2023 Family gathering in Tennessee; wonderful time!

Me in my glory. Big bluegill were starving!

Writer conference buddy Parnell Hall, now passed, made me a character in a few of his puzzle lady books.

Yep, I'm a cancer survivor (center) with helpers Becki and hubby, Den

MEMBERSHIPS

About Me
​​       I'm more than a mom and a gramma, a wife, gardener, fisherman, and Yogi, I'm a hybrid writer!
     My writer credentials include: a novel sale Ecstasy Reclaimed to editor Carolyn Nichols at Berkley/Jove’s Second Chance at Love romance line (sans an agent or rejection) by aka Brandy LaRue, which then sold to Harlequin who published in five other countries; short story sale, The Big Change, suspense, to Over My Dead Body Magazine (print) Winter 1994 Issue. Magazine articles sold: You Can Be An Unforgettable Breadmaker, (Making 6-loaf recipe pictured in judo outfit) How-To Handbook, Times Mirror magazines, 1978; The Truth About 4-H Mothers, Buckeye Farm News magazine; Mommy, Where Do Calves Come From? Countryside Magazine's title (article written after watching and interviewing the man who performed artificial insemination of our family’s Jersey cow); and, published Chapbook Entry: Fiction entry from novel Bad Catholics (now The Devil’s Heat), Pg. 19 of 2005 Writers at Work Chapbook by the Chicago Chapter of the National Writers Union.
     Traditionally published Ecstasy Reclaimed by Brandy LaRue is no longer in print. However, I have five novels (thriller THE DEVIL’S HEAT, J. D. Knauer; A DIRTY WAY TO DIE, 1st in Manny Shepherd P.I. series, J. Douglas Knauer; OVER THE EDGE, current global-ramifications thriller, J. D. Knauer; EVIL WOMAN, 2nd in P.I. series; and KILL THE MESSENGER, Carrie Romanelli, Investigative Reporter suspense, 1st in series, J. Douglas Knauer, currently self-published through IngramSpark available at world-wide online outlets in both print and ebook formats. 
     Kirkus Reviews said of thriller Over the Edge that I write “impressively colorful characters.”
     Education includes college English Composition I & II, Fundamentals of Criminal Investigation and Techniques of Crime Scene Investigation; Desktop Publishing, and online course International Business, all with 4.0 GPAs. I have a 12-hours Participation Certificate for 1st (law-enforcement only) Gang Conference from Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, Green Bay, WS, as only writer present. (I bid on the opportunity.)
     However, my experience from seven years as an editor, reporter, photographer, feature writer, columnist, sports’ writer, investigative reporter and regional manager at both weekly and daily newspapers gave me an expansive, unparalleled education. I earned Illinois Press Association awards (8), as well as honorable mention from Southern Illinois U’s School of Journalism Feature Contest. A 1st place for Hard News from American (newspaper) Publishing and an award for Outstanding and Dedicated Service to the District 8 FFA are among five more journalistic awards.
     I am registered with and licensed by the State of Illinois for Retail Sales.


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