Nancy Herman writes historical fiction and has published a well-received middle-grade book, All We Left Behind: Virginia Reed and the Donner Party. She finds extensive research, such as following the Donner Party’s route by automobile from Independence, Missouri to Sutter’s Fort (followingthedonnerparty.com) to be one of the most rewarding aspects of writing. She is currently writing a young adult book about the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire, entitled The Girl on Valencia Street, and has just begun researching a book for young readers about Stephen Olney, a lesser-known hero of the Revolutionary War. Nancy grew up in Watsonville, earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism from San Jose State University, and worked as both a marketing communications writer and a technical writer in the Bay Area for several years before moving to the Sacramento area. She is also a member of Women on Writing and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.
Recently retired, Sumner has worn several professional hats – USAF officer, medical speech/language pathologist, and university professor. A native of New York, he has lived in Colorado, Turkey, New Mexico, and since 1984, California. To date, his only publication has been clinical research in a juried professional journal. So, he has tried to write non-fiction; now, he wants to attempt writing literary fiction. This will probably reflect his interests in flying, classical guitar, bicycling, and oenology. His favorite authors include Amor Towles, Orhan Pamuk, and Jean Hanff Korelitz. He looks forward to learning the craft with other CWC members and, hopefully, making his own contribution.