N. Bellmore writer featured in eight books

The “Chicken Soup for the Soul” series of books offers inspirational messages on nearly every level — from stories about Christmas to animal lovers. For North Bellmore writer Monica Andermann, the series was a perfect fit.

The books each feature more than a hundred true short stories. Andermann has 10 stories that have appeared in eight different “Chicken Soup” books. The latest book, “Shaping the New You,” focuses on stories about weight loss, fitness and healthy eating. Andermann’s story, “No Meat for Me, Thanks,” tells of her journey toward becoming a vegetarian. Seeing her stories in the “Chicken Soup” books was Andermann’s goal, she said. She said she loves to write stories in that genre. “They’re feel-good, they’re true stories, they’re inspirational,” she said.

Yet, Andermann, who’s in her 40s, didn’t take a traditional route to writing. She spent 20-plus years working in medical billing, with no intention of changing course. But one week she told a co-worker, “I really think that if I didn’t work here, I could do something great.”

That was in 2007 when the economy was starting to crash. The following week, Andermann was handed a cardboard box and told that she was no longer needed. She said that moment was, without doubt, a blessing in disguise.

Andermann went back to school at Empire State College in Old Westbury to earn her bachelor’s degree in literature, with a focus on creative writing. Over two years, she submitted non-fiction motivational pieces to literary magazines, as well as tried her hand at poetry.

Andermann said her goal when writing is to entertain readers and “put somebody in a good frame of mind.” She writes every day and regularly attends Long Island Writers’ Guild meetings for advice from fellow writers. Nearly anything can “spark” a new idea for a piece, she said.

Life’s day-to-day nuances can make for the best stories.

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