The Judges

Fiction and Nonfiction Judge

Alex Kuo is an award winning author and writing professor. Most notably, Kuo’s Lipstick and Other Stories won the American Book Award in 2002. More than 350 of Kuo’s poems, short stories, photographs, and essays have appeared in various magazines and newspapers. Kuo is a writing professor and has inspired many young writers including the highly acclaimed author, Sherman Alexie. Kuo studied with the late Hal Grutzmacher at Knox College

Poetry Judge

Marilyn Taylor’s poetry has appeared in a vast array of publications including The Cream City Review, The Atlanta Review, Sheepshead Review, The American Scholar, Indiana Review, and Verse Wisconsin. Before being appointed Wisconsin’s Poet Laureate, Taylor served as the city of Milwaukee’s Poet Laureate and was an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Taylor is a contributing editor for The Writer Magazine.

Photography Judges

Dan Anderson’s photography has been exhibited throughout the United States and Europe in public and private collections. Anderson is also an active teacher of photography and has participated in numerous workshops. Anderson has a gallery and studio in his home in Ellison Bay. For more information visit http://www.danielandersonphotography.com.

Dan Eggert, currently the Photo Editor of the Peninsula Pulse and the Photography Director of Door County Living, is a freelance photographer working with clients ranging from local Door County businesses to artists and musicians, and he’s been known to shoot an occasional wedding now and then. For more information visit http://www.daneggert.com.

Kelly Avenson of Avenson Photograpy has a studio on Jefferson Street in Sturgeon Bay. She specializes in commercial, event and portrait photography, capturing the creative, unique and candid moments in life. For more information, visit http://www.kellyavenson.com