Valerie Foster

Valerie Foster is blogging at www.dietnotagain.blogspot.com.

Gay Humphrey Matthaei

We are saddened to learn of the death of Gay Humphrey Matthaei, an award-winning author, film producer, Russian scholar and interior design. Gai died in her sleep on January 1. She is survived by her husband Konrad, twin sister Jewel, children Marcella, Leslie and Konrad and grandchildren Konrad, Spencer and Sophie. A celebration of her life will be held at the First Church of Round Hill in Greenwich on Saturday, February 6 at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Annual Fund of Mt. Holyoke College in memory of Gay Humprhey Matthaei, Class of '52 or to St. Joseph's Indian School, Chamberlain, SD 57326.

Marianne Prokop (writing as M.W. Penn)

Marianne Prokop is featured in Highlights magazine's back to school issue. http://www.highlightskids.com/Magazine/Sept09/h10909_mollyMop.asp

Marina Neary

Marina Neary just landed a book contract for her Victorian opium thriller with FireShip Press.

Barbara L. Smith

Barbara's critically acclaimed play Butterscotch will be presented this summer at the Opera House Theatre in Philipsburg, Montana, as part of the theatre's summer season. It will run from June through September, for 22 performances in all. Along with her niece and significant other, Barbara will attend opening night on June 26. The play was published by Samuel French, Inc., in 2000, and has been produced throughout the country.

Elizabeth Keyser

Elizabeth Keyser's collaborative play, "Momoirs: The Umbilical Cord Stops Here!" will be performed on May 2 at 7:00 at the First Congregational Church, 108 Sound Beach Avenue, Old Greenwich to benefit the Stamford Counseling Center. Reservations are required. 203-323-8560 x101.

Sherry Shameer Cohen

Sherry Shameer Cohen will appear on Frontline on May 12 about having worked for Fairfield Greenwich Group, Bernard Madoff's biggest feeder fund. Read her blog at www.metrojournalist.blogspot.com

Rosann Levy

Rosann Levy's book, It's Never Too Late To Dance, will be published this summer by Legwork Team.

Patricia D'Ascoli

Patricia D'Ascoli published Picture This: Photo Inspired Collections.

Judith Marks-White

Judith Marks-White received a NEPA award for "Here Come the Popsicles" in her "The Light Touch" column.

Allia Zobel Nolan

Allia Zobel Nolan recently wrote about cats for Beliefnet.com. Read it at http://www.beliefnet.com/Love-Family/Pets/2010/01/Cat-Life-Lessons.aspx.

Gwen North Reiss

Gwen North Reiss and her brother, David North, an artist and scenic painter for feature films, have collaborated on a picture book for children. The Winter Lodge is inspired by an old camp near New Hampshire's White Mountains and will be published in September. Gwen and David will be signing books at two events: at the Lion's Den Bookstore at St. Mark's Church in New Canaan Sunday, September 14 at 4 p.m. and at Elm Street Books in the center of town in New Canaan on Saturday afternoon, September 20th from 12:00 noon to 3:00 p.m. Visit www.salemstreetbooks.com for information about the book.

Woody Klein

Author, historian and Westport News columnist Woody Klein recently had his sixth book published. It is called All the Presidents' Spokesmen, Spinning the News: White House Press Secretaries from Franklin D. Roosevelt to George W. Bush. Published by Greenwood Press, it traces the origins of spin and gives examples of how each press secretary handled the White House Press Corps starting with FDR. Klein is a former press secretary himself, having served as New York Mayor John V. Lindsay's first press secretary when he was elected Mayor in 1965. Lindsay, a liberal Republican, went on to run unsuccessfully for president in the 1972 primaries.

Camilla Herrera

Camilla Herrera is now freelancing in addition to writing for The Advocate on arts and theater, social and cultural issues, home design, demographic trends, particularly among Hispanic communities, health and nutrition, and family. She won First Prize in the Arts and Entertainment category of the annual competition of the Society of Professional Journalists, Connecticut Chapter. The story was "You Want What???" a look at the philosophical conflicts local artists face when potential buyers requests changes to existing commissions or works in progress.

Harriet Weinstein

Harriet Weinstein's story about the opening of the boating season in Fairfield County was published in The Advocate and Greenwich Time on March 30. Her angle was strategies boaters are using to survive high gas prices

Mary Donnarumma Sharnick

Mary Donnarumma Sharnick's short story, "The Rule," will be published in the forthcoming issue of Voices in Italian Americana.

John Neufeld

John Neufeld's new novel, April Fool, was published in July.

Ronnie Fein

Ronnie Fein’s new cookbook, Hip Kosher, is now in stores (and an Amazon bestseller). It isn’t a traditional cookbook with recipes for Eastern European or Sephardic Jewish specialties but rather features modern, American, easy recipes for kosher and non-kosher cooks, including Grilled Salmon with Pineapple-Mango Salsa, Turkey Couscous Salad with Grapes, Oranges and Cashews and Pomegranate Ice Cream Alaskas. There are more than 175 recipes in all. Ronnie will be signing books at Borders on High Ridge Road in Stamford on June 22, 2008 at 2:00 p.m.

Nora Raleigh Baskin

Nora is the author of four middle-grade novels: What Every Girl (Except me)) Knows, Almost Home, Basketball or Something Like It and In the Company of Crazies. She is also the author of several short stories and personal narrative essays for adults. The Truth about my Bat Mitzvah will be published March, 2008 with Simon & Schuster. The following fall, Candlewick will be publishing Ms. Baskin's first YA novel, All We Know of Love. Ms. Baskin teaches writing through the Gotham Writers Workshop in NYC, and she teaches creative writing to children, visits schools, and speaks to groups around the country. Check out her schedule of appearances at www.norabaskin.com.

Jessica Bram

Jessica Bram runs the prestigious Westport Writers' Workshop with programs that include creative writing, fiction writing, memoir writing for seniors, travel writing, research, and technology. For more information contact Jessica Bram Communications, 32 Webb Road, Westport. Maximum class size is 10. Jessica is also accepting reservations for her Cape Cod Writers' Retreats (limited spaces available). For more information, call (203) 227-3250 or go to www.westportwritersworkshop.com and www.jbram.com.

Juliette Weiland

Juliette Weiland was recently made an honorary lifetime member of the Connecticut Press Club. She is a past president of the Connecticut Press Club and the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), Westchester/Fairfield Chapter. She is currently a member of PRSA, Charlotte Chapter, PRSA Counselors Academy, National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), Charlotte Chapter, National Federation of Press Women (NFPW), and North Carolina Press Club.

She relocated her public relations firm, Juliette Weiland & Co. to Waxhaw, North Carolina, just outside of Charlotte. The company specializes in marketing communications, media relations, strategic counseling and business development for small business and non-profits.

Her company won a Gold Award in the 2007 MarCom Creative Awards competition in the "Writing/News Release" category for promoting the 2007 Youth Achievement Award winners in a nationwide contest, sponsored by Smart Kids with Learning Disabilities, Inc., based in Westport. The winning entry highlighted the achievements of the two winners, Cassidy Kahn of New York, and Jesse R. Kline of Maryland, who struggle daily with dyslexia and other learning disabilities.

This is the eighth award in international competition won by Juliette's company. Other awards include an APEX 2006 for "Regular Departments & Editorials" for her "Public Relations for Small Business" column that appeared monthly in The Hour, a daily newspaper in Norwalk, Connecticut; and a Gold Award in the MarCom 2005 Creative Awards competition for media placement.

Past credits also include an APEX 2005 Award in the "Public Relations & Information Writing" category, an Award of Distinction in The Communicator Awards 2003 Print Media competition, plus awards from the Connecticut Press Club and the American Lung Association of Connecticut.

Carmine Coco De Young

Carmine (pronounced car-MEEN), recipient of numerous writing awards, offers tips to writers on her website, www.ccocodeyoung.com.

Stacy Enyeart

Stacy hosts Creative Women Today, shown on Cablevision's Public Access TV (Channel 77) on Thursday at 7:00 p.m. and Friday at 11:30. This interview show features writers, artists, photographers, and other creative women. (D'Ascoli's interview on "Creative Women Today" produced by Pen Women will be shown on October 25, November 1 and November 8 at 7:00 p.m.)

Lucy Maire

Lucy has two books for children which are for sale at the United Nations Book Store. Twelve Treasures of the East and La Marmotte. To order, visit the bookstore at https://unp.un.org/bookshop/default.aspx.

Stacy Lytwyn Maxwell

Stacy will teach the course "How to Write/Publish the Book You've Always Wanted To" through Fairfield Continuing Education at Roger Ludlowe Middle School on Mondays, January 28, February 4 & 11 from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.. Register at www.fairfieldcontinuinged.com. Visit Stacy at www.cattalespress.com.

Rita Papazian

Journalist and columnist Rita Papazian guides readers through Connecticut's Gold Coast in her new book, Remembering Fairfield: Historic Places, Famous People published by The History Press. Visit her website at www.ritapapazian.com. Check her website for appearances.