Marlene Coulter is Canadian writer who was inspired by American humourists Erma Bombeck and Joan Rivers. After being a stay-at-home mother for over two decades, Marlene went back to school taking writing courses at Ryerson University and classes with the Second City School Program. She was published in a collection of shorts from the Winners Circle No. 7 International Contest, The Toronto Star magazine Neighbours, Poetry in America's National Library of Poetry and was a regular columnist in her local newspaper for many years. She joined Toastmasters to improve her public speaking skills and soon after won second place in a local competition. Her story was also featured in TVO's magazine in 2003.