the judges

i'd submit just to have these folks read over my work!

James Van Pelt

James Van Pelt writes full-time in western Colorado. He has coached
swim teams, taught high school and college English, and enjoys the hiking
trails near his home. His work has appeared numerous times in Analog, Asimov’s
and other venues. He has been a finalist for the Nebula, the Theodore Sturgeon
Award, the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer (now the Astounding
Award), and been reprinted in several Year’s Best anthologies. He hangs out on Facebook and loves chatting with fans and writers. He can be found at www.jamesvanpelt.com and on FaceBook at  https://www.facebook.com/james.vanpelt.14/.

Jane Heitman Healy

Jane Heitman Healy is a retired librarian/English teacher and author of books and articles for teachers and librarians, as well as poetry for adults and children. She reads, writes, and participates in community life in South Dakota.

Odette's note: Jane is too modest. She is a really big deal in the poetry and children's book world.

Kacee Eddinger

Kacee Eddinger has been writing stories since she was seven-years-old and, by some compulsion, has not been able to stop. She graduated Hollins University with a BA in Creative Writing and Kent State University with a Masters of Library and Information Science. She presently works as the Youth Collections Librarian for Mesa County Libraries.

Diana Herald

Diana Tixier Herald (Didi) lives to put people together with the stories that will make a difference in their lives. In addition to writing several books to help people find the stories they want to read. She has served on dozens of book award committees from the Morris Award to the Colorado Books Award. A librarian and bookseller, Didi's book reviews appear regularly in Booklist and The Colorado Sun.

Sugar Gay Isber

Sugar Gay Isber is a creative force whose passion for storytelling shines through her work. As the author of Heat & Dust, a Cli-Fi YA novel set in a near-future world grappling with climate challenges, Sugar explores themes of survival, resilience, and the power of truth. With a background in crafting unique narratives across various mediums, Sugar is thrilled to support young writers in finding their voices and sharing their own compelling stories.

Sugar has a degree in journalism, and MAs in Humanities and Visual Arts. She loves writing stories and exploring the world through travel.

Allie Kantack

Allie's love for storytelling is reflected in her B.A. in English Writing and her Master of Library and Information Science. She has been regionally recognized for both poetry and theatre criticism.

Odette's note: What is it about people from South Dakota? They are so modest. Allie is one of the wonderful people who, like Ms. Herald loves to bring together with books.