Sheree and Russell Nielsen, & the Folly Beach Dances Contributors
Sheree K. Nielsen is an award-winning freelance writer, poet and photographer. Her countless credits include Missouri Life, AAA Midwest Traveler, AAA Southern Traveler, and others.
For two consecutive years, Sheree received First Place for Photography from the Missouri Humanities Council and the Warrior Arts Alliance – Awarded September 2014 for “Jimmie on the Pier”, and in October 2013 – “Dear Kindred Spirit”.
The photos were selected for inclusion in Proud to Be: Writing by American Warriors Volume 2 and 3.
Chosen by her peers, Sheree received the First Place, People’s Choice Award for Nonfiction, Storyteller Magazine, April-June 2010.
Sheree’s works are well-represented in numerous anthologies, magazines, websites, and newspapers across the nation and Caribbean. Her essays and poems interweave universal beauty inspired through travel, nature and family. She enjoys teaching her “Every Picture Tells a Story” workshop to veterans.
She credits a deep affinity for the ocean to her parents through regular vacations to the Southeast. Dad Joe, a World War II veteran, spun tales of exotic ports of call. Her mom Gladys, a sketch artist and master gardener, taught Sheree about art and nurturing the soil. She blogs at Sheree’s Warm Fuzzies.
Russell A. Nielsen is a photographer fascinated with the limitless beauty and color of marine life. When searching for a hobby he could share with Sheree, he settled upon scuba diving. She’d already developed a love for the sport.
His natural ability and ‘no fear’ attitude resulted in his award-winning photo of a pregnant 10-foot black-tip reef shark taken on a Bahamas dive site. The photograph was featured in the October 2006 issue of Caribbean Travel and Life, and again in the March 2012 issue of The Abaconian.
A Senior Network Support Manager for AT&T, Russell installs and upgrades devices on worldwide networks. His communications experience spans more than 25 years.
The couple met while Sheree was a project manager and circuit design engineer for a major telecom firm. They’re passionate about discovering Mother Earth’s oversoul – in scuba diving, beach adventures, and Sheree’s travel assignments.
Home for Sheree and Russell – a three acre tract of land in Missouri which they share with four animal children – a neurotic Australian Shepherd, a goofy Bernese Mountain Dog/Aussie mix, a black cat diva, and a handsome three-legged Tuxedo cat.
“Our mission for the book is one of serenity, healing, and relaxation,” says Sheree. The photography and poetry offer an escape to the seashore – no matter where you are, or whatever your worries.
Award-Winning Contributors:
Marcia Gaye, an award-winning poet, songwriter and memoirist, also writes literary fiction and non-fiction across multiple genres. Her career history runs from wrapping pig’s feet in a meat market to editing manuscripts, jobs which are not as dissimilar as they may seem. She’s most proud of, “Two Sisters”, recently published in Times They Were A’Changing – Women Remember the 60s & 70s, from her upcoming memoir, to be released someday.
Patt Hollinger Pickett, Ph.D. is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Certified Professional Coach in practice for decades. Dr. Patt’s award-winning book, The Marriage Whisperer: Tips to Improve Your Relationship Overnight, is based on education/experience but inspired by 10,000+ conversations with clients improving their lives. Details/purchase information about her book, resource playing cards with 52 relational tips, coaching services, and marriage seminars are online, in stores, and through www.TheMarriageWhisperer.net.
Mary Horner, author of Strengthen Your Nonfiction Writing, teaches communications at St. Louis and St. Charles Community Colleges. She’s the former managing editor of Solutions and the Journal of the American Optometric Association, and has written for numerous publications, including Décor, Art Business News, The Credit Professional and Accessory Merchandising. Mary completed a public relations internship for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of St. Louis, and blogs about writing at writRteachR.blogspot.com.
Tina Solomon, a songwriter from Dardenne Prairie, Missouri, is the mother of teenage sons, Eric and Dylan. As far back as Tina remembers, music has filled her home. Her greatest inspirations – husband, Mike, and her mother, Rose, are from families of self-taught musicians. When not writing lyrics (that sometimes win awards and are aired on local radio stations), Tina dabbles in poetry. She’s a member of the St. Louis Songwriters Group, Ellisville, Missouri.
Pat Wahler is a grant writer by day and writer of fiction and essays by night. Her award-winning work has been published in dozens of local and national publications including Sasee Magazine and the series anthologies Cup of Comfort, Not Your Mother’s Book, and Chicken Soup. Pat, a life-long animal lover, ponders critters, writing, and life’s little mysteries at www.critteralley.blogspot.com. She resides with her husband, dog, and cat in St. Peters, Missouri.
