She is a member of SCBWI, who helped organize local SCBWI conferences for over ten years. In 2013, she was one of the co-founders of the Children's Writers of the Hudson Valley, a local group who organizes writing conference for the Mid-Hudson Valley.
She has worked as a nurse for many years in multiple settings from a small 100 bed hospital to a modest hospital with close to 400 beds. She worked as a substitute school nurse and was even reprimanded by the school principal when she saw a line of children that wrapped around the hallway leading into the nurse's office. Val was "too nice" and was to send the children back to class.
She was a junior girl scout leader for many years. The scouts were an inspiration and some have found their way into her stories. They enjoyed a yearly trip to Hershey Park and chose not to stay at the campground, but at a local college. Exposing the girls to a college setting was a wonderful opportunity.
Val's day job is working at a health center. She loves working with the little kids and is reminded daily how compassionate, innocent and honest they are.
tweet me @Val_Marchini
