C.J. Houghtaling

C.J. Houghtaling has earned over 200 publishing credits in local, national, and international periodicals.  As a freelance writer, her poetry, fiction, and articles have appeared in The Wolf Head Quarterly, Fox Cry, Bailey’s Beads, Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, The Literary Journal, Endless Mountain Review, Children’s Playmate, Byline Magazine, Wild West, Scuba Times, The Carousel News and Trader, American Writer's Review, Garden Railways, Balloon Life, and many others.

In 1987, C.J. decided to put her love for publishing to use by founding H&H Press.  The publishing house specializes in poetry chapbooks and "how-to" write textbooks for beginning writers and poets.  Her stable of authors to date include poets Barbara Crooker, Beatrice O’Brien, Elaine Preston, Julie Damerell and science fiction writer Julia Ecklar.  In 1998, she expanded H&H Press publications to include an annual poetry magazine, miller’s pond.  The magazine features poetry, contests, chapbook reviews, and poet interviews and has published novice, as well as established poets such as Hayden Carruth, Liz Rosenberg, Denise Duhamel, Colette Inez, and Vivian Shipley..

In 1997, H&H Press expanded into web page building, serving literary magazines, writers, farm equipment dealers, veterinarians, travel agents, and many other businesses.  In the spring of 1999, the Northeast Equipment Dealer's Association hired C.J. to present a "web building" seminar to its constituents in 26 cities throughout Pennsylvania, New York and New England.  Those who have attended C.J.'s seminar, "Your Business On the Web," have praised it highly. 

In 1989, She founded the Northern Appalachian Writers Guild (NAWG).  In 1991, NAWG affiliated with Pennwriters to become the organization's north-central chapter known as the Northern Appalachian Pennwriters (NAP).

For over ten years, C.J. has volunteered her time on the Board of Directors for Pennwriters.  She served the organization as Area 2 Rep (1992, 1993, 1995), Conference Coordinator (1994, 1996) and Co-Coordinator in 2001, and as Treasurer from 1996 to 2002.  She is currently the organization's web master.  She has coordinated the Pennwriters Poetry Contest, has organized several  Northern Appalachian Pennwriters Summer Poetry Workshops, secured a 501 (c) (3) tax exempt status for Pennwriters, Inc, and was instrumental in getting the organization its first three grants from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts.  As the1996 Pennwriters Conference Coordinator, C.J. helped the organization earn its largest Conference profit margin in Pennwriters history. 

She is affiliated with the Cat Writers' Association,  Finger Lakes Dive Club, Sisters in Crime and HTML Writer's Guild.and serves her community as President of the Middlebury Union Cemetery Association. 

Other community-oriented activities she has been involved with in the past include organizer of the Keeneyville Old Home Day, Noble Grand for the Elnora Rebecca Lodge in Keeneyville, and Keeneyville Girl Scout leader. 

C.J. 's personal writing endeavors continue as she has one contemporary mystery completed and her works-in-progress include a historical novel, a mystery short story, a horror short story and several poems.

C.J. is the "mother" of four cats, one dog, enjoys scuba diving, and country music.   She lives on a 113 acre Pennsylvania Century Farm with her husband and a menagerie of wild life, including deer, bears, foxes, coyotes, and bobcats.

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