OUR MEMBERS
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Karen Adams
Website: karenadams.com
Susie K. Adams
Inspiring speakers each month and encouraging SWG members have compelled the author in me to broaden my horizons and renew old writing interests. My preacher husband, four adopted children, five grandchildren and eight greats will provide much material for future short stories, poems, and books. I am a Women's Ministry Director, monthly newsletter author, speaker, storyteller and ministry assistant. I wrote for the local and school newspapers in high school and have written devotional studies and a manual on organizing women's retreats. My book, "My Mother. . . My Child" is a personal account of caring for Mother and available through my website http://susiekinslowadams.com.
Reta Stewart Allen
Bio: Has written for publications in Springfield, Chicago and Minneapolis as well as national publications over the past 30 years. Won a national profile award by NAMPA (North American Mature Publishers Association). A series on the "Ozark Jubilee" television show written for Springfield! Magazine became the award-winning country music history book, "Remembering the Ozark Jubilee, Starring Red Foley." Authored a localized history of Route 66, "Route 66 Rail Haven: An Offspring of the Mother Road," and six children's books. Has seven children, 19 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren ("...at last count--We're a very creative family.") Also taught art in adult and children's classes. Currently edits and designs material for other writers. Please visit my website at www.retathewriter.com.
Theresa A. (Terry) Bade
After a successful career as a legal secretary (paralegal), I decided to obtain an English degree at SMSU. But, instead of going on to law school as I had planned, my tracks led me to freelancing. It didn't take very long for me to get my first article published. I sent in an article entitled "Does the Pope Really Wear Sneakers?" to Bob Glazier at Springfield! Magazine in the fall of 1984. By spring, that article appeared in print. I was paid $35 and a year's subscription to the "best magazine in town" and was hooked!
I wrote continuously until 1999 when I finally put away my sneakers and retired when my husband saw that he needed to quit work. It was so enjoyable and rewarding to freelance. I believe I have 150-plus published articles with my byline and one with my husband's byline, a necessity for one of my articles. I wrote mostly humor but also researched history and wrote profiles for many publications, including a weekly for The Mirror, a Catholic diocesan publication here in town. I remain a writer! Even in retirement. . .
Steve Badger
Books published: Witnessing in Our Post-Modern World
Nancy Baker
Donna M. Barnes
Mark Blumenstock
Jessica (Niki) Bradley
Website: jnbradley.com
Wendy Briggs
Website: briggsfreelance.com
Published books: Drama Ministry: A Guidebook
Anna Beth Brock
Maggie Brummett
Website: mlbrummett.com
Chris Cox
Charlotte Crabaugh
Raelene Crotser
Larry Cunningham
I am a retired Marine Corps Lt. Colonel, fighter squadron commander, cattle rancher and high school science teacher. I am a runner, a writer, a reader and have given many poetry readings and writing presentations to writing conferences and groups, including the MSU Moon City Series. I write short fiction, essays, articles and poetry and am completing my fourth novel in manuscript form. Honors include first-place awards from the Ozark Creative Writers, Inc., multiple Grand Prizes for Fiction from SWG and my poetry book, Velvet Scars, won the 1997 Pegasus Award for best book of poetry from the Oklahoma Writers' Federation. I am a long-term SWG member and have served as vice president, treasurer, contest chair, conference chair and nominating committee.
Lee Davis
Judy A. Dees
Former teacher of almost 25 years, wife of Randy almost 20 years, mother of two daughters, nan of three grandchildren, owner of Mr. B's Ice Cream & Deli in Branson. Newly published author of VERSES FROM ABOVE: Praise the Lord! - On Man and Nature - Garden of Abuse and deep into Verses From Above II. High school newspaper co-editor, contributing writer for church bulletins , AR Christian Education Assoc. newsletter, and Bind Us Together newsletter. A few poems published in college publications and local newspapers but no "claim to fame" yet! Website VersesFromAbove.com with devotionals and newsletter to former students. I am excited to be a member of SWG! From the membership directory, I can tell SWG is a greatly diversified group with many talents.
Don DePriest
Leola Dreiling
June Ellen Price Easley
Rick Elliot
June E. Easley
Rick Elliot
Website: risingriverpress.com
Published books: The Reluctant Martyr, Fountains of Youth: A Collection of Short Stories
Yvonne Erwin
As the current President of the Guild, I hope to encourage and inspire emerging writers. My writing genre is mainstream, Womens' Fiction. I was born in Minneapolis, MN and have had the opportunity to live in different parts of the United States. Throughout my life I've been blessed with an eclectic group of friends and acquaintances. Presently, I work as a legal assistant in Springfield; I have two grown sons and my genre is Women's Fiction. I hope to see many new faces at the meetings this year! Visit me at y-write.blogspot.com
Sheree Evans
Charles K. Firmage
Hugh A. Flowers
Bio: I retired as a Bank Examiner with the FDIC in 1994 and then consulted for another 10 years doing the same type of work for various banks. I recently have published two novels. "Oklahoma Tomboy" is a fictionalized story based upon my mother's childhood memories. The most recent publication, "Fountainhead" is a Sci-Fi novel that involves time-travel to the far future by the protagonist John Bridges and another family caught in the same timewarp. They battle a strange new world and its savage mutant inhabitants.
Published books: Oklahoma Tomboy, Fountainhead
Sylvia Forbes
Website: heartlandwriter.com
Published books: Bylines Writer's Desk Calendar
Phillis Fox
Dustin Friesen
Janet Kay Gallagher
Loretta J. Goodwin
Past treasurer and sometimes auditor of SWG. I have been published in local, regional and national magazines and newspapers. Credits include a weekly column, "Kids' Korner," in the Ash Grove, Missouri, Ash Grove Shopping News for five years. My photographs have been published in magazines and won prizes at the Ozark Empire Fair. I have been married to Kenneth for 52 years. We have three children, nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Ken and I were self-employed (auto upholstery) for 36 years. We retired in 2008. My first paid-for article was published in Springfield! Magazine.
Ursula Gorman
On Dec. 14, 2010, my first novel, Old Acquaintances, was nationally released. I was thrilled at the oppurtunity to share my book with the world and am currently working on my next book. I have been an avid reader all of my life and turning that love of reading into writing seemed like a natural progression. My tastes in what I read has changed over the years, but in the last fifteen or so years, I seem to have settled on mystery/romance as my favorite genre...so of course, that is what I feel most comfortable writing about. You can follow me on facebook, twitter or on my website, http://ursulagorman.tripod.com
Published books: Old Acquaintances
Wayne Groner
I wrote Dumb Luck or Divine Guidance and The Pastor?s Guide to Fund-raising Success. My articles and book reviews have been published online and in print magazines including: Your Community Hospice, Ozarks Magazine, Springfield Business Journal, Rural Missouri, Congregations, on Philanthropy.com, and CharityChannel.com. I have written Sunday school lessons for adult learners.
Website: waynegroner.blogspot.com
I have also written articles, brochures, newsletters, case statements, and magazine articles for college fundraising campaigns. I have been a workshop and conference presenter for national professional organizations including the Association of Fundraising Professionals and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education.
I retired from fulltime employment in 2004 and continue to present fundraising and ministry workshops to nonprofits and churches and to advise fundraisers. I present a monthly workshop at the Springfield Library Cente for nonprofit staff, board members, and volunteers. I consistently receive best-of-the-best ratings from visitors to AllExperts.com for my responses to fundraising and nonprofit management questions.
I am a member of the Community Editorial Advisory Board of the Springfield News-Leader.
Jane Hale
Website: firecrackerlady.com
Dennis Harmon
Barbara Hays
Martha Henslee
Clarence "Sonny" Herman
Greg Hoffman
Doris L. Hurd
Shaun Jordan
George B. Joslin
Maria D. Karakitsos
Dwight Keen
Charles King
Gerrie Kolb
Priscilla Lane
Joe Levanti
CAREER:
Actor, playing many character parts with the "Disney On Parade" Arena Touring Show for two years and later appearing with Cathy Rigby in her first "Peter Pan" Show as one of Captain Hooks Villainous Pirates and "Nana" The Family Nurse Dog. Continuing my Show Biz Career on the technical side of the Biz working props on many game shows, sitcoms and as Head Prop Person on the Soap Opera "General Hospital" for 18 years. -
INTERESTS:
Cofounder of the Ozark Garden Railway Society - and
Cofounder and promoter of the
Arts & Live Theatre Center of Southwest Missouri Inc. -
a 501(c)3 not for profit corporation (dba) Horseshoe Theatre - Monett. -
FAVORITE AUTHORS:
Earl Nightingale - E. Joseph Cossman - Dottie Walters.
SELF PUBLISHED BOOK:
Free Publicity - How to Obtain It For Your - Club - Business - Church - Organization - Association or Yourself.
QUOTE:
"I Look forward to learning about contracts, copyrights, writing a weekly column,and sharing ideas with SWG members."
Rose Lombardo
Julian Lynn
Published books: Four Gates to Health, Plastic & Red Hot, One Slice
Sue Lyon
Website: sue-foodforthought.net
Published books: Take Time to Listen to the Words
Patrica Martin
Marcella Massengale
Sue McDonald
Honorary Life Member
Almo L. McElmurry
Lurenda "Rendy" Morris
Jacquelyn Mountcastle
Barbara Nunn
Ramon Oscarson
Website: raballard-mymind.blogspot.com
Published books: The Last Chance, A Piece of my Heart, Going, Going, Gone, Souled
Jim Odum
Kimberly Ann Piddington
In addition to being a SWG member, I am also a member of the National Writing Project,The Ozark Writers League, SCBWI, and have been an educator of middle grade children for eighteen years. My novel, Momma Don't Own a Machine Gun (Formerly titled The Summer of 1925) won first place in the 2010 Pikes Peak Writer's Fiction Contest, Children's Category and will be published by Brighter Books in 2012. To learn more, visit my website at addition to being a SWG member, I am also a member of the National Writing Project,The Ozark Writers League, SCBWI, and have been an educator of middle grade children for eighteen years. My novel, Momma Don't Own a Machine Gun (Formerly titled The Summer of 1925) won first place in the 2010 Pikes Peak Writer's Fiction Contest, Children's Category and will be published by Brighter Books in 2012. To learn more, visit my website at www.kimpiddington.com
Doris Plaster
Website: doris-socialworker.blogspot.com
Published books: Home Sweet Nursing Home
Joyce C. Ragland
Regional Advisor for SCBWI-Missouri, member of the Missouri Writers Guild, Ozarks Writers League and Ozarks Writers & Illustrators for Children. Former public school music teacher, Professor of Education and Assistant Dean. Author of two academic books, several articles and presentations for state and national professional Educator conferences, editor/reviewer for Prentice-Hall, McGraw-Hill, Wiley. Took early retirement in 2005 f to move back to Missouri and focus on writing fiction and raising funds for local Alzheimer's victims. Awards include a Golden Poet award, selection for the John Goodlad 2004 Symposium "Democracy in Education," and last 3rd place in the 2010 Springfield Writers Guild Prose Short Story contest. Now writing a narrative nonfiction book about Conway High School's national robotics win and refining YA fiction manuscript set in late 1950s in the shadow of Route (not root) 66. Web sites are: http://www.JCRaglandWriting.blogspot.com and http://www.EllaRaglandArt.org.
Debra Raymer
Phyllis Rhodes
Henrietta W. Romman
I have been blessed by God with these gifts in my writing career: teacher, speaker and four published books of poetry and inspiration. As a Middle-Easterner from Sudan, Africa, I wrote a cookbook of cultural menus, "Middle Eastern Cooking Made Easy And Fun" –a subject I have been teaching at OTC. With Arabic as my native language, I served five years as Translator with CMM (Centre For Ministry to Muslims) and served as editor for their magazine, NUR-EL-HAQ. I have been writing a monthly column for the Ozarks Senior Living Newspaper for 10 years, and have compiled over 80 of those columns in my new book, "To God Be The Glory - - from Africa to Missouri." I am working on my fifth book, "Praying the Psalms with Jesus." Another novel in preparation is a book of memoirs, "To a New Homeland on Wings of Eagles," by God's Grace. My website is: yarira.com.
Judi Rowland
Lee Ann Russell
Honorary Life Member
Past President (twice) and Honorary Life Member (joined in 1974). Author of How to Write Poetry, Ballad to Villanelle. Publication credits include Old House Journal, Springfield! Magazine, Farm and Ranch Living, The Ozarks Mountaineer, All Roads Lead to Branson, The News-Leader, Senior Living, Eureka Springs Times Echo and others. One-act play, Decision, performed by Aloha Performing Arts Company in Hawaii in 2003. Winner of Ozark Writers' League Cliff Edom Photography Award in 1995, 2002 and 2003, and Dan Saults Writing Award in 1999 and Writing Contest in 2002. Gives presentations and poetry readings to writing and civic organizations (MSU Moon City series and SBU). Also member of Missouri Writers Guild, Missouri State Poetry Society, Poets & Friends and National Federation of State Poetry Societies. Winner of myriad prose, poetry and photography awards.
Nancy K. Shelton
I retired from a teaching career and now work at part-time positions related to education. I have had several non-fiction articles published locally, but I most enjoy writing children's stories. I am a grandmother to my daughter's six children, ages 7-20. Additionally, I volunteer in schools and church, coordinate an active storytelling group and review children's books. When I have time, I enjoy theatre, travel, bridge, and square dancing. Life is good; I appreciate all the choices I have had over the years.
Candace Simonson
Technical writer for two companies, playwright, songwriter, poet and graphic artist. Non-fiction freelance writer for over 30 years. I have written magazine articles, DIY, "How-To", and human interest stories. I have designed many worksheets and logos. Publication credits: 30 magazines with over 100 publications including Better Homes & Gardens, Church Administration, Discipleship Journal, Advance, Evangel, Teacher's Interaction, Woman's Day, Midwest Living and Instructor. Editor of three newsletters. Wrote and taught computer technology curriculum for grades K-6. Three-act play performed by a 100-member cast in Kenosha, WI called I Choose to Bow. I am honing my first novel called The Boy on the Fence about an abandoned young boy trying to find love while deciding between right and wrong. Another novel underway called Under the Shadow is about a mysterious golden cloak with special powers. I maintain a weekly devotional blog called Candy's Reflections. I am also a musician, a medical language specialist and a teacher, presently working as an IT account specialist. I look forward to knowing fellow writers!
Website: candysimonson.wordpress.com
Diane Siracusa
Website: foodmemories.net
Marilyn K. Smith
Twenty-plus years ago, I attended my first Springfield Writers' Guild meeting. At that time, a few of my reminiscing articles were published in the Springfield News-Leader, as well as a handful of letters to the editor, and I was writing a weekly column in the Buffalo Reflex (A Tale or Two which continues to this day). With perseverance and determination, I can now add the following writing credits: The Ozarks Mountaineer, Springfield! Magazine, Ozarks Watch, Ozarks Reader, Reminisce, Fair Grove Heritage, Marshfield Mail, Fair Grove Interchange, Fair Grove Gazette, The Possum Trot Quarterly, Hodgepodge, Golden Words, Geniis at Work, The Index, The Best of Reminisce (a book), Grist (anthology), Every Day is Father's Day (a book by Jane Hale), and Ozarks' Senior Living Newspaper (article or two each month, former Associate Editor). With nearly 2,000 published articles under my belt, I can attest to the value of what I learned at the Guild meetings.
Virginia A. Snyder
Toni Somers
Jonathan Spore
Dr. Henry G. Stratmann
In my day (and night!) job I'm a cardiologist in private practice, and Clinical Professor of Medicine at St. Louis University. My writing credentials include being author or coauthor of some seventy publications in major medical journals such as Circulation and the American Journal of Cardiology. Maryellen, my wife of twenty-five years and a fellow physician, and I have coauthored two teenage sons and a book on cardiovascular health. I've sold four science fact articles and twenty science fiction stories to a major SF magazine, Analog Science Fiction and Fact. My interests encompass all of the sciences as well as history, philosophy, theology, political science, literature, and both listening to and composing classical music. A lifelong interest in electronics and computers led me to obtain an Extra Class amateur radio license and A+ certification as an Information Technology technician.
Website: hgstratmann.com
Recent published book: Sex and Your Heart Health
Dr. Maryellen Stratmann
Published books: Sex and Your Heart Health
Conetta Taylor
Published books: Romance
Thomas Taylor
Laura L. Valenti
I have three published novels. The first two are historical, based on the beginning of Bennett Spring State Park, set in 1924 and 1935, The Heart of the Spring and The Heart of the Spring Lives On. The third, Between the Star and the Cross: The Choice is about a county sheriff in the Ozarks and the Salvadoran woman who comes to his town to run the Christian mission there. The three together have sold over 1200 copies in recent months. My two newest, Between the Star and the Cross: The Election and The Heart of the Spring Forevermore are both due out later in 2012. I've been a freelancer for years for Springfield News-Leader, Ozarks Magazine, Missouri Life, and various other publications and now write regularly for Ozark Farm & Neighbor. I love the writing life here in the Ozarks and like everyone else I'm always looking for new ways to market what I write! See more about me at betweenthestarandthecross
Maryann Wakefield
G. David Walker
Website: gdavidwalker.com
Sherlu R. Walpole
Wayne Warner
Honorary Life Member
Lee Ann Weeks
I have been a freelance writer since the mid '70s, a member and past president of the Springfield Writers; Guild and a member of the Missouri Writers' Guild since the late '90s. During the late '90s and for twelve years, I was an award winning monthly columnist for Today's Woman Magazine. Since 2006 I have been a contributing writer and columnist for Northwest Media. Currently I am working public relations for Theatrum Mundi, a Punk-Upon-Avon band working on a rock opera musical, The Eyes of the Reallm, which will be released simultaneously as an album, a novel, and staged as a rock musical. I have been blogging since 2005 and have several blogs. My current blog, Leezy's Snap, is a collection in the making of small random thoughts with short stories and commentary on anything. I am opinionated. Read my blog at leezyssnap.blogspot.com
Mary I. West
Nick Weyland
I have now written two books, The Keepers of the Castle as well as When Knights Wore Shining Armor since retiring from immigration enforcement, both mirroring my former career. I have discovered that a writer/author's future endeavors often involve reflections upon the past. My future now shifts gears once more to involve a story recalling a former time and location where I incidentally graduated from high school, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. SWG membership provides a great way to share thoughts and pick up new ideas to incorporate into all of life's experiences.
Rue Withers
Thomas (Tom) Withers
Honorary Life member
Imogene Woods
Published books: The Orindary Infantry Men: Heroes Then, Heroes Again
Rebbeca Wright
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