Laura Lippman “I am who I am today because of libraries.”  Laura Lippman Ms. Lippman grew up in Baltimore and attended city schools through ninth grade. Her family moved and she graduated from Wilde Lake High School in Columbia, Md., and then attended Northwestern University&rsq...

Stephen Hunter "Because I'm too old for tragedy. I like a nice happy ending too." Stephen Hunter Stephen Hunter is an award winning American novelist, essayist, and film critic. He was born in Kansas City, Missouri, and grew up in Evanston, Illinois. His mother wrote children's books. The Army d...

The Montgomery County chapter of the Maryland Writers’ Association and Montgomery Magazine have teamed up for the fifth year to create a short-form writing contest exclusively for Montgomery County residents. Submit your previously unpublished fiction, creative nonfiction and poetry for the c...

Toby Devens “I’m a chocoholic. Dark chocolate powers me through late-afternoon slumps.” Toby Devens Toby Devens was born and raised in the heart of Brooklyn. By the time she was twelve, she knew her passion was tapping words out on a keyboard. She couldn't not write. She starte...

Dr. Benjamin Quarles (Jan 23, 1904 – Nov 16, 1996) “America would not be America without the African-American.” Dr. Benjamin Quarles Benjamin Arthur Quarles was a historian, administrator, scholar, educator, and writer. Born in Boston, MA, he attended local public schools. In 1...