Teen Fiction

Cox, Jodi

Cox, Jodi
Birth City
Union City
Birth State
IN
Current Location
Colorado Springs, CO
Occupation(s)
Author - Illustrator - Graphic Designer
Biography

Jodi Cox is an American dieselpunk author born on April 10, 1979 in Union City, Indiana. She graduated from Simon Kenton High School in 1997. Later she went on to graduate with a BFA from the College of Mount Saint Joseph, now known as the University of Mount St. Joseph in Cincinnati, Ohio. After college, Jodi started writing for Citybeat magazine. Later she went on to become a pioneer in internet graphics and website development. After spending nearly ten years writing for everything from tax websites to poetry, Jodi began developing the world of the Nether After, unbeknownst to her that steampunk and dieselpunk was turning into a literary genre. Jodi enjoys all things speculative fiction, but has a pension for the weird and unusual. She describes herself as a comic book snob. She is often found with a stack of Japanese and American graphic novels in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other. She enjoys drawing and painting, as well as writing. Her hours not spent on writing are devoted to geeking out over new computer hardware, or the latest video games. She loves ripping into electronics to see how they work, as well as cooking and developing new recipes. As a writer Jodi has been writing steampunk, dieselpunk, and fantasy of all types. She has even dipped her toe into science fiction.

Education/Training
BFA, Mt. St. Joseph University
Published Works Book Jackets
Organizations
Pikes Peak Writers - Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers - Tesla Writers
Speaker Availability
Yes
Speaker Topics
Dieselpunk - Steampunk - Self publishing - Book layout and design - Web comics - High fantasy world building - Fantasy & pop culture tropes and how not to use them - Minority heroes - Ghost stories for kids - Comics in the new digital age - Comics in the classroom - Pop culture fandom

Menon, Sandhya

Menon, Sandhya
Birth Year (-Died Year)
1983
Birth City
Mumbai
Birth State
India
Current Location
Colorado Springs, CO
Occupation(s)
New York Times bestselling author
Biography

Sandhya Menon is the author of the YA rom-com When Dimple Met Rishi (Simon and Schuster, May 2017), which has been hailed by Bustle magazine as "the arranged marriage YA rom-com we've been waiting for." She was born and raised in India on a steady diet of Bollywood movies and street food. She pretty much blames this upbringing for her obsession with happily-ever-afters, bad dance moves, and pani puri. Sandhya currently lives just outside Colorado Springs, where she’s on a mission to (gently) coerce her husband, son, and daughter to watch all 3,220 Bollywood movies she claims as her favorite.

Awards/Honors
2018 Colorado Book Award Winner - When Dimple Met Rishi (Young Adult Fiction category)
Local Authors Genres
Published Works Book Jackets
Speaker Availability
Yes
Speaker Topics
The craft of writing, current topics in the field of publishing (ex., the importance of diversity and how to include it
thoughtfully, how to write to a teen audience, how to write the immigrant experience), finding an agent, the process of going out on submission, working with an editor, what a debut year can look like, the importance of
book bloggers and librarians--and many others!

Wernly, Kathy and Bob

Wernly, Kathy and Bob
Pseudonym
Kathy Clark and Bob Kat (YA)
Birth Year (-Died Year)
1951
Birth City
Houston
Birth State
TX
Current Location
Colorado Springs, CO
Occupation(s)
Author
Biography

Bob and Kathy Wernly write as a team under the penname of Kathy Clark for our adult romantic suspense novels and Bob Kat for our YA romance/mystery/time travel series (Timeshifters). We lived in Colorado since 1985 and in Colorado Springs for a year and a half. Several of our series are set in Colorado, including Denver Heroes, and an upcoming series set in Cripple Creek called Breathless. One of our YA novels (Forever Love) is a time travel ghost story set at the Stanley Hotel the year it opened in 1911. We have given workshops and speeches about writing and creativity all over the U.S. Kathy is a past vice-president of Romance Writers of America and a co-founder of Colorado Romance Writers.

Education/Training
BA degree in Mass Communications and Fine Arts, York College (Kathy) - BS and MBA in Aerospace Engineering and Business Administration (Bob)
Organizations
Romance Writers of America - Colorado Romance Writers - Mystery Writers of America
Speaker Availability
Yes
Speaker Topics
Characterization - Plotting - Writing a series - Writing with a partner - Writing young adult novels - Writing new adult novels - How to self publish your book - Many other writing-related topics

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

Abraham, S. J.

Birth Year (-Died Year)
1978
Birth City
El Paso
Birth State
TX
Current Location
Colorado Springs, CO
Occupation(s)
Writer - Stay at home father
Biography

As a child raised in the Southwest United States on the border of one of the largest oil fields in the country, S. J. Abraham was a lonely nerd. With no interest in rodeo or baseball, he spent his time reading. His heroes were fictional characters and great novelists. It wasn’t long before he started scratching out his own stories. In recent years he has embraced his geekiness and has set to work turning his writing hobby into a career as a novelist. While he originally wrote for adults, he has since realized he is still fifteen at heart, so he now focuses on writing for young adults. S. J. lives in the beautiful city of Colorado Springs, where all the exciting outdoor activities are wasted on him, though the ever-changing views fire his creativity like few things can. He spends the shreds of his free time playing with his wife, children, brothers, sisters, friends, nephews, and little nieces.

Education/Training
Bachelor of Arts, Multimedia Production - Associate of Arts, English and Literature - Associate of Science, Media Production
Speaker Availability
Yes
Speaker Topics
Writing art and craft - Technology - Video production - Web design - Graphic design - Indie press

Likins, Heidi

Author Heidi Likins
Birth City
Minneapolis
Birth State
MN
Current Location
Colorado Springs, CO
Occupation(s)
Nurse Educator - Penrose Hospital
Biography

I have lived in Colorado Springs for over twelve years after living in the South Pacific as well as Mongolia in Central Asia - and I love it here! The mountains and nature of this region have influenced my writing and inspire me.

Local Authors Genres
Speaker Availability
Yes
Speaker Topics
Self-publishing

Gillard, Cheri

Author Cheri Gillard
Birth Year (-Died Year)
1962
Birth City
Denver
Birth State
CO
Current Location
Colorado Springs, CO
Occupation(s)
Freelance editor, writer, publisher
Biography

​​Cheri Gillard has been writing, editing, and publishing for over twenty-five years. As a hybrid writer and editor, she has worked for an international print magazine, written freelance for major publishing companies with projects published worldwide, and published both her own and clients’ Indie novels and nonfiction books. Offering everything from editing to formatting, securing quality graphic design, marketing with media coverage and successful book launches, she has helped authors achieve their aspirations to release the books of their dreams.

Awards/Honors
Chloe's Garden - Recipient of the Indie B.R.A.G. Medallion for excellence in Indie publishing
Education/Training
Twenty-five years of freelance writing and editing, including a magazine writer and editor for YouthWorker Journal for three years; numerous non-fiction writing projects/books for several trade publishing houses; articles in the Colorado Springs Gazette, YouthWorker Journal, Procter & Gamble's "Heard on the Floor"; freelance publisher for "We Are Beth-El Nurses: A Heritage of Caring at the Foot of Pikes Peak"
Local Authors Genres
Published Works Book Jackets
Speaker Availability
Yes
Speaker Topics
Writing - Editing - Mothering/Parenting - Indie publishing

Pena, Isabel

Pena, Isabel
Birth Year (-Died Year)
1971
Birth City
New York City
Birth State
NY
Current Location
Colorado Springs, CO
Occupation(s)
Interpreter
Biography

Isabel M. Peña was born and raised in Washington Heights, NYC to Dominican parents. She is currently a single mother of two wonderful boys and is residing in the majestic state of Colorado. She is a first time author who wishes to teach our youth that life is about choices, positive attitude, and love

Local Authors Genres
Published Works Book Jackets
Speaker Availability
Yes
Speaker Topics
Bullying - Compassion - Society - Love - Youth (growing up) - Positive thinking

Knauf, Sandra

Author Sandra Knauf
Birth Year (-Died Year)
1963
Birth City
Oakland
Birth State
CA
Current Location
Colorado Springs, CO
Phone (Public)
(719) 473-9237
Occupation(s)
Writer and Publisher, Greenwoman Publishing, LLC
Biography

Sandra Knauf was born in California and spent most of her childhood in Missouri. She moved to Colorado when she was a teenager and has lived there ever since. She is the publisher and editor of Greenwoman Magazine, a garden writing magazine, which she started in 2010. Her work has appeared in The Denver Post, GreenPrints, Colorado Gardener, and other publications, and she has been a guest commentator on KRCC's "Western Skies" radio show. (KRCC is NPR's southern Colorado affiliate station.) Zera and the Green Man is her first novel. She lives in Colorado Springs with her family, pets, and a big garden.

Awards/Honors
2002 - First Place, Creative Nonfiction, Paul Gillette Memorial Writing Contest
2005 - Edited book A Taste for Gardening (2004), recipient of the Top National Award from the National Federation of Garden Clubs, Inc.
2008-2009 - Selected as a Denver Post "Colorado Voices" featured columnist
2011 - Grant award from Pikes Peak Community Foundation for work on Greenwoman magazine
2013 - Microgrant Award from Pikes Peak Arts Council
2015 - Microgrant Award from Pikes Peak Arts Council
2019 - North Street Book Prize Finalist, Please Don't Piss on the Petunias
Education/Training
University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, Bachelor of Arts, English, 1991
Published Works Book Jackets
Image
Book cover for Fifty Shades of Green edited by Cheri Colburn
Image
Book cover for Please Don't Piss on the Petunias by Sandra Knauf
Image
Book cover for Zera and the Green Man by Sandra Knauf
Organizations
* Grimy Hands Girls' Club
* Toastmasters
* League of Women Voters
* Peak Peak Art Council
* Green Cities Coalition
Speaker Availability
Yes
Speaker Topics
Self-Publishing