Patty Hansen

Patty Hansen has co-authored many of the most beloved stories in the Chicken Soup for the Soul® collection. With her writing partner Irene Dunlap, she contributed to Chicken Soup for the Kid's Soul, Chicken Soup for the Kid's Soul 2, Chicken Soup for the Preteen Soul, Chicken Soup for the Preteen Soul 2, Chicken Soup for the Soul Christmas Treasury for Kids, Chicken Soup for the Child's Soul and Chicken Soup for the Girl's Soul. Hansen also co-authored Condensed Chicken Soup for the Soul and Out of the Blue: Delight Comes into Our Lives.

Prior to her career as an author, Patty worked for United Airlines as a flight attendant. During her 13 years in the air, she received two commendations for bravery: one for preparing her passengers for a successful planned emergency landing as the only flight attendant on board, and the second for single-handedly extinguishing a fire onboard a mid-Pacific flight, which saved hundreds of lives.

Patty hung up her flight attendant wings in 1979 and married a young, enthusiastic motivational speaker, Mark Victor Hansen, future co-founder of Chicken Soup for the Soul. She was his wife and business partner for the next 27 years.

In 1998, Patty became the President of Legal and Licensing for Chicken Soup for the Soul Enterprises, Inc. As head of licensing, Patty guided her company into co-branded marketing partnerships with corporations such as Arby's, for a kid's meal premium promotion; and Diet-Coke, Pfizer and NASCAR, creating customized promotional booklets. Simultaneously, as the head of the legal department, she navigated copyright and trademark law in contract negotiations with authors, agents and attorneys.

Patty's marriage to Mark Victor Hansen recently ended after nearly 30 years together, though the two remain on friendly terms. Her latest book, Chicken Soup for the Soul: Divorce and Recovery (Chicken Soup for the Soul, October 2008, 978-1-935096-21-4, $14.95), is a collection of real-life inspirational stories written by those who have been through divorce and emerged happy, healthy and independent.

Patty currently resides in Newport Beach, Calif., with her two daughters, Elisabeth, age 23, and Melanie, age 21; Elisabeth's husband, Chris, and their young children Seth and Kira; and Patty's mother, Shirley, age 90. Patty also provides a home for an array of animal friends, including two rabbits, five horses, four dogs, three cats, four birds, 32 fish, eight pigeons, 36 chickens, a haven for hummingbirds, and a butterfly farm. Her position at Chicken Soup for the Soul Enterprises, Inc., has been completed, leaving her open to pursue new adventures.

Since its first release in 1993, the Chicken Soup for the Soul series has sold more than 112 million copies in the US and Canada alone, with more than 180 titles and 40 languages. The brand holds a place in The Guinness Book of World Records for having the most books on the New York Times bestseller list at one time, and in 2007, USA Today named Chicken Soup for the Soul one of the five most memorable and impactful books in the last quarter century. For more information, visit www.chickensoup.com.

To schedule an interview with Patty Hansen or receive a review copy, please contact Rusty Shelton at (512) 785-4469 or [email protected].