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 Lou Bernardo

Mary Lou Bernardo will be receiving the 2008 Will Solimene Award for Excellence in Medical Communication. The award is given by the New England Chapter of the American Medical Writers Association. She received her award for her continuing education module, Social Anxiety restricts Lives, published by Nursing Spectrum (print) and online at Nurse.com. the full article is available at Mary Lou's website www.WritePhD.com.

Patricia D'Ascoli

Patricia D'Ascoli won First Place, Special Supplement, Society of Professional Journalists' Connecticut Chapter for her article, "An Eye Witness to History: Martin Schiller's Emotional Journey", published in The Fairfield County Times. She also won a scholarship to attend the 2008 Wesleyan University Writers Conference and will be a panelist at The Litchfield Review Third Annual Writers Conference at Chase Collegiate School in Waterbury on October 18.

Allia Zobel Nolan

Allia Zobel Nolan's new book, Purr More, Hiss Less: Heavenly Lessons I Learned From My Cat has just been released. Her books, One Special me: Celebrating How God Made Me and Smelly Feet Sandwiches and Other Silly Poems will be released in September.

Mary Donnarumma Sharnick

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

Judith Marks White

Judith Marks White's new novel, Bachelor Degree, was published in July.

Phil Maymin

Phil Maymin's collection of essays, Yankee Wake Up, was recently published. The essays blend Yankee history, humor, ingenuity, and ideology as they examine today's hot topics.

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.

Josh Garskof

Josh Garskof has been named a columnist for Money magazine. He is also a frequent contributor to Real Simple, This Old House, and Parents magazines, and is the author of the book, The Cheap Bastard's Guide to the Good House and Home. His website is www.joshgarskof.com.

Marina Neary

New member Marina Neary is working with the Connecticut chapter of Charity Music (www.charitymusic.org). The James Daniel music store on Bedford Street in Stamford serves as a drop-off location for anyone who would like to donate an unused musical instrument or even a case for an instrument. (Contact Marina or James Daniel directly.) All submissions are tax-deductible, of course. Read more about it at http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/features/scn-sa-instruments1mar16,0,5254675.story.

Marina is also accepting poetry submissions for Young Voices of New England, a publication for young writers. The submissions will be revised, polished and included in a miniature anthology that will be distributed as a complementary thank-you gift to the instrument donors.

She is also casting roles for the independent film production, Hugo in London, for the summer of 2008. If anyone is interested, please contact her at charitymusicct@yahoo.com.

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.

Laura Tyson Li

Laura Tyson Li, a former correspondent for the Financial Times, is the author of the critically acclaimed biography, Madame Chiang Kai-Shek (Atlantic Monthly Press). Laura will be at the Man Hong Kong International Literary Festival and Shanghai International Literary Festival in March and at the American Association of University Women in New York on April 17. For more information, go to www.lauratysonli.com.

Marianne Prokop (writing as M.W. Penn)

Marianne's first picture book, Sidney the Silly - Who Only Eats 6, was recently released by Gumboot Books. Her poetry has been published in Highlights for Children. http://www.gumbootbooks.macwebsitebuilder.com/MWPenn.html

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.

Michael O'Brien

Rock the Sound lands on the media map! CPC member Michael O'Brien of Stratford has been working diligently to garner media attention for Rock the Sound, a three-year-old nonprofit organization that promotes Christian rock concerts in the NYC to southern Massachusetts area. www.rockthesound.com.

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.