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Andrea Dietrich Biography

Andrea Dietrich grew up in Iowa and now resides in Utah with a spouse and two cats. She has two grown children and six grandchildren. Having graduated BYU with a Spanish major/ESL minor, she has spent most of her adult life teaching. It wasn't until 2000 that she began writing in earnest and discovering her "niche" as a writer of lyrical poetry. The internet opened up a new world for her, and she has spent two decades now participating in poetry clubs, acting as a judge of poetry contests for various magazines, for the website Shadow Poetry, and for Poetry Soup.

Ms. Dietrich has won numerous awards, as well as the title Poet of the Year 2008, from the Yahoo group, Poetry For Thought. In addition, she has won prizes from the magazines Lucidity, Bell's Letters, Art with Words, Poets at Work and SP Quill, the magazine for which she wrote grammar and poetry articles as well as movie reviews and for which she acted as poetry editor for the head editor Marie Summers for six years. Many of her poems appeared in Shadows Ink, a yearly published series of chapbooks of award winning poetry as well as in numerous other anthologies. Her short stories appeared in many issues of SP Quill and much of her poetry was published in eight chapbooks (no longer sold online).

Since coming to Poetry Soup, Ms. Dietrich has been both contest sponsor and winner of numerous contests. In 2010, her poem "Cinder Girl" was first place winner of Soup's International contest (these contests are no longer held). A song was created from her lyrics "Honeymoon Serenade" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WDWxc4cpHDc) and two movies have been made featuring the poetry of Andrea Dietrich: "A Tale of Fire and Ice" (a 4 min. Z-Film Fest Project, 2014) and the full length movie "Six Days of Sistine" in which 20 poems of Ms. Dietrichs serve as the thoughts of two characters played by Jamie Campbell Bower and Elarica Johnson (directed by Richard J. Perry, 2019) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7710360/

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Blog for Our Friend Chantelle

Blog Posted by Andrea Dietrich: 11/20/2022 12:41:00 PM

I am blogging about Chantelle Anne Cooke because she is someone i got to know pretty well this year and I think her true friends need to know that she is suffering severe depression. I knew that she was having email and FB problems, but at least I could always find her at Soup. Line told me that NOW Chantelle's poetry is not even up here!!! I need to know something. If a person lets their membership lapse, will soup remove their poetry?? Wouldn't a poet just lose Premier status yet still have their poetry up here? I really need to know this because if Soup removes lapsed Premier memberships, that could explain Chantelle's poetry being gone. But if Soup keeps our poetry up, it means that Chantelle was so depressed that she even took all her marvelous poetry down! That is just so tragic to me.

A few months back Chantelle blogged about her depression and wrote about one of her suicide attempts in a poem, so this isn't to be gossiping. i want to let everyone know the seriousness of her depression. I know all this for a fact because I've had phone conversations with her as well and she talks about these problems both here at Soup and with her friends, so she is not keeping it secret. Please if you have any way to contact Chantelle, let her know you are thinking of her, and pray for her too. She is such a sweet person.

My husband suffers from depression and my nephew last year killed himself over it. I personally do not understand depression because when I suffer, I just grin and bear it, but there are some people who suffer more than others or who have chemical imbalances, so it's a very real thing for many people, and we need to reach out to our friends in need. Right now Chantelle is not responding to my texts or phone calls and from my last interaction with her, I felt a very sad vibe. Chantelle, If you are reading this by chance, just know that you have good friends who want you around!

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Charlotte
Puddifoot

Date: 11/22/2022 7:02:00 AM

thanks for this blog, andrea, i know chantelle has been struggling with her health and depression, i know what it's like and how it can spiral into a dark place, and everything that's currently happening in the world doesn't help mental health either..let's hope she's just taking some time out and will return at some point, she seems such a nice person she doesn't deserve all this

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 11/22/2022 9:44:00 AM

I know about your depression as well, and all the terrible things you have endured. That pain came out in the poem that got my top spot. So sorry for all you have gone through.

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 11/22/2022 9:42:00 AM

Charlotte, I just heard from her!!! She wants me to do a blog about what happened, so I hope you will see the explanation soon!

Susan
Ashley

Date: 11/21/2022 5:06:00 PM

Dear Andrea, thank you for this blog. I’m so sad to know of Chantelle’s hardships. To know of her depression, and now, to know that her poetry and her account are gone is concerning and heartbreaking. I pray that she’s ok and able to find the help she needs to heal. She is such a kind person and I miss her wonderful presence here. Thanks again, Andrea, for keeping us informed. Warmest wishes.. ~Susan

Susan Ashley
Date: 11/22/2022 10:56:00 AM

Thank God you’ve been able to speak with Chantelle.. I look forward to your new blog and pray that Chantelle will be better soon.. you’re a wonderful friend to all, Andrea <3

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 11/22/2022 9:43:00 AM

thanks for your concern, Susan. I JUST talked to Chantelle and she says I can post a blog about what happened, so I aim to do that shortly.

Andrea
Dietrich

Date: 11/21/2022 3:23:00 PM

in case anyone is interested in what i found out about Chantelle's poetry online, she has three poems at PoemHunter, so like me, she hardly went to that place probably. I found her on a few other random sites. here is link to her page at PoemHunter: https://www.poemhunter.com/chantelle-anne-cooke/

Hilo Poet
Date: 11/21/2022 8:41:00 PM

There are soupers who posted to other sites, and I suppose, as you've mentioned, are rarely frequented by them, myself included.

Constance
La France

Date: 11/21/2022 1:28:00 PM

Andrea, not only are Chantelle's poems gone, her account is gone. That has to be her choice. I feel bad that I could not help her but there was not much I could do from Canada but listen. Chantelle was always kind to me and we shared many wonderful soupmails, I called her my poetic sis and she called me dear heart. I hope she is getting the help she needs and will return to us when she is ready.

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 11/21/2022 3:14:00 PM

Thanks, Constance. And yes, I feared she must have closed her account, so I am surprised she has others left open in other places. I need to check that out, Well, what you said is that all we can do is hope and also we can pray. There is not much else we can do than that.

Harry
Horsman

Date: 11/20/2022 10:22:00 PM

I'm so sorry to hear this, Andrea, i must have my head buried in the sand. I did not know of any of this, but sure will help as much as i can. Harry

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 11/21/2022 8:33:00 AM

There are certain poets I have never met, harry, and when I see a blog about them not being well, I too feel like this. Do you know Chantelle? It's ok if we don't know everybody and it's easy to miss some of their blogs and poems in which they relay their problems

Anitha
Jayasankar

Date: 11/20/2022 9:45:00 PM

Ria, yes I do remember Chantelle's blog about her depression and other matters related to it. I feel sad and sorry for her. Let's hope that she gets someone close to her, be it friends or some relatives, talk to her and help her. Also sad to know her poems are not there... Lets hope she come here read this blog...My thoughts and prayers with her... ~ Ani

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 11/20/2022 10:19:00 PM

I will keep trying to contact her, Ani. Thanks for caring.

Connie
Pachecho

Date: 11/20/2022 9:20:00 PM

Andrea, even though I'm not too familiar with the writer I am genuinely concerned about her. I did come across her poem on the web "Chinese Dragon" and enjoyed reading/learning very much. I do wish her better days ahead.

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 11/20/2022 10:18:00 PM

Thanks for learning about her, Connie! and for your concern too.

Unseeking
Seeker

Date: 11/20/2022 4:55:00 PM

If anyone has her contact details, I can put her in touch with a spiritually advanced medium who has done thousands of healings successfully. He does not charge and sessions can be done on phone. Of course, the person needing assistance needs to feel so drawn.

Unseeking Seeker
Date: 11/21/2022 2:17:00 AM

Thanks Andrea. Please check your soupmail.

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 11/20/2022 5:50:00 PM

I can Soupmail you a contact info.

Brandy
Nicole

Date: 11/20/2022 4:37:00 PM

Andrea, this news breaks my heart. I'm thinking that with Chantelle's deep depression, she may have removed her page and her poetry from Poetry Soup. So sad indeed. I have no way of getting in contact with her, but I'm hoping someone can. You're right, she's such a sweet person. I'm keeping her in my thoughts and prayers. Hugs, Brandy

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 11/20/2022 5:49:00 PM

Thanks, Brandy. If I get a hold of her, I will ask her to come see the well-wishers at this blog.

Tom
Cunningham

Date: 11/20/2022 2:54:00 PM

So sorry to hear that Andrea I know she has been suffering of late, pull yourself together doesn't cut it, depression is a very serious illness. I'll keep her in my prayers. Tom

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 11/20/2022 4:25:00 PM

you are right, Tom. Thanks for prayers.

Tania
Kitchin

Date: 11/20/2022 2:44:00 PM

Andrea, It is definitely concerning that her poems are removed. I hope she is coping with her depression and doing well and just needing a break from PS. I hope we hear from her soon.

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 11/20/2022 4:27:00 PM

I truly hope she did not remove the poems, but I am learning down here that she still has poems on other sites, so why she would remove them here is a puzzle to me. Do you know if a premium member loses their page in case she let her membership lapse?

L Milton
Hankins

Date: 11/20/2022 2:41:00 PM

I had noticed that Chantelle did not post a new contest after her last one. And, I, too, had picked up on her problems with depression. I do hope that someone from the group is able to reach out to her, letting her know that we are concerned for her well-being. This is one of the most positive things that Poetry Soup can do for its members. Thanks, Andrea, for posting this concern.

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 11/20/2022 4:31:00 PM

Thanks for your concern too, Milt. if i can reach her later this week, I will ask her about her poetry and other things and maybe put an update. She had told me just last week that she had several people nearby her that were helping her there in oregon. I sure do hope they are watching after her.

Hilo
Poet

Date: 11/20/2022 1:29:00 PM

I remember seeing that blog that she had struggled with depression in her daily life, yet in regards to Poetry Soup's absence of her written poems, it seems mostly affecting this poetry site, whereas, on other sites, her works are still viewable online. Mayhaps some sort of encounter with PS that was beyond her issue was the impetus for her to immediately effect some sort of decisive action as that might serve as an explanative of her rationale. She still seem to keep her works active on other poetry sites, but sadly, she's no longer available here at Poetry Soup, in any case, I will continue my prayers for her happiness always, Aloha William

Andrea Dietrich
Date: 11/20/2022 2:19:00 PM

thanks, William, I did not know that she was on other sites, so it's good to know that she has poetry elsewhere. Thanks for keeping her in your prayers.