Denotes a writer who has appeared in WORD

Nesta Aharoni, publisher and writer, is the owner of Grassroots Publishing Group, Inc. Her company is committed to producing books that have the power to transform the world into a better, kinder, and safer place. Her first book, My Goodness: My Kids, Cultivating Decency in a Dangerous World, inspires parents to recognize character-building opportunities every day, and to focus on goodness above and beyond any other quality. www.grassrootspublishinggroup.com

Alexis Ahrens is a write-at-home mom and naptime entrepreneur living in La Mesa with her musician husband, Toby, her 16-month-old son, Lucas, and three cats. She is the creator of Baby's Little Log Book, (www.littlelogbook.com), author of the blog, Taking the Lid off the Sun, (http://shinebrightly.wordpress.com) and owner of Domani Publishing.

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Martha Barnette is a journalist who writes about language. Along with lexicographer and slang expert Grant Barrett, she co-hosts the popular radio show A Way with Words, carried on KPBS Radio in San Diego. Martha joined the show in 2004, sharing the microphone with bestselling grammar maven Richard Lederer until his retirement in 2006. Her co-host now is Grant Barrett. Get A Way with Words via podcast.

Grant Barrett is a lexicographer and dictionary editor who lives and
works in New York City but co-hosts A Way with Words, a language-related radio show produced in San Diego. He's also the creator of the Double-Tongued Dictionary, vice president of the American Dialect Society, and compiler of the Official Dictionary of Unofficial English and
the Oxford Dictionary of American Political Slang. He writes for the
New York Times and the Malaysia Star.

David Boyne is a writer. And a rewriter. But he is far better known for appreciating every food he has ever tried—except Jello® and sea urchin. There was a time when he considered becoming a better person, but abandoned the idea when he learned identity theft was illegal. He has lived in Connecticut, Florida, Maine, Rhode Island, Oregon, Manhattan, San Francisco and San Diego. He now lives in Encinitas, California. There are no outstanding warrants for his arrest. Although he exposes himself in public at ICBWB.com

WORDsd.com's Featured Writer in July 2008
David Brin is a scientist and best-selling author whose future-oriented novels include Earth, The Postman, and Hugo Award winners Startide Rising and The Uplift War. (The Postman inspired a major film in 1998.) Brin is also known as a leading commentator on modern technological trends. His nonfiction book, The Transparent Society, won the Freedom of Speech Award of the American Library Association. Brin's newest novel Kiln People explores a fictional near future when people use cheap copies of themselves to be in two places at once. The Life Eater, a graphic novel, explores a chilling alternative outcome of World War II. DavidBrin.com

Helle Brisson is a writer’s coach living in Carlsbad who helps writers to find within themselves the strength, passion and discipline to create. Her background includes 20 years of teaching. She is a writer herself and is currently working on two books for publication. Helle gives workshops and personal coaching. www.hellebrisson.com

Susan Burke is a retired academic librarian, and although she has authored over the years professional articles, encyclopedia essays and op-ed pieces, her real goal is to draft a comic novel. Originally from Frederick, MD and later from Baltimore, she traveled west to San Diego in 1998 and has never, even in a life rich in ambivalence and ambiguity, regretted the journey. Susan is a co-facilitator of the Brown Bag Downtown writers group.

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Vera Caccioppoli has earned the prestigious PEN/Faulkner Award. Her short stories have been published in many literary journals, and her non-fiction has been featured in the Washington Post, Shape magazine, and has been broadcast on National Public Radio. Vera has optioned two screenplays to Hollywood and won numerous screenwriting awards at film festivals around the country, including a double win at the 2007 Houston International Film Festival for her screenplays Hi-Way Haven (drama) and Perfect Couple (romantic comedy). In addition to her writing career, Vera is highly successful private writing coach with an international clientele of novelists and screenwriters. Visit Vera at Hi-Way-Haven.com

Joe Camp is a film writer, producer, and director, author, speaker, and the man behind the canine superstar Benji. Joe has written, produced and directed 7 theatrical motion pictures (including all of the Benji movies) grossing well over the equivalent of $600 million in today's dollars, making him one of the most successful independent filmmakers of all time. Joe has also written 3 novels from his screenplays, the inspirational non-fiction book Benji & Me, and several children's books. Visti Joe: www.thesoulofahorse.com  Visit Benji: www.benji.com

Drusilla Campbell is the author of ten published novels, including the best-selling Hopewell Saga, Wildwood, The Edge of the Sky and Blood Orange. She co-authored Drugs and Alcohol in the Workplace: A Guide for Management, is a manuscript consultant who often works with emerging writers and teaches different aspects of professional writing for the University of California, San Diego. Visit Drusilla Campbell

Lauren Castle began her career with an editorial service in New York where she counted numerous authors among her clients. In response to changing industry demands, she expanded and founded Impress Express, a company that provides a full range of services for writers and other professionals seeking to improve or create their image in person or on paper. She has published numerous articles about image and career management. In addition to Impress Express, Lauren has taught Advertising, Copywriting, and Journalism at Temple University, published The Image Networker (an international image publication), and coordinated promotional book tours for authors.

Sandra Levy Ceren, Ph.D. is long time clinical psychologist, local weekly columnist "Ask Dr. Ceren" published author of two psychological thrillers:Prescription for Terror, Secrets From the Couch, and numerous short stories. www.DrSandraLevyCeren.com

Andrew Chapman has worked in almost every aspect of independent publishing for over twenty years. He is an award-winning writer, author of several books, and a professional speaker with nearly 300 engagements to his credit throughout the U.S. and overseas. Andrew is also the current president of Publishers & Writers of San Diego, a local professional association. His newest book is Rock to Riches: Build Your Business the Rock & Roll Way (Capital Books). Andrew lives in the peaceful and rustic art town of Idyllwild, a mile high in the mountains above Palm Springs. His website is www.achapman.com

Deepak Chopra is known as the prolific author of over 49 books, more than 100 audio, video and CD-ROM titles which have been translated into 35 languages. His book, Peace Is the Way (Harmony Books) won the Quill Award and The Book of Secrets: Unlocking the Hidden Dimensions of your Life was awarded the Nautilus Award. Some of his many best-sellers include The Spontaneous Fulfillment of Desire: Harnessing the Infinite Power of Coincidence., How to Know God: The Soul’s Journey into the Mystery of Mysteries, Perfect Health; Ageless Body, Timeless Mind; The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success. DeepakChopra.com

David Coddon is associate editor of the San Diego Union-Tribune’s Night&Day section. A journalist since 1979, he has written features, real estate stories, travel articles and columns for the Union-Tribune, as well as for other local and national publications.

Ed Coonce is an Encinitas artist and writer who is currently editing an anthology, The Adventures of El Pinche Reynoso, a series of satirical short stories, and writing a screenplay, Cookies and a Nine Millimeter. He is the author and illustrator of Gorilla Ballroom, Gorilla Riverdance, Gorilla Football, and Gorilla Latin Dance, and is writing his combat memoirs (Marine Vietnam vet two tours, 67-69). He studied graphic design and painting at The Coronado School of Fine Art, creative writing and anthropology at San Diego State University, and is currently a member of Ransom Note Productions, a San Diego writer’s workshop, and Grand Imperial Wizard of the WORD Anti-Social Writers and Artists Parties. Read Ed here: BergenBugle.com

Kathy V. Crabbe is a full time artist and writer living in an elfin forest outside Temecula, California. She is the founder of the Temecula Writer's Cafe and The Artist's Salon.
www.LuLuDesign.com

D.B. Cunningham lives in the Golden Hill neighborhood of San Diego. She left her career as a systems engineer to return to her first love, writing fiction. Her recently published novel, The Aloha Diary is set in San Diego and Hawaii and follows the hilarious adventures of Leda Swann in the shadowy world of Government contracting.Visit: www.thealohadiary.com

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Carlene Dater has written for a variety of newspapers and published over 270 pieces of fiction and nonfiction and six books: four mysteries, a romance and a non-fiction book about her time as a volunteer at the Sheriff's Department. She lives in Santee with her husband and two yellow labs. She blogs: www.themysterystartshere.com She offers a free mystery writing course: www.silveradopublishing.com/minicourse

Edwin Decker is a freelance writer. He writes a lot. He writes for magazines and newspapers. His column is called Sordid Tales. It’s in CityBeat. Some people like it. Edwin Decker wrote a book once. It’s called Barzilla and Other Psalms. There is poetry in it. Edwin Decker has a website (www.edwindecker.com). You should go there.

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Gayle Early is a • truthful • honest • fair • fearless • freelance writer and recovering technical writer/editor/grant writer in the life sciences. Essays and short stories are now her favorite flavor. Read Gayle’s new ThoughtQuarks™ and Gayle's blog for trips and pics to China (freaky stories from Ireland coming soon). Read some of Gayle published stuff.

Paulette Ensign is the current Publishers and Writers of San Diego vice-president and also known as The Booklet Queen. Since 1991, her company, Tips Products International, has assisted individuals and organizations transform their knowledge into tips booklets for marketing and making money. Paulette has personally sold over a million copies of her own booklet without spending a penny on advertising. Visit www.tipsbooklets.com for more details.

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Dale Fetherling has written, edited, or ghosted a dozen non-fiction books. He was a reporter and editor for 25 years at major metropolitan newspapers and Editor of the The Los Angeles Times' San Diego County Edition. Dale teaches journalism/writing/media at Point Loma Nazarene University, and has taught at Northwestern University, San Diego State University, the Learning Annex, and The Writing Center. He is author of Comrades in Ink: How to Work With a Co-Author to Make Your Book a Reality. Visit Dale Fetherling

Annette Fix is a wordsmith and spoken-word storyteller living in Laguna Niguel with her Danish Prince Charming husband, aspiring photographer son, and two rescued dogs. She is the author of The Break-Up Diet: A Memoir (www.thebreak-updiet.com) published by her company Orange Curtain Publishing. She is the co-owner and senior editor of www.wow-womenonwriting.com.

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Frank Grady created the famours ad for United Way that shows a little girl sitting forlorn on the mean streets of a New York ghetto. The headline reads… “She’s being punished.  She has to go out and play.” Frank has also created over 500 other print ads, 300 direct mail pieces, 200 brochures, 200 articles, and dozens of national TV spots. He has won many advertising creative awards. His novel, Pressure, is making the rounds of literary agents in New York, while Frank, his wife, Renee, and their Dalmatian, Freckles, live across the street from the Pacific Ocean in Carlsbad and follow the family motto, “There’s no such thing as a bad day at the beach.”  Visit Frank: GradyAdvertising.com

Michael Steven Gregory is a writer of material ranging from mainstream drama to bio-pics, documentary and animated action-adventure. He has written series for Fox, UPN and HBO, worked on such next-gen videogames as ?Amped 3? and ?Don King Presents: Prizefighter,? and is attached as a writer, producer or director on several long- and shortform projects. He is also executive director of the Southern California Writers? Conference.

Read Michael's article for WORD: We The Screenwriter

Andrea Glass, owner of WritersWay is an award-winning author and ghostwriter. Her mission is to transform ideas into info-products. She works with entrepreneurs, coaches, consultants, speakers, trainers, and authors to turn their expertise into books, eBooks, e-courses, articles, reports, and more for passive income and increased credibility and visibility. www.WritersWay.com

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Jill Hall is a creativity consultant, writer and artist. Her career as a public school educator spanned over twenty years. She facilitates groups and supports those who wish to find their creative paths. Jill is working on the second draft of a novel. Jill is a co-facilitator of the Brown Bag Downtown writers group. Contact Jill: jillghall@aol.com

Dan Howard I live in Oceanside, California, with my wife and children. Grammar errors and misused English jump out at me like sour notes in a choir recital. I have an irritating habit of saying "bad English" to the television when a newscaster mangles a sentence. Somebody's got to play cop, for God's sake! I have also worked as a journalist, published several short stories, and written a novel. I am currently looking for an agent. Visit Dan: http://www.theproofreader.org

Carolyn Howard-Johnson has appeared on more than 300 TV and radio shows. She is an instructor for UCLA Extension's renowned Writers' Program and author of This Is the Place, a novel that won eight awards. Her book of creative nonfiction, Harkening: A Collection of Stories Remembered, won three. She is also the author of the award-winning HowToDoItFrugally series of books for writers including The Frugal Book Promoter: How to Do What Your Publisher Won't, USA Book News' "Best Professional Book 2004," and the winner of the coveted Irwin Award. The second in the series is The Frugal Editor, also a USA Book News winner. She is the recipient of the California Legislature's Woman of the Year in Arts and Entertainment Award, and her community's Character and Ethics Committee awarded her work promoting tolerance with her writing. Her website is www.HowToDoItFrugally.com and she blogs at www.SharingwithWriters.blogspot.com

Arianna Huffington is the co-founder and editor-in-chief of The Huffington Post, a nationally syndicated columnist, and author of eleven books. She is also co-host of "Left, Right & Center," public radio's popular political roundtable program. In May 2005, when she launched The Huffington Post, a news and blog site that has quickly become one of the most widely-read, linked to, and frequently-cited media brands on the Internet, she wrote an article for WORD, My Leap Into the Blogosphere, telling us why she was doing it. In 2006, she was named to the Time 100, Time Magazine's list of the world's 100 most influential people. This may be a dream, but we think she once upon a time ran for governor of California. Visit Arianna

Holly A. Hunt, Ph.D., is a psychologist in private practice and past Chair of the Practice Management Committee of the San Diego Psychological Association. She is the author of Essentials of Private Practice: Streamlining Costs, Procedures, and Policies for Less Stress, W.W. Norton & Co, 2005, $18.95, ISBN 0-393-70448-3. For more information and to order the book visit www.EssentialsOfPrivatePractice.com

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Gladys Jimenez is author of Feel Good Thoughts. This little book is a collection of simple messages that will make you feel good about yourself and life. For more information go to: http://www.feelgoodthoughts.com

Jacqueline Jorgensen lives with her husband in San Diego, where she raised her four children and attended college. She has published two books, autobiographicsal novels, Beyond Mud and Vines, and its sequel, Yearning to be American. Her current project, Back to the Mud and Vines, will complete the trilogy.

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Catherine Karp was born and raised in Southern California suburbia, where she spent her childhood writing, reading, and dragging her sister into her make-believe worlds. Ghost stories and historical tales were early favorites. Her debut novel, Gilded, won the Hollywood Film Festival's Book Discovery Award, and her second novel, Voices Airy, was a finalist in ForeWord Magazine's Book of the Year Awards. Her writing has appeared in San Diego Writers' Monthly, Romantic Times BOOKclub, and the ezine Bygone Days. Visit Catherine Karp

Kiakialia is a freelance editor and writing group facilitator, as well as an editor for WORDsd.com. She founded the RansomNotes writers group in Encinitas, which meets every Tuesday night in which she motivates Muses and lights fires under such slouches as WORDsd.com's own db. Contact Kiakiali to edit, revise, ghost, or wake your Muse up. Kia blogs at: http://eaglesnest.today.com

Annette Kuritz is Literary marketer and publicist as well as a force to be reckoned with on land, as the founder of the La Jolla Writers Conference, and in the air, as the founder of the internet radio program, Writers Roundtable, every Thursday at 3:30 p.m. on SignOnRadio.com.

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Marj Lacey, a marriage and family therapist and former journalist and teacher, recently published her first book, It’s Not a Life Sentence: Liberating Your Self, Becoming Who You Are. The book addresses a key mental health issue of our time: the loss of connection to our own authentic selves. Only by rediscovering who we are at the core, Marj believes, can we make the life changes necessary to become whole and profoundly happy. Excerpts may be viewed at www.marjfrazerlacey.com

Thomas Larson is the author of The Memoir and the Memoirist: Reading and Writing Personal Narrative. He lectures and holds workshops on memoir writing throughout the United States. Larson is a staff writer for the weekly San Diego Reader where he specializes in investigative journalism, narrative nonfiction, and profiles. His writing has appeared in The Gettysburg Review, Southwest Review, Antioch Review, Fourth Genre, Amazon.com/Shorts, the Anchor Essay Annual: The Best of 1997, Contrary Magazine online, New Letters, Tampa Review, and Cadillac Cicatrix. Visit Thomas: www.thomaslarson.com E-mail Thomas: tlarson@adnc.com.

Richard Lederer is the author of more than 30 books about language, history, and humor, including his best-selling Anguished English series and his current book, Presidential Trivia. He has been profiled in magazines as diverse as The New Yorker, People, and the National Enquirer and frequently appears on radio as a commentator on language. Visit Richard at Verbivore.com

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Susan Madden Lankford, founder of Humane Exposures Publishing, LLC, and has just released her first photojournalistic book, Maggots In My Sweet Potatoes: Women Doing Time, an in-depth look at the lives of women who end up in jail through dramatic portrait photography coupled with interviews with inmates, deputies and medical experts.

Paula Margulies is a writer and owner of Paula Margulies Communications, a public relations firm offering book promotion and publicity for authors. Paula has received numerous awards for her short stories and her two novels, Coyote Heart and Favorite Daughter. She's also been awarded artist residencies at Caldera, Red Cinder Artist Colony, and the Vermont Studio Center. Visit www.paulamargulies.com.

Kristina Meek is a playwright whose work has been read or produced in London, New York, Los Angeles, Iowa City, Columbus, Ohio, and at several venues around San Diego. Her writing is surreal dark comedy with themes of feminism, spirituality and just a dash of science fiction. Visit Kristina Meek

Victoria Melekian writes poetry and short fiction. Her work has appeared in various anthologies, including A Year in Ink, SDWI's anthology, ONTHEBUS, Pearl, Magee Park Poets, and Passager (Winners on the Web). You can hear her on the First Friday: CD of Year 3 audio compilation. She has received two San Diego Book Awards and currently serves on the board of San Diego Writers, Ink. Victoria also leads the Brown Bag Lunch for Writers in North County.

Alex Mero Alex has travelled and lived in many parts of the world. Struck by his observations during his journeys, he wrote The Legend, a book about a spiritual journey and a revolutionary message of enlightenment. When not travelling, Alex lives in La Jolla. Visit Alex Mero

Steve Montgomery co-leads the Thursday Writers at Lestat's Café.

Liz Morrison is a San Diego-based freelance copywriter and journalist. She has over 20 years of marketing and business development experience and she?s a successfully published columnist both locally and nationally. Visit her website LizWrites and her humor blog
Shpilkes.

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Carl Nelson In a writing career that has spanned more than twenty-five years, Carl Nelson has published seven works of nonfiction, three novels, and more than fifty short stories, articles, and technical papers. He is a member of the Authors Guild of America, PEN USA, and has twice served as president of the San Diego Writers/Editors Guild. Carl Nelson's website

Valerie Nemeth has been an attorney in private practice since 1979 in the entertainment and intellectual property fields, including negotiation and drafting of agreements in the music, film, television and publishing fields, and protection of trademark and copyright ownership. Valerie has also been a partner in a personal management company, served as an arbitrator for the Superior Courts of L. A. and S. D. Counties, an adjunct professor of business law at the University of Redlands, on the Board of Directors of the Independent Film Society, and she presently serves as Chairperson to the Entertainment and Sports Section of the San Diego County Bar. Contact Valerie Nemeth

Nikki Nicole is a published freelance journalist and author living in San Diego, California, with her family. She is currently working on the sequel to A Little Bit of Sin. Her writing resume includes staff writer at two local newspapers, publication in magazines such as American Cheerleader, Jr., Fire Magazine, Indie Street Entertainment and the poem My Grandma Would?featured in the anthology Gumbo For the Soul: The Recipe for Literacy in the Black Community. Contact the author at nicole@missnikkinicole.com or 619-886-6722.

Suzana Norberg is an advertising copywriter for The San Diego Union-Tribune and a frequent contributor to NPR’s new DimeStories Live reading series. She recently completed a memoir on the tragi-comic nightmare of her first marriage, Parasite Lost: Escaping The Husband From Hades, and is currently working on a collection of short stories about growing up in a Serbian immigrant family in Milwaukee. It’s a good thing she has a sense of humor.

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Karla Olson of BookStudio has been in the publishing industry for over 20 years. Before founding BookStudio, she was the Creative Director of Tehabi Books; founder of Via Press, an editorial and publishing consultant; Editorial Director of The Michael Friedman Publishing Group in New York City; and assistant editor at Putnam Publishing. During that time, Olson has been involved in the creation of hundreds of books representing traditional and custom publishing and packaging. Olson is on the Board of Directors of Publishers and Writers of San Diego. Connect with Karla: www.bookstudiobooks.com

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Ellen Peneski is the creator and facilitator of Road Map to Courage, powerful programs designed to cultivate success from within. Ellen shares insights gained from solo journeys throughout the world in her book Road Map to Courage—Directions for Success through Travel. Visit www.roadmaptocourage.com for more information.

Jeanne M. Peterson is the author of Falling To Heaven : A Novel of Tibet, which won the San Diego Book Award’s $3000 first place prize for Best Novel in Progress. It is to be published in the spring of 2009 by St. Martin’s Press, and foreign rights have also been sold for German and Spanish translations. She works as a psychologist, and also facilitates a group for advanced writers for San Diego Writer’s Ink.  In her spare time, she goes to a ridiculous number of yoga classes to help her keep up with her two young sons.

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Midge Raymond’s short-story collection, Forgetting English (Eastern Washington University Press, 2008), received the 2007 Spokane Prize for Short Fiction. Her work has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, Bellevue Literary Review, Ontario Review, Indiana Review, North American Review, and others. She is co-founder of Metropolitan Writing Works.

Judy Reeves is a writer, teacher and writing practice provocateur whose books include A Writer's Book of Days; Writing Alone, Writing Together; A Creative Writer's Kit and The Writer’s Retreat Kit. Other works include two plays written with the Second Story Writers, a women’s writing ensemble; and a chapbook of poetry, The Kind of Woman She Is. Her work has also appeared in the San Diego Reader and Personal Journaling magazine. In addition to leading private writing workshops, Judy teaches creative writing at UCSD Extension and speaks at writing conferences internationally. She co-founded The Writing Center, and is executive director of San Diego Writers, Ink, a nonprofit arts organization. She lives and writes in San Diego. Visit Judy Reeves

Terrie Leigh Relf is the former Poet's Workshop columnist for WritersMonthly.com. Her book, The Poet's Workshop--and Beyond, is now available through Sam's Dot Publishing. Relf is on staff at Sam's Dot Publishing, where she is the editor of HUNGUR Magazine, The Drabbler, as well as a co-editor of Sounds of the Night, and Hahaku. Contact Terrie: tlrelf@gmail.com

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Mike Sager is a bestselling author and award-winning journalist. He has been called "the beat poet of American journalism." A former Washington Post staffer and Rolling Stone contributing editor, he is currently a Writer-at-Large for Esquire. His first collection, Scary Monsters and Super Freaks, published in 2003, was a Los Angeles Times bestseller, as was his second, Revenge of the Donut Boys, published in 2007. His first novel, Deviant Behavior, was published by Grove/Atlantic's Black Cat in 2008. A third collection, Wounded Warriors, will be published in Fall, 2008. Visti Mike: www.MikeSager.com.

Arthur Salm was the Books Editor of the San Diego Union-Tribune for 20 years. Want to review a book for the U-T Book Club? Join the U-T Book Club

Patricia Santana's newest novel is Ghosts of El Grullo, which is the sequel to her bestselling novel, Motorcycle Ride on the Sea Of Tranquility. Santana is also Department Chair of Foreign Languages at Cuyamaca College.

Melissa Schad is a trainer by day and humor writer by night. Her first book, Road Trips, Broken Hearts & Other Debris of Growing Up is available on www.amazon.com. Over a twenty year period, the book chronicles Melissa's adventures crashing parades in Canada, staying in a pig-infested trailer park on Spring Break in Mexico, attending the Titanic wedding in Newport Harbor, accidentally going to New Orleans during the Sugar Bowl, and gaining ten pounds in one week on her honeymoon. She currently lives in San Diego with her husband, Matthew, and they are expecting their first child this June. To learn more or contact Melissa, go to www.melissaschad.com.

Heather Ann Schmidt is a freelance writer who attends the MFA program at National University in San Diego where she is a poetry editor for the GNU Journal. Her writing has appeared in The Romeo Observer, The Clarkston News and Word Catalyst Magazine. She has poems forthcoming in Della Donna, The Shine Journal, Alchemist Review, Bird's Eye ReView and The Orange Room Review. Read Heather's WORD interview with Frank Montesonti, poet.

Deborah Serra has written 11 TV movies, 7 feature films, 2 one-hours, 2 pilots, and over 20 half-hours. Her work has been produced by CBS, NBC, Lifetime, Showtime and others. She has worked on staff and as a freelance writer for producers, directors and actors, including James Cameron, Sigourney Weaver, Meg Ryan and Robert Cort. When time permits Deborah teaches screenwriting at the University of California at San Diego. Recently, Deborah finished her first novel which was selected as a semi-finalist for the national William Faulkner Creative Writing Award out of New Orleans. Currently, she is in pre-production on her Gold Circle financed independent feature film: Thieves, Love & Good Deli.

Julie Ann Shapiro is a freelance writer, short story author, Pushcart Nominee and fiction workshop leader. Her first novel, Jen-Zen and the One Shoe Diaries, is a modern Cinderella story filled with love, lost shoes and whimsy and is published by Synergebooks.com. To learn more, visit julieannshapiro.com and gotdot.com

Lee Silber is the author of 13 books and the 2001 winner of the Theodor S. Geisel Award given for the best overall book of the year by the San Diego Book Awards. His series of books for Random House include Time Management For The Creative Person and Self-Promotion For The Creative Person. Lee's book, Organizing From The Right Side Of The Brain (St. Martin's Press) is now in it's fifth printing. His latest work is Rock To Riches: Build Your Business The Rock & Roll Way (Capital Books, August 2008). Lee grew up in Clairemont and currently lives near Mission Bay with his wife and two sons. Visit Lee: www.creativelee.com

Sarah Z. Sleeper is a freelance writer and editor with clients such as SAP, Qualcomm and Intel. She used to be a journalist covering business and technology and won several awards for that writing. And now she is on a 6 month (or longer) hiatus from "work" so she can finish a novel.

Jill Sorenson lives in San Diego and has a debut romantic suspense novel coming out June 1, 2008. Dangerous to Touch features a cynical cop and a reclusive psychic who team up to solve a string of murders during a steamy summer heat wave. http://www.jillsorenson.com

James Spring is a writer and independent radio producer in San Diego. His work is featured on NPR programs for Atlantic Public Media and for This American Life. He is the co-host (with Amy Wallen) of the new public radio show DimeStories. Visti James: JamesRSpring.com

Jeanne C. Stein now lives in Denver. But Jeanne has made her former home, sunny San Diego, the setting for her Anna Strong Vampire Chronicles. (Mission Beach is where her protagonist, Anna Strong, a vampire, has her cottage.) Jeanne has short stories in the New York Times bestselling anthology, Many Bloody Returns and soon to be released, Scene of the Crime. Visit Jeanne: www.jeannestein.com

Jennifer Stoessner is a playwright, dramaturg, actor, and puppeteer. Her short play, Letting Go, was a part of the "Shorts Festival 2004" at the Contemporary American Theatre Company in Columbus, Ohio. She performed a one-woman show, Bravado, in 2007 as well as her continuous work with short puppetry pieces. Visit Jennifer Stoessner

Julie Ann Stricklin is a commercial illustrator, graphic designer, fine artist, and the author and illustrator of Down Turtle Trail. She has illustrated a wide range of books for publishers and for independent authors. For each book project, Julie uses an illustration or design style she develops to fit the project and her client’s vision. When not illustrating and designing books, Julie supplies her many clients with custom graphic design, commercial illustrations, custom photo manipulation, original cartoons, and out-of-the-box  creative imagery. Visit Julie: www.JulieAnnStricklin.com

Joseph Jackson Swit is a political pundit and sports analyst who blogs on JosephSwit.com He is 12-years-old and has, since the age of 5, announced his intention to be a candidate for President of the United States (POTUS) in the year 2032.

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chris toledo born circa 1960 living miracle II miracle first love. basketball. pro hoops south of the border. international club II club stage performer. rockin n shockin audiences abroad. west coast splashdown onto dance scene. television host. live from universal studios, mr. city jam. discovered tai chi.  founded flow nation. got sand in between my toes. Gone surfin. inspirational, motivational speaker. life coach. m.c. me-cris this question started to enter my skylab (mind). what is my perfect world? so my book, PLANET OZOTRON. is my journey into creating the blueprint to my perfect world.

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Eva V has been writing since she first learned how to speak in full sentences. Both skills were acquired around the same time. Before that, she expressed herself by banging on a toy piano. She loves magic and mystery, the company of the enlightened, and roaming through majestic landscapes while both awake and dreaming. She currently lives on the precipice of a local canyon with her animal companions. Read Eva's article on NaNoWriMo

Victor Villaseñor’s body of works include a number of nonfiction books which are all used in schools throughout the country: The trilogy Wild Steps Of Heaven, Rain of Gold, and Thirteen Senses, Jury: The People vs Juan Corona, Macho!, and Walking Stars, a collection of short stories written especially to inspire young people. Burro Genius, is a national bestseller, and was nominated for a Pulitzer prize. Victor also wrote the screenplay for The Ballad of Gregorio Cortez, starring Edward James Olmos. Villaseñor’s acclaimed written works, as well as his inspiring lectures, have earned him numerous awards and endorsements, including the Founding John Steinbeck Chair appointment. He lives on the ranch in Oceanside where he was born. VictorVillasenor.com

Michael Varma A professional magician for more than 20 years and a distinguished Toastmaster, Michael Varma knows what it takes to entertain an audience. Presto! He created Tasteful Toasts, a collection of original, elegant toasts written to honor the host and spread good cheer at weddings, birthdays, corporate events, and special occasions. All while staying within the boundaries of good taste. Let limericks have their off-color puns; Tasteful Toasts are good, clean fun. Varma has also conjured up a series of educational puzzle books and games, frequently performs at the Magic Castle in Hollywood, and recently unveiled his first novel, Death by Magic. Michael blogs here: http://tastefultoasts.blogspot.com

Nicole Vollrath, MFA, earned her master’s degree in creative writing at Emerson College in Boston. She served as prose editor for the literary journal Beacon Street Review, director of Phone-A-Poem, and as a reader for Ploughshares and Agni. She has published articles, book reviews and won several awards for her short fiction. She currently teaches creative writing at UCSD Extension and serves on the board of San Diego Writers, Ink.

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Donna F. Walker, RVT, co-owns the award winning, South Bark Dog Wash. She’s a published writer, regularly authoring articles for Pet Industry magazines and newspapers. She spent 20 years as a Chief Filmmaker for the Military. Donna is working on a professional pet industry book and provides business consulting.

Amy Wallen was raised by a wild pack of Texans. But she's an oddity to the Texas cousins because she never lived in the state, and still likes barbecue, beer and pinto beans. Because her dad worked for an oil company, she grew up in Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Nevada, Nigeria, Peru, Bolivia and Oklahoma. She's still crazy for plane rides. Most of her writing inspiration comes from spending her summer vacation helping out her grandmother at her roadside convenience store on Highway 90 in Brackettville, Texas. Visit with Amy at AmyWallen.com Read Amy Wallen's essay on growing up, Crossing the Equator published in WORD

Joseph Wambaugh, a former LAPD detective sergeant, is the bestselling author of 17 prior works of fiction and nonfiction. In 2004, he was named Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America. He lives in San Diego.

Jack Webb is an editor at the San Diego Union-Tribune, a poet, and the founder and visionary force behind Border Poets Poetry Project. Read Jack's memoir-essay for WORD's Arrivals and Departures department, Death In Anaheim

Penny Wilkes serves as adjunct professor of creative and nature writing at National University. An award-winning columnist and poet, her poetry collections include, Whispers from the Land. Travels in Spain (2006) and In Spite of War (2007). Flying Lessons will appear in 2008 from Finishing Line Press. Visit Penny Wilkes

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John Yunker's work has appeared in various newspapers and journals, from technical trade publications to literary magazines. His sitcom pilot “Fast Ice” was chosen as a finalist for the Bravo television
network production “Situation: Comedy.” Most recently, his short story
"The Tourist Trail" won “Phoebe” magazine's 2008 Winter Fiction
Contest, judged by Peter Orner. John is co-founder of Metropolitan Writing Works.

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Bonnie ZoBell has received an NEA and a PEN Syndicated Fiction Award and won the Capricorn Novel Award. Her work has appeared or is forthcoming in such print magazines as American Fiction, The Bellingham Review, and The Greensboro Review, and online at SmokeLong Quarterly, FRiGG, and Word Riot. She received an MFA from Columbia and teaches at San Diego Mesa College.