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.

Ella T. Holmes doesn’t write to escape the world; she pokes holes in the one we’ve got and asks why we can’t do better. She maintains corporeal existence by patting cats, writing, and engaging in Disability Justice advocacy. Her work has been published in Antithesis, The Bitchin’ Kitsch, Jacaranda, Portside Review, and is forthcoming in Aurealis, among others.

Hope Wilkerson is a raw, unflinching voice in contemporary literary fiction. She writes what most people are afraid to say out loud—stories that live in the shadows of addiction, grief, and survival. Born and raised in a small town in Kentucky, Hope still calls it home, drawing inspiration from the quiet backroads and hidden struggles of rural life. Her work strips language to the bone—poetic, spare, and searingly honest. When she’s not writing, she’s listening: to the silences between words, the weight of what’s left unsaid, and the echoes of lives that never got a headline. Teeth Like Glass is her debut novella and the first in a series that dares to tell the truth about addiction—not the aftermath, but the ache of the during.

Sandy Lo is an award-winning author, journalist, and multi-passionate creative known for her heartfelt storytelling and pop culture savvy. Best recognized for her Dream Catchers book series, Sandy weaves together romance, music, and self-discovery in stories that connect deeply with readers.

Desney Carlene provides poetic literature to introspective readers in a lyrical atmosphere, with an authentic voice. Helping them to feel vulnerable and empowered to face their own mental and emotional wellness journeys. Desney is the owner of Desney Carlene Inc. and lives in her hometown of Chicago, Illinois, as a proud Southsider.

Mark David Gerson is the founder of The Mark David Gerson School of Writing and award-winning author of more than twenty books, including classic works for writers, inspiring personal growth titles, compelling memoirs and The Legend of Q’ntana and Sara Stories novels. Mark David is also a popular writing coach, as well as dog dad to Kyri, named for a character in The MoonQuest, the first book in his Q’ntana “true fantasy” series.

WM Parslow is a horror writer based in Oxford, UK. He is inspired by his own experiences (including some time working in a prison), folklore, and ghost stories. He is owned by two cats and has a Venus flytrap called Steve. He can often be found walking Oxford’s streets, looking for a nice pub to sit in and write. The Standing Dead is his debut novel, and he is currently working on the next part of the story.

J Lee Amey was born and raised in Essex, England, but now resides on the beautiful south coast of Dorset, England. In her spare time she can usually be found strolling through sand, fields or forest with her husband and dog. Although Amey has produced many scribblings over the years, The Glastonbury Tales is her first novella.

A creative writing graduate with a master’s by research investigating magic systems in fantasy fiction, I’m also a professional editor and change manager. That said, I am embarking on two new adventures this year: committing myself to pursuing publication of my novel, and starting my own freelance editing business with a unique change management twist! I was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome last year, which has impacted every area of my life, but has weirdly reignited my writing mojo and smashed through my chronic writer’s block. I also have a cute but clingy golden retriever called Rufus.

Graeme Hampton was born and brought up in central Scotland. After leaving school, he trained as a stage manager and worked in London for a number of years. He returned to Scotland in his late twenties to study for a BA in English Literature at Stirling University. After many years of dull jobs and bleak times, he became a full-time writer. His first novel, Know No Evil, was published by Hera Books in July 2019, and was followed up by Blood Family in early 2020. His sixth novel, Truth Lies Dying, was published in November 2023. He has just completed his first standalone psychological thriller. He lives in Hastings, East Sussex, with his partner, two Siamese cats, and the world’s laziest dachshund.

Ali Ashhar is a poet, short story writer and columnist from Jaunpur, Uttar Pradesh, India. He is a bilingual poet writing in English and Urdu language, but primarily writes in English. He was an academically bright child during his school days and had keen interest in literature. His writing stint began during his college days as a literature student. He is an internationally acclaimed author who has won several international literary awards with his writings being published in 20 countries around the globe.