Birth City

Albuquerque

Birth State

NM

Email (Public)

Author's Website

Occupation(s)

Educator - Retired faculty Emeritus

Biography

Janyne McConnaughey, PhD, retired from a career in education that spanned forty years—from early-childhood educator to college professor—in order to heal from the effects of the childhood abuse she had suffered. During therapy, Janyne wrote her way to healing and now is redeeming her story by helping others to understand and heal from childhood trauma. Along with Brave: A Personal Story of Healing Childhood Trauma, Janyne is working on two forthcoming sequels. She also keeps busy blogging at Janyne.org, and guest blogging for other organizations that address childhood trauma. Janyne enjoys full-time RV living with her husband, Scott, at the edge of Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and treasures the time she spends in the Seattle area with her children and grandchildren.

Awards/Honors

Local Authors Genres

Published Works

Published Works Book Jackets

Interviews

Organizations

PhD University of Colorado, Denver, Department of Education (Educational Leadership and Innovation) - M.S. Southwest Missouri State University, Education - B.A. Point Loma Nazarene University, Child Development and Christian Education

Speaker Availability

Yes

Speaker Topics

The Effects of Childhood Trauma - Behavior through the Lens of Childhood Trauma - Trauma Sensitive Schools - Personal Story of Healing from Childhood Trauma/Dissociative Disorders

Birth City

Oklahoma City

Birth State

OK

Current Location

Anywhere USA

Email (Public)

Author's Website

Occupation(s)

Author - Psychotherapist and life coach - Animal Communicator - Public speaker - Workshop leader

Biography

I moved to Colorado Springs in 1986. I ran a very large psychotherapy practice (counseling) until 1997 when I was sidelined for 12 years by a very severe brain injury requiring a craniotomy. As a result of the changes in my brain I was forced to completely change my modus operandi. Eventually I returned to counseling and wrote a memoir of my seven and one-half years post TBI. I lived in Colorado Springs until 2015, when my husband and editor, sold our home and moved into our 5th wheel, to experience additional locations in the US.

Education/Training

Master of Arts degree in Counseling

Local Authors Genres

Published Works

Published Works Book Jackets

Speaker Availability

Yes

Speaker Topics

Animal consciousness - Overcoming Adversity: The art of not giving up - Animal communication training - Women: The Rebirth of Soft Power

Pseudonym

Maitreya B. Abhisambodhi

Current Location

Colorado Springs, CO

Email (Public)

Occupation(s)

Author - Translator

Biography

• A resident of Colorado Springs since 7/2015. 
• Active writer and translator. 
• Have held three book-signings at Bookman bookstore on Colorado Avenue since October 2017.

Education/Training

* Harvard University, 1972-1976, Sanskrit and Indian Studies/Buddhist Studies
* U.C. Berkeley, 1987-1989, Buddhist Studies

Local Authors Genres

Published Works

Speaker Availability

Yes

Speaker Topics

* Buddhism
* Yoga Philosophy
* Comparative Philosophy (East-West)
* Comparative Religions
* Indian Philosophies/Religions
* Buddhism and Science
* Tantra: Buddhist and Hindu

Birth City

Oak Park

Birth State

IL

Current Location

Colorado Springs, CO

Email (Public)

Author's Website

Occupation(s)

Freelance Writer

Biography

Roger moved out to Colorado Springs from the Washington, DC, area, in 1994, and has been here ever since. The whole family grew up here and still live in the area. After a 30-year career in information technology, Roger decided to follow another passion- writing. After writing user manuals, training materials, and other writing assignments as a part of his regular IT duties, he launched his own career as a writer. He has six books published- two on bowling and four historical mysteries set in Laramie, Wyoming, in the 1880s.

Education/Training

BS in Political Science and History - MBA Project Management

Local Authors Genres

Published Works

Published Works Book Jackets

Speaker Availability

Yes

Speaker Topics

Any topic related to writing: the process, my experiences, freelance, indie, etc..

Birth City

Detroit

Birth State

MI

Current Location

Colorado Springs, CO

Email (Public)

Author's Website

Occupation(s)

Former librarian and teacher - Cherokee Two-Spirit Shaman

Biography

I was still living as a man when I moved to in the year 2000. Having been outed as transgender, and fired at the Prep-School where I had been working, I was recruited at the National Librarians' Conference to be the Coordinator of Information and Technology at Mitchell High School, where I was again outed and fired. In 2007, after being outed and fired at CollegeAmerica, I transitioned to living full time as a woman. My storytelling-performances in The Story Project in Colorado Springs and for The Secret Society of Twisted Storytellers are viewable on YouTube. I also sing karaoke and do an occasional standup open-mike.

Awards/Honors

Education/Training

Master's Degree in Library Science - Bachelor's Degree in English, Wayne State University, Michigan

Local Authors Genres

Published Works

Published Works Book Jackets

Interviews

Speaker Availability

Yes

Speaker Topics

Storytelling - Transgender - Theory of Mind - Education

Birth City

Olean

Birth State

NY

Current Location

Manitou Springs, CO

Email (Public)

Author's Website

Occupation(s)

Journalist, author, chaplain, massage therapist, spiritual advisor

Biography

Author Peg Gould, MBA, RScP, LMT, a career writer/editor from upstate New York, moved west to Colorado, then Alaska, where she renewed her love of nature and photography on the stunning Kenai Peninsula. She is licensed both as a massage therapist and a spiritual advisor. Peg and her husband Todd raised a family with a diversity of pets in Manitou Springs, CO; they also enjoy working on their log home near Homer, AK.  Her work appeared daily for decades in newspapers in New York and Colorado, and later for years in Alaska Business Monthly. She also has freelanced for Vocational Biographies, American News Service, Colorado Springs Health, Springs Magazine, Women’s Edition, Compassion International, Convergent Performance, and for other businesses and nonprofits.

Awards/Honors

Education/Training

* MBA, University of Colorado
* BA Journalism, Cum Laude, St. Bonaventure University
* Alaska's oral history

Local Authors Genres

Published Works

Published Works Book Jackets

Organizations

Member, AMTA (Message Therapy)

Speaker Availability

Yes

Speaker Topics

* Grief
* Bereavement
* Interviewing
* Self-publishing
* Travel
* Parenting
* Nature and Animals
* Outdoors

Birth City

West Point

Birth State

NY

Current Location

Colorado Springs, CO

Email (Public)

Occupation(s)

Professor of Political Science

Biography

Dr. Pilch was awarded her MA and PhD from Yale University in the field of International Relations. She joined the United States Air Force Academy faculty in 1998 and became Professor Emeritus in 2015. She participated in a Fulbright Hays to South Africa and a Fulbright to Mongolia in 2012 and in 2011 was named the Case Carnegie Colorado Professor of the Year. Her expertise is in human rights, international law, and genocide.

Awards/Honors

Education/Training

MA & PhD, Yale University, International Relations - BA, University of Connecticut

Local Authors Genres

Published Works

Published Works Book Jackets

Organizations

Zonta International World Affairs Council

Speaker Availability

Yes

Speaker Topics

Cambodian Genocide - Genocide - Women in Conflict - International Relations - US Foreign Policy

Birth City

Augusta

Birth State

GA

Current Location

Colorado Springs, CO

Author's Website

Occupation(s)

Owner of Global Perspectives Consulting - Lead Faculty at Regis University

Biography

Robert Strauss is owner of Global Perspectives Consulting in Colorado Springs, Colorado. GPC clients excel in complex global marketplaces through the acquisition of cultural competence. He is Lead Faculty of Program Development and Evaluation and Research Methods in the College of Business and Economics at Regis University in Denver, Colorado. Also, he is President of Worldview Resource Group, a not-for-profit organization that equips cross-cultural workers in a story-based worldview approach to cross-cultural communication. WRG works with agencies located in India, Southeast Asia, North Africa, Western Canada, Mexico, and all of Ibero-America. Robert is a member of the International Academy for Intercultural Research.

Awards/Honors

Education/Training

Doctorate in Intercultural Studies from Biola University's School of Intercultural Studies in Los Angeles, California

Local Authors Genres

Published Works

Published Works Book Jackets

Organizations

International Academy for Intercultural Research (IAIR) - Society for Intercultural Education Training and Research (SIETAR) - American Evaluation Association (AEA)

Speaker Availability

Yes

Speaker Topics

Cultural Anthropology - Intercultural Communication - Cultural Intelligence (CQ) - Storytelling across cultures - Four overarching patterns of culture: justice, honor, reciprocity, and harmony

Current Location

Colorado Springs, CO

Author's Website

Occupation(s)

Teacher

Biography

My childhood was spent traveling the United States with my family, until I found beautiful Colorado and made it my permanent home in 2007. I have been teaching in Colorado Springs for ten years, and my favorite part is when children discover (and develop a love of) the world of books. I live with my husband, daughter, dog, ducks, rabbit, and parakeets. I love animals, nature, traveling, and epic board games. My wish for the world is that everyone can find their own version of happiness and realize just how connected we all are to each other and our earth.

Education/Training

Master's Degree in Administration - Bachelor's Degree in Education

Local Authors Genres

Published Works

Published Works Book Jackets

Organizations

Colorado Springs School District 11

Speaker Availability

Yes

Speaker Topics

Interconnectedness - Environmental Awareness - Philosophy

Birth City

Los Altos

Birth State

CA

Current Location

Colorado Springs, CO

Email (Public)

Author's Website

Occupation(s)

Author - Photographer - Publisher - Vocalist

Biography

This local author is both Kate Peters, (raised in California and Hawaii, a solo adventurer to Fairbanks, Alaska “to see a winter,” the pioneering wife and protagonist of Sleeping Moose Saga,) as well as Atwood Cutting, the fictionalized daughter and actual author of several books, including the historical fiction series about Alaska, and photo essay books designed "for areas of waiting." After leaving Alaska, and living in the Midwest for a quarter century, Kate Peters came to the Pikes Peak region in 2012, to re-immerse herself in the arts, and wade in some streams. Since retiring and moving to Colorado Springs with Tim, her husband of 40+ years, Kate has pursued her goal of producing a tome worthy of space on public library shelves. As Atwood Cutting, she is achieving it.

Awards/Honors

Education/Training

Stanford Elementary School; Punahou School Academy; Univ. British Columbia; Univ. Hawaii, BA 1972 Performing arts (Phi Beta Kappa); Univ. Alaska Fairbanks, art and music; Trans-Alaska Pipeline Construction Camp Bullcook; Homesteader on Kenai Peninsula; Alaska Pacific Univ. MLA 1986 (cum laude) Liberal Arts, Museum Education, Aesthetic Expression.

Local Authors Genres

Published Works

Published Works Book Jackets

Organizations

Writers' Group at Brookdale Skyline Senior Living - Concrete Couch community art outreach

Speaker Availability

Yes

Speaker Topics

Geared for the general public, Kate is happy to share stories and answer questions about pioneering in "bush" Alaska before there were cellphones. Topics might include: off-road transportation, construction without electricity, life without running water, rural communications, wildflowers, and the "end-of-the-road" syndrome.

Geared for high school teachers and librarians, she would also be pleased to discuss her "Bildungsroman" as a personal venture into Emerson's vision of self-reliance and Transcendentalism, the art of memoir, personifying the women's movement before there was a women's movement, and "seeing the elephant" of American pioneering lore.