David Chartrand is what you get when you mix a veteran newspaper journalist, a provocative wit and a sensitive heart. His humor and commentary are distributed to daily newspapers by Universal Press Syndicate (click here to see samples) as well as by his own distribution company, Chartrand Communications. He writes regularly about public education, family and children issues, and public health/mental health.

     David has won numerous newspaper writing awards, including a First Place Award in 2002 from the National Society of Newspaper Columnists. His essays have appeared in such places as the Wall Street Journal, the Dallas Morning News, the Atlanta Constitution, the Raleigh (N.C.) News-Observer, Family Circle magazine and scores of daily and weekly newspapers. 
     David's first book “A View From the Heartland” was released October 2003 by Globe-Pequot Press of Guilford, Conn.  The book explores how typical Americans cope with life's unpredictability — its tragedies and triumphs.  “Heartland” is available in all major bookstores, and can also be bought online at www.globepequot.com or www.amazon.com, or by calling 800-243-0495.
     In addition to the National Society of Newspaper Columnists award in 2002, Chartrand in June 2000 was honored by the Society for his humor writing. In 1998, he received a First Place award for column writing from the Kansas Press Association. In December 2001, his "Father's Letter to Santa" was published in Chicken Soup: A Christmas Treasury, where the publishers cited it as one of the most memorable holiday stories of all time.
     David is a journalism graduate of Kansas State University. He is a member of the advisory board of the KSU School of Journalism and Mass Communications and is a member of the First Amendment Committee of the Society of Professional Journalists.

     David's family includes a son, Max Chartrand, 22, and two Labrador Retrievers, Cayman and Cosette.