OUR TEAM
YOU CAN BE PART OF CROW’S FEET
Send us a note at crowsfeet8@gmail.com
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Betsy Allen
Betsy is a longtime freelance writer, editor, and writing instructor. Among her most recent creative works are two plays performed on the Between Acts audio theatre podcast and a short story featured on The Night’s End horror fiction podcast. Allen lives in Virginia with her husband and a noisy Corgi. In her spare time, she frets about her children and grandson. Betsy is a member of the Podcast Team and a publication editor.
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Lee J. Bentch
Lee is a Veteran with a Masters degree in Communications. He is a career technologist and a writer. Lee writes on various topics with the intent to humor, inform and entertain readers. Lee is a native Texan currently living north of the Houston metro area. He is a member of the Podcast Team and a contributing writer to Crow’s Feet.
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Melinda Blau
Melinda is an award-winning journalist who proudly calls herself an old lady. She's written about relationships, health, and social trends for more than four decades. Melinda has authored 16 books and over 300 articles. Her latest book, Wisdom Whisperers, was published in August 2024. Learn more about Melinda and her work at MelindaBlau.com. Melinda is a member of the Podcast Team and a contributing writer to Crow’s Feet.
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Michele Cambardella
Michele taught high school English for 36 years and loved working with young people. She taught AP English Literature and Composition, English 11 and served as an AP Reader for College Board. After retiring from education, she and her husband of 40 years were caretakers for both of her parents. She enjoys writing, cooking and oil painting and loves being Mimi to her grandkids. Michele is a Crow’s Feet editor and contributing writer.
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Catherine Dunn Gilbert
Catherine lives on a boat on Vancouver Island on Canada’s left coast with her partner of over four decades and two dogs. After raising sixteen children, and finally mostly retired from work, she now has time to write and spend time with her many grandchildren. Catherine is a contributing writer to Crow’s Feet and a member of the Social Media Team.
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Jean Anne Feldeisen
Jean Anne is a writer, poet, musician, therapist, and grandmother. Her first poems were published at age 72 in Spank the Carp and The Hopper, and since then in Ravens Perch, Thimble, and other online literary journals and anthologies. Her first poetry book, "Not All Are Weeping," was published in 2023 by Main Street Rag Publishing. In August of 2023 she and a friend self-published a book of art and poetry, Catching Fireflies. She's also published essays in Next Avenue and Chicken Soup for the Soul. Jean is a transplant from the Jersey Shore to a farm in Maine. Follow her at jeanfeldeisen.com. To receive her newsletter, sign up here.
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Jan M. Flynn
Jan’s essays appear in HuffPost Personal, Chicken Soup for the Soul: Lessons Learned From My Dog, and in Crow's Feet and other Medium publications. Her short fiction appears in literary magazines and anthologies. She also produces/hosts her own weekly podcast, "Here's A Thought," for people who overthink. Her debut novel is currently on submission by Helen Adams of Zimmermann Literary Agency. Jan lives in Boise, Idaho with her husband Michael and their cat, Bandit, who is charming but not to be trusted. Jan is a writer and member of the Podcast Team.
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Nancy Franklin
Nancy is a retired health care executive with a love of writing and time on her hands. Her work has been published in the Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, Slackjaw, The Belladonna, Points in Case, Old Lady Comedy and others. She is a member of the Podcast Team, a publication editor and a contributing writer to Crow’s Feet. Find more of her writing at www.mirthquakes.com.
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Jen Gippel PhD
Jen was accepted into a PhD program at age 50 and attributes her three-year time to graduation to not having any time to waste. Alongside teaching and researching in finance, Jen taught academic writing to faculty and post-graduate students. She continues to publish research and also enjoys writing on Medium.com where her essays appear in Crow’s Feet, Personal Growth, and Human Parts. When not writing, Jen loves hiking in the many nature areas near her home in Canberra, Australia.
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Rich Halten
Radio is in Rich’s blood, from a teenage DJ to GI broadcaster (American Forces Network/Europe) to Top 40 jock and sports/talk producer. Along the way, Public TV and 25 years as an ad agency creative. More recently, indie producer for public radio and podcasts, where he won a National Edward R. Murrow Award for Best Audio News Doc. Rich is the sound producer extraordinaire of the Crow’s Feet Podcast.
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Robin James
Robin James lives in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, with her partner of two decades. After raising her children from her first marriage, she now focuses on writing and has published two short stories. When not writing, she's busy adoring her grandchild, feeding the neighborhood crows, gardening, and hiking through Edmonton's extensive river valley in search of petrified wood and other fossils. Robin is the Crow’s Feet Writing Prompt editor and a contributing writer..
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Ann Litts
Ann recently retired from a career as an RN in the hospital OR and is pursuing self-discovery every day, from yoga to spending time with her Magical Creatures, the grandchildren. Ann writes frequently about life, nutrition and spirituality. She is the founder and editor of the Medium publication, Recycled, and an editor for: Mindfully Speaking.. Ann is also an editor and contributing writer for Crow’s Feet and provides social media outreach for the group.
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Janice MacDonald
Janice Macdonald is a freelance writer and the author of nine novels for Harlequin, the world’s largest publisher of romance fiction. She previously spent ten years as director of media relations for a Southern California healthcare corporation. At 68, hoping to discover that she wasn’t too old for adventure, Janice moved to France — alone. Her motto? ‘You’re never too old to try something new. She lives with her partner in a small winemaking village in the Languedoc Region and spends her days writing and slaughtering the language of Moliere.
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Kathleen Murphy
Kathleen is an independent journalist and PR pro who writes about physical health, emotional wellness, and successful aging. After covering these beats for national publications and Fortune 500 clients for decades, she’s using what she’s learned to help every person live their healthiest life possible. She’s living her dream through creative projects and adventures in the great outdoors. Kathleen is the founder of the CF Connect group and coordinator of educational programs as well as a contributing writer to Crow’s Feet.
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Nancy Peckenham
Nancy is the founder and editor of Crow’s Feet. She is a former cable news executive, local news reporter and documentary filmmaker with a focus on Latin America. She has published three books and has written about her life traveling the U.S. in a Sprinter van with her husband. When not on the move, she loves gardening and spending time with her two sons.
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Julie Ranson
Julie’s a widow and mother of three awesome adults, and dog-mom to Pepper and Daisy. She loves to travel, and to dip her toes in any nearby water. In the second grade, Julie received her school’s award for most books read. She’s remained an avid reader who began writing fiction near the end of a long career in higher education. Her first novel of historical fiction was acquired this summer by The Wild Rose Press. She’s an editor and contributing writer to Crow’s Feet, and owner/editor of Koinonia publication on Medium. Website: www.juliejranson.com.
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Kim Kelly Stamp
Kim Kelly Stamp is a writer whose work has appeared in The New York Times, NBC News, Huffington Post, ShondaLand, Next Avenue, and Insider. She currently travels in a tear-shaped camper with her wife and the two explore life as retirees. Kim is a member of the Crow’s Feet Social Media team and a contributing writer to the publication.
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Jane Trombley
Jane is a veteran of a jagged career path in communication and marketing riddled with pivots. Writing has been her professional and personal throughline, along with optimism and a stubborn belief that she can learn almost anything as long as it does not include advanced math. She is a member of the Podcast Team, an editor, and contributing writer for the publication.