Mel Caro received her bachelor of science in finance from New York University and works in New York as an equity trader. She began writing as a hobby and is now in the process of working on several short stories on a variety of topics. Mel is a certified personal trainer and enjoys running, yoga and painting.
Erin Carthew is an eighth-grade student who has had an extreme interest in writing and artwork for several years, and hopes to make it her career. Erin has two brothers and one sister. Her hobbies include crafts, playing the drums and mentoring younger children.
Carlos Castellanos was always interested in creating art and while in college, he began his freelance career as an illustrator and never looked back. He keeps himself busy doing work for magazines, book publishers, ad agencies and corporate clients in Florida and nationally. Carlos lives in West Palm Beach, Florida with his wife, Maria; sons Chase and Alec; dogs Indy and Sai Hung; and a cat named Lagger.
Jennifer Lynn Clay is a straight-A student at her middle school. She has been published over eighteen times in both national and international magazines. She was a member of the seventh grade Power of the Pen team that won the state title in 2003 and hopes her school’s team repeats as state champions this year.
Tiffany Clifton graduated from the Academy of Career Sciences in 2003. She works as a secretary at a manufacturing company and hopes to pursue a career in writing. She enjoys reading, writing and spending time with her family and fiancé, Timmy Oliver. Contact her at
[email protected] Mel Ann McLarty Coley received her bachelor of science in education from the University of North Texas in 1976. A loving mother to two preteens, she taught developmental writing at Richland College and was teaching writing courses for elementary school students at the time of her passing on November 29, 2003. She will be missed.
Michelle Collins is fourteen years old and lives in Illinois with her mom, dad, sister and brother. She likes to talk online, hang out with friends, swim and just have a good time. She would like to say “hi” to all her family and friends.
Heather Comeau just finished her first screenplay and is currently working on her first novel. She can be contacted at
[email protected] Elisabeth Copeland is a freshman in high school in Tennessee. She hopes to move back to Alabama where she was born. She likes acting and making people laugh. Elisabeth wrote her story about her experience when her parents got divorced.
Mallorie Cuevas attends high school and enjoys playing basketball, swimming, reading and hanging out with her friends. She plans to go to college.
Holly Cupala paints, writes and lives with her husband and new baby in Seattle, Washington. She loves traveling to exotic places and imagining the stories of the people she meets. Her advice to budding writers is to write down your ideas and read everything! See her Website at www.hollycupala.com.
Michele Davis is in her first year at the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario. She enjoys writing and dancing in her spare time. She gets her inspiration from her friends and family.
Jenn Dlugos is a comedy writer and stand-up comedian in the New England area. She has a book coming out in 2004 entitled Public Health Disturbance.
DeAnna Doherty has a bachelor of science in psychology. She is a stay-at-home mom with a two-year-old daughter, Ayden and a six-month-old son, Conner. She enjoys writing children’s stories and reading.
Allison Ellis is a youth media specialist and editor and writer for teen fashion Website, www.BPnordstrom.com. Prior to that she was the vice president of www.FoxKids.com/FoxFamilychannel.com. Allison is the founder of FreeZone, a collection of youth-driven publications. In her free time, she writes middle grade fiction. E-mail her at
[email protected] Alex Estey is fourteen years old and lives in New Brunswick, Canada, with her family. She hopes to be a professional author someday. Her hobbies include basketball, drama, writing and spending time with friends and family.
Greg Evans discovered at an early age that he wanted to be a syndicated cartoonist. His exciting comic strip, Luann, chronicles the joyful discoveries and torturous experiences of adolescence. Syndicated by King Features from 1987 until March 1996, when Evans moved the strip to United Feature Syndicate, Luann has developed a loyal following of readers of all ages in more than three hundred newspapers. Evans has been praised for his amusing, insightful portrayals of the issues that teens face; and has held Luann up as a fine example of the positive power cartoons can have.
MacKenzie Exner is an eighth-grade honor student. She is an Irish dancer and hopes to become an animal trainer. MacKenzie enjoys camping, swimming, watching movies and babysitting.
Melinda Fausey received her bachelor of arts in 1995 and currently is a stay-at-home mom of three children. She enjoys writing and has made recent sales. Melinda is a Florida native and enjoys traveling, jet-skiing, surfing, swimming and spinning. She is currently working on several children’s books.
Jill Helene Fettner is a writer and actor in classical and contemporary theater, film, TV and radio, living in New York City. She is a graduate of New York University’s Tisch Drama program and a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. Visit www.JourneyBold.com.
Jaime Fisher is fourteen years old and lives in Texas. She enjoys being with friends, talking on the phone and going to the movies. She plans to go to college at LSU and become a pediatrician.
Emma Fraser lives on the west coast of Canada and is currently in seventh grade. She enjoys soccer, surfing, reading and spending time with her many pets. She has competed in local surfing and distance running events. Emma dreams of one day being a writer and photographer.
Jared Garrett is a student at Mid-America Christian University in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, pursuing a degree in secondary education. Jared works with fifth- and sixth-graders at Crossroads Cathedral Church and is an avid University of Oklahoma fan. He can be e-mailed at
[email protected] Kerry Germain writes and publishes children’s picture books on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. She enjoys island activities with her son and his friends, telling stories of when she was a kid, surfing, shell hunting, sailing and diving with sharks. Check out her Website at www.surfsupforkimo.com.
Shannon Griffin is an experienced creative writing teacher and freelance writer. Her writing passion is young adult fiction that enlightens and empowers adolescent females. She is happy to report that her brother, Brian, from “I Wish You Were Dead” is a survivor in every sense of the word.
Nicolas Hall is a sixth-grader who likes PlayStation, Nintendo and watching movies. He is very interested in learning more about Jesus.
Cynthia M. Hamond has been writing for six years. She has numerous stories in Multnomah’s Stories for the Heart series as well as the Chicken Soup for the Soul series and in magazines. She has received three writing recognitions and her story, “Goodwill” is a TV favorite. You can e-mail her at
[email protected] Elisabeth Haney is a twelve-year-old who has never been published, until now! She enjoys reading, playing basketball and playing outdoors. She has an eight-year-old little brother who drives her crazy. Her mom home schools Elisabeth and her brother, and her dad is a pastor at a bilingual church.
Hannah A. Heninger is a freshman in high school and an honor student. She takes voice lessons and partakes in the drama department at her school. She plans to go into medicine and hopes to inspire young people all over the world.
Brittany Nicole Henry is a fifteen-year-old who enjoys skateboarding, writing, drawing and hanging out with friends.
Bunny Hoest is one of the most widely read cartoonists today, reaching nearly 200 million diverse readers every week. She produces The Lockhorns, which King Features Syndicate distributes to 500 newspapers worldwide; Laugh Parade, featuring Howard Huge, for Parade Magazine, which is seen by more than 80 million people every Sunday; and the long-running Bumper Snickers for the National Enquirer, which has a circulation of more than 7 million. Known as “The Cartoon Lady,” the dyna
mic and versatile talent has 25 bestselling anthologies and a host of exciting new projects in the works, including a Lockhorns TV pilot and a Howard Huge animated feature in development with Merv Griffin Entertainment.
Holly Howard has been writing and telling stories for as long as she has been able to talk. She loves to ride horses, read, write and serve in her church. Holly wants to help other kids work through their experiences of growing up with bipolar disorder.
Heather Hutson is a sixth-grader who likes snowboarding, horseback riding, barrel racing, swimming, skiing and gymnastics. She plans on becoming a veterinarian or physician’s assistant.
Stephanie Ives, fourteen, lives with her parents and younger sister and enjoys reading, volleyball, writing, and history. Stephanie aspires to be a high school math and history teacher.
Janalea Jeppson was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah, and is a graduate of the University of Utah. She currently works as a customer service specialist for a major wireless carrier. Janalea enjoys spending time with her large extended family, working with children and serving in her church. Janalea writes short stories and poetry and especially enjoys writing for children. E-mail her at
[email protected] Lance Johnson is currently a sophomore in high school. His hometown of Mammoth Lakes provides a wonderful environment for skiing and mountain biking. He enjoys writing and hopes to be a professional author when he grows up to be an old wise man.
Alex Judge is an eleven-year-old who lives in Ontario, Canada. He likes reading, riding his bike and playing computer games with his friends. He has a green belt in Tae Kwon Do and enjoys swimming.
Jennifer Kerperien is a sixteen-year-old whose favorite subjects in school are math and history. She enjoys tutoring other kids in math after school and helping the elderly. Jennifer also likes writing, going to the movies and doing housework.
Sarah Kessler, thirteen, enjoys attending high school in Wisconsin. She loves basketball, acting, writing and reading. She thanks all of her family, friends and teachers who have encouraged and believed in her and feels blessed to have such incredible people in her life.
Hank Ketcham, American comic artist, was born in 1920 in Seattle, Washington. Tired of the normal studies at his university, he began a career in animation. Ketcham worked with Walt Disney Productions on Pinocchio, Fantasia and some Donald Duck shorts; and in 1948, he moved to Carmel, California, where his most famous creation, Dennis the Menace, was born. Ketcham drew Dennis the Menace with an irreverent yet affectionate pen for over forty years, and officially retired in October 1995. After suffering from heart disease and cancer, he passed away peacefully on June 2, 2001, at the age of eighty-one.
Mridu Khullar is a freelance writer from New Delhi, India. She is the editor-in-chief of www.WritersCrossing.com and has been published in hundreds of national and international magazines including New Woman and Business World. She is currently completing her studies in information technology from Delhi University.
Erin K. Kilby received her bachelor of science in education and English from Bowling Green State University in 1994. She teaches English at a high school in Texas and enjoys writing freelance, crochet and spending time with her husband, Michael, and son, Tyler. Please contact her at
[email protected] Nicole Koah is a thirteen-year-old who is close to her family and friends. She likes to read, write, use her computer, sing and hang out with friends.
Ashley Kopf was born and grew up in the Jersey Shore area, and has written hundreds of poems and short stories as well as having a few novels in the works. She’s studying to be a doctor, but drawing and writing are her true passions, which come naturally to her.
Cheryl Kremer is married to Jack and is the mother of Nikki, twelve, and Cobi, nine. She is a “soccer mom” who cares for infants and toddlers in her home and church nursery. When she isn’t watching her kids play soccer, she can be found crocheting, cross-stitching and writing inspirational stories of her everyday life as a wife and mother. She lives in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, and can be reached at
[email protected] Amber Kury, age twelve, is a poet who leads a physically active life and likes to help others. She handles difficult situations with a positive demeanor and fun attitude. To her sister, brother and father, she exemplifies hope, love and caring. Amber plans to attend a university and graduate in a field where she can use her knowledge to help others deal with life.
Carmen Leal is the author of six books including The Twenty-Third Psalm for Caregivers. A storyteller with a dramatic testimony, she is a popular presenter at women’s retreats, church groups, conventions and conferences. To learn more about Carmen, please visit her Website at www.carmenleal.com.
Veneta Leonard lives in Crown Point, Indiana, and enjoys raising her family. She’s an avid reader and plans to go back to college next year to get her teaching degree. Veneta also enjoys playing bunco, Skip-Bo, bowling and going to the show. She lives a happy and blessed life and wishes everyone lots of happiness and peace. God bless.
Lennox “The Lion” Lewis is a man who has made history. Capping an impressive amateur boxing career, Lewis earned a gold medal by knocking out future heavyweight champion Riddick Bowe as a member of Team Canada during the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, Korea. In 1993, only a few years after turning professional, Lewis was officially crowned WBC Heavyweight Champion of the World and went on to defend the title three times. His scientific approach to boxing along with a stiff jab and blistering overhand has secured his place as the preeminent boxer of his generation. Refusing to rest on his laurels, Lewis has consistently and vigorously defended all of his titles and in his quest to succeed at whatever he puts his hands to, “The Emperor of Boxing” continually grows from strength to strength.
Karen Lombard holds a Ph.D. in economics from the University of Chicago and has a broad range of consulting, research and teaching experience in the areas of antitrust, industrial organization, labor economics and applied microeconomics. Her current passion is writing for children and entertaining her two-year-old son, Geordie.
Amanda Macht is a seventh-grader who enjoys reading and writing, talking on the phone and spending time with her younger sister and brother. She hopes to someday work with abused children.
Colleen Mahoney got a scholarship from Take Stock in Children in the sixth grade. She is currently in the seventh grade and her hobbies include singing, acting and anything that involves performing. She would like to major in fine arts.
Lauren Maffeo, a fifteen-year-old, has been acting since the age of eleven and has appeared in numerous local films and theater productions. Her biggest role to date has been a voice-over in the independent feature Little Erin Merryweather, which was screened at the Hollywood Independent Film Festival. As a writer, she has been published in Teen Vogue, Teen Ink and Spire magazines. Lauren enjoys skiing, traveling, shopping, listening to music, and spending time with her friends and family. Being published in her favorite book series is a dream come true, and her poem is dedicated to her dad.
Amy Mallinder-Morgan, fourteen, was born in England and now resides in Windermere, Florida. She enjoys music, horses and her PC. Her volunteer activities inspired her writing and she was selected in the top ten for Disney Dreamers and Doers at her school for her piece on Give Kids the World.
Caleb Mathewson enjoys playing basketball and baseball. He is an avid fan of the St. Louis Cardinals and has an extensive collection of baseball memorabilia. Caleb appreciates playing catch and hoops with his dad, his brother, Jordan, and his sister, Allyse.
Molly McAfee is a seventh-grade student. She is involved in volleyball, softball and BETA. She also enjoys reading, writing and being with family and friends.
Heather McPherson was born and raised in British Columbia. The fifteen-year-old‘s hobbies include reading, singing, dancing, acting and doing volunteer work. In the future, Heather hopes to become a professional photographer or work in the performing arts.
Carol Miller is a freelance writer who lives in New Jer
sey with her husband, Jack; daughters, Stephanie and Lauren; and beagle, Tapper. Her work has appeared in Chicken Soup for the Mother & Daughter Soul, FamilyFun, The Christian Science Monitor and many other publications. Contact her at
[email protected] Marie-Therese Miller earned her M.A. in writing from Manhattanville College. She pens a humorous family life column for the Taconic Press newspaper and writes about family issues for the Poughkeepsie Journal and Hudson Valley Parent. She, her husband, John, and their five children live in Salt Point, New York. E-mail her at
[email protected] Molly Miller is twelve years old and lives in Illinois. She enjoys writing, being on the computer and hanging out with friends. She wrote her story after her dog, Maddy, died when she was nine. She wants to become an author and a lawyer when she gets older.
Sydney Jane Miller is a sophomore from Southern California. She loves photo booths, sushi and receiving mail.
Sydney Milucky, age thirteen, lives in Southern California and loves a good story. She’s always writing, drawing and watching movies. Her dream is to have a career in film. Sydney has a compassionate heart and cares about those who struggle.
Jordan Mitchell, fourteen, is the youngest of four and lives in California. She is a creative artist and passionate writer. Jordan enjoys playing soccer, watching movies and being with her friends and family.
Marisol Muqoz-Kiehne was born in Puerto Rico and lives in the San Francisco area. She is a clinical psychologist who works with children and families, teaches child psychotherapy, and is the host of Nuestros Niños, a radio program on parenting and child development. She can be reached at:
[email protected] Colleen O’Brien, age thirteen, wrote her story for Preteen Soul 2 after reading about other people’s experiences much like hers. It is her hope that those who read about her experience of loss at a young age will find comfort. Colleen’s hobbies include reading, writing and hanging out with friends.
Jennifer O’Neil has a master of fine arts in screenwriting and has over ten years experience in film. She is a writer, producer and director in San Francisco and creator of gala-event scripts for Columbia/Tristar, Sony, and Discovery Networks. Jennifer and her sister Kitty’s first book, Decorating with Funky Shui, hits bookstores in June of 2004.