Career Area: Writing and Storytelling

  • C. Michelle Bryant Griffin

    C. Michelle Bryant Griffin

    “Be your unique self, and let the world catch up.” 

    Quick Facts

    Level of Education: A.C. Flora High School (Columbia); attended 27 schools across 12 years; some college 

    Years of Experience: 40+ Years

    About

    C. Michelle Bryant Griffin is an artist, author, and entrepreneur based in the Low Country of South Carolina who has spent more than four decades creating, building, and supporting others in doing the same. Her work today centers on helping dreamers, doers, and entrepreneurs bring their visions to life, transforming ideas into brands that shine and make their mark on the world.  

    Her path into photography began during a divorce in her late fifties, born out of vulnerability and a desire to rebuild. As she photographed other women navigating similar turning points, she found herself collecting their remarkable, under-sung stories which deserved a wider audience. That impulse became a magazine with a global readership for over a decade, dedicated to showcasing the overlooked and the underestimated. When the pandemic reduced print circulation, she pivoted to a fully online practice. She launched Fabulous Business Solutions, a practice that blends strategy, design, and hands-on support for writers, artists, and entrepreneurs at every stage of their journey.  

    She expresses her love for her work, saying that “everything I do is done with 100% heart and passion, as if it were my own personal project.”  

    Michelle describes her abundance of talent as both a blessing and a challenge; the question of how much to use, and in which direction, is one she holds lightly. But the answer she keeps returning to is love. Everything she does, she does because she genuinely loves it. And for her, that has always been enough.  

  • Jenny Jimenez-Sullivan

    Jenny Jimenez-Sullivan

    “Creativity doesn’t expire, it deepens with you.” 

    Quick Facts

    Level of Education: High School; 2-year/Technical College

    Years of Experience: Writing since childhood; sharing work since 2016; working professionally for 3 years. 

    About

    Jenny Jimenez-Sullivan is a podcast host, poet, narrative instructor, writer, and storyteller, among other things, based in the PeeDee and Grand Strand region of South Carolina. Through writing, podcasting, and teaching, she creates spaces where everyday thoughts become meaningful reflections, helping people feel seen and more connected to themselves as well as their communities. 

    Writing and journaling were Jenny’s tools for survival long before they became her vocation. From childhood, the page was a place that didn’t judge her, where she could pour out her heaviness and walk away lighter. It wasn’t until her forties that she decided those words needed to be shared more intentionally, so that others would know they were not alone. She started her blog in 2016 and launched her podcast in 2024, and what began as a personal act of courage has grown into something much larger. She now teaches through OLLI at Coastal Carolina University, bringing that same message to people her age and older: it is never too late to step fully into your purpose. She insists upon this, saying, “Our voices matter now more than ever. Our pain should not be diminished, and our stories can help others heal.” 

    Her advice to emerging creatives, especially those who feel they may have started too late, is direct and freeing: begin small, stay consistent, and let curiosity lead instead of pressure to monetize or perfect. You are not starting from scratch. You are starting from a life fully lived, and that experience is your greatest creative asset.

  • Protected: Melanie McClellan-Hartnett

    Protected: Melanie McClellan-Hartnett

    This content is password-protected. To view it, please enter the password below.

  • Winnifred Tataw

    Winnifred Tataw

    “Nurture your passion with persistence. Embrace the power of your unique voice, and remember that every story you tell is a bridge that unites us all. When we foster love and creativity, we create a world that thrives on connection and resilience. The world needs your art!” 

    Quick Facts

    Education: College of Charleston 

    Years of Experience: 15 Years of Experience

    About

    Winnifred Tataw is an author, artist, and book publisher based in the Low Country of South Carolina whose work is rooted in the belief that stories have the power to connect, inspire, and celebrate the full spectrum of human experience. As graduate of the College of Charleston with a background in Studio Art and Writing, she has spent fifteen years crafting work that blends personal narratives with universal truths, creating as she describes, “an inviting tapestry where every reader finds a piece of themselves.” 

    Her love for art and storytelling grew side by side from childhood, shaped by the joy of listening to her parents’ stories and the richness of her heritage. The two passions are so intertwined that she cannot say which came first, but both have always been essential. Remarkably, Winnifred began publishing her novels during her first year of college, setting an early tone for a creative life defined by courage and momentum. She notes that she aims to, “create stories and art that connect and inspire action while celebrating the beauty of the human journey.” 

    For emerging creatives, her message is both generous and clear: the world needs your art. Foster your love of craft with persistence, trust the distinctiveness of your voice, and understand that every story you tell is a bridge, one that unites people, builds resilience, and reminds us of our shared humanity. 

  • Yvette R. Murray

    Yvette R. Murray

    “Build your community and keep writing.”

    Quick Facts

    Level of Education: Undergraduate School

    Years of Experience: 40 Years

    About

    Yvette R. Murray is an award-winning writer whose poetry opens the doors of seminal Low Country history for anyone willing to turn the pages. Growing up within the Gullah Geechee community in Charleston, she disagreed with how her neighborhoods were being portrayed. It was then Murray decided to pick up the pen and paint the rest of the untold story.  

    When asked about her process, Murray simply stated, “we all have our quirks.” She emphasized building communities for young writers and aspiring poets, highlighting the importance of practicing the craft. “Writers write,” she says.

  • Deanna Taylor

    Deanna Taylor

    “Find ways to blend your passions and expertise into a story that transcends time and individual backgrounds.” 

    Quick Facts

    Level of Education: Graduate School

    Years of Experience: 2 Years

    About

    Deanna Taylor uses food and storytelling integrated into the world of arts, science, and entrepreneurship to blend generations while resurrecting the art of canning. During the pandemic, while watching squirrels in her backyard take one bite out of her fruit, she was inspired to research ways to keep the food from going to waste. Since then, Deanna has been producing jams, jellies, and preserves with the help of her family. 

    Throughout her journey, Deanna begun using “the jars of preserves to coach others into entrepreneurship while focusing on preserving their peace.” Along with her family, she now gets help from neighbors, church members, and other figures within her community, preventing as much fruit as they can from going to waste. At the end of the process, Deanna utilizes the preserves for storytelling, gives back to those who donated, and even makes a profit.

  • Clay Hadden

    Clay Hadden

    “Do it. Get the words down, even if they’re not perfect”

    Quick Facts

    Level of Education: Winthrop University

    Years of Experience: 20 Years

    About

    Speech pathologist and author of multiple picture books, Clay Hadden’s job gives him an interesting perspective into understanding children’s interests. He aspires to provide children with inspiration in order to play with their world through books and music. Hadden believes children benefit from art which connects with them and also respects them. 

    As a young man, Hadden was always writing, which now translates into his career. When he began working with kids, he began writing for them as well. He says the first step he took was merely “sitting down and writing,” and that, “getting the ideas down and focused was so super important.”

  • Ellen Harrison

    Ellen Harrison

    “Grow your vision. Water it with faith. Stretch toward the light of purpose. In time, you won’t chase victory—you’ll become it.”  

    Quick Facts

    Level of Education: Undergraduate School

    Years of Experience: 30 Years

    About

    Ellen Harrison, author of High Notes of Poetry: Finding Your Courage, has been writing for almost 30 years. She fell in love with the craft while in high school and has not looked back since.  

    Recently, Ellen was named the recipient of the “Author on the Rise Award” at the Global Gamechanger Author Awards, hosted by the Pen and Profit Organization. Primarily a poet, her writing practice focuses on transmuting freedom, emotion, and intention through every pause, line break, and silence. Additionally, she was presented with the “Best Poetry Book Award” at the Black Girls Who Write Literary Awards, sponsored by Spotify for Authors.  

    She remarks how the craft is an unusual one, with how personal and universal it is simultaneously. Ellen mentions how she “can write from [my own] lived experiences, yet someone else, somewhere else, can read those same words and feel seen.” For her, poetry bridges the gap, not just through surface level communication, but connecting people across the world.  

    Ellen attributes her love of poetry for its ability to ‘say so much with so little.’ “I listen more than I force,” she says. “I pay attention to rhythm, to feeling, to the unspoken. Poetry often begins where ordinary language falls short, giving voice to what is difficult to explain directly.”  

  • Angela Thomas Smith

    Angela Thomas Smith

    “Stay true to your authentic voice, and don’t be afraid to share your story even if it feels imperfect or unfinished.” 

    Quick Facts

    Education Level: Graduate School

    Years of Experience: 6-7 Years

    About

    Angela Thomas Smith, CEO and founder of Queen of Collaborations, works across writing, publishing, storytelling, and podcasting to create platforms that empower individuals and amplify underrepresented voices. Her work focuses on connecting people, sharing untold stories, and building spaces where creativity becomes a tool for transformation and community impact. 

    Her journey into this field was shaped by personal experience and resilience. She shares, “Life experience is what truly led me to this work. After overcoming personal challenges and setbacks, I realized I needed a new beginning…that personal transformation inspired me to help others do the same and set me on the path to empowering, uplifting, and connecting people through my platform.” 

    The uniqueness of her work comes from how she blends authorship, advocacy, event production, and community-building. She explains, “I blend authorship, advocacy, event production, and community-building to create spaces where overlooked voices are celebrated and empowered. I don’t just publish books or host events; I intentionally connect people…My process is deeply collaborative, spiritually guided, and centered on leaving a legacy of hope and transformation for generations to come.” 

    Angela emphasizes authenticity and growth in the creative journey. She encourages emerging creatives to stay grounded in their voice, embrace continuous learning, and surround themselves with supportive communities. She highlights the importance of resetting when needed and recognizing that each individual perspective holds value. She also believes strongly in the role of creativity in human expression and development, stating that the arts are essential across all stages of life and that creativity is a fundamental part of who we are. 

  • Ronald J. Rossmann Jr.

    Ronald J. Rossmann Jr.

    “Create relentlessly, and don’t be afraid to fail. Failure isn’t the opposite of success; it’s a necessary part of it.”

    Quick Facts

    Years of Experience: 10 Years

    About

    A writer, director, and producer with ten years of experience, Ronald J. Rossmann Jr. Is the Owner and Creative Director of Be Your Own Hero Productions, LLC, a York, SC-based independent film and storytelling company. His passion for science fiction and horror was ignited in his early years by his uncle who cemented Ronald in classic genre films such as “Thing from Another World” and “Forbidden Planet”. Though he spent years crafting stories privately, it wasn’t until Ronald’s late thirties and forties that he began sharing his work with the world. 

    His filmmaking journey began with a web series shot in a single take for its first two seasons, eventually expanding to over forty episodes. He then moved into feature filmmaking, starting with a fan film before writing and directing his first full-length horror feature, “You’re It”. For Ronald, storytelling is not just a passion; it is essential. He describes it as “a lifeline” he cannot imagine existing without. What sets his creative process apart is a deep investment in developing complex, authentic characters audiences can genuinely connect with. From there, the story reveals itself. “In many cases, the characters begin to guide me,” he says, “revealing their choices, their struggles, and the paths they’re meant to take.” 

    One of the most meaningful aspects of Ronald’s journey is the origin of Be Your Own Hero Productions. It began as a cosplay collective, a group of performers dedicated to appearing at charity events and community functions, always fully in character and committed to creating immersive, joyful experiences. The mission: to bring heroes, hope, and smiles to people who need it most. Over time, those bonds and that shared creative spirit carried over into filmmaking. The name was born from a period in Ronald’s own life when he had to find a way through darkness. With the mission to bring light to other, he often reflects, “Sometimes you must be the one to stand up, to push forward, and to pull yourself out of the darkness.” 

    Outside of filmmaking and writing, Ronald serves as COO of a major staffing firm. He draws a clear distinction between the two sides of his life; the first building futures for others and the second producing worlds from the inside out. He encourages emerging creatives to understand their own capacity, receive and apply constructive criticism, develop the skill of self-editing, and above all, avoid comparing themselves to others. “This isn’t a competition,” he says. “It’s a craft.”