Eric experienced a lightbulb moment after exploring various fields in college—accounting, teaching, and geology—when he finally embraced his childhood passion for writing stories. From there, he published his first novel after a decade of hard work, drawing inspiration from his life experiences and keen observations of the world around him. Eric uses his writing as a way to articulate the often dueling opinions and emotions inside him and believes a great book showcases relatable characters, despite their moral standing.
An Interview with J. A. Merkel
J. A. Merkel writes speculative and science fiction filled with multiverses and second chances, and his worlds are packed with anti-heroes, love as magic, and tragic reversals. For Merkel, writing isn’t a chore. It’s a fantastical kingdom with thousands of doors where readers can stumble into their own special adventures, laughing, shouting, and journeying to find home, wherever that may be.
An Interview with Frank Demith
Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, Frank Demith joined the Army right after graduating from high school and spent twenty-eight years serving on active duty. A 1983 graduate of the United States Military Academy, Demith received a Bachelor of Science with a concentration in Russian Area Studies. He currently lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia.
An Interview with James Flanagan
James Flanagan is an author of speculative fiction with short fiction publications in Macrame Literary Journal, SciFiShorts, Literally Stories, and EverydayFiction, among others. His debut sci-fi novel, GENEFIRE, won several awards and is garnering excellent reviews. By day he is an academic scientist with a Ph.D. in cancer genetics, working at Imperial College London.
An Interview with Victoria Smith
Victoria loves spending time with her three grown children. She has two daughters and a son. All her children share her love for animals. They each have more than one pet—dogs, cats, a guinea pig, a rabbit, a turtle, a bearded dragon, fire-bellied frogs, a parrot, and fish. Victoria is a volunteer at FAAS, which is an animal shelter in Alameda, CA.
An Interview with Lolisa Maria Monroe
Monroe is an award-winning children’s author celebrated for her enchanting and inclusive storytelling. Known for her ability to blend warmth and empathy into timeless tales, Monroe’s works inspire young readers to embrace acceptance and celebrate differences. With a deep love for animals and a passion for children’s literature, she crafts stories that entertain and foster a sense of compassion and understanding.
An Interview with Amanda Denham
Amanda Denham is an author and artist living in Alabama with her husband and three rabbits (she thinks she needs more rabbits, but please tell her she doesn't if you see her). All throughout her childhood and teenage years, drawing and making up stories dominated her life. Sketchbooks were filled with fantasy ideas that she swore were going to be in print someday. Meanwhile, she escaped into young adult books and admired the authors who brought their stories to life through their words. Amanda desires to give a source of comfort and escape for her readers, as well as showcase the importance of mental health awareness and healthy relationships.
An Interview with L. Thorsrud
At age eleven, I began exploring different brainwave states—what felt like a normal activity for a kid who had their first existential crisis at six. In my twenties, I teamed up with a doctor and quantitative electroencephalography (imagine nineteen electrodes glued to your head) to document my brain experiments. Unbiased computer systems interpreting the results fueled my curiosity, leading to further collaborations with scientists across the five countries I’ve lived in.
An Interview with Leonis Legion
Leonis Legion is an author deeply influenced by the complexities of human emotion and the silent struggles that many people face. Drawing inspiration from personal experiences, struggles, and the stories of those around him, Leonis writes to give voice to the unspoken and to offer comfort to those who feel unheard for which he felt the same growing up. With a background in offering support and comfort to others through sessions similar to therapy, Leonis has a profound understanding of the emotional landscapes people navigate.
An Interview with Nikki Auberkett
Nikki Auberkett is a cultural anthropologist, developmental editor, award-nominated author, and lifelong lover of the fae folk. With nearly 15 years of research and exploration into global folklore and mythology, biblical archaeology, and all things weird and unusual, she weaves her research and social science expertise into her personal love for fantasy fiction.