Authors
Umm Ali
Umm Ali is a Pakistani-American writer and educator from NY. She is the award-winning author of Show Yourself, a novella that addresses the lack of mental health awareness in Muslim communities. She has spent over fifteen years as a high school social studies teacher in the Middle East and has worked extensively in exam coordination and content development. Her website is www.adeebajafri.com You can find her on Instagram @ummali_writes.
Russ Allen
Russ Allen studied creative writing at the University of Virginia, where many popular writers such as David Baldacci and Anne Beattie learned and taught – and where Edgar Allan Poe was a student and William Faulkner (a Russ hero) served as a professor. Another writing hero is Russ’ boyhood friend, college roommate, lifelong bud, and writing colleague and muse – Pulitzer Prize winner Ron Suskind.
In the professional world, Russ plies the healthcare field as a marketing and medical writer. He directed medical communications for Jefferson Health, where as an advancement writer his first writing mentor was Don Fey, father of another great UVa writer and friend, Tina Fey.
Russ has a master’s in communications, met his wife at the annual conference of the American Writers Association, and has been a full-time freelance writer since his son and daughter were little. He owns The Writers Studio, a creative-editorial, marketing, and promotional-services practice located just outside of Philadelphia.
Richard P. Allison
Richard P. Allison was the Chief Investigator for the Mississippi State Board of Medical Licensure for approximately nineteen years. During that time, he was recognized by DEA for significant contributions in the field of controlled substance pharmaceutical diversion investigations. He received the 1993 United States Department of Health and Human Services Inspector General’s Integrity Award for contributions to HHS to improve the quality of medicine practiced in Mississippi. He’s the author of Healer’s or Dealers?
Natalie Brown
NK Brown is a veterinarian and a proud mother of three. Originally from Stratford-Upon-Avon, she now lives outside Boston, Massachusetts. Finally ready for the career change she has always wanted, she joined Jericho Writers and is an alumni of their Ultimate Novel Writing Couse 2023/24.. She loves to write in the SFF genre usually with a dark and speculative twist. An animal or two will usually pop up somewhere in her writing! When not reading or writing or reading about writing, you can f ind her out on a long run, lost in her imagination (or a good audiobook) as she plans her next novel. She can be found at:
Kyra Rain Burrus
Kyra Rain was born and raised in the small towns of Illinois. Growing up, she always had a fondness for all that is fanciful, peculiar, and strange. Now a writer, she weaves her love for whimsy into a never-ending supply of stories. The one thing she loves as much as getting lost in a fictional world is traveling the real one with her husband and best friend, Matthew.
David Boiani
David Boiani is an American author living in Coventry, Rhode Island. He writes Psychological thrillers mixed with a touch of horror. He has two short story collections available, Dark and Darker Musings. His debut novel, A Thin Line and its sequel, The Redemption, The Immortal, and Azreal’s Ledge are also now available.
Emily Bex
Emily Bex is the international best selling author of the epic six book Medici Warrior Series. As she says, “Why start small?” She worked for over twenty years in marketing, developing ad campaigns, catalogs, product launches, and promotional literature. She figured if she could write creatively about products, then surely she could write something about these characters that were rattling around inside her brain.
The Medici Warrior Series is paranormal romance, or as she calls it, pure escapism. She currently lives in Virginia, but has used her extensive love of travel, both foreign and domestic, to create the backdrop for her characters to play out their story.
She is currently working on another series with witches.
Tracy Caple
Tracy Caple was born and raised in rural Auckland, New Zealand. Raised like an only child, seeing her brother and sister had already left home, she found company in books and thanks to her father’s influencebegan to write her own stories. Now living in rural South Australia with her husband, three dogs, three miniature goats and a cat, Tracy has found time to once again escape into the world of reading and writing. The Blue Guitar Pick is her debut novel and its squeal is already in the works.
Max Cherry
Max Cherry was born in Thorn, Mississippi on what he believes is a hotbed of psychic activity. His bedroom was the most terrifying place on earth, and his parents had to nightly reassure him that the monsters he swore were in his closet and under his bed were only in his head. He quickly discovered his parents were right, but it was not until he picked up his first pencil and started writing that he fully realized how crowded it was up there.
As the pencil worked its gray magic on every piece of scrap paper he could scrounge, Max discovered that writing was the only way to chase the monsters away.
Max currently lives in Yalobusha county with his wife and daughter. He refuses to trust empty boxes and cannot tolerate sitting next to food he cannot pronounce. When his family goes to sleep, Max still passes the time by writing the monsters away.
Dick Denny
Dick Denny is a veteran of the 82nd Airborne and a graduate of Auburn University. Dick SCUBA dives, hikes, camps, and has summited Kilimanjaro. The Double D is a disappointment to his family, a fun guy to be around, and a handy guy to have about in a pinch.
Bennion Ellsworth
Bennion Ellsworth lives in beautiful Cedar City, Utah with his wife and two daughters. He studied Creative Writing at Southern Utah University and has worked in the mental health field for nearly ten years. Bennion loves the outdoors and all forms of stories, including video games, TV and movies, and (obviously) books. While he enjoys science fiction and fantasy, reading and writing for his kids are where he finds real enjoyment.
F.D. Fair
F.D. Fair is a paranormal romance author who was born and raised in Ontario, Canada. She is a wife and mother to three beautiful boys who keep her on her toes.
She has always loved everything strange, unexplained and magical. She started as an avid reader of paranormal romance and created fantastical stories in her head which she eventually put down on paper, starting her Westwood Pack Series.
C.J. Foster
C.J. Foster enlisted in the military after graduating high school. After several tours of duty, C.J. went to medical school and became a physician. Returning to the military, C.J. spent the next few decades stationed throughout the world, including serving in both Iraq and Afghanistan, learning foreign languages and experiencing different cultures through medical engagements on multiple continents.
Jenny Fulton
Jenny Fulton is a wife, mother, children’s book author, YA fantasy author, blogger, and freelance writer with a B.S. in Bible, a B.S. in elementary education, and an endorsement in K-12 ESL. After graduating from Grace University in 2007, Jenny worked as a teacher in a variety of cultural and educational settings, both abroad and in the United States. She is a storyteller, a follower of Christ, and a seeker of truth. An enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, Jenny grew up hearing stories from her dad about the supernatural workings on the Navajo Reservation. As a child, she collected angels and loved anything related to fairy tales. Her days are now mostly spent raising her three young daughters (homeschooling two of them) and writing as much as time and opportunity allows.
Ariana Glaser
Ariana Glaser has been writing short stories since the age of seven. She finished writing her first novella, The World I Never Knew, at the age of eleven and published it at the age of twelve. Ariana finished writing her second novel, She Remembers. Ariana’s other creative pursuits include acting, singing, dancing, and playing piano. She lives on Long Island, New York with her family and pets.
Jenna Greene
Jenna Greene is a middle school teacher, dance enthusiast, dragonboat coach, and semi-professional napper. She lives with her husband, Scott, and daughter, Olivia, in Alberta, Canada.
Elizabeth Guider
Elizabeth Guider is a longtime entertainment journalist who has worked in Rome, Paris and London as well as in New York and Los Angeles. Born in the South, she holds a doctorate in Renaissance Studies from New York University. During the late 1970’s she was based in Rome where she taught English and American literature and where much of the action of her first novel, The Passionate Palazzo, takes place. While in Europe she worked as an entertainment reporter for the showbiz newspaper Variety, focusing on the film business, television and theater. She also traveled widely, reporting on the politics affecting media from Eastern Europe to Hong Kong as well as covering various festivals and trade shows in Cannes, Monte Carlo, Venice and Berlin. Back in the States since the early 1990’s , she specialized on the burgeoning TV industry and eventually held top editor positions at Variety and latterly at The Hollywood Reporter. Most recently she has freelanced for World Screen News as senior contributing editor. She mostly divides her time between Los Angeles and Vicksburg, Mississippi where she grew up and which is the setting for Milk and Honey on the Other Side.
Bradley Guire
Bradley Guire started writing and drawing as a child, leading to his professional work as a reporter, editor, and designer spanning four newspapers across two decades. He has won numerous awards for both reporting and design, including placing third in the Reporter of the Year category in the 2011 Idaho Press Club Awards. As a designer, he won first place in daily page design for three years straight from 2017-19 and even swept the category the first two years. His personal column (2018-19) for the Idaho Press garnered much attention, including handwritten letters from readers.
In the fall, he works at Spirit Halloween, where he champions the Spirit of Children charity, which helps children’s wards of hospitals across the country. Plus, he just really loves Halloween.
His personal experiences with addiction to painkillers following multiple surgeries, depression, a stint in a behavioral health center, and his career as a journalist have informed this story. Many of the scenes in this novel are based on his life. Today, Guire has just a bit more hope than Dean and hopes his written work continues to mean something to the community.
Guire, a native Alabaman and graduate of the University of Alabama, now resides in Boise, Idaho. The Write Prescription is his first novel.
Creighton Halbert
C. R. Halbert grew up poring over the adventures of the Pevensies and the fantastic imagery from Dr. Seuss’s imagination. Interested in beauty wherever it can be built, these days he spends his free time writing, gardening, and living life with his lovely wife.”
Laura Holt
Laura Holt is a bestselling and award-winning author of YA and adult fiction, poetry, nonfiction, and short fiction. She is a self-professed word witch with a passion for mythology, history, and caffeine who enjoys telling stories about angry girls with magic powers and wild natures, whose bark is as bad as their bite. When she’s not writing, you can find her stretched out on a yoga mat, hiking down wooded trails, or wandering the aisles at a local bookstore searching for her next great read. She lives in small-town Georgia with her daughter, cat, and a lot of fake plants. Follow her on Instagram @authorlauraholt to stay up to date on bookish news, events, and book and music recs, or subscribe to her seasonal newsletter at https://holtlara2.wixsite.com/lauraholt for even more exclusive content and writer resources.
D. Thomas Jerlo
A best-selling and award nominated author of fantasy and paranormal, D. Thomas Jerlo’s novels hook unsuspecting readers into worlds of mage’ic and refuses to let them go until that last page is read.
Gary Kadet
Joe King
Joe King got his first taste of professional writing as a print journalist, earning several awards in the field from the Tennessee Press Association. He later expanded his craft by moving into the world of fiction and poetry writing. His works include the novels Raw Egg and A Salted Slug as well as the poetry collection Human Ants. Reviewers of his work have compared his writing to the likes of Dostoevsky, Sartre, Vonnegut, Ginsburg, and Bukowski. King also writes and records songs under the moniker Bones in the Museum, and he has released several albums with this musical project. He lives in Knoxville, TN.
Mike Martin
Mike D. Martin is an author of fantasy novels. A lifelong native of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, he graduated from the University of Akron with a degree in Political Science/Criminal Justice before he realized that his degree didn’t entitle him to become a knight who carried a big sword. He then turned to writing fantastical stories full of action, adventure, mystery and humor which only he finds funny. His love of fantasy stories began with a fascination with mythology, the influences of which can often be found in the stories he writes. He is also the author of the self-published The Elesian Tales Saga series of epic fantasy novels and The Knight from Kildwin series of novellas.
Sydni Mahaffey
Sydni Mahaffey is a college student by day and an author by night. She was born and raised in Madison, Mississippi and currently resides in Flowood, Mississippi. In May of 2021, Sydni graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi with a bachelor’s degree in Nutrition and Dietetics. Why children’s books you may ask? Sydni chose to write children’s books because stories can really stimulate a child’s imagination and play. Sydni is an advocate for children’s literacy and Pi Beta Phi’s Philanthropy Read, Lead, Achieve. One in four children in America grow up without learning how to read. A love for reading can unlock true potential and create a more literate and productive society. Reading truly is a steppingstone to success in all aspects of life! Sydni enjoys writing books about topics that children will use in everyday life and hopes her books will educate children in a way that is enjoyable.
Sydni has worked with preschool aged children for the last five years and is also the twin sister of a first-grade teacher. Children, education, and reading have always played a huge role in her life, and she is thrilled to be releasing her first book.
During her free time, Sydni enjoys reading, cooking, baking, playing with her dog, and spending time outdoors. Pablo the Pig Learns Manners is meant to be the first book in a three-part series. Sydni can’t wait to see which story develops next!
John Kevin McDonagh
John-Kevin McDonagh was born and raised in the west of Ireland. He read voraciously as a child, which made his father proud, and wrote stories ever since his father brought home the office typewriter for a weekend in the summer of 1990. His father was still proud but annoyed he couldn’t get his own work done.
John-Kevin went on to study mechanical engineering in the University of Limerick where he adapted his love of writing to telling enthralling epic anecdotes to his friends, sometimes while sober. His career brought him all over the world, with years spent in Germany, Japan, and the USA but he finally settled in Dublin, with his beloved Galway-girl. Now he can be found keeping his son away from his work-laptop, or walking the Wicklow hills in his spare time.
Effie Molina
Effie Molina
Mike Pace
Born in Pittsburgh, Mike received a B.F.A. degree from the University of Illinois and a law degree from Georgetown University where he served on the editorial board of the prestigious Georgetown Law Journal. He taught art in a Washington D. C. inner-city public school before being appointed Assistant U.S. Attorney for Washington D.C.. After a stint as a commercial litigator, he served as General Counsel to an environmental services company before resigning to practice law part-time, thereby allowing him to focus on his first love, creative writing.
He’s a member of the International Thriller Writers Association, the Mystery Writers of America, and the Women’s Fiction Writer’s Association, Suspense Magazine said of his stand-alone supernatural thriller, One to Go, (Oceanview): “Completely unique; you hold your breath waiting for the next shoe to drop!” The book also received strong endorsements from NYT bestselling authors such as Steve Berry (“terrific”), Douglas Preston (“ripping good”), and Gayle Lynds (“devilishly clever”). Kirkus Reviews said of his supernatural thriller, Dead Light (Sapphire Star): “Compelling characters … thrilling plot,” and Suspense Magazine advised: “Pace delivers a page turner in Dead Light, that should be on every horror / thriller readers bookshelf.” Writer’s Digest called Mike’s women’s fiction book, The Chocolate Shop (writing as J.J. Spring) “Exceptional,” and selected it as the magazine’s 2019 first place award winner for contemporary fiction (sp-ebook.)
Mike lives in Florida and when not writing or practicing his sax he loves long beach walks with his parti-standard poodle, “Handsome Jack”.
S.J. Pierce
International Bestselling Author Susan James Pierce writes Paranormal and Sci-fi Romance novels, and they all have the same thing in common – the characters’ love defies all odds. Her “unputdownable” stories will make you laugh, cry, swoon, and keep you on the edge of your seat. Enjoy the ride!
Laura Ranger
Laura Ranger is a natural storyteller. She has been turning all of life into stories since she was young. This mother of one, grandmother of four began writing her fictitious stories down to the delight of her family and friends. She’s been writing her tales for over thirty years. She became a published author when she put one of her short stories in a Christmas anthology in support of feeding children around the world, entitled Eight ‘Til Christmas. Once she saw one of her stories in print, she will tell you she can’t stop.
In addition to Deception, and Royalty, she co-authored Rogue. She’s been working on a series called Lessons, which she envisions parents reading with their children. She discovered while writing the book, the lessons addressed throughout the story speak to both children and adults. Additionally, She has numerous ideas for additional novels and adding more all the time, it’s just a matter of completing each in turn. Laura will tell you, “God blessed me with a natural gift of storytelling; it is up to me to use that gift to the best of my ability.”
Not only is Laura a published author, she is the owner of Foundations Book Publishing Company.
Lianne Robinson
Lianne Robinson’s passion for storytelling began early, sparked by the discovery of her grandmother’s old Remington typewriter. A lifelong lover of books and stories that keep her up past bedtime, she writes sweet, heartfelt romances that make readers laugh, cry, and believe in second chances. Holiday Connection is her second novel and her first foray into holiday romance—a story inspired by her love of cozy traditions, festive Southern settings, and unexpected love. Lianne lives in Alabama with her husband, their three children, and a goofy rescue dog named Piper, who is completely obsessed with her and always underfoot. When she’s not writing, she’s juggling a myriad of never-ending band booster president responsibilities, sipping copious amounts of coffee, binge-watching Hallmark movies, or dreaming up her next feel-good story. You may reach her at AuthorVLRobinson@gmail.com
Bella Roccaforte
Bella Roccaforte
McKenna Roszkowski
McKenna Roszkowski is a nature-loving introvert with a soft spot for warm drinks, classical music, and stories that whisk you away from reality. She writes enchanting fantasy with a dash of romance—the kind of tales best read curled up under a blanket with a cup of tea in hand and two cats (Pip and Paris) nearby. With a background in exercise science and a passion for health and strength, McKenna trains like she might be summoned to a magical realm at any moment (preferably one with swords, forests, and a brooding fae warrior or two). Her writing is inspired by the natural world, romantic daydreams, and the belief that there’s always a little light, even in the darkest of stories. When she’s not writing or lifting weights like a warrior queen, you’ll find her rewatching comfort movies, listening to hauntingly beautiful symphonies, or getting lost in books with love stories that ache in all the right ways.
K.L. Shandwick
K.L. Shandwick is an international bestselling author of over thirty novels. She mainly writes New Adult, Contemporary Romance, and Romantic Suspense stories. Her writing is inspired by imperfect people, each striving to carve out their own piece of happiness from life. Her emotional novels have gained a loyal following for her ‘real to life’ characters who sometimes face challenges in their quest for love. Many readers have fallen for her book boyfriends, and when K.L. isn’t writing, she lives in the English countryside with her husband and enjoys live music events and socializing with friends.
Paul Blake Smith
Paul Blake Smith is the author of 6 books, two from a publishing company, and now has a new nonfiction book coming out from another publisher. He still lives in still live in southern Missouri, long after his four years at SE Missouri State University. He enjoys biographies, sports, and history.
Katherine Eddinger Smits
Katherine Eddinger Smits grew up in Tarpon Springs, Florida. Although not from a Greek background, she fell in love with the Greek culture of the town and its close-knit community. She moved away years ago, but she still visits Tarpon Springs frequently to see old friends and classmates, walk the beaches or shop and eat at the Sponge Docks.
Katherine was devastated to learn her first career choice—mermaid, was not realistic, so she started writing stories in grade school, and planned to write novels someday. She put off writing fiction while she raised her family and worked as a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker at four different Veterans Affairs Medical Centers around the country. She found helping veterans and their families fulfilling, and managed to squeeze writing into her life. Whether recording clinical assessments, producing brochures for social programs or putting together newsletters for clubs and organizations, she always had some kind of creative project in the works.
Katherine lives with her husband in Homosassa, Florida and Falling Waters, West Virginia. They have a daughter who resides in Alexandria, Virginia and a son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter in Chesapeake, Virginia.
Erich Stamer
Erich Stamer grew up in Western Pennsylvania and currently resides in the Pittsburgh area with his wife and their beloved pets. He graduated with a bachelor’s from the University of Pittsburgh in 2011 and a master’s from Duquesne University in 2017. A storyteller in one form or another all his life, Erich’s writing began with creating his own comic books as a child, culminating in found loves of literature and arthouse style horror which made him realize he had his own stories to tell. He uses music and emotion as inspirational bases for his works, and is always searching for the next way to leave a lasting impression on his readers.
His debut novel, Old Grey Mule, will be published by Foundations Book Publishing in 2025. www.erichstamerauthor.com
Peter Stavros
Peter J. Stavros is the author of the novel, The Thing About My Uncle, as well as three short story collections and a YA basketball novella. His writing has appeared in literary journals, anthologies, newspapers and magazines. Peter has also practiced law for thirty years, he once worked as a gospel radio DJ and sold t-shirts from a pushcart on the streets of downtown Boston, and, as a lifelong pro wrestling fan, he hopes to someday land a perfect step-up enzuiguri. Originally from Queens, New York, he currently lives in Louisville, Kentucky with his wife and their cheese-stealing rescue Golden Retriever, Molly. More can be found at www.peterjstavros.com and follow on X/Twitter and Instagram @PeterJStavros.
Joshua Jude Summa
Josh Summa studied Graphic arts in High school and Communication arts at Lackawanna College. He has a major interest in storytelling in a wide variety of mediums including; Graphic novels, animation, television, as well as gaming. He currently is working in the Automotive industry.
Josh’s interests include, but are not limited to; politics, music, retro gaming, and drawing. He also enjoys the outdoors and spending time with friends and family.
He is currently exploring several possibilities to develop for his next children’s book project based on experiences from his childhood. “Courage for the first day of School” is his first book and was illustrated by his Father, Alan Summa.
Josh currently lives in Covington Township, Pennsylvania with his family and cat “Trouble Baker.”
Laura Fleming Summa
Laura Fleming Summa moved to Pennsylvania from Delaware at the age of twelve, and now lives in the Pocono Mountains of PA. Her love of illustration inspired her to enroll in the Commercial Arts program at the Career Technology Center, during high school, to hone her skills. She then went on to pursue an Associate’s Degree at Kutztown University, and studied under several renowned artists in a variety of mediums.
Laura’s career began in Commercial art and advertising and transitioned to illustrating small press publications. On Christmas Day in 1984, her birthday, she married her husband, Alan Jude Summa, who is also an artist. Together, they have two wonderful children, Joshua Jude Summa, a published writer, and Bethany Summa Shaffer, an artist, who lives nearby with her husband, Brian.
Laura’s talent has encompassed a variety of mediums including stained glass, felting, watercolors, sculpting, ceramics, and photography. Her passion to create and love of children had kindled an interest in illustrating Children’s Books. Her first venture into illustrating the genre of Children’s books is a delightful tale entitled Margareet. Written by the enormously talented author, Patricia Jennings. Laura feels honored to be part of this work. She has thoroughly enjoyed drawing every page of Margareet, and is now working with her husband on illustrating her second children’s book, with more planned.
Laura currently works as the Creative Director at Leadbelly Productions, a creative think tank that, over a 30-year span, has produced a variety of products geared toward children. With her husband, Alan and long-time friend, Glenn Boyd, the trio have produced a comic book series, Interplanetary Lizards of the Texas Plains. In addition, they have worked with several agents to market products, such as video games, animation, toys, apparel, model kits, watches, trading cards, costumes, and more. After the success of the Interplanetary Lizards, the team expanded their creations to include toy designs, plush, candy concepts, and games, as well as animation for children. Laura is currently working on an animated children’s concept that was created by her son, Joshua called F.R.I.D.G.E. (Food Residents In Deliciously Good Entertainment), and is being represented by Marketing Immersion. She has worked as an Art instructor at ArtWorks art gallery, and served on the local Advisory Committee for the Arts. She continues to teach art on a part-time basis.
Laura enjoys many hobbies, especially cooking, baking, sewing, felting, crocheting, and home improvement projects. Her most recent discovery is a passion for working with clay, creating many hand built pieces. When she is not drawing or painting, she can be found at the Moscow ClayWorks working alongside the “clay ladies.” Laura lives in a 100-year-old farmhouse with her husband and son. She also has two shelties, Ian McDanger and Zoey MacDoughy, two cats, Buster McTrouble and Trouble Baker, and a bearded dragon named Doc.
Phil Thomas
Phil Thomas is an author and screenwriter from the suburbs of Philadelphia. He is a member of the “International Association of Professional Writers & Editors” and is the co-host of “What Are You Afraid Of?” a weekly horror and paranormal show that airs on Para-X radio on Friday evenings at 9:00 pm. He is featured in Monsterthology 2 collection, released in October 2019 by Zombie Works Publications with his story, Tinfoil Bullet. His short story, Teddy Bear Kill! Kill! is featured in the anthology, Nightside: Tales of Outré Noir, released by Close to the Bone Publishing on October 30, 2020. His short story collection, Dinner, Drinks, and Ectoplasm is available now for FREE through various outlets, including his website at www.philthomas.net.
His debut novel, The Poe Predicament was published by Foundations Books in 2021.
Louise Jane Watson
Born and raised in the UK, Louise Jane Watson is an artist and writer now based in the Portland, Oregon.
Louise’s artwork has been shown in museums and galleries throughout the Pacific Northwest and her satirical writing has been featured in The Haven, Daily Drunk Magazine, Jane Austen’s Wastebasket, and The Weekly Humorist.
A perfect weekend for Louise would include hanging out with friends, family by the river, then coming home to read survival stories and have a extensive cat-petting session.