Nicki Alander

Nicki Alander has fond memories of enjoying family stories ardently presented around

the kitchen table of her grandparents farm. So memorable were these antidotes that she

began writing them as family keepsakes, an interest that has continued. The majority of

her teaching career was spent at Joliet West High School with her last and favorite

position as Student Assistance Coordinator. Community activities vary widely. Of

primary interest is the Plainfield Riverfront where she developed the Educational Center.

She still finds time to enroll in Great Courses at Waubonsie Community College, the last

session being on China. Her interest in other cultures, history and geography has led to

extensive travel. She considers herself most fortunate to have lived in what is now

called the Democratic Republic of Congo as well as the renamed country Zimbabwe. A resident of Plainfield, Nicki is a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.

Simi Krishnan is a mom to two rambunctious kids, a 14 and 8 year old, and wife to a Star Trek fiend!! By day she wears a data and analytics cape, leading analytics in the pharmaceutical industry, and by night she is a producer of The People Tree, a live storytelling show which takes place the third Thursday of every month, located in Naperville!

Mary Frances has been telling stories since she was a little girl - which tended to get her into a bit of trouble. As an adult, she honed her craft in the pulpit of several churches in the Chicago suburbs where she served as pastor. Now, she enjoys sharing the stories of her life experiences in different venues such as The People Tree and Stories R Us. When not on stage, she shares stories with her husband, 2 adult children, their spouses and 5 grandchildren.

Sandra Vincent’s storytelling first began in college when she was featured in the University of Minnesota, Mankato, Creative Writing Journal. As an Early Childhood Educator, she enjoyed sharing fanciful tales with her students, nurturing their budding imaginations, and helping them pen adventures of their very own. In 2020 Sandra placed as a finalist, selected to perform one of her short stories at the renowned Goodman Theatre in downtown Chicago, while participating in GeNarrations, a Goodman Theatre storytelling workshop. Sandra has also been published in the Oak Park Writers Group Anthology, Key Strokes.