Professional bio

After earning my degree in English/Journalism from Michigan State University, I landed my first publishing job at Gale Research Company in Detroit. I commuted downtown for five years before taking a chance on freelance writing. Working next to the laundry room in our basement, I assembled a portfolio of clips from several local newspapers, including The Daily Tribune of Royal Oak and the Detroit Free Press Sunday Magazine. I pitched ideas to national magazines and was thrilled when I sold my first essay to Country Gardens, one of my favorite shelter publications. 

Regular assignments opened the door to my Sunday "Life Lines" in The Daily Tribune -- a personal column that ran biweekly, then weekly, for 14 years. "Life Lines" won First Place in Best Local Columns from the Michigan Press Association's Better Newspaper Contest -- a first for our daily newspaper at that time. 

I also worked as editor-in-chief of Innsider, a national travel magazine focusing on historic country inns and B&Bs. In addition to assigning stories for the magazine, I traveled throughout the U.S. to review small inns, restaurants, and historic sites. 

About my book

Writing Home earned several awards, including one from Writer's Digest and another from Midwest Independent Publishers Association. The late Detroit News columnist and author, George Cantor, wrote a piece about the book after spending a day visiting my favorite hometown haunts with me. Cantor described Writing Home as "a love letter to home and family life." The collection includes 93 pieces that were previously published in national magazines and regional newspapers. 

Features, essays, and columns 

My regional feature and personal essay credits include Cleveland Plain Dealer Sunday Magazine, The Oakland Press, Detroit Free Press Sunday Magazine, The Detroit News, Detroit Public TV's Signal magazine, Metro Times, Michigan BLUE, Observer & Eccentric newspapers, Vitality, and Metro Parent magazine.  From 2012 through 2017, I wrote a monthly column on midlife and aging topics for Michigan Prime, a supplement to the Sunday Detroit Free Press.  

My national publication credits include The Christian Science Monitor, Newsweek, Better Homes & Gardens' Country Gardens, Victoria, Literary Mama, Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion, Guideposts, Literary Mama, Ideals, Tea Time, Chicken Soup for the Soul, Reader's Digest, Writer's Digest, Bella Grace, and several literary anthologies. An essay I wrote about visiting Henry David Thoreau's Walden Pond (for The Christian Science Monitor) is included in a McDougal Littell American Literature textbook for high school students. 

Writing workshops

I enjoy coaching creative writing and memoir workshops at writers' conferences, libraries, and community centers. I believe everyone has important stories to share, and consider it a privilege to help new writers discover their own voices and writing skills. As the first Writer-in-Residence for the Royal Oak Public Library, I helped organize local author programs and conducted a variety of writing workshops for my community. 

About my photography

My photo images have appeared in Country Gardens, Innsider, Michigan BLUE, Michigan Living, The Detroit News Homestyle Magazine, The Detroit Free Press, The Daily Tribune, Your Home & Lifestyle magazine, Observer and Eccentric, and Rust Belt Rising.
Professional memberships

I'm a longtime member of the American Society of Journalists and Authors, Detroit Working Writers, and the National Society of Newspaper Columnists.

Contact me: cindy@laferle.com