Leon J. West (center) with actress Julie Michaels and author and judge, Jerry Pournelle.

           Four years ago Leon West’s wife, Elizabeth, demanded he either give up writing or try to get paid for it.  He was unable to give it up, so he started submitting stories.  He spent one year looking for a writers’ group in Salem, Oregon, and another two years trying to start up his own with no luck.

           Finally, in 2001, his wife introduced him to Devon Monk, who introduced him to the Wordos Writer Group in Eugene, Oregon.  That association introduced him to things like submission format, character arc and plot.  He moved to Eugene to be nearer the writing group.

           Although a Contest official invariably contacts each winner, Eric Witchey, 2000 WOTF winner published in Volume XVII, on behalf of the contest announced Leon had won Second Place at the Wordos Writing Group meeting, much to Leon’s disbelief and extreme surprise.

           Leon attends Lane Community College, where he is studying to be a teacher.  He would like to teach in reform schools and juvenile detention centers.  This is his first professional sale.