LOL- love of literature - guests inspire Aspiring Authors

  episode 7 video Veena Rao is an award-winning Indian-American journalist and author. Purple Lotus, her debut novel, is a 2021 American Fiction Award winner, a 2021 Georgia Author of the Year finalist, and an award-winning finalist in the multicultural and women’s fiction categories of the 2021 International Book Awards. She is the founding editor of NRI Pulse, an Atlanta-based news publication. She has been recognized by The Limca Book of Records (the Indian version of the Guinness Book of Records) as the first Indian woman to edit and publish a newspaper outside India. When she is not writing or meeting press deadlines, you will find her meditating or gardening. To find out more about Veena, visit her website www.veenaspulse.com.

 episode 6 video Kerry Kriseman is the author of Accidental First Lady: On t he Front Lines and Behind the Scenes of Local Politics, published by St. Petersburg Press. The memoir recounts her 22 years as a political spouse to her lawyer-turned-politician husband, Rick Kriseman, St. Petersburg Mayor from 2014-2022. Historical dramas, traveling, scratch cooking, drinking wine, and daily walks are her interests. The St. Petersburg native is a graduate of University of South Florida with a B.A. in Mass Communications/Broadcasting and has worked in print media for the St. Petersburg Times (now Tampa Bay Times) in various positions in the Newsroom and Marketing Department. She volunteers in the community and serves on multiple non-profit boards. She joined Creative Clay as the public relations manager. The non-profit creates equality through art with programs for individuals with neuro-differences. She has served as mentor with the 'Take Stock in Children' program in Pinellas County