Columnists
Alyssa Meincke is an awarded writer born and raised in Rock Island, Illinois. Writing has been her passion since she first found her voice at 12 years old. She flourished academically while enrolled at Augustana College. In addition to writing, she loves plants and her two kittens, Theo and Zed. Now at 24, Alyssa is excited to begin her career in Journalism and use her voice for good. She aims to bring forth positive change in this world one day at a time.
Brian Scott, a.k.a. Red Hot Brian Scott, is a pop culture and entertainment correspondent, columnist and digital media personality at QuadCities.com. A longtime popular on-air voice at B100 in the Quad-Cities, Scott is currently host of the Saturday Night House Party, lead singer of the '80s tribute band Bad Hair, and host of Peoria's Red Hot Brian Scott & The Morning Grind radio show.
Connie (Corcoran) Wilson (www.ConnieCWilson.com) was the Quad City Times film and book critic for 15 years and has continued reviewing film uninterruptedly since 1970. She also publishes books (31 at last count) in a variety of genres (www.quadcitieslearning.com), has taught writing or literature classes at every Quad City college or university as adjunct faculty, was Yahoo's Content Producer of the Year for Politics and writes on a variety of topics at her own blog, www.WeeklyWilson.com.
Craig Lynn Cooper began working as a newspaper reporter at 17 years old. He was a newspaper reporter for nearly 35 years. He is a journalism graduate of Iowa State University. Craig wrote his first novel, Convergence of Events, in 2015. He wrote the political thriller Pink Revolution (2018) and a young readers book, Marcus and Magnificent Margo Farmers Market Dogs (2019). He also researched and authored a book about the Quad-City Mallards minor league hockey team (2000) and has contributed to three other non-fiction books. He now is senior communications specialist for Genesis Health System. Craig can be contacted at craiglynncooper@gmail.com
Doc Kaalberg is a local QC Native of 35 years. He has traveled the world, and found himself at home here. He served with the famed 1st Infantry Division as a Combat Medic and after being wounded in combat retired to Moline, Illinois. Doc spends his spare time blogging and writing food reviews for the local QC food scene.
Dr. Daniel Wesemann currently works as an Assistant (Clinical) Professor and Program Director for the Doctoral of Nursing Practice (DNP) Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) program at the University of Iowa College of Nursing in Iowa City, IA. Dr. Wesemann also maintains a part time clinical practice as a Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner at Genesis Psychology Associates in Davenport.
Greg O'Neill is a Spanish teacher at Lewistown Community High School. A native of Rock Island, he currently resides between there and Lewistown. He has been onstage at Quad City Music Guild, Playcrafter's Barn Theatre, Richmond Hill Theatre, and Genesius Guild. He got his start at St. Joseph's Catholic Church when he appeared in Tales of Wonder at the age of eleven. He enjoys movies, theatre, books, baseball, and writing stories.
Jon Burns is a musician, band leader of the local group Centaur Noir, and a notable Quad-Cities artist whose work has been displayed at numerous galleries in the area. His Q-C Icons series celebrates various people of note who were born, raised or have ties to the Quad-Cities. The series is on display at Rock Island's DeSoto Gallery through the end of August.
You might know Khalil Hacker as the friendly smiling chap greeting you at the doors of Circa 21' Dinner Playhouse in Rock Island. Khalil also dabbles in videography and has filmed/edited ads for a variety of local businesses and QuadCities.com.
QC SCENE takes a pictorial journey through the local entertainment scene with images from events going on in and around the Quad-Cities.
Ryan Franks has been into comics for as long as he can remember. He first started collecting back in 1993.It didn't become an obsession until 2009, but still remains one...
Sean Leary is an author, director, artist, musician, producer and entrepreneur who has been writing professionally since debuting at age 11 in the pages of the Comics Buyers Guide. An honors graduate of the University of Southern California masters program, he has written over 50 books including the best-sellers The Arimathean, Every Number is Lucky to Someone and We Are All Characters.
Steve Couch is a comedian/musician that has performed stand-up comedy in places like Dangerfield's and Catch a Rising Star in New York City and has worked as a musician throughout the US and overseas in national touring acts, including the Chubby Checker Show. He now tours the Midwest doing stand up and performing musical comedy songs about yard work, Christmas, complaining, and the general strangeness of life.
Steve Holmes was born and raised in the Quad Cities, graduating from Rock Island High School and Black Hawk College.
He registered the QuadCities.com in 1995 and has published a series of ever-growing websites leading to today's advanced service featuring free entertainment and lifestyle information for this great region of Illinois and Iowa.
Tess Abney was born and raised in the Quad Cities. Her passion for writing and entertainment was apparent at a very young age. Whether it is sharing local events and businesses with readers or sharing her thoughts on life, she finds comfort in the way words can bring people together.
Tim has been alarmingly enthusiastic about movies ever since childhood. He grew up in Boulder and, foolishly, left Colorado to study Communications in Washington State. Making matters worse, he moved to Connecticut after meeting his too-good-for-him wife. Drawn by the Rockies and a mild climate, he triumphantly returned and settled down back in Boulder County. He's written numerous screenplays, loves hiking, and embarrassed himself in front of Samuel L. Jackson. True story.
