Cellist
They say all first novels are part memoir, and indeed I did grow up in Belleville, New Jersey, my family did spend our summers on Cape Cod, and I had a marvelous cello teacher who very much resembled Alphius Metcalf. It took me a long time to write WATER MUSIC; in some ways, my whole life.  

Growing up with parents who were both musicians, I set out, with a little goading from my father, to be the best cellist I could be.  In fact, I was lucky to have had a number of remarkable teachers: Orlando Cole, revered cellist and pedagogue, who saw enough early promise in me to accept me to his class at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, where I received my Bachelor of Music degree. It was an incredible break for an unsophisticated girl from New Jersey. I remember him and his generous sense of decency and gentlemanly kindness with great affection and gratitude.

My luck continued when I spent two years studying in Germany in the Master Class of the renowned Italian cellist, Antonio Janigro. Since then I’ve spent my musical career with the Minnesota Orchestra, where I met and married the handsome fourth horn player. And where my formidable colleagues, incredibly, only get better and better and better.

I’ve spent my summers with the Grand Teton Music Festival in Wyoming, renewing ties with musician friends from around the world (and catching up on industry gossip). There, over the years, I also learned the pleasures of backpacking. I came to fancy myself a mycologist, but in truth I’ve become so rusty that I now limit myself to store-bought and the occasional Morel foraged on a really good day.

Author
The first book I truly fell in love with was Blue Willow by Doris Gates. I must have been in grammar school. I believe that the beloved china plate in that book finds its echo in WATER MUSIC. A college boyfriend got me reading The Lord of the Rings, which I uncharacteristically found bewitching, and T.S. Eliot, which I tried with only marginal success to memorize. Around that time I discovered The Lives and Times of Archy and Mehitabel by Don Marquis. And Mahler’s Tenth. Yes. Eclectic.

My own writing life snuck up on me. It first manifested as a journal after my daughter was born. She tolerated my reading to her for a charitably long time, but she put her foot down when I suggested Watership Down, which by then she was perfectly capable of reading herself. Two of my favorites from her early days: Grandfather Twilight by Barbara Berger and A Chair for My Mother by Vera Williams.

Books I’ve loved as an adult…way too many to name. But The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy made a huge impression on me. And A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles. I used to go on kicks: John Gardner, Wallace Stegner, Steinbeck, the ancient Greece novels by Mary Renault. Now the stack grows higher and higher.

Pet peeve: incorrect direct object pronouns. In fact my friends would call me a grammar nerd, but I still get lay and lie wrong.

Growing up, I was a cat person. But I’ve learned to love dogs—even the naughty ones, maybe especially the naughty ones.

All in all, I look for the rhythms and sounds of music echoed in language and aspire to transpose some of that into my writing.  

Marianne Cintron, EdD

Commissioned with the national vision of bringing literacy to over 300,000 students each year, Dr. Marianne Cintron founded and presides over Step By Step Dyslexia Solutions. Being an inspiring educator and classroom teacher for 26 and 10 years respectively, this exceptional woman enriches the lives of all that come in contact with her.

Dr. Marianne Cintron established Cintron Orton – Gillingham Reading Institute which provides people with the opportunity to participate in two different and completely educative virtual training programs.  She follows the Science of Reading and her testimonials in this industry have made room for her voice to be a force all over the world.

She is an author, a public speaker, and the owner of a 4 YouTube Channels and a Podcast channel with over 1.54K subscribers and 351episodes with nearly 1000 views per video. She is a regular guest speaker on BBC TV/radio Raising Expectations and an annual speaker at the Promise Governance Leadership Conference every September.

She has a Doctorate Degree in Education Leadership and Administration and has never been selfish with her ideas, structure, and planning process such that people also burdened with the responsibility to help children win have benefited from her wealth of knowledge. On a mission to help illiterate incarcerated adults read, she zealously shares relevant information with parents and educators.

She was the Vice-President of Christian Business Partners in Upland and also a member of the Global Society of Female Entrepreneurs until she took on a full-time role to teach students in a home-hospital setting. She was in her fourth term as a board member for the International Dyslexia Association in the Tri-County Branch in California and a contributor to the Frameworks for California Teacher Credentialing related to dyslexia training. She currently is a Board Member of Film Advisory Board (FAB) with Michael Connley.

In 2021, Dr. Marianne was the recipient of several awards: Social Impact Award Finalist – Lady in Blue, Lifetime Legacy Award Nominee – National Women of Influence, 100 Women Global Award – CD Wilson Events. In addition, she earned certificates from different reputable organizations, Certificates of Recognition from the California State Assembly, the California State Senate, and the Country of Riverside. She authored a Proclamation on October Being Dyslexia Awareness Month in Pomona, California, signed by five city council members. She has authored and published seven books in total, amongst which three are focused on the impact of music in helping to teach dyslexic people to read. She is also published in the PGI (Promise Governance Institute) Anthology III Integrity in Leadership (2021). She will speak about Truth in Education for Anthology IV.

Dr. Marianne’s passion for education is also displayed in the unrelenting pursuit of her personal development and education too. She possesses a Masters Degree in both General Education and Special Education.  She currently has two California Teaching Credentials for General Education and Mild to Moderate Special Education. With over 200 hours of Orton – Gillingham practicum training, Dr. Marianne has proven to be an expert in dyslexia. It is worthy to mention that, along with her curriculum and training videos, she is also an app developer (CDSM). Her programs are widely recommended across the globe and are currently used in the United States, Canada, India, Africa, and the Philippines.

On A Personal Note
Apart from her passion for education, Dr. Marianne is also family oriented. She is a native of California and has been married to William for 34 years. She is an amazing mother to three children; Randy, Richard (who is married to Nicolina), Laura, and grandmother to Olivia. Her faith and love for the Lord Jesus and for people is undebatable. She is very involved in her church and community. Dr. Marianne has a number of hobbies which includes bike-riding on the beach, hikes in Yosemite, and vacations in Hawaii.

She deserves all the applause she currently gets. For someone whose career started from subbing in her children’s pre-school to being a substitute teacher in a mental health hospital before fully diving into education, she never imagined the realization of five degrees with a call to reveal that “Dyslexia Is a Trait of Genius”.

CAREER HIGHLIGHT

Dr. Marianne discovered the affinity between music and reading; and how it helps with dyslexia.
She aims to unlock the genius mind of a person that has dyslexia by helping them read, build their self-esteem, and realize their full potential.
Her popular music app; CDSM – Cintron Dyslexia Solutions with Music which was developed to work with her Step by Step reading program was created with dyslexic kids in mind.
Dyslexia – A Trait of Genius: How to Unlock the Genius Mind of Your Dyslexic Child
This book takes you through Dr. Cintron’s journey to become a Dyslexia Specialist and she outlines the Six Keys to Unlocking Your Dyslexic Child’s Genius. G – Discover their Giftedness, E – What Gets your Child Enthusiastic, N- The Neuroscience of the Brain and Reading, I – The Innovation of Dyslexic People like Walt Disney, Leonardo Da Vinci, Stephen Spielberg, Steve Jobs and more, U – The Unique Approach to Teaching Reading, S- the Successes of Present Day Dyslexic Geniuses.

Developing learning as a superpower is a critical skill for college students! Doug Schmidt is a firm believer in the power of self-leadership. He advocates for personal discovery and the idea that obstacles can be powerful teachers. They form the foundation of Doug’s approach to life and work, driving a passion for helping others unlock their potential. His belief in self-leadership will motivate and inspire you on your personal and professional growth journey. With an MBA in Marketing and a BS in Finance, Doug brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in personal growth, business, sales, and marketing.
 

Christopher Lee Maher is a former Navy SEAL who endured intense amounts of physical, mental, and emotional stress as a child and during and after his military career. He has taught himself how to free his energy, body, mind and emotions from pain by developing the emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual aspects of being. Christopher studied Traditional Chinese Medical Practices at the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine and at Yo San University, then continued his studies at The Universal Healing Tao System. He is a student of Grand Master Mantak Chia at the Universal Tao Master School in Chiang Mai, Thailand, and is currently pursuing his Master’s and Doctorate degrees in Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Kelley’s love for God and family are her highest priorities. But not too far behind…follows her passion for writing, coffee, reading, and anything chocolate. Kelley’s life has been filled with ups and downs. Instead of focusing on her struggles, she used these experiences to fuel her writing. Kelley wants to help anyone else who feels alone through her guided journals.