Stephanie has been writing since she was a young girl. Poems, stories, essays and “serious” things - she was her 4H club’s secretary and dutifully typed up meeting minutes. It’s a few years later now, and Stephanie’s writing work has since been published in magazines, anthologies and poetry journals.

Stephanie has also been a tea drinker since the early days. Her passion for tea led her down the rabbit hole in the late 90’s, and the hole keeps going deeper. She has experience with several tea brewing styles including Afternoon Tea and Chinese and Japanese traditions. She has studied Chanoyu (Japanese Tea Ceremony, Urasenke) for 12 years. Stephanie works to respect the brewing culture and people — tea farmers, pickers, makers, sellers — of the tea she drinks.

Professionally, Stephanie has worked as a journalist (public radio) and for 25 years in the tech sector, in a number of roles all centered around connecting and developing individuals and teams. When not drinking tea, she works as a Leadership and Team Coach and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion educator.

Photo credit: Andrea at Apis Photography

About 641 Tea and Writing: For those library fans, 641 is in reference to the “Food and Drink” section of the Dewey Decimal system. This is the inspiration for the name. (To be technical about it, tea books are found at 641.3, unless they are classified as fiction or biographies, or other non-food subjects.) I adore libraries, and they bring together my love of tea and writing. I’m often found at my local public library with my journal and a thermos of tea.