Wayne Magazine Back To School 2016 | Page 19

“The Power of a Son’s Kiss” was the first thing I ever got published. It appeared in The Parent Paper under the fictitious name Stephen Wayne.” STEVE RUSINIAK author ANNE-MARIE CARUSO A father’s undying love turns up in newspapers locally and around the country every year. Sometimes it’s called “The True Meaning of Memorial Day.” In “Hope’s name is Danny,” I wrote about my friend who donated bone marrow to a stranger. I wrote about “My most memorable kiss.” I was 12; she gave me the flu. A cancer survivor group found the story I wrote for my mom, Resting at her feet. I’ve gotten emails from all around the world. I answer every email ([email protected]) I get. When I’m not writing I enjoy talking about writing and my Chicken Soup stories with elementary school classes or Packanack Church’s Members of Leisure. I did a book signing at an ADOPT fundraiser at Pequannock Animal Shelter. I will admit that I’ve been very lucky. I just set up a website, stephenrusiniak.com. There are a lot of nice comments, and some break your heart. This is why I write! ■ – As told to Carol Bott Jarger SOUL MAN Steve Rusiniak is the author of numerous heartwarming stories that have appeared in magazines, newspapers and the Chicken Soup for the Soul anthologies. BACK TO SCHOOL 2016 WAYNE MAGAZINE 17