About/Bio: Jeanetta Chrystie

Author's Background In her early teens, Jeanetta wrote to express events and feelings in her life through poetry, essays, and children's stories. Her experiences with polio as an infant and throat cancer while a Kindergarten teacher, led her to further develop her writing skills to encourage and inspire others who are struggling. "We need to appreciate life, laugh often, and reach out to help one another."

Writing Interests "I believe it is important to develop my speaking and writing abilities in a variety of genre to better reach a variety of people." Jeanetta uses poetry, journaling, essays, nonfiction articles, humor, and children's fiction writing to share her three primary messages: the need to care for our spiritual condition, the importance of positive personal relationships, and the healing power of humor.

Publications Jeanetta served as a columnist for the Northwest Christian Examiner newspaper for five and one-half years. During a twenty-five-year career, her other publishing credits include: over 500 magazine and newsletter articles, including: Discipleship Journal, Christian History, Clubhouse, Church Libraries, and others; over 140 newspaper columns for the Northwest Christian Examiner/Times/Journal; various book and booklet contributions including NCWA's "The Write Start," published in 2004; two college textbooks; over 50 singly-published poems; and several professional web sites including www.wardtanneberg.com.

Speaking Experience Jeanetta speaks at conferences, women's retreats, and in churches in KS, MO, NM, OR, and WA. As a Toastmasters-trained speaker she earned an ATM-Gold standing, her club's Speaker of the Year award in 2000, and her club's Toastmaster of the Year Awards in both 1998 and 1999. She likes people and is naturally at ease with an audience. She speaks to church, business, and community groups on topics such as: Coping with Traumatic Illness, Handling Stress, Reaching Your Goals, Developing Your Quiet Time, Self-Esteem, The Art of Hospitality, and Time Management. For a full topics list, see the Workshop and Speaker pages.

Teaching Writing Classes & Workshops Experience Jeanetta has taught courses in Seattle area community colleges on Article Writing, Poetry, and Web Page Design. She offers a variety of workshops at writing conferences, including: Writing Devotional Pieces, Query Letters, Performing Poetry, and Non-fiction Articles. "Best decision I made all day, to attend Jeanetta Chrystie's writing workshop. It was very informative, interesting, and inspiring!" - B. Berry, Kirkland, WA. Jeanetta currently teaches Business Management and Leadership courses at Southwest Minnesota State University.

Awards Jeanetta received Toastmaster of the Year in 1998 & 1999. She had 1st place poems at the 1998 Glorieta Christian Writer's Conference & the 1998 Writer's Weekend at the Beach. Other awards: Lamplighters Christian Writer's 1st place for her children's story The Magical Yellow Bird and 2nd place for Honey's Surprise, 2nd place nonfiction article for "Laugh At Gray Skies: Using Journaling to Heal."

Memberships Jeanetta is a member of the American Association of Christian Counselors, Christian Writers Fellowship International, International Webmasters Association, Northwest Christian Writers Association, Toastmasters International, and Writers Information Network. Jeanetta has served the Kirkland Eclectics chapter of Toastmasters International as VP Public Relations and Newsletter Editor. She has also been on the board of both Northwest Christian Writers Association and Eastside Writers. She served Pacific Northwest Writers Conference as the 1998 Poetry Category Contest Chair and was a regular contest reader while living in the Seattle area, 1996-2004.

May your day be richly blessed - with productivity and rest. ~ Jeanetta

Being Bi-Vocational My Mission and Vision Statements Professional Memberships Why I Speak Why I Write My Testimony