Kris Klitzke
'90 (N), is author of Hormone Balance: A Matter of Life & Health, which examines hormone balance and how estrogen dominance affects females throughout all ages and stages of life.

Klitzke was inspired to research the topic of hormone imbalance and write the book while working as a registered nurse. She noticed a high volume of female patients who had similar complaints - menopausal symptoms, headaches, PMS, hypothyroidism, unexplained weight gain and more.

"So many women over 40 feel that it's their lot in life to be taking three or four medications for these symptoms," she said. "But there are answers. My books explain how hormone balance can be restored naturally."

Klitzke also is an independent con-sultant and regional vice president with Arbonne International. She lives in Appleton.

Jeff Koser
'78 (B and LS), and his son, Chad, a UW-Whitewater graduate, recently published a sales methodology book, Selling to Zebras.

A "zebra," the elder Koser explains, is a perfect prospect - so named because once a sales professional identifies the characteristics of their "zebra," it can be spotted quickly and easily among all other prospects.

"Many salespeople waste 85 percent of their energy on prospects that are poor fits for their products and services, company or sales strategy," Koser said. "Your best chance to improve your sales, build a stable of happy customers and have a life outside of work is to find your 'zebra' and develop a method for selling to it."

Koser has more than 30 years of experience in consulting, executive sales management, business strategy and business development in a variety of industries.

Previously, Koser served as chief operating officer at Baan Supply Chain Solutions. Under his leadership at Baan, revenues grew more than tenfold in less than five years.

Jon Strupp
'89 (LS), of Fridley, Minn., earned a positive review in the August/September issue of World War II History Magazine for his book, King of the Oilers: The Story of the USS Chiwawa AO-68.

The book, a tribute to Strupp's father who served on the ship, was described as "a well-written and profusely illustrated book" and "a loving tribute to the ship, to the men who served aboard her and to all of the millions of unsung men who toiled in anonymity to provide the logistical support without which the war could not have been won."

Jess Riley
The debut book of Jess (Martin) Riley '98 (LS), Driving Sideways, earned a coveted spot on Target's Breakout Books, a listing of new authors whose books - according to Target - are destined to become bestsellers.

By all accounts, the prediction was correct. Within one month of its debut, Riley received word from her publisher, Ballantine Books, that a second edition was on its way.

The book, which Riley wrote in 2004, also received rave reviews and a finalist spot, among 600 contenders, for the prestigious James Jones First Novel Fellowship.

In addition, Driving Sideways took first place in the 2004 Get Your Stiletto in the Door Contest, sponsored by the Chick Lit Writers of the World.

The story follows the recovery of a 28-year-old kidney disease survivor who takes a cross-country trip after her kidney transplant to find herself and the mother who abandoned her more than 20 years ago.

There is one more twist: The protagonist also hopes to track down her kidney donor's family because she believes the transplant included an extra little bonus - the donor's spirit.

"I wanted to tell a story that was a little quirky, with over-the-top elements of magical realism," Riley said.

While researching polycystic kidney disease (PKD), Riley was shocked to learn it causes more deaths than cystic fibrosis, Down syndrome, muscular dystrophy and sickle cell anemia combined.

"I'd heard of all of the other conditions, yet I hadn't heard of PKD," she said. "So I decided to do my small part to put it on the map for others who hadn't heard of it, either."