Who are the Judges? 2008 Short Story Contest for Teens

Tue, 05/20/2008 - 10:04am by Bertha

Aaron Burch - Editor of the literary journal, "Hobart." His writing has appeared or is forthcoming in "Quick Fiction", "elimae", "Smokelong Quarterly" and other publications.

Nan Willard Cappo - Author of "Cheating Lessons" a YA suspense novel set in Michigan. "Cheating Lessons" received a starred review in "Horn Book," a Junior Library Guild selection, and was nominated for an Edgar award as Best Young Adult Mystery from the Mystery Writers of America. Nan grew up in Pennsylvania but has lived in Farmington, Michigan, for the past 20 years. She and her husband have three grown children. At various points she's worked as a waitress, speechwriter, computer sales rep, and college English teacher, and often draws on those experiences for her fiction. Currently she is a sales rep for National Geographic School Publishing and Heinemann. When she's not selling school books, she is working on her third novel, a murder mystery set in a southeast Michigan auto assembly plant.

Cassandra Carter - A 19-year-old honors graduate of Huron High School in Ann Arbor. Her debut novel, "Fast Life" was written was she was fifteen. Two years later, she signed a contract with Harlequin and was published in July 2007, just one month after receiving her diploma. Also a part of the brand new YA imprint, Kimani Tru, her newest work, "16 Isn't Always Sweet" was released on March 1, 2008. Cassandra resides in Ypsilanti, MI where she's been busy promoting both titles. She is also currently hard at work on her third novel, a sequel to "Fast Life."

Elizabeth Ellen - The author of "Before You She Was a Pit Bull" (Future Tense) and "Sixteen Miles Outside of Phoenix" (Rose Metal Press). She lives in Ann Arbor and is deputy editor of the literary journal "Hobart."

Kathe Koja - Kathe Koja has written award-winning novels and short fiction for adults and for young people. Some of her most recent books include "Buddha Boy", "Talk", and "Kissing the Bee". "Headlong" is forthcoming in fall 2008. She lives in Berkley with her husband, artist Rick Lieder, and their cats.

Alex Mindt - The author of the short story collection "Male of the Species." He has published stories in numerous magazines, including the "Missouri Review", and "Confrontation, the Literary Review". His plays have been produced in Seattle and Los Angeles, and he co-wrote, directed, and produced the feature film "Nowheresville". He has taught at Bennington College, University of California at San Diego, and Columbia University. He holds a BA from the University of Iowa and an MFA in Creative Writing from Columbia University.

Nami Mun - Nami Mun's stories have been published in journals such as the 2007 Pushcart Prize Anthology, The Iowa Review, Evergreen Review, Witness, and Tin House, and was named by Tin House as an Emerging Voice of 2005. She received her MFA in 2007 from the University of Michigan and currently lectures in their English Department. Her novel, "Miles from Nowhere," is forthcoming in January 2009 from Penguin/Riverhead.

Amy Sumerton - Serves as assistant editor of "Orchid Literary Review." She plays cello in a local band called Canada. Amy currently makes a living as program director for 826michigan, a nonprofit writing center designed to help students ages 6-18 develop their writing skills.