Ronna Mandel, a freelance writer for JLife and L.A. Parent magazines, is the mother of a son who is a university Junior, and a daughter currently living and working in London. Ronna, her husband, and two children moved back to the States in 2006 after living abroad for 10 years in Frankfurt and London. Now residing in the San Gabriel Valley, Ronna enjoys writing about all things reading-related in addition to parenting, educational, and special needs topics. When her head’s not buried in between the pages of a book, Ronna is creating her own stories for children and is an SCBWI LitMingle Co-coordinator in Pasadena. As the founder of GoodReadsWithsRonna.com in 2009, Ronna works with her wonderful blog colleagues to interview authors and illustrators, review children’s books, participate in blog tours, present cover reveals, organize giveaways throughout the year, and also promote reading-related events. As of January 2017, Ronna became a contributor for JLife magazine covering the San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys. Contact Ronna directly at ronna@goodreadswithronna.com and via Twitter @goodreadsronna, or @RonnaWriter, as well as on Facebook, and Instagram. Wishing you happy reading! Ronna is represented by Marisa Cleveland of The Seymour Agency.
Christine Van Zandt is a professional freelance editor with 12+ years experience helping writers achieve their publication goals. Her education includes a master’s degree in English literature with a specialization in children’s literature. Christine is also an award-winning author; her traditionally published work for adults and children includes a nonfiction picture book, fiction short stories, and both fiction and nonfiction articles. Find out more at christinevanzandt.com and writeforsuccessediting.com, on Twitter @ChristineVZ and @WFSediting, and on LinkedIn where she posts articles. You can also find her on Facebook and Instagram.
After graduating from Cal State Northridge with a Master’s Degree in English Literature, Armineh Manookian worked as a Freshman Composition instructor at the same university. She found her love of cooking and children’s picture books as a stay-at-home mom, taking care of her two kids. An immigrant from Iran, Armineh enjoys reading and writing about culturally and socially sensitive issues. She finds her work as a Kids Hope mentor to at-risk children deeply rewarding. Feeling a cool autumn breeze, picking out pumpkins, shopping at Trader Joe’s, taking brisk walks, trekking long hikes, and studying the Bible are a few of her favorite things. Her most recent accomplishment is dancing the rumba to Michael Buble’s “Sway with Me” with her husband of 20 years.
Ronda Einbinder is a teacher/writer. She worked for Irvine Unified School District assisting students in grades K-6. She is also a 500-Hour Registered Yoga Instructor, teaching yoga and mindfulness both publicly and privately. Previously, she was a writer and publicist for ObesityHelp Magazine and non-profit medical facilities. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism from San Diego State University and a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from California State Fullerton.
A children’s author and ghostwriter, Roxanne Troup writes hopeful kid’s books that celebrate the wonder of childhood and beauty of family. With a background in education, she also writes engaging nonfiction for all ages. Roxanne lives in the mountains of Colorado and loves hiking with her family, cheering at her kid’s sporting events, and reading a good book. She often visits schools to water seeds of literacy and teach about writing. (And sometimes remembers to water the plants in her own garden.) Her fiction picture book debut, My Grandpa, My Tree, and Me, releases this fall from Yeehoo Press. Learn more about Roxanne (and her upcoming release) on her website, and connect with her on Twitter.
Fueled by English breakfast tea, a burning curiosity, and a love of research, Colleen Paeff writes picture books from a book-lined office in an old pink house with a view of the Hollywood sign. She is the author of the award-winning nonfiction picture book, The Great Stink: How Joseph Bazalgette Solved London’s Poop Pollution Problem (illustrated by Nancy Carpenter; Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2021), which won the SCBWI’s 2022 Golden Kite Award for Nonfiction Text for Young Readers and was named a 2022 Robert F. Sibert Informational Fiction Honor Book. She is also the co-author of Rainbow Truck, with Hina Abidi (illustrated by Saffa Khan; Chronicle Books, 2023). Colleen lives in Los Angeles, CA and Brooklyn, NY. Find her on Twitter and Instagram @ColleenPaeff.
Freidele Galya Soban Biniashvili has always enjoyed writing stories and poems. Her writing has appeared in such varied publications as The Toronto Star, The Old Farmer’s Almanac, Stitches: The Journal of Medical Humour, The Canadian Jewish News, and The Jewish Tribune. She is also the author of several books for children including The Mystery of The Lost Watch, I Love Matzah, There’s a Reason Why!, and Goldie and The Guests. She resides in Toronto, Canada with her husband, a children’s book illustrator, and their young, energetic team of future authors and illustrators. (Illustration courtesy of Michael Biniashvili.)
Dornel Cerro has been a children’s librarian for over 20 years and has spent the last 12 years as a librarian at Sequoyah School in Pasadena. You can find more kidlit reviews at her site: http://milehighbooks.blogspot.com.
Would You Like to Join our Team?
At Good Reads With Ronna, we’re always looking for new reviewers, especially for middle grade, YA, kids crafts, family cooking, parenting, and special needs titles. If you think you have what it takes and are willing to commit to at least one review per month, send a sample book review to ronna@goodreadswithronna.com and write Book Reviewer in the subject line. Thank you in advance for your interest.