WWA Jade Ring Contest Judges announced!

JUDGES FOR JADE RING 2014

Memoir/Reminisce

Jerry Apps, born and raised on a Wisconsin farm, is Professor Emeritus at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the author of more than 30 books, many of them on rural history and country life. His nonfiction books include: Living a Country Year, Every Farm Tells a Story, When Chores Were Done, Humor from the Country, Country Ways and Country Days, One-Room Schools, Cheese, Breweries of Wisconsin, Ringlingville USA (History of Ringling Brothers circus), Old Farm: A History, Barns of Wisconsin, Horse Drawn Days: A Century of Farming With Horses, and Campfires and Loon Calls. His children's books include: Stormy, Eat Rutabagas, Tents, Tigers and the Ringling Brothers, and Casper Jaggi: Master Swiss Cheese Maker. He has an audio book, The Back Porch and Other Stories. Jerry has published four novels, The Travels of Increase Joseph, In a Pickle: A Family Farm Story, Blue Shadows Farm and Cranberry Red. Jerry is a former publications editor for UW-Extension, an acquisitions editor for the McGraw-Hill Book Company, and editor of a national professional journal.

Jerry has won awards for his writing from the State Historical Society of Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Library Association (the 2007 Notable Authors Award), American Library Association, Foreword Magazine, Midwest Independent Publishers Association, Robert E. Gard Foundation, The Wisconsin Council for Writers (the 2007 Major Achievement Award), Upper Midwest Booksellers, and Barnes and Noble Bookstores, among others. In 2010 he received the Distinguished Service Award from the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s College of Agricultural and Life Sciences.  Check www.jerryapps.com for more information.

Essay – Rodney Schroeter, WWA Press Manager

Rodney Schroeter spent seven years as a Science teacher, twenty five as a computer programmer / analyst, and now works as a freelance writer, newspaper page composer, reporter, editor, art dealer, and eBay seller. He is the writer of Human Interest Stuff and the editor / designer of A Wisconsin Harvest Vol. II, both published by the WWA Press. For the WWA, Rodney serves as brochure and forms designer, Newsletter editor, archivist, Forum administrator, and manager of the WWA Press.

Fiction, adult short – Susan Baganz, acquisitions editor for Prism Book Group

 

Susan M. Baganz chases after three children and is a native of Wisconsin. She is an Acquisitions Editor with Prism Book Group specializing in bringing great romance novels and novellas to publication. Susan writes adventurous historical and contemporary romances. She has been published with OakTara Press and has for Splickety Magazine. Her contemporary romance, Pesto and Potholes is due to be released in Spring of 2015 with Prism Book Group. Her favorite pastimes are lazy ones: snuggling with her dog while reading a good book, or sitting with a friend chatting over a cup of spiced chai latte.   www.susanbaganz.com  www.prismbookgroup.com

Fiction, children/youth – Barbara A. Joosse, international best-selling author of nearly 50 books, including Mama, Do You Love Me, Snow Day, and Dog Parade, among others, and now, writes the lyrics for The Happy Racers, kiddie rock band. She lives in an old house, enjoys spending time with her grandchildren. published nearly 50 books for children. BarbaraJoosse.com

Poetry - TBA!