Phoenix Writers Club Author Profile

Colleen Picard

Colleen (CC) Picard grew up hiking, swimming, and playing under Montana’s Big Blue Sky. She discovered her love for writing in junior high when she began writing poetry. After 26 years behind a salon chair, she retired as a professional master haircolorist. During those working years, at 53, she graduated with an online Bachelor of Science degree in Communications and Technical Writing. Later, she obtained numerous coaching certifications covering all aspects of holistic wellness, enabling her to use both her writing and coaching skills with her clients.

Saying goodbye was very difficult, but retirement offered new opportunities – particularly the time needed to dig into her list of writing projects.

Her first book, about quitting nicotine (a project started in her 30s), was self-published through Kindle Direct Publishing, followed by her second book, which is designed to help customize home exercise routines.

Currently, a children’s book series, The Lake-Side Snowbirds Collection, is underway. The focus is on grandparent/grandchild real-life relationships that exemplify fun silliness, kindness, and values, along with health-focused topics.

Over the past few years, Colleen has been working on a more complex book focused on creating holistic harmony and hopes to publish it before 2027.

Select Publications

QUIT NICOTINE - YES, FOREVER DAMMIT!

he physical addiction to nicotine leaves your body in a relatively short time, as you know. It’s the mental part that kicks your butt. The connection. The habit. The dependency. Whatever you want to call it

Probably nothing worthwhile has ever been easy for you in the past, and that’s okay, because all you really need now is for this to be simple.

And it is. You will learn how to push through all the bullshit without having to wade through scary statistics. You will learn how to gain control of your habitual behaviors, destroy self-recrimination, and understand what it means to be free, once and for all, from the grip of nicotine. Whether you smoke, vape, or chew, you will peacefully end your relationship with nicotine and become a much stronger person in the process.

No, there will probably never be a good day to quit, I know, but why wait? Let this book lead you through an enjoyably life-changing journey of discovery and self-awareness while learning up-to-date strategies for long-term success. You can trust that many new doors will open, offering choices you didn’t know existed.

You have nothing to lose and everything to gain by taking this next step toward claiming your freedom. Why now? Because this time, dammit, you WILL succeed!

For Seniors and "Out-of-Shapers", 30 Days of Guided Exercise Tracking: Pick-n-Choose Your Home Routine

Are you an “out-of-shaper” struggling to maintain an exercise routine?

Are you tired of fumbling through pages of instructions, pausing exercise videos, or repeating the same routines over and over? Do you want your body in better shape, but can't stick with a program once you start? That used to be me, but not anymore. I finally found a way to create sustainable and fulfilling workouts, and I want to share my strategy with you.

With this guide, you will easily learn to design your own routines based on how your body feels on any given day. You will be taking full control of your workout sessions with confidence and precision by eliminating the guesswork that slows you down.

How? This easy-to-read tracker allows you to customize your home workouts by selecting only the exercises you want from the day’s chart of familiar and recognizable exercises, all of which are strategically organized across 30 charts, for both beginners and intermediates - WITHOUT getting on the floor. There’s also an optional section for tracking your nutrition. Plus, an additional 30 Blank Charts for you to continue designing your own workouts. So, if you’re looking for simplicity, convenience, and results, this guide offers all three.

The Snowbirds and The Lemonade Stand

Put your imagination to work! This book's characters are left to the reader's imagination, with no references to facial features or skin tone, which definitely adds to the fun. Follow two grandchildren who have left their home in the snowy mountains to spend winter vacation with their desert-dwelling grandparents. Watch their vacation turn into an unexpected adventure as they aim to earn money to buy Grampa a birthday gift. The grandparents' many snowbird friends all play a surprising part in helping the children achieve their goal. Join kidpreneurs Patrick and Marleigh as they turn an idea into a great success, but not without teamwork and learning many wonderful lessons!

The Snowbirds and the Oopsie Trail

This year, Grayson is spending his winter vacation visiting his grandparents in the desert. When he arrives, he sees a view unlike anything he has seen at home, and he is especially excited when he spots the walking trails! Soon enough, his morning is unfortunately marred by fumbling mishaps, so his Papa and Coco encourage him to go outside and explore the Snowbird community trails. Eagerly, he does, but only to find himself facing even MORE unexpected OOPSIES.

As Grayson meets some amazing Snowbirds along the way, their kindness and understanding help him uncover a rather extraordinary truth about how OOPSIES fit into our lives