Staff Bios

Editor-in-Chief
Jill Novak and her husband Robert have been married 30 years and are the parents of five precious children. Together their family has founded Remembrance Press, publishers of The Pebbly Brook Farm Stories, Becoming God’s Naturalist, The Gift of Family Writing, and The Girlhood Home Companion. Before becoming a mommy in 1986 (her most cherished life’s calling), Jill worked for David C. Cook Publishing Company as a graphic designer. Jill is a frequent conference speaker and encourager to the younger women in her life, especially her own daughters. Visit the Novak family’s website at www.remembrance press.com.

Senior Editor
Robert Novak knows the Lord has a sense of humor. Years later, after barely passing English in high school (which was a humbling experience for an honor roll student in advanced placement classes), the Lord made him editor of The Girlhood Home Companion. He thanks God everyday for his wife and children. Besides working at Home Depot and picking up what ever the family needs on the way home from work, he does manage to squeeze in time for planting a large garden every year and going fishing.


Creative Director
Claire Novak (23) is an award-winning journalist who began her love affair with words at the age of 12 as a writer for the original Girlhood Home Companion Magazine. Claire’s creativity and love for beauty and femininity is expressed throughout her work. She is also a registered Therapeutic Riding Instructor with the North American Riding for the Handicapped Association, and is the founder of The Hopeful Farm Foundation (http://www.hopefulfarm.org), a non-profit organization and retreat center that ministers to families impacted by special needs

Graphic Design and Technical Support
Eric Novak is an 18-year-old graphic designer, web designer, and writer whose passion is using his creativity for God’s Glory. He is the Co-Founder and director of Cross-Eyed Blog and Webzine (CrossEyedBlog.com). In his spare time he enjoys working around the farm, cooking with produce fresh from the garden and writing on the family farm blog, www PebblyBrookFarm.com.

General Research and Illustrator
Elizabeth Novak is a family historian and recorder in Pebbly Brook Country. She lives on the farm with her three siblings, her loving parents, a goat, a dog, and four cats, plus numerous chickens and geese. Two of her greatest interests are medical herbs and the Medieval Ages. She also enjoys reading, drawing, sewing, spinning, and playing the piano. She praises the Lord for an affectionate family and His beautiful world. Visit her blog: http://www.libbysbitofheaven.com

Resident Illustrator
Breezy Brookshire is an 18-year-old homeschool graduate who enjoys illustrating, music, nature, working in the kitchen, studying a wide variety of topics, and creating art that glorifies her Lord and Savior. She and her sister, Emily Rose, have recently started a home business called Noble Rose Press, where they sell their Daughters of His Story Paper Dolls. Visit her blog at: www.abowlofmossandpebbles.com, and home business at www.NobleRosePress.com.

Tea and Etiquette Editor
Lisa Steigerwalt is a Home Economist and Certified Etiquette Consultant who lives in New England. She enjoys teaching women of all ages about how to experience a richer, more meaningful home life, especially at the table. If you have any questions about setting the table or other related topics, she would love to hear from you! Please write to her at mailbox@experiencinghome.org.

Photographer
Rebecca Jones is a freelance photographer for The Girlhood who lives in California’s Central Valley. She is happily married to her husband of 17 years and joyfully embraces the task of raising of her five daughters aged 11 months to 12 years. Her family resides off the beaten path in the country home built by her husband. Read more about Rebecca and her family at: leading little hearts home http://growingupgodskids.blogspot.com.

Photographer
Janna Berge, a 24-year-old single young woman, finds joy every day in her home, her family, and her Savior. Her favorite activities include talking with friends, reading, dreaming up story ideas, watching movies, downhill skiing, singing, playing piano, cooking and, of course, photography. You can visit her weblog at www.thejoyofhome.com. Amanda (17) and Katelyn (14) Berge are Janna’s younger sisters and favorite models. They enjoy experimenting with new hair-styles, many inspired by films and photos from the past.

Tea and Food Stylist
Audrey Hollatz is the proprietress of Heirlooms Tea Room & Special Occasions, located in Hutchinson, Minnesota. She and her husband, Tim have been married for 27 years and have been blessed with two children, Ben and Lauren, and a daughter-in-love, Katie. Prior to following her dream of opening a tea room, Audrey has been an interior designer specializing in church architecture and design. She now has more time to enjoy her passions, including reading, gardening, spending time with her family, and serving tea! To learn more about Audrey and her tea room, visit www.heirloomstea.com.

Food Photographer
Tim Hollatz has been a commercial photographer with Target Corporation for 25 years. In addition to photography, Tim enjoys taking walks with his wife, Audrey, and their dogs, playing raquetball, and his yearly motorcycle adventure. He also still likes to play outside with their two grown children, Ben and Lauren. Tim also keeps busy as the official groundskeeper and photographer for their home-based business, Heirlooms Tea Room & Special Occasions.

Seasonal Craft Editor
Emily Rose Brookshire is a lifelong crafter who seeks to glorify her Creator in all that she does. Through the work of her hands she creates pictures of both the simple and grand beauties in God’s world. She and her sister, Breezy, have recently started a home business called Noble Rose Press where they sell their Daughters of His Story Paper Dolls. You can visit her blog at: www.SimplyVintagegirl.com, and home business at www.NobleRosePress.com.

Seasonal Craft Editor
Linda Stubbs has been married to her husband Phil for 35 years. They are the parents of five children (three married sons and two daughters, Theresa and Taylor, who are still at home), and grandparents to 9 adorable grandchildren. The Stubbs live on a farm in the heart of Kansas. Designing, sewing, crafting, scrapbooking and gardening make Linda’s life. To see what’s going on in the life of the Stubbs family, or to purchase patterns, visit their blog at http://www.prairieflowerfarm.blogspot.com

Resident Artisan
Heather Wombacher and her husband David are the parents of three children. The Wombachers live in the beautiful Pacific Northwest on their version of an urban farm. The owner of The Patchwork Heart Company, Heather is noted for creating whimsical works of art with ribbon, flowers and lavender in which she strives to point the admirer towards the Living God. Heather loves being the Resident Artisan and writer for The Girlhood Home Companion where she is able to bless mothers and daughters with fun and meaningful projects that glorify the Lord. Visit Heather’s blog www.thepatchworkheart.com or her inspiring website at www.thepatchworkheartcom.blogspot.com

Resident Seamstress
Mary Rose Baetz is a 17-year-old young woman who enjoys using her gifts and talents to bless others. Originally born in Arizona, Mary Rose now calls Colorado her home, where she lives with her parents and three siblings. As a little girl, Mary Rose was allowed the freedom to explore and create with textiles. She is quite accomplished in the womanly arts of spinning, crochet and knitting. Mary Rose volunteers at an organic farm and has worked at the farmer’s market distributing shares and selling delicious vegetables. She is currently organizing an art show at the local library for talented children in her community. She can be reached at HomeSpunRose@msn.com

Writer and Photographer
Nancy Baetz enjoys painting, photography, research, writing and her family of four children and wonderful husband, Ken. She has written “Haircuts For Little Men,” an eBook designed to help parents learn to cut hair at home. She has also produced “Hollyhock Dolls and Other Flower Friends” and “Remembering Grandma Abbott,” an audio presentation with Remembrance Press. Visit Nancy’s website, www.nancybaetz.com or drop Nancy a letter at; nancybaetz@msn.com.

Writer
Betty Dickerson is a former NICU nurse married to former ER nurse, Jeff, for 15 years. They have five wonderful children, Alyssa (13 yrs old), Stephen and Matthew (twins, 11 yrs old), Amelia-Beth (5yrs old) and Baby Blessing (with Jesus, June 2006). She enjoys writing in pretty journals, knitting, music, nature journaling, gluten free cooking, and long walks with her husband. She is a native Cuban-Floridian and homebody, who ironically spends most of her life homeschooling in the car traveling with her husband and children. If you’d like to plan a visit or just chat, email her at 6dickersons@bellsouth.net

Writer
Wanda Gibert is happily married to her best friend, John. She is the proud mother of four lovely daughters and two sons. Her interests and passions include journaling, reading and sharing great books, being a homemaker, and spending time with the Lord in worship and prayer. She loves encouraging women, and speaks frequently at women’s retreats, MOPS groups, and conferences. She is the owner of Heritage House Press: a publishing company committed to printing quality Christian literature. She resides in northern Illinois where she enjoys watching the unfolding of God’s handiwork. You can visit her at http://www.wandagibert.com/

Writer
Nancy King was raised by a military/minister father and seamstress mother. At the age of nine, she started writing short and silly poetry. When she was 15, the first poem that she had penned about her personal relationship with Jesus was published. Since then, she has written more poems then she can count, most of them whimsical. Nancy keeps journals of heartfelt thoughts and snippets of poetry for my husband and daughters. It is her wish that they will pass these down as a legacy to her grandchildren someday. Visit her blog at http://kingskreation.net/

Writer
Ann McColl is first and foremost saved by the grace of God and the blood of Jesus Christ. She has been married to her wonderful husband, Chance for 15 years. Born and raised in Decatur, GA, Ann received her Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and her Master’s degree in Human Resources. Ann loves teaching her kids, exploring history on field trips, taking photographs, and writing. Ann has been scrapbooking and journaling since she was in elementary school. She has a passion for family history and is in the process of writing a book about her amazing family heritage. She currently resides in Marietta, GA.To learn more about Ann and her family, visit www.faith4faith.org

Writer
Faith McColl is a happy, beautiful 11 year old girl who lives with her parents, brother, grandmother, and cats in Marietta, Georgia. She also lives with Mitochondrial Disease (Complex I & III). While Faith has Mitochondrial Disease, Mito does not have her! She takes this blessed life God has given her and lives it to the fullest. She has a sweet spirit, a kind heart, and she touches everyone she meets. She has Jesus in her heart and when you meet her you know that immediately!!! Faith loves to read, and she is in the process of writing children’s books! Even with her limited hand strength she has learned to play piano and violin! She is determined to use all that God has given her. Her website is http://www.faith4faith.org.

Writer
Christa Pessin lives in Racine, Wisconsin near beautiful Lake Michigan. She has been married to her husband Joshua for 10 years and is the mother of four little girls: Callie, Lainey, Ginger and Emma. They keep her busy, but there is still time for homeschooling, artwork, writing, cooking, dancing, playing dress-up, and spending lots of time outside under the trees. She learned to love looking for sea glass as a little girl and fosters the tradition with her own family today.

Writers
Nancy Perzo and Karen Patton’s business, The Tea Ladies, Inc began in 2003. They are sisters who have written over 24 historical programs based on the Victorian Era which they present in Victorian costume. Their programs take audiences aboard the Titanic, through a day at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair, introduce them to unusual etiquette of the era and much more. They’re mission is to keep history alive by entertaining and educating. The Tea Ladies also host public and private tea parties, bridal showers, baby showers and especially tea parties just for fun! Parties are held in the elegant formal parlor of the David Davis Mansion State Historic Museum in Bloomington, IL. You can visit The Tea Ladies’ website at www.thetealadiesinc.com

Writers
Sarah (23) and Leah (21) Pelc live at home with their family in Missouri and seek to serve them and minister to others that the Lord brings into their lives. The Lord has placed a burden on their hearts to reach out to young ladies to encourage them embrace scriptural womanhood as a beautiful and God-honoring role. They have a blog which was begun for this purpose called Follow in His Steps which you are more than welcome to visit at www.followinhissteps.blogspot.com

Writer
Taylor Stubbs’ interests are her dog Dakota and caring for her horses. She loves music, photography and hunting with her brothers. She likes to work with animals caring for them and spending time learning about their needs. She enjoys being with all her niece and nephews. She spends time in the summer driving the tractor on the family farm. Taylor accepted Christ at an early age and continues to seek Him in His word every day. She has been hiding Isaiah 43 in her heart.

Writer
Tressa Stubbs’ interests are KU basketball and football. Her older brothers had her watching from a very early age. She enjoys working on her Apple computer, reading, drawing, listening to music, playing her guitar and hunting with her older brothers, and spends much of her free time taking pictures of her horse and family. Tressa accepted Christ at an early age and since that time has grown closer to Him. She loves her daily walk of learning His word and applying it to her life.

Writer
Having been a homeschooled military child ever since she can remember, Amanda Read toured the nation and the world, and upon her father’s retirement from the U.S. Army, she and her family have been shaping their new land into a homestead known as Fair Hills Farm. A writer and artist, she blogs at www.amandaread.com and is the author of the historical drama screenplay, The Crusading Chemist. Amanda is now majoring in History and minoring in Political Science at Jacksonville State University, and her constant prayer is to glorify the LORD far beyond her finite imagination!

Writer
Ann Voskamp is a farmer’s wife. She homeschools their six farm kids. She deals with a lot of dirt. Especially in her own heart. When the kids and the washing machine sleep, she scrubs the real dirty laundry with The Word. She’s writes for DaySpring, an award-winning series for homeschoolers, A Child’s Geography, and is currently working on a book for Zondervan. The words that matter most are the ones she lives. She tries to write those gritty, grace-washed stories at: www.aholyexperience.com

Writer
Sandy Willoughby is a Christian writer living in Georgia. She and her husband, Blake, have five children and two Daughters-in-Love. They are blessed Pops & Nandy to three grandchildren with another on the way. Their three oldest sons are grown and on their own and there are two still at home along with a niece. Sandy is a member of a local scrapbooking group, enjoys movies, reading, and time with her family and friends. Her dream is to follow God’s will in her life and to bring Him glory in all she does. Her blog: www.nutmegnotes08.blogspot.com