Our Authors

Leona (Lee) Novy Jackson

Leona (Lee) Novy Jackson

Bio
Lee (Leona) Novy Jackson taught family and consumer sciences in Missouri and Wisconsin schools for many years.  She is the author of the NEW children's Christmas book, The Littlest Christmas Kitten and two apple cookbooks, From the Apple Orchard — Recipes for Apple Lovers, and Apples, Apples Everywhere — Favorite Recipes from America's Orchards. She has also written a textbook,  Careers in Focus—Family and Consumer Sciences and many magazine and newspaper articles.

Her textbook emphasizes the skills necessary for success in the workplace. Areas it covers include how to choose a career, develop skills for job success, and how to find and keep a job. Personal stories of professionals in the field of family and consumer sciences are highlighted. This book received the Missouri Writers' Guild Major Work Award. It is used in high schools, community colleges, and work-based learning programs throughout the country.

Jackson received a B.S. degree in home economics education from the University of Wisconsin – Stout, Menomonie, Wisconsin and an M.S. degree in education from Northwest Missouri State University, Maryville, Missouri. After having taught family and consumer sciences (home economics) for over 25 years, she now enjoys writing and publishing about subjects pertaining to home and family.

Books Written
Apples, Apples Everywhere - Favorite Recipes From America's Orchards
From the Apple Orchard - Recipes for Apple Lovers
The Littlest Christmas Kitten

Amy Houts

Amy Houts

Bio
Cooking and writing are Amy Houts's two favorite activities. She enjoys cooking for her husband and enjoyed helping and inspiring her two daughters to appreciate working with food as they were growing up. While teaching preschool classes she developed food programs to enrich children's learning experiences.

Amy is a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. She has served as president of the Missouri Writers' Guild on the state and local level and is active in her local writing chapter. She lives with her husband in Maryville, Missouri where she is an instructor for a correspondence course in writing for children.

Amy is devoted to her craft and remains a busy  writer. She has had numerous books, articles and poems published, including:

Picture books
Symmetry Crafts. Pearson Learning, upcoming 2007.
• The 100th Day of School.
Pearson Learning, upcoming 2007.
• Make and Use an Abax.
Pearson Learning, upcoming 2007.
• Get Moving!
Pearson Learning, upcoming 2007.
• Pattern Fun.
Pearson Learning, upcoming 2007.
• Make an Animal Craft.
Pearson Learning, upcoming 2007.
Sesame Street Countdown with the Count. Learning Horizons.
Dora the Explorer Preschool Adventure. Learning Horizons
Dora the Explorer Addition. Learning Horizons.
Dora the Explorer Subtraction. Learning Horizons
Dora the Explorer Safety. Learning Horizons
Dora the Explorer Trace & Draw. Learning Horizons
Winifred Witch and her Very Own Cat. Dalmatian Press
On the Farm. Dalmatian Press.
The Princess and the Pea. Dalmatian Press.
An A*B*C Christmas. Standard Publishing

Cookbooks for Children
Cooking Around the Country with Kids. Images Unlimited, upcoming in 2007.
Cooking Around the Calendar with Kids. Images Unlimited
Learning Through Cooking Activities. Preschool Publications

Activity Place Mats
LeapFrog Activity Place Mats: ABC, healthy food, addition, money. Learning Horizons

Articles:

“Holiday Gifts from the Kitchen,” American Profile, November 20, 2005.
“Homemade Ice Cream,” American Profile, July 31, 2005.
“Carving a Jack O’ Lantern: a fun, family tradition,” American Profile, October 17, 2004.
“Easter Eggs,” American Profile, April 4, 2004.
“Let’s Talk Turkey,” American Profile, November 30, 2003.
“Cut Food Costs,” American Profile, October 5, 2003.
“What’s for Lunch?”American Profile, August 10, 2003.
“Science in the Kitchen,” Ladybug, November, 2000,.
Monthly column, “Preschooler in the Kitchen,” in Parent and preschooler Newsletter, Preschool Publications, Inc., 1986-1998.

Children’s Poetry:

“Month by Month with Mop,” Ladybug, January, 2002. Cooking verses for each month with correlating recipes on-line.
“Snakes Never Slurp Their Soup: a time for table Manners,”My Self, My Family, My Friends: 26 Experts Explore Young Children’s Self-Esteem, Preschool Publications, Inc., 2000.

Books Written
Cooking Around the Calendar With Kids - Holiday and Seasonal Food and Fun

Robert Bohlken, Ph.D.

Robert Bohlken, Ph.D.

Bio
Robert Bohlken, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus of Communication , taught 42 years at both the secondary and university levels and is currently a communication consultant, author, and speaker. His professional areas of expertise and research are in listening, semantics, and interpersonal trust/relationship.

He has published more than twenty academic journal articles, presented papers at more than forty academic conferences, made more than sixty service and social club presentations, and authored three booklets: Grandpa Listens as Bobby Grows Up, How the Rabbit Became the Easter Bunny, and How to Talk Rural Northwest Missouri Talk .

Dr. Bohlken is a member of the International Listening Association, International Society of General Semantics, National Communication Association, and a life member of the Optimist International Service Club.

Degrees held by Dr. Bohlken include a B.S. in Language Arts Education with Distinction, Nebraska State College, Peru; Master of Arts Degree in Communication/Theatre Arts, University of Nebraska ; and Doctorate of Philosophy in Communication, University of Kansas , Lawrence .

Books Written
Listening to the Mukies and Their Character Building Adventures.
Listening to Rural Midwestern Idioms/Folk Sayings

Roger Yepsen

Bio
In addition to growing apples on his farm, Roger Yepsen is a freelance artist and writer. He lives in Barto, Pennsylvania.

Books Written
Apples

Ben Watson

Bio
Ben Watson is a freelance writer and editor. He lives in New Hampshire.

Books Written
Cider Hard and Sweet

Gorel Kristina Naslund

Bio

Books Written
Our Apple Tree