Melody Jones is a published writer and poet, speaker, coffee enthusiast, lover of beagles, and Colorado native. A Palisade girl, she returned to the western slope in February 2021 after 30 years in the Denver metro area.
After a 20-year career in social work working with at-risk teens in the foster care system, she became involved in various writer and author groups on Colorado’s Front Range.
An accidental entrepreneur was born in 2010 when Melody realized writers and authors (desperately) needed social media help. She provided consultation, social media management, workshops, trainings, retreats, and conference presentations on all things social media, with a special focus on writers and authors. She’s presented at Lighthouse Writers and the Colorado Gold Conference, among others.
She continues to work in social media on a limited basis and offers additional services including proofreading, newsletter design and management, and more.
Melody was the founder of Colorado Women in Social Media, a collaboration of female solopreneurs working together in support of each other and the community as a whole. CWSM drew one of the largest ever standing-room-only audiences for a presentation at Denver Startup Week. This group is now concluded.
Melody served as Vice President and Communications Chair for the Denver Woman’s Press Club from 2019-2021. Her current role there is social media consultant and manager.
To her great delight, she won first place in the Mesa County Library Poetry Contest in May 2022. Read her winning poem The Sun and The Moon here.
Currently, Melody hosts Writer Chicks Coffee Club on Wednesday mornings at 9:00 a.m. at Main Street Bagels in Grand Junction. She is working on a poetry chapbook with a theme around a serious issue in today’s world, addiction. And her newest favorite thing – radio show host of LIT Radio on KAFM Community Radio in partnership with Western Slope Poet Laureate Wendy Videlock.
Born and raised in upstate New York, John taught for over thirty years at Stonehill College in North Easton, Massachusetts, where he remains a professor emeritus in the department of Religious Studies. He holds degrees in classics, ministry, and religion from NYU, Notre Dame, and Harvard. After retiring, he moved to Grand Junction in 2020 to be closer to his family and to finally enjoy life in high desert country after decades of high humidity, lush mosquito-harboring vegetation, weeks of cloudy days, and periodic hurricanes. He has published two books and a monograph on the Bible as well as a number of academic articles on religion and pedagogy. Now he writes for fun.
John took on the role of Interim Treasurer for most of 2022 and has been enjoying his role as Vice President in 2023 and 2024.
As a Grand Junction native and local business owner, Kate cares deeply for our community and the people who call it home. As the owner, bookkeeper, and office manager of HBJ’s Grooming, she spends much of her time with your favorite four-legged friends. Yet Kate has always considered herself a “Creative” at heart. She is proud to call herself the Treasurer for the Western Colorado Writers’ Forum. Kate has always loved to read, write, and build her own worlds. She tentatively describes herself as a speculative fiction author and is excited to connect with other “weird fiction” authors right here in the Grand Valley. Recently, she has also featured in several local theater projects with Get Uncomfortable Productions.
Kate is thrilled to have found a place in the Western Colorado Writers’ Forum, where personal growth and community are fostered. She sees bright things in the future of Grand Junction’s local writers!
Madison R. Hadley is a dedicated fiction writer from Southern California with a BFA in English and Creative Writing from SNHU. Currently immersed in revising and editing her fantasy novel, A Touch of Salvation, she explores the darker, more compelling complexities of the human condition. Madison also indulges in crafting short stories and poetry, finding them invaluable for writer’s block.
Stepping into the role of Secretary for the Western Colorado Writers’ Forum in 2022, Madison has adored finding her place within the local writing community.
If not found at her favorite coffee shop or library, she’s likely lost in the fantastical world of a good book.
Mary Watson is a passionate writer, captivating speaker, and dedicated community member. Known for her insightful perspectives and engaging storytelling, Mary combines her love for writing with a commitment to fostering community connections. Whether on stage or in print, she inspires audiences to embrace creativity and collaboration for positive change. Since 2000, Mary has been evaluating and sharing written critiques with hundreds of writers, speakers, and presenters through various public speaking and educational events. She spent three years in Benin, West Africa teaching and presenting events. She continuously motivates adults as well as youth through Toastmasters programs/events, Ignite Grand Junction!, TEDxGrandJunction, and several Communication and Leadership Workshops.
James Van Pelt has been selling short fiction to many of the major venues since 1989. Recently he retired from teaching high school English after thirty-seven years in the classroom. He was a finalist for the Nebula, the Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Award, Locus Awards, and Analog and Asimov’s reader’s choice awards. Years and years ago he was a finalist for the John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer. He still feels “new.” Fairwood Press recently released a huge, limited-edition, signed, and numbered collection of his work, THE BEST OF JAMES VAN PELT. He can be found online or on Facebook.
Myles Grandbouche is a full-time teacher with a deep passion for art. When not shaping young minds, he immerses himself in his artistic pursuits. Myles, alongside his girlfriend and their four feline children, is a true nature enthusiast. He seizes every opportunity to venture into the serenity of the outdoors, whether it is hiking Mt. Garfield or camping in the Grand Mesa. Myles is excited to add a unique insight as a new member of the Western Colorado Writers Forum. Check out his art on his Instagram account.
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