Bios for Writing Coaches

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.

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. 

Thimgan (pronounced “Timmian”) is a lifelong creative, one foot firmly in the visual arts and the other in writing and general bookishness. 

In addition to painting professionally (Angel Academy of Art, Florence, Italy), she works as an assistant librarian at the Parchment Community Library, is a member of Michigan Romance Writers, the Jane Austen Society, the Georgette Heyer Society, and has written and self-published a historical romance series under the pen name Charlotte Brothers. She credits opportunities like Tournament of Writers for the encouragement it gives not simply to write, but to bravely share it with others.

She has experience writing short form non-fiction, and to a lesser extent, poetry. Thimgan has served as a romance fiction contest judge and was delighted afterwards when authors sent thanks for her kind and constructive feedback. 

I am Maya Sophia Ananda James, a social practice multidisciplinary artist, graphic novelist, author, writer, arts educator, and journalist. I started journalism while pursuing a Political Science degree as a teenager early on in college, a pivotal moment at a Collegiate Associated Press Conference with my community college newspaper. Despite their initial lack of interest, I pitched an idea to YR media, which led to my first work as a youth correspondent, mainly focusing on controversial subjects, race relations, and racist implicit and explicit violence in northern Michigan. My writings were featured in the New York Times Race/Related Column, USA Today, USA Today College, and on the YR Media. I currently write as a social practice correspondent for Second Wave Media. Recently, I have been working on an adult creative program for people of culture, A Black Artist's Path, and On the Apollo, a work about my time [at] the Intersection Summit in the Apollo Theater in Harlem. In 2021, I published my first graphic novel, "LUKUMI," with an independent publisher local to Dearborn, Michigan, Maamoul Press.

My first big articles can be found here:

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/02/us/first-encounters-with-racism.htmland https://staging.yr.media/staff/maya-james/

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.

Marcel Fable Price is a storyteller who doesn’t just write poems—he builds entire cathedrals from his words. A multi-hyphenate creative and former Poet Laureate of Grand Rapids, MI, Fable is an architect of connection, crafting stained glass reflections from the fragments of his life. His work transforms personal pain into a universal language, reminding us that our stories are unsung hymns without shared experiences. His poetry has graced stages across the country, from the halls of PBS to inaugurations of state leaders. His work has appeared in The Missouri Review, Button Poetry, and Write About Now, and has been championed by The Frey Foundation, Habitat for Humanity, and Mental Health America. Marcel’s first full-length collection, New American Monarch, is a testament to resilience, joy, and what it means to bloom in the cracks. It’s available now on Audible and wherever books are sold. 

Find him at:

www.MarcelFablePrice.com

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. 

Steve studied art in Detroit and Germany where his essay collection Glänze, Gespenst! was published in 2014. He is the author of two poetry collections, Trample & Sew and News of Need. His writing has appeared in Witness, Dummy Magazine, DIAGRAM, and elsewhere, and received two Pushcart Prize nominations. He has staged exhibitions internationally, been awarded residencies at the Sitka Center for Art and Ecology and elsewhere, and received grants from the Elizabeth Firestone Graham Foundation, among others. Since 2016 Brown has been co-founding and leading a charitable foundation.

Jennifer Goldstein is the 6-12 Disciplinary Literacy Consultant. Jennifer has a Bachelor’s Degree in English from Michigan State University, as well as a Master’s Degree in Curriculum and Teaching from Michigan State University. During her 25 year career in education, Jennifer has taught English and French, has supported teachers in all subjects as an Instructional Coach, and has served as an Elementary Principal as well as a High School Assistant Principal. As a secondary literacy consultant, Jennifer works to support the implementation of the General Education Leadership Network (GELN) Literacy Essential Practices in 6-12 classrooms.

Thimgan (pronounced “Timmian”) is a lifelong creative, one foot firmly in the visual arts and the other in writing and general bookishness.
In addition to painting professionally (Angel Academy of Art, Florence, Italy), she works as an assistant librarian at the Parchment Community Library, is a member of Michigan Romance Writers, the Jane Austen Society, the Georgette Heyer Society, and has written and self-published a historical romance series under the pen name Charlotte Brothers. She credits opportunities like Tournament of Writers for the encouragement it gives not simply to write, but to bravely share it with others.
She has experience writing short form non-fiction, and to a lesser extent, poetry.  Thimgan has served as a romance fiction contest judge and was delighted afterwards when authors sent thanks for her kind and constructive feedback.

Susan recently retired as Youth Services Librarian at Vicksburg District Library, coordinating the infant through Grade 12 resources and services. Susan’s notable focus was building collaboration throughout the local schools and communities.  For over twenty-two years, Susan previously worked as a certified PreK to eight-grade educator in Portage Public Schools, specializing in language arts instruction, coaching students to edit and improve their writing skills.  Additionally, Susan earned National Board Certification, which recognizes accomplished educators who meet high, rigorous standards, ultimately improving student learning and strengthening the profession. 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.

After a successful lifetime career in media and advertising, Heidi McCrary started embracing her second love––writing. With the publication of her first novel, Chasing North Star, McCrary is now knee-deep in her third endeavor as she awaits the release of her second novel, I’m Your Person, with a release date of January 2027. McCrary lives with her husband in Kalamazoo, where she is likely to be found on the golf course, working on her goal of reaching mediocrity.