about chris

Chris Stuckenschneider is a columnist and the book editor at the Washington Missourian, where she has been employed for the past 12 years. Each week, she writes, “Sights and Insights” a column about her life and area happenings.

A lifelong, avid reader, Chris shares that passion with Missourian readers of all ages through two additional monthly columns on books.
In “Novel Ideas,” Chris offers adult readers a glimpse into popular new fiction and non-fiction releases. Excerpts of Chris’ reviews for The Missourian have made their way onto the covers of books by well-known authors.

Book Buzz is the brainchild of Stuckenschneider and her Missourian colleague and friend Dawn Kitchell. The pair created Book Buzz seven years ago and in that time it has blossomed into a community service project that benefits thousands of area students.

To make the Book Buzz books accessible to area children, Stuckenschneider works with more than 19 local service groups, businesses and individuals who annually donate the Book Buzz books to all school libraries in Washington, Union, St. Clair, Pacific, and the surrounding communities. To date more than 7,000 Book Buzz Books have been donated. The Book Buzz Youth Literacy Project has received many state and national awards, including the Friend of the School Library Award from the Missouri Association of School Libraries.

Reading hundreds of children’s books each year, and hosting authors locally for special engagements has given Chris great insight into quality children’s book publishing.

Those experiences and a “Twist of Fate” enabled Chris to pursue her dream to write her own children’s book. This past spring that dream came true when “Twist of Fate, the Miracle Colt and his Friends,” was published. Stuckenschneider is now immersed in book signings with the 2-year-old horse, Twister, often by her side.

Chris served nine years as a trustee at Washington Public Library and is a founding member of the library’s Friends of the Library group, serving as the organization’s first president. Last year, Chris received the Velma Jones Stroetker award from the library for her dedication to community literacy.

Prior to her position at The Missourian, Stuckenschneider taught school for seven years—English and Journalism at Washington High School and English at St. Gertrude School.

Chris graduated from Fontbonne University in 1992 with a B.A. degree and honors in English. Chris graduated with honors and an A.A. Degree from East Central College in 1989, and was presented with the ECC Award for Outstanding Achievement in English from her mentor, the late Dr. Bob Harvey, ECC English instructor.

While at ECC, Chris worked in the Writing Center and appeared on the stage in numerous ECC productions. 

Chris lives in Washington with her husband Sparky. The couple has three daughters and five grandchildren.