Mom Writer’s Literary Magazine

Mission Statement

Mamazina (Formerly Mom Writers Literary Magazine) was originally founded by Paula Schmitt in 2005 with a mission to honor and celebrate the challenges, joys and triumphs mothers face, by making their stories visible through print. The publication written by moms for moms across the globe came together so women could share their stories, celebrate each other’s triumphs, and comfort the weary among them trying so hard to get it right.  

In 2009 Joy Rose, Founder and President Mamapalooza Festivals, Mamapalooza Media, (Joy is also known as the Media Mom, with talk radio, mom-branded entertainment and MamaZtv) partnered with Mom Writers Literary Magazine, promising to pursue the original MWLM mission while combining the rich history of the Mom Egg and annual Mamapalooza Mamazine successes for fantastic results. Long dedicated to amplifying the voices of women, while creating a mom-branded platform of art, culture and business, the inclusion of MWLM in the Mamapalooza family of businesses made perfect sense.

Moving forward plans include maintaining original staffing while adding some great new editors, merchandising experts, artists, writers and even a new focus on Hispanic writers. We are confident that we can not only elevate the status of women, but also circulate this amazing publication to a larger audience. We believe the art of Motherhood is deserving of literary attention. We’re proud to feature some of the world’s best mom writers and look forward to making many people happy, financially empowered and generally affecting the way we view the role of modern motherhood.

 

 

~Joy and Paula

 

About the Editors

Joy Rose, Co-Founder and Publisher, is the President and Founder of MAMAPALOOZA which promotes mothers for social, cultural and economic benefit. MAMAPALOOZA is a grassroots movement teaching women how to support and empower themselves in meaningful ways by amplifying their voices and impacting their children, families and communities. A mother of four, Joy is dedicated to redefining modern motherhood. She is also the founder and lead singer of the band, Housewives On Prozac and acting Executive Director and Founder of The Museum Of Motherhood for which she is passionately dedicated to capturing the voices of Feminist Mothers of the 21st century.

Paula Schmitt, Co-Founder and Director Mamazina Magazine, 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. 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

Jacki Kane, Editor-in-Chief, is an award-winning writer, stand-up comedian, and founder of a parent comedy show called TIME OUT: The mother of all comedy shows. She recently published a memoir called Sass Mouth: Destiny is a Joke. Jacki has also been published in Metro Parent Magazine, The Oregonian and Rough Copy online magazine. She and her husband Brian live in Portland, Oregon, with their 5-year-old daughter, 8-year-old son and a herd of dust bunnies.

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 of Web sites. Read more at her blog, Mom, Writer, Dirt-lover at www.KarrieMcAllister.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.

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.

Kris Underwood, Managing Editor and Regular Columnist. Visit her personal blog, Writing in the Mountains, at www.krisunderwood.blogspot.com.

Lindsay Maines, Cover Editor, is a writer and consultant. Her print works appeared in The Washington Post and Brain,Child Magazine. Shes also in the process of selling her first non-fiction book, Rock and Roll Mamas, about moms keeping their identity post- baby. Its a topic near and dear, as her husband plays bass for a rock band that tours internationally six- nine months of the year. Lindsay is a native DC Metro area, and teaches at the Bethesda Writers Center. She blogs regularly at her own site, www.rockandrollmama.com,, and her foodie site, www.diy-food.com. Shes theJust For Fun editor of www.lifetimemoms.com. (A division of Lifetime Digital.), and is a contributor at www.indiebizchicks.com. Shes thrilled to be the Cover Editor at Mamazina!

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.

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.

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.

Loren Christie, Writer's Resources and Illustrations Editor, 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.

Mary McCarthy, Natural Mama Editor, is a professional freelance writer with 15 years' experience in magazine, newspaper and online features, including features in Victorian Homes magazine, The Washington Post, Baltimore Sun and Philadelphia Inquirer and others. McCarthy is a Feature Writer at Suite101.com and a regular contributor to sodahead.com. She writes a popular humor blog at www.pajamasandcoffee.com and you can follow her on twitter @marymac

Claire Kreger-Boaz, Women in Business Editor, is a freelance writer, mother, wife, and social media addict who loves to play games, rescue dogs, and gab and travel with her girlfriends. Claire believes fervently in being socially conscious, fair-minded, and awesome. Above all, she is dedicated to having a positive impact on the world at large through her relationships and her work.

About the Advertising Team

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.

About the Columnists

Lucie Bouchard Antoniazzi works from home as a training material manager and webmaster for a Montreal consulting/training firm.  Her real passion is writing children’s fiction and non-fiction, which she does whenever time permits. Lucie lives with her husband, Rudy, and their three children in Laval, Quebec, Canada.  Find out more about Lucie and her work at www.luciebouchardantoniazzi.com.

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

Lisa Rickwood, 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.