Mission Statement
When I founded Mom Writer’s Literary Magazine in June 2005, I was bursting with ideas for this literary magazine for moms. It is an ever-evolving process and, while raising five children, I have been challenged and delighted beyond belief. The Mom Writer’s Literary Magazine honors the fulfilling and tedious work that women do by making their stories visible through print. Mom Writer’s Literary Magazine is a publication written by moms for moms across the globe who come together to share their stories, to celebrate each other’s triumphs, and to comfort the weary who try so hard to get it right.
Mom Writer’s Literary Magazine seeks writing that is vivid, complex, and practical. We are not looking for “sugar-coated” material. We believe the art of Motherhood is deserving of literary attention. We’re proud to have published essays that are emotionally moving, smart, raw, and sometimes even humorous by some of the world’s best mom writers.
We publish creative nonfiction essays, fiction, poetry, columns, book reviews, features about mom writers, and visual art.
~Paula Schmitt, Founding Editor & Publisher
About the Editors
Paula Schmitt, Founding Editor and Publisher, is a writer living in Vermont with her husband and five children. She has been featured in The Chicago Tribune, The Boston Herald, The Burlington Free Press, The Times Argus, Kids VT, Adopting for Tomorrow magazine, Adoption Today magazine, and in several online parenting magazines. Paula has also been quoted in American Baby magazine, Parenting magazine, Family Circle magazine, All You magazine and Real Simple magazine. Her award-winning book, Living In a Locker Room: A Mom’s Tale of Survival in a Houseful of Boys is available at your favorite online retailer and at all bookstores. She launched her radio talk show for mom authors, Mom Writer's Talk Radio, November of 2005. She's also a Fiction & Poetry Channel Editor for BlogNoshMag (www.blognosh.com) and a Frugal Family Examiner at Examiner.com. You can read Paula’s writing and get more information about her book at her Web site paulaschmitt.com and check out her blog, What Did You Do All Day? at http://www.whatdidyoudoallday.net
Samantha Gianulis,Editor-in-Chief and Regular Columnist, writes from Southern California where she lives with her husband and their three children. She's a Food Channel Editor for BlogNoshMag (www.blognosh.com), regular columnist for Families Online Magazine (www.familiesonlinemagazine.com), and writer for www.sandiegorestaurants.com. Check out her blog, Samanthics, at http://samanthagianulis.typepad.com.
Robin Dutton-Cookston, Senior Editor and Regular Columnist, has written for Mothering, Hip Mama, Clamor, and many other fantastic Web sites and zines. She self-publishes a zine called Apron Strings and blogs at www.thefoggiestidea.wordpress.com. Her book, The Foggiest Idea: Tales of a Displaced Texan in San Francisco Mamaland makes a hilarious and affordable stocking stuffer! In addition to her creative pursuits, Robin works for San Francisco’s official Web site for families, www.SFkids.org. When she’s not writing, Robin likes to chase her family through the streets of San Francisco.
Pamela Vanden Bos, Managing Editor, ran from a caffeine-induced corporate management lifestyle in Seattle, Washington to a little beach bungalow located down a deserted road along the Gulf of Mexico. She writes for two New York based Web sites and generates a regular newspaper computer column – The Mouse. Pam also teaches computer classes in her local community. As a ghostwriter, Pam sold six parenting articles and co-wrote a published thesis outlining how special needs students are falling behind in our public school system. Her latest writing project is a collection of short stories for children. Pam’s three grown children, four grandbabies, extended family and friends are inspiration for many of her stories. In her spare time, Pam devours romance books, runs the non-profit dog rescue, Dogs2Save, and converses with her eight large parrots.
Maureen Locher, Copy Editor and Regular Columnist of Just Another Manic Momday, sounds mighty official, doesn’t it? But when all is said and done, Maureen’s true title in life, as well as what she is most proud of, is being a mom. She writes from her heart because that’s the only way she knows. Considering herself somewhat of an expert on the strange and wonderful world of boys, she has four. And she had them fast, in just five years. As her sons, now 18-23, embark on lives of their own, Maureen writes in an attempt to unravel the new purpose for her life, a life where the familiar has been replaced with unending questions. Maureen completed her first manuscript and a collection of poetry, and is currently finishing her second manuscript – a detailed “How-Not-to” book of pitfalls from her early married life through her 25th year of marriage. Find a friend at www.MaureenLocher.com ~ To Give God. Share your own Mom Moments on one of Maureen’s three blogs and feel free to drop her a line at Maureen_Locher@yahoo.com.
Jackie Papandrew, Profiles Editor and Regular Columnist, airs out her rather soiled sense of humor about everything under the
sun – from the comfort of granny panties to the agony of aging gums and
sagging, er, gams. She tickles the funny bone with tales of troublesome
teenagers, the trials of testosterone, and using Formula 409 as foreplay. Jackie's writing has won awards from the Florida Magazine Association,
the American Association of Business Press and the Florida Freelance
Writers Association, among others. Her humor columns have appeared in a
variety of publications, including the Chicken Soup for the Soul series
and the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
Please visit JackiePapandrew.com to read additional humor columns and to sign up for a FREE
email version of Airing My Dirty Laundry. You can contact Jackie at Jackie@JackiePapandrew.com.
Kathy Schlaeger, Reviews Editor, lives with her husband and three daughters near Cincinnati, Ohio. She is a freelance writer for the "Life and Leisure" section of her local paper, so no one has told her " no comment" yet. She also writes for "All about Kids", "Cincinnati Woman" and other publications. People are surprised to find out that she will always turn down chocolate for her favorite candy, Sweedish fish. She has a passion for entering all types of contests. She has won "Annie" tickets, a grill and several other prizes.
Veronica Hosking, Poetry Editor, is a stay at home mom, which works out well for her writing career. Her two daughters are a great inspiration for her writing. She wrote a creative nonfiction story, "Carousel," about her oldest daughter's love of horses. The story was printed in the anthology, Forget Me Knots from the Front Porch (Obadiah Press 2003).
In the year 2005, she saw her second print publication - "In a Tree" was published in the anthology, Cosmic Brownies (Sun-rising Poetry Press). Her poem, "Morning Accolade" was published in Whispers of Inspiration (Sun Piper Press) later that same year.
Megan Jordan , Cover Editor,once said she loathed bloggers that claimed to be "writers." Megan was a fresh young blogger at the time. Now she claims to be a writer. Perhaps a craggy old one? The mother of two toddlers (and one on the way, though hopefully not a full-blown toddler, yet) behind the parenting and writing (!) blog Velveteen Mind (velveteenmind.com), she also serves as Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Blog Nosh Magazine (blognosh.com). At least she knows one magazine will publish her work in case this freelancing gig doesn't work out. Living on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, despite having experienced the devastation of Hurricane Katrina first hand, her personal mantra is "Relish the velveteen. Revel in the threadbare. Life of a mom articulate." Twitter her at twitter.com/velveteenmind.
Lisa Rickwood, Art Director and Regular Columnist, is passionate about helping people slow down and enjoy their lives. She is
the founder of Escape The Pace®,
a business dedicated to helping people live a happier, relaxed life while pursing careers, raising families, and making their dreams come
true. This was a spin-off from her highly regarded book, Escape The Pace: 100 Fun And Easy Ways To Slow Down And Enjoy Life. Lisa has helped dozens of
professionals, entrepreneurs, and executives improve their lives by
offering: seminars, play-shops, keynote talks, books, greeting cards,
gift boxes, e-books, and an e-zine.Lisa was born in
Vancouver, Canada, and raised in the Okanagan in British Columbia.
She has a visual art degree from the University of Victoria
and is an accomplished international visual artist. She also spent years
working for two large newspapers as an advertising consultant before
becoming co-owner of a high-end menswear store with her husband on
Vancouver Island. When she’s not at the store or working on her business, she’s taking care of her
husband, two sons, and step-son.She is a sought-after
speaker and has lectured at colleges, Health and Wellness Shows,
business networks, Rotary Clubs, and large organizations. She is a
regular contributor to Woman’s World magazine as well as Synergy and Pure Woman magazine. She has been featured in Common Ground magazine and the The Berkeley Psychic Institute Newspaper. Two well-known
U.S. authors will feature her in their books, respectively, Mom CEO and Less Than Perfect.
Lisa is passionate
about being involved in a world-wide movement about work/life balance
and was asked to participate in a conference in Seattle called: Take Back Your Time (www.timeday.org).
She looks forward to helping others ‘take back’ their lives.
About the Advertising Department
Amy Brozio-Andrews, Advertising Manager, is an experienced freelance writer, editor, and researcher. She most enjoys writing book reviews, essays, and short fiction. Her work has been published by Library Journal, Pennycents Magazine, January Magazine, The Writer¹s Eye, Coffee Break for Writers, and The Imperfect Parent, among others.
Visit http://www.amyba.com for more.
Loren Christie , Writer's Resources Editor, Advertising Representative, and Regular Columnist,is a former high school English teacher who held her breath and leaped out of a career into the role of full-time mom to three children, ages 6, 4 and 2. Writing is one of her passions. For about two years, Loren pulled off a job as a freelance feature writer for The Long Island Advance newspaper by dressing her toddler in a fedora and wheeling him to interviews, introducing him as her “Junior Editor.” She is also the part-time director of a Youth Ministry program. Loren contributes to Mom Writer’s Literary Magazine as a Writer's Resource Editor, regular columnist and blogger. Her “circus” is housed on the South Shore of Long Island in New York. Read more from Loren on the Web at lorenelizabethchristie.blogspot.com.
About the Columnists
Lucie Bouchard Antoniazzi, Regular Columnist, is a work-at-home mom with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering and a specialization in telecommunications from Concordia University in Montreal. She chose to stay home full time with her three children after working as a telecommunications engineer for twelve years. When her youngest child started school in 2002, she decided to pursue her second passion: writing. Lucie now works from home for a Montreal consulting/training firm where she is responsible for the development and management of technical training manuals and materials. She also likes to write children’s fiction and non-fiction and parenting articles when time permits, and she occasionally does Web design. Her writing has been published at justformom.com, sanitycentral.com, institutechildrenslit.com, and reallygreatinfo.com. In November of 2006, Highlights for Children magazine published her first children’s piece, “Soft Banana Cookies”. You can find out more about Lucie's work by visiting her Web site at www.LucieBouchardAntoniazzi.com. In her spare time, Lucie likes to read, listen to music, power walk, and spend as much time as she can with her family. She lives with her husband and their three children in Laval, Quebec, Canada.
Stephanie McCarty, Regular Columnist. Stephanie's “Fumbling Toward Motherhood” column appears regularly in print and online publications. One of her columns was included in the recent release: “Chicken Soup for the New Mom’s Soul.” Stephanie writes from Ohio where she currently lives with her husband and two young daughters, who are the inspiration for her column. Read more of Stephanie’s work at: www.fumblingtowardmotherhood.com or contact her at: Stephanie@fumblingtowardmotherhood.com.
Caroline Poser, Regular Columnist, lives with her family in a small town in Massachusetts. She works full-time as a software marketing professional and moonlights as an author and columnist. www.CarolinePoser.com
Dionna Sanchez, Regular Columnist, has a passion for encouraging moms and a love for writing. Her
greatest desire is that they would enjoy who they are and what their
role in the home is as a parent, wife, and individual woman. Dionna has
the gift of compassion and counts her blessings while trying to keep her
own priorities straight as a mom, wife, and individual. She chose her
teammate in her husband Eliseo and they raise their three children in Idaho. Dionna created Emphasis On Moms to help share encouragement and
happiness with other moms. She encourages moms not to forget their
marriages while they parent and is always honest in her articles;
inspiring many. Her website ministry can be found at EmphasisOnMoms.com.
Linda Sharp, Regular Columnist, is an internationally read author, columnist, event speaker, and
media guest who
makes people
laugh and think from Maine to Malaysia. Enjoy
her book Stretchmarks On My Sanity and add her daily blog, Don't Get Me
Started, to your online favorites! Look for her new book, Femail:
A Comic Collision In Cyberspace this winter! Give her a Google - you'll be glad you did.
About the Graphics Design and Branding
Nancy Cleary, Branding and Cover Design, is an advocate for work-at-home moms - her publishing company, Wyatt-MacKenzie (named for her two children), celebrates ten years of bringing the ideas of mom writers and entrepreneurs to fruition. Cleary and 24 of her authors describe the publishing process in A Book is Born: 24 Authors Tell All. Cleary has been quoted on publishing, mom entrepreneurs, and branding in Business Week, Working Mother, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, The Chicago Tribune, Family Circle, Home Business Magazine, and Entrepreneur Magazine, and has been featured in three best-selling business books. Cleary has a BFA in Graphic Design from Rhode Island School of Design and has run Wyatt-MacKenzie Publishing out of her home office in Deadwood, Oregon since 1998. Visit abookisborn.com or wymacpublishing.com
Karrie McAllister, Webmaster, Graphic Design, and Regular Columnist, has dabbled in everything from coal mining to culinary classes. She and her family live in Northeast Ohio where conversations in the grocery store and pierogis are as common as Amish buggies. Her column, Small Town Soup, appears in local newspapers and she is published on a variety ofWeb sites. Karrie published her first book, Small Town Soup: Good for what ails you, in 2007. She currently blogs about getting children out into nature, something she holds near and dear to her heart. Read more of Karrie at www.KarrieMcAllister.com.
