Jack addresses over one hundred groups each year. His clients include professional associations, school districts, government agencies, churches and corporations in all fifty states.
Jack conducts an annual eight-day Training of Trainers program in the areas of building self-esteem and achieving peak performance. It attracts educators, counselors, parenting trainers, corporate trainers, professional speakers, ministers and others interested in developing their speaking and seminar-leading skills in these areas.
For further information about Jack’s books, tapes and trainings, or to schedule him for a presentation, please contact:
The Canfield Training Group
P.O. Box 30880 • Santa Barbara, CA 93130
phone: 800-237-8336 • fax: 805-563-2945
e-mail:
[email protected] Web site: www.chickensoup.com
Who Is Mark Victor Hansen?
Mark Victor Hansen is a professional speaker who, in the last twenty years, has made over four thousand presentations to more than two million people in thirty-three countries. His presentations cover sales excellence and strategies; personal empowerment and development; and how to triple your income and double your time off.
Mark has spent a lifetime dedicated to his mission of making a profound and positive difference in people’s lives. Throughout his career, he has inspired hundreds of thousands of people to create a more powerful and purposeful future for themselves while stimulating the sale of billions of dollars worth of goods and services.
Mark is a prolific writer and has authored Future Diary, How to Achieve Total Prosperity and The Miracle of Tithing. He is the coauthor of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, Dare to Win and The Aladdin Factor (all with Jack Canfield) and The Master Motivator (with Joe Batten).
Mark has also produced a complete library of personal empowerment audio- and videocassette programs that have enabled his listeners to recognize and better use their innate abilities in their business and personal lives. His message has made him a popular television and radio personality with appearances on ABC, NBC, CBS, HBO, PBS, QVC and CNN.
He has also appeared on the cover of numerous magazines, including Success, Entrepreneur and Changes.
Mark is a big man with a heart and a spirit to match—an inspiration to all who seek to better themselves.
For further information about Mark, please contact:
Mark Victor Hansen & Associates
P.O. Box 7665
Newport Beach, CA 92658
phone: 949-759-9304 or 800-433-2314
fax: 949-722-6912
Web site: www.chickensoup.com
Who Is Kimberly Kirberger?
Kimberly is an advocate for teens, a writer for teens, a mother of a teen, and a friend and confidante to the many teens in her life. She is committed to bettering the lives of teens around the globe through her books and the outreach she does for teens on behalf of her organization, Inspiration and Motivation for Teens, Inc.
Kim’s love for teens was first expressed globally with the publication of the bestselling Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul. This book was a true labor of love for Kim, and the result of years of friendship and research with teens from whom she learned what really matters. After the success of the first Teenage Soul book, and the outpouring of hundreds and thousands of letters and submissions from teens around the world, Kim went on to coauthor the New York Times #1 bestsellers Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul II and Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul III, Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul Journal, Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul Letters and Chicken Soup for the College Soul. Kim’s empathic understanding of the issues affecting parents led her to coauthor the recent release Chicken Soup for the Parent’s Soul.
In October 1999, the first book in Kim’s Teen Love series was released. Teen Love: On Relationships has since become a New York Times bestseller. Her friendship and collaboration with Colin Mortensen of MTV’s Real World Hawaii produced the much-loved Teen Love: A Journal on Relationships and Teen Love: On Friendship. She recently released Teen Love: A Journal on Friendship.
Her nonprofit organization, Soup and Support for Teachers, is committed to teens and teachers having available to them inspiring and supportive reading materials.
When she is not reading letters she gets from teens, Kim is offering them support and encouragement in the forums on her Web site, www.iam4teens.com. She also enjoys nurturing her family, listening to her son’s band and hanging out with her friends.
For information or to schedule Kim for a presentation, contact:
I.A.M. 4 Teens, Inc.
P.O. Box 936
Pacific Palisades, CA 90272
e-mail for stories:
[email protected] e-mail for letters and feedback:
[email protected] Contributors
Lauren Anderson is currently studying English and Women’s Studies at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada. She can be reached at
[email protected] Christina “Chrissi” Angeles is a high-school student in California. She finished chemotherapy and radiation in late 2000. “Lumps” was written to get everyone to live life to the fullest, because you never know when it will be gone. Chrissi can be reached at
[email protected] Analise Antone presently attends college as a soon-to-be English major. Her passions are reading, writing, psychology and all things performance-related. “Reaching Mom” was her first short story, as well as her first publication. She can be reached at
[email protected] Natalie Atkins is a college student in South Carolina. She is majoring in English with a concentration in Creative Writing, and both works for and submits to her annual campus literary magazine. Her story is dedicated to Daniel, Ray and Kunkel.
Hilary Begleiter is a high-school junior in Des Moines, Iowa. She wants to dedicate this poem to her grandfather, grandmother and Frank. She hopes it can help comfort those who have had to deal with the death of a loved one. You can reach her at
[email protected] Rachael Bennett is an aspiring poet in California. She has written for several private organizations and hopes one day to write a book on teenage depression. This particular piece has been dedicated to both of her mothers, as well as her dad. She can be reached at
[email protected] Tiffany Blevins is a seventeen-year-old full-time student and soon-to-be full-time mother from Springfield, Ohio, who enjoys writing poetry and short stories. She can be reached at
[email protected] Iris M. Bolton is the executive director of The Link Counseling Center’s National Resource Center for Suicide Prevention and Aftercare (www.thelink.org). She is the cofounder of the North Atlanta, Georgia Chapter of the Compassionate Friends. She also founded the Survivors of Suicide Support Groups in metro Atlanta, and the S.O.S. Support Team, providing home visits to the bereaved. She authored My Son . . . My Son, a Guide to Healing After Death, Loss, or Suicide, a book about the survival of her family in the aftermath of the suicide of her son. She is married to Jack Bolton and is the mother of four sons.
Jennifer Braunschweiger is a writer living in New York City.
Danielle Collier is a freelance writer and published fiction writer. She has a B.A. from Columbia University and an M.F.A. from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. Her story is dedicated to her parents and brother. She can be reached at
[email protected] Jessica Colman is in the James Madison College at Michigan State University. She would like to dedicate “A Most Precious Gift” to her family, with special thanks to her brother, Zack, who has shared every aspect of their parents’ divorce and without whom it wouldn’t have been as easy. She can be reached at
[email protected] Cheryl Costello-Forshey is a writer whose poetry can be found in several of the Chicken Soup for the Soul books, as well as in the books, Stories for a Teen’s Heart, Stories for a Faithful Heart and A Pleasant Place. Cheryl can be reached at
[email protected] Tiani Crocker is a single mom who resides
in Bellingham, Washington, with her son, Zion. She attends college part-time and works part-time. Her story is dedicated to her brother whose love inspired it.
Jennifer Dalrymple-Mozisek lives in Dallas, Texas. She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a B.A. in English. Jennifer would like to dedicate “Our Song” to the memory of her mother, June Rae Dalrymple-Stanton, and to her father, Michael Anthony Mozisek. She can be reached via e-mail at
[email protected] Heather Deederly is a nineteen-year-old residing on Vancouver Island, B.C., Canada. She’s taking a course on freelance writing, following her dream. She thanks God and the events in her life for her motivation. She also thanks her mother and sister for their encouragement to pursue her dreams, and her best friend and fiancé, Colin, for giving her strength, courage and always being there for her. She can be reached at
[email protected] Jennifer Deyo is a student at Mankato State University, Minnesota, and plans to obtain a degree in Elementary and Special Education. She loves helping others and working with children. Her story is dedicated to Sally Tillema and her family for never giving up on her. Her story was written to help other teens who may be in abusive relationships to believe in themselves. She can be reached at
[email protected] Garrett Drew is an aspiring freelance writer. His passions include his close friends, music and writing. This story is dedicated to those who mean the most to him: Mom and Dad, Beth, Rachael, David, Jennifer and Donny.
Jessica Dubose is a junior in high school. She is an introverted dreamer and writer. Her father, who died in March 2000, continues to be her inspiration as he watches and guides her from heaven. She can be reached at
[email protected] C. S. Dweck is the author of I.A.M. 4 Teen’s “Little Voice” column. His writing has appeared in such publications as MH-18 Magazine, Real Kids, Real Adventures #12 and The Market Guide for Young Writers, 6th Edition. He aspires and perspires to have his own book published. Reach him by e-mail at
[email protected] Kari Fiegen is a sixteen-year-old honor student from Dell Rapids, South Dakota. She enjoys writing poems and short stories, reading and playing sports. She believes that you should live life to your fullest every day and set high goals. Kari dedicates her story in loving memory of Katrina Marie Jenema.
Monique Fields is a reporter for the St. Petersburg Times. She has written about education and children’s issues for seven years. She lives with her husband, Kenneth J. Roberts, in Clearwater, Florida.
Kristine Flaherty is a fifteen-year-old sophomore in high school. She plays basketball for her school team and enjoys writing, reading, listening to music and getting together with friends in her free time. Her story is dedicated to her dad. She can be reached by e-mail at
[email protected] Bonnie Gainor is the mother of Ailie Pearson. She can be reached at
[email protected] Gwynne Garfinkle lives in Los Angeles. Her poetry, essays, fiction and music reviews have appeared in such publications as The American Voice, Big Bridge, Loca and The New Times. She is the author of a book of poetry, New Year’s Eve (Typical Girls Press). She can be reached at
[email protected] Zan Gaudioso is a freelance writer whose stories have appeared in newspapers and magazines across the country. She has also contributed stories to Chicken Soup for the College Soul, Chicken Soup for the Parent’s Soul and Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul III. Zan’s career path has been varied and eclectic, from surgical nurse to business owner, sign-language teacher to publicity coordinator for the Academy Awards. Zan is currently enjoying life as a writer and lives in Pacific Palisades, California with her fiancé Robert and their dog Delilah. She can be reached at
[email protected] Kristy Glassen is currently a junior at Penn State University majoring in Elementary Education. She looks forward to publishing her book, Most of the Questions, Some of the Answers, about college life in the next couple of months. Her second book, When Life Comes Our Way, will follow. All of Kristy’s writing is for those who have the courage to keep reaching for their dreams, no matter what the cost. She can be contacted at
[email protected] Cynthia Marie Hamond began writing three years ago. Her stories have been published in several books and magazines. This is her sixth in the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. Her story “Goodwill” from Chicken Soup for the Kid’s Soul was seen on the Chicken Soup for the Soul TV series. You can reach Cynthia at
[email protected] Claire Hayenga was born in Forth Worth, Texas. Since then she has lived with her mother, father and younger sister in four different locations in the area. The arts greatly interest Claire, who is sixteen years old.
Teal Henderson is no longer with us. She died shortly after her seventeenth birthday. She embraced life fully, almost fearlessly, as if she knew her time here would be short. Her parents say that she was their sunshine and, though they no longer bask in her light, they will always feel the warmth of her love.
Krysteen Hernandez is a fifteen-year-old sophomore in high school in Redondo Beach, California. She has been writing poems for about a year and has written about various subjects. She can be reached at
[email protected] Stephanie Maria Hsu wrote her essay in high school in 1996. She is a graduate of the University of Virginia ’01, where she received the Distinguished Student Award and was a Jefferson and Echols Scholar. She is a geographical mutt and plans to continue her wanderlusting ways as she pursues her dream of working in the Third World. She is a management consultant in New York City. She can be reached at
[email protected] Bret Anthony Johnston is currently a Teaching-Writing Fellow at the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. His work has twice been honored in the Atlantic Monthly, and has appeared in such magazines as Glamour, Mid-American Review, Southwest Review and Shenandoah, where one of his stories received the 2000 Jeanne Goodheart Prize for best fiction of the year. His stories have been anthologized in Patterns of Exposition 16ed and Scribner’s Best of the Fiction Workshops 1999. He can be reached at
[email protected] James A. Kisner, author of Sweet Dreams and Tender Tears, writes poetic stories based on true-life events. His poetry reflects his life and the lives of those who read his Internet pages and submit their stories to him. For information on his Web pages and books, e-mail him at
[email protected] Traci Kornhauser is a high-school student in Melbourne, Florida. She enjoys sketching and would like to make a career in fashion design. This story is her first to be published, and she hopes to continue writing in her spare time. She dedicates this story to M. K.
Jonathan Krasnoff is a junior at Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas. He is majoring in Public Relations and Print Journalism. Jon hopes to attend law school after graduation. This story is dedicated to the bonds of true friendship. He can be reached at
[email protected] or by writing to P. O. Box 1415, Manhattan, KS 66505-1415.
Hawon Lee lives in New Zealand with her parents and two sisters. A writer from an early age, she hopes to become a professional writer one day. Hawon dedicates “Help Me” to all victims of child abuse, especially her friend whom she based this poem on. She can be reached at
[email protected] Kara MacDonald has written poetry since the age of eleven. She dreams of publishing her entire book of poems before she sets out for a career as a novelist, playwright and songwriter. Herwriting has never before been published. She would be thrilled to hear from you at
[email protected] Maggie McCarthy is currently a senior in high school. Maggie loves to write and gets her inspiration from her family and friends. This story is dedicated to her beloved friends who have always helped her follow her dreams, and to all the people like “Hannah”—may they find the hope, faith and courage to live each day.
Meghan O’Brien is a high-school student from Lawrence, Massachusetts. Most of her writing, including this story, is dedicated to the memory of her best friend, Dan, who died in a serious car accident in October 1999. She is also published in the book, In-Between Days, a compilation of poems from The
International Library of Poetry. She can be reached at
[email protected] Liza Ortego is a seventeen-year-old high school senior from Tioga, Louisiana, who enjoys cheerleading, student government and participating in service clubs. She is active in her youth group at church and loves writing, reading and playing the piano. Liza can be contacted at
[email protected] Amanda Parmenter is a part-time student majoring in Technical Theater. She completed an apprenticeship with the Omaha Community Playhouse, where she still volunteers. She has been fortunate to travel many places and looks forward to many more adventures as she matures. In her spare time, Amanda enjoys reading and writing. She can be reached at
[email protected] Susan K. Perry is a social psychologist and author of Catch the Spirit: Teen Volunteers Tell How They Made a Difference, as well as a bestseller called Writing in Flow, and other books. Her many articles have appeared in such publications as Seventeen, Teen, USA Today and Psychology Today. Her Web site is www.BunnyApe.com.
Tyler Owen Phillips graduated from Westlake High School in Thousand Oaks, California, and is currently in the U.S. Army, stationed in Germany. He likes to surf and skateboard and is in a band called “The Six Pack Lady Killers,” which won first place last year in a European Battle of the Bands. Tyler can be reached at
[email protected] Kate Reder is an English major at Wesleyan University in Connecticut. She wrote her story when she was in high school back home in San Francisco.
Jenny Sharaf lives in Southern California and is currently a junior in high school. She hopes to one day pursue a career in journalism. She works at I.A.M. 4 Teens, Inc. reading letters that come from teenagers all over the world. She has also worked on Teen Love: On Friendship. Her poetry has been published in Teen Love: A Journal on Friendship, and she hopes to have more of her poetry published in future books. She would like to thank her friends for making the world a lot more fun. She can be reached at
[email protected]