About Marlene Samuels

Marlene Samuels is an author and independent sociologist. She earned a Bachelor of Science from Northern Illinois University, and both her Master of Arts and PhD from University of Chicago. She has worked as a clinical psychologist, special educator, and researcher in both the private and public sector.

Her current research and writing interests are creative non-fiction, problems in contemporary sociology - particularly the changing American family, adoption issues, and concepts of regrets and action. Marlene is the author of an academic book about institutional prestige and long term professional attainment, and is co-author and editor of The Seamstress: A Memoir of Survival, www.barnesandnoble.com, www.amazon.com, www.booksamillion.com.

Marlene has written about a broad range of topics, among them - food and cooking, one of her passions. She is the co-host of a culinary website, www.expendableedibles.com with partner Nancy Gershman, and her food-related articles have appeared in Ready Made Magazine as well as in The Chicago Tribune. Marlene regularly supplements her academic attainments and interests with numerous professional cooking courses taken in the kitchens of renowned chefs.

Currently, Marlene is completing her book, BROKEN CHAINS, MISSING LINKS, a collection of auto-biographical short stories. Several have been published as stand-alone pieces in journals including Lilith Magazine, Hugo House Journal, Story Circle Anthology, OurEcho.com, A Long Story Short, and others. The short story entitled Sorrel Summer was a finalist in Hugo House "Writing About War" competition and was the winner of the Annual Family Writing Project, OurEcho.com.

Marlene is a regular participant in University of Iowa Summer Writers' Workshops, University of Iowa Non-Fiction Now Conference, and University of Chicago writing seminars. She has been a popular speaker and writing instructor at universities, school systems, writers' workshops and conferences including the Sun Valley Writers' Conference, Story Circle Conference, KIPP Charter School, The National Holocaust Museum, Brandeis University book author luncheon, and at independent private book clubs.

Marlene Samuels is a member of Story Circle Network. Her work has appeared in the Story Circle Anthology and on the SCN blog, One Woman’s Day. In addition, Marlene has both participated in and presented workshops at SCN’s National Conference in Austin, Texas and at Writing from Life in Roundtop, Texas. Currently, she is a SCN board member and chairs the programs committee.

 

Marlene divides her time between Chicago, Illinois and Sun Valley, Idaho with her two amazingly brilliant Rhodesian Ridgebacks, Harry and Bill.