I survived a childhood on a three-generation family farm that gave me very little and asked for everything. I lived in a constant state of survival mode from a very young age.

Born in California and lived in Idaho, Vermont, and Oregon. I spent a lot of time in the country and in the mountains camping, fishing, backpacking. I hold a B.A. in English and have written three books: Enchanted Shores, We Won’t Forget You Mr. McGillicuddy, and The Children of Raven’s Reach. In addition, I also write poetry and a weekly “Rants in the Pants,” where I rant about everything from peaches to politicians.

Dave Aretsky is a multi-media artist with over forty years of experience in the entertainment technical services business. His journey began at the age of thirteen, when he started working for local bands as a roadie, lighting director, and audio engineer. Over the years, he has collaborated with various live production companies in Los Angeles, taking on roles such as a live stage technician, film/TV lighting tech, gaffer, grip, swing, and scenic artist.

Diáne is the only state-certified Tibetan bowl practitioner/instructor in California. and has given over 300 educational concert programs in thirty-two states as well as in India, France Costa Rica, Mexico and St. Croix. She has been a frequent guest presenter at the Museum of Making Music, California State University San Marcos, The Golden Door, The Deepak Chopra Center, Rancho la Puerta and KPBS.

Daniel Rodrigues-Martin began writing in 2004. Since then, he’s become the author of books, articles, essays, shorts, scripts, poems, and countless rants. His debut novel, Goddess from the Machine: A Prequel to the Ark Saga, was featured as one of Kirkus Reviews’ Best 100 Indie Books of 2025 and one of Blueink Review’s Best Books of 2025. It is available from most major sellers.

Connie Senior is an engineer by training but obsessed with werewolves. She blends magic and science in her urban fantasy series set in New England, where werewolves struggle to find family while battling their ancient enemies, vampires. Blue Moon, the third book in her series, will be out in November 2026.

I was born and raised in Madison, Wisconsin and graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1978. In 1979, I was a last-minute addition to a Peace Corps group departing for South Korea—one of the best things that has ever happened to me.

Born in the Bronx, Alan Cohen spent his formative years on Long Island, reading, writing, bicycle riding; trips to the city, days spent at the beaches, sports on the neighborhood streets, three high school letters; band and chorus, math league, summer camps; reading comics, playing Risk and poker and squabbling with friends.

AnneMarie was born and raised in California. She has a vivid imagination and loves writing magical adventure stories that take place in strange lands. She is passionate about reading, art, and family; she is the youngest of seven children, the mother of four children, and a grandmother.

Worked as a manual labourer, music teacher, peace activist, and computer programmer before moving to China at the age of fifty to study Mandarin. Drawn into the world of Chinese television and film acting, I stayed for over ten years and played foreign devils in more than seventy television series and films, most notably the 8th Lord Elgin in the CCTV drama-documentary Yuanmingyuan.