Alice Wisler

Child: Forum Editor

Alice J. Wisler has been an advocate for grief-writing since the death of her four-year-old Daniel in 1997.  She teaches online workshops–Writing the Heartache—and at conferences across the country. She’s the author of four inspirational novels—Rain Song, How Sweet It Is, Hatteras Girl, and A Wedding Invitation. She lives and writes full-time in Durham, NC. Visit her website: http://www.alicewisler.com

Harriet Hodgson

Adult Child: Forum Editor

Harriet Hodgson has been an independent journalist for 35+ years.  She is the author of 30 published books and hundreds of Internet and print articles.  A bereaved parent, Hodgson is an Open to Hope Contributing Writer, member of the Association for Death Education and Counseling, and author of six grief resources.  For more information about this busy grandmother please visit  www.harriethodgson.com 

 

 

Coralease Ruff

Pregnancy Loss:  Forum Editor

Coralease Ruff is a Bereavement Facilitator, A Registered Nurse, a retired University Professor and a Compassionate Friends former board member. She and her husband experienced a pregnancy loss prior to the birth of their first child. They became bereaved parents, in 1997, when their 21-year old daughter died in an automobile accident in the Dominican Republic. Coralease is a frequent presenter on grief topics locally and nationally. She is the author of Her Light Still Shines.

Gale Massey

Parent: Forum Editor

Gale Massey, M.S., is the author of Grief: reminders for healing, (1991) a pocket-size book which, along with its companion video, is widely used by hospices and individuals across the U.S. (available at www.grief-remindersforhealing.com). Gale’s award winning stories and articles have been published in the St. Petersburg Times, Halfway Down the Stairs, Seven Hills Review, Blue Crow and Stories for Sendai. Visit her website:  http://www.grief-remindersforhealing.com 

Paul Bennett

Death of a Spouse: Forum Editor

Paul Bennett is a writer living near Washington, DC. He was married to Bonnie Bunting for twenty years. After her death in 2002, he began writing and speaking about grief and about his exploration of spiritual and emotional growth as he built a new life. His book, Loving Grief, published by Larson Publications, was named “Best Inspirational Book” for the fall of 2009 by The Montserrat Review. For more information on the book, visit www.lovinggrief.com. Visit his website:  http://www.lovinggrief.com

Barbara Rubel

Suicide/Homicide: Forum Editor

Barbara Rubel is the author of But I Didn’t Say Goodbye: Helping children and families after a suicide (2nd Ed.) and the 30 hour continuing education course book for Nurses, Death, Dying, and Bereavement: Providing compassion during a time of need. Barbara is the co-author of the Dept. of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime Training Curriculum, Compassion Fatigue. Rubel wrote a chapter in Thin Threads: Grief and Renewal. Visit her website www.griefworkcenter.com

Sally Grablick

Signs and Connections: Forum Editor

Sally Grablick is the author of, The Reason: Help and Hope for Those Who Grieve, which recently won the USA “Best Books 2011” Award, in the Heath: Death and Dying category. She lost her son to suicide in 2002.  Her road to recovery began by reading over 100 books on grief, spirituality, and the afterlife.  A seeker by nature, she began formulating a recovery plan by exploring the ideas presented within these books.  Knowing her efforts would benefit others; she created the “cliff notes” to grief, and has made it her mission to provide comfort and direction to the bereaved.  She is a speaker and avid supporter of the Compassionate Friends, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, and the Survivors of Suicide organizations. You can visit her website at www.thereason-book.com

Mitch Carmody

Signs and Connections: Forum Editor

After suffering many familial losses from a young age and ultimately with the death of his nine-year-old son of cancer in 1987, Mitch Carmody, has struggled with the grief journey and how grief is processed and perceived in this country. He published a book in 2002 called Letters To My Son, a journey through grief.” The book has now reached the bereaved in every state and 7 other countries. From the books success he now travels locally and around the country lecturing on the grief process and/or conducting workshops on surviving the loss of a loved one. You can visit his website www.heartlightstudios.net

Carla Blowey

Signs and Connections: Forum Editor

Carla Blowey is the author of Dreaming Kevin: The Path to Healing. The death of her five-year-old son, Kevin, and the nightmare that predicted it, forced her to reexamine her perceptions about death, grief and the afterlife. Dreaming Kevin became a valuable tool for healing and reclaiming her life. Since 1994, Carla has coordinated and facilitated bereavement support groups, camps and workshops and volunteer training for children and adults. An exceptional speaker, Carla has presented programs and workshops on dreams, grief, healing and after-death phenomenon, writing a memoir and self-publishing, and served as editor/columnist for a national bereavement magazine. You can visit her website www.dreamingkevin.com

 

Brandi Reyna

Death of a Life Time Partner: Forum Editor

Brandi Reyna has been advocating for widows who are not legally married to their beloveds since she lost her fiancé Greg in 2010. She is the founder of UnweddedWidowSupport.org, an online grief support and community for those who lost their boyfriend, girlfriend, fiancé or life partner prior to marriage. She is an Open to Hope Contributing Writer, Thewiddahood.com Contributing Writer and the moderator of the Unwedded Widows group on Widowed Village. She is working on a Master’s degree in Counseling and certification in Thanatology through the Association for Death Education and Counseling.
Website: http://www.unweddedwidowsupport.org