June Cotner

June Cotner
Cotner in 2009
Born (1950-02-06) February 6, 1950 (age 76)
EducationUniversity of California, Berkeley
OccupationsAuthor, anthologist, speaker, publishing consultant
Writing career
Notable worksPrayers: Prayers, Poems, and Prose for Everyday Thankfulness
Websitewww.junecotner.com

June Cotner (born February 6, 1950, in Chicago, Illinois) is an American author, anthologist, speaker, and publishing/marketing consultant; her latest anthology is Gratitude Prayers: Prayers, Poems, and Prose for Everyday Thankfulness (Andrews McMeel Publishing).

Early life and education

Cotner was born on February 6, 1950, in Chicago, Illinois. She later attended the University of California, Berkeley, where she completed her undergraduate studies.

Career

Cotner's collected works have sold nearly one million copies. Cotner conducts publishing workshops at bookstores across the country and has also made presentations at the Pacific Northwest Writers' Association Conference, the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association Conference, and The Learning Annex in New York City, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego.

Books

Cotner writes collections of short prayers and poems. Her first book, Graces: Prayers and Poems for Everyday Meals and Other Occasions (1994), went into sixteen printings and sold over 100,000 copies. Her next book, Bedside Prayers: Prayers and Poems for When You Rise and Go to Sleep (1997), was also successful. By 1998, she was preparing two more books: Blessings of the Heart: Prayers and Poems for Everyday Life and Special Occasions and Prayers of the Universe, a collection of prayers with a global focus.

In 1998, Cotner published Bless the Day: Prayers & Poems to Nurture Your Soul, a collection of poems and prayers on themes such as hope, courage, love, and faith. That same year, she also published Heal Your Soul, Heal the World: Prayers and Poems to Comfort, Inspire, and Connect Humanity, an anthology of inspirational writings, poems, and prayers from contributors around the world. Cotner published Family Celebrations: Prayers, Poems, and Toasts for Every Occasion in 1999, a collection of 170 prayers, poems, and toasts intended for use at birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, and other family occasions.

In 2000, Cotner released Animal Blessings: Prayers and Poems Celebrating Our Pets, an anthology of poems and prayers about the relationships people form with their animals. Cotner compiled Mothers and Daughters: A Poetry Celebration in 2001, arranging more than 100 poems about the mother–daughter relationship. In 2002, Cotner published two anthologies: Teen Sunshine Reflections: Words for the Heart and Soul, a collection for young adult fiction readers, and Christmas Blessings: Prayers and Poems to Celebrate the Season, a compilation of classic and contemporary Christmas poems and prayers. Cotner also published Baby Blessings: Inspiring Poems and Prayers for Every Stage of Babyhood in the same year, a collection of poems, lullabies, and blessings covering pregnancy and the toddler years.

In 2003, Cotner published Wedding Blessings: Prayers and Poems Celebrating Love, Marriage and Anniversaries, a multi-faith collection of poems, prayers, vows, and toasts for weddings and anniversaries. A year later, in 2004, Cotner compiled Comfort Prayers: Prayers and Poems to Comfort, Encourage, and Inspire, a collection of prayers, poems, and prose selected from "more than 4,000 submissions" and "more than 1,000 inspirational books". Cotner followed this work with Wishing You Well: Prayers and Poems for Comfort, Healing, and Recovery in 2005, a collection of prayers, poems, and blessings offering encouragement to readers facing difficult times. That same year, Cotner released House Blessings: Prayers, Poems, and Toasts Celebrating Home and Family, a collection of interfaith prayers, poems, and toasts featuring 112 pieces from 38 writers and celebrating the moments that make a house a home.

In 2006, Cotner published Forever in Love: A Celebration of Love and Romance, a collection of poems and prose that follows love's journey from its earliest moments to more reflective works influenced by writers such as Rumi. Cotner published Dog Blessings: Poems, Prose, and Prayers Celebrating Our Relationship with Dogs in 2008, a collection of poems and prayers about the roles dogs play in human life. After releasing Dog Blessings in 2008, Cotner released Serenity Prayers: Prayers, Poems, and Prose to Soothe Your Soul in 2009, a collection drawing on works by writers such as Walt Whitman and Henry David Thoreau. Say a Little Prayer: A Journal by June Cotner was released in 2011, a guided journal offering practical tips, selected prayers and quotes, and space for personal reflection.

In 2013, Cotner released Gratitude Prayers: Prayers, Poems, and Prose for Everyday Thankfulness, a collection of more than 100 prayers, poems, and quotes featuring writers such as Anne Frank and Helen Keller. In 2014, Cotner published Back to Joy: Little Reminders to Help Us Through Tough Times, a collection of inspirational quotes, poems, and short prose featuring writers such as Confucius, Pablo Picasso, Ralph Waldo Emerson, A. A. Milne, and Eleanor Roosevelt. In the same year, Cotner published Soar!: Follow Your Dreams, a gift book for students and graduates that pairs motivational quotes with short original prose on choices, perseverance, inspiration, and success. Cotner also released Sticky Note Journal: A Place for All My Ideas in 2015, a 96‑page journal kit featuring decorative sticky‑note pads in multiple sizes designed for notes, reminders, and everyday use.

In 2016, Cotner co‑authored We Are Women: Celebrating Our Wit and Grit with Barb Mayer, a collection featuring early‑20th‑century photographs of women alongside selected quotations. In 2021, Cotner published Hey! It’s Your Day: Inspirational Quotes and Affirmations to Live By, a 208‑page collection of quotations. Cotner and Nancy Tupper Ling followed with Bless the Earth: A Collection of Poetry for Children to Celebrate and Care for Our World in 2024, an illustrated poetry book for young readers.

Awards

Personal life

Cotner and her husband live in Poulsbo, Washington, and have two adult children. She also has two grandchildren, and her interests include yoga and hiking.

References

  1. 1 2 Cotner, June (2013). Gratitude Prayers: Prayers, Poems, and Prose for Everyday Thankfulness. Andrews McMeel Publishing. ISBN 9781449421762. Retrieved 21 April 2026.
  2. 1 2 "June Cotner". Simon & Schuster Australia. Retrieved 21 April 2026.
  3. ↑ "Forever in Love". Simon & Schuster Australia. Retrieved 21 April 2026.
  4. 1 2 New Connexion
  5. ↑ "About June Cotner". Attic Books Kenya. Retrieved 21 April 2026.
  6. ↑ Cotner, June (1994). Graces: Prayers and Poems for Everyday Meals and Special Occasions (Softcover ed.). HarperCollins. ISBN 9780060659578. Retrieved 22 April 2026.
  7. ↑ Cotner, June (1997). Bedside Prayers: Prayers & Poems for When You Rise and Go to Sleep (Hardcover) (First ed.). New York: Harper. p. 176. ISBN 9780062515292. Retrieved 22 April 2026.
  8. ↑ Johnston, Jerry (31 January 1998). "Writer gathers crops of poetry, prayer". Deseret News. Retrieved 22 April 2026.
  9. ↑ Cotner, June (1998). Bless the Day: Prayers & Poems to Nurture Your Soul. Kodansha America. ISBN 9781568362519. Retrieved 22 April 2026.
  10. ↑ Cotner, June (1998). Heal Your Soul, Heal the World: Prayers and Poems to Comfort, Inspire, and Connect Humanity. Andrews McMeel Publishing. ISBN 9780836269154. Retrieved 22 April 2026.
  11. ↑ Cotner, June (1999). Family Celebrations: Prayers, Poems, and Toasts for Every Occasion. Andrews McMeel Publishing. ISBN 9780836278569. Retrieved 22 April 2026.
  12. ↑ Cotner, June (2000). Animal Blessings: Prayers and Poems Celebrating Our Pets. HarperOne. ISBN 9780062516459. Retrieved 22 April 2026.
  13. ↑ "Poets explore bond between mothers, daughters". The Morning Call. 29 April 2001. Retrieved 22 April 2026.
  14. ↑ Cotner, June (2002). Teen Sunshine Reflections: Words for the Heart and Soul. HarperCollins Children's Books. ISBN 9780060005252. Retrieved 22 April 2026.
  15. ↑ Cotner, June (2002). Christmas Blessings: Prayers and Poems to Celebrate the Season. Warner Books. ISBN 9780446531009. Retrieved 22 April 2026.
  16. ↑ Cotner, June (2002). Baby Blessings: Inspiring Poems and Prayers for Every Stage of Babyhood. Crown Publishers. ISBN 9780609610176. Retrieved 22 April 2026.
  17. ↑ Cotner, June (2003). Wedding Blessings: Prayers and Poems Celebrating Love, Marriage and Anniversaries. Crown Publishers. ISBN 9780767913461. Retrieved 22 April 2026.
  18. ↑ Cotner, June (2004). Comfort Prayers: Prayers and Poems to Comfort, Encourage, and Inspire. Andrews McMeel Publishing. ISBN 9781449458546. Retrieved 22 April 2026.
  19. ↑ Cotner, June (2005). Wishing You Well: Prayers and Poems for Comfort, Healing, and Recovery. Loyola Press. ISBN 9780829420364. Retrieved 22 April 2026.
  20. ↑ Cotner, June (2005). House Blessings: Prayers, Poems, and Toasts Celebrating Home and Family. Chronicle Books. ISBN 9780953797721. Retrieved 22 April 2026.
  21. ↑ Cotner, June (2006). Forever in Love: A Celebration of Love and Romance. Andrews McMeel Publishing. ISBN 9780740761560. Retrieved 23 April 2026.
  22. ↑ Cotner, June (2008). Dog Blessings: Poems, Prose, and Prayers Celebrating Our Relationship with Dogs. New World Library. ISBN 9781577316169. Retrieved 23 April 2026.
  23. ↑ Cotner, June (2009). Serenity Prayers: Prayers, Poems, and Prose to Soothe Your Soul. Andrews McMeel Publishing. ISBN 9780740779183. Retrieved 23 April 2026.
  24. ↑ Cotner, June (2011). Say a Little Prayer: A Journal. Chronicle Books. ISBN 9781452102320. Retrieved 23 April 2026.
  25. ↑ Cotner, June (2014). Back to Joy: Little Reminders to Help Us Through Tough Times. Andrews McMeel Publishing. ISBN 9781449441647. Retrieved 23 April 2026.
  26. ↑ Cotner, June (2014). Soar!: Follow Your Dreams. Andrews McMeel Publishing. ISBN 9781449449728. Retrieved 23 April 2026.
  27. ↑ Cotner, June (2015). Sticky Note Journal: A Place for All My Ideas. Cleis Press. ISBN 9781936740888. Retrieved 23 April 2026.
  28. ↑ "New book casts a fresh look at 20th‑century women". Kitsap Daily News. 4 March 2016. Retrieved 23 April 2026.
  29. ↑ Cotner, June (2021). Hey! It's Your Day: Inspirational Quotes and Affirmations to Live By. Conari Press. ISBN 9781642505153. Retrieved 23 April 2026.
  30. ↑ Cotner, June; Ling, Nancy Tupper (2024). Bless the Earth: A Collection of Poetry for Children to Celebrate and Care for Our World. Convergent Children’s. ISBN 9780593577660. Retrieved 23 April 2026.
  31. ↑ "2023 Northern Lights Book Awards Winners". Northern Dawn Awards. Retrieved 23 April 2026.
  32. ↑ "2024 Northern Lights Book Awards Winners". Northern Dawn Awards. Retrieved 23 April 2026.