Fantasy/Magical realism

Cowles, Ashlee

Cowles, Ashlee
Birth Year (-Died Year)
1984
Birth City
Ft. Knox
Birth State
KY
Current Location
Colorado Springs, CO
Occupation(s)
High School Literature and Writing Teacher - PPCC Adjunct Instructor
Biography

Ashlee Cowles grew up an Army "brat" and has lived in many places, but her earliest memories are of Pikes Peak and she always seems to find her way back to Colorado Springs. She teaches literature/writing at an online high school, and philosophy at Pikes Peak Community College. Her debut Young Adult novel, Beneath Wandering Stars (Merit Press, August 2016), incorporates her love of international travel and her lifelong connection to the military community. Learn more at her website, www.ashleecowles.com.

Awards/Honors
2017 Colorado Book Award Winner - Beneath Wandering Stars (Young Adult Literature category)
Irene Goodman Historical Fiction Pitch Contest - First Place award, August 2011, for Time Keepers manuscript
Paul Gillette Award (Pikes Peak Writers) - Third Place award for Young Adult Fiction, April 2011, for Time Keepers manuscript
Paul Gillette Award (Pikes Peak Writers) - Second Place award for Historical Fiction, April 2010, for To the Ends of the Earth manuscript
Education/Training
M. Litt. in Medieval History from University of St. Andrews, Scotland - M.T.S. in Theological Ethics from Duke University - Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Theology from University of San Diego
Organizations
The Anselm Society - Pikes Peak Writers - Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers
Speaker Availability
Yes
Speaker Topics
How Military Brat Life Shaped Me As a Writer - GRIT: The Unique Strengths of Military Kids - Wandering Writers: How to Use Travel to Write Authentic Stories - Every Hero is Also a Pilgrim: Using the Hero's Journey in All Genres - Why Imagination Will Change the World.

More information available at www.ashleecowles.com/speaking-school-visits/

McCutcheon, Pam

Pseudonym
Parker Blue
Birth City
Fort Ord
Birth State
CA
Current Location
Colorado Springs, CO
Occupation(s)
Industrial engineer - Writer - Editor - Speaker
Biography

Pam McCutcheon is the author of romantic comedy, paranormal romance, fantasy short stories, and how-to books for writers under her own name, and the Demon Underground YA urban fantasy series under the name Parker Blue. After many years of working for the military as enlisted, officer, and civil service successively, she left her industrial engineering and is now working full-time as a writer, editor, speaker, and as the “Parker” half of Parker Hayden Media, an assisted self-publishing business. She lives in Colorado Springs with her rescue dogs and can be found on the ’net at pammc.com or parkerblue.net.

Awards/Honors
Pikes Peak Romance Writers Author of the Year
Quicksilver - Pikes Peak Romance Writers winner of the PRISM Award for the best futuristic romance of 1996
Chasing Baby - Winner of the Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice Award for Best Harlequin American of 1996
Education/Training
Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering
Organizations
Novelists, Inc. - Pikes Peak Writers
Speaker Availability
Yes
Speaker Topics
Writing the Fiction Synopsis - Brainstorming - Self-editing - Scene and Sequel - Using the Plotting Board - Decoding Dialogue - Beginning Writers Workshop - Characterization - How to Pitch Your Book - Ghostwriting

Mariner, Ben

Birth City
Decatur
Birth State
IL
Current Location
Parker, CO
Biography

I have lived in Colorado for over a decade and have experienced all the wonderful state has to offer. I currently live in Parker with my wife and animals and love reading sci-fi/fantasy novels as well as writing them.

Speaker Availability
Yes

Evans, J. T.

Current Location
Colorado Springs, CO
Occupation(s)
Software engineer
Biography

J. T. moved to Colorado Springs in 1998 with his beautiful wife. J. T. is originally from west Texas, and his wife is from northwest Montana. They found Colorado Springs to be a perfect place to live and it landed them halfway between their two home towns.

Education/Training
Master of Science in Information Assurance, Regis University
Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Systems, Regis University
Local Authors Genres
Published Works Book Jackets
Organizations
Past President, Pikes Peak Writers - Past President, Colorado Springs Fiction Writers Group
Speaker Availability
Yes
Speaker Topics
Computer security - Hero's Journey - Pitching, query letters, loglines

Cooke, Kevin M.

Current Location
Colorado Springs, CO
Occupation(s)
Writer/author
Biography

I moved here to attend college in 1975, but took some time off to experience the wildlife and go skiing. I was then a realtor for twenty years and began writing in 1995.

Awards/Honors
Nominee, 2010 Book of the Year Award, ForeWord Magazine
Premiere Author, BEA 2009
Featured in May 2009 Publisher's Weekly
Education/Training
Colorado Technical College - studied bio-medical and computer technological engineering
Local Authors Genres
Speaker Availability
No

Grey, Jessica

Author Jessica Grey
Birth Year (-Died Year)
1979
Birth City
Abington
Birth State
PA
Current Location
Cascade, CO
Occupation(s)
Author
Biography

Jessica Grey is an author, fairy tale believer, baseball lover, and recovering Star Wars fangirl. A life-long Californian, she now lives with her two children near Colorado Springs, where she spends her time writing, complaining about snow in April, and drinking way too much caffeine. Jessica writes witty, modern Jane Austen adaptations and Young Adult fairy tales featuring strong girls and magic.

Education/Training
2005 - Bachelor of Arts Degree in English (minor in History), Vanguard University, Costa Mesa, CA
Published Works Book Jackets
Image
Book cover for Atone: A Fairy Tale by Jessica Grey
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Book cover for Attempting Elizabeth by Jessica Grey
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Book cover for Awake: A Fairytale by Jessica Grey
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Book cover for Views from the Depths by Jessica Grey
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Book cover for Views from the Tower by Jessica Grey
Speaker Availability
Yes
Speaker Topics
* Young adult fiction
* Fairy tale adaptation
* Jane Austen
* Austen-esque fiction
* Social media for writers
* Indie publishing

Paul, Donita K.

Paul, Donita K.
Current Location
Colorado Springs, CO
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
2nd Place, Romance Writers of America/Faith Hope & Love, 2000 Short Historical Fiction
Christy Honor Award
ACFW Book of the Year
RWA Reader's Choice
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
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

Bigelow, Brian

Author Brian Bigelow
Birth Year (-Died Year)
1965
Birth City
Dubuque
Birth State
IA
Current Location
Colorado Springs, CO
Occupation(s)
Retail clerk
Biography

Author Brian Bigelow is originally from Minnesota and currently lives in Colorado with his wife Brandy. He is an American author of contemporary horror, suspense, and fantasy and has, for over 30 years, also written poetry which has been published worldwide.

Published Works Book Jackets
Speaker Availability
No

Bazer, Ashley

Author Ashley Bazer
Birth Year (-Died Year)
1973
Birth City
Enid
Birth State
OK
Current Location
Colorado Springs, CO
Occupation(s)
Christian radio producer
Biography

Ashley Hodges Bazer is the author of the epic sci-fi series, The Crown's Call, which explores the onset and aftermath of a religious holocaust in a space opera setting. She also dabbles in young adult fantasy, bringing chess pieces to life in Checkmate and mixing up fairy tales with fun twists in Once Upon a Heist. She lives in Colorado with her husband and three children. After earning her bachelor’s degree in theatrical stage management from Arizona State University, she went on to work for Disneyland in that capacity. Currently a content producer for an international daily radio program, she’s become a pro at balancing work, writing, and mom duties. And she's a real duchess! Learn more about Ashley and her upcoming books at www.AshleyBazer.com.

Awards/Honors
For Asylum: Certificate of Merit, 2012 Deep River Books Writing Contest
For Asylum: Grand Prize Winner, 2012 WestBow Press Writer's Contest
For Checkmate: Top 30 Finalist, 2012 Women of Faith Writing Contest
Education/Training
Bachelor of Arts in Theater (stage management)
Published Works Book Jackets
Organizations
Pikes Peak Writers
Speaker Availability
No

Tucker, John W.

Tucker, John W.
Current Location
Colorado Springs, CO
Biography

My parents moved to Colorado four months after I was born, from Lincoln, NE. I graduated from Abraham Lincoln H.S. in Denver and attended one year of college at Metro State College. I moved back to Colorado in 1984, from pastoring in S.D. I have worked several jobs while in the Springs: custodian for School District 11 for 13 years; as a court clerk for the Court House for one year; as an Assistant Floating Manager for Goodwill Industries of Colorado Springs for three and a half years; and as a city bus driver for the last eleven years. I originally came here to serve as a children's pastor and served three churches from 1984-2002, as a children's pastor, elder, youth pastor, and associate pastor. I love Colorado's landscape and have skied, hiked, bird-watched, and enjoyed astronomy here. I have also acted in costume portraying Patrick Henry and William Bradford. And at Easter I have performed as Barabbas.

Education/Training
Masters of Divinity, Sioux Falls Seminary - B.A. in Speech & Drama, University of Sioux Falls - Certificate in Facilities Management, PPCC - Certificate in Paralegal, DPI - Certificate in Children's Writing, Institute for Children's Writing
Local Authors Genres
Published Works Book Jackets
Organizations
National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) - wordserverwatercooler.com
Speaker Availability
Yes
Speaker Topics
I am a member of Toastmaster's International. I enjoy speaking and sharing my take on various subjects. I have talked about astronomy, book writing, Quadrant Leadership and Patriotism.