Great Group Reads

Great Group Reads Selection Committee — 2010

Readers' bios

Rosalind Reisner, GGR Coordinator is a former librarian and the author of Read On...Life Stories: Reading Lists for Every Taste and Jewish American Literature: A Guide to Reading Interests. She speaks and writes about books and reading and maintains the blog A Reader's Place. She belongs to a nonfiction book group and is a member of the WNBA-NYC Chapter.

Leslie Adams is a charter member and current treasurer of the WNBA-Seattle Chapter. Retired from her career as a retail buyer, district manager and divisional manager, she is an active community volunteer. She has worked to support education for women and children through the Junior League of Seattle, the Assistance League of the Eastside, P.E.O., PTA and Dollars for Scholars. She joined her first book group 25 years ago and is currently a member of two diverse groups.

Sally Brewster is the owner of the bookstore Park Road Books in Charlotte, N.C., past president of SIBA (Southern Independent Bookseller's Alliance), and a former Random House sales rep. As a bookseller, she works with the 60 book groups registered at her bookstore. She is the treasurer of the WNBA-Charlotte Chapter.

Fran Cohen is a scholar-facilitator for the New York Council for the Humanities, writer, lecturer, and professional book group leader with a background in education, drama and writing. She has presented programs in educational settings, at conferences, to organizations, libraries, at destination spas, and on cruises. She is a member of the WNBA-NYC Chapter.

Suzanne Kleinbub is a former high school math teacher who has spent much of her working life as a professional volunteer. She has volunteered in school and public libraries, helped set up a spirituality library for her church and volunteered with the shut-in program in the Santa Monica PL. For thirty years she was a member of a monthly book club. Suzanne is a member of WNBA-LA Chapter, where she has worked with the Judy Lopez Memorial Award committee, and is the incoming treasurer.

Kristen Knox is a former editor and bookseller and member of many book clubs, both virtual and online. She maintains the blog BookNAround and is the owner of a Yahoo group called Readers Journal which allows readers to record what they read and discuss their reading with others. She is a member of the WNBA-Charlotte Chapter.

Michele Leber is a retired librarian who worked most recently in collection management at the Fairfax County Public Library. She is a long-time book reviewer for Library Journal and Booklist and was named the Library Journal Reviewer of the Year for Fiction in 1997. She is a member of the WNBA-D.C. Chapter and was national secretary of the WNBA.

Jeanne (JC) Miller has been an educator for 25 years, both at the elementary and community college level. The author of On the Brink of Nora and two other novels, JC is a member of the WNBA-San Francisco Chapter and Redwood Writers. Her Web site is JC Miller Writer.

Naomi Milliner has reviewed novels, screenplays, and children's books, and worked as Program & Events Coordinator for Children's Literature. A long-time active member of SCBWI (Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators), she serves on the Planning Committee for the MD/DE/WV region. She is also a member of the WNBA-DC Chapter, and is excited to be part of the Great Group Reads Selection Committee again this year!

Lorine Kritzer Pergament, Vice President of the D.C. chapter of the WNBA, is the author of the forthcoming novel A Triangle Legacy. She is also a winner of the 2008 F. Scott Fitzgerald Short Story Contest, a book reviewer and book club facilitator.

Liz Ropers worked in the Lawrence LI school district for over 30 years, during which time she was instrumental in the increased use of literature in classrooms. Presently, Liz is a literary consultant. She leads book discussion groups, presents book reviews and teaches in-service courses on writing and reading. She is a member of the WNBA-NYC Chapter.

Judith Strand has worked as a newspaper writer and editor, in media sales and management, and was the owner of her own advertising specialties firm. She retired in 2009 from her job as a Community Relations Director/Event Planner in the senior industry. She is a member of two long-standing Seattle area book discussion groups and is a charter member of the WNBA-Seattle Chapter. She volunteers much of her spare time as an advocate for women's issues.

Natalie Wasmer is a senior copywriter at The Martin Agency (VA), named by Adweek as U.S. Agency of the Year 2009. She is also currently working on a novel. Natalie recently received an Honorable Mention for a short story she submitted to the 77th Annual Writer's Digest competition. She is a member of the WNBA-Dallas Chapter.

Judith Yoakum is a long-time member of WNBA-LA. She entered as a speaker while heading a volunteer literacy program in Santa Monica, California. She writes short stories and children's books; her most recent is The Legend of Dragon Lake — Nacimiento. She has belonged to many book groups, including one long-distance group via e-mails and conference calls. Working with Lopez Award winners to display their works has been a favorite WNBA project over the years.

Archive:
Great Group Reads Selection Committee — 2009
Great Group Reads Selection Committee — 2011