Phyllis Janik

                                              was raised in the steel mill neighborhoods on the far Southeast side of Chicago. She is an award-winning writer of fiction and poetry, and has published creative non fiction, feature articles, book reviews, and a documentary collection of Cuban writers and photographers.

For thirty-four years she taught creative writing in a college near Chicago, and has been a Writer in Residence for the Illinois Arts Council, Urban Gateways, and for many schools and venues across the United States. Her former students include a columnist for a major daily newspaper, a reporter who covered the O.J. Simpson trial for a national news service, a writer and producer of long-running theater presentations, and many writers who have careers in all facets of expression and wordsmithing.
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As a writing coach and editor, workshop leader and speaker, Phyllis continues to assist in manuscript preparation for individuals, and conducts creative writing workshops for schools, community groups, and corporate projects in need of creative solutions and fresh perspectives.

Janik lives on a small mosquito farm in western Chicagoland.