Tweet Mystery of Death

A Twitter-Based Story and Reader Community

Author Bios

Greg R. Fishbone

Greg is TMoD Project Editor and is handling Dirk Rockwell, the Movie Star

Greg’s early interest in writing could be seen in elaborately-plotted epic fantasy stories scribbled in notebooks during free periods at school, often accompanied by crude illustrations. Greg was also an avid reader whose favorite authors included Douglas Adams, Isaac Asimov, David Eddings, Ellen Raskin, Madeleine L’Engle, Ray Bradbury, Dr. Seuss, Terry Pratchett, Piers Anthony, and J.R.R. Tolkein.

During college, Greg wrote for and edited Event Horizon, the University of Pennsylvania’s speculative fiction magazine. His writing improved as he worked with talented staff members to review and edit student submissions and exclusive works by the likes of Buzz Aldrin and Isaac Asimov. During Greg’s tenure, members of Event Horizon also released a shared-world anthology called Starship Alethea about a gigantic spaceship that was part scientific research vessel, part military flagship, part cruise ship, and entirely insane.

During law school and afterward, Greg participated in the legendary superhero parody project, Superguy. Among Greg’s stories was one that revolved around Sal the Garbageman, the absolute and uncontested ruler of the world and all-around nice guy. That story formed the basis of Greg’s first published novel, THE PENGUINS OF DOOM.

Greg is active in the children’s literature community, serving since 2001 as Webmaster and Assistant Regional Coordinator for the three New England regions of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. In 2006 he founded the Class of 2k7 group of debut children’s and young adult authors and serves as mentor for follow-up groups including the Class of 2k8, the current Class of 2k9 and upcoming Class of 2k10.

A lawyer by day and author/illustrator by night, Greg fights a never-ending battle for truth, justice, and fun. He and his wife live in the Boston area with their daughter and two cats of varying temperament.

Sue Ford

Sue is handling Carissa Ainsley, The Model

Sue mainly writes for children under her maiden name, Susan Uhlig. Sue's publishing credits include an early middle grade novel and a picture book, the former now out of print. :-( She also writes for magazines and has had over 130 magazine pieces published. One of her works-in-progress is a juvenile mystery. Several novels for children are making the rounds of editor desks, where she hopes one will stick.

Her reading is not just limited to children's genres. One of her earliest memories of reading "adult" fiction was of Mary Stewart's romantic suspense. She also loves fantasy, though is afraid she'll never be able to write it.

Recently, Sue has joined the Institute of Children's Literature as an instructor. Also the Regional Advisor for the state for Kansas for the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, Sue has been a member of SCBWI since 1993. She's blogged for pay and currently blogs on her own site about children's books and on KidLit Central about writerly things.

A native Pacific Northwesterner, Sue and her husband currently live in the metro Kansas City area on the Kansas side. Besides writing and reading, Sue enjoys time with her grown daughters and their husbands, and especially 3 little grandsons.

Dawn Metcalf

Dawn is handling Lilli LeMue, The Artist

Dawn has no good excuse for the way she writes. She lived in a normal, loving, suburban home, studied hard, went to college, went to graduate school, got married, had babies, and settled down in northern Connecticut. Despite this wholesome lifestyle, she's clearly been corrupted by fairy tales, puppet visionaries, British humour and graphic novels. As a result, Dawn writes dark, quirky, and sometimes humorous speculative fiction.

Dawn's debut YA novel, SKIN & BONES, is due out fall, 2010 by Dutton Books.

Rhonda Stapleton

Rhonda is handling Phoenix MacAllister, The Rival

Rhonda Stapleton started writing a few years ago to appease the voices in her head. She has a Master's degree in English and a Bachelor's degree in Creative Writing. Rhonda works as an editor for a legal publishing company. She lives in Northeast Ohio with her two children, her manpanion, and their lazy dog. Rhonda's debut YA novel (book 1 of a trilogy), STUPID CUPID, comes out Dec 22, 2009 with Simon Pulse.

Colleen Ryckert Cook

Colleen is handling Samantha "Sam" Marlowe, The Reporter.

Colleen joined Twitter a year ago as an exercise to tell a story in 140 characters or less. She's had practice writing tight: Her memoir appears on page 68 of Not Quite What I Was Planning: Six-Word Memoirs from Writers Famous and Obscure (Harper Perennial, 2008). Six years ago her son started writing his own stories in a spiral-bound notebook. Inspired, she decided it was time to make her childhood dream of writing a book come true. From that came THE WOLF BELT, a midde grade supernatural suspense manuscript about a 12-year-old boy whose nightmares about an ancient werewolf feel frighteningly real, and whose biology teacher may the very monster haunting him.

Her second venture, CLEMENTINE JANE PARKER STARTS OVER, is a romantic comedy about a scorned woman who learns what real love is with help - or hindrance? - from four overbearing sisters, three disasterous rebound dates, two meddling friends, and a bristly musican who gets under her skin. She's also working on Kentucky Then and Now (Rosen, 2010), part of Rosen's series on the United States.

Colleen graduated from the University of Kansas with majors in Communication Studies and Journalism. She's contributed as writer or editor to numerous trade and commercial magazines, business books, historial nonfiction, corporate newsletters, Web content and media releases. She is a regular contributor to KidLit Central, a blog devoted to writers in the Midwest, and a member of Heartland Writers for Kids and Teens. Colleen has coordinated multiple conferences and workshops for area writers and participates in Kansas SCBWI events.

Lisha Cauthen

Lisha is handling Coffee Boy, The Gopher and , The Detective

Lisha Cauthen has been a mother, school volunteer and scout leader for both genders and for more years than is advisable. She has seen more childish behavior than she can ever hope to write down--some of it committed by actual children.

After a lifetime of secret scribbling, Lisha saw a flier for a KSCBWI conference in the window of her local children's bookstore, The Reading Reptile. She went, sat in the back and got schooled. Now, 2 1/2 years later, Lisha helps run those conferences.

She's shopping for an agent for her YA fantasy for boys: ...OR SWIM. while simultaneously hip-deep in a rip-snortin' boys' YA that will be ready in the fall. Lisha also edits and snarkifies the weekly KSCBWI newsletter, the Sunflower Scoop.

Lisha joined Twitter initially as a non-sequitur connoisseur. Now she realizes that she trained for the Twitterverse when she was in high school, passing notes. Lisha Cauthen is acknowledged as the world's leading expert on premature twittaculation. Don't laugh. It could happen to you.

Jan Kozlowski

Jan is handling Hanna Bleckter, The Stalker

Jan Kozlowski has run her own freelance writing and editing shop since 1996. Her client list includes: AOL, Strong Books, Connlife, SeniorNetwork, Remilon, Hips & Curves, CES, Blue Door, Inscriptions, Haven's List, Hartford College for Women, The Fitness Stop, Poisoned Pen Press and several CT newspapers. She has worked for the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators as the New England Region Critique Group Coordinator since 1998.

Jan has known Greg Fishbone since he emailed her one day in 2001 to tell her that the NE SCBWI website that she had created and was managing... sucked. Since he was right AND he promptly volunteered to take over as the new Webmaster, they've been friends ever since.

Jan's background in stalking is less extensive, but thanks to Hanna, she is learning lots of interesting things and is looking forward to starting a couple of brand new, exciting projects soon-you know who you are.

Mary Pierce

Mary is handling Alex Berkely, the Agent.

Mary grew up wanting to be two things: an artist and a writer. She thought, however, that she would have to choose between the two things. So she chose artist and earned a BFA degree in painting from the University of Rhode Island. During her very last required class (in writing, no less) a wise professor told her that she could do both things. And now she does.

Besides the bleak poetry, the friendship-knows-no-bounds novel, and the prize-winning essay on Eleanor Roosevelt that she wrote in adolescence, Mary has written personal pieces and short stories which have been published in various news magazines and small literary journals.

She has a supportive husband and one son, whom she spent 18 years homeschooling. Along the way she realized the joy of writing for children (kids are just SO cool!). She joined the New England branch of SCBWI while her son was still small and has been busy writing and learning and teaching and learning and writing. . . . With her son securely settled into a college he loves, Mary is working on a fantasy novel, and has just finished a humorous picture book which begins with ants. A little mystery sprinkled into this mix is good spice for the stew.

Jenn Bailey

Jenn is handling Miss Plupp, The Assistant

Jenn Bailey started writing for children when her middle son explained that he couldn't fall asleep because every time he started counting sheep, a kangaroo showed up. With raw material like this floating around the house, how could she resist? Jenn has been crafting picture books and working on a couple middle grade novels ever since.

A Rhode Island native, Jenn graduated from Boston University with a degree in Film and Broadcasting. She dutifully moved to the west coast but landed in San Francisco where she became a graphic artist and editor and married her husband, Kevin. While 8-months pregnant with their first son, Jenn and Kevin moved to Virginia where 2 more boys were born. In 2004, they all moved to Kansas where Jenn decided to get serious about her writing. Joining the SCBWI she was thrilled to find Sue Ford and many other talented writers and illustrators. Jenn joined the advisory committee for KS-SCBWI and edits their newsletter In The Wind. She also guest blogs at Kid Lit Central News.

Jenn's day job is as a Social Media Consultant with The Social Lites. She teaches companies and individuals how to use social media to better promote themselves and their products. Jenn will be speaking on these topics at the SCBWI LA Summer Conference in August. Jenn has been on Twitter for over a year and loves it more than Dunkin Donuts coffee (which is a lot).

About

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TMoD News

Tweet_Mystery: Happening now: @DirkRockwell has crashed the Michael Jackson memorial service, tweeting from inside; @dctBallz interrogates @lillilemue

Tweet_Mystery: Quiz #1 now open for business. How well do You know the story? http://tinyurl.com/kt6kj8

Tweet_Mystery: Your weekly cliffhanger: rt @dirkrockwell Got to get back to the set. Tonight, Sir Richard Smythe will die!!!

Tweet_Mystery: What the--? RT @coffee_boy Might as well kill some time watching the very best youtube EVAH. http://snurl.com/kgcxz

Tweet_Mystery: Ever wonder what a psycho celebrity stalker *sounds* like? http://twiturm.com/3sgs #tmod

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