I was born and raised in South Texas but have resided in Türkiye since 1993. I’ve published eight books of poetry, most recently Rites of Passage, All Told, Take, and the bilingual collection Galata’dan/The View from Galata. My second collection, South Wind, won the 1984 Austin Book Award, and in 2010 I was one of the winners of the Nâzım Hikmet Poetry Award. The Book of Ed, a series of my poems based on the Oedipus myth and set to music by composer Patrick Boland, was released by N’er Before Records in 1999. I am now retired and residing in the ancient city of Phocaea (Eski Foça) on the Aegean coast of Türkiye.

I live in Vermont with my wife and daughters, one whom we just adopted. I recently graduated Summa Cum Laude from Southern New Hampshire University with my bachelor’s in social work with a concentration on children and families.

A.M. Harker is a literary fiction writer based in St. Louis, Missouri. Drawn to the classics and existential philosophy, Harker wrote Evangeline (2026), a debut novel narrated by a vampire who participated in the Romantic period and contributed to the birth of the modern vampire myth. The work engages with questions of existence, memory, and purpose against the indifference of an eternal life. Harker studied English literature at Truman State University. When not writing, she works as a tattoo artist, travels often, and studies Russian language.

Elorine Jade is a children’s author who writes gentle, magical stories for readers who feel deeply and notice the quiet details of the world. Her work centres on courage, resilience, and emotional growth, often told through nature-rich settings and thoughtful protagonists. The Adventures of Morish is her debut novel and the first book in a series inspired by her love of storytelling, her experiences as a parent, and her belief that quiet children deserve to see themselves reflected in books.

Jaime Rodriguez is a blue-collar Latino NWU writer from the 253 who found his passion for storytelling after high school. Working in construction and sales by day, he spent his free time crafting stories that explore faith, resilience, and the power of unlikely heroes. Encouraged by a teacher who helped him refine his voice without stripping away his individuality, he embraced writing as both an outlet and a calling. When he’s not writing, he enjoys hiking the Pacific Northwest and spending time with his wife and kids. The Anvil’s Whisper is his debut epic fantasy, blending rich world-building with themes of destiny and defiance.

M.H. Rahman is an Indian author popularly known for his best-selling debut novel, Half Life. He is the creator/writer of the popular fan fiction of the US TV series The Vampire Diaries. And he owns an artist management agency called Bombay Dreams. He currently lives and works in England.

T.A. Riddle (he/him) is a Philadelphia-based author, candle maker, and breathwork facilitator whose work centers Black queer joy, chosen family, and transformation. With a background in law, business, and DEI, he blends literary storytelling with healing practices to create inclusive, evocative spaces. His debut novel, Dancing Like Nobody’s Watching: Contra Dance, celebrates resilience, love, and the power of community – on and off the dance floor.

Colleen Lutz Clemens writes in Pennsylvania, where she lives with her family and pups and teaches English at Kutztown University. She publishes widely in both academic and creative venues. Her creative work has appeared in collections such as Click: When We Knew We Were Feminists, Three Minus One: Stories of Parents’ Love and Loss, and Biting the Bullet: Essays on the Courage of Women. She is the co-editor of three anthologies of narrative nonfiction including Philadelphia Reflections: Stories from the Delaware to the Schuylkill. Readers can find her at colleenclemens.com and on Instagram at @colclemensauthor.

Chris May trained initially as an engineer before forging a career in healthcare. He founded health tech company Mayden in 2000, which today employs one hundred and fifty people and is based in Bath.

Tom Farley is a Salt Lake City, Utah-based author with a lifelong passion for storytelling. He studied film production in college with an emphasis on screenwriting and directing, though his creative journey began much earlier through writing lyrics and poetry for a local band.