Linda began her writing career in 1980 as a weekly columnist for the Statesman Journal newspaper in Salem, Oregon.  In 1981 she became a stringer with the Oregon National Guard newspaper, THE AZUWUR. Over the next twenty years she wrote for various newspapers, to include; Forest Grove News Times,  The Oregonian, Hillsboro Argus,   USA TODAY,  and had several articles featured in numerous magazines, to include Reader's Digest; Troop Support Digest, National Guard Magazine  and; published her first book: Through Her Eyes, in 1990 with Beyond Words Publishing Company, the same company that  released America's #1 best seller The Secret.  

            Ten years ago she joined the Chicken Soup for the Soul team, i.e., Health Communications, Inc., (www.chickensoup.com) and had her story The Most Precious Gift  reprinted in Chicken Soup for the Father's Soul.  She also won their 1st Place Award for Chicken Soup for the Everyday American's Hero Soul with her story, The Littlest Hero.   Most recently Linda was featured in Chicken Soup for the Soul, Like Mother, Like Daughter, with another reprint of The Most Precious Gift.   

             Linda, along with Nikolette Adams and Barbette Jensen (Ernie's two oldest daughters) founded the Hide and Seek Foundation, Inc., a national search organization for missing children in 1983.  This came after a nineteen year separation with them.  Collectively they worked with numerous organizations to help in the location of missing loved ones.  In the first three years, they, along with their staff, located and reunited 317 individuals with their families. The organization was instrumental in the Missing Children's Network and was the first agency to put missing children on grocery bags.  It created the Video Operators Children Alert Line (VOCAL) and was among the first agencies to participate in the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in Washington DC.  

            Linda published the first step-by-step search handbook for families of missing loved ones in 1984,  titled: The Panic Button.  

             In 1986 she, founded the Circle "R" Ranch, Inc., a therapeutic horseback-riding ranch for children, teens and adults, faced with physical, mental and/or emotional challenges. 

            In 1987, the Eye Bank Association of America recognized Linda as one of the nation's leading spokesperson's for cornea transplants and sight restoration. Proceeds from Linda's first book, Through Her Eyes, went to sight restoration programs worldwide.  

            In 1989 Linda became the county Director for Centre County Community Action a sub-division of Central Pennsylvania Community Action, where she created and implemented programs and services for low-incomed families.  While director, Linda wrote a budget handbook for low-income families titled, MONEY, How to Get What You Want in Life.   It was a teaching tool for clients in how to set up a budget for their household and manage their money.  From 1989 through 1993 Linda worked with J. Gordon Chamberlin, from Greensboro, NC in a Multi-state Coalition Addressing the Systemic Cause of Poverty in America.   By 1993 she was featured in 2000 Notable American Women.   

             Today, Linda is devotes her spare time to writing inspirational stories for various magazines. She is busy working on her second book, A Spirit Never Broken , to be released early 2010; and is fast becoming an advocate and motivational speaker on issues relating to overcoming adversity.   

            Her next novel is titled, What About Me , dedicated to all "siblings" who feel they have been slighted by the attention that is inadvertently given to a child that has unexpectedly died at an early age due to an illness or tragic accident.  Too often these siblings/children feel left walking in the shadow of the departed sister or brother. It is not easy and often brings about feelings of guilt for resenting the special attention that is given to their deceased family member. It is a very tough road to walk and can almost be related to children who have turned to drugs. So much attention is going to the one that needs help and the ones that are trying so hard to do the right thing -- feel tossed aside. What About Me - focuses on the  "surviving" children and how to start a new life with them, without the loss of a brother or sister.    

             To contact Linda Rivers, you can email her at riverslj@aol.com or reach her for speaking engagements at 651-252-8168.