Bio
New Jersey native Stefanie "Stef" Sears received her Bachelor's Degree (BA) in English from Montclair State University (MSU) and also graduated from Lacordaire Academy. Along with her English literature courses at MSU, she also attended theater and film classes.
During her school years, Stefanie wrote and edited for both MSU's student run newspaper, The Montclarion, and Lacordaire's newspaper, Checkerboard/Laco Nation, for which in her senior year became Editor-in-Chief. For a modern journalism class Stefanie took in her Fall 2010 semester at MSU, she wrote an article about New Jersey anime convention AnimeNEXT, which would eventually be published in The Montclarion and used as a reference on Wikipedia. Stefanie has since freelanced professionally for publications such as Patch (Patch being her first real consistent writing job), TAPinto, Baristanet, Downtown Magazine, The Hudson Independent, New View Media Group, Montclair Local and BC The Mag. Other publications she wrote for are JuJu Good News, Pop Culture Fan, Awesome NJ, Suburban Trends, Dining Out New Jersey, NJ Life & Leisure and K2 Holdings magazines South Mountain Says Magazine and Fayson Lakes Fax Magazine.
Stefanie's main niche is writing articles about the arts and culture industry, a majority about artists from New Jersey. Some notable interviewees of hers are Chef Dana Cohen ("Hell's Kitchen"), Jimmy Palumbo (Beer League), Carly Blaney, Emily James (RI), Teddy Coffey (NY), and Serge Onik ("So You Think You Can Dance"), Dylan Hartigan ("The Voice"), and Jessica Vosk (Wicked).
In addition to her article writing, Stefanie is a playwright and aspiring novelist. She submitted her plays to various playwright competition and festivals. She is now currently working on new plays and other creative writing.
In October 2017, Stefanie debuted in her first community theater production portraying the ditzy and flaky lady-in-waiting Sophie in the Studio Players 2017-2018 season show of 'Wooing Wed Widing Hood'. During this experience she also interviewed her fellow cast members and creative team and produced short video interviews that can be found on the Studio Playhouse Facebook page and YouTube channel.
Stefanie has been writing for her own blog "Taking it One Stef at a Time" since January 2011 where she shares her musings about life and arts and entertainment. After awhile she began to branch her thoughts to her YouTube channel and audio and podcasting. In January/February 2016, she started the all-women young adult writers group Literally! that has since been put on hiatus in January 2018.
For more information about her past educational and professional experiences, you can check out her LinkedIn profile.
As of 2019/2020, Stefanie's freelance writing career has been put on hold. What is next for her writing wise remains uncertain.
During her school years, Stefanie wrote and edited for both MSU's student run newspaper, The Montclarion, and Lacordaire's newspaper, Checkerboard/Laco Nation, for which in her senior year became Editor-in-Chief. For a modern journalism class Stefanie took in her Fall 2010 semester at MSU, she wrote an article about New Jersey anime convention AnimeNEXT, which would eventually be published in The Montclarion and used as a reference on Wikipedia. Stefanie has since freelanced professionally for publications such as Patch (Patch being her first real consistent writing job), TAPinto, Baristanet, Downtown Magazine, The Hudson Independent, New View Media Group, Montclair Local and BC The Mag. Other publications she wrote for are JuJu Good News, Pop Culture Fan, Awesome NJ, Suburban Trends, Dining Out New Jersey, NJ Life & Leisure and K2 Holdings magazines South Mountain Says Magazine and Fayson Lakes Fax Magazine.
Stefanie's main niche is writing articles about the arts and culture industry, a majority about artists from New Jersey. Some notable interviewees of hers are Chef Dana Cohen ("Hell's Kitchen"), Jimmy Palumbo (Beer League), Carly Blaney, Emily James (RI), Teddy Coffey (NY), and Serge Onik ("So You Think You Can Dance"), Dylan Hartigan ("The Voice"), and Jessica Vosk (Wicked).
In addition to her article writing, Stefanie is a playwright and aspiring novelist. She submitted her plays to various playwright competition and festivals. She is now currently working on new plays and other creative writing.
In October 2017, Stefanie debuted in her first community theater production portraying the ditzy and flaky lady-in-waiting Sophie in the Studio Players 2017-2018 season show of 'Wooing Wed Widing Hood'. During this experience she also interviewed her fellow cast members and creative team and produced short video interviews that can be found on the Studio Playhouse Facebook page and YouTube channel.
Stefanie has been writing for her own blog "Taking it One Stef at a Time" since January 2011 where she shares her musings about life and arts and entertainment. After awhile she began to branch her thoughts to her YouTube channel and audio and podcasting. In January/February 2016, she started the all-women young adult writers group Literally! that has since been put on hiatus in January 2018.
For more information about her past educational and professional experiences, you can check out her LinkedIn profile.
As of 2019/2020, Stefanie's freelance writing career has been put on hold. What is next for her writing wise remains uncertain.