Author Interviews

Lizzy Brendel is a new author whose debut poetry collection, The Human Condition Exhibition, details her life experience for the past decade. While pursuing a career in nursing, she often daydreamed of depicting her experiences in the written word. This fueled a full-blown poetry passion; giving life to the tumultuous, traumatic, and whimsical. So much so, in fact, that she pursued a minor in creative writing alongside her nursing degree at the University of Missouri-St. Louis. Her writing prowess, however, started much earlier. In her teenage years, she took two creative writing courses with Duke at Appalachian State University over two summers. She writes poems from her home in St. Louis, Missouri, where she lives with her husband and their two cats and dog. You can find her hiking, embroidering, and reading in her free time. You can find her latest work on her Instagram, where she enjoys sharing her writing and engaging with other writers.

Glenn Armocida resides in western Pennsylvania. He was a finalist in the Rash Award in Fiction (2022 and 2024). His recent work appears in The Broad River Review, Solum Journal, Black Moon Magazine, Havik, Heart of Flesh Literary Journal, The Watershed Journal, and The Ground Up. In the 1980s, Armocida attended the University of Pittsburgh as an English major in the College of Arts and Sciences’ creative writing program. During this time, he published poems in Poetry ‘n Prose, Kiosk, and Afterimage, and feature articles in Pittsburgh Magazine, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, and Executive Report. He has worked as a mill laborer, cook, radio news anchor, printer, technical and business writer, editor, and the past thirty-four years as an investment manager. When he is not writing, Glenn is with his family, ministering to the homeless, tending his gardens, or pursuing outdoor life.

Amy Lanci is the author of Listen Up!, The Email Communication Bible, and Untold Storyland: The Voice Within. A memoirist, story coach, and former sea turtle geneticist, she helps people uncover and share their most meaningful stories. With a unique blend of scientific precision and creative insight, Amy guides writers, entrepreneurs, and families in clarifying their vision, building confidence, and bringing their stories to life.

Mallory Dyer grew up on the farm fields of Marana, Arizona, where she learned the values of hard work, perseverance, and grit. A former math educator and National Teaching Excellence Award recipient, Mallory has always been passionate about inspiring children to learn and grow with confidence.

Alina Kramer is an author and cryptid heralding from a marshy corner of New England. When she’s not writing, you can find her working her second job as a professional circus acrobat.

Born long ago in Meridian, Mississippi, Gary Ballard has always been too curious about the world. Beginning at the age of eleven, his writing journey has spanned decades, from those initial imitations of role-playing experiences and action movies to self-publishing over fourteen novels and novellas in multiple genres. Since 2007, he’s been writing a cyberpunk science-fiction series called The Bridge Chronicles, which contains six novels, a short story collection, and his latest, a standalone novel in-universe called Hiss Whistle Dead, starring the character of Shel, a GlobalNet Excavator.

Kenneth Bless World, a singer-songwriter and author, is known for his inspirational content on faith, love, and the human spirit. His portfolio includes novels like Bonded and Sixteen Men with One Right, poetry collections such as Kenneth Mind and Poem 101: Love, and music on platforms like Amazon Music and Apple Music. His work explores grace, forgiveness, intimacy, and the convergence of faith and daily life. Born Zashaun Smith on March 27, 2002, in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Kenneth Bless World has received over two hundred art and photography awards, with a total value exceeding fifty-thousand dollars. He is married to Selena Desirea Smith and is the father of two stepchildren, as well as the late Maya.

Guy Raspatello, a Philadelphia-based author, specializes in crafting gripping horror stories, alongside sci-fi and thrillers that delve into the dark corners of the human mind. His unique blend of eerie atmosphere and psychological suspense fiction pulls readers deep into the unknown and keeps them engaged long after they’ve turned the last page.

Sheilah Jane is a Filipina American writer, certified yoga instructor, and engineer by training whose work explores identity, intergenerational memory, and the quiet power of survival. Raised in the Philippines and living in the United States, she writes with a deeply personal lens on diaspora, motherhood, and the search for belonging.

Tyler Bieber is a queer higher education professional based in Portland, OR. He has held roles at Clark College, National University of Natural Medicine, Linfield University School of Nursing, and Oregon School of Massage. He is currently the Assistant Registrar at Willamette University’s Pacific Northwest College of Art. Tyler holds a B.A. in Liberal Arts and Sciences from The Evergreen State College and an M.A. in Higher Education and Student Affairs from the University of Portland.

Shannon Shay writes emotionally-charged fiction that explores what it means to survive, to feel deeply, and to find light in the shadows.

Samantha Guerriero is a former professional wrestler, wife, and mother to a wonderful almost two-year-old son. After her husband, Jeff, was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) the realization hit that her son might need something special to always look back on and remember the kind of amazing dad he has. She carefully crafted this children’s story to emphasize all the life lessons a father passes to a son. This book is her love letter to her loving, sweet husband and her feisty little guy.

R.A. Marno is an award-winning film director and writer based in Belfast. His fiction combines literary precision with a dark psychological undercurrent, exploring themes of memory, loss, and the quiet ruptures of ordinary life. What the Fog Conceals is his debut novel. In addition to his work in fiction and film, Marno has contributed to a range of creative and cultural projects across the UK and Ireland.

Melinda Zappone, LMHC, is a licensed mental health counselor, trauma therapist, educator, and creator of The Toolbox Approach® – a trauma-informed, phase-based healing method designed to meet individuals wherever they are in their journey. With a Master’s in Mental Health Counseling and advanced certifications including Level 3 Relational Life Therapy and Certified Clinical Trauma Professional Level 2 (CCTP-II), Melinda brings a deeply integrative and relational approach to healing.

Born in Hawaii, Dr. Robb Killen began his career as a professional puppeteer at Opryland, USA, and that has extended to acting, script writing, set building, and more. In 2005, Robb made the transition to education, becoming a school counselor and administrator in both public and private schools. He developed SEL (social and emotional learning) programming, using puppets to teach character. He has a Doctorate in Educational Leadership, focusing on puppetry’s impact on character curriculum.

Ray spent years out of sync with her body – until she was forced to listen to its wisdom and stop chasing skinny. That shift changed everything. When she shifted her focus from weight loss to health, she discovered a lighter, lasting way of living. She wrote The Awakened Body to inspire others to find their way. With her dog by her side, she enjoys joyful movement, camping, and creating healthy, delicious recipes to share with friends – in person and online (via blog and YouTube). Music feeds her soul – and when it’s live, she’s the one in the front row, heart open, unapologetically dancing like no one is watching.

I was born in Denham Town, one of the most impoverished communities in Kingston, Jamaica, and I have taught English and religious education across three continents. A graduate of The Mico University College in Kingston, Jamaica and Middlesex University in London, I have spent over two decades as an educator, storyteller, and mentor. I currently teach in Florida, where I continue to inspire young minds through literature, culture, and creativity. A Journey in Three Acts: The Story of Horatio Ward is my debut memoir.

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.