OUR AUTHORS
Our authors are a diverse group of talented and purpose-driven people.
SCROLL to see all of our authors. CLICK author photos to go to their personal sites. (some authors do not have websites)
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SUSAN HARING
Susan Haring is a woman of deep faith and unwavering dedication to serving others. While raising her children, Susan also loved volunteering to help those in need. She supported women at a local pregnancy center, advocated for vulnerable youth as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (C.A.S.A.), and mentored high school students. By God's grace, she has devoted her life to encouraging and uplifting those in need. Susan also served on the Women’s Ministry Board at her church, a further reflection of her passion for fostering community and faith.
Writing My Faithful Savior is another extension of that calling—a powerful testimony of God’s miraculous hand in her son’s life and His boundless love for all His children. Susan prays that this true story will inspire and strengthen the faith of those who read it.
When she’s not writing or serving others, Susan appreciates the simple joys of life—sipping coffee with friends, offering a listening ear to those who are hurting, snuggling with her grandchildren and baking their often requested chocolate cake. One childhood joy Susan has never outgrown is searching for seashell treasures on every beach she visits! Soaking up sunny days, reading inspirational true stories and vacationing with family are also delightful to her soul.
Married for over 40 years, she cherishes quiet evenings and dinners with her husband. https://www.authorsusanharing.com
MICHAEL F. BURKE, SR.
Seek Thyself!
For four decades, Mike Burke lived by this philosophy as an English teacher and coach in the Chicago suburbs. Over the course of his career, he taught at five different high schools and coached a variety of men’s and women’s sports and activities. Now retired, his debut memoir-in-essays looks back on the lessons learned through a lifetime in education.
Burke is the author of Lessons Learned: A Teacher and Coach Reflects, an honest and introspective look at a teacher’s life from early childhood through retirement. This is not the story of a Magical Teacher but of an average individual working hard to be a good educator by first striving to be a decent person. Through real-life anecdotes, he shares the lessons that helped him survive and thrive in the classroom—lessons that can help other educators make it to the finish line (or to the weekend) with their sanity, self-respect, and sense of humor intact.
Most of his stories will make you laugh, some will make you cry (the good cry), and a few will make you cringe, but all will make you think. At its core, his book offers practical and pedagogical advice and a lifeline to passionate individuals fighting apathy and burnout. This book will help every teacher, as in one who teaches, not just the professional educator.
A dynamic speaker, Burke has presented at state and local conferences on athletics and classroom pedagogy. Married for over 40 years, he and his wife have four adult children and seven grandchildren. Aside from enjoying plenty of family time, he complements his new “career” as an author by giving boxing lessons, announcing high school basketball games, and facilitating a local Writers’ Workshop. His experiences as a teacher and coach continue to inspire his writing and his message. His next book, Run, is currently under construction. http://www.coachmfburke.com/
LAURA LYN DONAHUE
Laura Lyn Donahue believes wholeheartedly in the transformative power of community and kindness.
Growing up in a quintessential southern home in Nashville, Tennessee, she learned the art of hospitality from her mother and father, who frequently gathered friends, family, and strangers for community and conversation around the table and in front of the fireplace.
Laura Lyn is happiest when she combines others’ gifts with her own, including writing, editing, casting vision, and creating space for others to thrive. Her clients and her family attest to her success in serving others.
For most of her adult life, Laura Lyn has worked behind the scenes, helping others bring their stories to life. She turned that passion toward herself with the release of her first book, Who Do You Think You Are?
She resides in Columbia, Tennessee, with her husband, Don. They have five children, four adult children living across the country, and one child still at home.
Laura Lyn is passionate about family, friends, and kindness. She is a freelance writer, editor, and poet. Her pastimes include sending snail mail, walking her dog, practicing yoga, and relaxing on her porch swing. http://www.itslauralyn.com/
TAUNI CREFELD
Tauni Crefeld, a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy, served as a Security Police Officer, where she applied leadership theory and gained practical insights by listening to her troops and attending US Army training courses.
After her military service, Tauni joined a major consulting firm, where she spent 25 years, rising from entry level to Managing Director. Known for turning around underperforming teams, she not only led them to achieve objectives but also focused on building cohesive, high-performing units.
Tauni and her husband have one son and a cat and live in New Jersey. An avid traveler, she has visited 75 countries and enjoys outdoor adventures with her family, including hiking, paddle boarding, rock climbing, and bike packing.
DEE NICHOLS
Dee Nichols is a writer, camera operator, photographer and traveler. He grew up outside Youngstown, Ohio as part of a working class family. His father and grandfather were both truck drivers and great storytellers.
Dee attended art school in Pittsburgh in 1989, and later moved to Nashville in 1992. He found work at a scenic shop and later as a technician on music videos and movies.
In 2002 Dee moved to Los Angeles and began a career as a camera operator specializing in live music events. He is currently a member of IATSE Local 600 and has toured with acts such as Rage Against The Machine, Beyonce and Doja Cat.
His credits include Taylor Swift’s feature “Eras”, Lady Gaga’s “Chromatic Ball”, The Weekend’s “Live at Sofi Stadium” (nominated for an Emmy). Dee has released two records under the moniker “The Sweet A.M.”
“The Scaredy Bears and the Slew of The New-New!” is his first book. https://scaredybears.com/
EMILY SAXE NYDAM
Journeying Home is Ms. Nydam's debut novel. An English major at Yale (magna cum laude with distinction), Ms. Nydam won the Yale Schoenberg Prize for writing. She continued her education at Georgetown University Law Center, where she was Managing Editor of the Law Journal, earning a J.D. (magna cum laude) and practicing law for several years.
She and her husband have lived all over the United States as well as in Thailand, where their twin boys were born. She can still speak enough Thai to be quite a hit among the staff at Thai restaurants! Ms. Nydam is also a singer, with several solo albums and performances at Jazz at Lincoln Center and the Sydney Opera House to her credit.
In her spare time, she loves cycling, skiing and working on her acoustic guitar skills. emilysaxenydam.com
ALDEN SWAN
Alden Swan spends a lot of his time thinking and drinking coffee, not necessarily in that order. Growing up on a small farm in northern Minnesota, he had the luxury of having plenty of time to wonder about God and church and life. That sense of wonder has remained with him.
Raised Lutheran, he has spent much of his adult life in evangelical churches while never abandoning his more historic theological roots. He has devoted considerable time to Christian ministry, serving on church boards, teaching Bible studies, playing in worship bands, and always believing that God was bigger than the theological boxes that people constructed to house God. In the 1990s he started the Small Voices Journal, an early alternative online Christian magazine, exploring ideas about church and life.
For many years he has blogged at aldenswan.com where he continues to express his thinking on a number of subjects. He co-authored The Gospel Uncensored with Ken Blue.
Alden currently resides in Oregon with Jo, his wife of forty-one years. His favorite thing is to spend time with their three children and two grandchildren. He is very happily retired, which once again gives him ample time to think and write and drink too much coffee. On occasion he plays the banjo but will stop if you ask nicely.
CAROL REMZ
Carol Remz is an octagenarian, blessed to be a besotted grandmother, proud mother, adoring mother-in-law, and cherished wife. After receiving a BS in 1966 and MAT (Master of Arts in Teaching) in 1967 from Cornell University, she started her working career as a teacher and reading specialist.
Armed with a freshly printed PhD in education technology from Catholic University in 1977, for the next 30 years, Carol led the design and development of instructor-led, video-based and online training programs covering hundreds of thousands of people’s job skills. Her clients were Fortune 500 corporations, federal and state departments, private businesses, and non-profits. The learning’s key goal was always change for the better in what people do, achieve, and feel. Its source was the knowledge that resulted in exemplary performance.
Then, in Carol’s late forties, she began struggling with life-altering menopausal symptoms both physical and emotional, believing to expect diminishing libido as she got older, and then no libido, and no sex in her senior years. This was not acceptable to her lusty, “I’ll do anything you want,” seven-years-younger husband. So Carol went on the search for empowering knowledge about sex and sexual pleasure. When she came to the realization that love is essential to every aspect of the good in our life, she also included finding the words to define love’s meaning and how we actualize our love.
Then, after eight years of research, attitude adjustments, in-the-flesh application, some intimacy coaching, and learning to be mindful: Eureka!
Now, Carol’s mission is to promote empowering knowledge for postmenopausal women who want to continue having sexual pleasure’s well-being benefits; universal sex positivity, and her hope for everyone living life with an abundance of love. http://drcarolremz.com/
JOHNY WEBER
Johny Weber is a retired assistant professor at Northern State University in Aberdeen, SD. Since childhood, her life has revolved around horses. Marrying a rodeo cowboy, she moved with him to the plains of South Dakota where they both competed in rodeos and then turned to a ranching lifestyle.
Her career in education began by teaching first grade in 1975 and by retirement, she was teaching graduate courses to teachers in a state-funded program. Johny and her late husband raised a son and daughter on the prairies of the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation.
She now enjoys time spent with her children and grandchildren and traveling with her horse and dog to ride the mountains of the west in the summer and the deserts of the southwest in the winter.
REBECCA BLACK
Rebecca Black has a dark past. She has lived many lives, from working for the Department of Child Welfare to teaching as an adjunct professor. She is a survivor and BRCA1 previvor. She has also died–three times. In the midst of it all, she has found a physical connection and a spiritual purpose with a family of elephants.
Rebecca was born in Michigan but grew up in Tucson, Arizona, where she lives today with her husband, two sons, and two dogs. She loves art–especially Gustav Klimt. She adores music–Tori Amos, Otis Redding, and Radiohead. She is an eclectic, fierce woman.
Click here for Rebecca’s website Instagram @rblack8890
DAVID P. WICHMAN
David Wichman is an award-winning author, speaker, and advocate for sexual freedom and expression. Known for his raw honesty and compassionate voice, David’s work explores the intersections of shame, desire, and self-acceptance with fearless vulnerability. His memoir, Every Grain of Sand, earned multiple accolades and prestigious awards along with winning the 2024 American Legacy Book Award in LGBTQ+ Nonfiction.
Raised in Fremont, California, David survived a childhood marked by severe neglect and abuse, which led him into years of homelessness, alcoholism, and drug addiction. After decades of struggle and rehabilitation failures, he finally obtained freedom from his addiction in 2005. He remains an active member of New Thought and recovery movements to this day.
David brings a deeply personal lens to his writing, sharing stories that challenge comfort zones and highlight the complexities of sexuality. Drawing from his 18 years of experience as a male sex worker. His latest book, The Four Rooms: An InQueery on Sexual Freedom and Well-being, invites readers to uncover the parts of themselves often silenced by shame and societal conditioning, offering a path and some thought experiments toward deeper connection and self-acceptance.
Through bold storytelling and thought-provoking insights, David opens the door to a conversation about identity, intimacy, feelings of inadequacy and the journey of sexual freedom.
David lives with his partners and their dogs in the Coachella Valley area of California.
Click for Author website
BEN MASON
Ben Mason is an entrepreneur who founded a moving company after his record deal and rock band touring days ended. He’s the father of two adult sons, and lives in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, on sacred land that was the site of a 3,000 year old Native American village. He’s an artist and a songwriter who won the grand prize in the Mid -Atlantic Song Contest and took third place in American Songwriter Magazine’s January/February 2023 lyric contest. His music has appeared on national television, in films and internationally released documentaries. Sex, Trucks and Rock ‘n Roll …A Spiritual Journey is a memoir that took a lifetime to complete.
KIM ORENDOR
Kim Orendor’s online profiles will tell you she’s a writer, but she sees herself more as a storyteller. She enjoys weaving a tale with the spoken and written word.
The bulk of her career has been spent watching and reporting on sporting events. She’s clocked more than twenty years of experience between The Sacramento Bee and The Davis Enterprise. At The Enterprise, she won state and national writing awards and was the sports editor in charge of multiple state and national award-winning sections.
She even spent a summer writing greeting cards for African American Expressions.
Kim’s career path took a dramatic turn in 2006 when she began a five-year teaching stint at Sias International University in China's Henan Province. The administration took advantage of her experience, and she taught newspaper and reading classes. She was later thrilled to get to teach American Culture Through Film where she learned the universal secrets behind storytelling.
Between the symbolism learned from films and the countless lecture hours, Kim was primed to become an Experience Expert (aka Tour Guide) for The Broad contemporary art museum in downtown Los Angeles. In her three years at the museum, she gave numerous public and private tours of the collection. Just as Kim had done with athletic contests, she broke down the artwork into understandable pieces, exploring the artists and materials. Kim’s favorite tours ended with someone telling her they never thought they'd "get" modern art but her tour helped them enjoy the work.
Kim returned to the Sacramento area recently to become a caretaker for her father. She is once again working at The Enterprise, this time as an associate sports editor, designing pages and telling stories.
JULEE BRAND
From an early age, JuLee Brand always wanted to create things. Book covers and type inspired her to pursue a career in design. After several years as Production Manager for Reunion Records, she moved to High Five Entertainment and designed television motion graphics for series, award shows, and specials.
In 2010, after receiving her MFA from Full Sail University, she began teaching part-time at colleges, universities, and design schools while also working full-time designing television and print graphics.
But it was her move to Hachette Book Group Nashville as Art Director in 2012 where JuLee learned the workings of the publishing world behind the curtain. Art Directing and designing book covers for Joyce Meyer, Lauraine Snelling, Karen Kingsbury, Brian D. McLaren, Julissa Arce, and Nadia Bolz-Weber to name a few.
Everyone has a story, and that inspiration sparked the creation of W. Brand Publishing in 2018. Along with the goal of publishing great books and designing attention-grabbing covers, Brand hopes the authors’ stories provide enlightenment, entertainment, and connection to the reader. Her mantra, words matter, has now become part of her brand and mission.
JuLee also writes both fiction and non-fiction books in her spare time and is a board member of the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) and serves on the Hybrid Criteria Committee and Advocacy Committee.
She lives in Nashville where she spoils her fluffy pups. When JuLee isn’t working, she loves a glass of full-bodied red wine and traveling to new places with fantastic food and amazing views. She strives to live in gratitude every day.
MORGAN MILLER
Morgan Miller is a military veteran and retired liquor store owner from San Diego, California. He lives with his wife, Ginger, a retired nurse, in the serene desert community of Borrego Springs. In 2002, to escape the scorching summer heat, they drove their motorhome to Alaska. It was the first of many annual road trips crisscrossing America. During these leisurely cross-country vacations, Morgan listened to his much younger self recounting details of his year in Vietnam on a collection of fifty-two vintage Craig Reel-to-Reel tapes. Over several years, Morgan transcribed his audio letters to Ginger, containing the story of his wartime combat experiences, into a draft manuscript.
A decade later, with Ginger’s support, a memoir took shape. However, the rigors of getting it ready for publication meant the draft manuscript languished in the backwater of his computer until 2022, when Ginger once again encouraged him to dust it off and find a professional to help take the promising memoir to the next level.
Typing “ghostwriter” into Google, thousands of results immediately appeared. However, one name stood out from the masses: an experienced ghostwriter living in Canada. It only took one phone call for a bond to form between the two men. As the co-author of an award-winning military memoir, Fire from the Sky: A Diary Over Japan, this writer possessed the perfect qualifications to skillfully transform Morgan's factual yet mundane narrative into an exhilarating and gripping memoir.
JEN McDONALD
Jen McDonald is a longtime writer and editor, the author of the Amazon bestselling book, You Are Not Alone: Encouragement for the Heart of a Military Spouse, and the host of the Milspouse Matters podcast. She’s been published in numerous national publications and books, including Military Spouse Magazine, Military.com, and Chicken Soup for the Soul, and featured on national radio shows and podcasts. Jen was a military spouse for 30 years and is a mom to four young adults, including one son serving in the military. One of her happiest roles these days is being her grandbaby’s “Gigi.” She and her now retired Air Force husband were stationed all around the world from Europe to the Pacific, and somewhere along the way she learned to embrace the unknown...after lots of practice! After decades of moving with the military, she is now planted in Texas. Jen loves to encourage and connect with other military spouses in the unique life they face.
Find more from Jen at her site: https://jen-mcdonald.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/milspousematters/ and https://www.facebook.com/jenmcdonaldwriter/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/milspousematters/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jenmcdonald88
CHARLYNDA SCALES
Charlynda Scales is a serial entrepreneur: She serves as founder and CEO of Mutt's Sauce LLC and OH Taste LLC; Executive Director of the OH Taste Foundation (501c3).
A sought-after speaker and coach for women's empowerment and small businesses, she is a TEDx speaker. Her talent is cultivating influential people by meeting them where they are in life and business. Her military career spans over fifteen years; she's currently an Air Force Reservist stationed at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio.
Mutt's Sauce and Charlynda have been featured in Yahoo! Finance, NPR, Forbes.com, QVC, Men's Journal, CBS News, NBCUniversal, Black Enterprise Magazine, and Military.com, among others.
Charlynda was also featured in FUBU Founder and Shark Tank investor Daymond John's bestselling book, POWERSHIFT.
She is a Clemson University graduate with a degree in Aerospace Science and Business Management. She also holds an MBA in Strategic Leadership. She started the company Mutt’s Sauce, LLC while still serving on active duty in the military. She is a graduate of the following distinguished courses: Tuck School of Executive Leadership at Dartmouth, The Empower Program, by Dayton Chamber of Commerce, The Course for Presidents, by Aileron, Executive Education, Harvard Kennedy School
Charlynda currently sits on the board of Bunker Labs, Veterans for Political Innovation, and Dayton Convention and Visitors Bureau. She is a Gold Award Winner and has a Lifetime Membership to Girl Scouts of the USA. She is one of 25 Americans highlighted as We are the Mighty's Class of 2022.
Her son, David, is, in her opinion, her finest achievement.
Notable quotes:
"If you believe in something bigger than yourself, rock bottom has a trampoline."
"Surround yourself with like-hearted people."
PHILLIP J. KRIZ
Phillip J Kriz, born in the west Texas town of El Paso, is influenced by his Spanish, Mexican and Czechoslovakian heritage as evidenced in his debut fiction novel The Roadie Cartel. In his writing he draws on life experiences growing up minutes from the Mexican border as well as traveling the world most of his adult life as a roadie with some of the biggest names in music. He followed in his grandmother’s footsteps of writing and looks forward to releasing more crime thrillers in the future, including one that is already in the works!
In addition to being an author, Phillip is a happily married stay-at-home dad with 2 adorable little kids, 3 cats and a dog.
BRUNELLA COSTAGLIOLA
Brunella Costagliola is an award-winning author, best-selling editor, and translator. Raised in Bacoli, a small coastal town west of Naples, Southern Italy, Brunella is passionate about sharing her home country’s culture, traditions, and history through her stories. Founder and owner of The Military Editor®Agency, LLC, a ghostwriting and editing agency catering to military authors and military-related manuscripts, Brunella helps fellow writers tell their stories and achieve their publishing dreams. A proud Mamma of her two Italian American children, who are an endless source of inspiration for her stories, and devoted Air Force wife to her now-retired husband, Brunella lives in Florida with her family and their three dogs.
LINDSDEY UNDLIN
Lindsey Undlin started writing when she was in fifth grade and self-published her first book at age thirteen. Now at seventeen, she is writing the second book in the series along with playing basketball, softball, and volleyball. It was through being part of a team and general school life that inspired her to create the Swallowsville Series.
She lives in Mohall, North Dakota with her family and plans on continuing her writing career with three more books in this series and two spin-off series which should be complete about the time she goes to college.
LISA BOULTT
Lisa’s knowledge of the music business and the relationships she’s built through the years paid off by being a go-to for many things. Today she works with some of Nashville’s biggest songwriters/artists, who are also some of her best friends. It’s a perfect combination! Lisa’s background in Music made her realize the importance of how words and sharing a story can change people’s lives.
This book resulted from Lisa’s grieving process of her sister, who passed in 1993. She was inspired to write Andrea’s story from her point of view, share the recipients' fictitious stories, and bring awareness of Organ Donation to young adults.
Lisa resides in Nashville, Tennessee, with her better half, Mike, and their three fur babies. In her spare time, she volunteers with Faithfully Restored and is a producer on the Good Grief Good God podcast.
Instagram: @ lisaboullt_17again
lisaboullt.com
JULIE TULLY
Cowgirl-turned-nomadic navy spouse, Julie Tully writes about life, culture, and the places where they intersect. Julie’s writing has appeared in Legacy Magazine, InDependent, and Your Teen for Parents. Her quirky lifestyle has taken her around the world, from rural Northern California to Europe and Africa. Now, after spending the past eighteen years overseas, Julie and her family prepare for an even greater adventure—returning to the United States.
You can follow Julie’s adventures on Instagram @dispatchesfromthecowgirl and Facebook @julietullywriter or at julietullywriter.com
AMY LARSON MARBLE
Amy Larson Marble is a mom of four kids, a lawyer, and whose husband travels for work, so home-cooked meals or neatly made beds are a rarity. The family dogs Boomer, Finn, and Max (a.k.a. the pack) complete the chaos that is the daily routine. Amy was born in Colorado, grew up in North Dakota, and lives in Minnesota.
Years ago, Amy woke up after a dream of a girl who lived over and over again. That dream became the start of another dream, to write the story of Sarah and share it with others.
CHRISTIAN COOK
Christian Sandra-Elise Cook is from the suburbs of Detroit. At age 16, she graduated high school and then attended Columbia College Chicago. Here, she obtained a BA in Public Relations and discovered her depth as a woman and a writer by taking various creative writing courses and using the city of Chicago as her campus. After being accepted into a writing program in Paris she rediscovered her passion for her first true love; writing. Paris was also Christian’s first time traveling outside of the United States and it opened her eyes to new experiences, a slower pace, and it made her question life as she understood it. Always curious, Christian discusses life, faith, and all the unexpected occurrences in between.
WILLIE HIRSH
Willie Hirsh recently published two novels: Regicide, The Shadow King (2018), and Constellation: The Second Race to Space has Begun (2018), which was an American Book Fest Finalist in 2018 and will be re-edited and re-released in June 2020. Amongst and Above All debuted January 2020.
Willie currently spending his spare time traveling, photographing nature, and painting landscapes in oil. He loves writing spy and political suspense novels. He pursued his career in engineering and currently working full time managing a construction firm.
STEPHEN MAITLAND-LEWIS
Stephen Maitland-Lewis is an award-winning author, a British attorney, and a former international investment banker. He has held senior executive positions in London, Kuwait, Paris, Munich, and on Wall Street prior to moving to California in 1991. He has owned a luxury hotel and a world-renowned restaurant and was also Director of Marketing of a Los Angeles daily newspaper.
Maitland-Lewis is a jazz aficionado and a Board Trustee of the Louis Armstrong House Museum in New York. In 2014, he received the Museum’s prestigious Louie Award. A member of PEN, The Authors Guild, and The Dramatists Guild of America, Maitland-Lewis is also on the Executive Committee of the International Mystery Writers Festival. In addition, he is on the Advisory Board of the California Jazz Foundation and is a former Board member.
He has published short stories in various magazines and Mr. Simpson and Other Short Stories is Maitland-Lewis’ first collection of short stories. His novels have received numerous accolades and his most recent suspense thriller is Duped. His other novels include Hero on Three Continents; Emeralds Never Fade which won the 2012 Benjamin Franklin Award for Historical Fiction and the 2011 Written Arts Award for Best Fiction; Ambition which was a 2013 USA Best Book Awards finalist and won first place for General Fiction in the 2013 Rebecca’s Reads Choice Awards; and Botticelli’s Bastard, a 2014 USA Best Book Awards finalist in three categories and winner of the Bronze Award in Best Regional Fiction (Europe) at the 2015 Independent Publisher Book Awards. Maitland-Lewis’ short story, Mr. Simpson has recently been developed as a play and has been performed by noted theatre companies in Miami, New Orleans, and Beverly Hills.
In January of 2016, Maitland-Lewis was sworn in as a Freeman of the City of London and admitted as a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of City Solicitors. In April of 2016, he became a Fellow of The Royal Geographical Society (FRGS). He divides his time between Beverly Hills, CA and New Orleans, LA.
http://www.maitland-lewis.com
JOHN MARK WATSON
Mark is a Paragould, Arkansas native who graduated from Crowley’s Ridge Academy, Crowley’s Ridge College, Harding University, and has an MBA from Arkansas State University. He is married to Stacie Buck of Paragould and has two sons, Jared and Tate. Mark and family currently reside in Springfield, Illinois where he serves as Executive Vice President and COO for the BUNN Corporation.
Mark loves challenges, both personal and professional. He would prefer to fail at a huge challenge than succeed at an easy challenge. In his career, he has always chosen to do the hard assignments and big challenges. In his opinion, the hard road is where personal and professional growth are realized. Personal challenges began early with the death of his father during his junior year in high school. Next came children and one with special needs. Most recently, a terminal disease diagnosis of hATTR Amyloidosis (also dubbed his superpower) with initial prognosis of less than a year to live. With some luck, love, faith, soul searching, study, and persistence, those challenges have only served to make the journey deeper and more meaningful.
Professional challenges include volunteering for multiple operational and financial rescues, both foreign and domestic, while working for a Fortune 500 company to now leading a medium-sized mid-western manufacturer through growing pains and COVID-19.
He loves competing. He loves building teams. Personal wins include the completion of several marathons, MS150 bike rides, Ragnar Relay teams, and River to River team relays. Professional wins include growing people and building teams to achieve more than they dreamed possible.
Mark believes in giving back and paying it forward. He is always on the lookout for opportunities to do both. He finds making a difference in the lives of others, whether big or small, very gratifying. One such opportunity that is close to his heart is a nonprofit organization for adults with special needs whose mission is to enrich the lives of their clients through housing, work, and relationships.
If you would like Mark to speak to your team or learn more about his journey, please go to www.johnmarkwatson.com and send him a message.
PONY JEAN PARKER
Born and raised in Southern California, Pony Jean has always had an affinity for books and writing. Growing up in a cult and being a survivor of religious trauma has moved her to become a mental health warrior sharing her story for others to connect with.
Pony Jean currently resides in Nevada. In her free time she enjoys reading, watching documentaries, hot yoga, and spending time with those close to her.
CHANDRIKA D. PHEA
Chandrika D. Phea is living in empowerment—of herself and others.
Born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Chandrika never dreamed that she would become a teacher. Teaching English at SIAS University in China to the future generation was life-changing. This experience opened Chandrika’s mind to travel the world doing what she has been empowered, mentored, and equipped to do.
As a student at Langston University, majoring in Management Information Systems, she also enrolled in ministerial courses at the Judah School of Ministry in OKC to obtain her license in ministry and was ordained. Phea received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biblical Studies from Beacon University, in Columbus, Georgia. While working toward her degree at Beacon, she became a substitute teacher for Muscogee County School District. She also served as a Young Life leader for Columbus Young Life Urban and volunteered in serving girls’ homes as well.
Chandrika joined Mission Columbus in 2007, conducting neighborhood Bible studies, building relationships with community members, and creating Vacation Bible Schools in the urban areas of Columbus. This partnership with the community proved as preparation for the position she would later hold in China.
The experience of living abroad changed Chandrika's life, giving her the desire to explore the world beyond church ministry. Since returning to the states, her newly found curiosity has led to a new passion in physical fitness, wellness coaching, and the outdoors, where she experiences more of Earth's glory.
DAVIDE SIMON MAZZOLI
Davide Simon was born in Milan, Italy, in 1980 but he has been living in Orlando, Florida, with his family for the past decade. At the end of the 1990s, he began working in the entertainment industry as a set designer, sculptor, and project manager in the theme park and entertainment sector.
His book titled Radio-grafia di un DJ che Non Piace (X-Ray of an Unlikable DJ) was published by Rizzoli and became a bestseller in the first 10 days of publication. Then, his thriller Lo Specchio del Male (The Mirror of Evil) was published by TEA, and that same year, Mondadori published also his book titled Non Mollare Mai! (Never Give Up!). These three books have been published in Italy.
After the big success of his novels, Sperling & Kupfer published the first book of his YA fantasy saga The Magical Lands of Midendhil, which was then translated and published in Bulgaria by Egmont and Brazil by Saraiva Group. Thanks to the great feedback from the readers, the first Midendhil book became the night show theme of Mirabilandia, one of the most successful and important theme parks in Europe.
Davide Simon Mazzoli is also a screen player and movie director. He produced the movie On Air: Storia di un Successo (On Air: A Success Story), which was based on his novel X-Ray of an Unlikable DJ and distributed by Medusa. For this movie, he received the Best Director Award at the 13th Magna Græcia Film Festival.
He recently published in Italy the novel Uccidi il Male (Kill the Evil), the first book of a thriller series by La Corte Editore. For the international market, he created Benny and His Friends, an educational picture book series by Moon Publishing, an imprint of Rusconi Editore.
When not writing, directing, or producing, you can find him spending time with his beloved kids and wife, enjoying all that Florida has to offer.
SPIROS GRATSIAS
Spiros Gratsias was born and raised in Montreal, Canada. Spiros is an engineer, designer, artist, illustrator, screen and fiction writer. He is the screenwriter of the award-winning short film animation Inverse based on the story A & B is based on, from his book Rootless Roots. He has also written the historical fiction The C Enigma published on Amazon in 2014 and has just published his latest novel Unyielding Destiny a crime fiction. In his other life, he is a Research and Development executive with over forty years’ experience in the aerospace and consumer goods industry. Spiros lives in Athens, Greece, and devotes much of his time to painting, illustrating, and writing.
HANK WASIAK
Hank Wasiak is a communications industry leader with an impressive resume of experience working with the corporate elite of global business. He is co-founder of Concept Farm, an award-winning digital agency, author, Emmy award winner, keynote speaker and university professor.
Hank retired as Vice Chairman of McCann WorldGroup and served on that company's board playing an integral role in the management of McCann's global clients. Hank was president of Geers Gross Advertising and Ketchum Communications. Hank also had a stellar career on the client-side as President of Brown-Forman's prestigious Jos. Garneau Division, COO of Somerset Importers, and EVP of Charles of the Ritz. He currently serves on multiple boards of The American Heart Association.
Hank teamed up with Dr. Kathryn D. Cramer, Ph.D., to create an innovative business - self-help book series, published by Running Press—Change The Way You See Everything, Change The Way You See Yourself, and Change The Way You See Everything – For Teens.
Hank was executive producer and host of Concept Farm’s Emmy award TV show Cool In Your Code and he won three consecutive New York Emmys for his on-camera performances in his innovative interview series, Back on The Block and Code Read.
Hank has also had extensive experience teaching marketing at a number of prestigious universities. He currently teaches at USC’s Marshall School of Business, has held an assistant professorship at Pace University, and has taught at Eckerd College, the University of South Florida, and the University of Louisville.
Hank earned a bachelor’s degree in advertising from Pace University, an MBA in marketing from the Baruch School of Business. He resides in Palm Springs California.
www.madmantohappyfarmer.com www.hankwasiak.com
HEATHER EBERT
Heather Ebert is a professional writer based in Nashville, Tennessee. She has more than fifteen years’ experience in print and digital publishing and has written for a variety of publications. Heather specializes in memoir, fiction, and narrative nonfiction, helping nonwriters tell their stories with power and beauty. She has written eight other books to date. One of her recently published books is Sole Survivor: The inspiring true story of coming face to face with the infamous Railroad Killer by Holly K. Dunn with Heather Ebert (Diversion Books, November 7, 2017). Learn more at heatherebert.com.
TED A RICHARD
Ted A Richard was born and raised in Ossun, Louisiana and graduated from Carencro High School in 1980. Shortly after graduation, he traveled all over the country working in retail management, later creating an alter-ego dance phenom named Colt Michael. He has lived in Austin, Boston, Dallas, Houston, New Orleans, Spokane and San Francisco. He retired in 2007 after working more than thirty years in retail business management, and currently resides near Carencro, Louisiana.
He has been HIV + since 1987 and formerly served as president of Acadiana CARES, the Lafayette area HIV/AIDS service organization, as a consumer advocate, and he has spoken on hundreds of occasions to schools and community organizations to raise HIV/AIDS awareness in the Acadiana area, and advocate for HIV prevention.
He has also been a rarely outspoken advocate on behalf of the LGBTQIA+ and HIV+ communities for several years, having given speeches in the Louisiana Congress on pertinent issues regarding our rights as equal citizens.
He was instrumental in organizing Lafayette’s first-ever “Acadiana PRIDE Festival” as its vice-president in 2014 and president in 2015. “We want to be the beacon to the rest of the state and our country, to shine the light on what true family, togetherness, and diversity means in Cajun Country!” Ted is also an avid
singer and was voted the 2016 Acadiana PRIDE Idol.
Ted continuously strives to bring LGBT-relevant theatre to the Acadiana area. He has produced two plays for Acadiana PRIDE; Chez Gisele written by Dennis Ward, and UpStairs: The Musical written by Wayne Self. Both plays were performed at Cite des Arts (in 2014 and 2015, respectively), and both received high accolades from the theater and performing arts community. In 2016, Ted made his acting debut as the star of Dennis Ward’s original comedy, Big Daddy’s Last Dance (at the Stiff and Moody Funeral Home). He was nominated for a Rosie Award for his performance.
ELIZABETH DALE PHILLIPS
Born in England, she emigrated to Canada in her early twenties and moved to the States a few years later, settling in California. The next twenty years were spent raising two children and getting the education she’d so carefully avoided when she was a teenager.
With those endeavors behind her, her career options were either social work or accounting. She chose the latter and for the next twenty years worked as a financial auditor with the State of California.
Once retired, she devoted her time to music, the piano in particular, all styles of music, both solo and ensemble. She has since dabbled in the banjo and Scottish Dancing and became an enthusiast of Silver Swans and any exercise class that appeals to her.
Retirement was ticking along quite nicely when, after fifteen years, she dug out a hoard of letters she’d written many years earlier. Discovering that not only could she write, but she enjoyed it, she wrote a story about once upon a time when she was a dancer.
Elizabeth lives with her husband, Bill, outside of Charlottesville, Virginia, close by the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
BRIDGETTE PEARCE
Bridgette Pearce graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park, and helps others find the strength to move forward, one step at a time, from a place of love, not fear, hatred or resentment. As the owner of Empower You, LLC, she has a solid and enthusiastic website, Instagram, and Facebook following that showcases her tour dates and motivational blog. She lives with her three children in Maryland.
S.M. KELLY
S.M. Kelly is a New York-based writer from Tokyo via Los Angeles with twenty years' experience writing more than 3,500 articles for numerous industries, including entertainment, finance, beauty, education, advertising, lifestyle, parenting, food and cooking, travel/hospitality, and young adult fiction/non-fiction/fantasy. Her freelance clients include Google, L’Oréal Paris, Paramount Studios, Marvel Comics, Warner Bros., TheWeek.com, Prevention.com, LendingUSA.com, and Mamapedia.com.
JOHN S. DAVIS
John Davis is the Managing Partner at The Cramer Institute. John is a sought-after executive coach, workshop facilitator, and corporate consultant. He is especially skillful in moving individuals and groups to new levels of performance and effectiveness, particularly during times that require organizational change and transformation. With leaders, John’s coaching targets excellence in self-awareness, communication, influence, team building, and conflict resolution skills.
In addition, John designs and leads training for The Cramer Institute on mindset management using Asset-Based Thinking® (ABT), Lead Positive® coaching and workshops for individual and team leadership development, as well as ABT communication, through Power & Presence coaching.
John joined The Cramer Institute in 2006 after a distinguished 31-year career in manufacturing operations, strategic planning, change management, and organizational development.
In his community work, John contributes his one-on-one coaching and group leadership by serving on training staffs for the Mankind Project (MKP), an international non-profit organization for men focused on personal growth and leadership development.
John has served as an adjunct staff member for the Center of Creative Arts (COCA) in St. Louis, where he facilitated workshops for the COCAbiz programs, bringing an experience of the arts into organizations to foster creativity and innovation. John also works with other non-profit organizations helping youth and young adults develop as leaders.
John holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Oklahoma State University and an MBA from Southern Illinois University.
TODD R. GUNDERSON
Todd is a native of North Dakota. The stories he writes encompass experiences from his youth and places where he spent his time. Todd has twenty-four years of teaching experience in grades three to seven and is currently teaching in an elementary school in Tennessee. He enjoys teaching the writing curriculum and interacting with his students. He loves seeing his students gain in their writing abilities. Todd is also a custom woodworker and loves working with his hands. He is married with four children, and they all love the country life. He wishes to write books that a young person will not want to put down.
Todd has written fiction books, The Hairy Farmer’s Daughter and From Tangled Roots. A Limb Along the Railroad Tracks will be out in Spring 2021.
KARI WISEMAN
Kari Wiseman was born in South Dakota and slowly migrated south to Atlanta, Georgia. She is a stay-at-home mom with her husband of 26 years and their 2 children. You can usually find her hiking, playing games with her kids, and carrying her camera around while searching for unusual moments or angles that catch her eye.
Kari’s unique perspective due to a complicated personal life has inspired many. She worked in the television industry for eleven years, was a granite sales consultant for homes and businesses, and a Nurse Aide in a nursing home.
Kari has had the privilege of sharing her story of adoption, finding family, abuse, and forgiveness with thousands of people. She also has a daily blog that integrates words of inspiration with her passion for photography.
BRIAN STRIEFEL
Brian Striefel is a demanding reader and author, especially incensed with lousy endings. His character-driven thrill rides hold your attention long after the end. Each story seamlessly blended into real events, sometimes literary in message yet wildly original in direction. Brian once spent time scientificating coal. Along with his wife Anita, he now travels, golfs poorly when the fish aren’t biting, and often chases a mule deer named Thelma from an untended garden.
LARRY DANIEL
Larry Daniel is a former henchman, builder, fireman, paramedic, educator, cardiovascular technologist, and small business owner. He is currently retired and living in northwest Arkansas with his wife and two dogs.
Mr. Daniel received his firefighting credentials from the Fire Academy in Camden, Arkansas, and attended paramedic school at Springdale Memorial Hospital, in Springdale, Arkansas, where he also served as an advanced cardiac life support and advanced trauma life support, instructor. He gained licensure in invasive cardiology with a specialty in cardiac intervention and electrophysiology while employed at Springdale Memorial Hospital.
Larry received a certificate of recognition from Governor Bill Clinton in 1986, for his service to the State of Arkansas, and in 1989, appeared on the CBS television show, Rescue 911. After 22 years in healthcare, the author operated an insurance agency with his wife for nearly a decade.
Larry is an avid outdoorsman who also enjoys yoga and travel. This is his first book.
CORD A. SCOTT
Cord A. Scott is an Associate Professor for the University of Maryland system currently residing in Korea. His published work includes several topics on aspects of Chicago history, aspects of popular culture in American media as well as American military culture, and aspects of comic books. His book Comics and Conflict was published in 2014. Currently, he is working on cartoons produced in Stars and Stripes during World War I.
LANCE & RACHEL ALLERDINGS
Lance and Rachel began 10 Code Mission in 2020. The book 10 Code Marriage was written when Rachel felt that she wanted to do more for First Responder wives and families after Lance had been in Law Enforcement for over twelve years. Lance has served as a Patrol Officer and as an Investigator. He is currently a Master Police Officer in Investigations. He is also an Assistant Team Leader with his Regional SWAT team since late 2012.
Lance and Rachel were college sweethearts and were married in 2006. They call North Dakota home with their three children and their boxer. They love spending time outdoors, especially at their family cabin or fishing! Rachel is a full-time stay-at-home mom and active in volunteering at their home church. She also has a "side-gig" in Real Estate. Lance is busy with work, serving on the security team, and co-leading a connect group with Rachel. Their children keep them busy—life is crazy and we wouldn't have it any other way!
Their website is www.10codemission.com