The Muse Online Conference

PRESENTERS A - C

CONFERENCE MAIN SITE
Please bookmark our site as we prepare our webpages to reflect our 2009 Presenters.
 
   
CAROL J. AMATO
 

Carol J. Amato is the author of 20 books and 175 articles. Her memorable books for young people include the acclaimed series Breakthroughs in Science (The Earth, Astronomy, Inventions, and The Human Body), 50 Nifty Science Fair Projects, the Super Science Project Book, and 50 More Nifty Science Fair Projects.

Firmly believing that kids� fiction can be educational as well as entertaining, Ms. Amato has applied her M.A. in Anthropology to creating an exciting new series, The Phantom Hunters�. Each mystery takes readers to a different culture. The first book, The Lost Treasure of the Golden Sun, takes place on the Navajo Nation and was published in September, 2005. The teacher�s guide for this title came out in October, 2006. Book #2, The Secret of Blackhurst Manor, set in Yorkshire, England, came out in June, 2008. In 2006, she also published How to Start and Run a Writers� Critique Group and several articles in trade publications.

Ms. Amato is a board member of the Writers' Club of Whittier, the Society of Childrens� Book Writers and Illustrators  (SCBWI). She is listed Who's Who of American Women, Who's Who in the West, the World Who's Who of Women, and Who�s Who in America. 

    

 

Christine Amsden is the author of "Touch of Fate," a paranormal thriller.

In 1994 Christine was diagnosed with Stargardt's, a degenerative disease that attacks the retina and impairs vision. Much like the women in "Touch of Fate," she felt her life was out of her control.The strange and supernatural offer a unique platform to explore our own shortcomings and so Christine turned to writing, a passion of hers since earliest memories. This struggle inspired the theme for her first published novel, "Touch of Fate."

Christine currently resides in the Kansas City area with her husband, Austin, who is also her biggest supporter. They also have two young children, Drake and Celeste.

    

MARY ANDREWS
Almost thirty years ago Mary Andrews attended her first Science Fiction Convention and immediately recognized the overabundance of opportunity and information found there.  Utilizing this new venue, Mary launched Gorbash, a semi-pro 'fanzine' for aspiring writers and artists.  She landed interviews with some of Science Fiction's finest talents, including Frank Herbert, Jack Williamson, and C.J. Cherryh.  

Andrews sampled a broad spectrum of career options.  The hands-on route landed her work as a mechanic, an assembler, a relay operator for the deaf and even as a structural aircraft worker.  However, Mary simply couldn't quell her artistic needs.  Creating stories fulfills Andrews�s primal need to infuse life into inanimate objects.

In 2006 she attended the first Muse Online Conference in an attempt to familiarize herself with modern publishing techniques.  Her time was well spent.  Through the Muse conference, Andrews found a home for her Psionic Science Fiction series, The Fireborn Chronicles, with Swimming Kangaroo Press. Book two of the series, The Oracle Prophesies, is due out in early 2010.  Book three should follow closely afterward.

Mary makes local appearances at lectures and workshops and is an active member of the Write Right Critique Group in Lubbock, TX.  In addition to her writing, she is currently seeking artists for an illustrated King James Bible website project and can be contacted at her website http://mary-andrews.webs.com/ .
 

Though today�s market can be very difficult and frustrating for new talent, Mary believes her entire career serves as a testament to the miraculous possibilities which surround us.

    

Kim Baccellia

Kim Baccellia has a degree in Elementary Education, and was a bilingual teacher for South Whittier School District in Los Angeles County for eight years. As an educator, Kim couldn't find many books for Latinos that were upbeat or dealt with their heritage. During her personal quest to find out more about her own Mexican heritage, she began writing  Earrings of Ixtumea. Her purpose was to create a protagonist that teenage Latina girls could relate to while also learning about their own rich cultural heritage.

Ms. Baccellia's writing credits include numerous poems in a variety of magazines, ranging from Beginnings magazine and Latino Stuff Review to Coil magazine. Her poem, My Father , appears in the Mind Mutations Anthology published by The Sun Rising Poetry Press. Her essay on the adoption of her son, Finally, Our Turn , appeared in both Adoptive Families magazine and the Adoptive Families 2003-2004 Adoption Guide. She is also a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI).

Ms. Baccellia's YA paranormal CROSSED OUT is coming out either later this year or early 2010.  She's shopping around her upper MG fantasy NO GODDESSES ALLOWED.  Her next project, BULLETS OF TRUTH, is a contemporary YA story that deals with a teen living with a bipolar parent in 1976.

In her spare time, Kim enjoys reading, quilting, yoga, power walking, volunteering in her son's kindergarten class, and doing service work for her church. You can visit her website at http://www.kim-baccellia.com/
 
     
 
 

Magdalena Ball

The Compulsive Reader. Her short stories, editorials, poetry, reviews and articles have appeared in a wide number of printed anthologies and journals, and have won local and international awards for poetry and fiction. She is also the author of the novel Sleep Before Evening, a nonfiction book The Art of Assessment: How to Review Anything and three other poetry chapbooks Quark Soup, and, in collaboration with Carolyn Howard-Johnson, Cherished Pulse and She Wore Emerald Then. She runs a monthly radio program podcast  www.blogtalkradio.com/compulsivereader

http://www.compulsivereader.com/html
Twittering at http://twitter.com/compulsivereade

 

    

 
 
and 
Editor of the 'After Twilight' Column for

Christina Barber is an award-winning author of speculative fiction works noted for their dark tones. When Christina�s not scanning dusty old books for interesting tidbits of mythology, she�s off writing in her dark fantasy worlds.

Encouraged by her fourth grade teacher, Christina has always been captivated by the craft of writing, and recently made the move to full-time writer. 

Christina�s published books include Seely�s Pond (Dark Urban Fantasy, March 2008), Ghosts of Southern Crescent, Georgia (Non-Fiction, Summer 2008) and Greystone (2006 Speculative Romance). She has short stories appearing in magazines and anthologies across the writing spectrum.   

While Christina spent most of her life growing up in the suburbs of New Jersey, she currently resides in Newnan, Georgia with her husband and daughter.  She happily shares her home with three dogs, and two cats.   

To learn more about Christina, visit her website at www.christinabarber.net

MARCI BAUN

The publisher of both Wild Child Publishing and Freya�s Bower, Ms. Baun has been in love with the written word beginning with Clifford the Big Red Dog and Curious George. Her reading and interests have expanded since those first books to include history, music, opera, theater, swimming, cycling, nature, travel, and writing. She has written and performed one person shows about historical women in schools, universities and festivals across the state of California and sang with the Coasters and the Drifters, Freddie Hart, as well as on the operatic stage. A few years past, as a member of the Academy for New Musical Theatre, she composed music for a twelve minute musical. When time permits, she hopes to return to the theater. In her other life, she is a stay-at-home mom.

When asked why she began publishing, she replied, �I love the written word. There is nothing as powerful or as beautiful. It can influence, teach, and move us. What an amazing medium!"


   

ROBIN BAYNE

Robin Bayne is the award-winning author of five novels and three
novellas, and is a columnist for the �Spirit Led Writer� ezine. Her
essays, articles and devotionals have been published in the God�s
Way Book series, Cup of Comfort Devotionals, The Secret Place,
Christian Communicator, Writer�s Journal and many other publications.
She has given workshops at regional and online romance writing
conferences and the Writer�s Digest World�s Largest Writing Workshop.
She lives in Maryland with her husband of sixteen years, and works
a "day job" as a mortgage underwriter. Her compilation of writer�s
devotionals, �Words to Write By,� will be released in September, 2008.
Visit her at www.robinbayne.com.

   
JANE BERNARD
Author of FINE TUNING, Connecting With Your Inner Power

Jane Bernard is a writer and educator who lives in New York City. She travels extensively speaking about intuition and power writing via clear communication.  Regularly is a guest on national radio, Jane speaks from an intuitive perspective. She has taught writing at major universities and developed educational material for think-tanks using her unique multi-sensory perspective.  Most recently she published FINE TUNING, Connecting With Your Inner Power, an empowering book that gives the reader freedom to open to any page and connect with their passion.   It is this same sense of personal freedom, which she hopes people will get from her workshop: Fine Tuning the Senses.  Currently Jane is writing a book about intuitive dieting. 

 

When asked to respond off the cuff Jane writes:

-My Heart:  I'm a mother. 

-My Soul:  I'm a writer. 

-My Love:  Being alive.

-My Life:  I live in New York City where anything and everything is possible.  It is a place of such variety and intensity that there is little judging, mostly acceptance.

-My Mind:  I'm an idealist, although I function productively in the 'real world'.  My thought process is at the same time philosophical and extra-terrestrial.  I naturally think outside the box.

-My Beliefs:  I believe in compassion and mutual respect.  I believe in freedom, I believe in telling the truth, I believe this is a time of massive change manifesting as upheaval, I believe the future will be very good.

   

RON BERRY

Ron Berry was born and raised on a farm, fifty plus years ago. Ron is a member of Toastmasters International. He has written many humorous pieces as well as nonfiction books. His first published book is "Computers in Plain English" and is available as a POD from Barnes and Noble

 

Mr. Berry has worked in a variety of industries, from pounding in rails for the railroad to being an Avionic software engineer. Although his job background is varied, one thing never wavered, his love for his family. Because he is so family oriented, he makes sure everything he writes is suitable for all ages. His primary logic is that although he has no choice in growing old, he does not need to grow up.

 

The latest set of books deals with the Back Alley Wanderers. Amanda and Alex are two alley kitties that meet an interesting array of characters on their journey to explore their world. These may be viewed on his kritterwriter blog: http://here-it-is.tripod.com/kritterwriter  He also writes essay and these are viewable at: http://theessaywriter.tripod.com/blog/ 

   
 
MAYA KAATHRYN BOHNHOFF
Multi-published author
 
Maya�s fascination with speculative fiction dates 
from the night her dad let her stay up to watch 
The Day the Earth Stood Still. 
Her short fiction, which runs the gamut 
from hard science fiction to fantasy; 
alternate history to magic realism; 
mystery to horror, has been published 
in such magazines as Analog, 
Amazing Stories, Interzone, Realms of Fantasy, 
and Jim Baen�s Universe, and has been nominated 
for the Nebula and British Science Fiction awards. 
Her story �A Cruel and Unusual Punishment� 
was part of the Eppie Award-winning 
INFINITE SPACE, INFINITE GOD anthology 
from Twilight Times Press.
 
Maya is the author of six fantasy novels, 
most recently MR. TWILIGHT, a collaboration 
with Michael Reaves from Del Rey, which, 
to quote a reader: 
�has a knock out ending that makes the reader say wow!� 
She is a member of Science Fiction and Fantasy 
Writer�s of America and Horror Writer�s Association.
 
Maya is also a musician/singer/songwriter and, 
with husband Jeff, has produced 
a trio of CDs: RETROROCKET SCIENCE, 
MANHATTAN SLEEPS, and 
ALIENS ATE MY HOMEWORK.
   
 
Lynda S. Burch is a multi-published author and inventor of musical 
e-books for children. Over 20 of her books have been both 
Electronic and Print published. Lynda started her publisher 
experience at the bottom rung, by designing and maintaining a 
publishing house website, learning to write computer language 
code, doing editorial work, copy editor, book layout design, staff 
artist, cover designer and more. 
As a "self starter" Lynda tackled her various jobs with a vengeance 
and taught herself to master 14 major computer programs related to 
publishing. She has had no formal education or classes of any kind 
in computers, but rather a Chemistry and Biology background and 
past work experience in research science, real estate and 
photography. 
She enjoys speaking to children's groups about books and has 
participated in Disney Kids Reading Programs and has expanded 
Guardian Angel Publishing into a publishing house that sells 
e-books, CD's and print books. The books they publish vary in a 
broad range of genres- Academic Wings, Angel to Angel, Angelic 
Harmony, Guardian Angel Pets and Wings of Faith.
We are a publisher of multiple lines of e-books and print books for 
children (ages 0-12). We publish storybooks, chapter books (No Y/A) 
and picture books, from Littlest Angels- easy readers, beginning 
readers, personal books,  Academic wings- Educational storybooks 
with lesson plans, study guides, Activity and Answer pages, Musical 
Harmony- musical e-picture books, Wings of Faith- faith based 
stories for kids and Guardian Angel Pets- stories about and for pets 
and the animals that enrich our lives. Angel to Angel is a line of kids 
books writing for and by kids.
   


PHYLLIS CAMPBELL

Phyllis Campbell is an award-winning, best-selling, multi-published author with Bookstrand Publishing, Champagne Books, The Wild Rose Press, and Carnal Passions. Most of her reviewers have given her the title of “Queen Of Sexual Tension”.  Married with kids (and three grandchildren), Phyllis has lived in Utah all of her life and enjoys family activities when she’s not writing her next sensual story.  Visit her website at www.phyllismariecampbell.com


   

 

DENISE CASSINO

Denise is a baby-boomer from suburban Chicago. After earning a B.A. degree in English at Northern Illinois University, she moved to Denver. Denise, always a lover of the written word, began writing years ago but is now finding her work published in online and print publications such as Tapestry, National Association of Women Writers, AboutTeens, Apollo's Lyre, Ten Thousand Monkeys, Hackwriters, Garden and Hearth, Cottage Magazine, Long Story Short, Hostel World and Reminisce Extra Magazine; and in four print anthologies, The Color Gallery, Passion and  Taj Mahal Review and has several novels in the works, having recently completed her first.  She is Senior Editor of the ezine, Long Story Short, Director of Curriculum and Production at the Long Story Short School of Writing and Publisher at Long Story Short Publishing Company and ebook publishing company.   She also does website design and book promotion for authors - www.wizardlywebdesign.com.  Her dream is to be a successful published novelist. Denise loves to travel, has back-packed through Europe and visited Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean as well as 40 of the United States. Happily married after 30 years, she also practices commercial real estate and resides in the mountains west of Denver.  Contact Denise.

 

Denise will offer a writing workshop to help guide writers toward getting their work published through writing exercises, articles and interactive editing exercises.

 


STEPHANIE CHANDLER
Author & Speaker

Stephanie Chandler is an author of several books including �The Author�s Guide to Building an Online Platform� and �From Entrepreneur to Infopreneur.� She is also founder and CEO of www.AuthorityPublishing.com, which provides custom book publishing and author marketing services for business, self-help and other non-fiction books. A frequent speaker at business events and on the radio, she has been featured in Entrepreneur Magazine, BusinessWeek, Inc.com and many other media outlets.

Custom Book Publishing: www.AuthorityPublishing.com
Resources for Entrepreneurs: www.BusinessInfoGuide.com

Author/Speaker Information: www.StephanieChandler.com

CHERYL CORBIN

Cheryl Corbin is a writer in search of her perfect writing process.  After many years of gathering information on different writing habits and techniques, she decided to start a website, www.learntowritefiction.com, to share what she has learned with other writers.  Her current interests are in how writers can promote themselves online using traditional tools like a website, combined with emerging tools like social media sites.