Mike Befeler
Mike writes the Paul Jacobson Geezer-lit Mystery
Series including CARE HOMES ARE MURDER
and CRUISING IN YOUR EIGHTIES IS
MURDER. He also has two published paranormal
mystery, THE V V AGENCY and THE BACK
WING. Mike is president of the Rocky Mountain
Chapter of Mystery Writers of America.
http://www.mikebefeler.com
Trai Cartwright
While in Los Angeles, Trai was a development
executive for HBO, Paramount Pictures, and
20th Century Fox. Now a busy writing
consultant and editor, she teaches at universities
and for writers’ organizations across the Front
Range.
www.craftwrite.com
Amy Denim
Amy writes contemporary romance and loves hot heroes
(like chefs and cowboys) and curvy intelligent heroines
(like chefs and cowgirls.) She started out her writer's life
scared out of her wits because she hadn't yet created an
online platform, wasn't on Twitter, didn't have a Facebook
fanpage and had never even heard of Goodreads. She just
wrote books. So she spent a year becoming a social media
fiend and now does consulting for creatives on how to use
social media effectively. She started Coffee Break Social
Media to help writers and artists learn to use SM platforms
effectively (without the scare tactics) but
still have time to create. She believes
social media can be every writer's friend,
sometimes they just need an introduction.
Annie Dawid
Annie's three books of
fiction, YORK FERRY: A
NOVEL, LILY IN THE
DESERT: STORIES and
AND DARKNESS
WAS UNDER HIS FEET:
STORY OF A FAMILY,
are all available at
Amazon.com and at the
conference. In 2012 she
won the Orlando Fall Flash
Fiction Award and the Dana
Award in the Essay. She
has taught workshops at the
Taos Summer Writers
Conference and retired as a
full Professor of English
from Lewis & Clark
College.
“There is no agony like
having an untold story
inside you.”
~Zora Neale Hurston
Believe in your writing!
Rebecca Green Gasper
Rebecca is the author of young adult fiction. Her
debut novel, Break From You, focuses on teen
dating abuse. She is passionate about raising
awareness on teen tough issues and speaking out
against teen violence. Before becoming a writer
she was a high school special education teacher,
working primarily with students with emotional
disabilities. She was also a coach and tutor.
Rebecca loves pinwheels, bright colors, daisies,
long talks with friends, and time with her family.
She grew up in the mountains
of Colorado and now lives
outside Denver with her
husband and two children.
Robbie Iobst
Robbie Iobst is a transplanted Texan,
award-winning speaker and author. Her
nonfiction work includes the devotional
Joy Dance as well as numerous articles,
including eight credits in the Chicken
Soup for the Soul series. Robbie lives in
Centennial, Colorado with her husband
and son. Cecilia Jackson’s Last Chance
is her debut novel.
Spring Lea Henry
Spring Lea is co-owner and lead
editor for The Grumpy Dragon, a
small publishing house in Colorado
Springs. She has over 20 years of
editing experience and specializes in
helping new authors learn more about
the Craft. Her focus is on helping teen
authors and artists, but it is not a
limitation as she is working with
authors both younger and older than
teens. Her core philosophy of editing
is, "If you feed an author good energy,
an author will grow."
www.GrumpyDragon.com
SpringLea@GrumpyDragon.com
Grant McKenzie
Grant McKenzie is a modern
renaissance man. A genuine rocket
scientist and self-made chandler, Grant
also enjoys military history and music.
His writing interests include fantasy,
horror, historical fiction, poetry and
non-fiction. In addition to “Brains,
Brawn, and Bravado,” he has
ghostwritten a business/leadership
book and is currently working on a
YA fantasy.
“The greatest thing in this world is not so much where we are, but in what direction we are moving.”
~Oliver Wendall Holmes
Pamela Patrick Novotny
Pamela has taught about various aspects of writing
and publishing at the University of Denver
Enrichment Program, CU School of Journalism,
Colorado Authors League, Colorado Independent
Publishers, American Society of Journalists and
Authors; has written more than 10 non-fiction
traditionally published books and has two mysteries
with her agent.
Anne Randolph
Anne, founder of Kitchen Table
Writing, inspires authors to find
their authentic creative voice. She
is delighted to return to the CRW
Conference. She often offers
workshops in Denver and other
conferences. She has an MA and
MFA in Literature and Theatre,
worked as director for two opera
companies and Colorado Symphony.
She has received awards from the
National Endowment for the Arts and
has worked at the English National
Opera, New York City Opera, Opera
Colorado, as well as in Europe. She is
published by Red Hen Press. Anne’s
“fresh writing” workbook, Write Naked!
with Kitchen Table Writing and Stories
Gathered at the Kitchen Table: A
Collection of Women's Memoirs is
available at
J. Christine Richards
Christine has been writing as long as she can
remember. Her short stories have been
published in two compilation books. She
writes the weekly devotions for the Words for
the Journey newsletters. She is an officer for
Mile High Scribes, the South Denver chapter
of ACFW, and for Words for the Journey.
Chris is the Executive Editor for Harpstring
and Timeless Magazines, publications of
Written World Communications along with
being an acquisition editor for WWC. Check
out her blog at http://passingthequill.com/blog.
www.KitchenTableWriting.com.
Alison Strobel
Alison’s breakthrough novel was Worlds Collide in 2005, followed by Violette Between a year later,
earning her a nomination for the Rita Award through the Romance Writers of America. After taking a
break to become a mom, she landed two contracts to write a total of four more novels that released in
2010 and ’11. Parenthood also led her, with her husband, towards children’s books. Together they
penned the award-winning That’s Where God Is, the first in a series of children’s books on spiritual
formation, which released in 2010 and was followed the next year by That’s When I Talk to God.
“To write something, you have to risk making a fool of yourself.”
~Anne Rice
Laurie Marr Wasmund
Laurie has made a living as a researcher, editor,
curriculum advisor, freelance writer, and adjunct
college instructor. Her short stories have appeared in
college literary magazines such as Cimarron
Review and Weber Studies, and her articles on
Colorado history have appeared in national
magazines. In 2012, she released her historical
novel, My Heart Lies Here, which chronicles the
Ludlow Massacre in 1914 in Trinidad, Colorado.
Sandy Whelchel
Sandy is the author of a historical novel,
WILLOW SWITCH, and three thriller
novels, FOX & GEESE (winner of the 2012
Colorado Authors’ League First Place for
Genre Fiction), HIDE & SEEK and
CHECK & MATE. Her
nonfiction THE NATIONAL
WRITERS ASSOCIATION
GUIDE TO WRITING FOR
BEGINNERS is a step-bystep plan for writing.
The Castle Rock Writers would like to thank all our distinguished
speakers, agents, editors, volunteers and sponsors for supporting
this year’s conference!
We could not have done it without you!