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Martha L. Hall

Martha L. Hall is a freelance writer who found herself in a newsroom because she was a good speller. Her journalist husband and his editor constantly called from work, asking how to spell various words. One day they decided to offer her a job and save on the phone bill. She has been a features writer, a columnist and a lifestyles editor as well as a writer of advertorial copy for medical catalogs and an editor of novels. Like nearly every writer, she is working on a novel. Hers is about one of her favorite places — Beaufort. She also works as a substitute teacher in the Craven County school system, does publicity for RiverTowne Repertory Players in New Bern and is the editor of the New Bern Herald, covering the historic neighborhoods and downtown New Bern. Martha's favorite things are her husband, her three children, her grandchildren, her cat, singing, acting, reading any good book and collecting “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil” monkeys. (Please do not send her any monkeys. She has at least 1,500 of them and they have taken over her house and her life.) Martha likes to think of herself as a "Renaissance Woman," if that could be construed as someone who has done a lot of different things, never made much money but has enjoyed every minute of the time involved. She would list these things but it would be shorter to list what she hasn't done — she has never been an astronaut, a cowboy or a fireman.

Stefani Snyder received her undergraduate degree in education with a concentration in English from Kutztown University and her master's degree in education from Wilkes University, both in her home state of Pennsylvania. As a first-grade teacher for the previous seven years, she decided to relocate to North Carolina in the summer of 2003 for the chance to be closer to her boyfriend (and, unfortunately, farther from her family). Along with a change in location came a change in vocation. During her time here, she had the opportunity to work for a local printing and publishing company where she learned even more about the area she was living in through the company's many area guide publications. Her time there culminated with her working as editor for two of their nine publications and editorial assistant for the remaining seven. She enjoys continuing to learn about and appreciate all the Central Coast has to offer. A true sun worshiper at heart, Stefani's favorite times are spent on the local beaches. She loves being outdoors, which includes camping, playing tennis and being on the water. Her hobbies include reading, walking on the beach or waterfront, gardening, cooking and drinking wine.