Greater Austin Book Festival 2025: Author Profiles

Usha Akella has authored ten books that include poetry, and two musical dramas with publishers such as Spinifex Press, Australia, Sahitya Akademi (India’s Academy of Letters), and Mantis Editores, Mexico. She earned an MSt. in Creative Writing from the University of Cambridge, UK. She is the founder of Matwaala, launched to increase the visibility of South Asian poets, and www.the-pov.com, a website of curated interviews. She was selected as one of the Creative Ambassadors for the city of Austin in 2019 & 2015. She has been hosted by numerous international poetry festivals, and laudable venues such as the Ministry of Arts and Letters, Mexico, Sahitya Akademi, JLF Houston etc., She edited and conceived Hum Aiseich Bolte! This is just how we speak, a poetry anthology on the city of Hyderabad, and a festschrift, A house of words, in honor of Keki Daruwalla.

Rich Armington was a psychotherapist in Austin for 35 years. His book, 'Trees Are Us' is a flip book paired with haiku poems celebrating one pecan tree's seasonal changes over a one year period at Barton Springs pool in Austin. Each image is accompanied by a haiku created by the 59 members of the Barton Springs community, of all ages. Also, a few years ago Rich created another book (with videos accessed via QR codes) for children, adults and families about a beloved Egyptian Geese family at Barton Springs pool, 'How Do I Fly?' For decades he has done a Chi Gong practice each morning year round, and then swims in the crystal-clear waters. All proceeds from sales of 'Trees Are Us' are donated to two non-profits in Austin: TreeFolks as well as S.O.S (Save Our Springs). 'Trees Are Us' has a website: https://howdoifly.com/trees-are-us/.

Jennifer Bloom is a mother, poet, facilitator, singer, social innovator, and lifelong learner with over twenty-five years of practice creating experiences that invite participants to expand their mind and heart, open to diverse perspectives, and imagine possibilities. Jennifer’s work is grounded in social science process and weaves intellect, intuition, and imagination. Jennifer has authored six books and produced three recorded albums of poetry and music. She’s shared poetry, stories, and songs with audiences across the country and facilitated groups ranging from public school students to social change leaders. Her Poetry Timeout Project has engaged hundreds of people, bringing poetry into their everyday experience.

Lindsay J. Campbell is a full-time writer who blends suspense with deeply layered characters. A former content marketing manager, she holds a master’s in English composition and rhetorical studies and a bachelor’s in strategic communication and journalism. She has also worked as an English instructor and editorial assistant. Her debut novel, The Space Between Them, is a gripping psychological thriller that blurs the lines between reality and delusion.

Melissa Coffey is the author of Fridge-Opolis, her debut picture book which won the 2022 Writers’ League of Texas Discovery Award. She spent 20+ years writing professionally for grown-ups before discovering her passion writing for kids. She loves creating stories that garner giggles, expand horizons and inspire action and emotion. Melissa lives with her family in Austin, Texas. Visit her at melissacoffey.com..

Burke De Boer is an Oregon-grown, Texas-based writer. His short fiction and essays have appeared in Cowboy Jamboree Magazine, BULL Magazine, Gutter Books, and elsewhere. His western In Sheep's Clothing and weird west novel North, to Hell! are available from Third Eye Sockeye Press and his essay collection Songs of the Cyberspace Cattle Drive is forthcoming from Cowboy Jamboree Press. He is an MFA candidate in Fiction at Texas State University.

After stints in professional orchestras, law firms, cat rescue, bookkeeping, and technical communication, M. R. Dimond returned to a childhood dream of writing fiction, which has turned out to be about musicians, lawyers, veterinarians, accountants, and cats. Her Black Orchid Enterprises Mystery series, set in her near-native Texas, currently contains six novels with more soon to come. Her short fiction has appeared in Strange Horizons, Dancing USA, and various anthologies (most recently in Dreaming the Goddess; Hook, Line, and Sinker; and Riddles, Resolutions, and Revenge), as well as nonfiction articles in various publications. She holds an MBA from University of Tulsa and is a veteran of writing workshops, including Clarion, Viable Paradise, Jim Gunn’s Center for Science Fiction, and Taos Toolbox. She lives in the wilderness east of Austin, Texas, with her husband and many foster cats.

Joe Ettle holds degrees in archaeology and museum studies and has had a lifelong love of history and travel. He is the author of three action/adventure novels with the fourth debuting at the Greater Austin Book Fest. When he is not writing, Joe enjoys camping, kayaking, and winning at Trivial Pursuit.

Andrew Freeman is a journalist and author living right here in Austin, TX. A Texas native, he studied broadcast journalism at the University of North Texas before going on to report in the Texoma region, Upstate New York and Central Texas. His fantasy series Welcome to Wis’ Apothecary is a magical coming-of-age story about a young witch’s apprentice who helps her teacher run a potions shop. Through the fantastical characters who walk through their doors, she learns not just about antidotes and spells, but important lessons about life too. When he’s not writing stories, he enjoys spending time outdoors, practicing martial arts, and doting on his cat (much like his series’ beloved witch’s apprentice).

Relvin Gonzalez is a Puerto Rican fiction author who enjoys capturing the intrinsic darkness of the human mind. His short stories have appeared in the Soul Anthology from Graveside Press and other online magazines. Gonzalez has also written several books. Among them are his first novel, The Void Beyond the Walls, a dark literary fiction written from the point of view of a Texan serial killer who travels to Mars, the 444 mythological science fiction series, including the titles Hefnd, Path of the Hybrids, Messengers Rising, and I Am the Door, and the psychedelic journey into madness, Glia, among others. Relvin lives with his wife, son, and dog in Austin, Texas. For a FREE book, visit www.relvingonzalez.com/subscribe.

Loren Grush is a space reporter for Bloomberg, where she covers everything from NASA, human spaceflight, and the booming commercial space industry to distant stars and planets. The daughter of two NASA engineers, she grew up surrounded by space shuttles and rocket scientists—literally. Prior to joining Bloomberg, she was a senior science reporter for The Verge, where she covered space and hosted her own online video series called Space Craft, a show that examined what it takes to send people into the cosmos. Loren has also published stories in Popular Science, The New York Times, Nautilus Magazine, Digital Trends, Fox News, and ABC News.

Kelly I. Hitchcock is a humorous author in Austin, Texas. She’s the author of the coming-of-age novel The Redheaded Stepchild and the short story collection Portrait of Woman in Ink: A Tattoo Storybook. Her newest novel, Community Klepto, released June 2022 from She Writes Press, was a finalist for the Montaigne Medal from the Eric Hoffer Awards, a finalist in the Reader’s Favorite Book Awards, and the Texas winner for the Indie Author Project. She is an editorial contributor to Austin Moms. Raised by a single father in the small town of Buffalo, Missouri, Kelly’s broke as sh*t childhood in the Ozarks strongly influences her writing and way of life. She’s a graduate of the creative writing program at Missouri State University. She has nine-year-old identical twins and a full-time job, so writing and picking up LEGO are the only other things she can devote herself to.

Upasna Kakroo was born in Srinagar as a part of the internally displaced Kashmiri Pandit community. Her writing often talks about belonging, identity, and roots, drawing inspiration from songs and stories her grandmothers shared. Upasna has been a brand storyteller for over 20 years and currently leads a nonprofit, Peerbagh in Austin and Ann Arbor where she leads creative confidence and storytelling workshops for kids and adults. She has published two nonfiction books, Loal (Gulshan, 2024), and Citywide Wi-Fi Networks (Lap Publications, 2012). From 2021 onwards, she has penned four children's books commissioned by various nonprofits. Her children’s book, Shaliya Discovers Coronavirus Frumpfchi was translated into seventeen Indian languages and was commissioned by the Government of India. She is the managing editor for Bento - the only South-Asian children’s magazine in print. Upasna has won writing scholarships and residencies from Centrum, the Writing Barn, SCBWI, and the Kweli Journal.

L.K. Latham, author of the Midnight Whispers series of urban fantasy fiction involving vampires, werewolves, goblins, witches, and the occasional dragon, lives in Austin, Texas. When she’s not battling for dragon rights, arguing with goblins over contracts, you can find her sitting somewhere with air conditioning, sipping the best of Texas wines and chocolate.

Julio Lucero is a former restaurateur, turned author. His debut book, Abuelita I Am Your Grandson, is a collection of stories and essays that draw from his experience working in his family’s business, Julio’s Café in Hyde Park. He is a third generation Austinite, and when he isn’t pondering his next project, he enjoys social dancing and spending time with the people he loves.

Fiona Maren writes contemporary romantic comedies. She loves finding humor and heart in seemingly ordinary moments. When she's not reading or writing, Fiona can be found drinking iced coffees that are mostly sugar and milk.

Once upon a time, Linsey Miller studied biology in Arkansas. These days, she holds an MFA in fiction and is the author of Lambda-nominated What We Devour. Her other works include the Mask of Shadows duology, Belle Révolte, The Game, the first three books in the Disney Princes series, and the dark academia novel That Devil, Ambition. Her short stories have been featured in the anthologies Being Ace, The House Where Death Lives, and This Is How We Roll. She can be found in Texas writing about science and magic anywhere there is coffee.

Michael Morgan obtained his BS from Penn State University and his MBA from Carnegie Mellon University. Coupled with his educational background, he has over 15 years of work experience across companies such as Amazon, Walmart, J.P. Morgan Chase, and Chevron. His ability to build and maintain his network throughout his educational and career journey has been fruitful in his success. He has a passion for teaching and inspiring others to achieve their goals, which led him to write his first book The Power of Networking and begin his journey as a motivational speaker. The Power of Networking has won the Literary Titan Book Award, Global Book Award, International Impact Award, PenCraft Book Award, and Firebird Book Award.

Phương Liên Palafox (she/her) is a Vietnamese-Chinese multilingual speech-language therapist, author, and activist who believes in the power of stories to connect, heal, and inspire. For over two decades, she has worked within and alongside school districts, helping students on their communication journeys. These days, she spends her time empowering clients and their families in her clinic while also delivering keynotes/workshops globally that leave attendees feeling validated, refueled, and re-engaged in their meaningful work. Her work is rooted in evidence-based, human-centered practices, with a deep commitment to Culturally Responsive Practices, Narrative-Based Interventions, and Advocacy for Educators. Phương is the author of The Heartbeat of Speech-Language Pathology and Buoy, a children’s book about her family’s refugee journey. Outside of her work, Phương loves to chase the sun and soak up time with her kind husband, their three children, and a small menagerie of pets in Austin, TX.

Tonia Ransom is the World Fantasy Award-winning horror writer and creator of Nightlight, an IGNYTE Best Fiction Podcast featuring creepy tales written by Black writers, and Afflicted, a horror thriller best described as Lovecraft Country meets True Blood. Tonia has been scaring people since the second grade, when she wrote her first story based on Michael Myers. She successfully scared her teacher—not in the way she intended, but she got hooked on that feeling and the rest is history. She lives in Austin, Texas. You can follow Tonia @missdefying on all the socials. Risen is her debut book. If you'd like to learn more about Tonia Ransom, watch her interview with The Van Show on YouTube.

Erica Sebree lives in Austin, where she works in public service as a graphic designer. In her free time, she writes about fantasy worlds where magic is vital, animals are guardians, and a stubborn bodyguard’s only weakness is the fierce, reluctant heroine he’s sworn to protect. Wild Heart of the Storm is her first novel.

Brian Soria is an Austin-born and raised creative, bringing a mix of weird, whimsy and world-building to his creative works. He's the author/illustrator of Spook Troops as well as the creator of Drawlloween (the Halloween drawing challenge). Between writing and illustrating books, building puppets, or making short videos for The Internet Broadcast System, he's one of the four co-hosts of 1031SPKY, a spooky improv-comedy podcast. Learn more on BrianSoria.com!

Elizabeth Thomas was born and raised in Mt. Clemens, Michigan, but she now resides near Austin, Texas. She obtained both her bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. She has known she was a writer since the age of nine. Her works in multiple genres include Arden’s Act, Confessions of a Mixed-Up Weasel Hater, Crossings: Short Fiction by Elizabeth Thomas, Apologia Diogenes: An Analysis of the Character Diogenes Pendergast in the Fiction of Preston and Child.

Born and raised in East Texas, Jerry Whitus studied American literature and fiction writing in the graduate program at the University of Texas, Austin. His stories have been published in many leading literary journals, including the Chicago Quarterly Review, Ploughshares, Los Angeles Review, and MĀNOA. Before turning to fiction, he spent years as a writer of film and video for education, industry, government, and entertainment, winning many national awards. In addition, he has been a teacher focused on writing for international students, an administrator, and teacher-trainer in universities in the USA, Japan (where he also served in the US Marine Corps), Singapore, Vietnam (on a USAID grant), and Colombia. jerrywhitus.wixsite.com/author. jerrywhitus@gmail.com

Frederick Luis Aldama, aka Professor Latinx, was born in Mexico City to a Guatemalan-Irish American mother from LA and a Mexican father. Raised in California, he is now an award-winning author and editor of over 50 books, including the comic book Pyroclast, YA graphic fictions Through Fences and Labyrinths Borne, the novel The Absolutely (Almost) True Adventures of Max Rodriguez, and children’s books The Adventures of Chupacabra Charlie and Con Papá / With Papá. He is a National Cartoonists Society, Texas Institute of Letters, and Ohio State University’s ODI Hall of Fame inductee. Aldama serves on the board of The Academy of American Poets and is founder/director of the Latinx Pop Lab. He is Editor-in-Chief of Latinx Pop Magazine and FlowerSong Press. He holds the Jacob & Frances Sanger Mossiker Chair in the Humanities at the University of Texas, Austin.

Bree Bailey (she/her) is a proud giggly bisexual Latina poet who lives in Southern Austin, TX with her tiny delightful family. As a mental health advocate and former high school educator, Bree speaks about her experiences with PTSD, depression and anxiety, while doing her best to bask in the light, beauty, and grace of the world. Bree’s poems have been featured in Olney Magazine, Exposition Review, West Trade Review, Gulf Stream Magazine, South Florida Poetry Journal, among others. Most recently, Bree won the 2023 Write Bloody Jack McCarthy National Book Prize and her debut poetry collection, Wailing on Whisper Street, is currently available with Write Bloody Publishing and anywhere you can buy books. Follow her on Instagram @breebaileypoetry or visit her at www.breebaileypoetry.com.

Dale Bridges is a fiction writer, journalist, and painter living in Austin. His writing has been featured in more than thirty publications, including The Rumpus, The Masters Review, and Barrelhouse Magazine. For several years, Dale was the arts-and-entertainment editor at an alternative newspaper called Boulder Weekly, where he wrote an award-winning humor column titled That’s Irrelevant. He has also won awards from the Society of Professional Journalists for his feature writing, narrative nonfiction, and cultural criticism. He has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize on several occasions, and his essays and short stories have been anthologized. You can read his writing at dalebridges.org.

Alfredo E. Cardenas is a former mayor of San Diego, Texas (1992-2000) and is an author, freelance writer, editor, and publisher. He is the retired editor of the South Texas Catholic from 2010-2017, the Duval County Picture 1987- 1999, and currently does freelance work for the Catholic Spirit in Austin. Cardenas is the author of Balo’s War, a historical novel on the Plan of San Diego 2015, and Duval County Tejanos, An Epic Narrative of Liberty and Democracy, 2024. He has published articles and reviews in the Journal of South Texas, the Handbook of Texas, the Southwestern Historical Quarterly, and Catholic Southwest.

Daniel A. Cohen is the author of DragonDao, The Coldmaker Saga, and numerous other novels and short stories. In addition to his writing career, Daniel is a professional saxophonist in Austin, Texas, spending his days in front of the page and his nights in front of crowds. Sometimes the crowds cheer, and Daniel often wishes the page would do the same.

Becky Dean is a fan of adventures both real and fictional. She can frequently be found drinking iced tea, watching science fiction shows, and planning exciting trips for herself and her characters. She is the author of four young adult contemporary novels, Love & Other Great Expectations, Picture-Perfect Boyfriend, Hearts Overboard, and the upcoming Love Unmasked. Under the name B.L. Dean, she is also an award-winning author of the Shades of Starlight science fiction series.

M.L.(Mel) Eaden works by day in the tech industry, but at night, she reads books, writes stories, and is an avid board gamer. Originally from the sunflower state, she migrated to one with a lone star for work and sunshine. She has indie-published several books and short stories from the same queer-centric universe. She’s also published several queer contemporary short stories in anthologies. You can find out more at mleaden.com.

Dixie Evatt (DLS Evatt) -- A former political reporter in Austin, Dixie also taught writing at Syracuse University. When she teamed up with Sue Cleveland to write fiction, they sold a screenplay to a Hollywood producer. Although the movie was never made, the seed money financed ThirtyNineStars, their publishing company. Through it they published two award-winning thrillers (Shrouded and Digging up the Dead) under the pen name, Meredith Lee. In 2021 Dixie launched a solo mystery (Bloodlines & Fencelines) that Kirkus reviews described as, “A twisty whodunit that’s crafted with care and saturated with down-home Southern charm.” She is working on a prequel (Gravel Roads & Shallow Graves) that will launch in 2025. www.dlsevatt.com.

Alisha Gabriel is an award-winning children’s book author who loves nonfiction! Her middle grade book Funky Fungi: 30 Activities for Exploring Molds, Mushrooms, Lichens, and More won the 2023 AAAS/Subaru SB&F Book Prize for Excellence in Science Books. She is excited to show off the beautiful artwork in her brand-new debut picture book, Fungi are…More Than Mushrooms. When she’s not teaching, you might find Alisha curled up on the couch with a book, fiddling around in her craft room, or chasing ideas down rabbit holes. With twenty-seven years of teaching under her belt, Alisha provides hands-on presentations for schools, libraries, homeschool groups, and museums. Learn more about Alisha and how to invite her to speak to your group at www.alishagabriel.com.

Thomas Goodman's debut novel won a 2024 Will Rogers Medallion and a 2024 Spur Award from the Western Writers of America. His book brings to life a true crime from 1920s Texas. Thomas once lived in the small Texas county where it all took place. He now calls Austin home.

HOLLIE HARDY is a writer, educator, and author of two books of poetry, Lions Like Us (Red Light Lit Press, 2024) and How to Take a Bullet: And Other Survival Poems (Punk Hostage Press, 2014) winner of the Annual Poetry Center Book Award at San Francisco State University. She holds an MFA in Poetry from SFSU and teaches private writing workshops online. She is the founder of Praxis Poetry: Weekly Prompts for Poets, and host of the long-running monthly reading series Saturday Night Special: A Virtual Open Mic. Her work has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize and published in numerous anthologies and literary journals including Colossus, The Common, Fourteen Hills, Mixed Bag of Tricks, Passionfruit Review, and elsewhere. She lives in Austin, TX. Learn more at: holliehardy.com.

Lifelong Austinite Jeanette Horn holds an MFA from The University of Iowa Writers' Workshop, where she received a Maytag Fellowship. Her poetry has appeared in Margie, Poetry International, Stand, and other literary journals. Play, With Knives is her first novel. Learn more at jeanettehorn.com.

Armeen is a graphic designer turned writer. She’s been crazy about books ever since she can remember. She also loved drawing, and so she went to design school where she edited many design theses. This reminded her that she was actually a writer and since 2012 that’s what she’s been doing. She co-founded a writing consultancy, Steta, with a friend. In 2013 she wrote her first short story, and was hooked. She gradually wrote more stories, which formed her first book Crossroads. Armeen belongs to a very small, vanishing community of Zoroastrians (known as Parsis), and some of the stories reflect this. Two stories from the book were originally published in literary magazines. From 2018-2024 Armeen has worked as a writer at Oracle, Google and Microsoft. She’s continued writing fiction in her spare time and wants to meet agents and publishers. Besides writing, she loves dogs, cycling, and standup comedy.

Rosa Latimer is the award-winning author of Austin’s Flower Hill Legacy: A Remarkable Family and a Sixth Street Wildscape, recounting the history of an Austin landmark and the influential Smoot family, published by The History Press. Inspired by the true-life story of her grandmother, who was a Harvey Girl, she also wrote a four-book series about the women who made history working at Harvey Houses along the Santa Fe Railroad: Harvey Houses of Texas (nominated for a Texas Christian University Texas book), Harvey Houses of New Mexico, Harvey Houses of Kansas, which received a Kansas Notable Book Award, and Harvey Houses of Arizona. Latimer is also a writing coach to individual clients and has taught memoir and non-fiction writing at the annual West Texas Writers' Academy at West Texas A&M, the University of Texas Osher Lifetime Learning Institute, and Austin Public Library.

Annette Lucksinger has spent the past 25 years in Austin, Texas, with her fellow explorers - her husband, two kids, a dog, and a fish (although the fish doesn't tend to get out much). She has worked as an instructor of writing and literature courses on sense of place at St. Edward's University and as editor of Austin Family Magazine. In Exploring Austin with Kids: Over 100 Fun Things to Do with the Family, she manages to combine all of these interests in a fun-filled guidebook that points locals and visitors in the direction of Austin's best places to go and things to do. Currently, she is working on a hybrid memoir (essay and graphic novel) about life in ATX.

Olivia Marmion is a Texas native, wife, and creative mama of 3 phenomenal daughters. She graduated from Southwestern University in 2005 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature, and a minor in studio art. What’s True? At Bedtime is her first children’s book and is based on her family’s actual experiences. Olivia’s desire for her book is to empower kids and families around the world to rest, assured. In her spare time, Olivia enjoys spending time with her family, Yelping, traveling, serving in her community, crafting, exploring new restaurants, and sharing her creative gifts. Additional titles by Olivia Marmion include: the hand-drawn coloring book series, Fuzzy-Face Monsters, My Hair is Poppin’ original art print journal notebooks, and Enjoy! Keepsake Recipe Book.

Last year, City Council established the Austin Poet Laureate Program to promote poetry, literacy, and the literary arts in the Austin community. The Austin Public Library is thrilled to announce that lifelong Austinite, Zell Miller III has been chosen to serve as the first Austin Poet Laureate. Mr. Miller is a poet, theater artist and creative force known for his thought-provoking works that explore identity, culture and the human experience. He will be an ambassador to advance Austin Public Library’s mission, vision, strategic goals and core values to discover, learn and create through poetry. Mr. Miller will serve from April 2025 through April 2027 and will perform poetry and put on workshops around the City.

Clementine Msengi, Ed.D. is on the faculty of the Center for Doctoral Studies in Educational Leadership at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas. In 2003, she received a fellowship from the Echoing Green Foundation and founded a nonprofit organization designed to help refugees and immigrants adjust to American culture and contribute to the well-being of the local community. She was recently inducted to the Hall of Excellence within the School of Health, Physical Education, and Leisure Services at the University of Northern Iowa’s College of Education for her distinguished contribution to the field. Msengi has also garnered a number of awards for her service, including the Outstanding American by Choice Award from the Department of Homeland Security.

Mary Jane Philpy-Dollins, MA, MSN, RN, is a nurse, poet, knitter and a great conversationalist. She was the 2024 President of the Austin Poetry Society and has been published in Beginnings, medmic, The Poetry Machine: Volume 2 (2021) & Volume 3 (2022) and in the Waco WordFest Anthology (2023). After her licensure as a Registered Nurse in 2013, she has worked as an inpatient nurse in Women’s Services and in an outreach role related to maternal/neonatal transport and maternal-fetal telemedicine around central and west Texas. Her first book of poetry, Pulling At the Curtain, was released in October 2024, and examines the intersections between feminism, reproduction, and expectation. She lives in the Austin area with her husband and dog.

Lee Reed writes middle grade mysteries, picture books, and book club fiction. Lee is also a senior editor at Greenleaf Book Group. Prior to shifting her career to all things words and books, Lee had a successful and rewarding career in corporate sustainability strategy and communications. At the University of Texas at Austin, Lee earned a BA in English literature and an MBA in sustainable development. Lee is a member of the Writers’ League of Texas (WLT) and the Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). Lee lives in Austin with her family. Besides reading and writing, in her spare time she loves shaping color into things (especially working with stained glass, watercolor, or knitting). She used to dance and do triathlons and now is a recovering couch potato trying to make a habit of going to Pilates. But you might still catch her tap dancing—especially in elevators—when she thinks no one is watching.

Scott Semegran is an award-winning writer of ten books. BlueInk Review described him best as “a gifted writer, with a wry sense of humor.” His latest book, Starman After Midnight, is a quirky novel-in-stories about two beer-drinking neighbors who team-up to track down a mysterious late-night interloper terrorizing their middle-class neighborhood. His nine previous books include The Codger and the Sparrow, The Benevolent Lords of Sometimes Island (first-place winner for Middle-Grade/Young Adult fiction in the 2021 Writer’s Digest Book Awards), and To Squeeze a Prairie Dog (winner of the 2020 IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award Gold Medal for Humor and winner of the 2019 Texas Author Project for Adult Fiction). He lives in Austin, Texas with his wife. They have four kids. He graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in English.

Kate St. Clair was born and raised in Austin and takes great pride in keeping it weird. A practicing witch (the good kind, mostly), she fell in love with storytelling early on and was lucky enough to attend a creative writing program at Oxford at 13. She later attended St. Stephen’s, where she wrote her first series, Shift, instead of, you know, socializing like a normal teenager. She’s passionate about making fiction more inclusive and co-founded #OwnVoicesAtx to nurture young writers. Her books include Spelled, Cursed, and The Ptolemy Project, which won a silver medal from the Independent Publisher Awards. In 2024, she was honored as Young Author of the Year by the Next Generation Book Awards. She frequently speaks about mental health and LGBTQ+ representation in storytelling, but most days, she’s just trying to write good books and support live music.

Brendon Vayo is the author of Girl Among Crows, winner of I.B.P.A.'s Silver Ben Franklin Award and the Silver I.P.P.Y. Award. Currently, he's a Visiting Assistant Professor at the University of Houston, where he teaches Creative Writing, American Literature, and Literary Theory. He lives in Austin with his wonderful wife, and three sons (the oldest who just got accepted into the University of Texas - Austin!).

Eric Williams lives on the lithified remains of a Cretaceous seaway in Austin, TX. His collection of original weird fiction, Toadstones (2022) is available from Malarkey Books, and he has selected and edited a collection of the fiction-in-translation that appeared in the early 20th Century pulp magazine Weird Tales, titled Night Fears (Paradise Editions, 2023).

C. Prudence Arceneaux, a native Texan, teaches English and creative writing at Austin Community College, in Austin, TX. Her work has appeared in various journals, including The Academy of American Poets’ Poem- A- Day, Limestone, New Texas, Hazmat Review, Texas Observer, Whiskey Island Magazine, African Voices and Inkwell. She is the author of two chapbooks of poetry-- Dirt (awarded the 2018 Jean Pedrick Prize) and Liberty-- and the full length collection Proprioception.

Jennifer Ballow is a social worker and mom to twin girls in Austin, Texas. Under My Pillow was inspired by her daughters’ tooth-losing experiences, including the times they misplaced or swallowed their teeth, or the tooth fairy forgot to visit—stories she details on her free author blog. When she’s not writing, Jennifer loves food, traveling, and doing author visits around Central Texas.

KB Brookins is a Black queer and trans writer, educator, and cultural worker from Texas. KB’s chapbook How To Identify Yourself with a Wound won the Saguaro Poetry Prize, a Writer’s League of Texas Discovery Prize, and a Stonewall Honor Book Award. Their debut collection Freedom House won the American Library Association Barbara Gittings Literature Award and the Texas Institute of Letters Award for Best First Book of Poetry. KB’s memoir Pretty (Alfred A. Knopf, 2024) won the Great Lakes Colleges Association New Writers Award. Follow them online at @earthtokb.

J. Lynn Carr is a writer of fantasy, paranormal mystery, and romance. With a master's degree in library science and a decade of experience in freelance design, she combines her passion for storytelling with her background in research and visual arts. Her work has been featured in Folklore Review and Vulnerary Magazine. She lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband and their two dogs.

Elijah ‘Quinn’ Coleman is both an author and an artist from Houston. She’s written books in many genres, including romance, horror, sci-fi, fantasy and more. Coleman got her start by building a backstory for a DND character, and with all creative things, her love for story-creation only snowballed from there. At the moment, her publishing queue is in double digits, and she’s excited to see people impacted by her characters; it’s fulfilling when readers relate to her books, whether that be the character’s hardships and victories, family dynamics and friendships, or other. If you asked Coleman her favorite part of writing, she’d probably run instead of answering the question. Dialogue to setting to the cover art, she enjoys everything she does. Her current books are available at BookPeople and online. Lastly, she’s a cat mom. This is probably most important and the only thing you need to know.

Martyna Dearing is a Polish immigrant currently living in Austin, TX with her five pets - two dogs and three cats. Recently she opened up a new location of her bookstore in East Austin. Drew’s Bookstore is a beautiful tribute to her late husband Andrew. Dearing works tirelessly to become a successful business owner and a bestselling (one day) author. So far she has published three books. She also runs marathons and is an active member of Austin’s run club community. Most days she walks her dogs four times a day. She’s permanently exhausted but happy(ish).

Victoria Grace Elliott (she/any) is a queer Southern illustrator and comic artist. Her fiction debut Please Be My Star is a romantic YA graphic novel reimagining of Phantom of the Opera from Scholastic/Graphix. Her middle grade nonfiction graphic novel, Yummy: A History of Desserts (Random House Graphic) and the stand-alone follow-up, Tasty: A History of Yummy Experiments (Random House Graphic) featured her love of sharing history and interesting facts—as well as sweets! Victoria is also the creator of the webcomic Balderdash! or, a tale of two witches.

Kat Fajardo (she/they) is an award-winning cartoonist who loves making playful and colorful illustrations, zines, and graphic novels about self-acceptance and Latine culture. She’s the creator of Miss Quinces and artist for the chapter book series The Kids in Mrs. Z’s Class.

Spike Gillespie is an award-winning author, journalist and substacker. Her work has appeared in many publications including New York Times, NYT Magazine, Smithsonian, National Geographic Traveler, Austin Chronicle, Texas Monthly, Dallas Morning News and others. She is the author of eight non-fiction books and, most recently, the novel Grok This, Bitch, about life in Austin in the 1990s and the 1890s, with a focus on Athol Porter, the short-lived, long suffering wife of William Sydney Porter, aka O. Henry. A fixture in the Austin arts scene since 1991, Spike has hosted and participated in many creative events. She conceived, produced and directed the long-running Dick Monologues at the Hyde Park Theatre. She has hosted many camps for kids. She leads regular free writing workshops at the Hampton Branch Library. She is Austin’s self-proclaimed biggest cheerleader. She lives with a bunch of animals on a little ranch just outside of Austin.

G.M. Gray is an Austin-based science-fiction and fantasy author and illustrator. They are currently working on a queer-normative space opera light novel series, Triple Strike, which they both write and illustrate. Some of their biggest literary inspirations for Triple Strike are Ursula K Le Guin, Terry Pratchett, and Leiji Matsumoto, while the series itself could be described as Star Trek meets Our Flag Means Death meets Phoenix Wright. Given the great deal of affection they have for anime and video game storytelling, they’re not too proud (or too serious!) to incorporate those elements into their own work, so feel free to ask them how much they love Metal Gear Solid if you need to kill an hour or three.

Elayne Harris is a DMA, Doctor of Musical Arts, in percussion performance. Since gaining that degree, she has continued a life in music, but has expanded to include mother, wife, and writer. She dabbles in gardening, photography, and painting, while maintaining a busy reading and baking-show watching schedule. She works full time as the programs manager at a nonprofit music school in Austin, TX.

C.S. Jennings is the illustrator of over two-dozen books for kids. His collaborators include Penguin Random House, Disney Hyperion, Scholastic, Houghton Mifflin, and Dial Books for Young Readers. He’s the author of Whoa Panda! (Nancy Paulsen Books, 2025); Pet Shop Racers, a three-volume graphic novel series for young readers (Disney Hyperion, 2025); The Big Book of Texas (Penguin Workshop, 2026); Animal Band and Hello, Texas! (As Christopher S. Jennings; Sterling Books; 2008, 2010). Notably, he illustrated the Texas Library Association Bluebonnet 2020-2021 Master List book, From an Idea to Disney. He specializes in writing for middle-grade, graphic novels, picture books, character design, and humor in storytelling. C.S.’s mission as an author is that of humor, heart, and healing—crafting each story with kernels of hope and laughter. A Texas native, he makes his home in Austin. An amateur naturalist; he finds inspiration exploring, biking, and hiking in the hill country.

Heidi Kasa is the author of Split (Monday Night Press, 2022) and the forthcoming poetry collection The Bullet Takes Forever (Mouthfeel Press, 2025). Her flash fiction collection The Beginners won the 2023 Digging Press Chapbook Contest, and is also releasing in 2025. She won the 2024 Plaza Prose Poetry Prize and the 2023 Poetry Super Highway Prize. Kasa’s writing has also appeared in Barrelhouse, Ruminate, and The Racket, among others. She has an MFA from California College of the Arts, and when she’s not working as an editor, she’s creating handmade artist books. Find her at www.heidikasa.com.

Toby LeBlanc is the author of Dark Roux (2022) and Soaked (2025). He was born in Southern Louisiana and currently lives in Austin, Texas.

Shawn E. Marchese went down the hobbit hole in his teens and has been in love with Middle-earth ever since. From 2016 to 2022 he co-hosted The Prancing Pony Podcast weekly with Alan Sisto, exploring the works of J.R.R. Tolkien and winning awards for Best Online Content from the Tolkien Society in 2020 and 2022. He has appeared at fan events and academic conferences in the United States and United Kingdom. A native of New Orleans, he lives in Austin with his wife and two children, who seem to enjoy his dinner table retellings of stories about hobbits and elves.

Ian McEnroe was born in Michigan but grew up in Texas. His interest in photography started with a manual camera on which he learned to shoot film. Ian earned his fine arts degree from the University of Texas, which led to his award-winning photography and a long career as a photographic consultant and an instructor to hundreds of students at all levels of learning. When he’s not taking photos, he enjoys painting, jazz, collecting records, reading, coffee, and, of course, good food.

A mother, wife, author, community servant and serial entrepreneur. Terry P. Mitchell prides herself in being the co-author of City We Built: Black Leaders of Austin, an illustrated children’s book honoring the extraordinary African American men and women who played a critical role in shaping Black Austin’s social, political, and cultural heritage. Terry spearheads E & Co Tech (software & mobile development firm) and Black Leaders Collective (social impact, policy reformation). She is a co-owner of Austin Woman Magazine and co-chair of The Black Fund of Central Texas. She is also a Commissioner of the MBE/WBE Small Business Procurement Office for the City of Austin. As a native of 'the music capital of the world', Austin TX, and a 1st generation descendant of Trinidad & Tobago, Terry Mitchell has cultivated a sincere adoration for traveling, culture and diversity. Mitchell graduated from the University of Texas at Austin, with a bachelor's degree in corporate communications and certification in business foundations. Her areas of expertise include strategic planning, business development, mentorship, marketing, management and public affairs.

Megan Okonsky is a ghostwriter, murder mystery party host, and author. Her debut novel, The Barefoot Followers of Sweet Potato Grace, was longlisted for the Disquiet Prize. It will be published August 2025 with Lanternfish Press. Her work can be found in Reductress, The Penman Review, and Writerly Mag. She lives in Austin, Texas with her partner and their cat, Funny Business.

Born in Houston, TX, raised in Dallas, visited family in San Antonio & RGV, and ultimately settling in Austin, Andrea is pure Tejana. Always drawn to the magic and alchemy of rituals, healing, and curandismo, Andrea’s relationship with Brujeria has only grown. Crossing the threshold of motherhood was very much like opening a portal within and the book began writing itself. Trying to balance the intensity of new motherhood with soothing practices of ritual and nature, and wanting to share this with other moms and children Andrea began the journey of Casita Brujita. Coming from a civil rights activist father and an elementary teacher mother, writing, and sharing unpopular beliefs was not uncommon for this family and helped thicken the skin to deal with this world. Picking up more skills along the way, Andrea is a mother of two, and enjoys juggling book writing, acting, teaching, and a slew of other things!

Vanessa Roeder is the author and illustrator of Lucy and the String, The Box Turtle a Spring 2020 Kid’s Indie Next List pick and Indie bestseller, The Stack, The King Penguin, an NPR “Books We Love” pick and winner of the 2024 Irma Black Award. Her newest book, Narwhal Vs. Kindergarten (Dial Books) hits bookshelves this summer. Vanessa lives in Austin, TX with her 3 kids, and two dogs. When she's not making messes in her studio, Vanessa loves eating cookie dough, pretending to be on Broadway, and talking to kids about the messes she makes in her studio to create books.

Ron Seybold is the author of the novels Sins of Liberty and Viral Times, as well as his fatherhood+baseball memoir Stealing Home. He is director of Austin's Writer's Workshop, coaching and editing authors who create books in fiction and nonfiction; an interviewer for Austin Liti Limits; as well as a Community Member of the Writers' League of Texas. His newsletter and Substack, The Write Stuff, has been serving writers each Friday for more than four years. A graduate of the University of Texas journalism program and a US Army veteran, he helps authors develop their stories for publication. With his wife, the yoga teacher Abby Lentz, he lives and writes in Austin, an oasis where the grandchildren still visit and the family poodle Ella campaigns for walks and fetches with a smile. Visit with him online at ronseybold.com.

Emily Suh is a mother of five vivacious STEM SMARTIEs who daily teach her lessons on the importance of life, laughter and love. In her day job, Emily is an award-winning researcher and an Associate Professor of Postsecondary Student Success at Texas State University. She has taught students ranging from infants and toddlers to doctoral students and senior citizens in family literacy programs, adult education centers, elementary and high schools, and community colleges and universities. STEM SMART Parenting: A Practical Guide for Nurturing Innovative Thinkers is Emily’s first book.

Aparna Verma was born in Rajasthan, India, and grew up in the United States. She graduated from Stanford University with Honors in the Arts and a B.A. in English. In 2021, she self-published The Boy with Fire, which was later republished by Orbit as The Phoenix King in 2023.

When she is not writing, Aparna likes to lift heavy (arm days are her favorite), dance to Bollywood music, and find cozy cafes to read myths from ancient worlds. You can connect with Aparna on TikTok at @aparnawrites, and Twitter and Instagram at @spirited_gal.

Jack Woodville London is a historian and author who is Director Emeritus of Writing Education for the Military Writers Society of America (MWSA). He first studied creative writing under crime fiction author Peter May in St. Céré, France, and is presently a postgraduate student at Rewley College, Oxford University. He lives in Austin, Texas. Jack is also a speaker and seasoned writing teacher, who participates in speaking opportunities with state, national and international historical and writing groups, including MWSA, the Writers League of Texas, SouthWest Writers, Historical Novel Society, and Historical Writers of America. He was given the President’s Award by MWSA in 2022 for his contribution to teaching the craft of creative writing to military veterans. Jack has written five historical novels and one nonfiction book used by the Military Writers Society of America to introduce veterans to the basics of writing.

Ashlee Arita is a sci-fi/fantasy author born and raised in Austin, Texas. When she's not writing, she's teaching high schoolers to appreciate the written word or spending time with her husband and dog. Arita published her first novel, The Historical Chronicles of Elinor Sturgeon and the Last Human Colony, under the pseudonym R. T. Kilgore, and she completed the trilogy in 2024! She's currently working on her first historical fantasy project due for publication in 2027.

Catrina’s lived in Austin for over 15 years and counts the city’s writer-friendly community for so much of her success. Usually snuggled up at home with her goofy family, she can be lured out in the wild by seasonal craft fairs or the promise of a latte and sweets. If you love cozy small towns, monsters who are secret softies, and emotional romance with spice, her stories belong on your shelf!

Amber Byfield is an author, mother, and yoga teacher who invites people of all ages to connect more deeply to their emotions (and to each other!) through play-based yoga and mindfulness practices. Her first book, Jojo's Heart Party, is a social-emotional learning invitation vibrantly illustrated by Anna Kamburis. Follow Jojo through her day as she welcomes her feelings as guests at her Heart Party — and gently learns the mindfulness tool of awareness. Whether on the mat or the page, Amber hopes her work inspires curiosity, resilience, emotional awareness, and open-hearted compassion at every age.

For two decades, Deborah Charnes managed hundreds of news conferences, editorial board meetings, press briefings, and media interviews. She worked with communications teams for John McCain, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Joe Biden, and J. Lo. To balance the chaotic scales directing major league campaigns, she focused on body/mind lifesavers.  She left corporate demands and became one of the first bilingual certified yoga therapists in the region. Coaching people of all ages with any physical or emotional challenges, she has created more than a dozen signature therapeutic workshops on topics ranging from bone health to blood sugar management and digestive disorders.  A longtime blogger, she has published 500 mind/body and lifestyle articles. Her deep commitment to helping others achieve maximum well-being led her to write a multi-award-winning inspirational self-help book. From the Boxing Ring to the Ashram, originally published in 2023, is now available in audio format.

Julius Crow was born in San Antonio, Texas, in 1995. At eighteen he left home to study literature and business at The University of Texas at Austin. In 2017 he studied abroad in Mexico City at Tecnológico de Monterrey, where on the 19th of September he lived through the violent 7.1 magnitude Terremoto de Puebla. Post graduation he backpacked alone, from Kenya to Egypt to Spain, from France to the Netherlands, then from Germany to Italy. Upon returning to the States he lived in Los Angeles for a year. Now he lives in Austin and San Antonio, where he devotes himself to writing fiction.

Marcel Daria Deptula is a novelist, poet, and early childhood educator. He obtained a B.A. in History and an undergraduate certificate in Creative Writing from The University of Texas at Austin. Deptula’s first published short story, “Final Memory,” appeared in the anthology Courage is a Gift in March 2019. His next short story, “A Dead Message,” was published by literary e-journal Cleaning up Glitter a year later. Solastella, released from Thurston Howl Publications in December 2020, is Deptula’s debut novel. In May 2023, Bottlecap Press published his short fiction chapbook Yucca Lullaby. Deptula’s debut poetry collection, Wire Rings, is out now from Bottlecap Press.

Kara Eng, a rising Gen Z author, has been writing ever since she was a little girl. Her first book, Not Just a Simple Chinese Girl, was released in May 2022, coinciding with Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Kara’s work was featured on WGN 9, Chicago’s NBC 5 News, the “Next-Gen American Authors Celebrate their Culture and Heritage” webinar with the Chinese American Heritage Foundation, the Chinese American Museum of Chicago, and the Chicago Public Libraries. When she is not writing or engrossed in books, you’ll find her venturing for the finest boba and matcha lattes, watching K-dramas, singing, baking, or hanging out with family and friends. She is currently studying at the University of Texas at Austin.

Greg Foley didn’t know what he wanted to be when he grew up. So he never really grew up. Just like Dex, he’s always wanted to be the World’s Best Greatest Ever at something. So he tries his best at being lots of different things like author, illustrator, designer, director, cartoonist, New Yorker cover artist, teacher, inventor, and dad. Along the way Greg has received numerous honors, including the Charlotte Zolotow Award, Art Directors Club Gold and Silver Awards, a Grammy nomination, as well as a Guinness World Record, and his work has been exhibited at places like the MoMA, Centre Pompidou, New York Public Library, Yale’s Beinecke Library, and many more. Greg lives in Austin, Texas, with his family. For more information visit: GregFoley.co. If you'd like to learn more about Greg Foley, watch his interview with The Van Show on YouTube.

Born and raised in Austin, Goldsum grew up not realizing that hippie was a pejorative term. Keenly fascinated by both science and art, she enjoys diving deeply into giraffe evolution, the nutritional value of boogers, and tracing bananas through contemporary art. When not going down alluring rabbit holes, you can find her hiking through the hill country with her dogs.

Jacob Grovey writes for those who feel voiceless. The characters created within the pages of his books represent us all. They are unique, flawed, scared and ambitious, resilient in spite of being hurt, and sufficient, even when they feel inadequate. Jacob is a husband, father, entrepreneur, motivational speaker, and a writer. He believes we may have great talents individually, but together, we can do great things.

C.C. Hawk was born in Chicago and educated there before going to the East Coast to attend St. Paul’s School, a boarding school in New Hampshire followed by Harvard University for college. She then completed a Master of Business Administration degree in finance at the University of Chicago. Ms. Hawk’s 30-year career included stints as a small business consultant at two major accounting firms, 16 years in mid-level management positions at United Airlines and her final twelve years of working life in Director roles at the American Bar Association. Ms. Hawk has been happily married to her soulmate for more than 37 years and they have an adult son. They enjoy domestic and international travel, having visited 40 states, 38 countries and all seven continents. She is retired and living her best life in the Texas Hill Country based on the philosophy that this is not a dress rehearsal.

Kasim Josey is an Author originally from New Jersey. His ongoing graphic novel series Seeds of Ayé combines his love of Shonen anime with African Folklore and remnants of his East Coast upbringing.

Anisa Larkwood (she/her) lives in Austin with her family, stacks of overdue library books, and an exorbitant number of pens. Most weekends you can find her drinking a huge cup of coffee and writing, or snuggling with her black cat while reading. Anisa published her debut novella Surrender in 2023, and she is now hopelessly addicted to writing and releasing “spicy” romance books. She opened Anisa Larkwood Publishing in 2024 to help other independent authors achieve their dreams of publishing, and encourages every writer she meets to keep going!

Lindsay Leslie is the award-winning author of So You Want to Build a Library, Dusk Explorers, Nova the Star Eater, and This Book Is Spineless. Her next picture book, Gus ❤ the Bus (illus. by Geeta Ladi), is slated for July 2025 with Sleeping Bear Press. She lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband, sci-fi/fantasy novelist Ryan Leslie, two teenagers, and two fur-beasts (a.k.a. dogs). Visit her at lindsayleslie.com.

Jennifer Marchman lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband, three nearly-grown children, and the two best dogs in the world. At different times, she has worn various authorial hats, including ghostwriter-memoirist, editor, curriculum writer, educational blogger, grant writer, and (recovering) addicted social media over-sharer, but now, after many years, she’s writing for pleasure and helping organize Austin Indie Authors. She enjoys flamenco dancing, is the proud owner of a white belt in jiu-jitsu, and wishes to compete internationally in mounted archery but lacks a ticket to Kazakhstan. She has toyed with the idea of picking up pottery again, but needs more hours in her day and a husband willing to install (for the fourth time) the necessary electrical outlet for a kiln that may likely go unused. Her debut novel, The Mender, was the 2023 Gold Category Winner, Time Travel/Dual Timeline, for the Historical Fiction Company.

Mariana Nuño Ruiz was born and raised in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, and comes from a long line of strong women. Margarita, her traditional grandma, kindled her passion for traditional Mexican cooking at an early age. Ana Fernanda, her modern grandma, inspired her to become a woman with a professional career and to see the world with wider eyes. The combination of their teachings ignited Mariana’s love for cooking and her curiosity beyond the kitchen, to learn about ingredients, their origins, and the history of foods. Thanks to her Mom's full support and hard work, Mariana earned an architecture degree from ITESO university in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. After working as an architect for more than eight years, she followed her bliss to acquire a culinary arts degree from AWC in Arizona. She has cooked in restaurants, catered, baked, and sculpted and decorated cakes. She also likes to teach cooking classes and workshops. Mariana enjoys mambo, food history, creating recipes, and collecting new and rare cookbooks. She also loves chiles and worships tomato season. Her last supper would be frijolitos de la olla. When she is not cooking she is thinking about cooking.

In Louisiana, the only thing better than good food is a great story. So it's no surprise that Shawn grew up dining on tales of rougarous, swamp apes, haints, and spam. Spam? (We'll get back to the spam). The point is: Shawn loves stories. He began with stories in single frames: drawings. Shawn learned to draw by studying Image Comics in the '90s, and that illustration style still permeates his work today. He then painted murals all over Louisiana and Texas and earned a reputation for painting humorous scenes. He earned some degrees from LSU and Harvard (online), moved to Texas, and wrote a whole mess of stories: novels, children's books, comic books, short films, and this bio. Right now. In 2024, he published Timp and the Blueberry Vikings, and in 2025, he published the sequel. Oh, spam! Shawn's uncle told him cannibals eat spam. It isn't true... probably.

Ehigbor Okosun, or just Ehi, is the #1 International Bestselling author of Forged by Blood, the first in an action packed adult epic fantasy duology. Raised across four continents, she now resides in the US, where she writes speculative fiction, mystery thrillers, and contemporary novels for adult and YA audiences. She writes in hopes of doing justice to the myths and traditions she grew up steeped in, and to honor her large, multiracial and multiethnic family. She is a graduate of UT Austin with degrees in Plan II Honors, neurolinguistics, and English, as well as chemistry and pre-medical studies. When she’s not reading, you can catch her bullet journaling, gaming, baking, singing, doing yoga and spending time with her loved ones. Her second book, Exiled by Iron was released to acclaim on October 22nd, 2024. If you'd like to learn more about Ehigbor Okosun, watch her interview with The Van Show on YouTube.

Laura Quintero is a Latina author based in Austin, passionate about creating stories that inspire and empower millennial and Generation Alpha readers. With a strong focus on faith, resilience, and emotional well-being, her books aim to leave a lasting impact on the hearts of her audience. She has published Pequeña Laura with Christian Faith Publishing, as well as Pequeña Laura en la noticia inesperada and its English version, Little Laura in the Unexpected News, along with other self-published projects. As a single mother, she defines herself as "Stronger, like a wave," turning her love for writing into both a calling and a livelihood. Beyond storytelling, she mentors aspiring writers, helping them bring their publishing dreams to life. Her work has been recognized at events, libraries, and schools, where she shares her journey with the Hispanic community in the U.S. Each book she writes not only inspires new generations but also helps sustain the home she has built with love.

Katherine J. Scott is a writer and librarian living in Austin, Texas. Born in the US to English parents, she grew up with a blend of both cultures, developing a deep love for English country houses and the people who built them. Her debut novel, From the Ground Up, is the first installment of a mystery series featuring stonemason Robert Smythson and the houses he built in Elizabethan England. Katherine holds two master’s degrees: an MS in Biology and an MLIS. She has more than twenty years’ experience in library and information settings including school, public, and medical libraries. She is an active member of the Writers League of Texas and the Historical Novel Society, where she serves as the HNSNA Conference Bookstore Coordinator. Her favorite part of writing historical fiction is the deep dive into research and travelling to the places her characters walked.

Sandra W. Smith is a passionate educator, children’s book author, and inspirational poet dedicated to fostering inspiration, encouragement, hope, and educational growth. With over 32 years of teaching experience, Sandra transitioned from the classroom to the writer’s desk upon her recent retirement, where she has authored three children’s books in the past four years. Her academic achievements include an A.A., B.A., and M.A.T., which she utilizes to support schools and community programs. Sandra finds immense joy in writing, serving, encouraging others, meditating, and fulfilling her life’s purpose. Her children’s books, Uniquely Beautiful!, Be a Ribbon of Hope, and Preston’s Recess Adventure Around the World, have resonated deeply with young readers and their families. She recently released two inspirational books on December 13, 2024: Illuminating Strength and Hope: Affirmation Quotes to Inspire and Refresh and Treasured Journaling Moments journaling book. Sandra’s motto is: Inspired to Write and Writing to Inspire.

Stephanie Thoma is an author, speaker, and coach dedicated to helping others build confidence, master public speaking, and create meaningful connections. As the author of Confident Introvert: A Practical Guide to Connecting with Others at Networking Events and Beyond, Stephanie blends personal growth insights with actionable advice, making it a go-to resource for anyone seeking to network with ease and authenticity. Her memoir, Not That Sweet, reveals her journey of transformation and sheds light on the power of shedding labels to step into one's full potential.

Sarah is a book editor and writing coach dedicated to helping authors build sustainable writing practices that fit into their busy lives, empowering them with the tools they need to meet their creative goals. Through one-on-one coaching, Sarah provides authors with tailored support to help them go from big idea to finished draft—and first draft to final product. Through her writing community, The Inkwell, Sarah brings authors together in a safe, welcoming environment that fosters camaraderie, confidence, and accountability—and brings joy back to the writing practice.