~ CJ
| I'm proud to say, I'm originally from Ohio. Recently, I moved from New Hampshire to a lovely small town in Pennsylvania. I have three married daughters, six grandsons and two granddaughters.
I love writing non-fiction and fiction short stories, essays, and poetry of all types. When writing, I draw on my life's experiences. I am a Vietnam widow. I have been a flight attendant, owner of my own small business, executive secretary, senior records clerk for the detective division of a police department, and I've written radio advertising and sold insurance.
After writing a children's poetry column for nearly a year, Through the Eyes of a Child, I've been busy promoting my poetry book through school visits, poetry workshops, Book Fairs, Young Author Conferences, and other personal appearances.
I've finished the sequel which takes over where Barking Spiders Poetry for Children left off. It, too, is poetry from a child's point of view to help children find answers in a world that doesn't always make sense ... it even has a few more 'barking spiders' poems in it (wink) ... and I love reading the poetry from both books during my school visits and other personal appearances.
Until April of 1998, I mainly wrote for my own therapy and enjoyment, like most poets and writers, tucking away little scraps of paper with thoughts and ideas on them 'just in case'. I love looking at everyday things and finding the humor and beauty there. My favorite poetry is and always will be, poetry for children ... from their point of view.
Down inside this grownup Bedford Journal Newspaper Children's Columnist: Through the Eyes of a Child. "Crying", in Primary/Middle School Textbook, Oxford University Press New Delhi India, 2009. "Help, Monster!", "Mr. Caterpillar", "Bumble Bee" (poems), in Cambridge Express Students Book 2, Cambridge University Press India Pvt. Ltd., Daryaganj New Delhi India, 2009. "The Birthday Wall", to be in study guide The Key, Curriculum for Reading, state of Arkansas, grade 3 level for Reading Comprehension testing, Castle Rock Research, Alberta Canada. "The Money Tree", to be in textbook, "Money", as part of Boldprint Series for struggling and at-risk students. Rubicon Publishing Inc., Oakville, ON, Canada. "Mr. Beggar Man", "Waiting for a Greyhound", "I Love Bugs", "Bedtime Prayer", (poems) in Art With Words, Poetry Quarterly, Debra J. Harmes Kurth, Editor, June 2007 Edition. "The Changeling", "Barfly: Woman in a Bar", Barking Spiders", "Barking Spiders In Church", To a Baby Firefly", (poems) in Art With Words, Poetry Quarterly, Debra J. Harmes Kurth, Editor, March 2007 Edition. "The Money Tree", (from the book, Barking Spiders and Other Such Stuff), 10-year worldwide contract granted to SRA/McGraw-Hill for use of poem in "SRA Kaleidoscope Program 2008", (student reader, electronic student reader, teacher's edition, electronic teacher's edition, listening library, handicapped uses, promotional/sales materials), April, 2007. "Gramma's Apron", included by special permission in Get Sauced, a cookbook by Melissa Hecht, self-published by Melissa Hecht, March 2007. Barking Spiders and Other Such Stuff, book to be read by children and videotaped for "Step Into A Story" Program, and broadcast throughout the year on cable TV. Distance Learning, Waubonsee Community College, Sugar Grove, Illinois, 2007. "What Do I Wanna Be?" and "Children of the Rainbow", in The Elementary Reading (grade two) Textbook, JFC Publishing House, Inc., Quezon City Philippines, 2007 "Hugs", in CD 1050: Art, Literature, and Music (for first-year college students in Early Learning and Child Care Program), published by Grande Prairie Regional College, Grande Prairie, Alberta, May 2006. "We Dine on Love", in True Poet Magazine, April 2006 Issue. “Copy Cat”, “Just Like Me”, “Lemonade Stand”, “Puddle Stompin’”, “My Tooth”, “Mama, Am I Pretty”, “Naps”, “Tree House”, in Ultimate Guide to Celebrating Kids II, Bluegrass Publishing, July 2005. "Full Circle" in Graphic Poetry: A Wig-01 Project, Viction: Design Workshop, Hong Kong, May 31, 2005. "My World" in Elementary School Poetry Textbook, (Unit 8, Candyland Poetry), TeachingPoint, Inc., Jacksonville, FL, December 2004. "Pockets" and "Crying", Broadway Coursebook 2, Oxford University Press, New Delhi, India, 2003. "The Little Umbrella", (children's story) COM-ACT (Communication in Action) Magazine, Grade 1 Edition, Dane Publishing House, Inc., Quezon City, Phillipines, 2003. "Hugs", Your Big Backyard Magazine, National Wildlife Federation, February 2002. "I Am", in The Girls' Book of Love, Little, Brown and Company, Edited by Catherine Dee, Illustrations by Ali Douglass, ISBN 0-316-17404-1, 2002.
“The Pigeon Man”, (children's story, all rights sold), CTB/McGraw-Hill (Educational Testing Division), July 2002. "Taps", The Other Side of Sorrow, ed. Patricia Frisella (Poetry Society of New Hampshire, 2006). "His Hands", "The Changeling", and "Missing You" in The PoemHunter Poetry Anthology, 2005 Inaugural Issue, To Order go to www.Lulu.com. "...And He Whispered", "Six-Year Old's View of Kissing", and "Cold Champagne Dreams", in Bytes Of Poetry, A Lovestories.com Poetry Anthology, (edited by Alanna Webb), November 1999. To order, go to Amazon.com.
5 children's poems, Harrisonburg Unitarian Church Newsletter, January/February 2000, Harrisonburg, VA. 21 children's poems, 1999 cookbook, Thaxton Elementary School, Thaxton, VA.
Member: Poetry Society of New Hampshire Member: National Federation of State Poetry Societies Member: New Hampshire Writers' Project 
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