The Prose Nest, LLC—Meet Our People

She soon began working independently as a writing coach, editor, and teacher, as well as creating writing workshops and groups. She has conducted writing workshops on everything from fiction to critique and how to get published. Her classes have been held throughout Racine and Kenosha as well as at the University of Wisconsin Parkside.

Colleen has been published in several national and international publications including Adoption Today, MOMSense, Christianity Today, The Christian Science Journal and Chicken Soup for the Dieter's Soul. She is also a columnist for Mommies Magazine.

One day he spruced up a poorly written memo for an appreciative executive who leaked word that he could write, forever tagging him as the employee most likely to succeed at dousing his management’s grammatical fires. He has written and reformed websites for local businesses and a top-notch Canadian wilderness fishing resort, and has written for Trap and Trail Magazine.

David lives in the country between two patches of woods with an incredibly partisan wife and extraordinary yellow dog. He still thinks Mike Royko might be his uncle, and admits that he’s read J. D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye one too many times. He has been called everything except photogenic, but luckily for him his extraordinary dog is.

Karen Aiken

Karen Aiken holds an M.A. in Early Childhood Education and taught for years. She has been a student of metaphysics for over 30 years; working in churches, receiving class instruction and exploring all methods of spiritual study. She has spent the past seven years in strong devotion to this study and runs and participates in several book clubs on the subject.

Class: Intro to Spiritual Writings

He has written screenplays for six nationally released documentaries and feature films, and has been published in both national and local magazines. His passion for writing has allowed him to consult with other writers on the development of web site content and articles for varied audiences. He is currently writing his first non-fiction book about an area athlete.

Brian graduated from Gateway College with a degree in Marketing and is currently seeking his B.A. in English from the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee.

Classes: Character Development, Horror Stories, Screenplay Writing I and II

Marie is the author of three non-fiction books—including Simply Super Storytimes and More Simply Super Storytimes (a Library Journal Small Press Bestseller), and S.K.I.L.L.S. Through Play Throughout Your Day—as well as school curricula and state grants. Her numerous articles have been published in newspapers, trade publications, and magazines. On-line, her work appears in e-zines, newsletters, and articles.

Marie has taught at universities throughout Wisconsin and worked as a literacy instructor for Milwaukee Public Libraries. A former children's librarian, teacher, and bookstore owner, her enthusiasm for the power of words, and passion for writing and books, has always been a driving force in her life.

It was in her capacity as a student television news presenter, coached by former trainer of BBC news anchor people, that Pippin discovered the real impact of the written script, its syntax and voice, on performance quality. As an advertising account executive, she gained experience with sales teams at executive and managerial levels. Assisting with the preparation of sales pitches and observing their presentation demonstrated oversights in their in-house training.

Observing common issues among seasoned executives and academics, novice students and nonprofessional public speakers, Pippin made a study of devising solutions and innovations for visual presentations.

Classes: Power into PowerPoint, Build as you go Bibliographies

Julie Nondorf

Julie is a published poet and essayist. Her poetry, fiction, and creative writing curriculum have long stimulated students of all ages, bringing their writing to new levels. With a B.A. in English and nearly ten years' experience teaching, writing and consulting, Julie brings expertise, passion and enthusiasm to Prose Nest. Published in Eclectica, Creative Communications, Scratch and elsewhere, Julie now lives and writes in Racine. She is currently at work on a novel for teens.

Classes: Response Forums, Fiction Workshop, Best Writers are Readers, Elements of Fiction I and II

Jean earned her B.A. from Carthage College in English, with minors in Classics and Women's/Gender Studies. She received the Carthage College Distinguished Adult Learner of the Year Award in 2002, and was a recipient of an ASIANetwork Freeman Fellowship in 2001.

In addition to teaching the Heritage Sequence at Carthage, Jean has worked as a presenter, instructor and tutor for various academic and community organizations, including the Kenosha Literacy Council and the Racine Odyssey Project, and has facilitated several seminars and workshops on writing poetry.

Classes: Women Poets I and II