The Staff
These are the amazing, amazing people who work together to keep SKoW functioning. If you want to join this select group of people, please consult the FAQ here. When using the e-mails listed here to contact any of the staff members, please remember to replace the [at] with @.
I'm Jenina and I own this site. (: It goes without saying that I love to read and write. I'm very optimistic in nature and I like referencing pop culture in regular conversation. I was born Filipino, but I am a naturalized American living in the South (hence the use of Southern colloquialisms such as "y'all" and "ain't"). I get bored very easily so I love keeping things interesting and I am insanely competitive. I created this site because I was bored one winter break and I wanted to combine two things that I loved -- romance and pretty graphics.
First Round with SKoW: Round 1
Contact: See Contact Page
Graphics Specialists
Nic -- GS (Layouts/Awards)
First Round with SKoW: Round 3
Contact: b1ue_sapphire[at]hotmail.com
Cheryl -- GS (Hall of Fame/Awards) How to start? I'm Canadian and still a student at my lovely school. I actually started graphic-making a little more than a year ago, and I fell in love with it by the first week of working with Photoshop. Of course, back then, my graphics were... displeasing to the eye, or, to put it plainly; they sucked. I guess, like most people, I stumbled upon SKoW when reading author's profiles. I've lurked around the website, reading the stories, the questionaires and listening to playlists instead of doing what I was supposed to be doing. But hey, a girl needs a break, during studying, eh? Just when I decided to join the Yahoo! group for the challenges, Jenina started accepting applications for judges and GS's, so.. I thought, what the heck, why not try? You can probably guess the rest.
First Round with SKoW: Round 6
Contact: cherisaplooza[at]yahoo.ca
Evie -- GS (Layouts) I'm fifteen, and I live in England. I'm currently doing my GCSEs, and next year I'll be going to college for my A-levels (physics, chemistry, maths and politics - I think I'm probably quite strange for actually enjoying them). I like reading, writing (badly), singing (badly), eating (I eat so much chicken chow mein that our local Chinese takeaway gives us free prawn crackers every time we order), dancing crazily to old Busted songs (ditto Steps, S Club 7 and the Fresh Prince of Bel Air) and sleeping. I spend far too much time lingering in bookshops and libraries when I go shopping. I never really did graphic design when it wasn't linked with web design - my first ever foray into the two was re-designing my Neopets profile, back when I still had an account. It looked and worked awfully, but from then on I just loved fiddling with code and graphics.
First Round with SKoW: Round 7
Contact: eviehoworth[at]googlemail.com
Charlotte -- GS (Layouts, Awards) I'm your typical teenage Asian expat with a penchant for Photoshop just trying to get through life. I have the occasional whimsical thought or two, but the majority of my time is usually spent reading, listening to music, and my all-time favorite activity, eating! Website design used to be a hobby of mine, and I even had a website of my own (called, of all things, Sushipower! and yes, the exclamation mark was a part of the name), but now I just design the occasional mix CD cover for my friends or to post on my livejournal and of course SKoW layouts whenever inspiration strikes. I lurked around SKoW for awhile, way back when I still attempted to write stories on FictionPress, until I finally plucked up the courage to apply to be a graphic designer, and voila, here I am writing this bio. So you're probably bored of reading this already so I will just add one last little random tidbit: Even though my animation skills and film-making credentials are pretty much nonexistent, my dream job is to work at Pixar Animation Studios! (:
First Round with SKoW: Round 8
Contact: xcharizarrd[at]gmail.com
Erin -- GS (Layouts) I'm Erin - a 20 year old college student studying English and also a part time Starbucks barista in the US :D Graphics are just a side hobby of mine when I'm not writing research papers or making caramel macchiatos at work. I'm excited to be part of SKOW's staff and look forward to designing more for the website.
First Round with SKoW: Round 12
Contact: ering91[at]gmail.com
Judges
Julia -- Judge I started with SKoW when I was just 15, when I went by Julia, and
while I'm now in a very different place - everyone calls me Jules, I'm
working in Singapore, I'm waiting to start my second year at Berkeley
where I study cognitive science and poetry - many things remain the
same, like my love for this Internet community, my mentorship towards
fledgling writers, and the way I swoon for well-written, poignant
characters. You can find some of my writing at
fictionpress.com/~effervescentsentiments, but everything recent won't
be available until it's (hopefully!) in chapbook form. Feel free to
email me with any questions about SKoW, publishing, writing, or just,
you know, how to get over a breakup or whether or not you should get
that quote tattooed. Currently reading in fiction: 2666 by Roberto
Bolano. Currently reading in poetry: Fragile Acts by Allan Peterson.
First Round with SKoW: Round 6
Contact: julia.skow[at]gmail.com
Carol -- Judge I'm an Economics student who spends way to much time goofing around in college. Way more than I should, really.
What I love more about life is, in no particular order, talking, reading and laughing. Which I think makes SKoW the perfect place for me.
And I love making new friends - through SKoW I've meet some very special people that, I like to think, will be my friends for years. [AAC for life <3]
You can always find me on the SKoW forum and I also lurk around the Cbox, especially during the rounds.
Also, I meant what I said about loving to make new friends so, please, feel free to e-mail me at any time! Especially if you have any questions, or concerns, about the categories I'm judging.
First Round with SKoW: Round 7
Contact: skow.carol[at]gmail.com
Nettie -- Judge
Hi guys, I�m Nettie! I grew up in a teeny-tiny town in South East
Australia that no-one�s ever heard of, but I now call Melbourne home.
I�m finally an Arts/Law graduate, after five long years of study, but
I'm not sure I'm ready to join the 'real world' anytime soon! I
discovered SKoW about 18 months ago, and I love reading nominated
stories to escape the boredom of my uni readings. I love to read, and
my favourite book would have to be Pride and Prejudice (clich�, I
know!). Jodi Picoult is one of my favourite authors, and I adore the
Harry Potter series, but I�ll pretty much read anything! I�m a huge
fan of Aussie Rules Football, soccer, and tennis, but you�ll never see
me actually playing sport � I have no co-ordination! You've probably
seen me lurking in the cbox, but feel free to send me an email - I
love meeting new people!
First Round with SKoW: Round 8
Contact: nettie.skow[at]gmail.com
Ashes -- Judge They call me Ashes because I don't like being called Ash, it reminds me of pokemon a little too much. I am a proud Canadian born and raised. I am turning 20 soon (I'm so old!) and attending University of Ottawa with a double major in English and Psychology. I hope to be an awesome author like the ones nominated here one day. I love to read and write, usually by the fireplace with a cup of tea in hand and my dogs curled up all around me (though I am lacking in these as a starving university student). I am thrilled to be a SKoW judge. I stumbled across SKoW by some sort of universal karma in my favor in 2006 and haven't been able to part with it since. I hope to do an adamant job as a judge this round and in the many to come.
First Round with SKoW: Round 8
Contact: ashes.skow[at]gmail.com
Cindy -- Judge I'm an 18 year-old who attends college in sunny Southern California. My Fictionpress username is charleymania. I like watching anime, reading books, manga, and newspapers, listening to music, hanging out with friends, writing stories and poetry, discussing philosophy and debating issues of the world, contemplating society, listening to the wind in the trees, relaxing, chatting, and finding new and interesting things and people, and also read online fiction (the last one is a given)! I discovered SKoW quite a few rounds ago but never actually decided to apply, but I'm really glad that I did. I enjoy traveling and learning about new cultures. Hit me up anytime for a chat!
First Round with SKoW: Round 8
Contact: cindy.skow[at]gmail.com
Candice -- Judge 'Shy' is synonymous with Candice, which is why I'm perceived as aloof at times, but I will talk your ear off... eventually. My interests range from reading and writing, to animals, and playing sports (soccer anyone?). Books are very much a part of my life, and currently my favourite authors are Katie Flynn, Sophie Kinsella and (don't get me started) J.K. Rowling. I've an unhealthy obsession with all things green, and a Harry Potter nut. Recently, Supernatural has become my obsession. I'm currently waiting and excited at the prospect of going to university to hopefully study Veterinary Science.
First Round with SKoW: Round 9
Contact: candice.skow[at]gmail.com
Ellie -- Judge Hi everyone! I'm Ellie, and I'm 18. I've gone through about two
hundred random nicknames, and this was the one that seemed to stick
the most. I'm a first generation American, as my family is originally
from Brazil. I'm a college freshman this year in Boston, and I love
it. My goal is to graduate from a nursing BS program and travel around
to help people who need it. I have a huge love for music and dance, as
well as reading. I love cheesy romance novels; they just make me
smile. I'm a huge sports fan, especially hockey and basketball. Go
Bruins!
First Round with SKoW: Round 9
Contact: ellie.skow[at]gmail.com
Tasha -- Judge Hiya! I'm a music nerd and my name's Tasha! I play the guitar, violin, mellophone, drums, flute and harp! I absolutely CANNOT understand piano at all though. I love reading (obviously!) and my favorite type of books are romance and action novels. I love to write, and sometimes i make the attempt to draw, it never quite works out though :) I sort of speak spanish I've been taking classes for four years now! I'm a huge marching band geek, I play the mellophone in the band, we competed against 99 bands and beat 98 of them!!! I'm hoping to go to the University of Minnesota in the twin cities when I graduate, I'm a junior in high school currently. Adios!
First Round with SKoW: Round 9
Contact: tasha.skow[at]gmail.com
Sonika -- Judge Hi, I am the most confused sole on planet, and my name's Sonika. Recently I have developed a fetish for the renaissance era, so you can refer to me as Lady S. Just started on a 3 month workshop for fashion designing in a French Fashion University in Dubai, other than that i have acquired a BBA degree from an Australian University, I also went to Wollongong in Australia to finish said degree. In my free time I read, write draw, paint and dance.I am 23 and work at my dad's company to pass time( this is where i do all my reading :P).I love reading clich� romance novels, and my favorite has to be pride and prejudice. I love the color burgundy, purple and pink. I also go for dance classes twice a week, because i love being the center of attention, and I'm so bad people are always pointing at me and laughing. In short I like being the crazy person that i am.
First Round with SKoW: Round 11
Contact: sonika.skow[at]gmail.com
Meagan -- Judge Hi, I�m Meagan! I�m a sixteen-year-old, high-school student that hails from Michigan. I like cats, French, literature, anything vintage, and rock music. I�m rather short, and my voice is humorously high-pitched. I have been writing and reading since I was old enough to appreciate the art of it. I am a coffee and tea connoisseur. I find myself clich�d, and I love new friends.
First Round with SKoW: Round 11
Contact: meagan.skow[at]gmail.com
Lou -- Judge Hi thur. I�m an eighteen year old girl who likes to poke dead things with a stick. My name's Lou, and I'm kinda morbid :P Up until recently, I lived near London, but moved to a small seaside town called Aberystwyth in Wales in order study Psychology and Criminology at university. And drink a lot. In order to afford my various expensive habits (drinking, smoking, getting my skin inked and shopping) I work two jobs as a barwoman and a cashier in a small newsagents. When I actually have free time, I�m most likely found watching and reading sci-fi and horror films, publicly humiliating myself whilst drunk or chilling on the beach with friends. Other things I enjoy include: eating pickled red cabbage, humming to myself in public and slow-dancing in supermarkets. I also have a tendency to forget gravity exists.
First Round with SKoW: Round 11
Contact: lou.skow[at]gmail.com
MaGa -- Judge My friends and the voices in my head call me MaGa. I'm a twenty-one year old South American currently doing semester 9/10 for an agro-related major. So don't ever feel confused if I throw a soil, climate or "furry roaches are pretty" conversation into the mix. I'm one of those people who say yes to oportunities, because wonderful experiences can be gained that way. I love to read (SciFi, psychological thrillers, and historical romances especially), and listen to music (reggae is a favorite)--so don't hesitate to send any suggestions my way.
First Round with SKoW: Round 12
Contact: maga.skow[at]gmail.com
Drew -- Judge Hey everyone! I'm Drew, and I'm fifteen, from Florida. I'm whispers of water on FictionPress, so feel free to shoot me a PM sometime! :D To be honest, I've many likes and interests, but my favourite animal is the hippo (I'm obsessed with them) and I play the violin as a hobby. I also design graphics in my free time, but I'm absolutely terrible at that, and so yeah. ^^; I'm not very good with intros or bios, as you can very obviously see. Anyway, I'm a confused chicken, and sometimes I sing in the shower. (Yes, I do shower.) So yeah bye.
First Round with SKoW: Round 12
Contact: drew.skow[at]gmail.com
Jackie -- Judge
First Round with SKoW: Round 12
Contact: skow.jackie[at]gmail.com
SKoW Radio
Grace -- Judge Heyyyyyyyyyyyy!
I'm Grace, I'm 16 and my username is charmedblush, something I always thought I would change but never did.
I would say I like long walks on the beach, and flowers; but I don't like the beach, and I'm allergic to pollen -sob story of my life D:
I'm Christian.
I adore GOOD tv shows and reading. I love performing -singing, dancing, acting; being on stage thrills me, but I become immensely self conscious in front of an audience. I'm English, Irish, Welsh, Kiwi and have relatives from all over; I cling to my English accent and will never let go.
I want to be a journalist/author, but also want to give a shot at everything else. But not anything logical and dry, I am an Arts girl through and through - down with maths!
I love fluffy, cliche romance; and rom-coms in my mind are fabulous. I judge how good a story is from that one moment that gives me that gorgeous clenching feeling in my stomach.
My music choices fluctuate depending on my mood, but I adore rock music -alternative or heavy.
I call myself a vegetarian, because it's easier than going into the complicated messes that are my very picky food choices.
I am addicted to diet coke and in love with the semi-colon, 'nuff said.
First Round with SKoW: Round 12
Contact: skow.grace[at]gmail.com