Sue Galletti Campion

 

Sue was raised a Navy brat, her father being a Captain in the Seabees. She traveled all over the world. The eldest of four, losing her mother at the young age of 44, Sue learned to take care of others, excel, and never make friends (she lost them too soon).

Sue went on to become a very successful educator, serving as a high school and middle school teacher (English and mathematics), a middle school principal, and an executive for three national non-profit organizations.

She received her Doctorate in Education from the University of Washington. Sue’s ability to help transform education for young adolescents attending impoverished schools that became transformed has been documented in a number of books.

Her passion most of her life was ensuring that all children were challenged to be the best they could be. High expectations were her mantra for herself and everyone with whom she associated. It was during this phase of her life, working in the toughest middle schools in New York City, Texas, Kentucky and Los Angeles, that Sue learned the power of the arts to transform children’s’ (and her own) life.

While blessed with a wonderful life, it was only when Sue retired that she experienced true joy in her life. She learned to love the concept of “home,” trusted the newness of wonderful friends, learned to have fun taking up golf and bridge, and met the love of her life, her husband John.

And, Sue began to write…prose and poetry. Poetry has now become the passion in her life. And poetry is her best friend.

 

 

Irene B.Gardner

 

Irene graduated Magna Cum Laude from Weber State University in Ogden, Utah, with a bachelor’s degree in English, Anthropology and Business Administration, including Department Honors in English. She worked as a legal secretary, train dispatcher, youth corrections counselor, and substitute teacher in juvenile justice facilities.

She’s always loved reading since discovering Gone with the Wind in her grandmother’s attic and spending her entire summer vacation holed up with this treasure.

Irene is a published author with five short stories in Mosaic, a Collection of Short Stories. Her work has also been selected for presentation and publication in the International Undergraduates Writers Symposium and The Metaphor. She’s edited and prepared several books for publication by other authors, including her college professors’ works. She writes fiction, nonfiction and poetry.

 

 

Janice B. Holland

 

Janice was raised on a farm, the younger of two children; however, from the time she was three, her parents raised Foster Children, giving her twenty-one additional siblings. Children remained with her family for as few as two weeks and as long as sixteen years. This provided her a different perspective of the horrors perpetuated on children at an early age.

Beginning at the tender age of seven, Janice learned first-hand how adults she should have been able to trust could use children for their own evil purposes. This began years of sexual and emotional abuse which stole her innocence but also spurred a lifelong devotion to helping children.

Janice became a successful educator, serving as a high school mathematics teacher and coach; a high school assistant principal; an elementary principal; and, finally as an assistant superintendent for administrative services. Upon retirement in 2005, after 33 years of service, she worked for the Virginia State Department of Education as a trainer; as a mentor for teachers in the Career Switcher program; as a homebound teacher for students who are unable to attend school; as a Standards of Learning tutor where her daughter teaches; and, as a classroom volunteer in her daughter’s class.

Janice’s passion for children and for those who have no voice as a result of sexual assault led her to begin volunteering for and becoming a member of the Board of Directors for H-E-A-R-T (Hope Exists After Rape Trauma). A year later, Janice founded its first chapter, H-E-A-R-T of Suffolk. H-E-A-R-T receives half of the profits generated from Janice’s first book of poetry, Beacons, Prayers, and Promises: Pathways to Healing, which outlines her recovery from her years of sexual abuse.

Janice has been married to her childhood sweetheart, Aubrey, for 37 years. She has one daughter, Cindy, a son-in-law, David, and a granddaughter, Lexi. She has also been richly blessed with many friends and colleagues throughout her life.

 

Although Janice dabbled in poetry in high school and college, it was not until 2002, when she entered therapy with a wonderful Christian psychologist, that she began writing poetry regularly. She gives God the glory for her work and knows He is her muse.

The poems in this collection are dedicated to the Triune God, her family, and her friends, all of whom have allowed her to have such a wonderful life.

 

 

Jim Howard

 

Jim Howard’s distinguished career in poetry can be summed up by this profound verse:

You’re a poet

And you don’t even know it…

[Wait, wait. Are you sure that’s the verse he asked us to use? It is? Okay, then…]

The eclectic collection that follows is representative of Jim’s early years—or more accurately, his only year—as a poet. That’s right, he’s been at this for all of twelve months. He wanted you to know that, not so you’d be impressed, but so you’d be tolerant of his failings and gentle in your criticism…or better yet, maybe skip criticizing him altogether.

In some abstruse way that only he can comprehend, these poems reflect Jim’s life experiences and the values he’s tried to instill in his three grown children. If his efforts have been successful, then perhaps someday they’ll share those same values with their own children. If not, then one can assume they’ll be out of the will.

Many of the things he loves the most—family, romance, the English language, a good laugh—have been written about here. So have some things he’s learned not to like—demagoguery and bullying, to name two. And then there are those imponderables that will be pondered long after he’s gone, like why we plant flowers and how we grow old; they’re in here, as well.

So, if you take away nothing else from what you’re about to read, remember this: If this guy can rub two words together and make them rhyme, anyone can.

This is for my lovely and supportive wife, Linda, whose patience as I work on my first novel is apparently limitless.…

 

 

Rodger Moyer

 

Rodger is the middle child and only surviving boy in a family of three children. His two brothers died in infancy prior to his birth. He was raised in the rolling farmland and small towns of southeastern Pennsylvania by two hard-working and loving parents who taught him the core values of hard work, honesty, and loyalty.

His father owned a service station where Rodger began working after school at age eleven learning automobile repairs and how to run a business. Rodger learned to work hard for what he wanted and developed long lasting friendships although shy by nature.

Unsure of what he wanted to do after high school graduation but knowing he wanted a better life than his parents, Rodger attended community college for a year before deciding to accept a position with a local oil distributor in 1973. Always a good student throughout school but never pushed to attend college, he began his working career and has been with the same company for thirty-seven years. He worked his way from the bottom up and today holds the position of Controller in this 120 year old company.

Through his twenties and thirties his focus was on working and helping his family and friends with their children, although he always wanted a wife and children of his own. In 1999 at the age of 44 he finally married a very special woman who had two children.

In 2000 metastasized breast cancer was discovered in his wife, Beverly. After a long and courageous fight, cancer claimed her life in 2006.

Almost a year after her death, Rodger began writing his thoughts and feelings on paper eventually putting them in rhyming poetic form at the urging of a few friends he met on the internet.

 

Today, Rodger still lives in southeastern Pennsylvania with his 25 year old special needs step-daughter (Down syndrome). His son is married and serves in the U.S. Air Force. He enjoys golf and bowling, good friends and his niece’s five children, including their six month-old twin boys.

Poetry has now become the voice for all his passions in life. A voice which he has sought his entire lifetime.

 

 

Michelle Murphy

 

 

“Be the change you want to see in the world.”

Gandhi

 

This simple quote is what Michelle Murphy bases her life on. She is a wife, mother, writer and artist. She tries to shine a light on those places most want hidden to display the world as it is with the belief that it can be made better.

 

Her personal crusade is to see justice and equality for all, and to that end, she is a vocal activist in many causes. Michelle is outspoken and at times a little blunt, but her compassion for others and caring attitude is what endears her to all.

 

 

Michelle K. Niehart

here she sits and writes

with pen in hand, pib to page

her heart shown through ink

 

Michelle Niehart is.... a Native CaliGyrl from Ontario, California. Born 1970 as michelle kay kleine. She went to Saint George's Parish School from first through eighth grade then onto Chaffey High School “Once a Tiger, Always a Tiger” and graduated 1988.

Flashing forward, in 1996, she married Don Niehart, and had a Baby CaliGyrl whom they named Ashelei Danielle. In 2004, Michelle's marriage was cut short and she became a widow at 33; since then, Michelle's been busy raising her daughter the best she can.

 

Now, in 2010, she finds herself given the gift of being published by and with some awesome people. Through the Poetic Threads of Life, she is starting over, yet throughout it all, one thing remained constant: The need to put Pen to Paper. Simply put, Michelle is a hopelessly hopeful romantic dreamer ~ shy, quiet, soft-spoken ~ who allows her pen to speak the words she cannot…

 

…And within the next few pages you may see a glimpse of her heart.

And if you want to know this shy gyrl,
who is usually in her own little world;
if you want to know what is in her heart,
then it is her writing where you must start.

She has poems about many things,
and some may even seem to sing;
some are like the tears of a cold winter rain,
and trying to get past all the heartache and pain.
Some may make you cry,
and some may make you ask why;
some are fun and may make you smile,
some may remind of when you were a child.

Some are like sitting alone in the dark,
and some are like a spring walk in the park;
some are like a glowing orange sunset at the beach,
and some are my dreams I wish to somehow reach. 

So, if you want to know this shy gyrl,
who is usually in her own little world;
if you want to know what is in her heart,
then it is her writing where you must start.... 

Michelle feels it is equally important to describe how she came to find her pen. It all started in January 1987, she was sixteen years old, and had the most amazing dream. She has never forgotten it to this day.

She knew she was asleep, and she knew she was dreaming....

Standing alone in the middle of a church aisle facing the altar, Jesus looks down on me ~ from the Cross above. I feel safe within this dream. I feel a peace as the warm sun poured through the coloured stained glass windows making a rainbow of shapes upon the floor. I see the ocean in the distance and I hear music; soft and romantic, slowly becoming louder. I turn around to see myself, only older, walking towards me. Her skin seemed to glow underneath the lacy satin wedding gown with a happiness I cannot define. I take notice of the sparkle in her eyes behind the white veil. Just then, she walks right through me, continuing on down the aisle. The sun seemed to brighten, forbidding me to see the man's face she was reaching out her hand to....

 

 

Arthur W. Robinson

 

Art is thrilled to have his poetic threads included and woven into this beautiful Tapestry book. He has had poems published in several anthologies, but never so many in one place.

Creative writing is an important thread in his creative world which includes the performing arts where he has worked as an actor in theater, TV, film and comedy improv. In the music world, he plays piano/keyboards and sings. In the art world, he enjoys using pastels to create landscapes.

Art is a baby boomer, born in Rochester, Minnesota and raised in the Midwest in the Kansas City area. He attended Colorado College and The University of Kansas where he achieved a BA in Philosophy. He lived in Colorado in the 70's and California in the 80's. He work experience has ranged over many industries including advertising, manufacturing, engineering, oil and gas exploration, insurance, hotel and restaurant, automotive and trucking.

 

 

Glen “Bear” Smith

 

Glen "Bear" Smith is a retired chef, trucking company owner, businessman, and now retired again due to poor health.

He was born December of 1947. In eastern Utah, in the coal fields, and in a little town named Kenilworth.

He started writing poetry in 1997, and began publishing it in 2004. He is the father of many who have gravitated to him, but only 6 are his own.

He writes whatever comes to mind. He is a man and a gentle one at that. He is an incurable romantic, and loves how people are attracted to his romance poetry that is internationally acclaimed.

He enjoys writing children's literature, short stories, humorous stories and poems, and has written several novels of which Charlie and the angel is his favorite. Bear is like the movie character Shrek. He has many layers like an onion.

He is happy, outgoing, and enthusiastic. He is known to many as Bear, and is a man of honor, and integrity.

 

 

Jo Taylor

Jo Taylor is the daughter of an Army Colonel who moved his family around a lot when she was young. Words kept her company when new friends were in the bud stage, but she never really thought about writing her own until recently.

She is the wife of a firefighter and mother of a teen-age boy, both of them wild and wonderful. Her greatest pride is seeing her son spend most of his free time working on his own novel.

By trade she is a nurse, but nursing describes her, it does not define her. Her favorite saying is that her next career will be something that looks pretty and smells good. Writing seems to fit that description fairly well, and it's up to her to make it not stink.

She started writing poetry to make her prose more lyrical, and accidentally fell in love with it. Her favorite poets are John Donne, William Shakespeare, Sylvia Plath, and someone named Jonathan. An eclectic lot to be sure.

She enjoys formal, form poetry for the lessons it teaches and has recently gotten brave enough to try free verse. Personification is her favorite poetic device.