About Me

First, thank you so much for stopping by. It’s great to see you here!

Ever since I was 13 years old, I have wanted to write. And I did write then—but there was no audience with whom to share the writing (except with my patient friends). Blogging allows us such a great opportunity to write for an audience that appreciates and shares a similar spirit. At this point, I’ve written thousands of blog posts and it’s become part of who I am now.

If I’m not here blogging, you might find me writing novels. To date, I’ve authored eight works of fiction, with another on the way.

The Letters in the Books, released in Summer of 2022, just earned a BRONZE MEDAL in the annual Readers’ Favorite Contest. This is the third award I’ve won from Readers’ Favorite—I am thrilled! The story is about an empath who owns a bookstore in Annapolis and the ways she lifts people up by slipping inspirational letters inside the books of those in need of a pick-me-up. Her letters also have the power to change lives. Told from the perspectives of the five main characters (three women, two men), the novel is meant to remind us all of what a little kindness can do. The story begins a few weeks before Christmas and ends the following year at Christmas.

From Humbug to Humble: The Transformation of Ebenezer Scrooge, is a continuation of Ebenezer Scrooge’s story written by Charles Dickens. A Christmas Carol is my favorite book of all time, and in this novella, I explore what happens to Scrooge after he changes his ways and becomes a good human being. I’m thrilled that my former student, Adrianna Kamosa Murphy, partnered with me to draw beautiful illustrations for the novel. We both love how it turned out.

Earlier in 2021, I published a novelette for Kindle called Anna in Tuscany, a story of a woman who moves to Italy as a travel writer and happens upon a romantic love story for Valentine’s Day. Other books include Inn Significant (2017), a story of love, loss, and recovery set on Maryland’s Eastern Shore;  Beneath the Mimosa Tree (2012), my first novel, which is set in my hometown of Annapolis and is centered around the theme of forgiveness;  and Baseball Girl (2015), a women’s fiction story loosely based on my life working in professional baseball.  Little Milestones (2019), is a follow-up to Inn Significant, and is set in the beautiful Eastern Shore town of St. Michaels, Maryland. The Postcard and Other Stories & Poetry, which earned a Finalist Award in the annual 2019 National Indie Excellence Awards, is a collection of short stories and poetry.

My career at Stevenson University, began when my children were little and I started teaching as an adjunct instructor. When I became a full time professor in 2008, I went back to school and earned an MFA in Creative Writing from National University in San Diego. For years, I taught a variety of writing courses including feature writing, magazine writing, public relations writing, and travel writing. I also taught courses in advertising, sports communication, professional communication, and interpersonal communication. During that time, my colleagues, Leeanne Bell McManus, Chip Rouse, and I published a textbook entitled Event Planning: Communicating Theory and Practice (2019), published by Kendall-Hunt. This textbook takes a look at the “why” behind event planning and attaches communication theory to it, in addition to offering practical help regarding all aspects of event planning.

In May 2022, I decided to semi-retire and move back to adjunct teaching, and am now instructing undergraduate and graduate courses in Stevenson University Online. This is also giving me more time to write and pursue other interests. Some things really do come full circle.

Left: With my friends and colleagues, Chip Rouse and Leeanne Bell McManus. We are the co-authors of the textbook called Event Planning: Communicating Theory & Practice.


Above: Received the Distinguished Teaching Fellow Award from the Eastern Communication Association in April 2022.
Cal & Me…autograph day.
The book we put together at the Orioles to commemorate Cal’s accomplishment. I served as the editor and many of my friends and colleagues wrote chapters of the book.
Working the Cal Ripken Parade Post 2131 with Stacey. Reflections of My Life In Baseball featured on Baseball Bard.

While an undergraduate at Towson University, I got a job working for the Baltimore Orioles in public relations. After college, I stayed with the ballclub for 13 years and was the assistant director of community relations and then director of publishing. Helping to plan the move from Memorial Stadium to Camden Yards was a thrill; afterwards, helping to plan the 1993 All-Star Game, Cal Ripken’s 2131 Celebration, and the events surrounding the back-to-back playoff years in 1996 and 1997, were some of the highlights of my career working in the sport. My work as editor of the Cal Ripken Commemorative Publication, which celebrated Ripken’s tying and breaking of Lou Gehrig’s consecutive games streak record, was the pinnacle of my career in baseball.

We live in Severna Park, Maryland, a community outside Annapolis. We have a son a year out of college who works in Washington, D.C., and our daughter is in her senior year of college at Towson University. My husband works for the Orioles as the VP of Corporate Partnerships, and it’s special to us because we met working there! In our free time, you can find us on our little powerboat on the Severn River.

I’m glad you’ve stopped by for a visit, and I look forward to seeing more of you!

Awards for My Novels

THE LETTERS IN THE BOOKS just earned a Bronze Medal in the annual Readers’ Favorite contest for Inspirational Fiction, 2023.

THE POSTCARD AND OTHER SHORT STORIES & POETRY earned a Finalist Award in the 2019 National Indie Excellence Awards for Short Stories.

INN SIGNIFICANT earned a Finalist Award in the 2017 National Indie Excellence Awards for Women’s Fiction.

BASEBALL GIRL earned an Honorable Mention Award in the Annual Readers’ Favorite Awards Contest for 2015 for Sports Fiction.

BENEATH THE MIMOSA TREE earned a Bronze medal in the Annual Readers’ Favorite Awards Contest for 2012, tops in its category for Contemporary Romance. It also received a 2013 National Indie Excellence Award as a Finalist for Romance.

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16 Comments

  • Elizabeth Johnson

    April 29, 2011 at 3:23 pm Reply

    Congratulations! Look forward to reading your blogs! I will share with my co-workers so they can see and read how great you are!

  • Lauren Bach Sapienza

    July 31, 2011 at 10:46 pm Reply

    Hi Steph!!
    I love love love your site! FANTASTIC! I’m in OC on vaca and have FINALLY gotten the chance to log on…been carrying your blog address with me with great intentions ever since our dinner. I’ve been reading you stuff for the past 45 minutes and am totally mesmerized by your work. I’m totally connected. Reading “the Help” now and plan to finish this week so I’ve got it DONE before it comes out in the theatres next week. Then onto the ELEPHANTS. Was gonna write in to your readers about the “South of Broad” by Conroy and couldn’t find where or how to do that – please advise. Can’t wait to have dinner again with you and Anthony. Enjoy what’s left of the summer! Lauren Sapienza

    • Steph's Scribe/Stephanie Verni

      July 31, 2011 at 11:57 pm Reply

      Hi Lauren!

      Thanks for the compliments! I’m so happy you’re enjoying the blog. To recommend your book, just go to the Book Recommendations tab and click. You can post your recommendation in the comments area. Let me know if you have any trouble with it. Looking forward to meeting up again soon. Enjoy your vacation!

      Steph

  • debi

    January 17, 2012 at 3:49 pm Reply

    Stephanie,
    What great blog. You are such an amazing writer.
    I look forward to reading more.
    I hope to see you sometime soon
    Debi

  • Cauldrons and Cupcakes

    June 16, 2012 at 5:00 pm Reply

    Hi Stephanie,
    Stumbled upon your blog quite by accident and so pleased I did. There should be more hopeless romantics in the world, I think. I know I number in their ranks, and I’ve always been a sucker for those happy endings.
    Warm regards from Australia!
    Nicole 😀 xx

  • Mary Jones

    July 2, 2012 at 1:33 pm Reply

    I live in Columbus, MS. I just found you & your book. I plan on reading your book on my Kindle.

  • Daniela

    July 25, 2012 at 7:19 am Reply

    Hi Stephanie,
    Wow! I am so glad to come and visit your blog. It is great, indeed it is. I am so impressed that you are an author and working in a creative environment. I would love to have that! I will be back for more!

    Kind Regards,
    Daniela

    • Steph's Scribe/Stephanie Verni

      July 25, 2012 at 12:34 pm Reply

      Daniela,
      Thank you for stopping by to take a peek. I loved the post Freshly Pressed picked! So creative and fun. I’ve been blogging for over a year, and I still enjoy it very much. It definitely keeps the creative juices flowing.

      I look forward to following your blog as well.
      Keep in touch–
      Stephanie

  • Tomas kelly

    November 10, 2017 at 10:58 am Reply

    Hello America ..
    just came across your letter to your old school by chance ( while looking at an old vw car in your area)
    Lovely piece of writing
    I doff my hat to you
    Tom
    Blarney
    Ireland

  • Ridwan Sunaryo

    April 27, 2018 at 12:34 pm Reply

    Hello Stephanie! it’s very nice to know a great person like you. your blog is very interesting and inspiring. I just stumbled here and love your ideas! i follow you and yes i will read a lot here. thanks for your share and posts. keep up the good work! 🙂

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