Author interviews

Kole Kealey is a poet renowned for her brave and vulnerable explorations of the human experience. Her second poetry collection, Sunflowers Sting, continues the powerful narrative established in her debut, Perfume and Cigarettes, by navigating the complex terrain of trauma, mental illness, and the path to self-acceptance.

Ruben was born in Sunnyside, Washington, while the streets of Sacramento shaped him before he moved to Salt Lake City, where he draws from his lifelong creative journey. His storytelling extends through multiple disciplines as he performs as an actor and musician while writing songs and scripts and finally turning his passion for narrative into published works.

Amber Gardner, a proud native of Newport News, Virginia, now resides in Hampton, VA, where she discovered her passion for writing at the young age of ten. A distinguished alumna of Hampton University, Amber draws upon her deep faith and unwavering devotion to the Lord, skillfully weaving a tapestry of heartfelt spirituality that resonates profoundly with her audience.

Hi, I’m Malaika, an eighteen-year-old author from Pakistan and the proud writer of over ten published books. Writing has always been my passion, and even at a young age, I knew I wanted to tell stories that mattered. My books cover a range of emotions, themes, and experiences—from fiction to poetry—all inspired by the world around me and the thoughts within me. I believe that age should never limit creativity, and through my journey, I hope to inspire other young voices to follow their dreams and write their truth.

Toni McBride was born into a delightful mix of British wit and Southern hospitality. Her unique perspective comes from her rich family heritage: a mother from Manchester, England, who was a passionate advocate in the Disarmament Protests, and a father from Birmingham, Alabama, who made his mark in the Civil Rights Movement. She now finds herself living in New Jersey, perfectly nestled between the vibrant cities of Philadelphia and New York City.

May Garner is a poet and author based in Dayton, Ohio. She has been dedicated to crafting and sharing her work online for over a decade. She is the author of two poetry collections, Withered Rising and Melancholic Muse. Her work has also appeared in Querencia Press, Cozy Ink Press, Arcana Poetry Press, and the Ohio Bards. Find her work on Instagram (@crimson.hands).

Rory North is a sci-fi/fantasy author who has been writing for as long as she can remember, from scribbling in notebooks after school to filling up Word documents between classes in university. Her main goal in life is to get all of the stories floating around in her head out into the world.

Jason Markiewitz is a voice, film, and theatre actor, an audio drama producer, and a multi-award-winning audiobook narrator with dozens of titles read for independent and NYT Bestselling authors. When not doing all of that fun jazz, he is a Colonel in the USAF Reserve, a competitive baseball player, and an avid runner. He lives in CA with his family.

Nico Drew writes about life after the reset button gets hit, divorce, dating apps, awkward texts, and the quiet comedy of midlife reinvention. His debut novel, The Middle Swipe Crisis, turns a personal tale of a recently single dad’s chaotic return to dating into something painfully honest and unexpectedly funny.

I’m Danielle Elaine, an entrepreneur and your favorite tattooed author! I write multiple genres of books, so you never know what my next project will be. I just love writing, period. I won a bronze medal in college for a short story I wrote, but my love for writing came when I was younger. I was also previously a tattoo model who’s been featured in and on numerous covers of magazines with interviews, owned and ran a magazine myself, brand ambassador for many apparel lines, and an artist.