Andrea J. Johnson is a former court reporter turned freelance entertainment writer for the women’s lifestyle website Popsugar. This love for insider gossip has inspired her to take real-life headlines and turn them into mind-bending mysteries. Poetic Justice is a perfect example of this dynamic because it uses Andrea’s legal background to explore what would happen if a trial stenographer took the law into her own hands. Set on the Delmarva Peninsula near the Chesapeake and Delaware Bays, fans of shows like Murder, She Wrote and films like The Pelican Brief will love the cozy mystery and legal thriller mashup.

In addition to being a member of Crime Writers of Color and Mystery Writers of America, Andrea holds a certified shorthand reporter certification in the State of California and is a member of the National Court Reporters Association. Moreover, she’s earned a copyediting certification from UC San Diego and an M.F.A. in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University.

Andrea is also the author of a set of genre-based guidebooks for fiction authors known as the Writer Productivity series with such titles as How to Craft a Killer Cozy Mystery and Mastering the Art of Suspense. In addition, she’s written several articles on the craft of writing for websites such as LitReactor, CrimeReads, Submittable, Funds for Writers, and DIY MFA. When she isn’t developing her stories, Andrea enjoys cuddling up with a piping hot mug of ginger tea and poring over the latest supermarket tabloids.

Sierra is a voracious reader of all things including the smuttiest smut, young adult, piles of non-fiction for research, and everything Bill Bryson (especially on audio).

She loves writing the dirtiest things that she can think of, King Arthur, sparkling water, Tarot, coffee, leggings, and learning new words daily.

Her previous jobs have included firing ceramics, teaching living history lessons in one-room school house in full, 1904-approved school marm attire, and working as a librarian for several years—not in that order

She lives in the Kansas City area with her husband, two children, and two giant dogs. (And two cats, but they’re so naughty we don’t talk about them.)

Her novels have been published in Czech, French, German, Hebrew, Hungarian, Italian, Polish, and Romanian. She’s been featured in Buzzfeed, Cosmopolitan, Entertainment Weekly, Marie Claire, and Library Journal with a starred review.

Marissa James is a writer, editor, and proofreader with over eight years of experience, and a particular interest in fantasy, science fiction, and young adult. She loves a good story regardless of genre, however. When not reading, writing, or editing, she can be found cross stitching, day dreaming, or taking a drive to the rainy Oregon coast. Find her at www.marissafictionediting.com or @marofthebooks.

A.C. Wise was born and raised in Montreal, and currently lives in the Philadelphia area. Her short fiction has appeared in publications such as Uncanny, Tor.com, Shimmer, and multiple Year’s Best anthologies. Her fiction has won the Sunburst Award for Excellence in Canadian Literature of the Fantastic, and been a finalist for the Nebula Awards, the Sunburst Awards, the Lambda Literary Awards, and the Aurora Awards, while her work as a reviewer has been a finalist for the Ignyte Awards.

She has two collections, The Ultra Fabulous Glitter Squadron Saves the World Again, and The Kissing Booth Girl and Other Stories, published with Lethe Press, and a novella, Catfish Lullaby, published with Broken Eye Books. Her debut novel, Wendy, Darling, is forthcoming from Titan Books in June 2021, and a new short story collection, The Ghost Sequences, will be published by Undertow Books in October 2021. In addition to her fiction, she contributes the Women to Read and Non-Binary Authors to Read series to The Book Smugglers.

Contact the author at a.c.wise@hotmail.com or find her on Twitter as @ac_wise.

She is represented by Barry Goldblatt at BG Literary.

Anita works as an author and artist and is best known as the writer of The Dark Fairy Tale Queen Series. The first book in the series, Sinful Cinderella, has won the Inkitt Novel Contest and was selected as Feminist Book of the Month by F-BOM Book Club in 2020. Anita also enjoys illustrating and has created several coloring books, with 100 Dogs Coloring Book being the most popular. Anita lives near Poughkeepsie, New York with her husband, three children, and a Siamese cat.

New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly and #1 Amazon bestselling author Rebecca Zanetti has published more than sixty novels, which have been translated into several languages, with more than five million copies sold world-wide. Her books have received Publishers Weekly starred reviews and have been featured in Entertainment Weekly, Woman’s World, and Women’s Day Magazines. Her novels have also been included in Amazon best books of the year and have been favorably reviewed in both the Washington Post and the New York Times Book Reviews. Rebecca has ridden in a locked Chevy trunk, has asked the unfortunate delivery guy to release her from a set of handcuffs, and has discovered the best silver mine shafts in which to bury a body…all in the name of research. Honest.

Fiona is a full-time, freelance editor of nine years with her clients publishing both traditionally with the Big 5 publishers and indie to much success in the US, UK, and further afield. She has previously interned with two literary agencies, worked in conjunction with a literary consultancy, and written multiple published articles. In addition, she has taken part in an #ownvoices anthology alongside NYT bestselling authors (UNBOUND: Stories of Transformation, Love, and Monsters.) She is also represented by Don Congdon Associates for her own writing.

Golden Angel is a USA Today best-selling author and self-described bibliophile with a “kinky” bent who loves to write stories for the characters in her head. If she didn’t get them out, she’s pretty sure she’d go just a little crazy.

She is happily married, old enough to know better but still too young to care, and a big fan of happily-ever-afters, strong heroes and heroines, and sizzling chemistry.

When she’s not writing, she can often be found on the couch reading, in front of her sewing machine making a new cosplay, hanging out with her friends, or wandering the Maryland Renaissance Fair.

Find Her Online!
Newsletter – https://www.smarturl.it/AngelNewsletter
BookBub: http://bit.ly/2G68e3O
Facebook: http://bit.ly/2Ds7c0e
Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2rt4rdL
Instagram: http://bit.ly/2CkqiqZ
TikTok: https://bit.ly/3sJhOod
Twitter: https://bit.ly/37RSd1B
Website: http://www.goldenangelromance.com

Alex Falcone is the only comedian and writer living in Los Angeles. He’s appeared in several episodes of Portlandia as one of Fred’s nerdy friends and recently made his late night debut on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert where he mostly talked about how rad his wife is. He is the author of a young-adult romance novel about a mummy called Unwrap My Heart that Publisher’s Weekly called “unfortunate” and became an Amazon best seller after he made a TikTok about it. Despite these modest accomplishments, he’s somehow remained down to earth and approachable.

When I was a kid, I used to collect stories from around the neighborhood and write them out in a “newspaper” to sell back to its unwitting stars. Once I grew up, I realized it was simpler (and less libelous) to just make the stories up. Now, I create my own characters. They tend to be a bit more sarcastic than my neighbors ever were, but they do have a delightful habit of falling in love along the way.

I live in DC with my husband and our best friend, Netflix. When not writing, I spend much of my time traveling. For most of my life, I’ve been accused of having my head in the clouds. As a flight attendant, I’ve finally discovered a way to monetize it.

Donna is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over a hundred novels. Her most popular series is the breathtaking Dark King (aka Dragon King) series featuring dragons, immortal Highlanders, and the Fae.

In addition to her novels, Donna has written short stories, novellas, and novelettes for digital-first and print release. She has been dubbed as giving the “paranormal genre a burst of fresh air” by the San Francisco Book Review. Her work has been hailed as having “deft plotting and expert characterization” by Publisher’s Weekly and “sizzling” by RT Book Reviews.

She has been recognized with awards from both bookseller and reader contests including the National Reader’s Choice Award, Booksellers Best Award, as well as the coveted K.I.S.S. Award from RT Book Reviews.

Leslee Sullivant has been a game designer, narrative designer, and producer for multiple gaming and tech-driven organizations, including Facebook, Scopely, Dorian, and Riot Games (among others!)

K.D. Richards / Kia Dennis was born and raised in the Maryland suburbs just outside of Washington, D.C. A writer since a young age, after college she earned a law degree and worked as an attorney and legal instructor for fifteen years but never stopped writing fiction. She currently splits her time between Toronto and Maryland with her husband and two sons.

Liv Constantine is the pen name of sisters Lynne Constantine and Valerie Constantine. Together, they are the bestselling author of the Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick The Last Mrs. Parrish, as well as The Last Time I Saw You, The Wife Stalker, and The Stranger in the Mirror. Their critically acclaimed books have been praised by USA Today, The Sunday Times, People Magazine, and Good Morning America, among many others. Lynne and Valerie are national and international bestselling authors and their books have been translated into 28 languages, are available in 33 countries, and are in development for both television and film.

Tosca Lee is the award-winning, New York Times bestselling author of The Line Between, The House of Bathory Duology (The Progeny, Firstborn), Iscariot, The Legend of Sheba, Demon: A Memoir, Havah: The Story of Eve, and the Books of Mortals series with New York Times bestseller Ted Dekker.

A notorious night-owl, she loves watching TV, eating bacon, playing video games with her kids, and sending cheesy texts to her husband. You can find Tosca hanging around the snack table or wherever bacon is served.

Samuel Octavius Carter enlisted into the Marine Corps on August 25, 1997. With roughly 24 years of active service, he watched a fallen soldier unintentionally walk across the top of his parachute; he swam with a dolphin protective detail away from a shark; he ate the eyeball of a dead rabbit for electrolytes, and he saw a mortar round land ten inches from a passing Marine who lived to tell about it. Life has rewarded him with tons of stories to share.

In between the fun, he’s pursued his passions for writing, technology, and the intersection of futurism and society. He retired at the rank of Master Gunnery Sergeant, completed a B.S. in Computer Networks and Cybersecurity, an M.S. in Data Analytics from the University of Maryland, and pursuing graduate studies in Computational Social Science.

Christian is an award-winning filmmaker and video game creator. He is widely known as the lead designer and writer on RED DEAD REDEMPTION (Rockstar Games), an international blockbuster that has reached worldwide critical acclaim and shipped over 15 million copies to date. For his work on R.D.R., the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences honored Christian with an award for Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction.

Christian’s directorial feature film debut AIR, a sci-fi thriller starring Norman Reedus and Djimon Hounsou, was produced by Robert Kirkman – creator of The Walking Dead – and distributed by Sony Pictures worldwide.

Christian co-wrote and directed all of the cinematic sequences for SHADOW OF MORDOR, Warner Brothers’ bestseller in the Lord Of The Rings franchise. Other select game design and writing credits include Lara Croft’s reboot RISE OF THE TOMB RIDER, the cult horror MANHUNT franchise and the pop culture phenomenon GRAND THEFT AUTO: SAN ANDREAS.

In comic books, Christian created KILL THE MINOTAUR, the successful mini-series from Image and Skybound. Universal Pictures acquired the comic book for feature film adaptation, with Christian writing the screenplay.

More recently, Christian collaborated with Microsoft on the story and world-building for PERFECT DARK, a reboot of the classic espionage videogame, and also directed the Telly Award winning cinematic debut trailer.

Christian is currently developing multiple writing and directing projects in film, television and animation.

I studied English and Journalism at Greenville College from 1995-1997 and received my earliest writing award in 1996 when I won The Charl Ormond Williams Fund writing competition. Since then, I’ve continued writing short stories, poetry, philosophical articles, genealogical articles, and fantasy novels. I am currently working on several projects, including the completion of the Faerie Chronicles series. I live in North Carolina with my wife and son.

Mike Chen is a critically acclaimed science fiction author based out of the San Francisco Bay Area. His debut novel HERE AND NOW AND THEN was a finalist for the Goodreads Choice, CALIBA Golden Poppy, and Compton Crook awards. His other novels include A BEGINNING AT THE END, WE COULD BE HEROES, LIGHT YEARS FROM HOME, and STAR WARS: BROTHERHOOD. He has also contributed to the STAR WARS: FROM A CERTAIN POINT OF VIEW anthology and covers geek culture for sites like Nerdist, StarTrek.com, and The Mary Sue. In previous lives, Mike worked as a sports journalist covering the NHL, DJ, musician, and aerospace engineer. He lives with his wife, daughter, and many rescue animals.

Sara Desai has been a lawyer, radio DJ, marathon runner, historian, bouncer and librarian. She lives on Vancouver Island with her husband, kids and an assortment of forest creatures who think they are pets. Sara writes sexy romantic comedy and contemporary romance with a multicultural twist. When not laughing at her own jokes, Sara can be found eating nachos.

Tracy Clark, a native Chicagoan, is the author of the Cass Raines Chicago Mystery series, featuring ex-cop turned PI Cassandra Raines. A multi-nominated Anthony, Lefty and Shamus Award finalist, she is also the 2020 winner of the G.P. Putnam’s Sons Sue Grafton Memorial Award. Tracy is a member of Crime Writers of Color and serves on the boards of Mystery Writers of America Midwest, Sisters in Crime Chicagoland and Bouchercon national. Her latest book, *Runner*, released in June 2021.

When not writing, she’s watching old black-and-white movies, reading, or just puttering around. She roots for the Cubs, the Sox, the Bears, the Blackhawks, the Chicago Sky and the Chicago Fire equally. And she will toss a (fictional) dead body anywhere.

​P.L. Stuart lives in Chatham, Ontario, with his wife, Debbie. A Drowned Kingdom is the first novel in The Drowned Kingdom Saga.

Heather graduated from Ryerson University’s Radio & Television Arts program in 2001, and the Canadian Film Centre’s Prime Time Television Writing program in 2005, and a month later landed her first writing gig on YTV’s cartoon comedy CAPTAIN FLAMINGO.

After many years writing television shows for kids and teens that air all over the world (Cartoon Network, Disney, Netflix, etc), she began working as a writer and story editor on Bloom Digital Media’s first game, the award-winning LGBTQ+ visual novel LONGSTORY. Heather went on to write more episodic mobile games for Jam City and Glu Mobile, and was the Lead Writer on ZenFri’s narrative VR game THE LAST TAXI (coming 2021). She then returned to Bloom Digital as the Narrative Designer of the company’s second visual novel, LATER DATERS. Currently, Heather is collaborating with Bloom on two new games, and writing an interactive horror novel. She promises not to get the slasher horror and dating sims mixed up.

When she’s not writing screenplays or games, Heather blogs about cycling the world on a folding bike at bromptoning.com. She also coaches the Trampoline Club at Ryerson University.

Heather is a member of the Writers Guild of Canada.

I’ve been making indie games since 2014. In 2017 I co-founded the studio Team Panoptes alongside 3 of my friends. There, we shipped the VR party game Panoptic. I worked on that game as a designer, artist, and writer. Later, in October 2018, I decided to leave my own studio to focus on my narrative path as a freelance Game Writer and Narrative Designer while using my talents in visual arts to communicate my ideas.

In parallel to my career, I am invested in making the game industry a better place for women and minorities. As a Women in Games Ambassador since 2017, I’ve been doing talks and workshops to help students and young girls to find their place in the industry. I’ve also been doing podcasts and conferences about art, design, and writing in games.

I am currently talking with governmental associations and politics to make the association Women in Games Belgium; in order to create more inclusivity and diversity in the Belgian games industry.

J.T. Ellison is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than 25 novels, and the EMMY® award winning co-host of the literary TV show A WORD ON WORDS. With millions of books in print, her work has won critical acclaim, prestigious awards, and has been published in 28 countries. Ellison lives in Nashville with her husband and twin kittens. Visit JT at Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for more insight into her wicked imagination.

Karna Small Bodman is the author of five international thrillers (that have hit #1 in Thrillers on Amazon). Her latest is Trust but Verify, which was awarded a silver medal by the Military Writers Association of America. The previous four were revised and rereleased by her publisher. Her books were inspired by the six years she served in the Reagan White House, first as Deputy Press Secretary, later as Senior Director of the National Security Council where she was the highest-ranking woman on The White House staff. On book tours, she has given over 400 interviews and speeches to groups nation-wide.

Nathan is a writer and producer from Richmond, VA. He is also the director and founder of the GenreBlast Film Festival at the Alamo Drafthouse in Winchester, VA. It was named one of the Top 50 Genre Fests in the world according to MovieMaker Magazine. His first feature film as a producer, “Worst Laid Plans” is currently in post production. His novella “Love Potion #666” will be out in May 2022 from D&T Publishing.

Charles Payseur is an avid reader, writer, and reviewer of speculative fiction. His works have appeared in The Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy, Lightspeed Magazine, and Beneath Ceaseless Skies, among others, and many are included in his debut collection, The Burning Day and Other Strange Stories (Lethe Press 2021). He is the series editor of We’re Here: The Best Queer Speculative Fiction (Neon Hemlock Press) and a multiple-time Hugo and Ignyte Award finalist for his work at Quick Sip Reviews. When not drunkenly discussing Goosebumps, X-Men comic books, and his cats on his Patreon (/quicksipreviews) and Twitter (@ClowderofTwo), he can probably found raising a beer with his husband, Matt, in their home in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.