The Creative Power of Journaling invites artists, writers, readers and even those who think they are “boring” or “not creative” to explore different types of journaling with various materials and in multiple styles (from paper to electronic) as a way to unleash your creative side, organize and record your life, and improve your mental health. We will discuss traditional formats and modern ones like bullet journals, poetry journals, junk journals and journaling on your phone; introducing themes to journals (medical, work, art, travel) and materials (pens, journals, stickers, calendars, etc.) We will also provide free journals for the first 10-15 attendees. Craft supplies will also be provided.

After 15 years as a print journalist, Angel R. Ackerman founded Parisian Phoenix Publishing. Five years later, the press has more than 50 books. Ackerman authors the Fashion and Fiends horror series, is a regular contributor to Hippocampus Magazine and Armchair Lehigh Valley, did book reviews for Journal of Global South Studies and has been published in Kiss and Tell Magazine, Ten Word Stories by Dime Show Review, Rum Punch Press, StepAway Magazine, The Mighty, and The SAGE Encyclopedia. She is president of the board at Mary Meuser Memorial Library. She also teaches at Northampton Community College.]

Laurel Wenson is the author of the Harbor Cove series for women, the Caldwell series for young adults, and Sets on a Shoestring, a non-fiction guidebook for children’s theater production. She has numerous short stories and poems published in various anthologies, and is currently working on a poetry/journaling workbook for caregivers. 

Both women are board members of the Greater Lehigh Valley Writers Group.