Peter Andersen has been passionate about writing since childhood, building a career as a journalist, teacher, editor, manager, freelancer, and technical writer. He spent over 30 years creating technical documentation for Microsoft and other software firms. Now, he writes Damn Good Things and conducts life story interviews at a local retirement community.

The idea for Damn Good Things was inspired by a diary entry about a rollercoaster ride with his father that ended with the words, “What a damn good thing for me and my dad to do!” That moment sparked his exploration ofexperiences that make us feel fully alive. Through his writing, Peter highlights the beauty in life’s simple, vivid moments — from a loyal old dog’s excitement at dinner to a childhood memory that still warms the heart.

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Cyndee is a poet, writer, and former special educationteacher with over 25 years of experience. Her life journey has included many roles—mother, counselor, widow, and survivor. Battling multiple illnesses suchas lupus, chronic kidney disease, and anemia, she spent over 11 years in a wheelchair and faced near-death experiences multiple times. Unable to takemedication due to severe allergies, her recovery is seen as nothing short of miraculous.

Despite her struggles, she has helped countless othersthrough their own challenges. Considered a living inspiration and medical enigma, Cyndee believes life is both miracle and magic—filled with beauty,light, and meaning. She reminds us never to let life’s hardships define who we are, because there’s only one YOU.

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Esther is a health industry veteran with 20 years ofexperience, passionately helping people stop starting over so they can build the consistency and confidence to create the kind of life they want — startingwith their health. She is a health & lifestyle coach and the host of a podcast, and author of a best-selling book, both called To Your Health.
In her 20s, despite being a personal trainer and nutrition coach, she wrestled with an all-or-nothing approach—swinging between strict diets, overexercising,and overeating, pouring energy into her health without seeing the results she felt she deserved. That struggle taught her the value of consistency andbalance, a middle ground she now lives daily, juggling a business, family, and health goals while prioritizing mental, physical, and emotional well-being overthe scale.
Through her work, Esther shares practical tools and new ways of thinking to help audiences focus on what matters, lean on those who can help, and take compassionate ownership of the process. Her audiences leave empowered and motivated to build sustainable habits that enhance every part of life.

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Lisa Sugarman is an author and three-time survivor of suicide loss. A passionate mental health advocate, sheserves as a crisis counselor with The Trevor Project and a storyteller with NAMI, using her lived experience to help others heal through connection. She’s the founder of The HelpHUB™, a free online resource hub for mentalhealth support, treatment options, and crisis services.

Lisa is the author of Surviving: Finding Hope After Suicide Loss (2026) and several other books on parentingand resilience, and cohosts The Survivors Podcast, which shares real stories of hope and recovery. She facilitates Safe Place, a support group for suicide loss survivors, and serves on the board of Samaritans Southcoast in Boston.

Her writing has been featured in major outlets including Healthline, TODAY Parents, Thrive Global, The Washington Post, and Psychology Today. A former syndicated columnist, Lisa continues to speak and write widely on suicide, grief, and mental health.

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Robert Wolf M.D., grew up as the only child of Ervin and Judit Wolf. Their stories of their escape from communist Hungary, and his father's tragic history of escaping the Nazis twice but having his own parents deported to Auschwitz, inspired Robert to document his parents' talesand share those stories with Jewish groups and others throughout the United States.

In "Not a Real Enemy," Robert shares his family saga-and the forgotten history of the nearly half million Hungarian Jews who were deported and killed during the Holocaust-through an epic and inspiring tale of daring escapes, terrifying oppression, tragedy, and triumph.

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Gina Economopoulos was born in Syosset, NY,to a strong Italian and Greek-loving family. She graduated from Eastern CT State University and bartended before embarking on a 12-year convent journeyafter her mother's passing. Settled on the Jersey Shore,Gina now works as an End-of-Life Doula, extending her compassionate heart to those in their final chapter. She found solace in sobriety as a proud Alcoholics Anonymous member, and her story of resilience through tragedy andfaith inspires others to face life's challenges.

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Matt Gerlach is a transformational coach who helps high-achieving entrepreneurs and executives overcome burnout and create lives that feel as good as they look.After building multiple 7-figure businesses and generating over $100M in career sales, he hit a breaking point—burned out, anxious, and disconnected. A healthcrisis and years of inner work, including therapy, trauma resolution, and spiritual study, revealed the perfectionism and pressure fueling his exhaustion.

Today, Matt combines over a decade of healing and entrepreneurial experience in his bespoke coaching practice. He works one-on-one with leaders to release stress, reconnect with themselves, and redefine success on their own terms. His mission is to help clients build businesses and lives that are not only prosperous butalso sustainable and deeply fulfilling.

Matt lives in Los Angeles with his husband, David, and their French bulldog, Bruno.

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W. Terry Whalin understands both sides of the editorial desk--as an editor and a writer. He worked as a magazine editor, and his magazine work has appeared in more than 50 publications.A former literary agent, Terry is an Acquisitions Editor at Morgan James Publishing.He has written more than 60 nonfiction books for traditional publishers.

Several of his books have sold over 100,000 copies. To help writers catch the attention of editors and agents, Terry wrote his bestselling Book Proposals That $ell, 21Secrets To Speed Your Success. His website is at:

www.terrywhalin.com.

Connect with Terry on Twitter and LinkedIn. He lives in Orange County, California.

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