A transplant from southern Maryland horse country by way of the Finger Lakes, Rebecca has been running a neuroscience research lab at the Hershey Medical Center since 1988. With a BA from Cornell University in animal physiology, she has also completed a law degree and an MFA, with an MBA in the pipeline.

In the midst of all this professional dabbling, she also maintains a currently 16 horse farm, and dreams of becoming either the next Stephen King, John Grisham, or Virgina Woolf (or all 3 on alternating days). Her publications have been evenly split between the sciences, small literary fiction journals, and contest fiction. She has placed 5 times in the Apprise/Central PA Magazine writer's contest in the last 8 years. She is currently serving her 10th year as Librarian.

Currently, Friedman is finishing a second novel in the women's suspense genre in which she blows up teachers.  Her goal is to begin marketing at the end of summer and to network at Bouchercon 2001.  She has had 13 newspaper articles published but prefers fiction to reality.

Carol Silvis has been a member of Pennwriters since 1994 and is the 2005 Conference Coordinator. She has volunteered to assist for several conferences, which she believes is a great way to make new friends and to
network. Carol has published college textbooks in business and travel with HBJ, Delmar, and Thomson Learning. She also sold several stories to True Love and True Story magazines, inspirational publications, and newspapers. She has appeared twice as a guest speaker on time management/organization on Cornerstone TV, and has been interviewed on a radio program and for newspaper articles on writing and telephone techniques. She has a Master's in Adult Education and teaches full-time at a post-secondary institution and part time for Penn State University and CCAC. In addition, she gives workshops and seminars for schools, businesses, and professional organizations. She is also a member of Ligonier Valley Writers and Romance Writers of America.

Jamie has been playing with computers since the inception of the Commodore 64, and actually was a salesperson for the early Timex personal computers that required the user to hand type the coding for the program they wanted to use.

Jamie is the author of three books, including Transformational Healing. She resides with her husband and two sons in Edinboro, Pennsylvania.

Jamie would like to note that these pages have not been designed by her, and are currently maintained by a professional designer. However, as a part of the Web Chair Committee, if you run into any questions about the website, please contact her.

Nathan “Nate” Hardy is an award-winning author who has published short stories and poetry, and worked as a Tribune newspaper writer and reporter. He has also enjoyed a stint as a serial cartoonist.

He has served as a research professional for over 15 years advising Fortune 500 companies on human behavior and motivation. Nate holds a Masters of Business Management (MBA) degree from The College of William & Mary, and is a member of Mensa and the NABJ Journalists Association. He is a Microsoft Certified Professional in Operating Systems.

A member of Pennwriters since 2006, he oversees all of the e-loop online groups for the organization. He lives in greater Philadelphia with his wife and two kids in a house surrounded by trees, creek, and deer.