C.J. Houghtaling

Prior to becoming a webmaster, C.J. Houghtaling worked as a writer for local and regional newspapers as a reporter and editor, then freelanced for national and international magazines. Her poetry, fiction, and articles have appeared in over 200 publications.

CJ's writing credits include such prestigeous magazines as: The Wolf Head Quarterly, Fox Cry, Bailey’s Beads, Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, The Literary Journal, Endless Mountain Review, Children’s Playmate, Byline Magazine, Wild West, Scuba Times, The Carousel News and Trader, American Writer's Review, Garden Railways, and Balloon Life

In 1987, C.J. decided to put her love for publishing to use by founding H&H Press. The publishing house specialized in poetry chapbooks and "how-to" write textbooks for beginning writers and poets. Her stable of authors to date include poets Barbara Crooker, Beatrice O’Brien, Elaine Preston, Julie Damerell and science fiction writer Julia Ecklar. In 1998, she expanded H&H Press publications to include an annual poetry magazine, miller’s pond. The magazine featured poetry, contests, chapbook reviews, and poet interviews and has published novice, as well as established poets such as Hayden Carruth, Liz Rosenberg, Denise Duhamel, Colette Inez, and Vivian Shipley.

In 1997, H&H Press expanded into web page building, serving literary magazines, writers, farm equipment dealers, veterinarians, travel agents, and many other businesses. In the spring of 1999, the Northeast Equipment Dealer's Association hired C.J. to present a "web building" seminar to its constituents in 26 cities throughout Pennsylvania, New York and New England. Those who have attended C.J.'s seminar, "Your Business On the Web," have praised it highly.

In 1989, She founded the Northern Appalachian Writers Guild (NAWG). In 1991, NAWG affiliated with Pennwriters to become the organization's north-central chapter known as the Northern Appalachian Pennwriters (NAP).

For over ten years, C.J. volunteered her time on the Board of Directors for Pennwriters. She served the organization as Area 2 Rep (1992, 1993, 1995), Conference Coordinator (1994, 1996) and Co-Coordinator in 2001, and as Treasurer from 1996 to 2002. She has coordinated the Pennwriters Poetry Contest, has organized several Northern Appalachian Pennwriters Summer Poetry Workshops, secured a 501 (c) (3) tax exempt status for Pennwriters, Inc, and was instrumental in getting the organization its first three grants from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. As the 1996 Pennwriters Conference Coordinator, C.J. helped the organization earn its largest Conference profit margin in Pennwriters history at that time.

She currently serves her community as President of the Middlebury Union Cemetery Association.

Other community-oriented activities she has been involved with in the past include organizer of the Keeneyville Old Home Day, Noble Grand for the Elnora Rebecca Lodge in Keeneyville, and Keeneyville Girl Scout leader.

C.J. is the "mother" of seven cats, and enjoys her many hobbies, including writing poems and songs and learning to play fiddle, guitar, banjo, mandolin and dobro. She lives on a 112 acre Pennsylvania Century Farm with her husband and pets.