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Presenter Biographies

Slim Randles

Slim is, among many things, a novelist, a ghost writer and an award-winning newspaper reporter.  His monthly column, “Ol’ Slim’s Views from the Porch,” runs in the New Mexico Magazine, and his syndicated column “Home Country” can be read in more than 100 newspapers across America.  He taught journalism at the University of New Mexico.  He is the author of eight books.  A former cowboy, mule packer and hunting guide, Randles was also a long-distance dogsled racer in Alaska, where he ran the first Iditarod Race.

Sherry Cann

Sherry is a screenwriter and novelist.  She founded the Idaho Chapter of the American Screenwriters Association, and the Idaho Screenwriters Group.  She has taught beginning screenwriting at the Western States College of Performing Arts, and she has guest lectured at BSU.  She is a current member and has been produced by the Reel Women of the West filmmaker group.  Sherry also writes young adult mystery novels, and is a member of Partners in Crime.

Kate Riley

Kate obtained her BA degree in Creative Writing from Antioch University.  Her  writings include short stories, essays and primarily, memoir.  Her latest book is The Green Velvet Journals, A Mother and Daughter Journey of Healing, Love and Trust.  Kate has taught Creative Writing to children.  She founded The Writer’s Studio, a summer writing camp for children and young adults in California. 

Bernadine Cockey

Berni writes plays, short fiction and essays.  Her plays A Little Time In the Fall and Death Comes To Sweet William have been selected for workshop by the Seven Devils Playwrights Conference, and Saving Grace was produced in Boise in 2007.  She has worked with various theatres, and was a founding member of the Jughandle Musical Theatre.