By day, I’m a former scientist with a background in materials chemistry, now working in the saner (but no less complex) world of intellectual property. Both sides of me live in Birmingham—a city full of grit, heart, bin bags, and endless inspiration for the end of the world. We have two cats, one kid and one husband that we have to share.

Rachel has enjoyed writing all kinds of funny little stories since she was the young age of eleven. Also a nerd, she likes Star Wars and anything involving vampires. Some of her favorite TV shows are The Vampire Diaries, Brooklyn 99, and Supernatural. Her inspiration for The Dark Prince of Lazera comes from a lifelong interest in magic, folklore, and the paranormal.

Rachanee Lumayno is an actress, voiceover artist, screenwriter, avid gamer, and amateur dodgeball player. She grew up in Michigan, where she spent way too much of her free time reading fantasy novels. So when she decided to try her hand at writing a book, it made sense that it would be in her favorite genre. The Kingdom Legacy series marks her debut as an author. She is also a staff writer for two comics and an upcoming video game.

I write how I feel, and when I started writing this book, I was just so upset and angry at quite a lot of recent cases of animal cruelty that had appeared in the news. This novel was my way of venting my anger and creating the ultimate form of punishment for people who think it's okay to be cruel to animals as, in my opinion, there is no justice for the animals who fall victim to these cruel people. I wanted to create a system that would keep them safe, all of them, and protect them from the darker side of humanity.

Oluwabunmi Ajao holds a bachelor’s degree in German and French Studies from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, and a master’s degree in Intercultural German Studies from the University of Nairobi, Kenya, as a DAAD Scholar.

Olivier is a writer and cosmopolitan thinker working in San Francisco. She is committed to humanistic perspectives and the importance and power of the narratives we share. Olivier won the 2023 Hicks Prize in Fiction, and has been featured in The Lawrentian newspaper.

Nicki's debut novel, Ellis River, won the Independent Book Publishers Association's Bill Fisher Award for Best First Book - Fiction. The next year, it won IBPA's award for Best Audiobook - Fiction. The novel was also a finalist for the Eric Hoffer First Horizons Award, received an Honorable Mention for the Eric Hoffer Grand Prize, and was a semi-finalist for the Publishers Weekly Booklife Prize.

As an author, Michelle is passionate about creating stories that help children (and adults) build strong social-emotional skills in a fun, approachable way. Through her books, she tackles everyday challenges like learning patience, calming a busy mind at bedtime, and using art to manage emotions like anger.

Hampton County native Michael M. DeWitt Jr. is a multiple-award-winning journalist, longtime editor of the 144-year-old The Hampton County Guardian, author of four books, including Wicked Hampton County and Fall of the House of Murdaugh, and host of the Wicked South Podcast.

Mesalie Feleke is a doctor, biologist, peer reviewer, and postdoctoral cancer researcher based in Perth. She has a passion for literature, art, and storytelling, and draws on her diverse experiences to craft thought-provoking narratives that explore change, resilience, and human complexity.