User:Candy J. Beard

EARLY LIFE: Candy Jo Beard is an American author and screenwriter. She was born in Danville, Illinois on October 17, 1969. Her parents divorced when she was three and she was shuffled around from home to home, and from state to state. She attended North Vermillion High School in Cayuga, IN her final year in school.

CAREER: Candy began her writing career in January 2005 when she wrote her first book titled, Please Don't Do That: Bullies in school are just not cool (recommended for grades one through three). The inspiration for this book was her own son, Christopher, for he had been a victim of school bullies for seven years. Candy also pulled her son from public school and began home schooling him in Jan. 2005. She began sending her book out to publishers, and on August 05, 2006, the book was published. In promoting her book, Candy was considered for a guest spot on The Dr. Phil Show, as well as The Montel Williams Show. She continued fighting to end bullies in school and did many television and newspaper interviews. She also spoke to young students about the life long pain bullies can cause their victims. Other parents and grandparents began e-mailing and calling Candy, to share their stories, making her feel she needed to continue her fight against bullies.

On May 14, 2007, she became a published author for the second time. Her second book was titled Please Don't Cry, Cheyenne: A story about bullying and friendships. This was a chapter book aimed at grades three through seven. On Aug. 19, 2008, Candy followed her first chapter book with the publication of Everything She Ever Wanted: Cheyenne's story continues: (for grades four through eight) And on Oct. 09, 2009 the third book in the series, Cheyenne: A true test of friendship (for grades six through nine) was published.

In trying her best to promote awareness and stop other children from being tortured the way her son was, Candy created a support group for parents called "MABIS" or Mothers Against Bullies in School. She campaigned by traveling and making appearances at libraries, schools and television stations.

In addition to writing for children, Candy became a novelist. Her published novels are: Vanished (Apr. 21, 2008), Terror on the Freeway (June 27, 2008), The Secret (Oct. 01, 2008), Can I Trust Him with My Heart? (Feb. 4, 2009), To Love, Lie & Betray (June 12, 2009) and Heartaches & Betrayal (May 04, 2010).

Candy also has a promising career in film writing. As of July 30, 2010, she has written ten full length screenplays, with one sale and one option. She has also written three short films, and two of those have already been sold. Her first written screenplay, "Vanished" which is based on a novel by the same name is set to be produced either in 2010 or 2011, and she is a co-producer on the film. With Candy's hard work and dedication to this film, the script is currently being read by country music singer/actress, LeAnn Rimes.

Another of Candy's screenplays (This Promise I Made) is set to be produced in November 2010 in Bristol, Rhode Island. Candy is currently working on her own Memoir and her eleventh screenplay, called Black & White.

PERSONAL LIFE: On April 02,1988 Candy married Mark R. Beard, of Clinton, IN. They have two sons, Daniel (born Nov. 1989) and Christopher (born August 1991). They currently reside in Clinton.