Catherine Hughes
From my earliest days, I was the kid who always had a book in her hands. There was something so magical about turning a page and crossing a threshold into a brand new world. Myths and legends, stories of kings and queens, tales of witches and haunted castles, adventures of settlers and explorers--I loved them all, devouring one series after another, nudged by the whimsical sway of my shifting moods. When it came to writing, the first time I put my thoughts out there for the public eye coincided with my family’s move from the Bronx out to “the country”--Long Island of the 1970s. The day my parents brought us children to the house, I remember thinking how weird it was that no other family lived upstairs as was the case in our former apartment building. That summer, I decided to create my own newspaper about events happening on the block. Pulling information from the three friends who lived on my street and knocking on the doors of a few kindly neighbors, I had enough material to fill out a weekly newsletter. For 50 cents, I would make 10 copies at the library and rush home to fold and place them into mailboxes. My writing career didn’t last very long though. Once the summer sun gave way to the shortened days of autumn and the leaves went from gold to brown to dust, I lacked the stamina to brave the changes, preferring to stay inside and cozy up with a book rather than venture out into the chilled twilight to get the latest scoop. I do look back fondly upon those days, especially the excitement I felt about gathering information and adding my own sense of flair--and even a bit of fiction--before putting it on the page. Even though over the years in between, I’ve written hundreds of lessons, lectures, and speeches, that passion to tell a great story never really went away. A trip to Urquhart castle on the banks of Loch Ness gave me the courage to tap into that love once again.
Jeremy Clift
Jeremy Clift [https://www.jeremycliftbooks.com] is the author of Born in Space and the Sci-Fi Galaxy series, exploring how space colonization might transform humanity. With a background as a former Reuters correspondent and non-fiction publisher, Clift's fiction is grounded in science and driven by story. He has interviewed Nobel economists, worked on global development initiatives, and now writes speculative fiction about the future of life beyond Earth.
Mike J. Kizman
Mike J. Kizman was born in and lived all of his life in Northwest Indiana. He has been married for over 30 years and has one daughter away at college. Mike has always been the creative type, being the author of many unpublished short stories and poetry. He is also a visual artist who creates mainly landscapes using acrylic paint on canvas or colored pencils. His work in that medium can be found at Simply99 Creations on Facebook and Instagram.
When Mike isn’t creating, he can often be found walking his terrier mix dog, Kardashian, which he adopted from a shelter when the dog was seven years old. He volunteers working many different children’s programs and is an award-winning Girl Scouts leader who led his daughter to earning the prestigious Girl Scouts Gold Award.
Kim Gottlieb-Walker
Now a novelist living in Los Angeles’s famous Laurel Canyon in Los Angeles, Kim Gottlieb-Walker’s career as a photographer spanned over 50 years, from rock & roll and popular culture heroes of the '60s and '70s to motion pictures and television unit photography. She was an elected representative for still photographers in the International Cinematographers Guild, IATSE Local 600. for over three decades. Her coffee table photo books "Bob Marley and the Golden Age of Reggae" and “On Set with John Carpenter " (on Halloween, the Fog, Christine Halloween II and Escape from NY) published byTitan Books, UK, have had multiple printings and also have editions in Japan, Russia and France. She also worked at Paramount as the unit photographer on Cheers for nine years and Family Ties for five, as well as the pilots for Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and The Next Generation, and the last Bob Newhart show Bob.
John Graham
JOHN DAVID GRAHAM is the founder and executive director of Good Samaritan Home, a non-profit social service agency in Ohio, offering ex-offenders reentry housing and mentoring support. He is the author of an academic book, Citizen Circle: A Mentoring Model for Rehabilitating Ex-offenders in Darke County, Ohio, that documents the positive impact that mentoring ex-offenders has on the community.Prior to that he was a door-to-door salesman, a children's home counselor, substitute school teacher, truck driver, fireman, building contractor, minister and a journalist. Sometimes the road home takes many twists and turns.That long and winding road is the best preparation for writing. John's philosophy is the best writing occurs after a life has actually been lived-when we have had time to develop calloused hands and a tender heart.His current novel, although fiction, is the very real story of too many of us who struggle to overcome generations of poverty, neglect or abuse that have left us totally incapable of the life, and love, we desperately want. It is everyone's story because we all deserve a second chance.
Carrie Wiegman
Carrie Wiegman lives in the Midwest with her husband, family, and a cat named Mouse (who, as it turns out, thinks she's a dog).
Carrie's passion for writing came full force with the Award-Winning debut of her first novel, Coming in from the Outfield; she excitedly writes heartwarming fiction with a strong emphasis on women's empowerment. Her inspiration came as she is a five-year cancer survivor. She draws from her well of determination, insight, and fortitude to bring her relatable and unforgettable characters and their relationships to life.
When she is not writing, you can find Carrie either enjoying the outdoors or snuggling on the couch watching far, far too many British movies.
Harker Jones
Harker Jones is the author of the best-selling, award-winning love story “Until September,” the acclaimed young-adult thriller “Never Have I Ever” and the celebrated children’s book “The Bird Who Was Afraid to Fly.” His short thrillers “Cole & Colette” and “One-Hit Wonder” have been accepted into more than 60 film festivals combined, garnering several awards. He was managing editor of “Out” magazine for seven years and is currently a theater critic for Broadway World. A published poet, he is a member of the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle, the Dramatists Guild of America, the Horror Writers Association and Mensa. He loves cats and carbs and would like to be a pop star but would settle for being killed in a slasher movie.
Louis Trubiano
LOUIS TRUBIANO spent over forty years in the advertising industry, most of it as president of his own firm. Born and raised in Quincy, Massachusetts, he earned his bachelor’s degree from The University of Rochester and a master’s degree from Boston University’s College of Communication. He and his wife live in Canton, Massachusetts and have three daughters, six grandchildren, and one spoiled dog.
Chelsea Frandsen
With a background in theatre and media arts, Chelsea Frandsen is a Library Assistant who moonlights as a playwright and novelist. She lives in a historic house in Utah with a giant library and her spoiled lapdog. Find her on Instagram and X @chexfrandsen.
Carol Marie Pendergast Kimball
Carol Marie Pendergast Kimball brings a uniquely artistic perspective to the world with formal training in fine arts at a young age and a career spanning education, publishing, printing, and gallery ownership. Her passion for creative writing has led to writing in many genres; novels, short stories, children’s stories with original illustrations, poetry, song lyrics, screenplays, as well as contributing to local newspaper articles. Born with an innate talent for art, Kimball was encouraged by her parents and teachers to attend summer art programs through the Newton public schools and studied at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts on scholarship. Attending the Freshman program at the Art Institute of Boston, now Lesley University’s College of Art & Design, before earning her BFA in Art Education from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Her European travels through France, England, Ireland, and Italy have influenced both her artistic and literary sensibilities. After teaching art in public schools, Kimball's professional journey led her through the publishing and printing industries, where her communication abilities, attention to detail and color correction expertise developed skills that now manifest in her artistry, and vividly descriptive writing style. Moving to Cape Cod, Kimball started Kimball Productions, taught MakeARt group and private art lessons while opening her 451ArtGallery.com and continuing to write. Coming from a large family has given Kimball a unique perspective on the diversity of characters. Married, and the mother of four daughters, Kimball has balanced family life, community involvement, and artistic pursuits throughout her career. Her unique combination of visual artistry and storytelling creates appeal not just to the mind, but to all senses. The diversity of her artistic interests are reflective in her writing as well. She has been known to repeat the term, ‘Art is an abstraction of reality’. Her life on Cape Cod has provided introspective and the joy of writing and painting. While FABRICATION: Murder is Real marks Kimball's debut as a mystery novelist, her creative range extends far beyond the thriller genre. She is currently working to complete several fun and interesting projects.
VJ Garske
Embracing the Magic of the Open Road:
The open road called to me, and I couldn’t resist its allure. So, I embarked on an epic adventure in my beloved Transit van, which I affectionately dubbed ‘Vanimal.’
I explored the back roads of America, from the rugged badlands to towering forests, from meandering rivers to enchanting waterfalls. Each new bend in the highway held the promise of magic. And all of it sparked my imagination.
Soon, an idea for a novel emerged. Inspired by the people, places, and sights along the way, my story sprang to life — a wizard here, a raven there, and a sprinkling of mischievous goats. Sweetwater, an imaginary small town, became the foundation for my debut novel, “The Raven Moonstone.”
Many miles later, I’ve gathered the courage to share my optimistic and quirky tale. It all began as a story for my grandson, and now I invite readers of all ages to discover the magic of forgiveness within the pages of my book.
As a first-time author venturing beyond my comfort zone, I feel a mix of excitement and apprehension. Your support and feedback mean a great deal to me. Thank you for being a part of this exciting chapter in my life.
Melissa Rea
I began writing ten years ago. Flowers is my fifth novel which I hope to soon find a publishing home. I write, always, of strong women dealing with life and love. Conjuring Casanova, published in 2016 by She Writes Press, won a gold medal in Reader’s Choice Literary Award for Romance and was a runner up in Forward Reviews Best Book Contest . My two-book series, Nights of Alice : Rabbithole and Pool of Tears both won gold medals in Erotic Romance from Readers Choice. Pool of Tears also won Best In Region: Midwest. Both were published by Melange Publishing LLC in 2021 and 2022 respectively. Maestro, published in 2022 by Melange won A Gold Medal in Historical Romance. I live in St. Louis with my husband and rescue cats.
Anju Gattani
Multi-Award winning fiction author, international freelance journalist, blogger and former newspaper reporter, Anju was born in India but grew up in Hong Kong. She has also lived and been published in Singapore, India, Australia, USA and finally dug her roots in USA. Anju’s Winds of Fire Series was reviewed “Downton Abbey-style saga, but set in India!” and is the proud finalist and recipient of multiple awards. : NIEA Finalist, Bests Book Awards Finalist, Georgia Author Of The Year Nominee and International Book Of The Month pick by the International Pulpwood Queen & Timber Guys Book Club Reading Nation. Anju hopes her books will Bridge Cultures and Break Barriers.
Martin Parece
I'd really rather you not ask me questions like this! Well, are you asking who I am or "Who am I?", because the latter is a completely different question that forces one to look deep into the heart and mind. It is the question humankind has been asking since there was humankind. Who I am, on the other hand, is just some guy who loves to read and tell stories. As I look back, I have always been a storyteller, from my first short stories to my first faltering attempts at playing Dungeon Master. As of the taking of this picture, I am forty four years old, and I still love TTRPGs (here you can find some free, fan-made content for Alien, my latest obsession), all sorts of fiction, heavy metal (note the Metallica t-shirt) and horror movies. In fact, this last will be readily apparent should you read my anthology Tendrils in the Dark. A lot of shout outs, homages, and influences there... I returned to my creative endeavors around 2009 as my business of seven years began to burn down around me during the recession. I suppose adversity causes growth, and though I shelved my projects for a few years, I returned to them with the publication of Blood and Steel in 2011. I’ve come back to fantasy over and over with six more books in the world of Blood and Steel, as well as the new Dragonknight Trilogy, the first two books of which have been well received. I was beside myself when The Oathbreaker’s Daughter landed as a finalist in the Fantasy category of two different awards. I’m now delving into my other great loves – horror and science fiction. Mirrored, Darkly is the first in a loosely connected series (The World of Shadows), and my upcoming novel Whispers of the Sower has already been described as “if Alien had a baby with Annihilation and sent it to therapy with Event Horizon”. I may explode if I don’t get these two books out soon! In the end, I'm just a guy who loves to tell stories, read other persons' stories, and head bang in the car. I hope you'll join me on the journey!
Carl Parsons
Carl Parsons is an author with a diverse background in both the sciences and humanities. After spending 22 years in management roles at TRW Automotive, he shifted his focus to teaching English and pursuing his passion for writing. His short stories have appeared in publications such as The Broadkill Review, The Raven Review, Scars Publications, and Spillwords Press, while his poetry has been featured in Literary Yard and Plum Tree Tavern.
Carl has been recognized for his contributions to literary fiction, receiving honors such as Contributor of the Year by Spillwords Press and a Best Political Thriller Award from Literary Global for his novel Trios: Death, Deceit, and Politics. He also moderates a local book club. Carl holds a BA and MA in English from West Virginia University as well as a MS in Manufacturing Management from Kettering University and is a member of West Virginia Writers, Inc.
Scott Fales
Scott Fales is an author, screenwriter, producer, photographer, professional civil engineer and business development and marketing strategist. He attended Brooks Institute of Photography, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, and has obtained a Master Screenwriter Certification through ScreenwritingU. Mr. Fales lived and worked as a missionary in Eger, Hungary from 2010 to 2012. Subsequently, establishing ‘The Stars of Eger Film Foundation’ in Eger, Hungary to promote international collaboration on educational and entertainment content. The foundation develops feature films, short films, documentaries, television content, and literary projects. (See www.egerfilm.eu). Scott is passionate about creating uplifting and inspirational stories. Much of his literary work is historically grounded, though he writes in a variety of genres, ranging from fantasy to historical dramas, comedies to thrillers, and biographies to children’s stories. The themes of his stories are always spiritual in nature and crafted from a biblical worldview.
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