Collaborative Creative Writing Community

The following judges are excited and happy to be part of StoryMash’s fifth Mash for Cash contest:

Katrina Robinson
StoryMash Username: Katrina

Katrina Robinson has been the community manager and blogger extraordinaire at StoryMash.com since April 2008. She is a full-time freelance writer and editor as well as an undercover fiction writer—undercover because she has yet to try to be published. Katrina has been a contributing writer for Graffiti, Diamond Magazine, ANF Magazine, and Pure Times Magazine. When she’s not writing and working on one of her many projects, Katrina can be found soaking up the rays on the Charleston beaches and reading anything she can get her hands on.


Sara Harris
StoryMash Username: Novel-Ambition

Burgeoning young author, S. A. Harris was born and raised in the heart of Middle America, and launched her childhood affection for writing by jamming the keys of her mother's Smith Corona typewriter. Boasting a versatility of literary fiction/nonfiction for Children, Juvenile/YA, and adult readership, she continues the avid pursuit of establishing her lifelong aspiration one story at a time. In 2007, S. A. Harris received an Editor's Choice Award for outstanding artistry by a poet, and in 2008, was selected as one of fourteen applicants to attend Simon Van Booy's writing workshop. Winning rave reviews from fellow authors, her published works have appeared in Cornerstone Newspaper as a freelance editor and fashion columnist, Forever Spoken Poetry Anthology, Bedtime, Potential Heights LLC of StoriesThatLift.com, Scribe & Quill, and is a contributor for Estella's Revenge and Today.com.


Holly Monacelli
StoryMash Username: holly724

Holly Monacelli is an advertising copywriter by day and a fiction writer at most other times. She has published short stories in the Berkeley Fiction Review, Toasted Cheese and the Charles River Review and written for Time Out Boston. Other enjoyments include finding positive press about Detroit; sports, especially of the University of Michigan and Red Sox variety; perfectly cooked avocado and cheddar omelets; discovering writers that make her jealous and really good songs that aren't about love. hollymonacelli.com


Angela Davis
StoryMash Username: Persephonie

I am a 40 year young mom, married twenty years...(Phew!) I have always loved literature and I read just about anything I can get my hands on. Until joining SM, I haven't written anything but an odd poem or two since the age of 17. But, since I am out of work (as a mortgage underwriter), I have some time between job searches to explore my passion. I do like other things....cooking my grandmother's sicilian recipes, watching Cowboys and Lakers games and watching my family and society squirm at my unorthodox viewpoints....I like being the "Black Sheep". :) If you'd like to contact me, please visit http://www.myspace.com/angiequeenoftheworld


Jim Becker
StoryMash Username: nashvillebecker

Jim has hazel eyes which change color depending on what outfit he wears. Luckily, his work (as a legal assistant) provides polo shirts so he doesn't have to worry about color-coordinating his face. Writing since junior high, Jim has a children's story published in Characters Magazine, a sketch published in Show Me Evangelism in Drama, a local TV commercial produced, multiple website copy (and scripts), technical writing, a dozen movie scripts (one of which picked up by the Sci-Fi channel), three stage plays (one for kids), and a list of random jottings. Alfred Hitchcock and Shel Silverstein are his primary influences, and he hopes to emulate some of their style (and paycheck amounts). He enjoys all sports, improv comedy (created and performed for seven years with Uncle Sonny's Pudding Parade), bad 80's music, tapioca pudding, and quality time with his one wife and three children.


Christina Paul
StoryMash Username: chloe

I live in beautiful Bucks County Pa with a husband, three very spoiled rescue cats and a retired horse (he has his own place) My degree is in Fine Arts (there's a money maker lol) which sounded romantic at the time but is not so very marketable in the "real world!" Alas! When I'm not trying to eke out a living as an artist, I work in the Expressive Therapy dept. of an intensive children's psychiatric hospital- never a dull moment there. I've always loved writing but this is my first stab at creating something for others to actually read! My favorite reads include Austen, Bronte, Somerset Maugham, any mystery, and admittedly, the occasional supermarket beach paperback. I like photography (the old style, with real film) and traveling when I can. So happy to have stumbled onto this website. Everyone's been so supportive and the feedback has been invaluable.


Jesse Centofanti
StoryMash Username: dogdeity11

Jesse has been a community member since Feb 6,2008. He has absolutely no professional training as a writer and in fact disliked English class very much in school. He has only recently discovered a true interest in writing after having stumbled across the StoryMash site quite by accident. Prior to that, he spent many years working with a major national bookseller as a Buyer and a Retail Manager. Jesse started reading at the early age of four and has been an addict ever since. He believes it is this passion for the written word, as well as his in-depth knowledge of the trade fiction industry, that qualifies him to critique the work of others and offer his unprofessional opinion. When not reading and writing you can usually find Jesse writing and reading. Or chasing dolphins around the gulf of Mexico on a jet-ski.


Melissa Monks
AKA: Honeygloom

Melissa has been a member of StoryMash since December 9th, 2007. She grew up writing. Her first ever story, written in 3rd grade, was about a little boy who got attacked by a Vampire who also happened to captain a schooner. Since then, she’s written more, read a few books, and earned a BA in English/Creative Writing from the University of Utah. When not reading, writing, or hanging out on StoryMash, she knits, beads, or pensively walks along the beach thinking of reading, writing, StoryMash, etc.


Tari Elder
StoryMash Username: expressionarchitect

I am a 25 year old aspiring author. I've been writing as long as I can remember. I started with poetry and after having several contests under my belt and a few published, I turned to short stories. I have several collections of works piled in my closet, however I have never submitted anything for publishing. When I'm not writing, I'm reading or researching other story ideas. Currently, I am the office manager/personal assistant at a small company that builds and designs speakers for movie theatres. Also, I'm soon to become a bi-monthly contributing author to Boxoffice magazine! I have always had a special relationship with movies, books and theatre and hope to eventually pursue a career as a full time author of either screenplays, scripts or novels. Since finding SM, I've enjoyed the constructive criticism I've been afforded as this is truly the only way I can learn and improve. If you'd ever like to contact me, feel free at expressionarchitect@gmail.com. I look forward to reading your submissions and good luck!


Crystal Smith
StoryMash Username: crystalfoo

Hi! I'm Crystal Smith (a.k.a. crystalfoo~ a nickname given to me at a Foo Fighters concert quite some time back) and I've been a part of Story Mash since Feb. 2008. I am a piano/violin teacher, 31 years old and I have spent the better part of my life writing. More correctly, I've spent the better part calling myself a writer and less time honing my craft. (One very good reason to love SM! Practice, practice, practice!) My ultimate goal is to, of course, be a best selling author someday. In the past, I've tried my hand at journalism and wrote for a local paper. That was mainly freelance work (emphasis on the 'free') and I quickly realized that I preferred to create drama rather than report it. So, I stick to teaching piano, write when I can, and hope someday that great novel that lives inside me finds it's way out. I am an avid reader; horror fiction is my favorite genre to read and write, however, I love the range and variety that SM offers, not to mention the valuable critique and inspiration! I'm also a sucker for the theater! When I have time, I act in plays (usually comedies) and my most recent role was as Nurse Kelly in Harvey. I am thrilled to be a part of Story Mash, and always honored when someone takes time to read and comment on what I've written. I look forward to Mashing with all of you!


Randolf Smallwood
StoryMash Username: Cornelius

Hi, I'm Randolf Smallwood. My friends call me Rand. I have written on and off since I could lift a pen, but have never really sought to be published. I did write a journalistic piece for a local art paper in Seattle in the late 80's. Among my writings have been hundreds of song lyrics (the music, too), poems, short stories and essays. I have read everything I can get my hands on since I was a little kid. Among my favorite authors are Graham Greene, Gene Wolfe, Philip K. Dick, Bradbury and Barker. For a living I run a web design company, mostly solo/freelance. My experience here at StoryMash has re-invigorated my love of writing, and my slumbering dream of maybe making a buck or two at it along the way. Winning round six of "Thou Shalt Not Kill" represents my first monetary reward for anything other than copy writing for websites, and for that I am very grateful.


Chuck
StoryMash Username: wolfram

Chuck is a 34 year old blowhard who is terribly good at starting new projects, and even better at quitting them, or more particularly, abandoning them with full intentions to return yet getting so caught up with shiny new projects, never getting around to the abandoned ones, thus leaving a trail of brilliant partially-started, not-likely-to-be-completed projects that someone else, somewhere down the line, independently conceives, executes, and subsequentially makes a fortune. Aside from making up words and abusing commas, Chuck is also a braggart and a big fat liar.

Chuck is very excited to bring his lack of knowledge, dearth of skills, and complete inability to the Storymash community to blindly lead the sighted to places they'd never be stupid enough to go on their own. Properly forewarned, victims of Chuck's well-meant assistance may find it beneficial to do exactly the opposite of whatever is suggested. However, since Chuck wrote this bio and therefore made the aforesaid suggestion, neither course of action is recommended.

In his spare time, Chuck works on his graduate thesis, practices law, and tries to keep his wife and four children fed, sheltered and bathed, or at least best out of three.


Amy
StoryMash Username: ireland_faerie

Where to start? Refocusing my green eyes after looking up from whatever book I am currently reading. Reading has always been my passion and I've been known to stay up into the wee hours of the night or morning just to finish a book. I started writing years ago, and have several projects started, but have yet to finish anything as the normal everyday things like work, bowling leagues, cleaning and so on get in the way. I live about a hour north of Tampa, Florida and work for the School Board. When I'm not reading or writing, I like to go bowling, scuba diving, 4-wheeling, hunting and just about anything else you can think of. I like to think that I am open-minded and will try anything once, twice if I like it, which is probably why I have 4 tattoos and several piercings. HA! Although I am Irish and love to write stories, I am still shy by nature so finding Storymash has been amazing!! I have learned so much already. =)