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Neurologist Peter J Barbour, M.D. retired his reflex hammer to become a full-time writer and illustrator. He is actively involved in Mussar, an ancient study of Jewish ethics, virtues, and mindfulness leading to character development. He participates in the process as a group facilitator and brings Mussar’s timeless wisdom to the writing his latest publication, FIFTEEN KEYS, an action-adventure, coming-of-age novel for middle grade and young teens. His other works include a memoir, LOOSE ENDS, three illustrated children’s books: GUS AT WORK, OSCAR AND GUS, and TANYA AND THE BABY ELEPHANT, and over forty short stories that have appeared in e-journals and magazines. One of them, “The Fate, of Dicky Paponovitch,” earned him Raconteur of the Month from Susan Carol Publishing Company. He belongs to the Bethlehem Writers Group, LLC, and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.
He lives in Oregon with his photographer wife. They enjoy traveling and the outdoors.
Diane lives with her husband in eastern Pennsylvania at the foothills of the Blue Mountains, where they own Leaser Lake B and B. She’s a member of national and local writing and screenplay groups. You can reach her through her social media: https://www.facebook.com/dianesismour/; https://www.instagram.com/sismour/; https://X.com/DianeSismour; and https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianesismour
In Memoriam
Sally W. Paradysz (1940-2017) was a founding member in 2006 of what was to become the Bethlehem Writers Group. Born and raised in western Massachusetts, she was the daughter of a sawyer, and spent her childhood learning to appreciate nature--which became a life-long love. She was a strong and independent woman who opened her heart to all she met. She wrote from a cabin she built in the woods by the Bucks County, Pennsylvania home she built with her partner, Mel Powell. Her memoir, From Scratch: Why I Walked Away From My Life and Built This Home, tells the story of building that house while rebuilding her life after the dual pains of rape and divorce. She was ordained as a minister of the Assembly of the Word religious community, and worked as a spiritual counselor. She won Honorable Mention for an inspirational story in the Writer’s Digest 78th Annual Writing Competition in 2009. She was a finalist in the Salem (MA) Literary Festival in 2010, and published non-fiction in 11:11 magazine. Her essay, "Tool-belt Spirituality" appears among those of such other authors as Gloria Steinem and Jimmy Carter in the collection 65 Things to Do When You Retire, and her essay "Just With Your Heart," appears in the anthology, 70 Things to Do When You Turn 70. She contributed to three BWG anthologies: A Christmas Sampler, Once Around the Sun, and A Readable Feast, and was published in Bethlehem Writers Roundtable. We will always remember her extraordinary, gentle but indominable spirit, generosity, and caring.Members Emeriti
Carol A. Hanzl Birkas has stories in two BWG anthologies: A Christmas Sampler and Once Around the Sun.Jodi Bogert has stories in two BWG anthologies: Untethered and Fur, Feathers, and ScalesTerrie Daugherty has a story in A Readable Feast.Bernadette DeCourcey has stories in two BWG anthologies: Once Around the Sun and A Readable FeastAnne Hamilton has a story in Once Upon a Time.Ruth Heil is a nonfiction writer who did layout for Once Upon a Time.Judith Mehl has short stories to two BWG anthologies: A Readable Feast and Once Upon a Time. Josie Myers has two stories in Once Upon a Time.E. L. Ryan has a story in A Readable Feast.Jo Ann Schaffer is a founding member of BWG. Her stories appear in two BWG anthologies: A Christmas Sampler and Once Around the Sun.Paul Weidknecht is the author of Native to This Stream: Brief Writings About Fly-Fishing & the Great Outdoors, and many other works. His stories appear in most BWG anthologies.Will Wright has stories in the first six BWG anthologies, as well as being a frequent contributor to Bethlehem Writers Roundtable under his own name and under three pen names: Stanley W. McFarland , Headley Hauser, and Walter Bego.