35 years in this business of broadcasting and I'm still moved by the songwriters and performers writing from their soul. Jimmy Wayne has penned out a song that hit me hard. It was like life had suddenly plastered my biggest secret on the movie screen.

Josie Bissett is recognized internationally for her role as the popular 'Jane Mancini' on FOX-TV's "Melrose Place," which ended its successful seven-year run in May of 1999. To date, she has graced over 50 magazine covers, including such publications as TV Guide, Rolling Stone, Entertainment Weekly, Shape's Fit Pregnancy and New Woman.
She appeared for five seasons on ABC Family Channel's hit one-hour breakout teen-pregnancy drama series "The Secret Life of the American Teenager," created and executive produced by Brenda Hampton ("7th Heaven"). Josie played 'Kathleen Bowman,' mother to good girl 'Grace' (Megan Park).
Josie has wrapped production on a starring role opposite Matthew Settle on the original Christmas film “Paper Angels,” which will premiere on UP TV on November 16, 2014.
She recently starred opposite James Brolin in Hallmark Movie Channels’ first-ever original holiday movie, “Christmas with Tucker,” which premiered in late 2013 as part of their “Most Wonderful Movies of Christmas” new holiday initiative. “Christmas with Tucker” is the Most Watched Hallmark Movie Channel Original Premiere among HH’s and W25-54 in network history!
Her first children’s book, “Tickle Monster,” became a national sensation which got kids and parents to laugh, laugh, laugh! “Tickle Monster” is an inspiring and beautifully illustrated storybook for kids, based on a treasured family tradition that Josie has continued with her own kids. Fuzzy 'Tickle Monster' mitts, an interactive companion piece to the book, are available and packaged in an adorable gift set. Parents can wear the gloves to tickle their children while reading along to the clever text.
“Tickle Monster” and publisher Compendium, Inc. were awarded the PTPA (Parent Tested Parent Approved) Media Inc.’s Seal of Approval for excellence in parenting products. "Tickle Monster" earned the Publisher's Choice Award from the Family Magazine Group, and Josie was named Celebrity Mom of the Year" by the Mom's Choice Awards (MCA), an annual awards program that recognizes authors, inventors, companies and parents for their efforts in creating quality family-friendly media, products and services. Josie and her children were also featured on the cover of MCA's Entro magazine. Josie's ability to offer parenting advice and bring laughter in the lives of families, along with her mission to live life as a whole team and balanced person, made her the perfect choice for the Mom's Choice Team.
As a follow up to the highly successful “Tickle Monster,” Josie has written her second children’s book, “Boogie Monster,” and both titles are currently available in major book stores. With a loveable new character from Planet Boogie whose only mission is to inspire kids to dance, dance, dance, “Boogie Monster” teaches kids that there’s no right or wrong way to dance. In the process, kids build confidence and have fun exercising. Also available is a complete dance kit (packaged in a colorful, reusable keepsake gift box with magnetic closure), which includes a “Boogie Monster” book, a pair of Boogie Monster Legs Leggings and a full-length Boogie Monster music CD by Recess Monkey. The “Boogie Monster” Dance Kit was the recipient of the prestigious Mom’s Choice Award, honoring excellence in family-friendly media, products and services. In addition, the Dance Kit won the Moonbeam Gold Medal at the Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards.
Josie's first book, "Little Bits Of Wisdom," was inspired by the birth of her first child in 2001 and is now in its third printing. It is a heart-warming collection of parenting wisdom and child-rearing "tricks of the trade" gathered from more than 1,000 parents and grandparents throughout the world. Two years later, she completed a second book, "Making Memories," which featured over 200 ways for parents to create rich family memories with their children that last a lifetime. Tens of thousands of parents have already embraced this magical book, the premise of which is so simple and powerful: The moments with our children pass so quickly, but the memories we create today will last forever.
The Seattle native began her career in front of the camera at the age of 12 as a model in print advertisements and television commercials. At 16, she left home and moved to Japan to further her career and at 17 headed to Hollywood to make her mark. Josie soon landed the role of 'Cara' on "The Hogan Family," where she spent two seasons. Within two years of her arrival in Los Angeles, Josie was cast on "Melrose Place" and quickly became one of television's most recognizable actors. In recent years, she has had the opportunity to explore many diverse and interesting characters in such projects as the ABC movies "The Fire Above" and "Dare to Love," the FOX telefilm "Deadly Vows" and the USA cable film "Baby Monitor: Sound of Fear." She starred in the ABC Family Channel original film “I Do, They Don't," a romantic comedy about two widowed parents whose spontaneous marriage thrusts them into the position of having to blend two families into one. In addition, Josie starred in the Lifetime Television original film "The Other Woman," based on the best-selling novel by Joy Fielding and directed by Jason Priestley. She has also made numerous guest-starring appearances including NBC's "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit."
On the big screen, she made her feature film debut in Oliver Stone's "The Doors," in which she played the wife of Doors' guitarist Robbie Krieger. Her subsequent films include the coming-of-age comedy "Book of Love" and the psychological thriller "Mikey."
In addition to acting, Josie has hosted numerous shows. She most recently co-hosted Lifetime Television’s morning talk show, “The Balancing Act.” She previously hosted "Parenting & Beyond," a show that offered parents creative solutions to everyday problems, so that they can have more quality time to enjoy their family and watch their children growing up. She also hosted the PBS educational special, "Teach More, Love More," which followed four families, each with a child in one of the four critical stages of early childhood development -- newborn, infancy, toddlerhood and preschool. As host, Josie guided viewers through the program which explores the joys, fears and a myriad of questions that accompany the beginning of life. "Teach More, Love More" included interviews with nationally renowned experts such as Dr. T. Berry Brazelton.
Josie has been the face of several national commercial campaigns, including Neutrogena's skin care line and Dr. Scholl's Pedicure Essentials, an entire line of 14 different products designed to pamper the feet. Additionally, she was a spokesperson for Murad Skin Care's Resurgence® Regimen, the first comprehensive line of products formulated exclusively to help revitalize and rebuild hormonally aging skin.
Josie resides in Seattle with her children, 14-year-old son Mason and 12-year-old daughter Maya. She is currently working on her next children’s book. For more information, please visit www.JosieBissett.com.
ABOUT HER NEW MOVIE PAPER ANGELS, PREMIERING NOVEMBER 16th at 7PM ET on UP
In Paper Angels, abused wife Lynn (Josie Bissett) leaves her alcoholic husband Darryl, with her two kids, Thomas and Sara, and moves to another town where she works as a waitress to make ends meet. In that same town, we meet Kevin (Matthew Settle), whose marketing & design company is on the brink of shutting down due to the economy. Plus, Kevin’s wife Jenny is in a difficult pregnancy with twins. Thomas starts a new school and becomes the target of a bully who is threatened by how well Thomas plays basketball. Unable to join the high school team, Thomas goes to the community center where he meets Kevin and the two of them become unlikely friends through pickup basketball games. Little do they know the tremendous impact they will have on each other’s families this Christmas through The Salvation Army’s Angel Tree Program. Inspired by the hit country Christmas song featured in the movie, “Paper Angels,” by country music star Jimmy Wayne and the same-titled book by Wayne with Travis Thrasher. Wayne also has written and performed two new songs for the film. Stars: Matthew Settle (“Gossip Girl”) and Josie Bissett (“Melrose Place”).