Blogging Team

Carol Baldwin,
Blog Administrator

Carol’s most recent book is Teaching the Story: Fiction Writing in Grades 4-8 (Maupin House, 2008). Carol enjoys teaching writing and has presented at many educators and writing conferences. She has published widely in newspapers and magazines and along with Joyce Hostetter, co-publishes Talking Storya newsletter for educators and media specialists. Find her thoughts on the writing process, book reviews, and giveaways on her blog.  HALF-TRUTHS, her middle-grade novel that takes place in Charlotte, NC in 1950 is in the tweaking stage. She recently discovered nonfiction picture books and is trying her hand at that. Carol also coordinates the SCBWI-Carolinas blog. When she isn’t reading, writing, or blogging about either one of those, you’ll find her walking with friends, golfing, or playing with one of her seven grandchildren.

Please connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest, because as much as she’d like to, she can’t get the hang of Instagram.

Karley Conklin

Karley Conklin is a part-time librarian, part-time writer, and full-time bookworm. On her blog http://litwyrm.com/, she discusses all sorts of literature, from poetry to picture books. Her goal is to use the power of stories to remind others of hope and joy in a world that all too often forgets both.

Jarm Del Bocci

Jarm (’J’ pronounced as a ‘Y’) Del Boccio finds her inspiration in everyday life, particularly when she travels the globe, observing the quirky things that happen along the way. Focusing on the lives of characters from the past, her passion is to breathe new life into the pages of history, offering her young readers hope, heart, and a hero. 

Her award-winning debut MG Historical fiction, “The Heart Changer” puts a fresh spin on an Old Testament story of a young captive who made an impact on the lives around her. You can connect on her website: Jarm Del Boccio, Author or social media platforms:

Twitter, Goodreads, Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram.

Sally Matheny

A freelance writer, Sally Matheny’s writing is published in worldwide, national, regional, online, and print publications including AppleseedsClubhouse Jr., Homeschooling Today, Practical Homeschooling, Keys for Kids, and The Old Schoolhouse. Sally also writes curriculum and inspirational articles, and she has a few children’s books marinating before serving them to publishers. Blogging at SallyMatheny.com, Sally encourages people to live victoriously and to courageously tell the next generation wondrous things.

A former public school teacher, Sally plunged into homeschooling in 2000 and still relishes the adventure. She teaches history and writing classes to homeschool groups. In addition, she leads an N.C. Jr. Historian club in association with the N.C. Museum of History. She and her husband live in the North Carolina foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. They enjoy savoring moments with their three children, two additional “sons,” and armfuls of grandbabies.

You can connect with Sally at sallymatheny.com, on her Facebok page Sally Matheny – Encourager, Writer, Speaker, and on Pinterest.

Sally Matheny

Kathy O’Neill

Kathy O’Neill is an art teacher who loves to show everyone they can draw. Visit her website at kathy-oneill.com to discover more about her writing and workshops, and her blog for a Christian view of great art and related projects and devotions for kids. Kathy’s goal is to engage children’s and adults’ hearts, hands and minds to discover God and their own creativity through art, history, and nature.

Marianne Hering

Marianne Herine was a founding editor of Focus on the Family Clubhouse magazine. Since then she’s been writing for children and editing Christian books for adults. Find out more about the Imagination Station book series that has sold more than e1 million copies at MarianneHering.com. To schedule a free 30-minute children’s book coaching call, email HeLovesMeBooks@gmail.com.

Visit Marianne on Facebook and Instagram.

Ava Pennington

Ava Pennington is an author, speaker, and Bible teacher. She has published Daily Reflections on the Names of God (Revell) and co-authored two children’s picture books. Her articles have appeared in Christian magazines such as The Lookout, Today’s Christian Woman, Power for Living, and Focus on the Family’s Clubhouse, as well as blogs such as Revive Our Hearts True Woman blog. She has also contributed to 25 Chicken Soup for the Soul books.

When she’s not writing, Ava teaches a weekly Bible Study Fellowship class and is also an inspirational speaker for church groups, community organizations, and writers conferences.

Connect with Ava on her blog at AvaPennington.com as well as Facebook and Twitter.

Amy Earls

Amy Earls is a professor of first-year college students and holds a master’s degree in education for adult learners with a focus in writing. Amy is passionate about helping teens and adults build a strong faith. When she’s not grading papers, she’s writing, mentoring authors, or dreaming up ways to make life an adventure. She lives in a bike-riding and Beaver-loving college town in Oregon with her husband, two daughters, and a never dying goldfish.

Kathryn Dover

Kathryn Dover lives in South Carolina with her family including six cats, a dog, three fish, and many house plants. She attends Presbyterian College, majoring in math with minors in history and creative writing. Kathryn loves writing, especially plays, and she completed and performed her first play, The Sexton, at 14. She is currently serving as a Russell Program Intern in PC’s Marketing and Communications office and writing for the school newspaper, The BlueStocking. She’s not sure what she wants to do as a career, only that she wants to write, but is trusting that God has a plan for her life to use her in a powerful way.

Kyle Morgan

Kyle Morgan is a full-time college student at Grand Canyon University with a major in the longest degree ever, Professional Writing for New Media. The youngest of three boys, Kyle is the final bird in his parent’s nest in the ever-growing state of Idaho. On his blog Cranial Flatulence – A comedy blog. (wordpress.com), he recounts personal anecdotes, mostly comical misadventures of a homeschool fundamentalist in the Pacific Northwest. Born and raised on classic cinema, Kyle is a film buff and a walking IMDb. When he is not doing school, or busy writing the next great screenplay/short story/novel, he enjoys playing with his nieces and spending time with his extended family



Catherine Osornio

Catherine L. Osornio has been writing since 2003. Her work includes inspirational articles for a women’s ministry newsletter, over 200 leveled reader stories for a private school’s reading program, fiction and nonfiction articles for Focus on the Family’s Clubhouse and Clubhouse Jr. magazines, a picture book entitled The Declaration of Independence from A to Z, plus numerous work-for-hire projects for clients on Upwork.com. As a former elementary school librarian for a National Blue Ribbon School, Catherine was and still is passionate about sharing the love of reading with children. She enjoys cartooning and illustration, and works part-time as a freelance editor and proofreader. Catherine lives with her family in Southern California. You can visit her at www.catherineosornio.com.