About Me
Well, thanks for caring to find out more about me! (If you are a bill collector, "Christy Scannell" is a pseudonym...)
Here's the boring bio stuff...
I am a freelance writer and editor who has worked in every print medium—newspapers, magazines, books and websites (and public relations). You can find my byline covering news for the San Diego Union-Tribune, fun feature articles for the glossy Pacific San Diego magazine, luscious home tours for Coastal San Diego Homes, columns for a national ministry magazine, and even collateral for a local design firm, to name a few. When I'm not writing, I'm on the other side of the "pen," editing books for national publishers.
For most of 2010 I was senior editor of San Diego Uptown News, a 22,000-circulation community newspaper covering the mid-city area of San Diego. I have been teaching writing online since 2006, and from 2007-2009 I taught journalism at Grossmont College. Simon & Schuster published my three-book novel series,"Secrets from Lulu's Café," during the years 2007-2009. From 1996-2005 I was editorial director at Rainbow Publishers/Legacy Press, where I oversaw the acquisition and publication of non-fiction books for children and teachers. During my tenure, I developed and edited over a hundred books including best sellers in their market.
More recently I've been a board member of the Society of Professional Journalists' San Diego chapter and currently serve as vice president of that board. It has been my pleasure to direct SPJ's annual spring conference in San Diego, April 29-30, 2011. I'm also an elected member and secretary of the North Park Planning Committee, which advises the city on land-use and planning.
In my early career, I was a public relations writer and event coordinator for a variety of businesses including a university and a bank. I have an MA in communication from San Diego State University and a BA in mass communication/journalism from Anderson University.
Now for some interesting tidbits...
- My husband, Rich, is a newspaper editor. We were married on 02/02/02—his idea—in Las Vegas, but in a real church with a real pastor (no Elvis!).
- I have my own season tickets to the San Diego Chargers because Rich already had his with his bromance when we met. This will be the 14th season for my friend Anne and me in Section 38, Row 14. Go Chargers!
- When I arrived at college, I was registered as a music major. But the night before classes started, I realized I was studying music for everyone except myself. So I dropped my entire schedule the first day and opted for Intro to Mass Comm. That course's professor, Holly Miller, impressed me so much that I became a journalism major. She is still my mentor, all these years later.
- My great-great-grandmother was an American Indian, but no one in my family knows which tribe. You wouldn't know I have Indian blood from looking at me! (although I do tan well...)
- My master's thesis was on the use of authoritarianism in the writings of James Dobson, Jerry Falwell, and Pat Robertson. I wrote to each of them and offered to let them read my findings—not one responded. Surprised? Not really.
- My favorite singer is Elton John. I have a concert poster of his hanging in our sunroom. It was peeled from the Berlin Wall.
- I was once on a 747 that got stranded on a tiny Royal Air Force base 1000 miles north of Montreal for two days. We thought we were "Lost" but then we were found. (Sorry, I couldn't resist.)
- I've traveled all over the world but still haven't been to Hawaii. New Orleans and Rome hold special places in my heart.
- My favorite color is orange. Can you tell?
