Debra Vogler,
Debra Vogler, president of Instant Insight Inc., earned BS and MS degrees in physics from Marquette University, after which she had a 20-year career in reliability engineering in the defense electronics and semiconductor manufacturing equipment industries. She then left engineering to pursue a career in journalism covering the semiconductor manufacturing industry. A seasoned journalist and interviewer for almost 22 years, she has produced and hosted several hundred video and audio interviews with semiconductor and photovoltaics industry executives and technologists. Since 2012, she has worked for her own company, Instant Insight Inc. One of her clients is Chip Scale Review magazine, for which she is senior technical editor.
Sherry Joyce
A former worldwide HR executive, Sherry enjoyed many years of creative and technical writing. As the owner of SJDesigns Interiors, her award-winning design projects and articles have been featured in numerous design magazines and textbooks. She is a member of Sacramento Sisters in Crime, and several writing organizations. THE DORDOGNE DECEPTION was conceived when the tower of the French chateau where she was vacationing was struck by lightning. DANGEROUS DUPLICITY was released in 2016 and DANGEROUS JUSTICE in 2021.
Donna Fitzgerald
Donna is a retired English and creative writing teacher. Since her retirement, she has published three books: Reruns in 2013, a collection of poetry and prose, A Perfect World in 2020 and I Have Pictured Myself for Years in 2021, both of which are strictly poetry. She has led a poetry group for the past eight years, and hosts a monthly authors series featuring local authors, which gives them a venue to sell their books. She won a poetry award from The Palm Springs Writers Guild in 2018. She is currently working on a new poetry collection.
Marge Dodge
Marge aspired to write a novel when, after much study, she realized it is hard to make up stuff. She studied plot, story arch, character development, joined critique groups and wrote, but it was not easy. Finding creative non-fiction more to her liking, she wrote magazine articles and profiles, mostly for aviation magazines and a few local magazines. She finally found her niche when asked to report on a local non-profit fund-raising event for the Desert Sun. For the past ten years she has enjoyed sharing event details and bringing awareness of non-profit organizations to the community. She has thrived with a deadline, a word count and facts – and the knowledge that her words go in the recycle bin on Wednesday.
Joanne Hardy
Joanne’s love of history found expression in her works of historical fiction. The Girl in the Butternut Dress, a Civil War saga, won Honorable Mention in the National League of American Pen Women Fiction Contest. She also received National DAR award for “Women in the Arts.” Random Truths showcases the “haves” and “have nots” in a small town during an oil boom. Coming soon, Abandoned, a two-generational story spans the rise of the railroad era, Civil War and Women’s Suffrage movement. Her books have been fiction selections for book clubs. She has covered community events for the Desert Sun Newspaper for eleven years, and has served on the boards of National League of American Pen Women, Palm Springs Writers Guild, DAR and Colonial Dames.
Linda Brown Carlson
A self-claimed workaholic, Linda had no time for creative writing, but her interest in history never waned. She has had the good fortune to travel and walk on many ancient grounds, hoping to discover their secrets. When she met her husband, Wayne, she discovered the concept of two souls bound since the beginning of time. Linda realized they were two of the lucky few whose paths crossed at the right time. She wondered about less fortunate souls who were destined to align, be torn apart, and search for each other again and again. This launched the idea for The Journey of the Jade Ring, a series of historical fantasy fiction following two lovers across centuries. Linda is a member of the Palm Springs Writers Guild and the National Association of Pen Women. Linda and her soulmate live in Southern California . . . this incarnation.
Dianne Benanti
Diane is an artist of many talents. She began with oils then sidelined into charcoal portraits for a time in 2004. Along with continuing to paint in oils, she created a children’s concept called Paisley Dinosaur which was an outcome of many years of doodling. Paisley Dinasaur became a book, and the paisley character can now be found on notebooks, pillowcases and tee shirts which Diane sells online. She has recently discovered digital art and caricature and started “Ethereal Portraiture” on celebrities which is marketed under the moniker “Benny Brixton.” She has also created a book of digital characters called “The Bravettes,” specifically geared to a reality television series shown on Bravo TV. You can view Diane’s artwork her other ventures at benanti.com
Kathy Bjork
As a teacher and reading specialist for 35 years, Kathy spent time inspiring students and passed on her love of learning and writing. With retirement, she finally found time to write herself. She has published a book detailing her mother’s journey through dementia, My Mother is Losing Her Memory and I Am Losing My Mind, intended to help others experiencing the same problems associated with memory loss. She has had her writing published in anthologies and has written three books of poetry. She hosts a a website with information on dementia at kathybjork.com, and another “From My Perspective” at kathyssite.com which is a blog of her writings.
Rachel Druten
The author of nine historical novels, Rachel’s books have been reprinted for the visually-impaired and collected in anthologies. The award winning Hazel Flick series, Paradise Found, and I’m Back, has been optioned for T.V. In 1998 Rachel founded Tools For Tomorrow, a nonprofit, after school literacy enrichment program in elementary schools throughout the Coachella Valley. Her awards include: “Woman of Distinction in the Arts” by the National League of American Pen Women, Palm Desert Rotary, Education Hall of Fame “In Recognition of the lifelong Dedication,Leadership and Commitment in Education” and the “DAR Community Service Award.”
Donna Weeks
Donna Weeks is a retired organization development consultant and former teacher/adjunct professor. She has written marketing/advertising materials, training programs and magazine articles for numerous clients, including: Intel Corporation, UC Santa Cruz, the Indian Health Service, California’s Employment Development Department and Hewlett-Packard. Since moving to the Coachella Valley in 2013, she has written event promotional materials for the American Outreach Foundation, which provides electric wheelchairs to those in need at no cost to them. Donna’s interests have recently turned to writing fiction and she is currently working on two mysteries: one which takes place in Zihuatanejo, Mexico, and another that she’s co-writing with two other Pen Women members that uses the Coachella Valley as its setting.
Donna Weeks is a retired organization development consultant and former teacher/adjunct professor. She has written marketing/advertising materials, training programs and magazine articles for numerous clients, including: Intel Corporation, UC Santa Cruz, the Indian Health Service, California’s Employment Development Department and Hewlett-Packard. Since moving to the Coachella Valley in 2013, she has written event promotional materials for the American Outreach Foundation, which provides electric wheelchairs to those in need at no cost to them. Donna’s interests have recently turned to writing fiction and she is currently working on two mysteries: one which takes place in Zihuatanejo, Mexico, and another that she’s co-writing with two other Pen Women members that uses the Coachella Valley as its setting. Donna Weeks
Martha McCool
A native of Massachusetts, Martha eventually found her way to California where she taught math at a community college, raised 3 daughters, and co-Authored a book Armenians’ Names
In 1993, she moved from the West Coast to Texas where she taught at Texas Woman’s University, and wrote more than 150 articles for various newspapers. Martha’s articles on the Gainesville’s Santa Fe Depot led to the attention of the Board of Directors of the Heartland Flyer. They asked her to ride the train and write of her experience, resulting in the article Riding the Trails, Using the Rails, featured and published in the Fort Worth Star Telegram.
When she and her husband retired, they moved to Rancho La Quinta, where they now participate in philanthropic and cultural activities.
Ruth Gassner
Ruthie Gassner is a former elementary grade school teacher who has been inspired by children throughout her life.She is an author of seven children’s books written under the pseudonym of Ruthie Darling. Her stories appeal to children but also have a message. One of her latest books is“‘ONE’DERFUL,” a timeless story of sharing and caring. She is passionate about all forms of creative self-expression and pursuing the Arts continues to fill her soul and capture her spirit. HER MISSION/MOTTO: Empowering children and adults through the wonderful world of children’s literature!
Judy Fabris
Judy Fabris has been a member of several Pen Women branches in the past 40 years. She served as president of a northern California branch, and as vice president of Norcal, the northern California association. She became a member of the Palm Springs branch in 2005. She has been published in both fiction and non-fiction since the 60s and was a stringer for Copley News Service for several years. Always an over-achiever, she was not satisfied with all her writing so, she enrolled in Goddard College in Vermont where at age 87 she was awarded with her MFA in Creative Writing in July 2023. To add to her published works, she collaborated with Sharon Prieto and Donna Weeks to write a thriller, The Mallorcan Gambit- a new genre for her. “Pen Women has been a wonderful organization for me, good friends, encouragement and networking, a great combination.
Rosealee Tithof
When Rosalee was young, she lived in a rural area and attended a two-room elementary school. Reading was a passion of hers from the time she first learned and has continued throughout her life. While a student at Webster Elementary School, two of her teachers had her skip some classes so she could tutor students who were having trouble reading. She believes maybe that was the beginning of her desire to teach. She enjoys writing children’s stories and has five self-published books on Amazon. The titles are: My Michigan Summer, Remembering Pop Pop, Dancing with Great Grandma, I’ll Love You Forever…Please Remember, and Love Those Animals. Each book features one of her grandchildren and a lesson which she thinks may have been inspired from so many years of teaching.
She thinks a memoir is still in her soul waiting to be written, and hopes the contact with the talented women writers at the Pen Women will be her catalyst.
Cindy McGonagle
Cindy McGonagle is a professional artist from San Francisco, California. Her work is inspired by nature. Her art is an expression of listening to nature through flowers and trees. She paints in mixed media using oils, acrylics, paper and watercolor inviting you to connect with the spirit of nature. Her notes became her booksGarden Notes (93), Queen D’s Fairy Recipe Book (94) and herSacred Places Sacred Plants (04).
Janet Dagley
Janet Dagley began her career as a staff writer for the Dayton Daily News in Ohio. She later reported for the Orange County (CA) Register and Los Angeles Times, and freelanced as a writer and radio producer in Eastern Europe and New York City.
In her spare time she has been a volunteer firefighter, emergency medical technician, interfaith minister, circus clown, teacher of English as a Foreign Language, Reiki Master, and musician.
Despite winning numerous journalism awards, she lost the Pulitzer Prize both times she was a candidate. And like Weird Al, she lost on Jeopardy.
Her current project is the One Family’s America series, a collection of nonfiction stories about her family’s role in American history. She also serves on the board of several local nonprofit organizations
Sharon Prieto
Sharon Prieto, a League member less than a year whose previous writings were newspaper articles and loan guidelines, is looking forward spreading her wings in a more creative writing atmosphere. Sharon gained practical experience as a volunteer with local Sheriff, Police, and women’s shelter organizations. As a member of Pen Woman she has made the acquaintance of several likeminded woman and is putting pen to paper with the goal of completing her first novel.
Victoria Castillo
María Victoria Castillo is a former fieldworker that began college at the age of forty and earned a master’s degree in education. She has been recognized by Congressman Dr. Raul Ruiz and Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia for her farmworker activism work and for her contribution to education and the arts. She writes children’s educational books. Her motto is, “Never give up!”
Maria DeRosa
Maria’s work centers on discovering joy in the kitchen and building a community around food and camaraderie. Maria leads webinars and instructs Master Classes both online and in person to build this community. Having been through financial and emotional loss herself, Maria’s mission is to dispel such pain for others while using all five senses to prepare healthy meals. It’s a form of therapy that offers women strength, hope and wisdom. You can join Maria’s community at www.ladiesofthekitchen.com or by contacting her at: maria@ladiesofthekitchen.com.
You can follow her adventures in Rancho Mirage on FB or Youtube: Desert Life with Maria.
Cheryl Heineman
Cheryl Heineman graduated December 2017 with a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from San Diego State University. She also has a master’s degree in Jungian psychology and has published four collections of poetry: Just Getting Started, something to hold onto, It’s Easy to Kiss a Stranger on a Moving Train, and Future Comings.
Shauna Judnich
Shauna Judnich is a Navy Veteran and Emotion and Body Code practitioner whose work lives at the intersection of truth, strength, and healing. She is the author of Echoes of the Soul: Navigating the Path of Grief and Trauma to Healing, a deeply intimate yet widely relatable book born from the tragic loss of her father and written for those learning to carry grief without being consumed by it. Grounded by nature, Shauna finds clarity outdoors – hiking, wandering, and drawn to water in all its forms. She is writing a poetry collection, continuing her devotion to transforming lived experience into language.
Roccie Hill
Roccie Hill is a writer, historian, and career non-profit executive. She lived and worked in Europe for 15 years. While in Paris, she was the Marketing Officer for the Official French Committee for the Celebration of the Centennial of the Statue of Liberty. In England, Roccie produced films for non-profits, and during her 4 years as Director of the conservation organization, WWT, she organized an exclusive dinner at Highgrove, the private home of His Majesty King Charles in Gloucestershire. Since her return to California, Roccie has held positions as Executive Director for a variety of California nonprofits, and is currently the ED for Old Town Artisan Studios in La Quinta. She has published four novels. The Blood of My Mother, her third, won the WILLA First Place Award for Best Historical Novel in 2024 and was also an Amazon and Barnes & Noble bestseller.