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Welcome to
Rate Your Story
Kidlit Craft, Community, Feedback and Opportunity.
Meet The Rate Your Story Team
Owner / Director / Judge
Lynne Marie
Lynne Marie is an Editor and multi-published, award-winning author of picture books. BroomMates: A Brewing Boundary Battle (The Little Press 2024), is a 2025 Anna Dewdney Read Together Award honor book, a 2025 Children’s Book Council Favorite from Teachers, Kids and Librarians, and a 2024 Northern Lights Book Awards Holiday Category winner. She’s an Editor at The Little Press, Director of RateYourStory.org, Mentor at ThePictureBookMechanic.com, Creator of March On With Mentor Texts (www.rateyourstory.org/march-on) and Mentor Text Talk FREE Book Chat (Thursdays on Zoom), Co-Host along with Heather Macht of #SeasonsOfKidLit (www.seasonsofkidlit.com), and Columnist at Children’s Book Insider (https://writeforkids.online/). Visit her at www.LiterallyLynneMarie.com.
Admin Assistant
Judy Cooper
Judy Cooper’s debut picture book is scheduled for release in March 2026. A FL-SCBWI Rising Kite Award recipient, Judy has designed and implemented a PreK-4th grade arts enrichment curriculum. She is a Curatorial Writer and a Docent, specializing in tours for fourth grade students at a Smithsonian Affiliate Art Museum in Lakeland, Florida. Her short story, The Candy Monster, was featured in a Make-A-Wish Foundation anthology publication.
Judy is a judge and the Inbox/Manuscript Coordinator for Rate Your Story.
Picture Book Judge
Pam Calvert
Pam Calvert is an author of children’s picture books, easy readers, and short stories. She has four picture books nationally published that have been translated into Chinese, Korean, Catalan, and Spanish and she has a new character driven series entitled, Brianna Bright Ballerina Knight. Her Princess Peepers series has won awards and some of her books are Scholastic Book Club titles, including Multiplying Menace: The Revenge of Rumpelstiltskin. She offers a free picture book workshop, Picture Book University, on her blog as well as a highly praised critique service. She is represented by Kathleen Rushall of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency. You can visit her website by clicking here.
Picture Book Judge
Kristi Call
Kirsti Call is the co-host of the Picture Book Look podcast and coordinator of ReFoReMo. She reads, reviews, revises and critiques every day as a 12x12 elf, a blogger for Writers' Rumpus, and a member of critique groups. She's judged the CYBILS award for fiction picture books since 2015. Kirsti's picture book, MOOTILITA'S BAD MOOD (Little Bee) released fall 2020. COW SAYS MEOW (HMH) and COLD TURKEY (Little Brown) release in 2021. Kirsti is represented by Emma Sector at Prospect Agency.
Picture Book Judge
Mary Boone
Mary Boone has ridden an elephant, jumped out of an airplane, hung out backstage with a boy band, and baked dozens of cricket cookies – all in the interest of research for her books and magazine articles. She’s written more than 50 nonfiction books for young readers, ranging from inventor biographers to how-to craft guides. Her new book, BUGS FOR BREAKFAST: How Eating Insects Could Help Save the Planet, will be published by Chicago Review Press in Fall 2021. An active member of SCBWI, Mary lives in Tacoma, Wash., where she occasionally leads writing workshops. She is represented by Stacey Kondla of The Rights Factory. Visit Mary’s website to learn about her critique services: www.boonewrites.com
Program Coordinator
Lisa Horn
Lisa has been actively studying writing (first in TV and now children’s books) for over 6 years.
She’s a member of SCBWI and Rate Your Story. Lisa coordinates many of our Rate Your Story events like the Professional Series workshops, Guest Gurus and First Pages. Lisa can be found on social media (Facebook, X/Twitter, Instagram, Threads, and Blue Sky).
Lisa Horn has worked as a television producer in New York and California. She also served as an Educational Consultant on the BBC’s HopeWorks TV Project for Children. Lisa has a master’s degree in Communication Disorders. As a nationally licensed and certified Speech-Language
Pathologist, she has worked with children who have speech/language and developmental delays in South Florida school districts.
Picture Book Judge
Vivian Kirkfield
Writer for children—reader forever…that’s Vivian Kirkfield in five words. Her bucket list contains many more words – but she’s already checked off skydiving, parasailing, and visiting kidlit friends all around the world. When she isn’t looking for ways to fall from the sky or sink under the water, she can be found writing picture books in the picturesque town of Bedford, New Hampshire. A retired kindergarten teacher with a masters in Early Childhood Education, Vivian inspires budding writers during classroom visits and shares insights with aspiring authors at conferences and on her blog where she hosts the #50PreciousWords International Writing Contest and the #50PreciousWordsforKids Challenge. Her nonfiction narratives bring history alive for young readers and her picture books have garnered starred reviews and accolades including the Silver Eureka, Social Studies Notable Trade Book, and Junior Library Guild Selection.
For more, you can visit Vivian at:
Website: www.viviankirkfield.com
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/viviankirkfield
Twitter:
www.twitter.com/viviankirkfield
Linkedin:
www.linkedin.com/in/viviankirkfield
Instagram:
www.instagram.com/viviankirkfield
Picture Book Judge
Lauren Kerstein
Lauren is an award-winning author, psychotherapist, creative coach, screenwriter, and NYT-bestselling ghostwriter. She is the author of the Rosie the Dragon and Charlie picture book series, Home for A While, Remembering Sundays with Grandpa, and Hope Rode. Additionally, Lauren writes books in her field and just released a book about emotion regulation. Lauren is one of the founders of #ReVISIONweek, a judge with Rate Your Story, and is a long-time member of 12x12 and SCBWI. Her writing goals are simple. Read voraciously. Embrace feedback. Grow each day. Work hard. Be passionate. Write courageously. Touch children’s hearts.
For more, visit:
www.LaurenKerstein.net
www.LaurenKerstein.com
Picture Book Judge
Lydia Lukidis
Lydia Lukidis is an award-winning author of 70+ trade and educational books for children. Her titles include UP, UP HIGH: The Secret Poetry of Earth's Atmosphere (Capstone, 2025), DANCING THROUGH SPACE: Dr. Mae Jemison Soars to New Heights (Albert Whitman, 2024), and DEEP, DEEP, DOWN: The Secret Underwater Poetry of the Mariana Trench (Capstone, 2023). She won numerous awards such as the Crystal Kite Award for the Canada and North America division, a Forest of Reading Silver Birch Express Honor, and multiple Cybils Award nominations. Another passion of hers is fostering a love for children’s literacy through the writing workshops she regularly offers in elementary schools across Quebec with the Culture in the Schools program.
Lydia is represented by literary agent Miranda Paul from Aevitas Creative Management. For more information, please visit www.lydialukidis.com.
Picture Book Judge
Marta Magellan
Marta Magellan has written award-winning nonfiction books about animals for children, books for the educational market, and magazine and newspaper articles for adults. A former full professor at Miami Dade College, she taught Creative Writing, English Composition, Survey of Children’s Literature, and Issues in Literature and Culture. She was adviser to the college’s award-winning literary magazine from 2001 to 2016, and she received three Endowed Teaching Chairs in the Humanities, the 2013 Distinguished Adviser Award, Florida College System Hall of Fame, 2014. She leads a Florida SCBWI critique group in Miami and travels into wild places to watch birds and other creatures whenever possible. Learn more about her at www.martamagellan.com
Picture Book Judge
Silvia López
Silvia López is a Cuba native raised in Miami. As children’s librarian in schools and public libraries for over three decades, she spent her entire professional life among books for kids. Her first picture book, Just Right Family: An Adoption Story (Whitman) won the 2018 Florida Book Award. Her second book, Handimals: Animals in Art and Nature (Macmillan, 2019), a collaboration with Italian artist Guido Daniele, was starred in Booklist and received Silver Medal in the Nautilus awards. Other books include Pacho Nacho (Capstone, February, 2020), bilingual PB biographies, Queen of Tejano Music: Selena (Little Bee Books) scheduled for release August, 2020, and chosen as Junior Library Guild selections, and My Little Golden Book Biography of Frida Kahlo (Penguin Random House), due out in March, 2021. Silvia is represented by Karen Grencik of Red Fox Literary Agency.
Picture Book Judge
Jill Dana
Jill Dana is an author, illustrator, award-winning filmmaker, and certified elementary educator. She has a Master of Fine Arts in Television and Film Production and a Master of Education in Elementary Education plus TESOL. Her newest book BUTTERNUT, about a little butternut squash lost in a supermarket, will be available in the U.S. on February 1, 2022. She is a member of SCBWI and the Author’s Guild.
Visit Jill on social media @JillDanaBooks and her website www.JillDanaBooks.com
Picture Book Judge
Christy Mihaly
Christy Mihaly writes stories, poetry, and nonfiction for young readers. Her recent picture book, Free for You and Me: What Our First Amendment Means (Albert Whitman Co. 2020), introduces our First Amendment freedoms to young readers through poems and stories.
Other books include Diet for a Changing Climate: Food for Thought, co-written with Sue Heavenrich (Lerner/TFCB, 2018) about how our diet affects the earth; and Hey, Hey, Hay! (A Tale of Bales and the Machines That Make Them (Holiday House, 2018), a rhyming picture book and Bank Street Best Book of the Year. A former lawyer, Christy has written more than 20 children's nonfiction titles on topics from free speech to food to fashion. She lives in Vermont, where she enjoys walking her dog in the woods and playing the cello (though not simultaneously).
Picture Book Judge
Lyn Miller-Lachmann
Lyn Miller-Lachmann is the former editor-in-chief of MultiCultural Review. Her young adult novel Gringolandia (Curbstone Press/Northwestern University Press, 2009) was a 2010 ALA Best Book for Young Adults and received an Américas Award Honorable Mention from the Consortium of Latin American Studies Programs. Her second novel, Rogue (Penguin/Nancy Paulsen Books, 2013) was a Junior Library Guild selection. Her most recent novel is Surviving Santiago (Running Press, 2015), the companion to Gringolandia. Lyn reviews children’s and young adult books on social justice themes for The Pirate Tree (www.thepiratetree.com). For more information, visit Lyn’s website, www.lynmillerlachmann.com.
Picture Book Judge
Linda Marshall
Swimmer. Hiker. Dreamer. Writer. Linda Elovitz Marshall grew up in New England, then attended Barnard College/Columbia University where she studied cultural anthropology. After college, she helped set up and teach in daycare centers, where she fell in love with picture books. Later, she began (but didn’t finish) a Ph.D. in anthropology, opened (and closed) her own indie bookstore, raised four (now grown) children and a small flock of sheep. Linda has written almost 20 picture books, fiction and non-fiction. In 2020, five of her books were released: HAVE YOU EVER ZEEN A ZIZ? (Albert Whitman & Co), SHALOM, BAYIT: A Peaceful Home (KarBen/Lerner) and three picture book biographies, SAVING THE COUNTRYSIDE: THE STORY OF BEATRIX POTTER AND PETER RABBIT (Little Bee Books), THE POLIO PIONEER: THE STORY OF DR. JONAS SALK AND THE POLIO VACCINE (Knopf, Penguin Random House), and ANNE FRANK: THE GIRL HEARD AROUND THE WORLD (Scholastic). www.lindamarshall.com.
Picture Book Judge
Robin Newman
Raised in New York and Paris, Robin Newman is a graduate of Bryn Mawr College and the City University of New York School of Law. She was a practicing attorney and legal editor, but she now prefers to write about witches, mice, pigs, and peacocks. Author of the award-winning Wilcox & Griswold Mystery Series, she's a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, National Writing Project's Writers Council, the Bank Street Writers Lab, and PEN America, CYAB. She lives in New York with her husband, son, and three spoiled dogs. She is represented by Liza Fleissig at Liza Royce Agency. For more information, please visit www.robinnewmanbooks.com.
Picture Book Judge
Dianne Ochiltree
Dianne Ochiltree is a nationally-recognized author of books for the very young. Her picture books have appeared on recommended reading lists; included in literacy programs such as the Dollywood Foundation's Imagination Library; and honored with three Florida Book Award medals for children's literature. Dianne is also a writing coach and freelance editor; a certified yoga instructor; and meditation teacher. To learn more about Dianne and her books, go to www.dianneochiltree.com
Picture Book Judge
Nancy Roe Pimm
Nancy Roe Pimm wrote her first book, HORSES, HORSES, HORSES at age ten. Today, she still loves horses, along with every other animal in creation—and she still writes books about anything that makes her say, “WOW!” She has books about race cars, gorillas, military dogs, and aviators. Five of her narrative nonfiction books are Junior Library Selection and Colo’s Story is a Choose to Read Ohio Selection. The Center for the Book chose Colo’s Story to represent the state of Ohio at the National Book Festival in Washington D.C.
Pimm visits schools and organizations to encourage the next generation to believe in their dreams and to challenge the possibilities. She also teaches writing workshops, virtually and in-person. Pimm lives with her retired race-car driver husband in Plain City, Ohio. Nancy and Ed have three daughters and two grandsons. They share their home with two dogs, one cat, and one snake. To discover more of Pimm’s books, visit her website: www.nancyroepimm.com
Picture Book Judge
Rosie J. Pova
Rosie J. Pova is a multi-published children's author, poet, speaker, and writing coach. She works as a Writing Instructor for the Dallas Independent School District through The Writer's Garret, as well as a Writing Coach for Writing Workshops Dallas. She's also the founder of The Write Universe Kidlit Writers Workshops in Dallas, TX. She blogs about kidlit craft and publishing with regular author, illustrator, and editor interviews at KidLit Oasis. In addition, Rosie speaks on many women's topics and has appeared on radio, TV, and print media. Her upcoming children's book, Sunday Rain (Lantana Publishing, March 2021) celebrates imagination, the love of books, and new friendships. Visit Rosie at www.rosiejpova.com.
Picture Book Judge
Shannon Stocker
Shannon Stocker is an author, blogger, singer/songwriter, and mother (not necessarily in that order). Her debut picture book, CAN U SAVE THE DAY (rhyming), hits shelves in August, 2019 (Sleeping Bear Press). She’s been published three times in CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE SOUL, with a fourth story coming out in May, 2019. She received SCBWI’s Picture Book HM award (Midsouth), as well as first place and honorable mention awards for non-fiction essays with WOW! (Women On Writing). Shannon is represented by Allison Remcheck of Stimola Literary Studio. To subscribe to her blog, visit her website, http://www.shannonstocker.com/blog/.
Picture Book Judge
Laura Roettiger
Laura Roettiger has enjoyed working with children ever since she was no longer considered a child herself. She was a reading specialist and elementary teacher in Chicago, IL before moving to the Rocky Mountains of Colorado where she worked in Environmental Education, as a mentor for reading and writing at a STEM school, and as a tutor for both children and adults. Her superpower is encouraging curiosity in children and letting them know she believes in them. She has three children of her own whose curiosity and creativity led all of them into STEM related professions. ALIANA REACHES FOR THE MOON, released by Eifrig Publishing in February 2019. Visit Laura online at: www.LauraRoettigerBooks.com.
Picture Book Judge
Tina Shephardson
An award-winning teacher of 33 years and an award-winning author who has shared her love of books with countless students, Tina Shepardson is the author of the picture books Walkout and The Sorry Seeds—a 2025 Children’s Book Council Teacher Favorite—as well as Canines Unleashed: Hank’s New Pack, a middle-grade chapter book.
Tina is the founder and host of The Lil’ Leaders Podcast: Conversations with Kids, a bimonthly show that spotlights young leaders by celebrating their traits, experiences, and everyday actions. Each episode ends with picture book recommendations connected to the child's interview. She is also an active member of 12×12, a volunteer with SCBWI’s West/Central Upstate Region, a Rate Your Story judge, and a Book Buddy literacy volunteer in the Syracuse City School District.
A winter enthusiast, Tina enjoys life in Upstate New York and the Catskills with her husband, daughter, and two Akitas—one snowstorm at a time. Learn more at TinaShepardson.com.
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Picture Book Judge
Nancy Stewart
Nancy Stewart is the bestselling and award winning author of the four Bella and Britt Series books for children: One Pelican at a Time (eighteen weeks on Amazon Bestselling List), Sea Turtle Summer (International Classics Gold Book Award), Bella Saves the Beach and Mystery at Manatee Key. Her book, Katrina and Winter: Partners in Courage, is the authorized biography of Katrina Simpkins and her life changing relationship with Winter, the dolphin (International Classics Silver Award, 2013). Nancy's debut YA novel, Beulah Land was published in November 2017 by Interlude Press. Beulah Land won the YA First Place Award in the State of FL SCBWI Rising Kite Contest in 2015. A frequent speaker and presenter at writing conferences throughout the United States, Nancy conducts many for SCBWI and speaks to school children frequently.
Learn more at www.nancystewartbooks.com, read her blog, or visit her on Twitter or Facebook.
Picture Book Judge
Vicky Rubin
Vicky Rubin is an author and illustrator. Her books are in prose, and her rhyming poems have appeared in CRICKET and SPIDER magazines. She offers detailed, multi-round critiques and editorial services. In her crits, she looks at voice, language, character, story, plot, pacing, structure and the takeaway. She's glad to answer your questions about the critique process. She has over 20 years of professional experience as a writer, proofreader, and copyeditor. Her goal is to work with you to make your story as strong as possible. Visit her at http://doodlesoop.com.
Picture Book Judge
Melissa Stoller
Melissa Stoller is the author of the chapter book series The Enchanted Snow Globe Collection - Return to Coney Island and the picture books Scarlet’s Magic Paintbrush; Ready, Set, GOrilla!; and Sadie’s Shabbat Stories. Planting Friendship: Peace, Salaam, Shalom (co-written with Callie Metler and Shirin Rahman, illustrated by Kate Talbot), released from Clear Fork Publishing in October, 2021. Melissa is a Blogger and Course Assistant for the Children’s Book Academy, a Regional Ambassador for The Chapter Book Challenge, a volunteer with SCBWI/MetroNY, and a founding member of The Book Meshuggenahs. She also interviews authors on her blog, This Writing Life, and offers book tips and resources. In other chapters of her life, Melissa has worked as a lawyer, legal writing instructor, freelance writer and editor, and early childhood educator. She lives in New York City with her family, and enjoys theatre, museums, and long beach walks. www.MelissaStoller.com
Picture Book Judge
Brenda Reeves Sturgis
Brenda Sturgis is the author of 10 Turkeys in the Road - illustrated by David Slonim (Marshall Cavendish/Amazon/Scholastic 2011), The Lake Where Loon Lives – illustrated by Brooke Carleton (Islandport Press 2014) and Touchdown - illustrated by Trey Chavez (MeeGenius 2014). Her latest picture book, Still A Family, came out in 2017 and was named a top 100 book from the New York Public Library, a top 20 book from Mighty Girl and placed on the NYC Department of Education Booklist in 2020. You can visit her at http://www.brendareevessturgis.com/home.html.
Picture Book Judge
Shaunda Wenger
S. K. Wenger grew up among the mountains and lakes of New Hampshire and then found another beautiful backdrop in Utah to raise three children with her husband. With a master’s degree in science Shaunda enjoys weaving tidbits of the natural world into her stories and feels extra sparkly when they pivot on humor. She is the author of Chicken Frank, Dinosaur! (illustrated by Jojo Ensslin, published by Albert Whitman 2021), leveled-reader books with Benchmark Education and Richard C. Owen Publishers, and poems in Babybug, Cricket, The Sigurd Journal, and Miracles of Motherhood (a June Cotner Anthology). In 2021 she was honored as a PBParty Finalist and earned an honorable mention in Vivian Kirkfield's #50PreciousWords contest. In 2020 she was awarded the WIFYR Fellowship Grant for a middle grade novel-in-progress. Shaunda enjoys providing feedback on stories for other writers in the amazing kidlit community. Learn more at www.skwenger.com.
Picture Book Judge
Roxanne Troup
Roxanne Troup is the author of over a dozen credited books for kids (both published and forthcoming in the education and trade markets). She is also a professional ghostwriter who has worked with both publishers and individuals to write numerous picture books, chapter books, and adult nonfiction over the last ten years. Her debut trade picture book, MY GRANDPA, MY TREE, AND ME (Yeehoo Press, 2023) is a lyrical look at the life-and-harvest cycle of pecan trees. Her second trade deal, a rhyming picture book about space, is scheduled for release in 2024. Roxanne regularly reviews picture books at Goodreads with Ronna, and is an active member of her regional SCBWI where she mentors other writers—both formally and informally—as a co-facilitator of the Colorado Springs Connect & Critique group. Learn more about her at https://www.roxannetroup.com/.
Picture Book Judge
Beth Anderson
Beth Anderson is the author of more than ten picture books, including HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT, THOMAS JEFFERSON’S BATTLE FOR SCIENCE, and LIZZIE DEMANDS A SEAT. Her books have received Bank Street's Flora Stieglitz Straus Award, ILA Nonfiction Honor, Colonial Dames of America Young Readers Award, JLG Selection, and appeared on lists from Bank Street College of Education, Chicago Public Library, Museum of the American Revolution, Kirkus Reviews’ TOP 100 PBs 2024, Parade Magazine’s Best 20 PBs 2024, NCSS-CBC, and NSTA Best STEM Books. Beth’s experience as an ELL educator continues to inspire and inform her writing as she shares true stories that widen our world and invite kids to laugh, ponder, and question. Born and raised in Illinois, she now lives in Colorado. You can visit her here bethandersonwriter.com.
Chapter Book Judge
Linda Joy Singleton
Linda Joy Singleton wrote her first story when she was 7. She dreamed of being a published author—and that dream came true! Now she’s the author of over 55 books for children, including pictures books CASH KAT, CRANE & CRANE, SUN & SON, and KID & KD. Her mystery series include CURIOUS CAT SPY CLUB, HAUNTED HOLIDAYS, THE SEER, and DEAD GIRL WALKING. A fan letter she wrote to her favorite author when she was 13 led to a life-long friendship and a co-written book. She lives in the Northern CA foothills, surrounded by a menagerie of animals including dogs, cats, peacocks, guinea hens, mini cows, horses and pigs.
Chapter Book Judge
Heather Macht
Heather Macht is the author of 15 books including The Mutant Critter Sitter, a six-book chapter book series featuring #girlpower, responsibility, spliced mutant creations, and science-filled fun! (ABDO, 2024), The Woodlot Monster Mysteries, a six-book chapter book series featuring less-common monsters and promoting #girlpower, problem solving, and teamwork (ABDO, 2023), Rex the...We-Don't-Know (Pelican, 2020), The Ant Farm Escape! (Pelican, 2019), and You May Just Be a Dinosaur (Pelican, 2015)!
Macht has a degree in Fine Arts, her other passion, is the creator and owner of SeasonsOfKidLit.com, and is also an active member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. When she's not writing, Macht enjoys painting, reading poetry, fossil hunting, and spending time with her husband and children.
Picture Book Judge
Sue Heavenrich
Sue Heavenrich is an award-winning author of books for children and their families. On her journey to writing books she taught high school science, coached an elementary math team, and worked as an environmental journalist. She is passionate about insects and once spent a month trying to trade seeds with harvester ants in the Chiricahua desert. Sue’s picture books include The Pie That Molly Grew, illustrated by Chamisa Kellogg (Sleeping Bear Press, 2023) and 13 Ways to Eat a Fly, illustrated by David Clark (Charlesbridge, 2021). She currently serves as ARA and PAL Coordinator for her SCBWI region in West/Central New York
For more you can visit Sue at:
Website: www.sueheavenrich.com
Facebook:
www.facebook.com/SueHeavenrichWriter
Archimedes Notebook (exploring science and books): archimedesnotebook.blogspot.com
Join the Rate Your Story Team!
Volunteer
Do you love helping writers grow and want to pay it forward to the Kidlit Community? Rate Your Story is looking for passionate, experienced writers to volunteer as judges and make a difference in the writing community. By offering thoughtful, encouraging feedback, you’ll inspire emerging authors, build their confidence, and help them take their stories to the next level. It’s a rewarding way to share your expertise and spread some literary karma!
Volunteer to Rate Your Story
Volunteer judges should be traditionally published writers with recent publishing, coursework, or contract experience. You’ll need a background in critiquing or editing manuscripts, a love of reading, and a commitment to reviewing submissions within 7–10 days. We also ask our judges to maintain confidentiality, uphold professional ethics, and sign a non-disclosure agreement.
Perks of Volunteering
Our volunteers are part of a supportive, creative team and receive special perks throughout the year, guest features on our blog, free access to our crafty webinars, and more!
Ready to inspire writers and give back to the creative community?
📧 Email RYS.CyberOffice@gmail.com to apply today!
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