About Us
Who is CJ Corki? It is a pen name used as a tribute to the father of three of five sisters. CJ represents his initials, and Corki is a Polish derivative of daughters; thus, CJ’s daughters. These women dealt with the challenges of balancing work, life, and reluctant readers by day, developing into amateur children’s book sleuths by night… while wearing their bunny slippers, of course.
At an early age, they learned to appreciate and respect their differences and they hope to inspire others to remember the value of family, the importance of individual abilities, and to work together in harmony.
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Meet The Team
If you ever wondered who are the brains behind the CJ Corki team, check out this video.
We have gathered a group of highly skilled and passionate professionals who are dedicated to creating high-quality products and books for both Intentional Grandparents and reluctant readers. All written in open dyslexic font for ease of reading…that was our camera operators idea.
Carlene Szostak
Carlene has an unusual package of strengths, a global speaker, author, and consultant advising executive and leadership teams to bring the best out of people with passion and enthusiasm. Also the author of Plan, Organize, R.I.P., a hands-on guide to putting your final affairs in order.
In her free time, she and 2 other sisters are writing children books under the pen name CJ Corki. When she isn’t working, you’ll find Carlene researching her next book, walking her dog and hunting down the perfect wave while sipping wine at sunset.
Charlotte McLaughlin
Charlotte, the President of McLaughlin Media Mix, develops the sales of new and existing business for all AARP Media Solutions (AARP The Magazine, AARP Bulletin & AARP.org) for the entire Southeastern region of the United States.
After she received her Communications degree from St. Norbert College in 1981, she moved to Atlanta and experienced several successful entrepreneurial endeavors. The biggest success is her current 27 years at McLaughlin Media Mix selling advertising for AARP.
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Madeline Hoge
Madeline is the Founder of Belle-Hampton Consulting, a practice focused on working closely with Enterprise Families around Governance Best Practices, Long-Term Success Mapping, and Generational Succession Planning. She is the author of Sleeping in the Valley, a historical biography of prominent Virginia families. She is also the co-author of a children’s book series under CJ Corki. Madeline enjoys preserving legacies on the family farm, Belle-Hampton.
LinkedIn Profile
Inspiration From Above
In 2007, CJ arrived in heaven, reporting as the new angel in town. His name was Charles Joseph. While on earth, he was a Grandfather extraordinaire. His storytelling and kind heart influenced his grandchildren when they were young and for a few, right up until their teens. CJ's backyard, set on a picturesque lake, was the most fantastic playground for all to enjoy. There, he taught them to fish, boat, and pluck magical marshmallows off of a bush. This gallery is our inspiration for the soon to be published, "The Marshmallow Mystery."
Vision: The Szostak Sisters (3) aspire to have a global influence by making a difference in the lives of children and their families everywhere. Our journey is one of curiosity and discovery with the goal of leaving a legacy and a positive impact on others.
Mission: To design a legacy that inspires stories from the past, and newly crafted ones, by sprinkling seeds of magic on our children and grandchildren to grow the rising generation of storytellers.
We accomplish this by:
Improving as a family by creating an environment that will nurture the bond between the rising generation and extended family.
Working with each other in the spirit of collaboration, kindness, and support.
Committing the time and focusing our energy toward our individual creativity to attain our superpower synergy.
Serving each other by listening first, complementing often, and finding a way to collaborate, all while empowering others to be their authentic selves.
Supporting our community by promoting learning through volunteer organizations, schools, and other institutions.
Core Values:
Magical – To promote wonder, joy, and curiosity in children, parents, grandparents, and ourselves.
Authenticity –To be genuine and true to ourselves, each other, and our readers, regardless of differences.
Empowerment – We share knowledge freely and support each other to reach our full potential collectively.
Learning –To actively pursue knowledge, explore new possibilities, and inspire others while giving permission to color outside the lines.
Relationships –To engage with each other, our readers, and their families by creating an atmosphere of support and happiness.
