Ken and Dahlynn live in a rural community near Sacramento, California. Friends and business partners for twenty years, they married in 2002; between the two of them, they have three children from previous marriages (Shawn, 11, Lahre, 16 and Jason, 30), two dogs and a very busy schedule. As joint owners of their business "Publishing Syndicate," the pair stay busy, but still find time for each other and one of their passions--traveling. They also volunteer for local and national nonprofit organizations and at their local elementary school.

Ken is a freelance photographer and writer, having sold his first feature article and photos in 1977. He has been a California State Park Ranger and senior writer for the California State Parks' marketing/PR offices, producing copy for books, brochures, ad campaigns, video productions and PSAs, speeches, and magazine and newspaper feature stories. Ken also has an extensive background as a grant writer and administrator, guiding the grant writing efforts of dozens of California organizations to the successful approval of millions of dollars in state, federal and private foundation grants. Fortunately, Ken retired in 2005 after dedicating thirty years of his expertise to the State of California.

Now focusing his expertise on what he wants to do, Ken has jumped into another full-time job, helping with the writing business. When he manages to sneak away from his computer, Ken can be found building wood furniture, playing the piano and guitar, taking care of the family's one acre "ranch" (complete with an 1880s Western theme town), cycling along the American River, fishing on mountain streams, or goofing off with his two awesome stepchildren...when they should be concentrating on their homework! He is also "Papa Kenny" to his three-year-old grandson Jacob, who loves spending time with his grandpa, and 13-year old granddaughter Ashlyn.

Dahlynn is also a freelance writer, having sold her first feature article in 1987. Since that first sale, she has sold/published over 2,000 articles including business, B&B and restaurant reviews, travel destinations, human interest stories and more. She has been a guest newspaper columnist, a writer for the California Office of Tourism and a contract writer for various tourism and business marketing projects. She has ghostwritten stories for a past U.S. president, more than two dozen Fortune 500 corporation founders and a couple of California governors. She is currently the primary coauthor of Chicken Soup for the Entrepreneur's Soul, working with more than 60 founders of some of the country's biggest and most successful companies, all of whom she convinced just had to be in her book. She now tours the country with many of these entrepreneurs, speaking about business and the art of writing at major conferences and to the media. The McKowens also spend leisure time with many of these entrepreneurs as well.

For fun, Dahlynn loves playing board games and cooking gourmet feasts with her Shawn, giggling about boys with daughter Lahre, discovering new travel destinations with Ken, jokingly convincing people that her name is not pronounced "Dar-lin," like a Southern darling, but "Daa-Lin" with the accent on the "L," and watching what she calls the "original reality show" -- Antiques Roadshow on PBS. (The family is so busy they don't even have cable!) Reading is one of Dahlynn's many passions, as well as volunteering at her son's school. And yes, the rumors are true...she is thirteen years younger than Ken, but age makes no difference when you're sharing your life with your best friend and soul mate!

Helping Others
Ken and Dahlynn donate both time and a percentage of their publishing profits to various nonprofit organizations. For example, a portion of the proceeds from Chicken Soup for the Fisherman's Soul goes to the Sheridan Arts Foundation's (SAF) annual "Wild West Fest." Located in Telluride, Colorado, each year SAF (www.sheridanoperahouse.com/wwf.htm)brings deserving inner-city kids to Telluride for weeklong mentorship workshops in acting, singing, horseback riding, Native American dancing, arts and fly fishing.

They also work closely with The LifeSkills Center for Leadership, based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Founded in 2001 by "Famous" Dave Anderson (founder of Famous Dave's restaurants and many more national eateries), the organization's objectives are to instill a sense of passion and hope and to empower youth to believe in themselves and to strive for their goals and dreams by learning business skills. To learn more, please visit www.lifeskills-center.org.