Meg Cox - Journalist, Author, Quilter, Traditions Expert

I’m in love with words and have wanted to be an author since I was a small girl growing up in Cleveland. I have earned my living writing since graduating from Northwestern University in 1975. Words comfort, nourish and delight me daily. But they are nothing next to the joy and support I receive from my family, especially my husband, my son and my sister.

Newspaper Career:

The Newark Advocate of Newark, OH
General reporter, farm editor and sometimes film critic.
On staff for 18 months.

The Wall Street Journal
Staff reporter in Chicago and New York with beats that ran the gamut from agriculture to culture. I interviewed everyone from Rupert Murdoch and Queen Latifah to the inventor of kitty litter. I harvested corn in Indiana, went to auctioneer’s school in Kansas City and spent a day with Frank Zappa in New York. The worst beats: commodities and television. The best: five blissful years covering the business of the arts, and five more covering publishing.
On staff for 17 years.

Freelance Writing and Speaking Career:

When my son was born, I switched gears and became a freelance writer. My published writings include three books and many magazine articles and columns. (see page on Traditions Work for details on my writing and lecturing). My first three books are:

“The Heart of a Family: Searching America for New Traditions That Fulfill Us”
Published by Random House, 1998

     “The Book of New Family Traditions: How to Create Great Rituals for Holidays
       & Everyday”
     Published by Running Press, 2003
     (Mini edition published 2006)

“The Quilter's Catalog: A Comprehensive Resource Guide”
Published by Workman, 2008

Other Interests:

Quilting: Just as I’m always in the middle of reading several books, I’m always at different stages of making multiple quilts. Just as I have stacks of books piled around that I’m dying to read, I’ve got stacks of gorgeous fabric piled up that I can’t wait to turn into quilts.

Reading: My book group, which has been meeting monthly in Manhattan since 1987 keeps me sane and reading juicy classics. Our motto is Good Books by Dead People, and we’ve read nearly 200 of them so far.