Board of Directors
Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers (RMFW) is governed by an all-volunteer Board of Directors. The Board ensures that RMFW abides by its bylaws, state and federal laws, and all regulations relating to a 501(c)(6) trade organization.
RMFW is successful because of the hard work of a group of dedicated individuals. There are far too many to list here but include:
Executive Officers
President — Bernadette Soehner
#1 International Bestselling Author Bernadette Marie writes contemporary romances and believes in Happily Ever After. The married mother of five believes in love at first sight, quick love, and second chances. Bernadette is the 2020 Independent Writer of the Year, the 2022 Jasmine Award winner, and past retreat and volunteer chair for RMFW. Having published nearly 60 titles, she is often called upon to teach workshops for organizations such as RMFW, WHWA, RWA, Pikes Peak Writers, Wyoming Writers, Lighthouse Writers, and more.
Bernadette is also the Founder and CEO of 5 Prince Publishing, a mid-sized, traditional publishing house in Arvada, Colorado. An entrepreneur at heart, Bernadette owns 5 businesses, having opened her first at the age of 20.
An avid martial artist, Bernadette Marie is a certified instructor and holds a third-degree black belt in Tang Soo Do. She loves Tai Chi, traveling to Disney parks, and having lunch with friends. When not writing, or running her own publishing house, Bernadette is probably immersed in a Rom Com, from which she will often quote one-liners.
Vice President — Kevin Wolf
Kevin Wolf needed to write a novel, but he didn’t know how. He attended his first Gold Conference in 2002, became a regular at Saturday workshops, entered contests, and critiqued with the Southwest Plaza Group. Wanting to give back, Kevin judged for the Gold Contest, guided conference newbies and, in the COVID year, was part of the team that put together the month-long YouTube slate of virtual workshops.
His 2016 novel THE HOMEPLACE was the winner of the Tony Hillerman Award. Western Writers of America chose BELTHANGER as the 2021 Spur Award winner for short fiction.
Kevin and his wife live in Estes Park. He helps coach the high school basketball team, facilitates a Zoom writers’ group, and tries to add common sense to several non-profit boards. Each morning he watches elk, deer, bobcats, and coyotes from his office window and still ponders how to write a novel.
THE BOOTHEEL will be published in 2023 by Thorndike Press.
More than anything else he wants RMFW to be a welcoming place for all writers and help the organization keep pace with all the opportunities in the dynamics of storytelling.
Treasurer | Writers Retreat Chair — Sunshine Knight
Sunshine was born and raised in Colorado, a place she dreamed of leaving as a child, now it’s the only one she writes about. She has two full-length novels published – The Ka Series – written from the perspective of a narcissistic ghost and has several more in the works. With a degree in Creative Writing from Colorado Mesa University and a passion for continuous education through groups like RMFW, she continues to hone her craft. She’s had a long-distance relationship with RMFW since 2014 and has met the most delightful people through the organization. A small town on the Western Slope of Colorado is where she shares her empty nest with three psychotic cats and her husband whose only flaw is he thinks he’s The Brain and she’s Pinky.
For treasurer-related items: treasurer@rmfw.org
For retreat-related items: retreat@rmfw.org
Secretary — Rachel Horak Dempsey
Rachel Horak Dempsey is a writer of dark fiction living in Denver. Her prose appears in anthologies by Shacklebound Books, Brigids Gate Press, Timber Ghost Press, Twenty Bellows (Pushcart nominated 2024) and others. She holds a BFA in Drama and English from NYU, a Master’s in Journalism from Georgetown and an MFA from Regis University in Denver where she currently lives with her family. Find her on X and Instagram @rachelsdempsey or blogging at rmfw.org/blog.
Communications — Oliver Blakemore
Oliver Blakemore‘s writing career is the result of sidestepping two or three other careers. At twelve, he started writing when directing movies proved to involve too many hurdles—like talking and wearing dopey hats. At seventeen, he forgot to learn how to play guitar and start a metal band, because he had a short story due. And at twenty-one, he was kicked out of seminary. That probably impacts some of the themes he tackles. The result: music, movies, and a sense of grounded oddity inform all his writing, for better or worse.
Oliver has mainly written fantasy and science fiction. He’s self-published a collection of short stories, Ragged Museum, and an urban fantasy novel, City Song. He is pursuing his BA in English, Rhetoric, Composition, and Professional Writing from Metropolitan State University. He is currently president of their Creative Writing Club, and he was on the editorial staff of their recent online literary journal, The Roadrunner Review.
Conference Co-Chair | Podcast — Farrah Frances
Farrah Frances writes weird girl fiction and spec fic under the pen name A.Z. Sultana. Her prose can be found scribbled on the walls of many bathroom stalls across the nation. She holds a PMP certification, a Bachelor’s in general studies with a focus on Marketing from Gonzaga, and a Master’s in Library Science from North Carolina Central University. You can find her on Instagram or anywhere questionable behavior is encouraged.
For conference-related items: conference@rmfw.org
For podcast-related items: podcast@rmfw.org
Conference Co-Chair | Youth Programming Chair — Sue Duff
Sue Duff is an award-winning, bestselling author of The Weir Chronicles series and has several published short stories with Wicked Ink Books and in RMFW’s 2018 anthology, False Faces. She’s been an active member of RMFW since 2009. Over the years, she’s volunteered at yearly RMFW conferences, worked the registration desks, stuffed swag bags, served as room monitor, as a presenter, and has supported other writers at conferences in the Mentor Rooms. She served as Volunteer Chair in 2017 and since 2018 has coordinated Youth Programming. She won the Jasmine Award in 2023.
For conference-related items: conference@rmfw.org
For youth programming-related items: youthprogramming@rmfw.org
Education Chair — Karen Dropps
Karen Dropps holds a master’s degree in Heritage Studies for a Global Society and a graduate certificate in Museum Studies from Regis College, Weston, Massachusetts.
Karen followed adventurous careers in academia, museums, and cub scouts. She grew up in New England and now resides in the mountains of Colorado, where she enjoys skiing, martial arts, hiking, and spending time with her family and cats.
Tech Chair — Natasha Gonzalez
Natasha Gonzalez loves engulfing herself in a fantastic can’t-put-down book! Having a way with words herself, she understands and has an eye for talent. With a background in structural engineering, Natasha spent 12 years navigating the complexities of construction. But it wasn’t long before the call of creativity tugged, and in 2019 she took a leap of faith and opened a small press with her husband, driven by the desire to share captivating stories with the world.
Natasha is hardworking but always puts the love for her family first. When she’s not lost in the world of words, Natasha can be found outdoors embracing the beauty of nature. She spends time with her family camping, travelling, at sporting events and making memories!
PAA Liaison — Z.S. Diamanti
Z.S. Diamanti is the award-winning author of the Stone & Sky series, an epic fantasy adventure and Guard in the Garden, the first book in the Fables of Finlestia cozy fantasy series. He attended college forever and has far too many pieces of paper on his wall. He’s a USAF veteran and worked in ministry for over 10 years before pursuing creative endeavors full-time. He and his wife live in Colorado with their four children where they enjoy hikes, camping, and tabletop games.
Director Chairs
Anthology Co-Chair — Amy Armstrong
Amy Armstrong loves to dabble with ideas and occasionally gets a good story out of her dabbles. During the pandemic, she launched a monthly YouTube reading called Stories Live! featuring writers reading their own work aloud and participating in discussions. Some of the readers included Pam Houston, Stephen Graham Jones, and Carter Wilson.
Amy is a slush reader for The Masters Review and has volunteered as a judge and selector for The Colorado Book Awards over the past four years. Her favorite stories involve dysfunctional families, complicated friendships, and lots of dark humor.
Amy managed social media for Pikes Peak Writers and received the Volunteer of the Year Award. She often moderates and sits on panels at MileHi Con, and has presented on grief in story development in the past for RMFW. She writes humorous and salty fiction between glasses of wine by night and is a psychotherapist by day.
Anthology Co-Chair — Deb Courtney
Deb Courtney has more than 20 years of project management, editing and writing experience she brings to the table. She has a degree in Fiction/Creative Writing from the University of South Florida. She teaches a popular monthly craft class called Write Drunk, Edit Sober which focuses on micro-skills in fiction writing. Deb has worked as a freelance journalist and has published multiple short stories. From 2011 to 2015, she ran a small print-on-demand publishing company and brought 15 original titles and 4 reprints to market. She is the author of “21 Day Challenge: The Anti-procrastination Workbook for Writers.”
Deb has more than 20 years of project management, editing and writing experience she brings to the table.
Critique Chair — Wendy Barnhart
International bestselling author Wendy Barnhart received her first library card at age two, and a few years later started writing her own stories. Her debut novel, The Rampart Guards (February 2016), earned a Kirkus-starred review and was named to Kirkus Reviews’ Best Books of 2016. She was 2017-2018’s Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers’ Independent Writer of the Year.
Contest Chair — Oliver Blakemore
Oliver Blakemore‘s writing career is the result of sidestepping two or three other careers. At twelve, he started writing when directing movies proved to involve too many hurdles—like talking and wearing dopey hats. At seventeen, he forgot to learn how to play guitar and start a metal band, because he had a short story due. And at twenty-one, he was kicked out of seminary. That probably impacts some of the themes he tackles. The result: music, movies, and a sense of grounded oddity inform all his writing, for better or worse.
Oliver has mainly written fantasy and science fiction. He’s self-published a collection of short stories, Ragged Museum, and an urban fantasy novel, City Song. He is pursuing his BA in English, Rhetoric, Composition, and Professional Writing from Metropolitan State University. He is currently president of their Creative Writing Club, and he was on the editorial staff of their recent online literary journal, The Roadrunner Review.
Front Range Programs Chair — Ann Lowry
Ann Lowry, Ph.D. is the author of the award-winning novel The Blue Trunk. Her debut novel was inspired by the discovery of a family heirloom—a travel trunk from Norway. Ann’s writing dives deep into the complexities of relationships, conflict, and the human condition. Reviewers have noted that she provides sharp social commentary in her writing. She has made significant contributions to academic journals, authored insightful opinion pieces, and crafted content for various platforms, including Writer’s Digest, Women’s Writers/Women’s Fiction, and Girl Talk HQ. She’s also appeared on several podcasts and has been interviewed on television and radio discussing genealogy research and the treatment of mentally ill patients in the early 1900’s.
When not writing, Ann enjoys a range of activities, hiking, skiing, swimming, golfing and baking. She treasures moments with her therapy dog, Loki, and cherishes time with her family. She is always eager to explore new adventures in life and storytelling.
Ann lives in Timnath, Colorado.
Historian – Nick Rector
Nick Rector was born and raised in Colorado and started writing when he was 5. He continued writing through grade school, taking a short pause during middle school. He picked it back up during COVID to help with his mental health. Nick continues to hone his writing with his avid writing habits and his overactive imagination. In the meantime, Nick studies Media Production in Denver.
Membership Chair — Saytchyn Maddux-Creech
Saytchyn Maddux-Creech survived the MFA program at Colorado State University with her love of all things creepy intact. She writes horror, fantasy, and mystery with a literary accent.
Social Media — Kirk Rafferty
Kirk Rafferty is a native Coloradan who has lived in many places worldwide but has always managed to return home. Kirk writes historical fiction and fantasy and is still looking for his first breakout novel. A former US Navy Cryptologist, Kirk loves reading and writing about Cold War-era intrigue, technology, and a wide variety of nerdy topics from dragons to starships. Kirk is a husband to a wonderful wife and father to four fantastic children. Validation from strangers on the internet is crucial to his mental health. You can connect with Kirk at http://kirkrafferty.com.
Volunteer Chair — Ryanne Glenn
Ryanne Glenn started writing short stories when she was ten and was first published in Fruita’s local newspaper. She took her first creative writing class in high school, and was inspired to expand her writing into poetry and longer stories. After struggling with depression in her first year at college, she turned back to writing as a healthy outlet for her emotions. She wants to write strong female role models and is excited to share her stories with the world. Ryanne Glenn works in Denver for a digital pathology company. She loves to golf, though after playing for twelve years, her handicap should be much lower than it is. Between writing and classes, she often visits her hometown of Fruita, Colorado to spend time with her family and dog, Captain Carl.
Western Slope Programs Chair — Justin Weaver
Justin Weaver lives in small town Colorado, where he enjoys the bountiful great outdoors with his wife, daughter, and three dogs. When his infant child isn’t demanding his complete and undivided attention, he enjoys writing edge of your seat thrillers with thought-provoking twists. J. Warren is the author of the award winning, international bestselling In the Shadow of a Spy trilogy.
Past President — Z.J. Czupor
Z.J. is a former winner of the Colorado Gold Literary Awards in the Mainstream category. His noir short story, “The Man in the Corner” was featured in RMFW’s “Crossing Colfax” Anthology. He’s a past vice president of the Rocky Mountain Chapter Mystery Writers of America and writes a monthly column, “The Mystery Minute”, which appears on the website www.rmmwa.org and for Rogue Women Writers at www.roguewomenwriters.com. He is represented by AKA Literary Management. In 1990, he and his wife co-founded The InterPro Group, one of Denver’s leading marketing and public relations consulting firms.
Program Coordinators
Blog — Kelley J. P. Lindberg
Kelley J. P. Lindberg writes YA and adult fiction, magazine articles, essays, and award-winning how-to books. She’s also a contract medical, technical, and business writer. Her fiction and essays have appeared in The Citron Review, 99 Pine Street, In Layman’s Terms, Chicken Soup for the Wine Lover’s Soul, and others, and in the Tellables app for the Amazon Alexa platform. When she isn’t writing, she’s traveling as far and as often as she can. Visit her at www.KelleyLindberg.com or follow her on Twitter at @KelleyLindberg1.
It’s a Book! — Laura Reeve
Laura Reeve grew up near Boulder, CO. Her parents fed her SF novels and provided her with a typewriter, but had no idea they were creating a lifelong obsession with building worlds. To keep a day job, she got degrees in Chemistry and Systems Analysis. She spent nine years as a USAF Officer, holding operational command positions and having the opportunity to escort Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty inspectors. Her civilian jobs have ranged from Research Chemist to Software Development Lead. Her first novel debuted from Roc (Penguin/NAL) and began a military SF series about Major Ariane Kedros. Her fantasy series, called The Broken Kaskea, starts with a murder-by-magic mystery and builds to epic fantasy. She currently lives in Monument, CO with her husband and a Shiba Inu who runs the household.