Meet the Board
President - Michelle Aleckson
After growing up on both the east and west coasts and traveling the world, Michelle Sass Aleckson now enjoys living the country life in central Minnesota with her husband and four children. She loves rocking out to 80’s tunes on a Saturday night and playing board games with family and friends. She’s a graduate of Novel Academy’s Storycrafter course, and she won the 2018 Genesis Award for Romantic Suspense and the 2018 Cascade Award for Contemporary Fiction. Look for her debut novel with Sunrise Publishing in 2021. And in the meantime, you can connect with her at michellealeckson.com!
After growing up on both the east and west coasts and traveling the world, Michelle Sass Aleckson now enjoys living the country life in central Minnesota with her husband and four children. She loves rocking out to 80’s tunes on a Saturday night and playing board games with family and friends. She’s a graduate of Novel Academy’s Storycrafter course, and she won the 2018 Genesis Award for Romantic Suspense and the 2018 Cascade Award for Contemporary Fiction. Look for her debut novel with Sunrise Publishing in 2021. And in the meantime, you can connect with her at michellealeckson.com!
Vice President - Patrice Doten
Patrice belongs to that rare and lamentable species of writer known as The Extrovert. Not even earning a Creative Writing degree could cure her of the strong preference for time with people over time alone at her writing desk. After nearly twenty years of crafting and editing stories while working undercover in corporate America, she’s finally pursuing her dreams of publication. A former missionary to Uganda, Patrice is still involved with the operation of the school and children’s ministry she helped plant, and in her free time enjoys reading, traveling, singing at the top of her lungs, and (of course) spending time with her people.
Patrice belongs to that rare and lamentable species of writer known as The Extrovert. Not even earning a Creative Writing degree could cure her of the strong preference for time with people over time alone at her writing desk. After nearly twenty years of crafting and editing stories while working undercover in corporate America, she’s finally pursuing her dreams of publication. A former missionary to Uganda, Patrice is still involved with the operation of the school and children’s ministry she helped plant, and in her free time enjoys reading, traveling, singing at the top of her lungs, and (of course) spending time with her people.
Secretary - Debb Sunblad
Lead author of family newsletters and her blog, Debb pulls many anecdotes from their time in Central Asia. The Sundblads spent twelve adventure-filled years perfecting the village lifestyle, which included such skills as coal-shoveling, turkey-carving by headlamp, and water-hauling from the garden spigot. Upon returning to the US, Debb discovered blogs and the world of novel-writing. When life in the cornfields of central Minnesota seemed too quiet, the Sundblads became foster parents, and doted on nine little loves. Now Debb mentors parents on Instagram through storytelling. She also pens novels inspired by her experiences in cross-cultural life and foster care.
Find more at DeborahSundblad.com.
Lead author of family newsletters and her blog, Debb pulls many anecdotes from their time in Central Asia. The Sundblads spent twelve adventure-filled years perfecting the village lifestyle, which included such skills as coal-shoveling, turkey-carving by headlamp, and water-hauling from the garden spigot. Upon returning to the US, Debb discovered blogs and the world of novel-writing. When life in the cornfields of central Minnesota seemed too quiet, the Sundblads became foster parents, and doted on nine little loves. Now Debb mentors parents on Instagram through storytelling. She also pens novels inspired by her experiences in cross-cultural life and foster care.
Find more at DeborahSundblad.com.
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Treasurer - Maggie McKenzie
Maggie grew up on a farm in southern Minnesota and the rural tradition has always been strong. The story teller mantle was passed to her through her parents and grandparents and a family interest in genealogy. Historical stories just naturally became a part of her life. So too is the desire to put flesh and blood and emotion to the list of ancestors. Maggie and her husband live near the twin cities. She is a mother and grandmother and in addition to historical and genealogy research, she enjoys gardening, quilting, weaving and knitting. |
