Bledsoe, K.A.

Science Fiction

K. A. Bledsoe’s writing journey began at the age of six with a short story about kids living on a space station. Writing has been a constant despite a multitude of other jobs, and life, trying to get in the way. But persistence paid off. The most recently published is a science-fiction series about a spacefaring family. They aren’t lost but that doesn’t mean there’s no danger.

Born, raised and still residing in Arizona, the author continues to pen stories in all genres despite house cats underfoot and the occasional bobcat or roadrunner strolling through the backyard.

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Campbell, Marcus

Poetry
Marcus Sterling Campbell is a poet and film enthusiast from Phoenix, Arizona. Graduating from Mesa Community College, he received a high distinction in Creative Writing, along with degrees in Journalism and General Studies. He is a Vortex Award winner and has placed in several writing contests within the Mesa community. Marcus sweats when he writes and while growing his Magic collection. His work can be found scattered across the web or @marcus_s_campbell on social media.

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Cole, Darci

Darci Cole is an author, narrator, and podcaster whose debut novel TARGET is a gender-swapped young adult fantasy retelling of Robin Hood. She and her husband run Colevanders: a wand shop catering to lovers of magic and cosplay. She currently lives in Arizona with her husband and four children.

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Covington, Justine

Historical/Regency Romance

Justine fell in love with the Regency when her grandmother introduced her to Johanna Lindsey at age fourteen (thank you, Grandma!). Twenty-five years later, Justine decided it was time to write the Regency historicals she loves, rather than simply read them. When not writing, Justine enjoys reading, playing games that make her mind work, and spending time with her family. The desert southwest is her home, where she lives with her family and mini-Schnauzers Chewie and Chopper.

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Davis,Bruce

Sci-fi/fantasy
Author Bruce Davis (Glowgems for Profit, Gold Magic) writes with a hint of the classic detective and a hint of noir across his Science Fiction and Fantasy novels. Influenced by the hard-boiled detective works of Mickey Spillane and similar authors, Bruce brings them thematically into the present day (and future) with skill and storytelling prowess.

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 Dukelow, Robert

Historical Fiction

Robert Dukelow worked 33 years as an Army Counterintelligence Special Agent, mostly in Europe, but also in Afghanistan, and the Pentagon. He now lives in Gilbert, Arizona where he writes, gardens, teaches at the Mesa Community College, and hikes in the mountains.
His PG-13 fictional books and short stories are filled with humor, spies, and strong women. His garden is full of thriving fruit trees and raised vegetable beds.
His German is superb. His Hungarian is marginal. His Spanish, Russian, Dutch, Turkish, and Japanese can get him in trouble.

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Eaton, Pam

Young Adult

Pam Eaton lives in the deserts of Arizona, but she’ll always consider herself a New Englander at heart. She graduated from Arizona State University with degrees involving education and history. While she loves history, it’ll always take a backseat to the fictional world she stumbled into as a young girl.

She lives with her husband, three kids, and two crazy but lovable labs. It’s a chaotic life, but she wouldn’t have it any other way. Especially since they let her read an insane amount of books, and watch way too many Food Network shows.

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 Finefrock, Cynthia Anne

Juvenile Fiction/Children

Francis, Mimi

Romance/Contemporary Romance

Mimi Francis writes contemporary romance of the spicy, steamy variety. She loves writing tropes and frequently uses them in her series, Second Chances in Hollywood and Loves of Lakeside. Mimi stumbled into writing when her favorite obsessions led her to writing fanfiction. With encouragement from friends, family, and her readers, she successfully made the jump to writing original fiction.

When she’s not writing, she works as an admin assistant, crochets, binge-watches her favorite TV shows and movies, and spends time with her three children, her dogs, and her husband of twenty-eight years.

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Gardner, Terrie

Non Fiction/Memoir/Self Help

A native Texan, Terrie moved to Arizona 23 years ago with her family. This married, mother of four, grandmother of 11, calls Gilbert home and loves the small town feel of one of the fastest growing townships in the country.

Writing has been a passion since childhood. The sensation of writing with a great pen on a crisp sheet of paper is still excites her. Although it has always been a passion, writing was placed on hold while Terrie taught elementary education and raised a family.

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Gallo, Rebecca

 Romance

Rebecca Gallo writes steamy and spicy contemporary romance, most notably the Presidential Promises duet. Age gaps are kind of her thing since she is in a real-life age-gap romance. She aims to write romance reminiscent of the soapy television mini-series she grew up watching alongside her mom. In addition to writing, Rebecca is a full-time high school English teacher, mom, and self-proclaimed wine snob. 

Gershkowitz, Howard

Fiction/Thriller

Howard is 65, married (42 years) with one child (age 34), and has lived in Arizona since 1981. Maintaining a journal for most of his life, he’s accumulated a significant amount of material to write about. To date, he has published two dozen short stories along with a poetry chapbook, ‘Observations.’ His debut novel, ‘The Operator,’ was published in October 2018 by ‘All Things That Matter Press.’. His latest release, ‘Not on My Watch,’ from the same publisher, is out now and is available on Amazon or visit his website at Gershwriter.com. 

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Goldner, Rita

Children’s Picture Books

Rita Goldner's passion for nature, drawing and writing made picture books a great fit. Rita hopes that instilling understanding of endangered animals/habitats and global ecology will help her readers learn to preserve this when they grow up. Her storytelling style, colorful whimsical pictures, and lively action-packed plots, make learning fun. Her new book, Agent H2O Rides the Water Cycle precipitated (pun intended) from her desire to teach the importance of water.

Rita's awards:
A Day in the Rainforest Canopy, silver medal, Nautilus Book Awards
Agent H2O rides the Water Cycle first place Kids' Shelf Books Cover Design Award

Gordon, David Alyn

Science-Historical Fiction

I have been a social studies teacher, principal, and founding owner of the Grand Canyon College Preparatory Academy in Tempe, Arizona. I grew up reading and watching science and historical fiction. I am also a big baseball fan. I have combined my various passions in the Jigsaw series, which focuses on time-traveling teens thrust into major historical events—many of which never made the standard history books. I was born in New York and now live in Arizona with the love of my life Gwyn. We are both are dog people, and enjoy travel and food—Italian, Asian, Middle Eastern and Indian cuisines in particular.

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Heartman, Lisa

Romantic Suspense

Lisa is a coffee-swilling, sass-spewing romance writer who believes love is messy and magnificent. She writes things she wishes she had said, and some she wishes she hadn’t, delighting readers with exhilarating stories and swoon-worthy characters in a world where danger and desire collide©.

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 King, Steven

Children’s

Steven King is a well-seasoned graphic illustrator and designer, his many forms of artwork have appeared in numerous books, packaging, games, and toys around the world. Among Steven's many recognitions he is also known for creating all of the iconic U-Haul educational illustrations you see on the roads today. While working directly with leading scientists on these educational illustrations, he was inspired to write his own picture books to make learning fun while helping children understand science.

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Ladd, A.M.

A.M. Ladd has lived in Arizona for 23 years and has worked in the technology industry for decades. She believes communing with nature is the key to a balanced life. Her passions include conservation, spooky forests, and the magical energies all around us. Her hope is to share light and joy with readers as they meander down the trail of her imagination in her fantasy romance novels. The new release, Wild Union is available through her website, amladd.com or via Paperclip Publishing.

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Marsh, Adam

Science Fiction

Adam Marsh is a software engineer, U.S. Army veteran, and author of two science-fiction novels, The Changed, and Survived. His novels both received five stars from Foreword Clarion, and his work has been called “nearly impossible to put down,” by Kirkus. As an engineer and lover of all things fantastic, his work tends to straddle the line between the real and the unknown. Adam has a degree in Computer Systems Engineering and a certificate in Novel Writing, both from ASU.

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McMahon, Kathie

 Chapter Book Contemporary

Kathie McMahon is the author of the humorous, award-winning chapter book series, Mortimer and Me, about eight-year-old Jimmy and a moose named Mortimer. Kathie taught elementary school for 32 years, where she composed several school musicals. She also collaborated on many youth theater musicals, receiving four ariZoni awards for Original Music Composition. She is a member of SCBWI and hosts the East Valley KidLit Mingles. Kathie lives in Gilbert, Arizona, where you won’t find any moose, but plenty of snakes, gila monsters, and mountain lions.

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Pelletier, John Jay

 Former Green Beret Survival Instructor will be in the Book crawl with his Book on Desert Safety and Survival.

Simper, SD

Dark Fantasy

S D Simper has lived in both the hottest place on earth and the coldest, spans the employment spectrum from theater teacher to professional editor, and plays more instruments than can be counted on one hand. She and her wife share a home with their two cats and innumerable bookshelves. 

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 Skinner, Sharon

Sci-Fi/Fantasy- Middle Grade/Young Adult

Author Sharon Skinner (The Healer’s Legacy, Return to Anoria) has written ten published books in the Fantasy, Science Fiction, Poetry and Children’s Picture Book genres. With influences ranging from Peter S Beagle to Ursula K Leguin and many styles in between, Sharon is an avid reader and regularly posts her readings on Goodreads.

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Smith, Terry L.

Science Fiction

Terry L Smith calls Phoenix, Arizona home, between bouts of wanderlust. Even a stint in the U.S. Air Force, training pilots in enemy radar detection (not getting their asses shot down), brought her back to the desert. Besides learning to dodge rattlesnakes and bombs, her time in the service taught her to appreciate the military culture and ever-changing technologies. Those experiences help her write strong characters, especially women, holding their own as humanity reaches out into the universe. Come check out her current releases and where you can meet her next.

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Standage, L.L.

Young Adult/ Urban Fantasy

L.L. Standage (Amy to her friends), has been making up stories her entire life. In high school, she decided she wanted to be an author and began writing the most cringe-worthy epic fantasies, which, sadly, will never see the light of day. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys laughing with her husband, playing Zelda with her kids, drinking Diet Coke, getting pedicures, traveling, and eating food. She loves chocolate and geeks out over anything having to do with England. She lives with her family in the very sunny, cactus-infested fire hazard known as Arizona.

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 Windrow, Jenn

Urban Fantasy/Paranormal Romance 

JENN WINDROW loves characters who have a pinch of spunk, a dash of attitude, and a large dollop of sex appeal. Top it all off with a huge heaping helping of snark, and you’ve got the ingredients for the kind of fast paced stories she loves to read and write. Home is a suburb of it’s-so-hot-my-shoes-have-melted-to-the-pavement Phoenix. Where she lives with her husband, two daughters, and a slew of animals that seem to keep following her home, at least that’s what she claims.

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 Young, Jenn D.

Paranormal Romance

Jenn D. Young is a native of Washington, currently living in Arizona. She has always dreamed of writing about the characters that have been floating around in her head. Ever since the age of 14, she has been obsessed with romance novels and reading them as fast as she can get her hands on them. Her first love is Paranormal Romance, but she enjoys stories from all across the genre. You can typically find her listening to music or an audiobook, reading, or hanging out with her dogs Hermes and Loki.

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