Sean Barber is a new author in a fairly new genre of novel, LitRPG, specifically the subgenre Apocalyptic LitRPG. He is the author of the Paths of Power, Initialization trilogy, consisting of two self-published books with a third in progress. After being unable to afford a master's degree in clinical counseling, Sean quit his job to get his commercial driver's license (CDL) in an effort to be better off financially. His career as a truck driver allowed him to pursue his passion for writing during his free time.
Originally from Clearlake, a small town in northern California, Sean has lived in Colorado Springs for over two decades. He has an associate's degree in Information Technology and a bachelor's degree in Psychology. In addition to writing, Sean is an avid reader and audiobook listener, table top role-playing gamer, and a big fan of sci-fi, fantasy, and anime. Sean works hard at balancing his day job, writing time and spending time with his wife, son and three very hyper dogs, two of which have been included in his written works.
Find out more at authorseanbarber.com.
I’m an award-winning author, solo RV traveler, old-school feminist, dog companion, unabashed lover of sunsets, and professional horse trainer/clinician. I’m a woman of a certain age who has done just about everything and done it well. No longer auditioning.
I was born in Cavalier County, North Dakota in 1954, the youngest daughter in a farm family. Now I live at Infinity Farm, on the flat, windy, treeless prairie of Colorado with a herd of reprobates, raconteurs, and our moral compass, Edgar Rice Burro.
Learn more about Anna Blake at www.annablake.com.
C.S. (Cindy) Boyll, Colorado Springs, has had a life-long love for books and writing. She has spent part of her adult life as a journalist and copy editor in Washington, D.C.; Minot, ND; Philadelphia; Battle Creek, MI, and Cincinnati. Now, she turns her pen to writing fiction. Picture book Always Flying Bobby, illustrated by Jessica Santiesteban, released in April. This multigenerational story shares the love of flying between Grandfather Bobby and Granddaughter Little Bobbie. The two aviators discover they fly in many ways throughout their lives. Cindy’s young adult novel Unexpected Riches released in fall 2022. This historical adventure, which took only 30 years to research and work out, follows the adventures of a 17th century, kidnapped midwife. Besides writing, Cindy enjoys doing life with husband Chuck and sharing stories with young and old through class programs and book clubs.
Find her at www.csboyll.com.
Vincent F. Burke III is a cultural anthropologist and fiction writer who specializes in Queer storytelling. His degree in Cultural Anthropology comes from the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, where he began writing short horror fiction in 2016. Soon after having published his first story, The Remains of Adrian Hewitt, with The Deserted Zine, Vincent began formulating a plan for Flesh and Bone, a sprawling series that would encompass his studies and love of literature. Currently residing in the western US, Vincent spends his days reading, writing, playing lacrosse and thinking of the next best American novel.
Amarah Calderini grew up in the Rocky Mountains, and spent her time imagining magic living in the shadows of the peaks. She writes fantasy imbued with equal parts magic, angst, and romance, featuring strong yet flawed heroines and the fierce-hearted men who love them. When not writing, she can be found soaking up the sun and singing along to the same dramatic songs she’s listened to since high school. She currently lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado with her husband, two children, and their geriatric German Shepherd.
Find out more about Amarah Calderini at www.amarahcalderini.com.
photo credit: Kelly Lemon Photography.
Amanda writes about female protagonists who discover magic in nature. She has written and illustrated dozens of stories involving nymphs, nature spirits, and other curious creatures who love getting into mischief. You can find her in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, where she is blazing a trail, drumming with her local taiko group, or having a flamboyant conversation with her two cats. She works as both a park interpreter and a children’s library associate at her local library, where she shares her imagination and creative programs with her community.
Find out more at amandacaseybooks.com.
Marj Charlier is the author of several historical novels and contemporary women’s novels. The Rebel Nun, released in 2021 (Blackstone Publishing), won the first-place award for historical fiction and first-place overall fiction award from the Colorado Independent Publishers Association. The Candlemaker’s Woman, historical fiction set in 406 CE, was published April 30. She followed a 20-year career in journalism, including 12 years as a staff reporter at the Wall Street Journal, with 15 years in corporate finance departments as an investor relations executive. A native of Iowa, she has a bachelor’s degree from Iowa State University, a master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin, and an MBA from Regis University. She has attended the Dorland Mountain Arts Colony Residency, the Vashon Island Artists Residency, and the Todos Santos Writers Workshop; and has taught courses in publishing, fiction and memoir writing.
Find out more about Marj Charlier at authormarjcharlier.com.
Annie Dawid teaches creative writing at the University College, University of Denver. She won the 2022 Screencraft Award in the Cinematic Novel and the 2022 Short Story award from Chipping Norton (UK).
Her novel Paradise Undone: A Novel of Jonestown was published 11/18/23, the 45th anniversary of the Jonestown massacre, by Inkspot Publishing of the UK and distributed worldwide. It is a finalist for the Colorado Book Award in Historical Fiction. The book has received 9 positive reviews thus far, and she has been on 6 podcast-interviews, available online.
Visit Annie Dawid's website at anniedawid.com.
Prior volumes of fiction:
F. P. Dorchak has been writing since he was six years old. He's studied philosophy, physics, and metaphysics. He was a USAF officer and civilian contractor for nearly 40 years. He’s written four novels and his anthology, Do The Dead Dream?, won the 2017 Best Book Award - Short Story.
Find out more by visiting:
http://www.fpdorchak.com/books/
Linda DuVal was a reporter/feature writer/editor at The Gazette for 32 years. She has been a freelance with since taking early retirement, writing for the Colorado AAA magazine, EnCompass, as well as major newspapers, including the Denver Post, Dallas Morning News, Newark Star-Ledger and Kansas City Star.
The Lightkeeper is her first historic novel, published in December 2023.
Visit Linda DuVal's website here.
Heath Gay is a life-long resident of Colorado with an extreme passion for experiencing, and sharing, all the Centennial State has to offer. He spends much of his time exploring Colorado, documenting historically significant, unique, abandoned, and must-see sites throughout the state. Thus, the “Forgotten Colorado” book series was born, profiling places in Colorado that few people know exist and how to find them. Currently, three of the four books in the series are available in bookstores or online: 1. Forgotten Colorado: Eastern Plains 2. Forgotten Colorado: Southern Region 3. Forgotten Colorado: Northern Region The final book in the series will be published in 2023 as will his book on Colorado Springs titled, Colorado Springs – The Most Significant Sites in the City. Heath is also the founder of the Colorado Fan Club, with a mission to share the best that Colorado has to offer by bringing to light forgotten history, epic adventures, spectacular hikes, amazing local artwork, and so much more. You can learn more about Heath and all things Colorado by visiting https://www.facebook.com/ColoradoFanClub.
Monique “Momo” Givens is a professional toy designer with credits including Mattel, Hasbro, and other freelancing ventures. She earned a BFA with honors in Toy Design from Otis College of Art and Design in the heart of Los Angeles, CA.
In 2020, Momo decided to dip her toes into the world of self-publishing and try her hand at creating an out-of-the-box picture book series that features jaw-dropping, imaginative visuals and expressive rhymes highlighting earth’s diverse animal kingdom! Momo hopes that her books will inspire newfound love and appreciation for the animal kingdom, word play, as well as cultural imagery/designs from all around the world.
In addition to her book series, Momo has been able to bring her fantastical characters to life as eye-popping plush toys for the world to enjoy.
Currently, Momo resides in her hometown of Colorado Springs, CO in hopes of taking her Beanibeings™ to infinity and beyond!
Find out more at The Beanibeings™.
Jessica Hopkins comes from a Cherokee family full of storytellers in rural Oklahoma, but has traveled across both the US and the world. She is passionate about Indigenous rights, and has written essays on Indigenous representation in sci-fi and fantasy. She works with organizations on bringing Indigenous voices to colonized media spaces, as well as serving as a sensitivity reader and editor for Indigenous and disabled issues. When she’s not working or writing, she’s being covered in fur by her cat and two dogs; playing video games or tabletop games (nerd alert); making art; traveling; or going to museums. A two-time Zebulon Award winner, she is currently working on the sequel to the urban fantasy/police procedural BORN TO BE MAGIC and a YA paranormal based on Cherokee folklore titled SKY MARKED.
Find her on Facebook (/jhopkinswrites), Instagram (@coloradojessica), or on TikTok (@fluentinsarcasm). More information at www.madewithwords.net.
A.L. Kessler is an author of paranormal and urban fantasy books and is best known for her Here Witchy Witchy series. A self-proclaimed coffee addict, she resides in Colorado Springs with her family and menagerie of animals. When she’s not writing her next book, she loves to read and visit with friends and family.
To learn more about her, check out her website amylkessler.com or follow her on Facebook at facebook.com/alkesslerauthor.
A fan of all things fantastical and frightening, Shannon Lawrence writes primarily horror and fantasy. Her short stories can be found in over fifty anthologies and magazines in addition to her collections. Her nonfiction title, The Business of Short Stories, and debut urban fantasy novel, Myth Stalker: Wendigo Nights, are available now. You can also find her as a co-host of the podcast Mysteries, Monsters, & Mayhem. When she's not writing, she's hiking through the wilds of Colorado and photographing her magnificent surroundings, where, coincidentally, there's always a place to hide a body or birth a monster.
Find her at www.thewarriormuse.com.
C.H. Lyn published her debut novel on April 1st of 2023. Since then, she has released over half a dozen books with several more projects coming down the line.
Lyn and her writer group are responsible for putting on the Colorado Springs Book Bash, a brand new event tailored to local authors and readers in a desire to grow and strengthen the bookish community.
Lyn writes a variety of genres, from dystopian fantasy to spy/thrillers. She has fairy tale retellings, cozy paranormal short stories, and epic adventures under her belt. Her husband is an Air Force officer and together they are raising two little girls—who greatly love to read, but aren’t quite at the level of their mothers works just yet.
More information about C.H. Lyn and her various books can be found at chlyn.com
Fantasy author Tai Manivong was inspired to write a children’s novel while she was a third-grade teacher, six years ago. But the seed was planted well before when, as a teenager in high school, a class assignment resulted in her first “book,” a story about a girl on a quest in a magical land.
Tai believes a great book is one with believable characters that readers can relate to. With many of her own books’ characters on a journey of self-discovery and finding out where they fit in the world, she hopes her young readers come away from her fantasy novels with a self-acceptance that stays with them long after the book is closed.
When she isn’t writing or being creative, Tai records audiobooks, and enjoys spending time with her daughters. They live in Colorado along with their three dogs and two horses.
Find out more at taimanivong.com.
Jennie Marts is the USA TODAY Best-selling author of over 35 award-winning books filled with love, laughter, and always a happily ever after. Readers call her books “laugh out loud” funny and the “perfect mix of romance, humor, and steam.” Fic Central claimed one of her books was “the most fun I’ve had reading in years.” And her latest Bee Keeping cozy mystery, Take the Honey and Run, has been selected as a finalist for this year’s Colorado Book Awards in the mystery category.
She is living her own happily ever after in the mountains of Colorado with her husband, two dogs, and a parakeet who loves to tweet to the oldies. She’s addicted to Diet Coke, adores Cheetos, has seen every episode of Survivor, and believes you can’t have too many books, shoes, or friends.
Her books include the following small town romance series: Cowboys of Creedence, Creedence Horse Rescue Series, Lassiter Ranch, the Bannister Brothers (hockey romcoms), and two hilarious cozy mysteries series, The Page Turners and The Bee Keeping Mysteries.
Jennie loves to hear from readers. Follow her on Facebook at Jennie Marts Books, or Twitter at @JennieMarts. Visit her at www.jenniemarts.com and sign up for her newsletter to keep up with the latest news and releases.
Andrew D Meredith’s journey has taken him to many fantastical places. From selling books in the wilds of western Washington to designing and publishing board games in the great white midwest. He’s now committed to the quest he was called to so long ago: the telling of fantastical tales, and bringing to life underestimated characters willing to take on the responsibilities no one else will.
Andrew is the Author of the Kallattian Saga, the Needle & Leaf Series, and Quaint Creatures: Magical and Mundane.
Find out more at andrewdmeredith.com.
Patricia Meredith is an author of historical and cozy mysteries. When she’s not writing, she’s playing board games with her husband, creating imaginary worlds with her two children, or out in the garden reading a good book with a cup of tea. She currently lives just outside Colorado Springs.
Find out more at patricia-meredith.com.
Dr. MelindaJoy Mingo has lived in the Pikes Peak Region for over 20 years. She is a professor at Pikes Peak State College. She is a global leadership trainer and cross cultural communications specialist. She is a visiting business lecturer at Hanoi University in Vietnam and a sought out speaker around the world. She is the founder of Significant Life Change which is a coaching initiative with a unique emphasis on leadership presence along with skills. She is featured in many podcasts, printed magazine interviews and in person speaking engagements around the topic of cross cultural and international business relationships. She is a Tedx speaker and her talk "Shame Off You" has been featured nationally and internationally.
Susan Miura is an author, editor, and speaker as well as a former Chicago-area journalist and public relations professional. She believes book characters should reflect the world in which we live, and therefore includes characters of various ethnicities, abilities, and cultures in her novels. Her award-winning young adult books are clean fiction with suspense, danger, and touches of romance and humor. Susan also writes inspirational women’s fiction and has one children’s poetry book that features several of her wildlife photos. Hobbies include nature photography, hiking, baking, and reading. Susan recently moved to Colorado Springs from a Chicago suburb and loves the sunshine, mountains, and hiking opportunities.
Visit her website susanmiura.com.
Terry Odell began writing by mistake, when her son mentioned a television show and she thought she’d watch it so they’d have common ground for discussions.
Now she’s a multi-published, award winning author of over thirty novels, novellas, and short stories. She writes mysteries and romantic suspense, but calls them all “Mysteries With Relationships.” Her awards include the Silver Falchion, the International Digital Awards, and the HOLT Medallion. A Los Angeles native, she moved to Florida where she spent thirty years in the heat and humidity. She now enjoys life with her husband and rescue dog in the cooler, dryer climate of the Colorado Rockies, where she watches wildlife from her windows.
You can learn more about her and her books at her website terryodell.com, or her blog Terry’s Place.
DIAN CURTIS REGAN is the author of 60 books for young readers, ranging from board books and picture books, middle grade novels to young adult novels and anthology stories. Her books have won many honors, and have been translated into German, French, Spanish, Korean, Danish, and Finnish.
She is a former “Member of the Year” of the international Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI.) She was inducted into the Oklahoma Professional Writers’ Hall of Fame, and a library was named after her in Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela.
Her Space Boy books have won a Crystal Kite Award from SCBWI, and have been finalists for both the Colorado Book Award and the Colorado Authors’ League Award.
She is also a recipient of the Golden Quill Award, presented by Friends of the Pikes Peak Library District, for her body of work.
Dian has lived in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Venezuela, and is now back in her home state of Colorado.
Find out more at diancurtisregan.com.
“Dian Curtis Regan is an expert at writing original, imaginative, and highly entertaining picture books, chapter books, as well as both middle-grade and young adult novels.” ~ Midwest Book Review
Sarah Byrn Rickman knew at five she wanted to write books. At 13, she read about Amelia Earhart and wanted to fly. A 20-plus year career in journalism — reporter/ columnist for The Detroit News and later editor of the Centerville-Bellbrook (Ohio) Times — put her on the brink. Add a master’s degree in creative writing then the 2001 publication of The Originals: The Women’s Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron of World War II.
Twelve books later, Sarah writes upbeat biographies — about the women pilots who flew in World War II — for today’s young women ages 11-15.
Visit her website sarahbyrnrickman.com.
Diane Sawatzki earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from the
Photo credit: Su Ketchmark Visit our website at: www.palmerdivideproductions.com
Tena Stetler
Carly Stevens lives in beautiful Colorado where she’s lucky enough to make a living as a book nerd. Her life revolves around stories. From devouring The Lord of the Rings at fourteen, crushing on Sydney Carton in high school, to escaping into New Beijing and Cabeswater, stories have always been her driving force. She writes dark and immersive books about finding hope against the odds—sometimes fantasy, sometimes dark academia, but always with a hint of magic.
Find out more at carly-stevens.com.
Mike Torreano is a multiple award-winning author of historical fiction and traditional western mysteries set in Colorado and New Mexico Territories. In the fifth grade he read his first Zane Grey novel and has been hooked on the Old West ever since.
His debut western mystery, The Reckoning, was released in 2016 by The Wild Rose Press and the sequel, The Renewal, was released in 2018. Both are set in South Park, just west of the front range. He’s now finishing up the third in the South Park series, The Return.
An interest in the Goodnight-Loving cattle trail inspired his first stand-alone western, A Score To Settle, which was set on that trail and came out in 2020. A friend’s suggestion prompted Mike to write his latest western mystery, White Sands Gold, which was released in September 2022. It has received five literary awards.
His first historical novel, Fireflies at Dusk, is an award-winning coming-of-age tale about a young man torn between his pacifist upbringing and his urge to fight against the evil of slavery with the Union Army as the Civil War breaks out.
Mike also speaks at clubs and organizations about the timeless values of the Old West and The Code of the West, and how those values are still relevant today.
He can be found on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Goodreads.
https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=mike%20torreano%20author
https://www.facebook.com/miketorreano
https://www.bookbub.com/profile/mike-torreano
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/10187716.Mike_Torreano?ref=nav_profile_l
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-torreano-0a407929/
https://twitter.com/miketorreano