SLWG 2009 Judges for The Big Write
Judging is based on writing proficiency, originality, cohesiveness of story and fulfillment of its purpose. Spelling, punctuation, grammar, and neatness are important.
JANET GRACE RIEHL is an award-winning author, blogger, and conference presenter living in St. Louis. Sightlines: A Poet's Diary is her “down home” family love story beyond death, told in story poems. Twice selected as finalist for Poet Laureate of Lake County, California and a member of Authors Guild, her poems, stories, and essays are published in national literary magazines, including Harvard Review and Cream City Review, and several anthologies. Visit her website at: www.riehlife.com.
CLAIRE APPLEWHITE is a freelance journalist, speechwriter, novelist, and former writing competition judge. Night and Day, was a 2007 Finalist in the William Faulkner Competition. Heard It Through the Grapevine and Just One of Those Things were Faulkner Semi-Finalists. Her work, including motivational articles, speeches and eulogies, has appeared in various publications. Currently, she is working on the column, “Author to Author” and a memoir of St. Louis City Hospital. Visit her website at www.Claireapplewhite.com .
JUD MINER is a published author of poetry, short stories for children, and two books for the young-at-heart, Amos and the Wild Welshman, and The Search for the Sangreal. For the past two years he has been conducting monthly “Have Fun - Write A Story” workshops for young writers.
BETTY BURNETT has written nine nonfiction books for middle and high school students, all published by Rosen Publications, including The Trial of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, Cool Careers without College, The Attack on the U.S.S. Cole, a biography of Ferdinand Magellan, The Continental Congress, and Inside Special Operations: Delta Force, winner of an ALA Voya Award.
ALICIA LUNDSTROM holds a BS in psychology and a Masters in Management. She has served as a contest coordinator for St. Louis Writers Guild, as well as Treasurer and has written for the Suburban Journal as an Opinion Shaper. She works as an accountant for Passiglia's Nursery and Garden Center. She has been married for 16 years and has two lovely daughters. Her real passion is finding a cure for Breast Cancer.
DWIGHT BITIKOFER is the publisher of the Webster-Kirkwood Times and South County Times newspapers in suburban St. Louis. He helped found that company in 1978. He writes a bi-weekly Publisher’s Desk column that is published in both papers. Bitikofer is a poet and an auctioneer. He is the current emcee for the St. Louis Writer’s Guild Open Mic held on the second Tuesday evening of each month at Wired Coffee in Sunset Hills. He reads poetry at several local open mics. Bitikofer has studied poetry for three summer sessions at the Summer Writing Festival at the University of Iowa. His poetry has been published in The Writer’s Journal, Mid-Rivers Review, Untamed Ink and Literal Chaos. Bitikofer lives in Webster Groves where he has raised three children, now aged 24, 20 and 16.
CONNIE McINTYRE has authored and published dozens of books for children and families. Some were created as handcrafted keepsake books and others were commercially bound, such as Flowers for Grandpa Dan — A Gentle Story To Help Children Understand Alzheimer’s Disease. Connie has taught numerous writing classes for children, and is cosponsor of The Grannie Annie Family Story Celebration, an annual writing contest and published anthology for young people. Resources and guidelines are available at www.TheGrannieAnnie.org.
JODY FELDMAN is the author of the children's novel, The Gollywhopper Games (HarperCollins/Greenwillow, 2008) and also of CitySmart Guidebook: St. Louis (Avalon, 2001). She's currently making the rounds, speaking at schools and libraries, while working on another novel for kids. Visit her website at www.jodyfeldman.com.
FRAN SANTORO HAMILTON has taught English for more than twenty years to students of all ages. She is also the author of Hands-On English, an English handbook that makes grammar visual by using functional symbols to represent parts of speech. In addition, Fran cosponsors an annual writing contest for children age 9 to 14: The Grannie Annie Family Story Celebration. Visit Fran’s website, which includes many free resources, at www.GrammarAndMore.com.
REBECCA A. CARRON, PH.D ., has worked as a journalist, copy editor, and technical writer. She is putting the finishing touches on her second novel for adults. Rebecca has taught college-level English literature and composition classes, as well as computer classes for the law enforcement community.
DORIS L. MUELLER , a teacher-turned-writer, is the author of four published books--picture books Small One's Adventure and The Best Nest; a middle-grade novel, Marryin' Sam; and a young adult biography, M. Jeff Thompson: Missouri's Swamp Fox of the Confederacy. In addition to judging writing contests, Mueller teaches writing courses at St. Louis Community College and has made numerous presentations to schools and other groups.
JUD MINER is a published author of poetry, short stories for children, and two books for the young-at-heart, Amos and the Wild Welshman, and The Search for the Sangreal. For the past two years he has been conducting monthly “Have Fun - Write A Story” workshops for young writers.
GERRY MANDEL Gerry Mandel is a freelance writer living in Kirkwood, MO. A member of the St. Louis Writers Guild and a former board member, he has had his work published in Palo Alto Review, Toyon Annual Review, Hot Psychology, and Twisted Ink. His photographs have been published in Boulevard Magazine and Big Muddy Literary Review. He worked in advertising as a writer and producer for over thirty years. He currently writes short stories, commentaries, and plays. Two of his plays were produced in St. Louis in 2008, by Actors Studio of St. Louis and First Run Theatre. As an adjunct professor at Webster U., he has
taught classes on Writing for Advertising, Radio Production, and the Life and Films of Charlie Chaplin. He was also co-host of "Living Well," a television news magazine for seniors for five years on HEC-TV. Gerry is married, has a son, a daughter, and two Golden Retrievers.
FAYE ADAMS has published Poetry, Children's, and Inspirational books. She also writes short fiction, flash fiction and memoir and has published in newspapers, magazines, anthologies, and online. She has helped to edit and produce the Missouri State Poetry Society’s On the Edge anthology since 2003. www.fayeadams.com
BILLY J. ADAMS is a small-lot book publisher, a pilot and an ordained minister who serves as a Chaplain in the Civil Air Patrol. He is also a photographer, husband and grandfather and currently creates working computers from old components to donate to students and seniors who are in need. Bill writes poetry and non-fiction. His poems have been published in poetry journals, anthologies, periodicals and online. His book, Around the Mulberry Bush, was published in 2004. He served as president of the Writers' Society of Jefferson County (WSJC), 2005 and 2006. He is currently Vice President of the Missouri State Poetry Society (MSPS) and serves as state representative to MSPS for the De Soto Chapter, On The Edge, which he founded. He holds a BSEE degree from Washington University and also attended Missouri Baptist University and Midwestern Seminary. His publishing credits include technical articles published in trade magazines while employed by McDonnell Aircraft Corp, 1959-1970.