It takes more than a full year to prepare for the Pikes Peak Writers Conference, so some members are active year-round, while others serve primarily at the conference itself. The Conference Committee is chaired by the Conference Director, who is responsible for holding meetings as needs dictate. Typically the Conference Committee meets on the second Tuesday of each month in the Colorado Springs area. For more information about how you can become involved in planning a future conference, or to find out when and where to find the next Conference Committee meeting, please email our Conference Director.
CONFERENCE DIRECTOR – JENNY KATE
Jenny has been a communicator and public relations professional since 2001. She has been quoted by the New York Times, CNN, FoxNews, and Time Magazine, and wrote her first novel in the second grade. She is a member of Sisters in Crime, judges contests for the Utah League of Writers, and freelanced for New York literary agent Ethan Ellenberg. She co-founded Writer Nation and is the author of the “Marketing for Writers Who’d Rather Write” book series.
CONFERENCE ADMINISTRATOR – LAURA HAYDEN
Laura is one of the founders of the Pikes Peak Writers and served as it first president. She's been associated with PPWC since its inaugural year, 1993. In addition, she's held the position of PPWC director for an unprecedented eight years (non-consecutive).
Laura is the author of thirteen books, four short stories and a novella and has been published by Berkley, DAW, Tyndale, St. Martins, Zebra, Cumberland House, Harlequin, TOR and Bell Bridge.
PROGRAMMING & FACULTY – KAREN FOX
When not embroiled in the adventure and romance of her latest characters, Karen shares her house in Colorado Springs, CO with her husband, her granddaughter, and four cats. She has published eight paranormal romance novels, one short story and one young adult novella. Her second book, SOMEWHERE MY LOVE, was a 1998 RITA Finalist for the Romance Writers of America. She’s currently at work on a young adult urban fantasy and new romance.
TRANSPORTATION – BOWEN GILLINGS
Bowen is an award-winning author featured in the Fresh Starts anthology, Allegory e-zine, and the Stories Alive!, Voices and Views, and Rocky Mountain Writers podcasts. He is an active member of Pikes Peak Writers and Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers. Learn more about him at storiesbybowen.com.
REGISTRAR & TREASURER
READ & CRITIQUE COORDINATOR
SPONSORSHIP COORDINATOR
REG DESK COORDINATOR – OPEN POSITION
BOOKSTORE COORDINATOR
MODERATOR COORDINATOR
WEBMASTER – SHARON MANISLOVICH
Sharon has a broad background in the technology field – teaching, constructing, and supporting website applications and infrastructure for over 25 years. She is currently working as a Web Systems Administrator, supporting over 150 websites and 55 servers.
Sharon has taught computer software courses for Delaware Technical & Community College, UCCS Adult Education, Colorado Springs IBEW, PPLD, New Horizons Computer Learning Centers, and an assortment of private corporations.
MOBILE APP (SCHED) COORDINATOR – JEFF SCHMOYER
BALLROOM COORDINATOR
FUNDRAISING COORDINATOR
ONSITE CONTEST COORDINATOR – TORIE FOX
Torie is a Business Intelligence Analyst, more commonly referred to as the “Report Guru” at a local bank headquarters in Denver, CO. An aggressive multi-tasker by day, and a social moth by night, she either traverses the world, or ignores it entirely, with her husband and small army of pets. When she’s not writing, or re-writing, or re-writing the re-writes, she is devouring books of all genres. With her main inspirations being R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps series and the TV show Supernatural, most of her stories have a horror twist of some kind – but she’s really a lovely person. Really.
ONSITE VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR
SCHOLARSHIP COORDINATOR – DEBORAH BREWER
Deborah joined Pikes Peak Writers a decade ago, seeking help writing a mystery. When the novel was completed, she stayed for the camaraderie. An editor for the PPW anthologies Dream and Journeys into Possibility, she is also a contributing editor for the PPW blog Writing from the Peak. Visit Debby at her website https://deborahlbrewer.com
BOOKSTORE CONSIGNMENT