Nicol McClendon was born and raised in Hartford, CT. Nicol's love for writing came at a young age and continued throughout high school when she would pen short stories and poems that won awards and earned her many opportunities as a public speaker. Following the murder of her first husband, Nicol found the strength to continue living through writing and traveling. Nicol became an author and entrepreneur when she published her first book; It's My Story I Will Tell It - Pieces of Me. She put a real face to hope and healing by sharing her uncensored truth about her journey through rejection, heartbreak and overcoming grief. Nicol committed herself to helping others share their stories. She published a companion journal; The Writers Journal - It's Your Story Tell It to provide a guide for deepening the healing journey by allowing others to release their stories through expressive and reflective writing. After her second husband was diagnosed with a terminal illness, Nicol co-authored the anthology; Blessed Not Broken - Journey to Finding Purpose in Marriage, Motherhood & Entrepreneurship as a CEO Wife. Nicol is a bestselling author, emotional release writing coach, mother and a wife who will inspire you to open yourself up and pick up the shattered pieces of your life by continuing to believe in pure love and remembering the deep joy in living. You can connect with Nicol at authornicolmcclendon@gmail.com or visit her website www.nicolmcclendon.com Dennis Thomas is a sports enthusiast, basketball coach and former basketball player known for having a mean pick. Dennis describes himself as a motivator. He was a preschool teacher for twelve years and during this time, his love for mentoring and nurturing children continued to grow. In 2009, Dennis became a heart transplant recipient. Today Dennis is celebrating ten years being a survivor. He continues to mentor children in the community, on and off the court, via his work with Legacy Foundation of Hartford, Impact Training and Bulkeley High School. Dennis visits Hartford Hospital often, counseling adults preparing for and recovering from organ transplants. He is also the go-to person many in the community call to counsel, support and encourage their loved ones through their own heart failure diagnosis and transplant journey. In January 2019, Dennis was diagnosed with stage 3-colon cancer and is currently in remission. You can connect with Dennis at dtdt1123@gmail.com