Magazine Writers

Writers participating at the 2010 conference

To find a conference writer, select
the name from the dropdown.

Note to writers: To update your bio, click on your name and then enter the user ID and password you created during registration. Your bio will appear and you can make any changes you'd like.

Bertagnoli, Lisa
Web site www.scarlettrules.com

Bio: Lisa has written hundreds of articles on topics ranging from style and popular culture to language, restaurant design and women’s issues. Her first book, Scarlett Rules: When Life Gives You Green Velvet Curtains, Make a Green Velvet Dress, was published in 2006 by Villard/Random House. Lisa is a contributor to Crain’s Chicago Business and has also written for Newsweek, Self, Working Mother, Forbes Life Executive Woman, Washingtonian and Fitness.

Biondi, Colleen

Bio: Colleen is a Canadian-based magazine writer who splits her time between Calgary and Phoenix. With over 150 articles in print, she has built a solid portfolio related to health, business and pop culture. When she is not writing - or thinking about writing - she enjoys travel, mystery novels, movies, live theatre, crossword puzzles, golfing and walking along the city’s majestic Bow River.

Boufis , Christina
Web site www.christinaboufis.com

Bio: Christina Boufis is a San Francisco Bay Area-based writer who specializes in health, travel, food, and women’s issues. Her work has appeared in O, the Oprah Magazine, Glamour, Health, Natural Health, Natural Solutions, Salon.com, The San Francisco Chronicle Magazine and in other online and print sources. When not working on articles, she teaches magazine writing at Stanford University. She is also a blogger for womansday.com.

Brandes, Heidemarie Katherine

Bio: Heide Brandes is an award-winning journalist and editor who served more than 12 years in print media before entering the wild world of freelance writing. Currently, she writes regularly for such regional publications as The Oklahoma Gazette, OKC Biz Magazine, Distinctly Oklahoma Magazine, Metro Family Magazine and the international magazine "Neighbors," produced by the global non-profit World Neighbors. Her specialities include business writing, feature writing and hard news, as well as personal profiles.

Charski, Mindy
Web site www.mindycharski.com

Bio: Mindy Charski is a Dallas-based freelancer with a background in writing features for national magazines. Mindy often covers small business issues, personal finance and marketing. Mindy has been published as a freelancer in a number of custom magazines as well as in the following publications: AARP The Magazine, AARP Segunda Juventud, Adweek, Bridal Guide, Entrepreneur, Hispanic Enterprise, Photo District News, Pink, Self-Employed, Spirit, The Rotarian, USNews.com and U.S. News & World Report.

Chesler, Caren Lisa
Web site www.iblndesigns.com/caren

Bio: I’ve been a journalist for 25 years and spent half my career as a business journalist and half in general news. I’ve written about everything from issues facing post-communist Hungary to racial profiling in NJ State Police. My last full-time job was as a statehouse reporter in Trenton for Gannett. I went freelance in 2001 and have been published in The New York Times, Salon, Bloomberg Business News, Miller-McCune, and Financial Advisor, among others.

Closser, Stacey

Bio: Stacey Closser has been a professional writer and editor for over 12 years. She specializes in business, technology, health, parenting and lifestyle topics. She has written for The Dallas Business Journal, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, AOL, InStore Magazine and Dallas Child Magazine, among others. She recently relocated from Dallas to Salt Lake City and finally owns a respectable pair of skis.

Colorito, Rita
Web site www.ritacolorito.com

Bio: After a three-year hiatus spent raising her adopted son, experienced freelancer Rita Colorito returned to journalism--what she calls her saving grace. Since then her work has appeared in SELF, Parenting, Chicago Parent, Bankrate.com and Indiana Alumni Magazine, among others. Rita writes primarily on health, wellness, parenting, pets, and personal finance. When not writing, she hoards and peruses paint chips and garden catalogs all in an effort to beautify her surrounds.

Cosgrove, Suzanne R.

Bio: Suzanne Cosgrove is a freelance writer and a journalism professor based in Evanston, a Chicago suburb. Her stories have recently appeared in HouseLogic.com, Stocks, Futures and Options Magazine and the CME Group Magazine. She was an assistant editor at the Chicago Tribune for nearly 10 years and previously also served as Market News International’s Midwest bureau chief.

Cummings-Yeates, Rosalind
Web site www.rosalindcummingsyeates.com

Bio: Rosalind Cummings-Yeates is a Chicago-based freelance writer and arts critic. Her specialties include travel, fashion, music, theater, fine art and other lifestyle topics, with an expertise in Caribbean and Latin American travel and culture. She’s done everything from zip-lining through rainforests, climbing volcanoes and dancing in ancient ceremonies to capture a story. Her credits include Hemispheres, Brides, Salon, MSN, Where, Chicago Sun Times, Mojo, Yoga Journal, Chicago Magazine and Rough Guide To Women Travel.

Drake, Elisa
Web site www.elisadrake.com

Bio: A professional writer and editor for more than 15 years, Elisa recently returned to freelancing after five years as a full-time editor at Where magazine in Chicago. She now juggles paying work with her job as mom to two girls. Elisa writes about parenting, women’s health, travel, and environmentally friendly products and businesses. Her articles have appeared in TimeOut, Self, Recreation Management and parenting.com.

Feldman, Kathryn (Kit) Levy

Bio: Kit Feldman is an award winning freelance writer whose work has appeared in such publications as Family Business magazine, Princeton Alumni Weekly, The Pennsylvania Gazette and Inside magazine. The author of five books for Heritage Publishers, she has become known for her profiles of individuals, companies and animals. Feldman runs a blog, Something About Barbaro, and recently signed a contract with Bowtie Press for Lick Your Plate! Celebrity Chefs Cook for Their Dogs and Yours.

Fields-White, Monee

Bio: Monee Fields-White, a business and economics writer, has covered a wide array of topics and organizations, ranging from the U.S. Federal Reserve to major companies like Sears Holdings Corp. In her 14-year career, she has been blessed to hone her journalistic skills in various formats -- magazine, news wire, radio and television. Her work has been featured in Bloomberg Markets Magazine, Crain’s Chicago Business and TheRoot.com.

Frellick, Marcia Lynne
Web site marciafrellick.com

Bio: After 25 years of writing/editing for newspapers and magazines in major markets, Marcia Frellick launched her freelance career in May 2008 and now specializes in health care. Previously, she was Sunday news editor for the Chicago Sun-Times. Her work has appeared there as well as in The Chicago Tribune, the Los Angeles Times, creditcards.com, American Medical News, Nursing Spectrum magazine; and Northwestern, Case-Western Reserve and University of Illinois-Chicago alumni magazines.

Gallagher, Helen
Web site www.gallagherink.com

Bio: Helen Gallagher started her consulting and freelance writing business in 1996. Mixing left and right brain, she is a tech consultant, author, publishing advisor and national speaker. Author of "Release Your Writing: Book Publishing Your Way," "Social Media Handbook," and "Computer Ease." One of her many exotic travels ended up in The World is a Kitchen, a Lonely Planet Travelers Tales book. Online markets include OpenSalon.com and BlogCritics Magazine.

Gerson, Vicki
Web site www.vickigerson.com

Bio: An award-winning freelance writer for 28 years, Vicki Gerson’s articles focus on business, health, technology, banking, real estate, profiles, pets and lifestyle topics. She writes for consumer, custom, trade, and online publications including Better Homes & Garden, Small Business Opportunities, Chicago Tribune, Bank Systems & Technology, corporations and has a business column in the What’s Happening Newspapers. Former contributing editor to Integrated Marketing & Promotion magazine. Member of: IWOC, Midwest Writers of Chicago and NAWBO.

Glusac, Elaine
Conference Committee Member
Web site www.elaineglusac.com

Bio: Fluent in seven languages when it comes to ordering a beer, Chicago-based writer Elaine Glusac specializes in travel and food. Her work has appeared in Afar, Bon Appetit, Budget Travel, Conde Nast Traveler, Coastal Living, Cooking Light, Disney's Family.com, ForbesTraveler.com, Hemispheres, In Style, Islands, Men's Journal, National Geographic Traveler, New York Times, Saveur, Shape and Southwest Spirit. She blogs for the New York Times’ In Transit column and is a contributing editor to Virtuoso Life.

Goff, Lisa

Bio: In the last year Lisa wrote a dissertation while freelancing for Reader’s Digest, and she would like everyone to know that those two gigs aren’t as different as you might think. Freelance credits include Good Housekeeping, Preservation, Progressive Architecture, and Crain’s New York Business, where she was managing editor in the mid-1990s. While pursuing her PhD in history she received fellowships from the Mellon Foundation and the Smithsonian Institution.

Goodman, Ruth
Web site www.ruthgoodman.com

Bio: Ruth Goodman has been showcasing businesses, academia, nonprofits and people for nearly 25 years. Her award-winning work has been published in online, regional and custom publications, including InBusiness, HazingPrevention.org, The Quill of Alpha Xi Delta (for which she also serves as editor), The Delta of Sigma Nu, Torch & Trefoil, and two alumni magazines for the University of Northern Iowa. Ruth also has a strong interest in the fitness, beauty, health, travel and pet markets.

Greenwood Davis, Heather
Conference Committee Member
Web site www.greenwooddavis.com

Bio: Heather Greenwood Davis is a lawyer. journalist and freelance writer with more than 15 years of professional experience.Her travel columns appear in The Toronto Star Newspaper (7 years) and Lexpert Magazine 3 years). Her business features have appeared in national newspapers and magazines. Recent published work includes Parents Canada, Budget Travel and Canadian Family. She is the recipient of the 2010 Family Travel award from Travel Media Association of Canada and two NATJA awards.

Helmer, Jodi
Conference Co-Chair
Web site www.jodihelmer.com

Bio: Jodi Helmer writes about travel, health and sustainable living. Her work has been published in Natural Health, Backpacker, Natural Solutions, American Way, AAA Living, AOL, Woman’s Day, Family Circle, Hemispheres, Shape, Plenty and Yoga Journal. She is the author of The Green Year: 365 Small Things You Can Do to Make a Big Difference and the travel guidebook, Moon Charlotte. She lives in Charlotte, NC. Visit her online at www.jodihelmer.com.

Herman, Jessica

Bio: Jessica Herman moved to Chicago a decade ago and, despite her Southern California upbringing, hasn’t left since. She works as a staff writer at Time Out Chicago magazine, where she writes primarily about fashion, home design, fitness and wellness. Her freelance writing has appeared in Slate, WBEZ, Stop Smiling and the Chicago Sun Times.

Hile, Lori Elizabeth
Web site www.lorihile.com

Bio: Lori Hile is a Chicago-based writer whose articles on food, culture, health, and nature have appeared in a variety of magazines and books, including: Lake Magazine, Time Out Chicago, and Hungry? Chicago. Her first book, Social Networks and Blogs, will be published by Heinemann-Raintree in September. Lori holds a graduate certificate in Creative Nonfiction Writing from the University of Chicago, where she was a finalist for the student writing prize.

Howard, Beth
Web site www.bethhowardwriter.com

Bio: A writer and editor in Charlotte, NC, Beth Howard brings a wealth of experience, fresh ideas, and precise, engaging prose to every writing task. She held staff jobs at Omni, SELF, New Woman and My Generation and has penned articles for Good Housekeeping, Glamour, Prevention, Fitness, MORE, AARP: The Magazine, Reader’s Digest and Woman’s Day, among others. She published the book, Mind Your Body: A Sexual Health and Wellness Guide for Women (St. Martin’s, 1998).

Jensen, Lyn
Web site www.myspace.com/lynjensen

Bio: Experienced professional freelance writer with more than 500 publication credits including regularly covering community news from the city of Carson for the newspaper Random Lengths (circulation 56,000) in San Pedro, CA, 08/01-present. Magazine by-lines include Goldmine, Music Connection, BAM, Life After 50, and Blade. B. A. Theater Arts, UCLA.

Kamin-Meyer, Tami
Web site www.tamikaminmeyer.com (under construction)

Bio: I’m an Ohio lawyer also licensed in Federal and US Supreme Courts. However, I’m passionate about writing. Publications include Better Homes and Gardens, Rotarian, GC Mid-Atlantic, Ohio Mag, Cleveland Mag, Ohio Super Lawyers & Plaintiff Mag.In 2007, I wrote a study guide about filing personal bankruptcy for a division of B&N. Recently, I was named a Founding Member of the Ohio Society of Notaries and was subsequently elected to a two-year term as Vice President.

Kanter, Beth
Web site www.bethkanter.com

Bio: I’m a feature writer who specializes in travel, parenting and womenâ€™s issues. My stories have appeared in dozens of publications including Wondertime, Parents, Shape, American Baby, Working Mother, and the Chicago Tribune. My new book â€™Day Trips from Washington, DC: Getaway Ideas for the Local Travelerâ€™ came out this spring. I also review hotels for Fodorâ€™s and write for Michelin. I earned my MSJ from Medill and teach at The Writerâ€™s Center in DC.

Knott Ahern, Louise
Web site www.louiseknottahern.com

Bio: Louise Knott Ahern is an award-winning journalist from Lansing, MI with more than 15 years of experience as a reporter, editor and PR coach for fiction authors, including New York Times bestsellers Alyson Noel and Susan Mallery. After a long daily newspaper career, Louise now freelances with a specialty in personality profiles, human interest dramas and service pieces for women. She’s also a regular speaker and online instructor for writing groups around the country.

Ladika, Susan
Web site www.susanladika.com

Bio: Susan Ladika has been a writer and editor for more than two decades, working in the United States and Europe. Now based in Florida, her freelance writing has ranged from business to travel to green topics to international issues, and just about everything in between. Her articles have appeared in such publications as AAA World, Bankrate.com, Creditcards.com, Science, Town & Country, The Wall Street Journal-Europe, HR Magazine, MSN.com, FrontDoor.com, and many others.

Leland, Karen

Bio: Karen Leland is the bestselling author of seven books and a freelance writer covering travel,lifestyle, health,food and business articles. She has had over 200 articles published in Self, Women’s Day, Spirituality & Health, Entrepreneur, Hemispheres, American Way, The Los Angeles Times and others. In addition Karen has written extensively for the online market with featured articles in All Business.com, Salon.com, Web Worker Daily.com and Psychology Today.com.

Logue, Annie
Web site www.annlogue.com

Bio: Annie Logue writes about business and finance - at least most of the time. She is the author of three books in Wileyâ€™s ". . . For Dummies" series and has written for Barron’s, Institutional Investor, Newsweek Japan, and BusinessWeek Chicago, among other publications. She is a graduate of Northwestern University and the University of Chicago, and she serves on the board of the League of Women Voters of Illinois.

McGuire, Kristen West
Web site www.kristenwestmcguire.com

Bio: Kristen West McGuire has been a freelance writer for over fifteen years, even winning an award or two. With eight kids, she is proud to be sane and not bankrupt. Kristen has done corporate research, writing and editing for Wilson-Taylor Associates, a provider of best employer survey services, for the past four years. Her clips include St. Anthony Messenger, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Metroparent.

McKuen, Pamela Dittmer
Web site www.pamelamckuen.com

Bio: Pamela Dittmer McKuen is a freelance writer who covers lifestyle topics of home, architecture, design, fashion and wellness. Her bylines have appeared in the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Architect, Engineering News-Record, Victorian Sampler, Woman’s World, Realtor, Photo District News and an array of corporate and collegiate publications.

McManus, Melanie Radzicki
Conference Committee Member
Web site www.melaniemcmanus.com

Bio: Melanie Radzicki McManus is an avid writer and runner specializing in art, health/fitness and travel. Credits include AmericanStyle, Bicycling, CNN.com, Continental, Cooking Light, Hemispheres, Midwest Living, Mountain Bike, National Geographic Traveler, National Wildlife, Runner's World, Shape and Sprint Smart Phones. Melanie has an M.A. in religious studies and B.A.s in communications and political science. She recently discovered she loves urban and adventure races.

Mendoza, Sylvia
Web site www.sylvia-mendoza.com

Bio: Writing feature stories and profiles are Sylvia Mendoza’s passions. She learns something from every person she interviews, every topic she researches. Sharing that knowledge through her stories is exhilarating. Author: Book of Latina Women: 150 Vidas of Passion, Strength and Success. Parenting columnist, "Madre de Hoy" Siempre Mujer (Meredith). Writer: Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education, San Diego Union-Tribune, Hispanic, OurCity San Diego,Los Angeles Times, Writers Journal, Decor & Style, Living Better, Kids Wall Street News.

Meyers, Tiffany

Bio: Tiffany Meyers writes about visual culture, business and design. Her work has appeared in magazines and newspapers like The Chicago Tribune, Advertising Age, Entrepreneur Magazine, Communication Arts, Metropolis Magazine, Canada’s Globe and Mail and American PHOTO, among others. She lives and works in Chicago these days, but has left little bits of her heart in Boston, Baltimore and New York. www.tiffanymeyers.com

Mordfin, Robin Ilene
Web site www.wordtart.com

Bio: I always tell people who ask me what I do that I am a whore for money, but my husband says that is not a good idea with an 8-year-old around. I will write or edit on a huge variety of topics, from historical articles and pieces on porn shops to books about girls education in Kenya and magazines on technology. I have been working in magazines since I graduated from Medill in 2000.

O'Donnell, Erin

Bio: Erin has worked for more than fifteen years as a writer and editor, including stints as a daily newspaper reporter and a senior editor at Natural Health magazine. As a freelancer, she concentrates on health and wellbeing, including food and nutrition, mind-body medicine, and mental health. Recent clients include Martha Stewart’s Body + Soul magazine, the Boston Globe Magazine, Beliefnet.com, Dr. Andrew Weil’s newsletter, Boy’s Life, and Harvard Magazine.

Paffrath, April
Web site www.aprilpaffrath.com

Bio: I am a writer and editor in Cambridge, MA. My writing focuses on great food and design, and people with a passion for what they do. I work on a variety of topics, from food to travel to science. My work has appeared in Martha Stewart Living, New Old House, Body & Soul, Natural Home, Scientific American Explorations, and others.

Paquet, Laura Byrne
Web site www.LauraByrnePaquet.com

Bio: Laura Byrne Paquet’s first encounter with the written word was not an auspicious one: her birth announcement appeared in her hometown newspaper’s classifieds under the heading "Livestock for Sale." Despite that, she decided to become a journalist. Her travel articles, profiles, small business articles and service pieces have appeared in more than 80 publications in Canada, the United States and Europe. She has also written 11 books.

Paturel, Amy
Web site www.amypaturel.com

Bio: Amy Paturel is an award-winning journalist who writes about health, travel, food and fitness for a variety of clients. Her work frequently appears in such publications as Health, Eating Well, Wine Enthusiast and Women’s Health. Amy earned master’s degrees in nutrition and public health at Tufts University in Boston. She has contributed essays to national and international magazines, newspapers and niche publications, and she has been featured twice in Newsweek’s "My Turn" column.

Phipps, Jennie L.
Web site www.freelancesuccess.com

Bio: Jennie is the editor/publisher of Freelance Success. For the last five years she’s written a daily newsletter for the National Association of Realtors. She’s a contributing editor for Bankrate.com, specializing in insurance and retirement, and a regular blogger for AOL’s financial site WalletPop.com. She writes frequently for Investor’s Business Daily’s tech section, HGTV’s websites, Church Insurance Groups’ customer newsletters and American Express’ customer newsletters.

Putre, Laura
Web site www.lauraputre.com

Bio: I’m a full-time freelance writer, with work published in O Magazine, the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Reader, Indianapolis Monthly, the Advocate, and many others. Reported features--long, short, and in between--are my forte. Iâ€™ve also ghost-written two corporate history books, on Brinks Inc. and Eaton Corp. Recent clients also include University of Chicago, American Hospital Association, Zagat, and Forbes Travel.

Ramos Hegwer, Laura
Web site www.linkedin.com/pub/laura-ramos-hegwer/20/282/b0a

Bio: A freelance writer since 1998, Laura Ramos Hegwer develops health and wellness content written for consumers and healthcare professionals. To keep her professional writing fresh, Laura also enjoys creative writing. She recently completed a creative nonfiction residency at Ragdale and was a finalist in Glimmer Train’s short-story competition for new writers.

Rogers, Monica Kass
Web site www.lostrecipesfound.com

Bio: For 27 years, Monica Kass Rogers has written about food & drink from myriad angles, biz & consumer press. She’s written about restaurants, hotels, chefs, architecture & design, home-improvement, sustainability, gardening, outings with kids, womens’ issues, technology trends and travel for more than 25 publications. She’s done neighborhood profiles, fashion writing and food critic work. Newest gig? recipe testing & photos for her monthly Chicago Tribune "Lost Recipes" column & her www.lostrecipesfound.com blog/zine.

Rose, Barbara E.
Web site www.barbaraerose.com

Bio: Barbara Rose is a business journalist who is more than happy to wander off the financial beat to write about how we live and work. She worked more than 15 years at newspapers, most recently at the Chicago Tribune, where she wrote a weekly column until leaving in 2008 to freelance. Her most recent cover stories appeared in the ABA Journal and Prospect, an Elmhurst College magazine.

Rossi, Holly Lebowitz
Web site hollyrossi.com

Bio: Holly Lebowitz Rossi has been a professional writer since 1996. A graduate of Harvard Divinity School, she specializes in faith and spirituality, with passions for health, food, and fitness. For four years, she was the Health editor at Beliefnet.com. Her freelance work has been published in Spa Finder, Newsweek, All Things Considered, and Slate.com, among many other places.

Rothschild, Richard

Bio: Richard Rothschild is a multi-faceted journalist with more than three decades of newspaper experience, including 21 years at the Chicago Tribune. At the Trib, he worked as an editor and writer for the national/foreign and sports desks and also wrote for the entertainment section. He previously worked in Houston and the New York suburbs in positions as diverse as editorial page editor, sports editor and layout. Currently he is writing for Sports Illustrated’s website.

Rough, Jenny
Web site www.jennyrough.com

Bio: Jenny Rough is a lawyer-turned-writer. She has written essays and articles for More, Self, The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Yoga Journal, USA Weekend, and Writer’s Digest, among others. With roots in both coasts, she’s a regular contributor to Whole Life Times, a mindful living magazine based in LA, and she’s the Green Scene columnist for the Washington D.C. Examiner. Her essays have appeared on public radio and are forthcoming in anthologies.

Rudder, Randy Wayne
Web site www.randyrudder.com

Bio: Randy Rudder is a freelance entertainment writer in Nashville. He has an MFA in creative nonfiction from the University of Memphis. He has taught college English and worked as a writer/producer for the Christian Broadcasting Network. He has written for over 40 print publications, including The Washington Post, Country Weekly, American Profile, Nashville Lifestyles, and others. He is currently editing and compiling a Chicken Soup for the Soul book on country songs.

Shannon, Salley
Conference Committee Member

Bio: Salley Shannon’s L.A. Times Magazine story about black boxes in automobiles, and how the public hasn’t been told they exist, won ASJA’s endowed prize for investigative journalism. She has written for More, Reader’s Digest, Woman’s Day, Good Housekeeping, Better Homes & Gardens, Cooking Light, Parents, Parenting, Diversion, Saveur, Smithsonian, others. Specialites: profiles, features, making science accessible. Travel. And at least once a year, a heavy-research, investigative narrative.

Shapley, Haley
Web site www.haleyshapley.com

Bio: Haley Shapley is a Seattle-based freelance writer and editor who specializes in profiles as well as stories on health and fitness, travel, and relationships. She has written for American Way, AA.com/women, Bayer HealthCare, WeightWatchers.com, Match.com, AOL, MSN, and AAA Texas, among others. When not glued to her laptop, she enjoys traveling, riding roller coasters, shopping for good deals, and anything that involves competition.

Shepherdson, Nancy
Founder, Organizing Committee
Web site www.shepcat.com

Bio: Nancy writes about business, science and history, along with profiles of fascinating people. Her pieces have appeared in many magazines, including The Progressive, Woman’s Day, American Heritage, Boys’ Life, and Playboy. In 1993, Nancy created the conference you are attending. In 2008, Nancy was a presidential elector and attended the Inauguration. She is currently at work on a book on how to change your corporate culture, written with Ann Rhoades, who helped to co-found JetBlue.

Smith, Terri Peterson
Web site www.terriwrites.com

Bio: Minneapolis area journalist Terri Peterson Smith writes primarily about science, health and the environment. She has written for many national magazines including Scientific American.com, Continental, the National Geographic Green Guide, Better Homes and Gardens, Entrepreneur, and Invention & Technology. She also writes for publications at the University of Minnesota and for the Mayo Clinic. She is the recipient of the 2008 Michael DeBakey Journalism Award from the Foundation for Biomedical Research.

Sotonoff, Roberta Adrienne
Web site www.robertasotonoff.com

Bio: An award-winning travel junkie, Roberta Sotonoff writes travel, humor and feature pieces to support her habit. She can be found anywhere - in the water exploring the deep, destroying her body while swinging from jungle canopies or stumbling around mountains. Her family often complains that she spends more time with gate agents then with them. Bobbi’s work has appeared in over 70 publications including the Los Angeles Times, AAA and several Fodor’s publications.

Stangenes, Sharon

Bio: Sharon Stangenes writes about green building and environmental issues, community development, affordable and multifamily housing. She was a staffer at the Chicago Tribune until she began freelancing in 2008. She enjoys covering innovators and innovative ideas. She covered fashion and personalities for WWD and W before the Tribune.

Tupponce, Joan
Web site www.joantupponce.com

Bio: Joan Tupponce is a national award-winning journalist who has been freelancing since 1989. Her articles have appeared in the New York Daily News, Teen Beat, Seventeen, Challenge magazine, Richmond magazine, Virginia Living, Virginia Business, Virginia Golfer and more. She has also written for the public relations area of Sports Illustrated. She is a consistent National Federation of Press Women Award winner.

Walkup, Carolyn M.

Bio: Carolyn Walkup began freelancing in 2009 following fulltime work and thousands of bylines in Nation’s Restaurant News, Money Maker Magazine and Lerner Newspapers. She has had 20 articles published in the past year in media including AAA Home & Away, the Chicago Sun-Times, Flavor & the Menu, Franchise Times and Restaurant Business. She has an M.A. in journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Weintraub, Joanne

Bio: Joanne Weintraub has been a Sunday-magazine feature writer, a TV critic, a news reporter, the managing editor of an alternative weekly, the host of a public radio show, a copy editor and a secretary. She has interviewed Hillary Clinton, Jerry Seinfeld, James Gandolfini, Mike Wallace, Chuck Yeager, Vanessa Williams, the "Mythbusters" guys and a woman who let her pet an anesthetized cougar, which was even cooler than Seinfeld.

Weir, Kirsten
Web site www.kirstenweir.com

Bio: Kirsten Weir is a Maine-based freelancer specializing in health and science. She has an undergraduate degree in biology and an M.A. in journalism from New York University’s Science, Health, and Environmental Reporting Program. Kirsten has nearly 10 years of experience writing for publications such as Popular Science, Women’s Health, Natural History, Psychology Today, The Scientist, AOL, and Salon. She enjoys traveling, bread-baking, silversmithing, and fighting a losing battle against the weeds in her garden.

Wilson, Beth Ann

Bio: Beth Wilson is a Pulitzer Prize-nominated journalist who loves a good story. That led her to write one of the first profiles on Lady Gaga, write about a girl whose boyfriend doused her with alcohol and set her on fire and, on a lighter note, write about the best hair colorists in Chicago. Her work has appeared in People, Marie Claire, Womenâ€™s Wear Daily, Brides.com, Chicago Tribune and American Medical News.

To upload your photo, view the roommate or ride sharing e-mail lists, view or update your registration information, including editor selections and bio click here.