LINDA LEEDY SCHNEIDER, winner of the 2012 Contemporary American Poetry Prize awarded by Chicago Poetry, is a poetry and writing mentor and a psychotherapist in private practice. She has been nominated for Pushcart Prizes, received a Readers' Choice Award from Pedestal Magazine, and has written five collections of poetry including Through My Window: Poetry of a Psychotherapist (Plain View Press, 2010). She edited two anthologies of poetry written by poets whom she has mentored or worked with in the Manhattan Writing Workshop: Mentor’s Bouquet (Finishing Line Press 2010) and Poems From 84th Street (Pudding House Publications 2010). A member of the Society of Midland Authors and the International Women's Writing Guild, Linda believes that a regular writing ritual leads to authenticity, personal growth, healing and often JOY.