Meet Our Members

Darrah Whitaker is a graduate of the University of Virginia and holds two Masters degrees (MA/MBA) from the University of Texas. He has completed four screenplays, one which was produced, and his first novel, The Santiago Agenda. He spends the balance of his time with his two children, running and writing.
                                                                                                                             
Treasurer

Janelle Evans, Writer

                                                                                                                             

Meet a Few of Our Members
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Audrey Balzart, Author

Audrey Balzart, a retired Air Force communications planner, writes YA, science fiction, and fantasy under her maiden name — A.L. Campbell. Her sci-fi short story, The Selection, is published in HWG’s own Writer’s Bloc III. The Round Up, a fantasy short story can be found in Nightfall Publications’ A World of Their Own. She is currently working on The Gift of Ancestors, her first novel in the young adult AJ Silver MisAdventure series.
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Barbara Botch

Barbara Botch is a poet and the author of Poet’s Crossing. Her strong Irish roots and love for the Emerald Isle inspire much of her writing. She retired after 30 years in the nursing profession, but her compassion for people did not. Coupled with her love for the written word, she developed a workshop called Healing Through Poetry and is working on a book by the same title.

Poetry readings and workshops will begin this fall at the Ganesha Center in Henderson, NV. Watch for dates and times. Get to know more about the author at www.emeraldjourneys.blogspot.com. She can be reached by email at barbbotch@gmail.com or by phone at 702-806-0809. ____________________________________________________________________

Joyce Brennan

JOYCE BRENNAN writes Romantic Suspense and Cozy Mysteries. She served as editor for a business school newspaper before embarking upon a career with American Airlines. She has authored four Romance novels, HIDDEN JOURNAL, BROKEN PROMSES, DON’T DANCE ON MY HEART and SMALL TOWN AFFAIRS. Her short stories have been published in four anthologies. She also writes for a community newspaper. She has just finished two books of a Romantic Suspense trilogy, “THE WOMEN OF REXFORD, OLIVIA,” and a Christmas romance, “UNEXPECTED GIFT.” She is an active member of the Las Vegas Romance Writer’s, a Chapter of the Romance Writers of America in Las Vegas, Nevada, The Las Vegas Valley Writers, and The Henderson Writer’s Group. She gives presentations on writing, hosts a critique group and writes articles for the community newspaper. Joyce volunteers at a warehouse that provided medical equipment for seniors. She resides in Las Vegas, NV, with her husband, Tom.

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Garry  Buzick

Garry Buzick lives in Las Vegas. His novel, Throwaways – Perfect Match, a paranormal thriller, skewered with bloody comic relief, is seeking publication. Published in; Seeds, literary magazine, Colorado Mountain College, Writer’s Bloc III and Pathwork Path, Wedding Bouquet and Treasure Box. Contact at buzickg@yahoo.com Visit: www.laudablytarnished.com
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Edward Fulco, Author & Publisher

Edward Fulco used the pseudonym Henry Edward Webster to author The Cosmic Seed Trilogy and Companion. Go to the website www.thecosmicseed.com for more info. I am currently writing the screenplay for the Trilogy. Contact Ed Fulco at fulcoenterprises@citlink.net.
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Vital Germaine

Vital left Europe to pursue his dreams. He performed in Cirque du Soleil’s Mystère and Quidam. He studied literature and fine art at UNLV and the College of Southern Nevada. When he is not writing or painting, Vital owns his own entertainment company www.RMEtroupe.com.  For more in Vital, log onto www.artofvital.com 
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Sid Goodman, Author

Sid Goodman (Librarian/Historian) has published three short stories, one each in Henderson Writers’ Group’s Writer’s Bloc II & III and one in Patchwork Path’s Dad’s Bow Tie. His first children’s book, Grandpa’s Unfatootzer was released for sale in May of 2009. He can be reached at shgauthor@embarqmail.com.
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Dianne Hammond

Dianne Hammond lived in Hong Kong for thirteen years and has traveled extensively in Asia.  Her experiences and fascination with Asian cultures weave themselves through her writing creating a platform of exotic times and places. She has recently moved to Henderson, Nevada where she lives with her husband and calico cat.  Dianne is currently working on a sequel to The Dragon Syndicate and is in the planning stages of a young adult science fiction series.
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Karl Hinkamp, Writer, Aviator

Originally from Kansas City, Karl flew as a USAF Loadmaster, and currently flies for a cargo airline.  He has lived in four foreign countries and is a member of the American Historical Association, Professional Loadmaster Association, and Airlift/Tanker Association.  Karl received Honorable Mention in The Mobility Forum writing contest.
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Leslie Hoffman, Writer, Editor

Leslie works as a writer and independent copy editor. Her poems, short stories, and articles have been published in magazines, anthologies, newspapers, and on the Web. She is also a member of California Writers Club, South Bay Chapter, and, along with Gregory Kompes, is Co-founder of Laudably Tarnished, A Poetry Workshop that meets monthly. Leslie is currently working on a chapbook of her poems and a non-fiction book containing interviews of others drawn to Las Vegas, Nevada. Contact: lesliehoffman@hotmail.com. For Leslie's blog, go to http://lesliehoffman.blogspot.com

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Patricia Kranish

In 1995, the film post-production company where I had worked for nineteen years closed. One of my deepest interests at the time was the study of early man, as far back as Australopithicus through archaic Homo sapiens and Neanderthals. I loved the arguments: were we, at least a little bit, Neanderthal; was Lucy an ape who just walked funny; who ate what, and where and whom? After the company closed, I got a job in a communications company near Wall Street, which gave me more time to get into my hobby (okay, obsession). But after three years, I decided to follow my first love, teaching English. Back to school to complete my Master’s degree, and teaching full time, didn’t allow me the luxury of writing for the sheer fun of it—until I retired in 2008. I pulled out cartons of yellowing articles and notes, along with over 100 pages of the first draft of a novel set in the Ice Age. Overwhelmed, I put the fusty material in a corner of my garage.

Last year, thanks to a now-defunct program at UNLV, I joined a creative writing class. Encouraged by the mostly positive feedback, I’ve been working on the novel, titled Wind. My goal is to get the manuscript into publishable form by the end of 2011, and maybe create the same curiosity in a reader or two that compelled me to write it.

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Annie Marquez

Ann Marquez is the author of Journey Into Probate and Back, creator of Are We There Yet? The Road to Self-Published: an audio workshop designed for writers on the go and the founder of Desert Muse Publishing (DesertMusePublishing.wordpress.com).  

She is a wife, mother, grandmother, lifelong artist and writer “blessed (or cursed) by an entourage of Muses offering too much inspiration for one lifetime.” Her forte is research, politics and world events.

Organizations she is a proud member of include the International Women’s Writing Guild, Henderson Writers’ Group and Friends of Tennessee/Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival, 2010/2011.

Personal writing projects for 2011/2012 include two non-fiction working titles — Silencing a Nation: a chronicle of one woman’s struggle to find freedom of speech in America during the Bush years and Marriage Interrupted: Growing Out of Love. In 2012, DMP will publish an anthology entitled: On Mother’s Day.

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Judy McFadden

Judy McFadden, author of Life with McDuff:  Lessons Learned from a Therapy Dog (www.lifewithmcduff.com) is a coal miner's daughter from southwestern Pennsylvania.  As a certified Therapy Dogs International volunteer and a member of K-9 Therapists of Las Vegas, Judy and her Scottish terrier, McDuff, appeared on Las Vegas KVBC-TV Channel 3 News and the front page of the Henderson Anthem View.  She speaks to audiences to promote awareness of the benefits of therapy dogs and animal assisted reading programs.

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Kevin Parsons

Kevin Parsons wrote Ken Johnson and Roxi the Rocker, a children’s book. He’s been published in numerous magazines and the Las Vegas Review Journal. He was also a contributing writer to Seeking God First, an anthology of devotions, and Pursuing Your Life Passions with Judi Moreo. His current work, Silent Night, Holy War is the first of a trilogy series about a church surviving a terrorist attack. The teaser is published in Writer’s Bloc III, an anthology.
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Fred Rayworth

Fred is a member of the Henderson Writer’s Group in Henderson, Nevada.  His short story, The House, appeared in Between the Pages, 2003.  The Walk Home was published in Writer’s Bloc 2006 and The Basement in Writer’s Bloc 2, 2008.  His first sci-fi story, Fun In The Outland, was included in First Voyage, 2008.  Don’t Mess With a Snorg was included in the anthology A World Of Their Own. It introduces Meleena, the main character in his forthcoming fantasy novel Meleena’s Adventures – Treasure of the Umbrunna, to be published by Cyberwizard Publications. He writes articles on telescope making and visual observing and publishes the monthly Observer’s Challenge for the Las Vegas Astronomical Society, which includes participants nationwide.  When not writing, he may be found gardening, woodworking, or at a dark site with his telescope looking for faint fuzzy galaxies.
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Donald Riggio

Donald Riggio is the published author of several works of short fiction as well as magazine articles and features. His short story "Those Oldies but Goodies" is included in the latest HWG anthology "Writers Bloc III." His first novel "Seven-Inch Vinyl: A Rock and Roll Novel" was published in February 2011 and is available at most online booksellers. He is currently writing the sequel "Beyond Vinyl."
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Nancy Sansone

Nancy Sansone based her current working novel, Calling Her Name, on her experience in the gaming industry. Several of her short stories have been published in anthologies. She is a co-editor and co-coordinator of Skirts that Swept the Desert Floor, snwhp.com. She’s a member of Henderson Writers Group, Shared Writers Group and Sisters in Crime. Contact her at lvlady@cox.net
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Glory Wade

Glory Wade writes in various genres. Her published credentials include short stories, articles on her pet website at www.petstoreshop4u.com, a chapter in the Professional Meeting Management textbook, and newsletter articles. She is editing her first novel, Ashes to Diamonds, Dust to Dust. Contact email: glorywadewriter@gmail.com
                                                                                                                             


Luis Alcaide
Laura L. Alton
Grace Andrews
Alba Arango
Frank Atchley
Ariel Belanger
Linda Benton
Carol Billigmeier
Renee Christy
Carl Collins
Will Damron
Susan Decker
John Dohanich
Charles Fuller
Amy Gilson
Martin Greening
Kathie Harrington
Daryl Haynes
Dyane Jeffers
Meg Jensen
Ray Katz
Tiffany Kolbe
Joe Lobianco
Jeff Lundell
Christi McEachern
Lisa McGlaun
Robert Naber
Linda O'Conner
Karlo Ohanian
Jonathan Parsons
Susan Rainey
Derone Rankin
Lyn Robertson
Rikki Robinson-Ogawa
Maudie Robinson
Henry Schmidt
Amanda Skenandore
Morgan St. James
Anthony Spinicchia
Carol A. Turner
Charlotte Wohlgemuth
Neva Wright-Petersen
Chris Wunderli
Brian Yates