Farzana Ali
Farzana is from Dera Ismail Khan in the Southern District of Khyber Pashtoonkhwa (KPR) bordering Tank and South Waziristan. Geographically she is in the middle and in the heart of Pakistan.
She has been based in Peshawar. She was admitted to Journalism and Mass Communication (JMC) studies at Gomal University D.I.Khan and received her Masters Degree with her father’s support.
Her career began at the Daily Mashrig Peshawar, the largest circulation newspaper of that province. During those eight years she wrote many articles on social, political, and women’s issues. In 2005 she joined Aaj TV as a reporter. Currently she is working as the Bureau Chief for that organization in KPK.
Amy was a rape crisis counselor and medical advocate in Chicago,IL, and moved to the Democratic Republic of Congo two years after graduating from college. She worked with the local organization, COPERMA, helping victims of the war (specifically survivors of sexual violence).
She has been a guest writer for Nicholas D. Kristof of The New York Times, and is working on a book focusing in Congo, sexual violence, and perpetration of sexual violence. She finished her master’s degree in International Relations at the University of Chicago.
Sandy begins her special website with these words:
“Welcome to my haven from the outside world…where we can be surrounded by beauty and roses.”
Her popular blog MyShabbyStreamsideStudio combines her love of shabby chic and Nordic design. Her wonderful tiny retreat in New York State was featured in the New York Times. Her flair for design and her vision for her own mini studio caught the eye of the Nate Berkus television show which featured her on their first program.
Anita is a writer, visual artist and oral tradition storyteller and author of her debut novel, The Peach Seed (Published Date Aug. 1, 2023 | Henry Holt & Company) was a novella semi-finalist in the William Faulkner-William Wisdom Creative Writing Competition. She’s the Executive Director of the Gaines-Jones Scholars Foundation, a 501(c)3 foundation co-founded with her husband, Robert Roehrick. They live in northern California with their daughter.
Diane Maninno
Diane graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park, with a degree in English Literature. She’s a former writer for Museum and Arts Washington as well as for several television shows, including Inside Edition, American Journal and E! News Daily.
She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and two beautiful daughters. Her first novel is Running from Romeo, and her next book, Waiting for Romeo, is now available on Amazon.
An award-winning travel writer and photographer, Laurie has a knack for finding adventure all around the world. Her work has aired on public radio and appeared in Smithsonian magazine, The Best Women’s Travel Writing, and other magazines and literary anthologies. Lost, Kidnapped, Eaten Alive! True Stories from a Curious Traveler is her first book followed by Paris Book Festival Award Winner An Elephant Ate My Arm: More True Stories from a Curious Traveler.
Toni Piccinini’s writing path has meandered from the scholarly examination (or scary horror story) of antibiotic use in The Journal of Clinical Pathology to her person essay “House Affair” which was a Narrative magazine Story of the Week.
Along the way she opened a San Francisco “Top 100” restaurant and published recipes and cookbook reviews in local and national newspapers, magazines and cookbooks. The Goodbye Year (Seal Press 2013) was her first book.
Sue began her media career as a researcher for David Hartman at ABC-TV’s Good Morning America. She went on to work for the Lifetime Network for Attitudes with Linda Dano and Nancy Glass. She was also a producer for the Emmy Award-winning syndicated show, Donahue.
Two high points of her career were working as the producer of The Dick Cavett Show on CNBC and later as the editorial producer of The View. She went on to form her own company, producing independent projects for ABC News, The History Channel, and National Geographic.
She served as the director of development for Project Literacy of Bergen County, New Jersey. Sue is a psychotherapist specializing in women’s mental health issues.
Bridget Stangland is a graduate of Cal Poly University, San Luis Obispo, CA. Writer, gourmet foodie, traveler, hostess, adventurer, and swimmer are some of the titles Bridget goes by.
Growing up in a large close family netted a genuine interest in discovering the varying journeys of others. She is committed to increasing awareness of the Bob Woodruff Foundation and the Special Olympics organization.
Phyllis is an essayist, columnist, author and teacher with her op-ed pieces, reviews, and feature stories appearing in newspapers such as the New York Times, the Washington Post, and the Christian Science Monitor. She’s the author of the memoir, California and Other States of Grace, and two collections of essays as well as an anthology and a children’s book.
She is the founder of Nightwriters and has conducted writing seminars in the U.S. Her book, The Journal Keeper, a memoir, was published by Grove Atlantic in 2010.
Janet writes about art and design, culture and cuisine. She earned a bachelor’s degree in graphic design, then studied art and architectural history in graduate school. Her career has encompassed art direction, graphic design, strategic marketing, consulting and writing.
She co-authored a marketing column for Arizona Business Gazette, and has written for Bonjour Paris, Photo District News and other publications.
When she lived in Heidelberg, Germany, she studied German and won a baking contest sponsored by the local newspaper. In Arizona, she became fluent in country-western dancing.
Wendy, whose business is Wendy Verlaine Design, is a jewelry designer, writer and former art dealer who continues to enjoy the ever-evolving world of art, collecting and creating. Travel and the love of artifacts from around the world influence her jewelry designs and drive her desire to discover what other talented people are doing, creating and talking about.
Formally a contributing writer for Passport Gateway Santa Barbara and Art Week Magazine, she finds the art world continues to help her discover many talented people to write about. She delights in not having to choose between her love of writing and making jewelry.
Laurie Weed is a freelance writer and editor, semi-retired nomad, and the digital producer of Tales To Go, a new mobile subscription from Travelers’ Tales.
She lives in Sonoma County with her daughter and aging Volkswagen, and dreams of getting them all out on the road.
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The correspondents and writers listed above have contributed to TWE. We appreciate all of their fine interviewing and reporting.