Inkwell

Creative
Nonfiction

Contributors

Creative Nonfiction | Fiction | Poetry | Photography

Creative Nonfiction
	Laurel Tokarczyk “Caution Tape”	Laurel Tokarczyk is a transfer student to California University of Pennsylvania. She attended Chartiers Valley High School in Bridgeville, and one semester at Point Park University in Pittsburgh. She has been writing since she was old enough to hold a pencil. She says writing is the only hobby she’s had that keeps her sane and that she loves it. She is a Creative Writing major at Cal. Her piece, “Caution Tape,” is all true and is about a chilling event that happened less than a mile from her home.
	Tammy Copechal-Beach “Controlled Chaos”	Tammy Copechal-Beach is a sophomore at California University of Pennsylvania, majoring in Special Education/Early Childhood. She is happily married and the mother of three children, two of whom have disabilities. She and her family live in Roscoe.
	Karl Rothrock “Priced to Live”	Karl Rothrock, 22, is a senior at California University of Pennsylvania in Secondary Education, focusing on English. He was born in Wyoming, but his family moved to Pennsylvania when he was six months old and he’s been in the Monongahela Valley ever since.
	Rodney Taylor “Winning Losers”	Rodney K. Taylor is from Finleyville and is a senior at Cal U. His major is English Language and Literacy. He has been on the dean’s list. His career choice is to be a lifelong learner and, in the future, earn both a master’s and a doctoral degree in English. Taylor states he does not live a life of danger and excitement and has traveled to the Outer Banks and to Ocean City, Md. He coaches basketball for Ringgold School District and said he considers coaching a habit, not a hobby. He enjoys golf when the weather permits. He played basketball in high school and still enjoys playing when he can.
	Thomas Carroll Jr. “A True Gift: My Grandson”	Thomas M. Carroll Jr. is a California University junior from McKeesport, majoring in Creative Writing and in Broadcasting. He is a DJ for WCAL and writes for The Cal Times newspaper. He hopes to one day publish a novel.

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Fiction
	Melissa McGinnis “Romeo and Juliet ” “A Bid for Bedlam ”	Melissa McGinnis has been writing for over seven years. She is predominantly a fiction writer but also enjoys writing poetry. She is a haunter of coffeehouses, a lover of music, and a seeker of beautiful people. She is a mad little thing made of fluff, stuff, and nonsense. She loves to walk and wander and drive and adventure. Her favorite authors are Terry Pratchett, Jim Butcher, Barbara Hambly, and the immortal William Shakespeare.
	Mark Zedonek “The Pacific”	Mark Zedonek is a senior at California University of Pennsylvania and has a dual major in Creative Writing and English Literature. He’s been writing for a number of years and tends to stick with the fictional short story.
	Jon-Michael Todd “Identity”	Jon-Michael Todd is a Creative Writing major at California University of Pennsylvania. Writing is his passion and he wishes to make a career out of it when he graduates. He’s a huge fan of the horror genre and is comfortable writing about the paranormal. Some of his favorite writers (and influences) include Stephen King, Clive Barker, Scott Smith, Joe Hill, and Cormac McCarthy.
	Susan Gladney “Caramel-Flavored Coffee ”	Susan Gladney is a Creative Writing Major at California University of Pennsylvania. She realized she wanted to write when she was in elementary school. She used to write short stories during class and would read them to fellow students during recess. Her short stories teacher in high school encouraged her writing and allowed her to write two short stories as her senior project. She is in her fourth year at Cal U and enjoys it so much that she will be attending for a fifth year! She has two rats, Octavious and Loki; a dog, Zafira; and a fish, Suzaku. She always reads her stories out loud to them.
	Grant Krinock “A Life Not Lived”	Grant Alex Krinock is a California University junior, majoring in English, with a concentration in Creative Writing, while minoring in Communication Studies, with a concentration in Public Relations. He has been on the dean’s list, and in addition to The Inkwell, has been involved with the following organizations: Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, The Practitioners firm of Cal U, PRSSA Chapter of Cal U, and The National Society of Leadership and Success. His career choice after graduation is something in the PR field, as well as freelance writing, possibly in Europe.
	Kristin Geiger “Nothing”	Kristin Geiger grew up in Delaware, and nothing provided more entertainment than indulging in creative fantasies as she ran around the back yard. Writing stories for people is a treasured hobby of Geiger’s. She is a junior at California University of Pennsylvania and lives on coffee and turkey sandwiches. The only way she can fall asleep is telling herself a story.
	Michael Barrett “Silly Lily”	Michael Barrett lives in Washington, Pa., where he graduated from Trinity High School. He is a junior at California University of Pennsylvania, majoring in Creative Writing.
	Rachel Colson “Running for Lily”	Rachel L. Colson has published the novel, The Frenchman, and has been writing fictional stories since she was 7. She is a sophomore at California University of Pennsylvania with a dual major in Theater and English.
	Butch Widing “The House That Frack Built”	Butch Widing is a Clerk II in the Justice, Law and Society Department at California University of Pennsylvania.

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Poetry
	Schuyler Chrastina “Comet the Dog”	Schuyler Chrastina is a sophomore Computer Science major at California University of Pennsylvania. When he’s not focusing on his writing, he’s a writer, climber, guitarist, photographer, thinker, brother, friend, traveler, teacher, and kid at heart. Creativity is what drives him and he appreciates mastery in all forms. He considers himself a well-rounded person who's still discovering where he wants to fit into this world.
	Beth Anne Luciani “Faces”	Beth Anne Luciani, 30, has cerebral palsy. She attends California University of Pennsylvania, where she majors in Creative Writing. After going to The Day School at The Children’s Institute for 16 years, Beth Anne started at Cal in the fall of 2000. She is also the editor of the Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council newsletter. In her spare time, Beth Anne enjoys shopping, going out with friends and to concerts, and spending time with her much-loved dachshund, Lily Mae Brown. Beth Anne has a Web site about her life that she maintains regularly. The address is www.mytruesmile.com.
	Edward Trommelen “Ocean Waves and Lifeguard Stands”	Edward J. Trommelen, 19, is a sophomore at California University of Pennsylvania. He is from Landenberg, a small town in the very bottom Eastern corner of Pennsylvania. He enjoys listening to music, playing lacrosse and, of course, writing. Writing is something he does for fun and for work. He is a Journalism major. He believes writing is the best way to express emotion and connect with others.
	Michael Billy “A Speck”	Michael Billy is a member of the Poetry Staff for The Inkwell. He is a Journalism major at California University of Pennsylvania.
	Briana Panseri “Rainstorm”	Briana Panseri is a junior at California University of Pennsylvania. Her major is Secondary Education, specializing in English. She is from Monongahela, and some of her interests are reading, skiing, and shopping.
	Melissa McGinnis “Airborne Exodus”	Melissa McGinnis has been writing for over seven years. She is predominantly a fiction writer but also enjoys writing poetry. She is a haunter of coffeehouses, a lover of music, and a seeker of beautiful people. She is a mad little thing made of fluff, stuff, and nonsense. She loves to walk and wander and drive and adventure. Her favorite authors are Terry Pratchett, Jim Butcher, Barbara Hambly, and the immortal William Shakespeare.
	Grant Krinock “Cabernet Sauvignon”	Grant Alex Krinock is a California University junior, majoring in English, with a concentration in Creative Writing, while minoring in Communication Studies, with a concentration in Public Relations. He has been on the dean’s list, and in addition to The Inkwell, has been involved with the following organizations: Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, The Practitioners firm of Cal U, PRSSA Chapter of Cal U, and The National Society of Leadership and Success. His career choice after graduation is something in the PR field, as well as freelance writing, possibly in Europe.
	Thomasa Pridgen “Song of a Soldier”	Thomasa Pridgen is a Creative Writing major and member of the National Honors Society, the Youth Branch of the NAACP, and Girl Scouts of Talus Rock. She attended and earned an associate’s degree from Pennsylvania Highlands. She loves drawing, painting, sculpting/ceramics, jewelry/crafts-making, photography, horror movies, reading, and most important, writing. She aspires to one day write and illustrate children’s books.
	Nicole Vaccaro “From Clay”	Nicole Vaccaro, 22, from Monessen, is a Creative Writing major with a Theater minor from California University of Pennsylvania. She enjoys acting, writing, photography, and painting. She and her friends have a blog, The Daily Blowhole, at http://dailyblowhole.wordpress.com.
	Matthew Humphrey “Perpetual Moon”	Matthew R Humphrey was born in Butler and holds an Associate of Arts degree in Communications from Butler County Community College. He is finishing his senior year at Cal U, where he is a pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in English with an emphasis in Creative Writing. He plans to attend Chatham University's MFA program in Creative Writing after graduating from Cal.
	Ta’lor Pinkston “To the Blind Man Playing”	Ta’lor L. Pinkston has been writing poetry since she was in second grade at Spring Hill Elementary School in Pittsburgh. Writing is her No. 1 passion. She has rewritten most of her poems over the years, developing them as she grows wiser in writing. Her poem, “To the Blind Man Playing,” is based on things she’s seen in her hometown that reflect some of the neighbors.
	Alana Hixson “My Two Cents Though I’m Worth Much More”	Alana Hixson is a graduate of Bethel Park High School and is a Secondary Education, English major at California University of Pennsylvania. She enjoys reading, writing, and dancing.

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Photography
	Kaitlin Descutner “Broadway” “Nature”	Kaitlin Descutner is a senior Theater major, with minors in Musical Theater and Dance. She lives in Avella and is president of Alpha Psi Omega, the National Honorary Theater Fraternity, as well as a participating actress in the Theater Department. Descutner acquired an interest in photography over the summer and is thrilled to have her pictures chosen.
	Christopher Garrett “Curious Fan”	Christopher Garrett has been a photographer for six years and for three of those years, has been shooting professional work, such as weddings and portraits. He also shoots sports and events on campus for the Student Association at California University of Pennsylvania. He is a senior in the Graphic Communications and Multimedia program.
	Schuyler Chrastina “Gold Court ” “Salmon Stairway ” “78 Degrees ” “There's a Lady Who's Sure”	Schuyler Chrastina is a sophomore Computer Science major at California University of Pennsylvania. When he’s not focusing on his writing, he’s a writer, climber, guitarist, photographer, thinker, brother, friend, traveler, teacher, and kid at heart. Creativity is what drives him and he appreciates mastery in all forms. He considers himself a well-rounded person who's still discovering where he wants to fit into this world.
	Lena Danka “Windmill ” “Family ” “Flower Power ” “Ah!”	Lena Danka is a junior at California University of Pennsylvania who will turn 21 on Dec. 13. Her major is Tourism and Event Planning. She’s been an amateur photographer about five years and has been published in her hometown newspaper, as well as in The Lion’s Den.
	Taylor Hackley “Italy ”	Taylor Hackley. 20, from Gans, is a junior transfer student from Penn State Fayette, who is majoring in Communication Studies with a Radio/TV concentration at California University of Pennsylvania. She is in the Cal U choir and a member of the California singers, A Capella Stella. She enjoys photography, poetry, singing, and acting. She aspires to be a movie director or producer.
	Melinda Ford “Ducks ” “Baby Portrait ”	Melinda Ford, 24, of Waynesburg, is a Communication Studies major at Cal U with a concentration in Radio/TV. She will be graduating in December 2009. She’s always had an affinity for photography. She became quite the shutterbug after having her children, now 18 months and four months old. She hopes to pursue a career in photography.
	Ashley Pfoutz “Navajo ” “Blue Water ” “Helicopter ”	Ashley Pfoutz is a senior at Cal U, majoring in English (Creative Writing) and minoring in Psychology. She is from Tarrs. She was on the dean’s list. She is involved with the Pennsylvania State Education Association. Upon graduation, she hopes to get a job as a teacher in a high school. Her goal is to become a successful teacher, continue her education, and start a family. Pfoutz enjoys traveling. She has been to 38 of the 50 states, mostly by traveling by car. In her spare time, she enjoys watching movies, reading, writing, photography, and enjoying her down time. She also enjoys playing volleyball for fun.

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