Crested Butte Writers

CB Writers Members

	Barbara Crawford Cofounder CB Writers Crested Butte, CO Children's author & Nonfiction Barbara, a NJ native who retired to the Colorado mountains one day after Y2K, had owned and operated Jugtown Mountain Preschool in the wilds of the Garden State. Her masters thesis grew into a book on her philosophy of education called The Common Sense Early Childhood Classroom. Barbara has dabbled in middle grade and YA novels but is finding her stride in adult fiction. Ten years ago she founded a conference that began as a Readers in the Rockies authors day and grew into the Crested Butte Writers Conference. As Co-Coordinator and one of the founders of the Crested Butte Writers, she plays a key role in transforming the CBWC into an intimate, interactive, and inspiring weekend for readers, writers, and presenters.
	Theresa Rizzo Cofounder CB Writers Longmont, CO Women's Fiction & Suspense Theresa is a native Michigander, but has lived in Colorado since 2000. She has a BS in nursing and uses that knowledge in both raising her four children and in her women's fiction and suspense books. Theresa belongs to several writers groups, but combines her love of the mountains and writing through her involvement in the Crested Butte Writers. She is the Coordinator of The Sandy writing contest and Co-Cordinator of the CB Writers Conference. She is one of the Five Scribes who blog. Check out her website and at Facebook.
	Donnell Bell CO Springs, CO Romantic Suspense & Mystery Award-winning author whose 2007 manuscript Walk Away Joe has been contracted to Bell Bridge Books to be retitled and published in September 2011. A member of two blogs one for writer Five Scribes and Get Lost in a Story for readers.
	Martha Catt Charlotte, NC Martha Catt earned an honors degree in English Literature from Northwestern University. As a financial advisor, she listens to the stories of her clients' lives every day, which informs her writing. Her recurring themes are love, truth and redemption. She won second place in the Sandy Contest Mainstream category in 2010 with her novel SWITCH-A-ROO that takes place in a small town in the Appalachian mountains of North Carolina. Her novel SPECIAL VALUATION is a finalist for the 2012 Sandy Competition in the Romance category and it takes place on a ranch in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. She has written a semi-monthly column for THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER Neighbor of the City section from 2008 to the present.
	Jaycee Clark Lampasas, TX Romantic Suspense, Paranormal Romance Jaycee Clark has always loved reading and writing. Even at an early age, she penned stories and poems. Now she taps on a keyboard whenever she gets the chance creating villains with heroes and heroines to beat them. She traded her imaginary playmates for entire families that only exist within her mind until the keyboard brings them to life.
	Sheila Davis Gunnison, CO
	Sandy Fails Crested Butte, CO
	Ann Gordon Moab, UT Ann is a technical and nonfiction writer trying her hand at writing fiction. Her poetry, articles, and creative nonfiction have won awards. She’s also a seasoned editor for other writers, mostly in the genres of memoir, nonfiction, and historical fiction.
	Kerri-Leigh Grady Monterey, CA Urban Fantasy KL Grady hates writing bios. She's prayed to (and bribed) her fairy godmother for bio-writing skills, but alas the old biddy hasn't come through. KL bides her time following her Navy husband around the world, editing for Entangled Publishing, and plotting revenge on her fairy godmother.
	Jolene Gutierrez Thornton, CO Children's & Young Adult Jolene Ballard Gutierrez was born in Sterling, Colorado in 1974. She grew up on a farm in northeastern Colorado and has mostly fond memories of that life: riding horses and hunting arrowheads. Her nasty memories include falling in pig poop and eating Rocky Mountain Oysters before she learned that they aren't really oysters. She married her soul mate from high school; they have two amazing children—a girl and a boy. As a school librarian for the past seventeen years, she loves helping students find their perfect book. Her dream is that her books are someone's favorite. Visit her website, Facebook page, and Goodreads site.
	Laura Haley-McNeil Littleton, CO Laura, a California native, now lives in Colorado with her husband, Robin. A former Spanish teacher, she currently works in property management. Her novel, Prelude and Fugue, was released in 2012.
	C. C. Harrison Anthem, AZ Mystery, History, Romance Author C. C. Harrison has received national recognition with her suspense novels. The Charmstone was voted 2008 Golden Quill's Best Romantic Suspense and Best First Book, and was a Colorado Award of Excellence finalist. Tony Hillerman called it a valuable book. Her award winning mystery Running from Strangers was a 2009 National Readers Choice finalist. Her Old West Historical Sage Cane's House of Grace and Favor (written as Christy Hubbard) took second place at Aspen Institute's Summer Words Literary Festival 2010 Colorado Book Award. Her recent release, Picture of Lies, is the 2012 Next Generation Indie Book Award Suspense winner. When she's not writing, reading or working out at the gym, she can be found in the mountains of Colorado or some far-flung corner of the Southwest. Visit her website.
	Ron Heimbecher Thorton, CO Ron Heimbecher, owner of ChaliceMedia, is an award-winning innovative technologist, with a diverse background in large corporations, small businesses, government, music, film and television. His current focus is the design and development of infrastructure and content for Expanded Experience eBooksTM. Ron presents frequently and has scores of active websites and blogs, starting with www.ChaliceMedia.com. In Ron's words, "I'm earlobes deep in four mega-massive interconnected projects that combine ebooks, real-time online enhancements, a civil war, government takeover, a liars' rebellion, and Heaven's Lower East Side. Oh yeah, about 400 characters nearly 100 websites... whew!" Favorite quote: "I think it is often easier to make progress on mega-ambitious dreams. Since no one else is crazy enough to do it, you have little competition." Larry Page, Google
	Tes Hilaire Charlotte, NC Romance Daphne Award-winning author Tes Hilaire started creating whole new worlds to escape upstate New York's harsh winters before finally fleeing to sultry North Carolina. Her stories are edgy, exciting, and bring a hint of dark fantasy to paranormal romance. And no one ever has to shovel snow. For more, visit her website.
	Charis Himeda Worcester, MA Charis Himeda, Ph.D., is a research associate at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. She studies mechanisms of muscle disease by day and enjoys writing speculative literary fiction by night. Her works have appeared in Antimuse, Eureka Literary Magazine, Merlyn’s Pen, MudRock: Stories and Tales, and Nth Degree; one of her works has been accepted for appearance in the The Marlboro Review. Her literary mainstream novel, The Shape of a Kiss, won first place in the 2013 Sandy Writing Contest, and her science fiction novel, Mindsphere, was a finalist and second place winner in the 2010 and 2011 Pacific Northwest Writers’ Association Literary Contest, respectively.
	Sandra Kerns Loveland, CO The north and the south collided again when Sandra was born. Her parents relocated to NY from Kentucky shortly before her birth. Talk about worlds colliding; she's the only Yankee in a house full of rebels. Maybe that's why she has always liked suspense. She's a morning person who gets her writing done early and watches shows like: CSI, Elementary, Person of Interest. She also likes SciFi: Stargate SG-1, Warehouse 13, Continuum, and Defiance. With all of these violent shows you may wonder at her calling herself a romance writer. While she enjoys the intricacies of the who and why of crimes her real love is the relationships that bind the players together. The dance between people at work, play, and every day. These are what keep Sandra writing her stories. Feel free to stop by her website and say hi.
	Christina Lasswell Belton, MO Christina grew up in Kansas City, Missouri where she still lives with her Park Ranger husband and two children. Her professional credentials include: a BS in Psychology with a minor in English, licensure in Marriage and Family Therapy, and current work as a Service Coordinator for seniors and families in income-based housing. Writing two monthly newsletters and editing all of the business manuscripts that circulate around the office keeps her busy. Her hobbies are jazzercising, taking pictures, and playing with her daughter’s American girl doll. Christina credits Kaki Warner and Genevieve Graham for re-igniting her passion for writing. She is now creating her first historical novel. She blogs about books at: www.astoryclub.blogspot.com.
	Katherine Norgard Katherine has worked in the mental health field for many years as a practicing psychologist and trainer, educator and practitioner in psychodrama teaching, and consultant and provider of direct services from which her writing has rooted. She wrote a children's book about the Montessori method after her daughter attended this school system. And she has written other texts about child abuse and neglect after consulting for several years in the foster care system and providing services to people who have been affected by child abuse. Her most recent book focuses on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, which is based upon a personal story.
	Lisa Potocar Ballston Lake, NY Lisa Potocar lives in Upstate New York with her husband and two cuddly keeshonds. Her passion for writing and research stems from her former work in health care administration and as a professor. When not tracking some morsel of history to shape into a story, she's a tomboy at heart who loves to hike and bike and has traveled the world to do it. The waning days of 2011 finds Lisa gleefully marketing her debut novel, Sweet Glory—about sixteen-year-old tomboy Jana Brady who trims her tresses and rides off as Union Cavalryman Johnnie to fight in the American Civil War—and writing her next YA historical novel. For those who desire more than just a peek at its cover shown here, Sweet Glory can be found here.
	Anya Rakoczy Colorado Springs, CO Anya is a novelist and poet who loves the Dark. Her current writing project is a series of urban fantasy novels featuring vampires, angels and human sorcerers in the Great War between the Underworld and Upperworld being fought on Earth. She lives in Colorado Springs with her husband and three spoiled cats. Being somewhat of an occult scholar and amateur historian, she makes an annual pilgrimage to New Orleans each October to attend the Endless Night and Anne Rice vampire balls and to soak up the rich, mysterious atmosphere which infuses her writing.
	Mary Russell OH Mary's passion is writing. Her love is solving a good mystery. Her husband, the love of her life for forty-four years and one mystery she is still trying to solve, works at completing his bucket list. From her home in Ohio she is writing her way into publication. And in the process she connects with others, who also find power in written words. Check out her website and at Facebook.
	Leslie Ann Sartor Boulder, CO Romantic Suspense novels, Screenplays Leslie Ann Sartor began telling stories around the age of 4 when her mother, at Leslie's insistence, wrote them down and Leslie illustrated them. As an adult she writes romantic suspense novels, and screenplays--her very first a contracted adaptation! She lives in Colorado with her attorney husband, loves to travel and thinks life is an adventure and we should embrace the journey. She is also one of the Five Scribes. Check out her website.
	Marie Sexton CO Marie Sexton lives in Colorado. She’s a fan of just about anything that involves muscular young men piling on top of each other. In particular, she loves the Denver Broncos and enjoys going to the games with her husband. Her imaginary friends often tag along. Marie has one daughter, two cats, and one dog, all of whom seem bent on destroying what remains of her sanity. She loves them anyway.
	Mary Stafford Liberty Hill, TX Mary (Lynn) Bryan Stafford, wannabe famous author and cowgirl, grew up in South Texas. Sixth generation Texan and daughter of the Texas Republic, she wandered away for a while and graduated from The College of William and Mary in Virginia with degrees in English and Spanish. Her yet to be published novel, A Wasp in the Fig Tree (once upon a time winner of the Sandys, PNWA, and Texas Writers' League Contest), is currently in the throes of agent-search. Excerpts can be found in Women Write about the Southwest and Noble Generation III. As well as fiction, she coins a few poems, most of which are published in the Texas Poetry Calendars. At home now in Central Texas Hill Country, she writes, and trains Iberian horses.
	Linnea Tanner Windsor, CO Linnea Tanner, a native of Colorado, attended the University of Colorado where she earned her B.A. and M.S. degrees in Chemistry. After working in the pharmaceutical industry, she decided to write historical/fantasy fiction based on her lifelong passion for Ancient Roman and British history and mythology. Her first unpublished novel, APOLLO’s RAVEN, is a historical romantic fantasy inspired by accounts of Celtic women warriors and rulers, extensive research, and expeditions to the United Kingdom and France. Linnea studied creative writing with Lighthouse Writers in Denver and is a member of Pikes Peak Writers, the Historical Novel Society, Crested Butte Writers, and writer critique groups. Currently, Linnea is working on another novel set in Ancient Britain. She and her husband live in Windsor, CO and they have two children.
	Marcie Telander Crested Butte, CO Marcie Telander, MA, LPC, REAT is a Registered Expressive Arts Therapist, with 30 years experience as a professional psychotherapist and international presenter, with numerous awards for screen-writing, fiction, journalism and blog-writing. Marcie is the author of ACTING UP! (Dramatic Publishing-London), numerous creative writing texts (Urban Gateways-Chicago), former newspaper Features Editor-Chicago, and Crested Butte and Editor-in-Chief, TOUTS Magazine--New Orleans. You may visit her at website.
	Kaki Warner Carlton, WA Historical Romance Although now living in the Cascade Mountains of Washington State, Kaki graduated from the University of Texas and spent half her life in the Southwest where she worked as a commercial artist, high school teacher, reluctant collection agent and surly secretary. Her years spent camping and riding horses in those wide open spaces became the inspiration for her western historical romances. She is a three-time RITA finalist, and one-time winner. Her books have also finaled in the National Reader's Choice Awards, the Bookseller's Best Awards, made the American Library Association list for Best Romances of 2013, and was the 2013 winner of the Maggie Award for Excellence in historical romance. In addition to a Christmas novella, MIRACLE IN NEW HOPE, and a story in the anthology, BOOTS UNDER HER BED, she is currently finishing her ninth full-length book for Putnam/Berkley. Her next release is July 1, WHERE THE HORSES RUN. Please join her on Facebook and Twitter or visit her website. She would love to hear from you.
	Kevin Wolf Littleton, CO Western Like so many, Kevin Wolf always believed he could write a novel that millions would want to read. Six years ago he decided to prove that was true. Vocation finds him travelling the Rocky Mountain States. Avocation finds him working on the next manuscript. Werewolves stalk the saloons and brothels of a western town in BROKE HEART, his 2009 Sandy winning entry. He is currently represented by Gina Panettieri of Talcott Notch Literary. Kevin lives in Littleton, Colorado with his wife of 35 years and two beagles.
	Nanci Lee Woody Rocklin, CA Nanci Lee Woody wrote several textbooks in Accounting and Math when she was a teacher and administrator at American River College. She also just completed a literary novel, Tears and Trombones, about a depression-era boy who wants to become a classical musician against the wishes of his vodka-swilling father. She also wrote the book and lyrics for a musical, Hello to Life!, produced in Sacramento and won competitions at the San Francisco Writers Conference, the Sacramento Public Library and Voices of Lincoln for her poetry. She's had poems published in the California Writers Club Literary Journal and online at the site, “YourDailyPoem”. Never having decided on what she wanted to be when she grew up, you can find her painting, drawing or taking photos. Her art has been shown on air with public television's annual fundraiser, at the Effie Yeaw Nature Center fundraiser, at the Blue Line Gallery and in various venues through Placer Arts.