E.S. David is a YA fantasy author from Lanarkshire, Scotland. He has a passion for creative writing – particularly stories that explore magical realms, sweeping landscapes, and complex characters navigating moral ambiguity. Drawing on these inspirations, he began writing, and The Trials of Aqouril is his debut novel.
Based in the beautiful British Southwest, Elizabeth May Ellis has a BA (Hons) degree in English Language and Linguistics and English Literature and is a self-confessed nerd. She has been a keen writer for most of her life, focusing her attention on poetry, songwriting, and essays in her younger years before finally venturing into authoring novels in her mid-forties, so is now making up for lost time! She loves penning second-chance romances with a happy ending and finds her inspiration in rural landscapes, real-life people, and real struggles.
T.D. Winters is the creative voice behind the Nala Roonie Adventures. Working together with Vallace Studio in London, they blend rhyme, illustration, and original music to craft stories that celebrate mindfulness, curiosity, courage, and kindness. The debut picture book, Nala Roonie Goes to Richmond Park, has reached readers around the world, with an audiobook (narrated by Mimi Venki) and a follow-up adventure currently being written and illustrated. Proudly independent, Vallace Studio remains dedicated to preserving its authentic, inclusive voice and nurturing creativity that is heart centred.
Kevin Kane is a husband and father. He served four years in the United States Air Force, and that is when he first began creative writing. Kevin writes everything from public relations to sports journalism. When not writing, he is a foodie, cooking and eating delicious recipes.
I am a ‘serial New Yorker’ who returned to New York in 2020 after thirty years in Greece. After a short career in law in New York, I moved to my then-husband’s home country, where I raised a family and worked in marketing, retail food, and volunteer advocacy for nearly thirty years.
Hailing from East Sussex, UK, S.R. Phillips brings a personal touch to her debut fantasy trilogy. A devoted reader, she lives with her husband and young son, finding inspiration in the rolling landscapes of her home county. When not writing, she enjoys uncovering new walking paths, farm shops, and cozy pubs for a Sunday roast.
Frank Eugene Dukes Jr. is a storyteller shaped by resilience, faith, and the quiet courage of perseverance. Born with a congenital condition that required ongoing medical care, Frank’s early years were marked by frequent journeys between Garyville, Louisiana, and New Orleans – each Greyhound bus ride with his mother a testament to love, endurance, and hope.
A fanatic for all things sci-fi and fantasy, A.J. Graham was originally born in Glasgow, Scotland but moved to the North-East of England as a child. He still lives there, in a small market town. He enjoys spending time getting lost in the worlds of other people’s stories, as well as getting lost in the real world on walkies with his beagle Dexter.
I was raised in Oak Park, Illinois, and for a long time, I thought I’d become a journalist. Life, however, had other plans – and I’m so glad it did. Today, I’m a women’s fiction novelist who loves bringing characters to life as they navigate real struggles, discover love, and uncover the beauty tucked inside everyday moments.
I was raised in the small mountain town of Webster Springs, West Virginia, where I had the rare blessing of being brought up by two sets of grandparents I called ‘Mom’ and ‘Dad.’ It was an amazing childhood, full of memories and lessons that stuck with me long after I left those mountains.
I live in Flint Michigan and I love creativity. I am a former cosmetologist and makeup artist. I’m also a jewelry designer and I used to create handmade designs for my Etsy store. I have a gift for interior decor and abstract painting. I love music, with Prince being my favorite of all time.
Born and raised in Southern California, I am a Christian who lives in the Pacific Northwest. Having owned a business for over thirty years, I am thankfully retired and enjoy spending time with my family and traveling.
I am an independently published author, rural advocate, and outdoor guide with a passion for storytelling that connects people to the natural world. Over the years, I have written numerous books, essays, and articles that explore themes of outdoor adventure, rural life, and the profound connections we share with our natural surroundings. My work has appeared in publications such as Backwoods Home Magazine, Countryside, Speckled Paw Times, and North Carolina Outdoors, and I have been honored with multiple awards for my fiction.
I’m a Los Angeles native, born and raised, and a graduate of the UCLA English Department (many, many years ago). I wound up with a concentration in military and espionage fiction because, given a choice, I always picked the electives that let me read authors like Tim O’Brien or Ian Fleming. Of course, I lived in Hollywood at the time, so right out of school, I got into the WGA and went to work screenwriting but found that I hated writing for sponsors and markets instead of telling the great (messy, raw, ugly) story, so I went to the technical side and have worked in film production technology ever since!
Young, traditional Catholic, prolific author, editor, graphic designer, photographer, and crocheter living in the United States. I have been writing since I knew how to form the letters (I am now twenty years old). The Trooper Series is my debut, written (with several other works) before graduating high school. I also describe myself as the Architect Author, as my writing method is rather revolutionary compared to the traditional method of drafts and reading.
I have been writing my entire life in one way or another – poems or little short stories in my journal, or thousands of story ideas scattered on scraps of paper through my life – but I’ve always been too afraid to take it seriously. Mostly, because I was afraid that doing something that had always meant so much to me would mean suddenly it wouldn’t mean as much. I know that doesn’t make much sense, but there it is. I was also afraid that if someone didn’t like my writing – something that genuinely feels like a piece of my soul on paper – that it would crush a sacred part of me and I’d never felt brave enough to allow that to happen.
I have been writing for as long as I can remember – stories, poems, and essays that trace the inner and outer landscapes of my life. A multi-migrant, I began moving across the globe at age eleven and have continued this journey through many homes in Poland, Germany, and now Miami, Florida. These experiences have shaped my distinctly multicultural perspective. One is rooted in the lived moments of this journey.
In this guide, we’ll explore what a preface is, how it differs from other front-matter sections, and the best practices for writing one. You’ll also find tips, examples, and a step-by-step approach to crafting a preface that resonates with readers from page one. By the end, you’ll have the tools to create a preface that not only introduces your book but also strengthens your connection with your audience.
M. LaRose wrote her first story while in first grade: a thriller titled The Peach-Fuzz Monsters. Unfortunately, that story was lost to the sands of time when her parents failed to preserve the manuscript. Today, M. LaRose writes paranormal romance inspired by human passion and the mysteries of nature. Kirkus Reviews called her debut novel, The Flower Eater, a “delightfully entertaining story of how one woman’s effort to destroy helps her learn how to save.” Her second novel, Lost in the Hall of the Mountain King, was a quarterfinalist in the Screencraft 2019 Cinematic Book Competition. M. LaRose lives with her husband in the green mountains of Vermont.
J.L. Askew is an award-winning author and a lifelong bibliophile. With a psychology degree from the University of Memphis, he had careers in social work and the medical industry.