Tournament of Writers

Writer, biographer, ghostwriter, and developmental editor, Seaver's award-winning background in broadcasting adds marketing and audience-savvy to her solid literary foundations. She attended the Iowa Writer's Workshop in 2011 & 2012. Seaver holds a Bachelor's degree in English and a Master's in Mass Communication from the University of Denver, Colorado. For more on her most recent book, "This Writer ... the History of an American Newspaper Family" and other titles, see www.seavercreative.com. 

Rick Chambers has extensive writing experience through his four-decade career in public relations, journalism, and fiction writing. He is the author of five books and many award-winning short stories and served as a screenwriter for the online series "Chronicles" and "Star Trek New Voyages." He is a two-time winner of the Tournament of Writers Grand Prize. Rick frequently conducts training in communications, writing and media relations.

Denise is a poet and mixed media artist whose poetry has been published in the Offing, African American Review, and Blackberry: A Magazine. They were named the 2015 Willow Books Emerging Poet, an AROHO Waves Discussion Fellowship awardee, a Barbara Deming Money for Women Fund finalist, and a Hedgebrook Fellow. Their poetry collection, Core, was released by Willow Books in 2015 and has since been nominated for a 2016 American Book Award and a 2016 Pushcart Prize. Miller has been named a 2016 William Randolph Hearst Fellow by the American Antiquarian Society. Their chapbook, Ligatures, was published in 2016 by Rattle Press. Most recently, they won the 2020 Sexton Prize for Poetry and, in 2021, the Broadside Poetry Prize, First Place for "Nocturne in Black Mother, Op.2" They have been awarded a 2020 Storyknife Residency and a 2020 Martha's Vineyard Institute of Creative Writing Fellowship. More of their work can be found at www.denisemiller.studio.

Kathy is a retired English teacher, blogger, and current editor of the South County News. She has always enjoyed writing and, in the classroom, loved helping high school students become better writers. She earned her bachelor's degree in English Education from Michigan State University and her master's in Learning Disabilities from Western Michigan University. She most enjoys writing non-fiction, specifically memoirs and coming-of-age stories. She is a founding member of the Lake Effect Writers Guild. This group meets monthly to share ideas and workshops. 

Susan is the Youth Services Librarian at Vicksburg District Library, coordinating the infant through Grade 12 resources and services. Susan’s notable focus is building collaboration throughout the local schools and communities. For over twenty-two years, Susan previously worked as a certified PreK to eighth-grade educator specializing in language arts instruction, coaching students to edit and improve their writing skills. Additionally, Susan earned National Board Certification, signifying knowledge of effectively evaluating students. Susan participates in numerous writing workshops, including the Collin’s Writing Program, where she cultivates instruction to teach and assess students while building essential writing skills.