Marika Meeks was born in England and emigrated to the United States with her family at age six. A lifelong entrepreneur, she started her first business at the age of nineteen and went on to become the co-owner of a national software company. She brought a new franchise concept to Fort Wayne, Indiana, when she opened the city’s first Jimmy John’s. In January 2013, Marika was diagnosed with stage-three breast cancer at the age of forty-one. She traveled to Scottsdale, Arizona, in April 2015 for cancer treatment and ended up settling in Arizona with her family. Now cancer-free, Marika is devoted to sharing the story of how Stella has changed her life while helping as many people and animals as possible. Visit Marika and Stella on Facebook, on Instagram @incredibullstella, or at incredibullstella.com.
Elizabeth Ridley is the author of five novels and co-author of four memoirs, including Saving Sadie: How a Dog That No One Wanted Inspired the World (with Joal Derse Dauer). She has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University and a master’s degree in creative writing from The University of East Anglia in Norwich, England. She is a proud “cat mom” to Claudius and Calpurnia and lives in Wisconsin. Visit her on Facebook or at elizabethridley.com.
ELIZABETH RIDLEY is the author of five novels and a two-time writing fellowship recipient. She has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Northwestern and a master’s degree in creative writing from The University of East Anglia in England. She is a proud “cat mom” to Claudius and Calpurnia.
