ELKINS PARK AUTHOR MAKES DEBUT IN TWO CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL BOOKS TO BE RELEASED SEPTEMBER 27TH

ELKINS PARK, PA – (SEPTEMBER 15, 2005) – For the past decade, Meg Charendoff spent the better part of her days (and nights) nourishing the souls of her husband, four children, two cats and a dog, with her own brand of homemade chicken soup. In the past year, however, the 41-year old recovering attorney decided to nourish her own soul by pursuing her lifelong love of writing. And she has done so with much success, selling three of her first stories to the New York Times best-selling Chicken Soup for the Soul book series.

“When I received the phone call from the editor, it was like a Calgon ad – the dog was barking, the kids were screaming and I had no idea what I was going to make for dinner. I almost didn’t take the call. I thought when the editor asked for ‘M. L.Charendoff’ she was a telemarketer. I think I was a little rude at first.”

After their less than auspicious introduction, Chicken Soup for the Soul editor Carol Kline was able to garner all of Charendoff’s attention – and launch her writing career – with the simple words: “I loved your dog story and would like to use it.”

“By the end of the conversation I had an assignment from the editor – to submit more dog or cat stories – and I knew it was going to be a mac ‘n cheese night.”

Charendoff wrote and submitted two more stories, both of which were immediately accepted. And after almost a year and rigorous competition against thousands of other stories, all three of Charendoff’s submissions are being published in the latest two books in this popular series – Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover’s Soul and Chicken Soup for the Cat Lover’s Soul – to be released September 27, 2005.

In her story, Locked In, an edge-of-your-seat tale about the summer day her baby daughter and Labrador puppy were accidentally locked in a hot car, Charendoff shows just how strong the bonds of love and loyalty between dog and child can be. And in her cat stories, Perfect Match and Mayor Morris, Charendoff recounts how she found her feline soul mate at an animal shelter – just in time for the both of them – and how this sociable and very special cat became the ambassador of their neighborhood, helping an elderly and isolated neighbor feel more comfortable in her new home.

Having her stories accepted by Chicken Soup for the Soul was the first step toward the writing career Charendoff had always wanted.

“Hearing the Chicken Soup editor praise my stories and my writing gave me the encouragement I needed to pursue my dream of writing professionally.”

In just a year, Charendoff has become a regular contributor for several local and national publications and is pursuing regular freelance writing assignments. She also writes short fiction, and is currently working on a novel (as yet untitled), and a collection of personal essays.

The Chicken Soup for the Soul books were first published in 1993 and quickly rose to number one on the New York Times bestseller list. With over 80 million copies sold and 65 titles in 37 languages, Chicken Soup for the Soul has made international publishing history and garnered numerous prestigious awards for creators, Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen. Canfield and Hansen are joined on these new books by coauthors Marty Becker, Carol Kline, and Amy D. Shojai, as well as all the contributors, like Charendoff, whose stories are featured there.

Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover’s Soul and Chicken Soup for the Cat Lover’s Soul are available in bookstores and on-line booksellers like www.Amazon.com on September 27, 2005. These books, and others in the popular series, are also available from the Chicken Soup website, www.chickensoupforthesoul.com.