a hedge fund manager, and a corporate executive in the technology field. She is a Chartered Financial Analyst.
Her return to literary pursuits was inevitable, as her honors thesis in college involved traveling throughout Brazil’s impoverished northeast region,
collecting stories from regular people. She is delighted to have come full circle in her writing career — from collecting stories “from the people” in Brazil as a twenty-year-old to, three decades later, collecting stories “from the people” for Chicken Soup for the Soul.
When Amy and her husband Bill, the CEO of Chicken Soup for the Soul, are not working, they are visiting their four grown children and their grandchildren.
Follow Amy on Twitter @amynewmark. Listen to her free podcast — “Chicken Soup for the Soul with Amy Newmark” — on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, the Podcasts app on iPhone, or by using your favorite podcast app on other devices.
Meet Deborah Norville
Bestselling author Deborah Norville credits many of the successes in her life to a positive mental attitude. She is the anchor of Inside Edition, the nation’s top-rated daily news magazine, a two-time Emmy winner, and serves on the Board of Directors for the Viacom Corporation, the global provider of entertainment content.
Deborah is also the author of a half-dozen books including the New York Times bestseller, Thank You Power: Making the Science of Gratitude Work for You. That book brought together for the first time the growing body of academic research proving the benefits of gratitude. Similarly, The Power of Respect presented research detailing the benefits of respectful behavior, with real-life stories. She also coauthored Chicken Soup for the Soul: Think Possible and Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Power of Gratitude and wrote the forewords for Chicken Soup for the Soul: Think Positive and Chicken Soup for the Soul: Find Your Happiness.
Deborah Norville is a summa cum laude (4.0) graduate of the University of Georgia. She is married and the mother of three.
Get in touch with Deborah on social media or via her website at www.DeborahNorville.com.
Thank You
We owe huge thanks to all of our contributors and fans. We were overwhelmed with thousands of submissions on this very popular topic, and we had a team that spent months reading all of them. Laura Dean, Crescent LoMonaco, Barbara LoMonaco, and D’ette Corona read all of them, and then Amy Newmark narrowed down the semifinalists for Deborah Norville to make the final selections.