2008 Youth Judges

Poetry judges were:

• Chantel C. Guidry (9-12) Chantel is an award-winning poet who has self-published her poetry in three booklets. She spent August 2007 in residence at the Harveyville Project, a retreat for artists and writers in Harveyville, Kansas. Her alter ego, Lawrence's Poet-in-the-Box, often entertains at community events across town. Chantel grew up in Southwestern Louisiana and has lived in Kansas since 2001.
• Colleen Kelly Johnston (7-8) Colleen had her first poem published when she was a senior in high school. She wrote the first consumer newspaper columns in the Midwest and now writes poetry and short stories. Her first chapbook of poetry and memoirs, Stepping Stones: Moments in a Woman's Life , came out in 2000. A second chapbook and a collection of short stories will be published in early 2009.
• Karen Madorin (1-2, 3-4 & 5--6) Karen is a high school English teacher whose students have won a number of writing awards. She teaches a writing workshop at Prairie Winds Young Writers Retreat each spring, and she writes an outdoor column for the Hays Daily News. Karen has published poetry and short stories, and is currently working on a novel.

Fiction judges were:

• Lois Ruby (7-8 & 9-12) Lois is a former librarian who writes novels for kids age 10-16. Some of her books are about contemporary teens, but most are historical fiction set in any time period that captures her imagination. After 30 wonderful Kansas years, she now lives in Albuquerque with her husband Tom, with whom she shares three sons, three daughters-in-law, and four brilliant grandchildren.
• Esther Luttrell (5-6) Esther has worked as writer-director-producer of documentaries, educational films, and syndicated television programs in the Midwest. She has worked in Los Angeles for CBS, then MGM Studios. Since moving to the Midwest five years ago, she has co-written and produced a feature film and authored four books.
• Richard (Rik) Paul Tanos (1-2 & 3-4) Rik was born in Niagara Falls, Canada, moved to Florida in 1991 and then to Coffeyville in 2004. He started writing in 2000 with his debut novel The Home Child . Since then he has self-published fourteen novels. Mr. Tanos mainly writes historical novels, but also likes to write fiction.

Non-fiction judges were:

• Cynthia Harris (7-8 & 9-12) Cynthia is a non-fiction writer. She is co-author of the newly released Hometown Appetites: The Story of Clementine Paddleford, The Forgotten Food Writer Who Chronicled How Ameria Ate; a contributing author to K-State Agronomy: A Century Remembered, 1906-2006; and her short story "The Blue Goose: A Rough Landing to Get Home" was published in the online magazine Eye On Kansas, Summer 2008.
• Conrad Jestmore (5-6) Conrad has been a literature and drama teacher for over thirty years. He enjoys writing in all genres, but has published poetry, memoirs and short stories in various anthologies and journals. His agent currently has his mystery novel making the rounds of publishing houses.
• L. Kathleen Nelzen (1-2 & 3-4) Kathleen is the author of Imagine That! She expresses her imagination through writing and, with her husband, operating an online novelty store, as well as creating newsletters and product brochures for various clubs and businesses. She has won writing contests from ByLine magazine and Kansas Authors Club. Ms. Nelzen is currently working on a light-hearted genealogy ‘how to' tentatively titled ‘Who Do You Think You Are?'

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