WRITER/ AUTHOR / NOVELIST / BLOGGER / BOOKSELLER / PUBLISHER
MARKETING, COMMUNICATIONS & PUBLISHING SPECIALIST

Award-winning author, writer, marketer and speaker on writing, self-publishing, integrated marketing programs and public relations.

PROFESSIONAL CAREER

STILLWATER BOOKS , West Warwick, RI, 2018-present
Bookseller
• Opened full-service independent bookstore now located in West Warwick, Rhode Island. Store carries both new and used books as well as over 500 titles from the local writing community.

STILLWATER RIVER PUBLICATIONS, Harmony, RI, 2013-present
Publisher
• Founded small publishing house to help independent authors navigate the confusing and rapidly changing world of self-publishing. Released first two imprinted titles in March 2014. Twenty-eight titles in print by fall 2015.Over 300 titles by summer 2020. Over 700 by early 2024.

ASSOCIATION OF RHODE ISLAND AUTHORS (ARIA), 2011-2020
Founder & President
• President and founder of RI's largest and fastest-growing non-profit (501c3) literary arts organizaion boasting over 350 published authors among its membership.

SPIMAC, LLC, Harmony, RI, 1999-2018
Founder & President
• Established advertising, marketing and promotions company in 1999 to serve the needs of small business, nonprofits, entrepreneurs and other entities underserved by traditional marketing business services. Impressive client list includes: ZipRecruiter, Big Brothers Big Sisters, JobsintheUS.com, Match.com, Digital Ink Design Studios, Capital Video Corporation, Metro Global Media, Buena Vista Home Video, Gabriel's Wing Foundation, Leon's & Stitches Metropolitan Bistro, Josef Creations, and many others.

LAURIAT'S BOOKSTORES, INC., Canton, MA, 1988-1999
Director of Advertising & Public Relations
• Managed all advertising ($3 million budget) in over 75 newspapers and 30 radio stations for 176 retail bookstores throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions, including the Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington markets.
• Coordinated award-winning corporate charitable efforts, highlighted by nationally recognized "Share the World of Books" campaign with the Boston Globe that collected over 20,000 books for needy children.
• Booked, planned, promoted, managed, and implemented author appearances featuring celebrities such as Tanya Tucker, Rick Pitino, Don Imus, Drew Bledsoe, Nelson DeMille, Isabella Rossellini, Aerosmith, and many others.
• Wrote and distributed corporate press releases to media and publishing community. Served as company spokesman to national news media.

• Founder & President, The Association of Rhode Island Authors (ARIA), 2011 to 2020.
• Board Member, Rhode Island Coalition of Library Advocates (COLA / RILA)
• Self-Publishing Instructor, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at the University of Rhode Island and Salve Regina University (2013-2019)
• Member, Rhode Island Romance Writers (RIRW), 2011 to 2020
• Member, Independent Publishers of New England (IPNE), 2012 to present
• Member, Independent Book Publishers Association of America (IBPA), 2013 to present
• Author-Member, New England Independent Booksellers Association (NEIBA), 2011 to present
• Member, American Bookseller's Association (ABA), 2018 to present
• Editor, Newsource, Wakefield, RI, 1987-1988
• Editor, The Great Swamp Gazette -- Literary Magazine, University of Rhode Island, 1986-1987

BOOKS & WRITING ACHIEVEMENTS

MURDER AT THE FOXY LADY -- a short story, Iconic Rhode Island: An Anthology, 2022
A HYMN FOR A MEMORY -- a poem, Past Present & Future: An Anthology, 2019
THE CONFESSION OF ESEK KENYON -- a short story, Under the 13th Star Anthology, 2017
THE BEAUMONTS OF ELDERWILDE -- a short story, Shoreline Anthology, 2016
SCARED TO DEATH... DO IT ANYWAY -- a self-help memoir (co-authored with Brian Beneduce) -- 2016
ESCAPE FROM SHIBBOLETH -- a short story, Attleboro Sun-Chronicle, 2015
THE LITTLE BLACK BAUBLE -- a children's CD by Ken McKenna (voice-over / narrator) -- 2015
THE MOTHS OF CARDINE'S FIELD -- an essay, Newport Life Magazine, 2015
MANISSES -- a novel (ISBN: 1-47835-480-1), 2012
THE KANC -- a short story, 2012
CONFESSIONS OF THE MEEK & THE VALIANT -- a novel (ISBN: 1-46354-200-3), 2011
ALONG THE VILLAGE GREEN -- a blog, 2009

FEATURED SPEAKER

• Independent Publishers of New England Fall Conference (Portsmouth, NH) -- Marketing Through Partnerships: How to Get Everyone Else to Promote Your Book So You Don't Have To, 2015
• Hollihock Writer's Conference (New Bedford, MA) -- How New Technologies Have Transformed Reading, Writing and Publishing, 2015-2017
• Rhode Island Libraries - RILINK Summer Conference (Warren, RI) -- Bringing Books by Local Authors to our Schools, 2015
• A Writer's Feast (Providence, RI) -- Panelist at Providence Inernational Art Festival Writing Conference, 2015
• Ignite! Southern Rhode Island (Wakefield, RI)-- America's Addiction to the Narrative
• East Bay Education Collaborative (Warren, RI)-- "Manisses" and the Forgotten History of Block Island, 2014.
• The Lively Literati at The Elephant Room (Cranston, RI) -- Host and featured author, 2015

PROFESSIONAL & CIVIC AFFILIATIONS

• Appointee, Congressman Langevin's Arts & Culture Advisory Committee, 2015-2020
• Board of Directors, Glocester Business Association, 2003-2010
• League President, Webmaster & Coach, Glocester Little League, Chepachet, RI, 2000-2013
• Board of Directors, Ponaganset Education Foundation, 2007- 2010
• Founder & President, Ponaganset Middle School PTO, 2006-2007
• Member, Rhode Island Human Resource Management Association (HRMRI/SHRM), 2001-2011
• Former Member of several local chambers of commerce, including The Northern Rhode Island Chamber, Southern Rhode Island Chamber, Central Rhode Island Chamber, Greater Providence Chamber and Newport County Chamber, 2001 to 2015.

EDUCATION

• University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, 1982-1987 (English & History)
• Brown University, Providence, RI, 2002 (selected study in Grant Writing)
• Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, RI, 2003 (selected study in Website Design)
• Bishop Hendricken High School, 1982

AWARDS

• Winner, "The Big Read / Wizard of Earthsea" Fantasy Short Story Contest -- Escape From Shibboleth -- 2015
• Winner, Newport Life Magazine Writing Contest -- The Moths of Cardine's Field -- 2015
• Honor Award, New England Book Festival Book of the Year -- Manisses, 2012
• Quarter Finalist, Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award -- Manisses, 2012
• "The Porter House," concessions building dedicated & named in family's honor by the Glocester Little League, 2011
• Paul Caniglia Volunteerism Award, Rhode Island District 4 Little League, 2008
• Joan M. Scorpio Award, Volunteerism & Community Involvement, Glocester Business Association, 2007
• Massachusetts Senior Service Hero, Certificate of National Service Award Winner 1998
• Crystal Obelisk Award Winner, For Social Responsibility, Women Executives in Public Relations (WEPR)
• Award of Excellence, Community Relations, APEX98 Program, Communications Concepts