Category: Author

Rachel Carey is a filmmaker, author and playwright. "Ask for Jane," her first feature as writer/director, is based on the true story of an underground abortion network in Chicago. From 1969 until 1973 when Roe v Wade was passed, a collective of college students helped more than 11,000 women get safe, illegal abortions. Rachel's first full-length play, "Phases" was nominated for Best Play and a pair of acting awards at the 2012 Thespis Festival. Her debut novel, "Debt" was published in 2013. Rachel has also taught at several colleges and universities, including Yale, her alma mater.

Roberta Hoskie has one helluva story to share. A high school drop-out and a mom at 17, Roberta was on welfare living in a Connecticut homeless shelter. But with a lot of grit, determination, moxie and smarts she turned her life around. She is the founder and owner of a successful business - Outreach Realty, which has morphed into 3 divisions: Residential Property Management, Tenant Placement and Maintenance Services. Roberta is also passionate about giving back. Her non-profit, Outreach Foundation, advocates affordable housing for low and moderate income families. We cover a lot of ground in this honest, open conversation with this inspirational woman!

Deb Brandon's career is an eclectic one to say the least. Born in England, raised there, Israel and Switzerland, she lives in Pittsburgh and is a math professor at Carnegie Mellon University, which is where she earned her PhD. Deb's a respected textile artist whose book, "Threads Around the World" describes how artisans from 25 diverse cultures create traditional fiber arts using centuries old methods. Deb is also a brain injury survivor who underwent 3 surgeries in as many weeks. She kept a diary, which eventually evolved into a book: "But My Brain Had Other Ideas: A Memoir or Recovery from Brain Surgery." We cover a lot of ground in this open, honest, life affirming conversation.

Meet award winning scholar, historian, author, artist Nell Painter, the Edwards Professor of American History, Emerita at Princeton University. Her acclaimed works of history include, "Standing at Armageddon," "Sojourner Truth, "and the New York Times bestseller, "The History of White People." But her most recent book is all about second chapters. Old in "Art School: A Memoir of Starting Over," chronicles Nell's return to the classroom as an undergrad to study painting, following her retirement from Princeton. Needless to say, we cover a lot of territory in this conversation with such an accomplished, fascinating, creative woman.

Anastasia Higginbotham, a 47-year-old mother of two, created her children’s book series Ordinary Terrible Things — which delves into tough topics like divorce, death, sex, and race — because she believes that children need a medium in which to learn about…