The Cream Literary Alliance, Inc. is an organization of writers in West Palm Beach dedicated to promoting the power of the written and spoken word to effect positive change for both individuals and the community through education, outreach, and public events. We also seek to enhance the literary arts in South Florida by forming alliances with similar groups and awarding scholarships to Florida writers to attend writing conferences and programs.

Read about our inaugural event covered by the Palm Beach Post here. 

Read about our Literary Reading on climate change at the Norton Museum of Art here.

Read about the origins of The Cream Literary Alliance in Voyage MIA Most Inspiring Stories here

The Board of Directors

Ann Mallen earned a Master of Arts in Teaching from Quinnipiac University. She taught for eleven years and tutored for nine. She received fellowships and scholarships for several writing conferences including: Summer Literary Seminars, Writers in Paradise, and Wesleyan Writers Conference. She attended Bread Loaf twice, in 2012 for fiction and in 2017 for nonfiction. Her short stories have been read on NPR and performed publicly. Her fiction has also appeared in The Cortland Review, Grey Sparrow, Evening Street Review, and CALYX: A Journal of Art and Literature by Women. Her nonfiction has appeared in The Palm Beach Post, The Hartford Courant, The Washington Post, Reed Magazine, and elsewhere. In January 2015, she invited local writers into her living room to read from their best work. Three months later, the group outgrew her home and morphed into The Cream Literary Alliance, Inc. Read more at AnnMallen.com. 

Dr. Rebecca Dominguez-Karimi enjoys diversity in every respect. As an adjunct professor of English composition at Nova Southeastern University and Broward College, her inter-disciplinary research includes feminist ethics, Chicano history, transitional justice, broadcast journalism and oral history. An oral historian for 10 years, her podcasts/presentations highlight victims of racism and social injustice. She earned a research grant award for her project and presented her findings at national, regional and local symposiums. 

Karimi studied creative writing at the University of California, Irvine under Oakley Hall, Director, MFA Creative Writing Program and Dr. Kitty Oliver, Writer in Residence, MFA Creative Writing Program, Florida Atlantic University. Dr. Kevin Petrich, FAU professor and local PBS radio host, served as her mentor in broadcast journalism. While at FAU, Karimi also served as Non-Fiction Editor for Coastlines Literary Journal and received the Frank & Courtney Brogan Creative Writing Award. She’s published in books and journals, was awarded a research fellowship from the Institute of Museum & Library Services and holds memberships in professional, academic and historical societies.

Jann Hiller Seal, a former high school English teacher, was introduced to the craft of writing dialogue when she was hired as an assistant to the head writer of the soap opera "Days of Our Lives." Over the years, she wrote for "General Hospital," "Search for Tomorrow," and "Guiding Light" and was the onscreen writer for the CBS soap, "Capitol." She wrote long-term story for "As the World Turns" and was an on-screen writer for the syndicated soap "Rituals." Jann also published Cooking, It Ain't Rocket Science and has written or edited over 2,000 articles for an online aggregator with many of her pieces featured in the San Francisco Chronicle. Matchsticks, an Education in Black and White, co-written by Jann was published in 2021 and tells of a white man’s education at an all-black college during the turbulent 60’s.

Lúcia Leão is a translator and a writer originally from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Her work has appeared or is forthcoming in South Florida Poetry Journal, SWWIM Every Day, Gyroscope Review, Chariton Review, Harvard Review Online, The Blue Mountain Review, and elsewhere. It is also included in the anthology Grabbed: Poets and Writers on Sexual Assault, Empowerment & Healing. Lúcia holds a master’s degree in Brazilian literature (UERJ–RJ, Brazil) and a master’s degree in print journalism (University of Miami–FL, USA). She is a book reviewer for RHINO literary magazine and a volunteer copyeditor for South Florida Poetry Journal. She has been living in South Florida for almost 30 years.

Sasha R. Moghimi-Kian writes about the dichotomy of being American when your parents are not, the stigma against mental illness and suicide, and how the political is personal. She's been published in The PEN Center's Anthology, Only Light Can Do That, The Miami Herald, and the online blog for the Florida Initiative for Suicide Prevention. She was also named an Aspen Emerging Writer Fellow, and attended Tin House Winter Workshop, VONA/Voices Regional Workshop. She's received scholarships from VORTEXT at Hedgebrook and The Cream Literary Alliance.

Lola Scobey studied philosophy on post-graduate scholarship at the University of Texas at Austin, then reveled in 16 years in the hit record business in Nashville, Muscle Shoals, LA, and New York. She co-founded and ran an entrepreneurial enterprise that pioneered the medical and home use of music therapy for children for over 20 years. The third of her three published books focus on sustainability and green design. She now works in Organizational Development. In addition to two certifications in sustainability, Lola has an MA in Theology and Culture, is a two-year certified spiritual director, a two-year certified psycho-spiritual healing provider, a certified Christian healing provider and holds certificates in the Enneagram, the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, and Focusing Therapy.

Ellyn Zarek is a writer from Jupiter, Florida.  An alumnus of the UMass Boston, College of Public and Community Service, Ellyn’s past positions have included program director in Massachusetts, a state wide advocacy and assessment program, past president of Region X of the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (AAIDD) as well as Past President of the Massachusetts Chapter. She currently is the Extended Day Director at The Weiss School for Talented and gifted students.  

Ellyn has had several short stories read on NPR radio and has published a non-fiction essay in Chicken Soup for the Soul. She has written one novel and has co-written a second novel.  She is busy writing a sequel to her first book. Ellyn enjoys volunteering. She is a genealogy buff and particularly appreciates American History. She is a prospective member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Jupiter Lighthouse Chapter.  Ellyn enjoys time with her family: husband Jeff, daughter Mary Ellyn and son Bradley, and Miniature Schnauzer, Daisy.  

Technical Advisor: Roxanne Darling is co-owner of Bare Feet Studios LLC, a web technology and digital marketing firm. She is also a published author and artist.

The Advisory Board

Mark Adduci, writing as J. M. LeDuc, is a native Bostonian, who transplanted to South Florida in 1985. He shares his love and life with his wife, Sherri and his daughter, Chelsea.

J.M. LeDuc’s first novel, “Cursed Blessing,” won a Royal Palm Literary Award in 2008 as an unpublished manuscript in the thriller category and was published in 2011. The rest of the Trilogy of the Chosen: “Cursed Presence” and “Cursed Days” followed in 2012, as well as a novella, “Phantom Squad”—a prequel to the trilogy. “Cornerstone,” the continuation of the Phantom Squad Series was published in 2013 to critical acclaim. 

“SIN,” released in May of 2014 is the first book in the new Sinclair O’Malley Series. “Painted Beauty,” book 2 in that series is slated for release in the latter part of 2015

He is published through Suspense Publishing. 

J.M. is a proud member of the prestigious International Thriller Writers (ITW) as well as the Florida Writers Association (FWA) and loves to interact with his fans.  He can be reached at jm_leduc@yahoo.com and on Facebook on his author page.

Eduardo Condes was born in Patillas, Puerto Rico and arrived to the U.S. at the age of four with pit stops in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and firmly planting roots in Chicago, Illinois by the time he was five. He started writing and reading poetry in his sophomore year of high school. He has participated in numerous poetry readings in schools, colleges, universities, book stores, cafes, festivals, and a prison. He has also taught poetry to children in elementary school. His work has been published in an anthology, Nosotros, and he has read his poetry on television. He lives in Palm Springs, Florida with his wife of forty-two years, has three grown children, and five wonderful grandchildren whom he adores!

Stacie Ramey learned to read at a very early age to escape the endless tormenting from her older siblings. Where the Wild Things Are was her first favorite book.

She attended the University of Florida, and Penn State where she received a Master of Science degree in Speech Pathology. 

She currently works with high school aged Autistic kids, introducing them to the literary worlds she grew up loving. When she’s not working or writing, she engages in Netflix wars with her children or beats her husband in Scrabble, all while watching the Florida Gators and Penn State Nittany Lions play (Go Gators). 

She is a member of SCBWI and leads a monthly SCBWI critique group in Wellington, Florida.

She lives in Florida with her husband, children, and rescue dogs.

Her debut young adult novel, The Sister Pact is due out November 2015 (Sourcebooks Fire).  

You can follow her on Facebook and on Twitter @stacieramey.

Phyllis Waldman Hoffman

Miami Beach in the 50s was sunshine and superior schools. Phyllis knew she wanted to be a writer and was encouraged by teachers and parents to do so. She met the man who would be her husband the month before he was drafted into the Army. They lived in Leipheim, Germany and travelled every chance they got. Writing was limited to long letters to relatives and friends.

Back in Florida, another reality prevailed. It was apparent early on that their second daughter, Troy, would require a different kind of care and that they would have to provide it. Phyllis went back to school, earned a Master’s Degree and after years of teaching, founded a non-profit school. Finally, the Writer’s Academy satisfied her lifelong itch to write.

Her honors include the Executive Women, Junior League, and Jewish Family Service and the President’s Points of Light. She has served on the Boards of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Bancroft Neuro- Health, Alpert Jewish Family and Children’s Service and South County Mental Health Center.

Nancy S. Sims is the author of a short story collection, VERBAL SNACKS. She is an ardent supporter of the literary arts. Through her work as a Book Fair Consultant, workshop facilitator and tutor she has hoped to promote her love of literature. Additionally, she has been involved in the National Jewish Book Council’s Author Program, assisting in bringing the latest Jewish literature to our community.

As a charter member of the Kravis Center’s Writing Circle Program excerpts of her work have been showcased at the Kravis Center of the Performing Arts and on the local NPR station. She has presented her book in New York, Detroit, Tampa, Boca Raton and Palm Beach. As a participant in the Yale University Writer’s Conference in 2015, she was engaged in a Master Class and Workshop led by Amy Bloom and Trey Ellis.

With Thanks for Service, In Memoriam

Gail Shepherd is a writer, editor, teacher, and journalist, with 30 years' experience in fiction and non-fiction writing and long-form journalism, for publications including Agence France-Presse, People, New Times, American Media, Palm Beach Free Press, NPR, and others. She co-published her own biweekly newspaper in Palm Beach County in the 1990s, and more recently has worked extensively in the K-12 education industry, supporting teachers and schools. She has received honors and awards from the James Beard Foundation; the Society of Professional Journalists; the Association of Food Journalists; the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators; and an individual artist’s grant from the Florida Arts Council. Gail’s debut middle grade novel, The True History of Lyndie B. Hawkins, was published by Kathy Dawson Books/Penguin to multiple starred reviews; the book was chosen as a Junior Library Guild Selection for 2019. Visit Gail online at GailShepherdauthor.com.

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