< Back Nicole Glover Nicole Glover is the author of the acclaimed historical fantasy series, Murder and Magic, which includes The Starseekers. Her books have received rave starred reviews for their unique blend of mystery, history, and fantasy and have been featured in NPR and local media, En Forme and the Virginian-Pilot. She's been a Library Reads pick, made the Locus bestseller list, and most recently won The Webster Award. She lives and works in Virginia plotting her next fictional murder. Next

< Back Luz Schweig Luz Schweig is an emerging poet raised in Mexico-Tenochtitlan, whose work participates in reviving Indigenous eco-spirituality. Her contributions have mainly focused on anthologizing marginalized voices, especially those of women. In 2012, Luz founded a women’s spiritual poetry project through which hundreds of contributors shared their stories. Her award winning anthology, Somos Xicanas, sparked a revival of published work by Mexican American women. First penned under a pseudonym, Luz’s first poetry manuscript was selected by Juan Felipe Herrera as first runner-up for the 2024 Andrés Montoya Poetry Prize. Next

< Back Sally Stiles Sally Stiles has called four continents, six countries, nine states and a small trawler home. She holds an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts and has taught and published non-fiction, fiction and poetry. A former editor of national magazines, her work includes eight published books and hundreds of magazine articles. Locally, she has served on the executive board of An Occasion for the Arts and The Williamsburg Book Festival. Next

< Back Christy Landers Tallamy Christy Landers Tallamy is a writer whose work explores the beauty and complexity of ordinary lives. Her style is often compared to Italian novelist Elena Ferrante. Her poetry and essays appear in several creative writing anthologies, and she has also worked as a ghostwriter, blogger, and essayist, earning small but meaningful accolades for her work. Her debut historical novel, Sugarcane Saint—the first in a planned trilogy—draws on her Southern roots to examine family loyalty, faith, and the legacies that shape who we become. Next

< Back Randy Ellefson Author and world building strategist Randy Ellefson has been world building since the 1980s, having worked on a single world (Llurien) for decades, while also building separate worlds for other projects. Rand has won honorable mention three times in the prestigious Writers of the Future contest and publishes fantasy novels, novellas, and short stories. His series, The Art of World Building, has reached the Top 10 on Amazon's Bestseller lists. He's also host of the Fantasy & Sci-Fi Author Summit. Between selling at conventions, he also appears on podcasts for writers. He holds a Bachelors of Music, Magna cum Laude, in classical guitar, and runs his own record label, which has released five of his albums (three instrumental rock, one instrumental acoustic, and one classical guitar album). His metal band, Black Halo, is releasing its debut album in 2026, with Rand as guitarist, main songwriter/lyricist, and band manager. Rand works as a professional software architect/project manager in the Washington, D.C. area and has worked for the State Department, White House, and NASA among others. When not creating, he's playing with his son and daughter, golfing, skiing, or swimming. Next

< Back Karen Marginot Karen Marginot is an author, a recovery coach, and an integrative coach with over four decades of literary experience. Her published memoir, The Bad Girls Club: Promises of a Spirituality-Based Recovery, explores transformation and recovery from trauma and addiction. With a background spanning publishing, content development leadership, and senior positions at Salesforce and Dell, Karen brings unique insight to writers at all stages. Her innovative workshops blend classical storytelling techniques with transformative approaches to narrative development, helping writers discover their authentic voice and craft impactful stories. Specializing in guiding those in the wisdom phase of life, Karen creates supportive environments where participants develop both technical skills and narrative gifts. A graduate of Co-Active Training Institute, Karen is currently working on her next two book projects while helping others discover the stories only they can tell. Her teaching philosophy centers on her conviction that a single story can change everything—transforming both author and audience. Next