Zachariah was raised on horror. From Friday Fright Night movies, his love of the scary and macabre was born. Today, he lives in the Kansas City area, a twelve-year veteran of firefighting and EMS. He has seen the best and some of the worst human beings are capable of. Zachariah uses his own personal trauma experiences and recovery to enrich his characters and scenes.
Thomas A. Thomas was born in Illinois to a medical-doctor mother and a ballet-dancer father, and spent a lot of time off by himself in the woods, prairies, and fields, day and night, in all seasons. Thomas found his way to the University of Michigan (U.M.), where he studied with Donald Hall and Gregory Orr, and workshopped some poems with Robert Bly. He won Minor and Major Hopwood Awards in Poetry, and his poem “Approaching Here” was choreographed and performed at U.M.
Abigail Mabus grew up devouring books of all kinds, but was especially captivated by fantasy. To this day, The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings remain her favorite series. After some adventures of her own, she is returning to her dream of writing, with the goal to “either write something worth reading or do something worth writing.” (Benjamin Franklin) She currently resides in Lynchburg, VA.
Ana Cecilia Moreno is a working single mother and daughter of Colombian immigrant parents. She has a Bachelor’s in Communications. She lives in Miami, Florida, with her son and loves to explore different creative outlets. She was inspired to write this story while she was pregnant with her son fifteen years ago. It has been her dream to publish it ever since. Lucas the Lion Makes a Friend is her first children’s book.
The story of Lightborn came to me in a dream. I had the vivid image of a young girl running from something sinister. She raised her hand and opened a portal, racing through and snapping her hands shut before she could be followed. The next day, I wrote the first chapter, using this image. The rest progressed from there.
India L. Harris is a passionate advocate for autism acceptance and a talented author dedicated to spreading awareness through her heartfelt storytelling. Drawing from personal experiences as a mother of two autistic sons, India brings an authentic voice to her work, championing the beauty of neurodiversity. She is the author of The Enchanted Instruments, a children’s book inspired by her sons’ love for music, and is currently working on The Secret Book of Dreams, a magical tale about a young girl’s adventure with a dream fairy.
In my book I share with you the good, the bad, and the ugly of infertility, as well as the physical, financial, and emotional impact this journey had on me and those closest to me. I tackle subjects such as mental health, emotional and physical struggles, relationship dynamics (partner, friends and family), blended families, work, finances, fertility, and IVF.
Originally from Rochester, New York, I have been a lifelong enthusiast of epic fantasy and world-building. My debut novel, Sons of Wunduria, reflects my passion for creating immersive worlds and unforgettable characters, inviting readers on an enthralling journey filled with ancient civilizations and fearsome creatures.
Angela van Liempt is a small-town girl with big dreams. Music inspires her, and she creates a playlist for every book she writes. The Atlas Cliffs series emerged from her curiosity about the paranormal, but along the way, she discovered a passion for weaving romance into her stories.
Born in Chester, UK, Linnhe spent her home-ed childhood between North Wales and the Lake District. She worked as an animator and as a sailing instructor prior to moving into graphic design and marketing. Having previously enjoyed dabbling in shorter forms of creative writing, she started working on the dystopian world of Edwin Cooper in the summer of 2023. The Incredible Machines of Thinkery: Outpost 9 is her first novel.
I’m an independently published author from Central California; I have written five books and an ongoing fantasy series, as well as an independently published collection of poetry, and I’m currently working on an enology of original short stories.
Denise is a book lover with the childhood goal of reading every book in the library. A former book-seller, operating out of her home, she delivered books decades before Amazon. The highlight of her bookselling career was packing her car full of books for black men and peddling them to guys on their way to the Million Man March. She sold every last book.
Lauren Jane Redmond is a mystery writer in Austin, Texas. She received a BA in English and Film Studies from the University of Tulsa and an MFA in Playwriting from the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC.
Fernando J. Moguel (pen name: Mr. Pendlum) is a Mexican-American creative communicator, author, educator, and multi-disciplinary artist. His passion is using his creativity to inspire curiosity. He is based in Houston, Texas.
I’m a Christian teenage writer who loves the art of writing. Learning day by day how to make my work better and better.
I’m a lifelong community organizer who has always had a passion for helping people, especially those who fall under marginalized identities. I’ve often used my creativity as a way to serve others and I honestly believe if I can’t be creative in what I’m doing, then I’d rather not do it at all.
Sarah Orman used to be an attorney for public schools in Texas and California. Now she writes personal essays and poetry. Her work has been published in Narrative, Witness, oranges journal, and elsewhere. Sarah is also the author of A Reader’s Compendium on Substack. She lives with her family in Austin, where she is working on a memoir about her wayward youth. Although she spent her twenties on the East and West Coasts, she enjoys reminding her fellow Texans that she was born and raised here. Find out more about Sarah at sarahormanwrites.com.
Christie Goodman, APR, Fellow PRSA, is director of communications at IDRA, a national education equity and civil rights non-profit based in San Antonio. She is a graduate of Texas Tech University (and a Goin’ Band and Courtjesters alum). She was a long-time leader of two Girl Scout troops and a board member of the March of Dimes San Antonio, among other volunteer roles. Christie is writing a memoir featuring a motherhood journey through infertility and near-death premature childbirth, twice, while weaving the stories of feminist biblical heroines with surprisingly parallel struggles and life consequences.
Ray LeCara Jr is a master-certified life coach, educational consultant, and founder of Authentic Embassy Consulting. As the author of the self-help book Who Are You, Really? The Search for Authenticity, Ray is a respected authority in helping individuals achieve academic, professional, and personal success.
Kirsten McKenzie fought international crime for fourteen years as a Customs Officer in both England and New Zealand, before leaving to work in the family antique store. Now a full-time author, she lives in New Zealand with her family and alternates between writing time travel trilogies and polishing her next thriller. Her spare time is spent organising author events and appearing on literary panels at various festivals around the world.