SANDRA BEARDEN

Free-lance writer since 1994. Prior professional career includes work as public relations manager, BellSouth Corporation; instructor in journalism, Samford University, Birmingham, Ala.; specialist, publications division, Redstone Arsenal; and reporter, Birmingham Post-Herald. Writes news releases, informational pieces, features, presentations, annual reports and speeches. Also ghost-writes articles for business clients. Clients include: Birmingham News, Partners (economic development publication), University of Alabama at Birmingham publications divison; and others. B.A. in English, M.A. in English, from University of Alabama.

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DAVID BLACK

Video and multimedia content producer/creator. Owner, First Frame Video, Pelham. Extensive background in broadcast journalism, video production and designing audio and video for web sites, including web streaming. Shoot video on location, write and edit scripts and provide video and audio editing services. Audio recorded on-location.

Realtor with Keller Williams Realty, specializing in Shelby County/Birmingham.

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Websites:
firstframevideo.com
davidblackrealtor.com

DEBRA BURRELL

Freelance writer published in national and regional magazines including Horticulture and Birmingham. Years of experience writing software manuals and publishing web sites. Recently returned to freelance writing with focus on gardening articles, a natural choice for a master gardener with a degree in Horticulture from Auburn University.

Website:
www.sagegardener.com

CARA D. CLARK

Joined Over the Mountain Journal as managing editor in January, 1994 and became editor in 1995 of the bi-weekly suburban newspaper, with a distribution of 45,000 households. Graduated from Auburn University with a double major in journalism and English in 1989 and writes for local, state and national publications. Received national recognition for feature stories in 2005 and 2006.

Writes on a variety of subjects from human interest stories to health and science features to home and garden articles and business profiles.

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DANA COWART CRISSON

Freelance writer with interest and experience in travel writing, personality profiles, real estate, home building and decorating, automotive writing, zoology, seniors and children. B.A. in English/Journalism, University of Alabama in Birmingham. Regular contributor to The Birmingham News, Alabama Automotive Report, Family Journal, and more. Work has also appeared in The Huntsville Times, Birmingham Family Times, Travel Smart, and more. Member, Alabama Media Professionals and National Federation of Press Women.

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LORI PICKETT CULPEPPER

Recently entered the world of freelance writing after working for PMT Publishing, Inc. in Birmingham. Now writing and editing for publications, such as Birmingham Home and Garden, Business Alabama, Alabama Dish, Alabama Technology, Alabama Advantage and The Birmingham News.

As a certified Shelby County Master Gardener, expertise in all things related to horticulture—plants, gardening, nature and floral design. Also experience in writing about remodeling, home design and decorating, real estate, entertaining, shopping. Alabama regions and interesting people and places. B.S. in Mass Communication with Journalism concentration from the University of Montevallo.

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EMILY DELZELL

Medical Editor, UAB Office of Medical Publications

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LORI K DITORO

A writer and editor for fifteen years, Lori Ditoro has written and edited educational workbooks, newsletter articles, marketing brochures, and software manuals. In 1997, after working for five years as a writer, editor, and proofreader for Pace Learning Systems, Inc., she began her freelance career. Her clients have included AmSouth Bank, Pace Learning Systems, and Reflex Blu Media.

Most recently, she edited and prepared manuscripts for submission to publishers such as Berrett-Koehler, John Wiley/Pfeiffer, and Elsevier/Butterworth-Heinemann. Her specialties include technical and corporate writing, marketing copy, and personality profiles.

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NANCY DORMAN-HICKSON

Full time freelancer after 18+ years as an editor with Southern Living and Progressive Farmer magazines. There, she edited the bi-monthly Tennessee Living section and the Books About the South review column.

She previously edited the North Carolina Living section and the Southern Journal essay column. She's won national, regional, and local awards and holds a B.S. from Miss. State University and an M.A. from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. Her writing experience includes profiles, celebrities, travel/event, humor, essays, business, wellness, and shelter topics (homes/garden/food), albeit from a feature perspective, not how-to.

Dorman-Hickson is the co-author of Joanne King Herring's memoir, Diplomacy and Diamonds: My Wars from the Ballroom to the Battlefield (the real-life Texas socialite behind Charlie Wilson's War) to be published by Hachette in spring 2011.

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DONNA FRANCAVILLA

Owner, Frankly Speaking Communications, Birmingham, Al is a media consultant, freelance on-air reporter for CBS Radio News (national), field producer for CBS-TV (The Early Show), freelance writer for Agence-France-Presse, Voice of America, and other news organizations, and is currently collaborating with a professor in the writing of a book about the civil rights era.

Donna serves as a national radio news judge for the RTDNA's Edward R. Murrow Awards, and is an award-winning radio reporter. Donna has filed news reports from Cuba, Germany and France. On two occasions, she was selected to travel to Germany for a journalist exchange program. Over the years, Donna has worked in radio, television and in print as a talk show host, news anchor, television reporter, producer, writer, news director, and program director.

Donna graduated with honors from Emerson College.

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PEGGY V. GARGIS

Owner of Semantic Solutions, offering copy and content editing, rewriting, and proofreading services for medical and general publications. Has 15 years' experience in medical editing and is currently engaged in technical writing for a medical software development company. With a background of a family construction business, special interests include both home design (floor plans and construction) and community planning. Holds a BA in mass communication with minors in French and English.

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LYNN GROOM

Freelance writer/editor/proofreader with 15 years’ experience specializing in marketing copy. Her work has appeared in Southern Living advertorials and special sections, newsletters, press kits, bios, marketing brochures, annual reports, WMU curricula and magazines, catalogs, trade and consumer print ads, modernanalyst.com articles, book jacket copy, Lipstick, Birmingham Christian Family, Anokhi, and other magazines and newspapers. To view portfolio samples or testimonials, visit groomwritingworks.com.

KATHY HAGOOD

Freelance writer and photographer who recently relocated from Central Florida to her hometown in the Birmingham area. Provides copywriting and photography on travel, lifestyle, business, technology and medical topics for publications and organizations.

Has written articles and provided photographs for About.com, Executive Traveler, AAA Going Places, Islands, Incentive, Orlando Home & Leisure, North Florida Doctor, Chicago Sun-Times, Wichita Eagle and Orlando Business Journal. Has written press releases, newsletter articles and brochure copy for IAP Worldwide Services, Canaveral Port Authority and Space Coast Office of Tourism.

Currently is the associate editor for the Society of American Travel Writer's newsletter SATW Traveler. Formerly worked as a business reporter for Florida Today, real estate editor for the Daytona Beach News-Journal, public affairs writer for Kennedy Space Center and copy editor for the Birmingham Post-Herald.

Websites:
www.kathyhagood.com
www.coastalvoyager.com

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ANN HALPERN

Freelance writer for 16 years, specializing in corporate collateral materials; also writes on health and medicine, real estate, and for several industrial, technical and manufacturing firms. Former writer/broadcast producer for ad agency; former retail store advertising director. Member: International Association of Business Communicators (IABC), Birmingham Advertising Federation, American Advertising Federation, Women's Business Ownership Council.  Holds B.A. in Business from Florida State University.

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TINA HATCH

Tina Hatch is a generalist who is interested in, and writes about, just about anything. She's written about fashion, art, antiques, real estate, weddings, entertaining, travel, women's issues – and the occasional essay that borders on TMI.

Tina's writing career began while working at Southern Accents magazine and she honed her ability to “write tight” while a copywriter for Parisian corporate advertising. Tina was the editor-in-chief of Lipstick, a magazine for women in Birmingham, where she wrote and oversaw content production on everything from local artists to women's rights in the workplace. Nowadays, Tina is a freelance writer, editor and blogger who offers services for publications and businesses large and small.

Visit her on her website for more than you ever wanted to know about her.

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JANE HENRY

Independent communication consultant with more than 20 years of corporate experience. Former manager of employee communication and editor of employee and retiree newsletters and annual reports for large Alabama corporation. Does freelance publication writing and editing, grant writing and communication planning. B.A. in music, M.A. in mass communication from University of Alabama.

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PETER KIRCHIKOV

Free lance writer. Full-time paralegal for a Birmingham law firm. Concentration: litigation, medical research. Currently writing a book of one-liners and epigrams. Published works in the U.S.A., Russia, Ukraine, Lithuania, Belarus, Bulgaria, Kazakhstan, etc.

Special skills:
Speaks, interprets and translates from: Russian, Ukrainian, Bulgarian, etc. Reads and understands: German, French, Latin, etc.

Areas of expertise:
Legal, education, medical, international, cross-cultural, humor, etc. Multilingual translation, editing, proofreading, backediting, indexing, fact-checking, etc.

Languages: English, Russian, Bulgarian, Ukrainian, etc.
Certified, accredited and approved linguist.

MARY ELOISE H. LEAKE

A journalist/photographer specializing in travel, food and the arts. Published in The Birmingham News, Spartanburg Herald-Journal, The Miami Herald, The Charlotte (NC) Observer, The Asheville (NC) Citizen-Times, The (Columbia, SC) State, The Huntsville Times, The Anniston Star, and Long Leaf Style, the Star's lifestyle magazine.

Family-oriented essays, wedding articles and meditations have appeared in Southern Lady, Alabama Weddings and Upper Room magazines.

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JEAN M. McLEAN

Freelance writer/editor specializing in corporate, construction, real estate, medical, travel, home and Christian interests. Regular contributor to Birmingham News, Portico, Southern Breeze, Samford University’s Seasons, Birmingham Home and Garden, Birmingham Parent and Birmingham Medical News, among others.

Freelance PR work for area hospitals and statewide construction firms. Author of two books/curriculum writer for Woman’s Missionary Union. Winner of editing awards from the National Federation of Press Women and Alabama Media Professionals. B.A., newspaper journalism, University of Georgia.

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LUCY MERRILL

Features writer for Over the Mountain Journal since 1996. Writes on a variety of subjects, including business profiles, personality profiles, home design and decorating, and, occasionally, real estate fluff. Some photography. Also edits submissions. Holds a B.A. in history from Auburn University; graduate work in history and journalism undergraduate course work at University of Alabama at Birmingham

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ELAINE HOBSON MILLER

Elaine Hobson Miller is a former Birmingham Post-Herald reporter and Birmingham magazine staff writer who has been freelancing for 16 years. Contributes regularly to The Birmingham News. Published regionally & nationally in Business Alabama Monthly, Dallas Morning News, Southern Lumberman, Woman's World. Does some photography with articles. Specializes in the lumber industry, home remodeling, grief recovery, horses and pharmacy. Author of Myths, Mysteries & Legends of Alabama (Seacoast, 1995). President of AMP 93-95. Holds B.A. in Journalism with minor in Spanish.

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LORI CHANDLER PRUITT

Lori Chandler Pruitt is a freelance writer and editor. She currently works as associate editor of Birmingham Parent. Her articles also appear in Business Alabama Monthly, Birmingham Home & Garden and The Birmingham News. She is a former reporter for The Birmingham News, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and the Baton Rouge Morning Advocate. She is a graduate of the University of Alabama with a B.A. degree in news editorial.

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JIM ROOKS

Free-Lance writer/photographer. Writing since 2005 and Landscape Photographer since early 60?s. Professional career was in manufacturing.

My latest job before retirement was in the purchasing department of NACCO Material Handling. I am a Certified Purchasing Manager with experience in Quality Control and have a B.S. degree from UAB in accounting. I have taught Purchasing at the Junior College level as a community course, not for credit.

I started my writing career after retirement and have been published by various local, state newspapers and national magazines. I have established a portfolio of photographic work and desire to work as a writer/photographer for Ad agencies. I am a Licensed Minister and currently on the Board of Directors for the ARC of Alabama, Lamar County office (Asociation For Retarded Citizens of Fayette / Lamar County).

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EMILY JONES RUSHING

Communications Officer of The Community Foundation of Greater Birmingham, a nonprofit, grantmaking endowment. Experienced writer and editor, including 15 years at The Birmingham News and 10 years with her own publishing company, handling writing, editing and marketing projects for BellSouth Services, Samford University, Robinson Foundry, Birmingham Stove & Range Co. and others.

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Company web site: www.foundationbirmingham.org

NABELLA SHUNNARAH

Nabella Shunnarah is a freelance writer and English instructor who has taught on the college level and has been published in Portico as well as other local publications. Her areas of interest are holistic healing, women's issues, personality profiles, literary book reviews as well as a host of other topics.

Besides writing articles, she works on brochures, press releases, newsletters, and proofreading and editing long or short works of fiction and nonfiction. She has a screenplay at an agent's office in Hollywood and is working on a novel, children's book and a play.

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MARTI SLAY

Free-lance writer specializing in direct mail promotions and newsletters. Also writes feature stories, corporate literature, and medical materials. Prior to freelancing, 10 years experience writing direct mail promotional materials for medical and professional publications. Holds B.A. in English/Journalism from UAB.

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CAROLYN GARRICK STERN

Freelance writer and editor with 16 years' experience at Cooking Light and Progressive Farmer magazines. Author of book on farm pond construction and maintenance; editor of cookbook, collections of quotations, and how-to books. Specialties: country living, working at home, grandparenting, cooking, gardening, entertaining, small crafts business.

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MARIE JONES SUTTON

Marie Sutton is a freelance writer specializing in people features and essays. She is a former lifestyle reporter for The Birmingham News, where she penned award-winning stories on everything from Segregated Sundays to American Idol.

She has worked in the media for more than 10 years, having published a Christian magazine, hosted a provocative radio talk show, and worked in public relations and marketing. She currently writes for several local and national publications and is interested in writing a book.

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TINA TIDMORE

Freelance writer highlighting the uniqueness of everyday people and objects. Everyone has a story and Tina knows how to tell it. She is noted for her obituaries that reveal the aspects of the person not commonly known. She also has a blog on her website which shows the lessons in life to be learned just from things that happen as we go through our daily routine.

Tina is the former editor and publisher of Clay News, a bi-weekly newspaper that served the City of Clay for over seven years. She is now available for any freelance work in lifestyle, travel and people. She can also write and design your company newsletter.

Website: claynews.net
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JENNIFER WALKER-JOURNEY

Jennifer Walker-Journey is a fulltime professional writer and blogger who began her career as a writer and Food editor for the Montgomery Advertiser.

She has been published in magazines such as Taste of the South, Emerald Coast, Bay Life, Lipstick, and Portico, as well as numerous business-to-business magazines including the Alabama Concrete Industries Association and the Alabama Association of School Boards. She writes a regular column for Valor Media's national business-to-business magazines Religious Product News and Christian School Products, and served as a profile editor and writer for the recently released coffee table book Mobile Bay: Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow, and profile writer for Birmingham: Magic in the Millennium.

Jennifer is a regular blogger for Beasley Allen Law Firm, the Southeast's largest plaintiff attorneys, covering topics such as the east Tennessee coal ash spill (www.coal-ash-spill.com) and Hormone Replacement Therapy (www.hrt-legal.com). She also maintains a personal blog, Bliss.mom (formerly InsideMotherhood.com), which was featured on b5media's lifestyles portal, BlissTree.com. She also contributes for other business Web and blog sites.

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SONDRA WASHINGTON

Sondra Washington offers freelance writing, public relations and marketing services. As a journalist, she has written numerous news articles, feature stories and investigative reports including front-page pieces, weekly columns and monthly resource guides. In 2006, she wrote The Story of Nannie Helen Burroughs which was published by Woman's Missionary Union. Her corporate and nonprofit communications work includes event planning, newsletters, brochures, news releases, direct mail, flyers, ad copy, web copy, media kits, marketing plans and public relations campaigns.

Washington holds a master's degree in public relations from the University of Southern Mississippi and a bachelor's degree in English with a minor in Asian (Japanese) studies from Louisiana State University.

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