ROBERT F. NICKERSON: In 1998, Robert had a heart attack and was admitted to a Denver hospital where he underwent by-pass surgery. While convalescing he began making word search puzzles. He was working on one of his puzzles when the Chaplain came to see him. Robert had asked for a bible, and the Chaplain brought one to him and prayed with Robert thanking Jesus for helping him come through the Surgery. After the Chaplain left Robert continued working the word puzzle, but his eyes were drawn to his new bible. It came to him to create word searches from the bible and include hidden bible verses to fit the puzzles. Robert believes this gift is to be used for ministry. After doctors informed Robert that his heart was occluded and that they could do no more for him, he went on a quest to find a way to have his puzzles reach the world for Christ. He was blessed when he found Churchmouse Publications and has promised the Lord that the proceeds from the sale of his puzzles will go to help missionary organizations, two of which are World Missions and Habitat for Humanity. Robert will soon be going home to live with the Father and Jesus, but does so knowing that his puzzles will continue to reach thousands through the efforts of Churchmouse Publications. You can email Robert at
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MICHAEL OBERMIRE is a part-time writer and a full-time Christian parent and business executive. He has been married for 30 years to Lea, and together they have three adult children, ages 19 to 25. Michael has written numerous book reviews, mostly on leadership and business practice, for the national magazine, Across The Board, a publication of the Conference Board. He is a frequent guest lecturer at the California State University, Sacramento, Business School and sits on various state and national committees relating to his business interests. His involvement at his local church has ranged from committee member to congregational president, believing always that we are duty bound to use our talents to further the kingdom of God. He has become very involved in Mancave Ministries, the men’s ministry at his home church, the Sunset Christian Center in Rocklin, CA. Michael is a strong believer in God’s power to positively influence every minute of our day. He has been told that he does not have a “negative bone” in his body, and his enthusiasm and positive attitude are evident in everything he writes.
GLORIA O’DONNELL spent countless hours listening to her maternal grandfather’s Irish yarns, learning about the Bible, and getting his perspective on politics. It was from him that she learned the value of a good story and a good laugh. With the help of the Holy Spirit and using those two principles, Gloria became a popular trainer in the academic and corporate world, teaching life skills workshops and hands-on business skills. Active in church work since her teens, she has taught Bible classes, organized events, and was drama director at her church for six years. Currently, Gloria writes a column for her local newspaper in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, and writes cover stories for their “Weekender” supplement. Recent articles have appeared in Seek (Standard Publishing) and Good Ol’ Days – Looking Back magazine. Gloria O’Donnell has written a unique storybook for women, and also maintains a ministry website for women in spiritually mismatched marriages. She will, on occasion, step onto the stage, performing her own material. When not writing, “which is hardly ever”, she says, Gloria and her husband, Bill, like to go driving and hiking in the mountains in their home state of Pennsylvania. Gloria also enjoys photography. “Gloria O’Donnell has been gifted with inspiring and encouraging others through her writing, teaching and speaking. She has a unique gift of putting me right at the scene. And I love her sense of humor.” – Karen F., Christian Counselor. And these things we write to you so that your joy may be full. (I John 1:4)
Catherine L. Osornio began her writing career by contributing inspirational articles for the women’s ministry newsletter of her church. This led to writing over seventy early reader stories for a private Christian school’s reading program, parenting articles for the Discovery Years newsletter from Focus on the Family, and children’s stories for Clubhouse Jr. magazine. Her first non-fiction picture book is expected to be released the spring of 2010. Catherine still continues to write articles for her church’s newsletter. www.catherinelosornio.wordpress.com.
As a Christian, DARLA PANABAKER focuses on the Lord by writing Bible-based articles, devotionals and meditations. Her current project, Discover Judges, is a series of devotionals that will guide its readers through the Book of Judges. Her desire is to help bring others to Jesus through the written word and to assist other Christians as they increase their knowledge and grow in their faith. Prior to answering this call, Darla was an editor for a writing publication and wrote freelance for a suburban Minneapolis newspaper. In addition, her work has appeared in The Las Vegan, Beauty Handbook, and Cross and Quill. Darla lives in Northern Minnesota with her husband and best friend, Evan and their chocolate lab, Penny.
CARRIE BEVELL PARTRIDGE lives with her husband Kevin, their three children, Callie, Caleb, and Katie; and their dog Uncle Rico in Jackson, MS. When she is able to find the time in the midst of motherhood, Carrie is a columnist, blogger, and freelance writer, who enjoys encouraging others with her words about parenting, community, and faith. Carrie's articles have appeared in ParentLife magazine, on the ParentLife website, and in Parents & Kids magazine. Her column entitled "Growth Spurts: Growing Through Motherhood" appears each month in Parents & Kids magazine. Carrie is also working on a children's book series. Visit Carrie's blog at www.oncarriesmind.blogspot.com. You can also find her on Facebook and Twitter.
BONNIE PATE lives in Owensboro, KY with her husband and daughter. She holds a BA in English Literature from Kentucky Wesleyan College and is a graduate of the Institute of Children's Literature. She writes across several genres including children's, spiritual, and literary. When almost forty-two, God blessed her with her one and only child, a girl. She believes that God gives each of us a unique range of abilities and talents, and that He gives them to us because He wants us to use them in His service. She believes that God can also speak to his people through secular as well as spiritual literature. To that end, her writing includes works not specifically aimed at the spiritual market but which speak to and are informed by her Christian beliefs and ethics along with a Christian world view.
DIANE PEARSON, a Christian writer and speaker from Frankfort, IN, taught at Ivy Tech State College in Lafayette, IN, for fourteen years. In 1996 Diane had a conversion experience that changed her life. One year later, God called her to leave her teaching job to devote all her time to Christian writing and speaking. She began Revelation Ministries in 1999. Its mission is to reveal God’s presence and love through true stories of His wonder-working power. Diane has published more than 550 devotional articles in various newspapers, magazines and books. She writes a weekly newspaper column for the Frankfort, IN called Real Life Devotions: True Stories of God Working in People’s Lives. Her publishing credits include The Upper Room Daily Devotional Guide, The Indianapolis Star, Hoosier United Methodist News, and CBN.com, the international website for The Christian Broadcasting Network. Nine devotional books of true God stories have been published through revelation Ministries. Diane is an award-winning speaker with a re’sume’ of more than 150 audiences across many denominations. Her speeches are based on miracle stories that people have shared with her though the years. Check out her website at www.dianepearson.org or contact her at
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Anola Pickett is a former teacher and school librarian. Her published work includes a chapter book for early readers, an educational book about the multiple intelligences theory and practice, and more than 70 articles, stories, and poems in children’s and adult magazines, including Mature Living, The Liguorian, The Friend, and Christian Life. A member of SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) and Heartland Writers for Kids and Teens (heartlandwriters.com), she has also been an instructor for the Institute of Children’s Literature. Anola is a member of St. Therese Little Flower parish in Kansas City, a diverse inner-city faith community. She sings in the Gospel choir there, writes for the parish newsletter, and coordinates the parish Shawl Ministry. She is married to Peter Doyle, a mental health counselor. Their son Gerry is a journalist and novelist. She enjoys reading, listening to a variety of music, travel, gardening, hiking, and spending time with friends and family.
JAN PIERCE is a freelance writer and happily retired teacher who lives with her husband of 43 years in Vancouver, WA. She loves words and the power they have to inform, encourage and inspire. Jan has been published in a number of devotional magazines including, Fruit of the Vine, The Quiet Hour, Evangel, Devotions, The Secret Place and LIVE. She also writes newsletters, features and reviews for Grannylook, a grandparenting website based in Gibraltar. With her husband, Jan travels annually to India where she works with house church ministries, serving the poor and training women in leadership skills and Bible study methods. Jan loves playing tennis, gardening, reading, spending time on the beautiful Pacific Ocean beaches and being with her children and three amazing grandsons. Look for her devotional writing and her columns entitled Thoughts from Granny Pierce and The Teacher in Me. Find her online at janpierce.net and follow her work in India at onehandfulofrice.org.
Jayna Richardson is a freelance writer whose work has appeared in Marriage Partnership Magazine and online for the Oxford American Magazine and FamilyLife’s e-zine, “The Family Room,” among other places. She served as vice president of an American Christian Writers’ group for two years and is currently serving as President. She has interviewed people from all over the world, including New Zealand, Australia, The Netherlands, Liberia, and Ukraine. Jayna received Christ at a young age, and she attends a non-denominational church where she serves in various capacities. She enjoys using her writing to reach out to people with the hope and truth of the Gospel. She is married to Trey, and they live in Sherwood, Arkansas.
E.E. RICKEY is a figment of his own imagination. He has held a number of jobs over the years, including bagging groceries at a corner grocery, delivering flowers for a florist, clerking for a clothing store and taking toll on a bridge. It is no coincidence that they are all out of business. He is currently on sabbatical from assisting his wife in her first grade Sunday School class – she is the teacher, he is the bouncer. Due to people’s sensitivity to religion and his fear of lightning, great efforts are made to stay away from anything that casts The All Mighty in a humorous light. Rather, he concentrates on man’s imperfections in applying God’s teachings to church and life in general.Having written for the Columbus Dispatch, The Community Common, New Christian Voices and Chinese fortune cookies, he is proudest of several letters of complaint to governmental officials. His wife has gone through the drama of raising three children to adulthood, with Rickey mentioned in the credits. They have five grandchildren, all of whom are paying their parents back for their own childhoods. Residing just off the beaten path, if you want to communicate with him he suggests you contact the Federal Witness Protection Program.
Linda Rondeau lives with her husband Steve, a casework supervisor for Franklin County Department of Social Services, and their cat Duffer. They reside just north of the beautiful Adirondack Mountains. She is the mother of three and the grandmother of nine. A veteran social worker with more than twenty-five years experience, Mrs. Rondeau continues to provide part-time casework aid for the local department of social services. When not writing, Mrs. Rondeau enjoys golfing, hiking, and Community Theater. The author is active in her home church as Drama Coordinator, sometimes speaker, substitute Sunday School teacher and chaplain for women’s ministries. Linda Rondeau’s works have appeared in anthologies, on-line and in her denomination's Sunday School paper. In addition her works have appeared in Kid’s Ark, Focus on the Family periodicals, and Pure Inspiration. Her hometown newspaper column, This Daily Grind, is a favorite. In addition, Linda provides a critique ministry, The Manuscript Doctor. An active member of American Christian Fiction Writers, the author is a 2008 finalist in the Genesis contest. You may contact Mrs. Rondeau by emailing her at
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or through her website www.lindarondeau.com.
Cartoons by DAN ROSANDICH have been appearing in publications for 35 years. Many of Dan's cartoons appear in dozens of the Chicken Soup For The Soul series of books including Chicken Soup for the Christian Soul. Most recently, Rosandich has illustrated three World of Reading books for Pearson Educational Publishers. Rosandich also licenses the usage of his work via his own online cartoon database catalog DansCartoons.com and his daily web cartoon appears on hundreds of websites on the internet and is offered as a WordPress plugin for professional bloggers. Dan offers his services to create customized cartoons and humorous illustrations for any professional application including direct-mail pieces, print advertising, t-shirts, flyers, brochures, books, catalogs, calendars and greeting cards. Rosandich invites visitors to bookmark his http://www.danscartoons.com and email with questions.
CARRIE BEVELL PARTRIDGE 
BONNIE PATE
Anola Pickett
Jayna Richardson
Linda Rondeau