Pseudonym

Lisa Tawn Bergren

Current Location

Colorado Springs, CO

Author's Website

Occupation(s)

Writer and editor

Biography

I came to Colorado Springs as an editor on the team that founded WaterBrook Press/Random House. After four years with the company, I decided to go freelance, but we had fallen in love with Colorado--it's home now.

Local Authors Genres

Published Works

Published Works Book Jackets

Speaker Availability

No

Pseudonym

K. D. Huxman (for children)

Current Location

Colorado Springs, CO

Author's Website

Occupation(s)

Freelance writer, freelance editor, poet

Biography

K.D. Huxman’s first love, after reading, was space. She wanted to be the first veterinarian astronaut. In college, she studied biology and was in Air Force ROTC. After college she became an Air Force officer. But rocketing to the stars was not to be. She married a fellow Air Force officer and settled into raising a family. But she never forgot her love of books or science. Many of her books have a science fiction or fantasy element. K.D. went on to earn an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Norwich University. Her first picture book is Dragon Talk. Her second picture book, Grizzelda Gorilla won an EPPY for Best Children’s/YA Ebook. Both picture books are from Dragonfly Publishing. She writes non-fiction for children at Apprentice Shop Books. After travelling around the country with the Air Force, K.D. settled in Colorado. On a clear night she enjoys looking up at the stars, dreaming, and writing.

Awards/Honors

Education/Training

M.F.A. Writing for Children, Vermont College/Norwich University
Bachelor of Science in Biology, University of Massachusetts, Lowell

Local Authors Genres

Published Works

Published Works Book Jackets

Organizations

Society for Children's Book Writers and Illustrators
Pikes Peak Writers

Speaker Availability

Yes

Speaker Topics

I love to talk about writing and the business of writing. Please contact me with an idea and I will see what I can put together for you.

Current Location

Colorado Springs, CO

Author's Website

Biography

Dian Curtis Regan is the author of 60 books for young readers, ranging from picture books for toddlers to novels for teens. Popular and recent titles include: Princess Nevermore, Monster of the Month Club, the Ghost Twins series, Barnyard Slam, The Snow Blew Inn, Monster Baby, and Rocky Cave Kids. Coming next year is a beginning reader series called SpaceBoy. Visit her website at http://diancurtisregan.com

Awards/Honors

Local Authors Genres

Published Works

Published Works Book Jackets

Speaker Availability

No

Current Location

Colorado Springs, CO

Author's Website

Occupation(s)

Retired Elementary School Teacher and Full-time Author

Biography

Donita K. Paul is a retired teacher and author of numerous novellas, short stories, and eleven novels, including the best-selling DragonKeeper Chronicles, a series which has sold more than a quarter-million books to date. She also coauthored The Dragon and the Turtle picture book series with her daughter, Evangeline Denmark. The winner of multiple awards, she live in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where she spends time mentoring and encouraging young writers. She is proud of her two grown children and she is entertained by her two young grandsons.

Awards/Honors

Education/Training

Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education, University of Houston - Graduate Work in Early Childhood Education - Certificate from the Child Evangelism Fellowship - Certificate from the La Leche League - Certificate from the Institute of Children's Literature

Local Authors Genres

Published Works

Published Works Book Jackets

Organizations

Society of Children's Writers & Illustrators - American Christian Writers - American Christian Fiction Writers - Authors Guild

Speaker Availability

Yes

Speaker Topics

Literacy - Writing - Reading Aloud

Pseudonym

D.J. Seddon

Birth Year (-Died Year)

1963

Birth City

Pittsfield

Birth State

MA

Current Location

Colorado Springs, CO

Occupation(s)

Author

Biography

DJ Seddon, a Massachusetts native began her writing experience with her sister at the age of 12 with a 100 page children's mystery book. Writing has always been a passion of hers and so when the opportunity presented itself again through her photography, DJ decided to write about the butterfly and fly in North Cheyenne Canyon, Colorado Springs who were always together in every photo she took. The "I" in the title then easily became the character, Elissa who is the modeled after her daughter, Elissa.​ ​​ Besides writing and photography, DJ plays piano, on which she composed the music, "Innocence and Splendor a Colorado Portrait". She grew up figure skating in the Berkshires of MA and has danced ballet for many years in Florida and Colorado. She has also played the flute with several musical groups in CT, FL and CO. ​ DJ is married to her husband, Dale and has two children, Tom and Elissa. They reside in Colorado Springs, CO.

Awards/Honors

Education/Training

International Music Syndicate - piano and music composition training (the book includes a CD with a piece of original music which the author composed)

Local Authors Genres

Published Works

Published Works Book Jackets

Interviews

Organizations

Member, International Music Syndicate, Colorado Springs - Member/donor, Children for Children Organization, Colorado Springs

Speaker Availability

Yes

Speaker Topics

The making of my book, "Butterfly, Fly, and I Explore Colorado", how it relates to Colorado, and the Waldo Canyon Fire which destroyed our home.

Birth Year (-Died Year)

1952

Birth City

Ellis

Birth State

KS

Current Location

Colorado Springs, CO

Author's Website

Occupation(s)

Professional writer

Biography

Mike Hamel is a storyteller by trade and the author/editor of more than 40 books on topics as wide-ranging as business, finance, political theory, healthcare, nonprofits, theology, and children’s books. He is a cancer survivor who has chronicled his physical journey toward the Valley of the Shadow of Death in Stumbling Toward Heaven, and his spiritual musings along the way in We Will Be Landing Shortly: Now What?

For younger audiences, Mike has written the juvenile chapter book series Matterhorn the Brave and The Lighthouse Company, and the illustrated books Lady Allium, Lizzy the Leatherback, Queen Quillabee, and The Legend of Songa Ping.

Mike's books are listed on his Amazon Author Page. 

To learn more about Mike, check out his blog OPEN Mike and his Wikipedia entry.

Local Authors Genres

Published Works

Published Works Book Jackets

Speaker Availability

No

Birth Year (-Died Year)

1958

Birth City

Anchorage

Birth State

AK

Current Location

Colorado Springs, CO

Author's Website

Occupation(s)

Quilter, writer, medical transcriptionist, secretary, mom

Biography

Joan was born in Anchorage, Alaska, and moved with her family to the Denver area where she met her high school sweetheart. Moving again to Hawaii and then California, she married her Marine sweetheart in 1977 and then REALLY started moving around the United States and to Okinawa. She moved back to the Pikes Peak region in 1985 when roots began to grow.

She has been a quilter since 1980 and that is important to her children's books because they are illustrated with her quilted pictures. She continues to write her unique two-sided storybooks and illustrate them with quilts, as well as creating patterns for quilters. She lectures and teaches throughout the region

Awards/Honors

Education/Training

High school graduate with honor - Secretary/administrative assistant for fifteen years - Medical transcription training and employment for five years

Local Authors Genres

Published Works

Published Works Book Jackets

Interviews

Organizations

Colorado Quilting Council member for over 20 years

Speaker Availability

Yes

Speaker Topics

For adults, quilting lecture and "trunk show" - For elementary students, large quilts are displayed and subjects covered can be writing, editing, two-sided perspective of any subject, fabric as an art medium, and how to draw a pattern from a photo - A complete list of speaker topics may be found at www.joanmusick.com

Birth Year (-Died Year)

1944

Birth City

Trenton

Birth State

NJ

Current Location

Colorado Springs, CO

Occupation(s)

Retired - GrandFriend volunteer

Biography

Prior to moving to Colorado Springs in 2002, I wrote and published articles relating to community, current issues, family and local, and historical articles in the Phoenix metro area. My work appeared in newspapers and magazines. Shortly after moving to the Springs, I became a GrandFriend volunteer in School District 11. My grandchildren and the students I work with inspired me to write children's stories. Since 2005 I have written and published five children's books. Also I have had several poems published. I have done several author visits to many schools in Colorado Springs. I do an interactive presentation of my stories that includes fun facts, quizzes, question-and-answer time, and give-a-ways.

Awards/Honors

Education/Training

Associate Degree in Liberal Arts, Washtenaw Community College, 1998

Local Authors Genres

Published Works

Published Works Book Jackets

Organizations

YMCA

Speaker Availability

Yes

Speaker Topics

The Nine "P"s of Successful Writing - Building a writing portfolio, different genres, different challenges - How I wrote my stories

Birth Year (-Died Year)

1978

Birth City

Springdale

Birth State

AR

Current Location

Colorado Springs, CO

Author's Website

Occupation(s)

Author

Biography

We moved to Colorado Springs the year I turned 13 and have lived here ever since. One summer I worked for the East Library through a teen job program. I now visit the Briargate branch with my children. PPLD has been part of my life for 22 years.

Education/Training

Bachelor of Arts Degree in English, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs

Local Authors Genres

Published Works

Published Works Book Jackets

Organizations

Pikes Peak Writers - American Christian Fiction Writers - The Bronte Society

Speaker Availability

Yes

Speaker Topics

Choosing picture books that work for your child and you