About Vicki Mayk in her own words: "I can still remember the first time I walked into a newsroom. I was 12 and it was early on a Sunday morning – probably one of the only times that it’s quiet in a place where the insanity of putting out a daily newspaper takes place. I was meeting one of the writers I admired, a dream come true for a kid from Pittsburgh who aspired to be a writer. It was a place where magic happened: Men and women wrote true stories about real people. I fell in love with writing those kinds of stories and my passion for it has never changed. First as a reporter on the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and The Courier News in Bridgewater, N.J., and later as the editor of three university magazines, writing stories about real people, places and events has been my passion. And passion is where good storytelling begins. It’s never been “just the facts, ma’am.” During my career, I also worked for a large health-care network, writing stories about the people who deliver care and the patients who receive it. Later, as a content writer, I knew telling good stories – not writing ad copy – was the best way to build a brand in a compelling and memorable way. When I earned a Master of Fine Arts degree, I considered writing poetry or plays, but the pull of the true story remained strong and I focused on creative nonfiction. I started writing about my own life – and began helping to teach others how to write their stories. I’ve taught writing in a hospice bereavement program, adult education workshops and in a college class called “The Power of Story.” Growing Up On The Gridiron, my first nonfiction book, gave me a new opportunity to tell a true story with the kind of detail and depth I’ve always brought to my work. That’s my true story."