About Me
Here's the official (3rd person) scoop....
Tricia Spencer received the Best Nonfiction Book award for “Tips, The Server’s Guide To Bringing Home The Bacon – The Customer Speaks To Every Waiter, Waitress and Restaurant Manager in America!” from the Southwest Writers International Competition where the final winner was chosen by a Penguin Group editor. Published in 2002 with a 2nd printing in 2006, “Tips…” has become a training manual for restaurants and food servers around the country. Her short story, “Deviled Eggs,” was a winner in both the L. Ron Hubbard Writers Of The Future Competition for Science Fiction and CrossQuarter Publishing’s Paul B. Duquette Memorial Short Science Fiction Contest. “Deviled Eggs” is published in “CrossTime”, the 2002 science fiction anthology featuring the winners of the CrossQuarter competition. Her short story, “Miracle Man,” was a winner in the 2005 Cloak and Dagger Mystery Writing Contest where the finalists were judged by renowned mystery author Jeremiah Healy. And her short story, “Noses, Toes, and Elbows,” was a winner in the 2005 Scribes Valley Publishing Short Story Competition, and is published in the winners’ anthology, “They Do Exist”. Her spirit prayers collection, entitled "Spirit Prayers For Joyful Living - The Gentle Path to Spiritual Well-Being" was published by Amazon.com as an Amazon Short in 2007. Her latest short story to be recognized is "Empty Shoes," which took top honors in the 2008 Scribes Valley Publishing Competition and is published in "The Road To Elsewhere.".
Tricia’s life pursuits reflect her philosophy that variety is truly the spice of life. From food service to touring with the International Company of Up With People to creating and marketing her own line of wedding accessories to author, with a world of diverse creative pursuits in between, Tricia has reveled in the highs and lows of self evolution and in the myriad of endeavors life has to offer. She is listed in "Who's Who of American Women", "Who's Who of Emerging Leaders", “Who’s Who in The West”, and “Who’s Who in The World”.
Born and raised in Central Illinois, she and her husband, Mark, now live in Southern California where they share their home with all manner of furry and feathered creatures. They also share a passion for the simple pleasures of life, like sharing a great meal or taking a drive through unknown territory.
Here's me up close and personal....
My life has been a colorful tapestry of pursuits. From my stint as Editor of the 6th grade newspaper to becoming a speech-writing winner in the Veterans of Foreign Wars Voice of Democracy competition at the age of 14, I've been hooked on writing. But I've also cherished other pursuits, like music. I've written dozens of songs, including 7 recognized at the Music City Song Festival in Nashville. I fronted my own band, Masterpiece, and once recorded in Johnny Cash's studio. That was a hoot. I wrote and recorded a song about Abraham Lincoln for the 1976 Bicentennial celebration, played the role of Cherry in a Muni Opera production of Paint Your Wagon, and marched my heart out in drum and bugle corps. (Note: Once drum corps gets in the blood, it never leaves!) I spent a year and a half with Up With People--touring, singing and sharing the homes of host families. What a life-altering experience that was. There was even a performance at Carnegie Hall and the filming of a TV special. I remember when my time with Up With People was over, I thought to myself...whatever will I do again in life that could possibly compare to Up With People? It's that amazing.
I worked as an extra in movies and delivered singing telegrams. I created a line of bridal products called "For Just A Bit Of Wedding Wit," and my husband and I once ran our own limousine service that featured a fleet of unique limos. During our "limo days," we appeared on the TV show People's Court with Judge Wapner and had one of our cars chosen to film a short with Roger Rabbit for the Academy Awards. Alas, the piece was cut before air date, but we still have the photos of the shoot and the great memories.
I competed in horse shows from the time I could walk, (until I discovered boys,) and I've been "Mom" to dozens of animals over the span of my life. I am deeply commited to animal welfare and to the responsible treatment of our environment. Throughout the years, I've tried to help whenever and wherever I could. After hurricane Katrina, I created the "Dear Family" letter writing campaign that was responsible for supportive letters being sent to the victims of the hurricane, and I organized the "Operation Actvity" drive by getting book publishers, office supply stores, games companies, etc., to donate materials to the people in the shelters to give them something to do other than worry.
As with every person on the planet, my life experiences feed my writing and my soul in one way or another. And for all I've done, and have yet to do, the one thing I am most grateful for is the ability to reflect on the good times, and the bad, and appreciate them all. For without them, I just wouldn't be me.