“Magic Boy is about being weird and (eventually) being okay with being weird. It’s for anyone who has struggled to fit in, who has felt friendless or misunderstood, who has, for protection or distraction, held a singular focus in hopes of great rewards. (Writers and rabid readers, I mean you. I mean me.)” –Lara Tupper, Adult category judge
Michael Konik is the author of thirteen previous books of fiction, journalism, and memoir, most recently “The Unexpected Guest: How a Homeless Man from the Streets of Los Angeles Redefined Our Home.” His essays have appeared in more than 100 periodicals, including The New York Times, Sports Illustrated, and The Times of London. A widely published poet writing as MK Punky, he created the 365-poem interactive art experience “The Year of When.” Konik lives in Los Angeles, where he works as a dog trainer and plays mediocre chess.
“Running might seem like it’s only about putting one foot in front of the other. But when every step puts friendship, health and secrets at risk of imploding, the stakes are so much higher – and the finish line seems even further away. Readers will be racing to turn the page.” – Becca Barnes, YA/MG category judge
Natalie Shaw Evjen is passionate about storytelling that builds bridges. The inspiration for her own writing comes from her experiences navigating adolescence, faith, and motherhood. Her stories and poems have been featured in Mom Egg Review, Sixfold Journal, Brilliant Flash Fiction, and elsewhere. Currently, she is pursuing an M.A. in English at Weber State University in Ogden, Utah with the support of her husband, kids, and mischievous rabbits.
Becca Barnes is a dedicated New Zealand writer with a penchant for the weird and wacky. She cut her teeth writing and co-producing nearly 200 episodes of the U.S. kids show Power Rangers. She is proud to have helped bring diversity to the screen with the first LGBTQI+ Power Ranger, in an episode which won the 2022 GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Kids and Family Programming. With a brain wired to find stories that excite kids, Becca writes children’s fiction, graphic novels and screenplays.
