Paula Spencer (US journalist)

An American journalist, Paula Spencer has written or co-authored a dozen books and more than 400 articles for national magazines. She has also made television, radio, and speaking appearances. A native of Warren, Michigan, she graduated from the University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, where she was in Phi Beta Kappa.

Spencer also writes the blog [http://www.momfidence.com/live/blog/blog Momfidence!] , which can also be found at the Warner Brothers website Momlogic.com.

She is also a senior editor at [http://www.caring.com/ Caring.com] , a website for adult children who are their parents' caregivers.

A mother of four, Spencer specializes in parenting and family, pregnancy, women's health, and related social issues. She is a contributing editor to "Parenting, Baby Talk," and "Woman's Day."

Magazines

Spencer's byline has appeared in "Woman's Day", "Parenting", "Baby Talk", "Parents", "Family Life", "USA Weekend", "Glamour", "The New York Post", "New York Parent Guide", "Good Housekeeping", "Health", "Weight Watchers", and "Redbook", and online at [http://www.WD.com WD.com] , [http://www.BabyCenter.com BabyCenter.com] , [http://www.ParentCenter.com ParentCenter.com] , and [http://www.Parenting.com Parenting.com] .

She is the author of the [http://www.womansday.com/search.asp?type=keyword&section_id=114&article_id=0&search_section_id=114 "Momfidence!"] column in "Woman's Day" magazine

Books

Parenting

Spencer is the author of [http://www.amazon.com/dp/0307337421 Momfidence!: An Oreo Never Killed Anyone and Other Secrets of Happier Parenting] (Crown, 2006). The book was called [http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/09/19/opinion/main2021897.shtml?CMP=ILC-SearchStories "wise and witty"] by Myrna Blyth, the former editor-in-chief of "Ladies Home Journal." The "Orange County Register" called the book [http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/life/homepage/article_1279593.php laugh out loud] funny. Reviews and coverage of the book also appeared in the "New York Daily News," the "Atlanta Constitution," the "Chicago Tribune," the "Durham Herald," the "Raleigh News & Observer," and the "Toledo Blade."

Medicine

Spencer also does nonfiction collaborations with physicians.

She is the co-author of two books with [http://www.dukeintegrativemedicine.org/ Dr. Tracy Gaudet] , the head of Duke University's Center for Integrative Medicine; they are [http://www.amazon.com/dp/038533575X Body, Soul, and Baby] : A Doctor's Guide to the Complete Pregnancy Experience, from Preconception to Postpartum and [http://www.amazon.com/dp/0553381865 Consciously Female] : How to Listen to Your Body and Your Soul for a Lifetime of Healthier Living.

She has also written with pediatrician [http://www.thehappiestbaby.com/excerpts.html Harvey Karp] : [http://www.amazon.com/dp/0553381431 The Happiest Toddler on the Block]

Spencer also co-wrote [http://www.amazon.com/dp/0749923148 The V Book] with [http://www.harvardvanguard.org/phys/phys3.asp?passID=5893 Dr. Elizabeth Stewart] of Harvard University's School of Medicine.

Her works include three books written for "Parenting" magazine: [http://www.amazon.com/dp/0345411838 Parenting Guide to Positive Discipline] , [http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000C4T3B6 Parenting Guide to Pregnancy & Childbirth] , and [http://www.amazon.com/dp/0345411811 Parenting Guide to Your Toddler] . She is also the author of [http://www.amazon.com/dp/0312243375 Everything Else You Need to Know When You're Expecting: The New Etiquette for the New Mom] .

She also created [http://www.amazon.com/dp/1593594364 Pregnancy Journal: A Week-By-Week Guide to a Happy, Health Pregnancy] and [http://www.paulaspencer.com/work5.htm Parenting: The New Mom's Gift Kit] in association with Peter Pauper Press.

Her latest book [http://www.amazon.com/dp/1592402852 Bright from the Start] is a collaboration with neuroscientist Jill Stamm, head of the [http://www.newdirectionsinstitute.org/ New Directions Institute for Infant Brain Development] .

Her work also appears in the anthologies [http://www.amazon.com/dp/0307342085 The Experts' Guide to the Baby Years] (Clarkson Potter, 2006) and [http://www.amazon.com/dp/0824946197 Guideposts for the Spirit: Stories for Sisters] (Ideals, 2003).

Publicity

Spencer has appeared on "The CBS Early Show" and "Oprah!".

She has given talks on writing and parenting for the American Library Association, the American Society of Journalists and Authors, the North Carolina Writer's Network, the Wisconsin Early Childhood Association, Women Today Expo, Wisconsin Early Childhood Association annual meeting (Parent Night keynote), Charlotte Parent Moms@Work and Carolina Parent Women@Work events (keynote), Southern Women’s Show, Mothers of Boys Clubs, Women Today Expo, Knoxville Writer’s Guild, North Carolina Writer’s Network Fall Conference, and as a guest lecturer at University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill's School of Journalism and Mass Communication.

When "Newsweek" magazine published [http://drhelen.blogspot.com/2007_03_25_archive.html Rush Limbaugh] read the Spencer's "My Turn" column on overprotective parents in March 2007,essay in its entirety on one of his daily broadcasts.

Expertise

Spencer has been quoted as a parenting expert in "Real Simple, Ladies Home Journal, Fit Pregnancy, New Choices, Parents, Pregnancy, Toddlers Today," and the "Stamford Advocate." She is a member of the Medical Journalism Advisory Board for the School of Journalism and Mass Communications at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.

Awards and honors

Awards and honors include the American Speech Language Hearing Association 2006 Media Award; National Women’s Political Caucus Emma Award for News Features, Large-Circulation Magazines; Western Publications Association “Maggie” for Consumer Magazine Article; and the Arthritis Foundation Russell Cecil Award for Magazine Writing.

Consulting

Spencer has also served as a consultant for BabyCenter.com; Gerber; First Moments; The Parenting Group; Time Inc. Custom Publishing; and Guideposts.

Further background

Before becoming a full-time writer, Spencer (also known as Paula Patyk Spencer) was an editor in New York City and in Knoxville, Tennessee.

As an editorial director at Whittle Communications, a media company half-owned by Time Inc., she headed health, parenting, travel, and lifestyle publications. They included "Travel Life," a bimonthly magazine for travel professionals (twice a finalist in the Magazine Week Publishing Excellence Awards).

Spencer is a member of the Authors Guild (2004–present); the American Society of Journalists and Authors (1995-present); the American Pie Council (2004-present); and the American Society of Magazine Editors (1986-1999).

ee also

[http://www.paulaspencer.com/ Paula Spencer Web site] .