Calial McCarty is an AuDHD writer, parent, advocate, and private practice clinician. She is a LMHC in Washington state and holds a board certification as an Autism Specialist through IBCCES. This is her first publication, as she brings a first-of-its-kind resource to the community.
Hope Redgrave is a twenty-two-year-old university student who initially developed her love of writing through fanfiction at age seventeen. Stress from studies suppressed that flame briefly, but she reclaimed it in her university life. Writing was her go-to refuge – her means of world-building outside lecture theaters and deadline projects.
Adria Bailton (she/they) imagines entire worlds and universes to share while spending her days studying atoms, the smallest unit of matter. More of their science fiction, fantasy, and horror stories, where they strive to create characters that reflect their own bisexuality, neurodiversity, and disability, appear in The Colored Lens, ZNB Presents, Constelción Magazine, Wyldblood Flash, and Worlds of Possibility, among others. Her debut YA science fiction novel, Worlds Divide, will be out in April 2026 from Balance of Seven Press. She recently moved from the PNW to New England.
Critically acclaimed, award-winning novelist Sarah V. Barnes is both a historian and a horsewoman. Her first novel, She Who Rides Horses: A Saga of the Ancient Steppe, received the 2022 Best Indie Book Award for Historical Fiction, among other prizes. A Clan Chief’s Daughter represents the second installment in the She Who Rides Horses trilogy. When not writing stories, Sarah practices and teaches riding as a meditative art. She also offers equine-facilitated coaching and wellness workshops. Sarah holds a PhD in history from Northwestern University and spent many years as a college professor before turning full-time to riding and writing. She has two grown daughters and lives with her husband, dogs, and horses near Boulder, CO.
M.K. Smith grew up filling notebooks with stories, scripts, and even a few chicken-themed plays. With the unwavering support of her parents, she nurtured her love of writing into adulthood. Now a teacher in Montana, she spends her days convincing students of the Oxford comma’s importance, grading essays, and dreaming up mysteries that blend wit with suspense. When not teaching or writing, M.K. and her daughter explore the vast beauty of Big Sky Country, or relax at home with their calico cat, Callie, whose antics often inspire feline characters on the page.
I am the author of four previous biographies, of artists Grace Hartigan, Elaine de Kooning, and Nell Blaine (all published by Oxford University Press) and writer Elizabeth Hardwick (published by WW Norton). I’m a past president of Biographers International Organization (BIO) and have been involved with it for many years. Now I work with biographer members to help them write proposals (for agents and editors), improve their interviewing skills, and organize and refine their manuscripts.
If you value professional quality and creative autonomy, paying to publish can be a smart investment. A reputable hybrid publisher helps your book reach the market with polish and purpose—without the years of waiting or gatekeeping that often come with traditional publishing.
Nan Evenson has published three books. The first two in the Not Really series, Good Night (Not Really): Let’s Count Forward AND Backward and It’s a Terrible Day (Not Really): Let’s Count by Twos, are unusual counting picture books that have won several awards, making her Ukrainian illustrator and herself quite proud. The third book, Walk On, is a middle-grade/young adult historical fiction, Western-type adventure novel published by Atmosphere Press in 2025. She has also published and won awards for several short stories. Her love for young people, cultures, history, and the less well-known inspires her writing.
Christina Owens is a seeker of life’s many discoveries. With Oklahoma in her heart and Virginia beneath her feet, she carries both places as home. One grounds her beginnings, the other shapes her becoming.
Teresa Torba Stepp is an author and visionary storyteller whose work invites readers to step into the timeless journey of the soul. Blending faith, spiritual wisdom, and the profound lessons carried across lifetimes, she writes with the intention of healing hearts and helping souls rediscover their voice.
David Andrew Tittle is a multicultural poet and writer, born and raised on the US/Mexico border in Calexico, California. His work blends sharp social commentary with wit and moments of raw tenderness, exploring identity, resistance, love, grief, and moral clarity.
I am in my late forties. A dad, a husband. A concerned citizen. I have always enjoyed being creative, and story writing has gripped me more than I ever thought it would. I hope my works are enjoyed by many.
I’m Desmond Knipe, author of the NAMUH Trilogy—metaphysical science fiction about awakening, choice, and what we might become when we grow kinder and braver. NAMUH Book 1: The Awakening launched on August 8 and blends big-idea sci-fi with spiritual curiosity. I’m building a connected reader world—books, audio, community, and more—at namuhtrilogy.com.
Madison lives on the east coast of North Carolina, where she embraces the roles of full-time mother, wife, and educator. When she isn’t writing or teaching, she can often be found outdoors—whether walking beneath coastal pines, tending a garden, or chasing the salty air of the shoreline. She has a deep love for homemade meals shared around the table, especially when paired with a glass of cabernet. Her writing is rooted in both family and imagination, weaving together the beauty of daily life with the wonder of storytelling.
Zach Adams has had a passion for writing and storytelling their entire life. However, they didn’t decide to pursue it as a profession until they realised that working in retail was completely draining their remaining life force. And so, Adams set out to create a fascinating and captivating universe, which they achieved in their debut novel and album, Dead Man Walking.
A voracious reader since preschool, Ekta was one of those ‘nerdy’ kids who competed in spelling bees. If her parents wanted to punish her, they would take away her books, so Ekta made sure to behave. She got her start in niche publishing in 2005 and has written about and edited everything from healthcare to home improvement to Hindi films.
Annabel Youens originally studied creative writing at the University of Victoria before falling into ‘her own alternate dimension’—the world of tech. As employee number eleven at Abebooks.com and co-founder of two global startups, she spent twenty years building companies in New Zealand, California, and her home base of Victoria, BC, before returning to her first love: storytelling. At age forty-six, she resigned her chief marketing officer position to pursue her authorial dreams, founding Salt Line Press and completing her debut novel. Thread Traveller explores themes close to her heart: the possibility of reinvention at any age, the cost of putting everyone else first, and the radical act of choosing yourself.
Tom’s debut novel, Moving in Stereo, about a troubled tennis professional from the nineties, won an American Writing Award. He received an MFA in creative writing from Hamline University, where he’s also taught creative writing, and his work has been published in Glimmer Train, The Under Review, and elsewhere. With his latest work, one reviewer wrote, “a novel steeped in a vivid sense of place and culture…women confront men, men confront themselves and each other, and life goes on.” He calls Minneapolis his home.
In this article, you’ll learn what a foreword is and who should write it, how to craft a compelling preface, what makes a strong introduction, and why an afterword can leave a lasting impression. By the end, you’ll have clear guidance on how to approach the parts of a book so your work feels polished, professional, and reader-ready!
This guide will show you how to punctuate dialogue clearly and confidently. We’ll cover the essential rules, common mistakes to avoid, and advanced scenarios. By the end, you’ll know exactly how to make your dialogue read smoothly and professionally!