Writing under the pen name, J.R. Turner, award-winning author Jennifer Turner's novel, Stark Knight, debuted in 2005. She's enjoyed rave reviews, establishing her as an up and coming author of note. Her passion for storytelling encompasses all she does. Whether it's wordsmithing during dinner, scene crafting while folding laundry, or supposing “what if” while reading the warning label on a tube of toothpaste, she finds intrigue in the smallest details. Her love of action and adventure, coupled with the desire for a happy ending, have defined her style and granted her wide appeal. She lives in Stevens Point with her husband, three children, and the family cat-who is also an aspiring typist.

Born and raised on an Iowa farm, Fairwater poet and essayist Tom Montag wonders how, in the face of the farmer's silence, any farm-boy ever comes to speech, much less to poetry. Montag's sensibility was marked early by the directness of experience in his farm childhood, by the rhythm of those days and chores and seasons, by a longing that comes of watching the far horizon. Curlew: Home (2001) is Montag's memoir of those first fourteen years. Middle Ground (1982) offers poems in voices other than the poet's own-farmer, Civil War soldier, pioneer widow. Between Zen and Midwestern (1981) starts examining the zen - middlewestern connection which culminates in The Big Book of Ben Zen (2004). The Sweet Bite of Morning (2003) is a selection of his Fairwater poems. Montag, with his wife Mary, edited and published The Wisconsin Poets' Calendar 1982-1984. He blogs as The Middlewesterner (http://middlewesterner.typepad.com/).

Chris Roerden got her start in niche publishing in NYC, a 40-year career as an editor that includes six years of teaching writing for U-Maine and SUNY, and eight teaching "Inside Publishing" for UW-Milwaukee's evening and summer writing program. In 1965, this mother of two preschoolers was motivated by publication of her first book to enroll in college, where she earned a BA in English (summa cum laude) and an M.A. Chris left a managing editor's position in 1983 to go independent as a full-time contract editor and publishing consultant. She also served as president of a Midwest publishers' trade association (MAPA), volunteered with UNESCO to teach in South Korea, helped her clients win 22 awards (including an Agatha for best first mystery), and wrote nine more books and a game, including four as ghost writer. Just released: DON'T MURDER YOUR MYSTERY: 24 Fiction-Writing Techniques to Save Your Manuscript from Turning Up D.O.A.

Jack Byrne wrote and taught writing courses part time until 1987 when he became a fulltime freelancer. Two children's books, a handful of short mysteries, and hundreds of magazine and newspaper pieces later, he met literary agent Larry Sternig and the two became friends and eventually, business partners. When Larry passed away in 1999, Jack took over the agency. Because of his own particular interests and tastes, Jack has narrowed the agency focus; although he has a few clients in other areas, he tends to specialize in science fiction, fantasy, and mystery.

Patricia Fry has been writing for publication since 1973, having contributed hundreds of articles to about 200 different magazines. She has 24 books to her credit, including The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book (January, 2006), How to Write a Successful Book Proposal in 8 Days or Less. The Successful Writer's Handbook, Over 75 Good Ideas for Promoting Your Book, A Writer's Guide to Magazine Articles, and Young Writer's Handbook. Patricia's articles have appeared in Writer's Digest Magazine, Entrepreneur, Woman's Life, Authorship, Freelance Writer's Report, Canadian Author, PMA Independent, Spannet, Writer's Journal, Cat Fancy, Your Health and many, many others.

Patricia is the President of SPAWN (Small Publishers, Artists and Writers Network). This is a 10-year-old networking organization for anyone interested in the publishing business. (www.spawn.org). She writes the popular monthly SPAWN Market Update. On behalf of SPAWN and her own publishing pursuits, Patricia attends approximately half dozen book festivals each year and is guest speaker at anywhere from 5 to 10 writing/publishing-related events each year. Past venues include Jacksonville, FL; Arlington, TX; St. Louis, MO and several sites throughout California. This year, she will be speaking in Honolulu, HI; Seattle, WA; St. Louis, MO; Dubai, UAE and Janesville, WI.

She was nominated as a Living Treasure for the city of Ojai in 1996-the first to be chosen in the literary category. This is an obligatory honor. To fulfill her obligation, she created a program called “Write for Life” and took it into several local public and private schools. Last year, as a SPAWN project, she presented a publishing workshop for a dozen home schooled children. The result was a published book of their works that the students also designed.

This experienced full-time freelance writer and author also provides editorial services such as editing and ghostwriting as well as help writing book proposals, self-publishing, and book promotion. Learn more about Patricia's books and services at www.matilijapress.com.

Jack Magestro spent his first career as a middle school teacher, college instructor, principal and school administrator. A 1975 graduate of the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point, he holds a Master's Degree from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. His writing career began five years ago and he has authored three titles and writes a column for a Dane County newspaper. Since joining the WRWA several years ago, he has expanded his activities with publishing, promotional work, title acquisitions for a small publisher, and provides selected services to private clients. Having grown up in Brown Deer, Wisconsin, he landed in Hartland 15 years ago and shares a home with his wife, Jill, and their dachshund, Belle. Four grown children have scattered around the United States and, of the three family members left at home, Jack has the least grey hair. Known as Doctor Zen on WRWA's Online Discussion Group, Jack is also a WRWA Board member. http://home.earthlink.net/~magestro/