Birth City

Fort Collins

Birth State

CO

Current Location

Colorado Springs, CO

Email (Public)

Author's Website

Occupation(s)

Missile Defense - Civil Service

Biography

14er Climber, Rocket Scientist, Published Novelist, Movie Connoisseur, and Amateur Photographer, Benjamin M. Weilert was born in Colorado in 1985. While he went to school for Mechanical Engineering (eventually earning a Master’s Degree), he has found science to be interesting enough to write fiction about it. He likes to classify his novels as “science fantasy,” wherein the science is real and (semi) accurate, but portrayed in a fantasy setting to make it accessible to non scientific readers. If you want stories that are surreptitiously educational, he’s your man. He currently lives in Colorado Springs and his most recent book is Fourteener Father, a memoir of climbing all of Colorado's 14,000-foot mountains with his dad.

Education/Training

"Creative Fiction Writing" course at the Colorado School of Mines

Local Authors Genres

Published Works

Published Works Book Jackets

Organizations

The Midnight Writers - National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), municipal liaison for the Colorado Springs region

Speaker Availability

Yes

Speaker Topics

Self-publishing (writing, editing, formatting, cover design, etc.) - National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) - Submitting to short story anthologies

Birth City

Princeton

Birth State

NJ

Current Location

Colorado Springs, CO

Email (Public)

Author's Website

Occupation(s)

Photographer - Author

Biography

Judith has specialized in capturing breathtaking scenic and nature images for over 20 years. She shares her vast knowledge through private and group photo tours of Garden of the Gods as well as other Colorado locations. You can also join her for photographic seminars and workshops. Visit her website to view portfolio images and fine art prints, and to see free instructional videos at www.mothernaturephotography.com. 

Judith says, "Showing up at a location and photographing nature by literally recording the moment is different from capturing nature as an artist feels it should be viewed; using light, weather, equipment, and an artistic interpretation to show Mother Nature’s beauty and power. Both methods are useful in photography, but each has a distinct time and place. My goal is always to make each image intentional, represent my artistic vision, and create a piece of art that will be loved for a lifetime. I have spent the majority of my life in Colorado Springs, moving here as a child. I remember my joy while climbing on the rocks of Garden of the Gods early in my life. Though I moved to Michigan for ten years, Colorado always echoed in my heart. Now that I have returned to 'The Springs,' I often frequent Garden of the Gods, spending much time hiking and photographing this breathtaking open space with my loving husband and children."

Education/Training

Bachelor of Arts in Fine Art, Hillsdale College - Addition studies in photography at Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI - Staff Photographer for R.J. Michael's, Inc. (an advertising agency in Jackson, MI) - Studio Manager and Second Shooter for Don Jones Photography (a commercial photography studio in Colorado Springs, CO) - Twelve years as both an art and photography faculty member and head of the Professional Photography department at Pikes Peak Community College.

Local Authors Genres

Published Works

Published Works Book Jackets

Interviews

Speaker Availability

Yes

Speaker Topics

* General landscape and nature photography tips and techniques
* Best practices to learn and study photography, and start a photography business
* Local landmarks and parks including favorite photography site locations around the city and tips to make amazing photos in each place
* The history of Garden of the Gods
* Issues pertaining to the preservation of the land and wildlife

Birth City

Colorado Springs

Birth State

CO

Current Location

Colorado Springs, CO

Author's Website

Occupation(s)

Author - Designer - Nonprofit Consultant - Speaker/Trainer - #workquilter

Biography

I have lived in Colorado Springs for the last seventeen years. I was born in Chicago, later moved to France (father in the military), returned and moved to Kansas before spending most of my time in Texas (San Antonio area). I have held myriad positions in my life. I like to undertake more than one thing at a time, thus I refer to myself as a #workquilter combining various avenues of income. These include: -Author of nonfiction and fiction. -Certified permaculture designer and previously worked as a registered interior designer. -Suburban Homesteader (have gardens, chickens, bees). -Speaker/trainer on myriad topics. -Global house- and pet-sitter. -Nonprofit consultant, certified grants specialist (proposal writer, donor communications, fundraising strategy)

Awards/Honors

Education/Training

Bachelor of Science, Organizational Management in Christian Leadership, GCU (magna cum laude) - Associate's degree, Registered Interior Designer, St. Philips College in San Antonio, TX - Certified Grants Specialist - Certified Grants Reviewer

Local Authors Genres

Published Works

Published Works Book Jackets

Organizations

Colorado Springs CDBG Board Member

Speaker Availability

Yes

Speaker Topics

Writing - Creative writing - Self-publishing - Backyard farming (permaculture principles, food forest, perennial gardening, lasagna gardening) - Travel - House/pet sitting - Getting what you really want in life - Work quilting - Nonprofit topics (e.g. Fundraising 101) - Entrepreneurship - Design (Interior Design, Landscape design using permaculture zones)

Birth City

Dayton

Birth State

OH

Current Location

Colorado Springs, CO

Email (Public)

Author's Website

Occupation(s)

Author - Chair AAPG Astrogeology Committee - Sr. Geophysical Consultant (ret.)

Biography

Doug Cook has spent over two thousand hours underwater exploring and photographing life in the oceans. He is retired from a thirty-four year career as a petroleum geophysicist. This career allowed him to explore five of the world’s continents and live in Saudi Arabia for eighteen years. A career highlight in petroleum exploration was participating in ten years of deep-water submersible oil seep studies in the Gulf of Mexico. These seeps have associated chemosynthetic communities of life. As extremophiles, these organisms relate to Doug’s interest in astrogeology and exobiology. Doug has always had a passion for astronomy and space exploration. He now pursues this passion as an author. The beauty of the mountains and geology lured Doug to retire in Colorado. He has two daughters and lives in Colorado Springs with his wife Elizabeth.

Education/Training

BS Oceanography, University of Michigan, 1976 - MS in Carbonate Sedimentology, University of Florida, 1984 - Exploration Geophysics (Conoco, BHP Americas, Saudi Aramco)

Local Authors Genres

Published Works

Published Works Book Jackets

Interviews

Organizations

Member, American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) - Chair AAPG Astrogeology Committee, Society of Exploration Geophysicists (SEG) - Member-at-Large Colorado Springs Astronomical Society - Member of the Planetary Society, National Space Society, and Adjunct Astronomy Professor PPCC.

Speaker Availability

Yes

Speaker Topics

1) The Aquila Mission- It’s 2023. Our crew enters deep space to study asteroid Bennu and comet 125P- a step to mankind’s first voyage to Mars. A rigorously scientific yet thrilling story of man’s first journey beyond the Moon. (2018 print and eBook) - 2) Earth Impacts and the Threat from Near Earth Asteroids - 3) Research Submersible Exploration on Chemosynthetic Communities that Eat Oil and Gas, 2600 feet Down in the Gulf of Mexico - 4) Discovering Ancient Ship Wrecks in the Red Sea, Saudi Arabia.

Birth City

Albuquerque

Birth State

NM

Email (Public)

Author's Website

Occupation(s)

Educator - Retired faculty Emeritus

Biography

Janyne McConnaughey, PhD, retired from a career in education that spanned forty years—from early-childhood educator to college professor—in order to heal from the effects of the childhood abuse she had suffered. During therapy, Janyne wrote her way to healing and now is redeeming her story by helping others to understand and heal from childhood trauma. Along with Brave: A Personal Story of Healing Childhood Trauma, Janyne is working on two forthcoming sequels. She also keeps busy blogging at Janyne.org, and guest blogging for other organizations that address childhood trauma. Janyne enjoys full-time RV living with her husband, Scott, at the edge of Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and treasures the time she spends in the Seattle area with her children and grandchildren.

Awards/Honors

Local Authors Genres

Published Works

Published Works Book Jackets

Interviews

Organizations

PhD University of Colorado, Denver, Department of Education (Educational Leadership and Innovation) - M.S. Southwest Missouri State University, Education - B.A. Point Loma Nazarene University, Child Development and Christian Education

Speaker Availability

Yes

Speaker Topics

The Effects of Childhood Trauma - Behavior through the Lens of Childhood Trauma - Trauma Sensitive Schools - Personal Story of Healing from Childhood Trauma/Dissociative Disorders

Birth City

Oklahoma City

Birth State

OK

Current Location

Anywhere USA

Email (Public)

Author's Website

Occupation(s)

Author - Psychotherapist and life coach - Animal Communicator - Public speaker - Workshop leader

Biography

I moved to Colorado Springs in 1986. I ran a very large psychotherapy practice (counseling) until 1997 when I was sidelined for 12 years by a very severe brain injury requiring a craniotomy. As a result of the changes in my brain I was forced to completely change my modus operandi. Eventually I returned to counseling and wrote a memoir of my seven and one-half years post TBI. I lived in Colorado Springs until 2015, when my husband and editor, sold our home and moved into our 5th wheel, to experience additional locations in the US.

Education/Training

Master of Arts degree in Counseling

Local Authors Genres

Published Works

Published Works Book Jackets

Speaker Availability

Yes

Speaker Topics

Animal consciousness - Overcoming Adversity: The art of not giving up - Animal communication training - Women: The Rebirth of Soft Power

Pseudonym

Maitreya B. Abhisambodhi

Current Location

Colorado Springs, CO

Email (Public)

Occupation(s)

Author - Translator

Biography

• A resident of Colorado Springs since 7/2015. 
• Active writer and translator. 
• Have held three book-signings at Bookman bookstore on Colorado Avenue since October 2017.

Education/Training

* Harvard University, 1972-1976, Sanskrit and Indian Studies/Buddhist Studies
* U.C. Berkeley, 1987-1989, Buddhist Studies

Local Authors Genres

Published Works

Speaker Availability

Yes

Speaker Topics

* Buddhism
* Yoga Philosophy
* Comparative Philosophy (East-West)
* Comparative Religions
* Indian Philosophies/Religions
* Buddhism and Science
* Tantra: Buddhist and Hindu

Birth City

Oak Park

Birth State

IL

Current Location

Colorado Springs, CO

Email (Public)

Author's Website

Occupation(s)

Freelance Writer

Biography

Roger moved out to Colorado Springs from the Washington, DC, area, in 1994, and has been here ever since. The whole family grew up here and still live in the area. After a 30-year career in information technology, Roger decided to follow another passion- writing. After writing user manuals, training materials, and other writing assignments as a part of his regular IT duties, he launched his own career as a writer. He has six books published- two on bowling and four historical mysteries set in Laramie, Wyoming, in the 1880s.

Education/Training

BS in Political Science and History - MBA Project Management

Local Authors Genres

Published Works

Published Works Book Jackets

Speaker Availability

Yes

Speaker Topics

Any topic related to writing: the process, my experiences, freelance, indie, etc..

Birth City

Detroit

Birth State

MI

Current Location

Colorado Springs, CO

Email (Public)

Author's Website

Occupation(s)

Former librarian and teacher - Cherokee Two-Spirit Shaman

Biography

I was still living as a man when I moved to in the year 2000. Having been outed as transgender, and fired at the Prep-School where I had been working, I was recruited at the National Librarians' Conference to be the Coordinator of Information and Technology at Mitchell High School, where I was again outed and fired. In 2007, after being outed and fired at CollegeAmerica, I transitioned to living full time as a woman. My storytelling-performances in The Story Project in Colorado Springs and for The Secret Society of Twisted Storytellers are viewable on YouTube. I also sing karaoke and do an occasional standup open-mike.

Awards/Honors

Education/Training

Master's Degree in Library Science - Bachelor's Degree in English, Wayne State University, Michigan

Local Authors Genres

Published Works

Published Works Book Jackets

Interviews

Speaker Availability

Yes

Speaker Topics

Storytelling - Transgender - Theory of Mind - Education

Birth City

Olean

Birth State

NY

Current Location

Manitou Springs, CO

Email (Public)

Author's Website

Occupation(s)

Journalist, author, chaplain, massage therapist, spiritual advisor

Biography

Author Peg Gould, MBA, RScP, LMT, a career writer/editor from upstate New York, moved west to Colorado, then Alaska, where she renewed her love of nature and photography on the stunning Kenai Peninsula. She is licensed both as a massage therapist and a spiritual advisor. Peg and her husband Todd raised a family with a diversity of pets in Manitou Springs, CO; they also enjoy working on their log home near Homer, AK.  Her work appeared daily for decades in newspapers in New York and Colorado, and later for years in Alaska Business Monthly. She also has freelanced for Vocational Biographies, American News Service, Colorado Springs Health, Springs Magazine, Women’s Edition, Compassion International, Convergent Performance, and for other businesses and nonprofits.

Awards/Honors

Education/Training

* MBA, University of Colorado
* BA Journalism, Cum Laude, St. Bonaventure University
* Alaska's oral history

Local Authors Genres

Published Works

Published Works Book Jackets

Organizations

Member, AMTA (Message Therapy)

Speaker Availability

Yes

Speaker Topics

* Grief
* Bereavement
* Interviewing
* Self-publishing
* Travel
* Parenting
* Nature and Animals
* Outdoors