Short Bio

Although Connieann is my handle, my real name is Connie. My husband and I had been married almost forty-nine years when he passed away on July 19th (2012). We have two children (all grown up now) and three wonderful grandchildren.

I grew up near Dover, Delaware, but in 1978, we moved to North Central Florida to be near Jim's family. Being over fifty miles from either the gulf or the ocean, I have really missed living near the beach. Many of the stories I write reflect those memories.

Although an ardent reader all my life, I never considered writing until I discovered this site. I have written newsletters, in my younger years, for businesses I've been involved with and for churches I've attended. For more than ten years now, though, writing has become second nature and self-satisfying. I have taken some helpful classes at our own New Horizons Academy, especially the Sunrise and Cache Classes, and quickly realized areas of weakness in my writing. Action verbs, dialogue that moves forward the plot, and utilizing all five senses in my stories are just some of the areas where I needed help. These classes have provided me with the tools to bring my stories to life.

Like that quote on the homepage, "Those of us who had a perfectly happy childhood should be able to sue for deprivation of literary royalties." ~Chris Patten, Although not perfectly happy, whose is, I feel my life has been rather dull, but every once in awhile a memory will pop up and surprise me. Then a story will pour out, and I get lost in it, a very pleasant feeling.

A bookkeeper during my working years, now I am retired and getting great enjoyment from my involvement with this wonderful writing community. So, if you need an ear to bend or think I can be of any assistance, please shoot me an email, and I will do my very best to be of help.

I have had one article published in a local magazine, short stories published in ezines, and in our own 2014 Writing.Com Anthology  . I like historical fiction, family/personal stories, and animal tales. Show me anything involving a cat, and I cannot resist it. And speaking of cats, last August (2017) one of my stories was published in a Chicken Soup for the Soul book, The Cat Really Did That?  . It was my one and only paying gig except for some freelance articles. I've been working on a memoir for several years and some of my stories are posted under Memories. Hopefully, one day, they will morph into a book.

Currently, I am part of a life history group at my local library, having lots of fun hearing others' stories and sharing my own. If you would like to hear more about my life, I include updates of the goings-on in my blog, Connie's Corner  , right here .