WE READ Youth Voices Writing Contest: Authors Reception
In celebration of the 2025 We Read Youth Voices Anthology, we invite the featured authors and their families to join us for donuts and coffee, reveal the published book, and hear a special question and answer session from our grand prize winner and runners-up.
The WE READ Youth Voices Writing Contest is hosted in partnership with Forward Madison FC and the Wisconsin Book Festival. It is made possible thanks to the support of the Madison Public Library Foundation, Steve Stricker American Family Insurance Foundation, Roots & Wings Foundation, the Friends of the Madison Public Library, Jane Doughty & David Wood, and David Hall & Marjorie Devereaux.
Ash Gartler
We Read Youth Voices Writing Contest: Grand Prize Winner
Ash is a sophomore at West High School born in Chicago and raised in Madison. He has always had a creative mind and loved writing since childhood, especially as a form of personal expression. While he specializes in poetry and short stories, he enjoys all forms of literature and is interested in branching out to other genres such as screenwriting and science fiction. Much of his work is deeply inspired by his personal interests and an understanding of human relationships, highlighted by his sometimes harsh, pointed style. He is very passionate about music and film, and enjoys playing sports and cooking in his free time. He is excited for a future in creative writing in college and hopes to attend university abroad to travel and explore his passions
Rowan Moran
Rowan is a freshman at Monona Grove High School. He enjoys reading, writing, biking, pottery, and spending time with his rabbit.
Nina Pfeiffer
Nina Pfeiffer is a crafty and caring eleven-year-old homeschooler from Madison, Wisconsin. She enjoys spending time with family, friends, and nature. Her interests include foraging, herbalism, midwifery, babysitting, music, sewing, drawing, and writing. In addition to her graphic novel, Rooted to the Trees, she recently finished writing "Colosto-me," a chapter book about a girl living with ulcerative colitis. You can find Nina hanging out with her younger brothers, playing piano, and creating!