2008 Writing Contest Judges
 
Pamela Guerrieri
Pamela's editing career is as varied as her literary tastes. Her origins go back to her days as a traditional in-house editor for Pittsburgh-based Whitaker House. Though she currently does contract editing work for several major publishing houses and editorial firms, she’s branched out her interests as an editor, writer, and literary judge. Over the years she accepted the honor of judging several prominent literary awards, including the Christy Awards, the RWA Awards, and the ECPA Book of the Year Awards, among others. As a creative writer and editor, Pamela enjoys the benefits of writer’s conferences and industry conventions. She stays networked through several writing and editing groups, and is listed in Literary Marketplace, among other recognized organizations. She spends her free time mentoring first-time authors when she’s not busy riding her Arabian horse. 		 

Raymond Obstfeld
Raymond published his first novel when he was 24.  His second novel, Dead Heat, was nominated for an Edgar by the Mystery Writers of America.  Forty books and a dozen screenplays later, Raymond is still going strong.  Although he has published extensively under his own name, he has also written under the pseudonyms Pike Bishop (the Western series, Diamondback), Jason Frost (the futuristic series Warlord), Carl Stevens (a mystery series), and Don Pendleton (the Executioner series).  However, Raymond achieved his greatest success writing as Laramie Dunaway (Hungry Women, Borrowed Lives, and Lessons in Survival).  His Dunaway books have been published around the world from England to Korea.  His award-winning young-adult novel, Joker and the Thief, has also been published in several countries.

Aside from his many articles in Writer’s Digest Magazine (where he is a Contributing Editor), he has published two instructional books on writing, including The Novelist’s Essential Guide to Crafting Scenes and Fiction First Aid (Writer’s Digest Books). Raymond teaches Novel Writing at Orange Coast College, conducts numerous writing seminars and retreats, and has been a panelist and speaker at numerous writing conferences throughout the U.S.

 


Baron R. Birtcher
Baron was born in 1959 in Newport Beach, California, attended Dana Hills High School in Dana Point and graduated from the University of Southern California in 1981.  He spent a number of years as a professional musician, guitarist and songwriter after which he spent the next fifteen years in the commercial real estate industry and founded an independent record company, BSQ Entertainment Group.

Having never lost his lifetime interest in music and literature, Baron relocated to Hawaii in 1996 in order to pursue a career as a writer. His first two novels, Roadhouse Blues and Ruby Tuesday were Los Angeles Times and IMBA Best-Sellers. He has also had the honor of serving as a judge for the Mystery Writers of America’s Edgar Award.