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Jill Vanderwood and her husband Bill live in West Valley City, Utah. They are the parents of four grown children and the Grandparents of six.
Jill has been a member of the League of Utah Writers for six years. She is a member of Oquirrh Writers, where she has served as chapter secretary, chapter President, chapter contest chair, and chapter contest Judge. Jill has also helped out with Roundup and helped out with the League contest.
Jill Vanderwood has won awards for writing from the League of Utah Writers as well as her chapter contests. She has also won writing contests in her community. Her winning travel tip was read on KDYL Radio station, with a prize award of a one night stay for two in the Grand America Hotel. In her Toastmasters group, Jill has been awarded three first place ribbons, for speeches she has written.
Jill has been published in Working Writer Newsletter, and The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators Newsletter, as well as her chapter and league newsletters. She has had poetry published in Creative with Words Magazine, and has contributed stories, to be published in By His Design, by Kathie Thomas; Living Cheap & Loving It, tomatoes in the flower bed, by Carroll Wolverton, and Web 55.0, by Suzanna Stinnet, all of which will be published this year. The Writer of the Year has three published children’s fiction books: Through the Rug, Through the Rug 2: Follow that Dog (8-12 magical adventure stories) and Stowaway: The San Francisco Adventures of Sara the Pineapple Cat, (a picture book for younger children). All three books are available on Amazon.com.
Jill Vanderwood has been a mentor for new and established writers, by teaching workshops for chapters and for the League Roundup. She makes author visits to elementary schools, where she reads to children and teaches writing exercises. Jill and her husband volunteered at the Northwest Kiwanis Camp, where they served meals, washed dishes, helped out with swimming and fishing. She also took part in a nightly program by reading and teaching songs to campers. On a cruise ship, Jill Vanderwood was invited to take part in the children’s program, Adventure Ocean. Her name appeared on the daily program for five days, as an Author visit.
Jill has helped out the community by being a reading tutor for the Literacy Action Center in Salt Lake City. In 2006, she held a fundraiser for the same group, where she donated the proceeds from activities and book sales to the center. In 2007, she held a fundraiser for the Wheelchair Foundation, donating 10 wheelchairs, with the proceeds from the carnival and the sale of her books.
Jill Vanderwood helps newly published writers by reviewing their books for Amazon.com. She writes articles to publish on Amazon.com, as well as nurturing new authors and teaching them marketing skills on the internet. Jill posts blogs on myspace.com, blogger.com and Amazon.com.
Jill lives and breathes the life of a writer, involving writing in every aspect of her life. She will continue to help the League, and her community, in the future.
This Writer belongs to the League of Utah Writers, the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, and Toastmasters International