Confirmed programming participants for MileHiCon 58

You can click on the ^ or ˅ arrows to sort in ascending/descending order, or use the search to help find a participant (search will also search their biography if you are looking for a particular pen name, or series name, etc.)

Participant Photo:Participant Name:BioWebsite:Facebook:Twiiter (X):Other links:
AL-Kessler-credit-Keysha-PAchecoA.L. KesslerA.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.www.amylkessler.comhttps://www.facebook.com/alkesslerauthor
Aaron-Michael-Ritchey-credit-Steve-Jankowski.Aaron Michael RitcheyAaron Michael Ritchey has been a full-time author since 2018. He’s the author of sixty-four novels under various pen names. He’s been an Amazon All-Star, and the first book in The Juniper Wars series was a Dragon Award Finalist. His novel, Sages of the Underpass, won the Independent Audiobook Award for best fantasy. His latest project, The Familiar Spirit, written with DJ Butler, is the third book in The Cunning Man series. He’s also hard at work on the fourth Shadowcroft Academy for Dungeons book with James A. Hunter.aaronmritchey.comhttps://www.facebook.com/aaron.m.ritchey@AaronMRitchey
AJ-Reed-credit-Brian-LeeAJ ReedAJ Reed is the author of THE SIRKEL GALAXY and THE LIGHT GALAXY series, as well as the memoir THE COLOR OF PAIN. She is drawn to characters with physical limitations due to her own neurological disorder called Chronic Migraine. She loves her morally gray characters, body modded faux-angels, and fluffy space cows with a sprinkling of horror. AJ lives in Colorado with her family and fluffy gremlin. Find her online at www.abbyjreed.com.www.abbyjreed.com
AK-Llyr-credit-wifeAK LlyrAK Llyr is a writer, Veteran, Freemason, engineer, and former intelligence analyst.

A Navy veteran, AK left military and government service in 1998 to partner with two colleagues and launch a global IT and security consulting firm.

His decades of experience in field operations, intelligence and threat assessment grant a unique perspective on the implications of modern surveillance in both science fiction and the real world.

In retirement, AK is a public speaker on the state of science in “science fiction.”and an advocate for security, privacy, and social justice.

He writes non-fiction, Sci-Fi and military Sci-Fi.

He also walks dogs.
https://akllyr.comhttps://www.facebook.com/Author.ak.llyrhttps://x.com/AKLlyr
Alex GalassiAlex Galassi is the author of the Rebalancing the Cosmos series. He has been writing and creating stories for most of his life. Many of his characters were born through his time playing with LEGO.

Alex was born in Littleton, Colorado in the early 1990s and has lived in Colorado his entire life. When he is not at work, writing fiction, or attending bookish events, Alex enjoys exploring Colorado’s beautiful mountains, reading fantasy and science-fiction novels, attending concerts at Red Rocks, and playing Magic: The Gathering, Dungeons & Dragons, and video games.
https://alexgalassi.com/https://www.facebook.com/AlexGalassiAuthorhttps://www.instagram.com/alexgalassi_author/
Amanda-Helms-credit-Karen-OsborneAmanda HelmsAmanda Helms is a biracial writer and editor who formerly worked in educational publishing, starting out as an editorial assistant and eventually climbing the corporate ladder to content editor. Now, she spends her time envisioning alternate worlds and creating characters to populate them, while keeping her editorial skills honed at Diabolical Plots magazine. Her short fiction has appeared in FIYAH, Uncanny, and Lightspeed, among other fine venues. Her debut book, The Upper Tentacle (Union Square & Co.), releases February 9, 2027.https://amandahelms.comn/an/aBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/amandaghelms.bsky.social Insta: https://www.instagram.com/amandaghelms/
Amanda PatchinAmanda is a writer and podcaster from Boise, Idaho where she lives with her books, her opinions, and her choices. She is interested in permaculture, civilization not dying, and the work of Gene Wolfe.https://unreliablenarrators.podbean.com/
Amber McCullochAmber McCulloch is an audiobook Narrator and voice actress born and raised in Colorado. Beginning her career in 2024 with a sci-fi western, she works in primarily sci fi, fantasy, fantasy, and horror. She was a recipient of the PANA Rising Voices grant for 2026, an Indiverse nominee for Most Immersive Narration in 2025 and 2026, and was a Finalist for PANAs Narrator of Distinction for 2026.
Amy Armstrong Amy writes horror and weird fiction. Her work appears in The Cages We Endure: An Anthology (2026), The Fiction Journal, and Schlock! Webzine.https://www.amyarmstrongwrites.com/https://www.facebook.com/share/1GpMUyx4QL/?mibextid=wwXIfrhttps://www.instagram.com/little_red_writing_hood_denver
Andrew-MetzrothAndrew "Metz" MetzrothAndrew "Metz" Metzroth is a co-host of "Alzabo Soup," a podcast that focuses on engrossing works of speculative fiction with a chapter-by-chapter focus on Gene Wolfe. When not podcasting, he works as a performing arts designer and arts administrator based in Colorado. Since 2005, he has worked on or helped bring to life hundreds of theatre, dance, and music projects. Metz lives in Colorado with his wife, his daughter, and his three cats.www.alzabosoup.comhttps://bsky.app/profile/alzabosoup.bsky.social
Photo of Andy VanObergheandyvanoverberghehttps://veeonethree.com/
Arlen Feldman (waifu)Arlen FeldmanAs well as writing fiction, Arlen Feldman is a software engineer, entrepreneur, costumer, maker, and computer book author—useful if that shelf is just that little bit too high. He has sold a few dozen short stories, and won the 2024 Baen Fantasy and Adventure Award. He also chairs COSine, the Colorado Springs Sci-Fi Convention.https://cowthulu.commastodon: @cowthulu@mastodon.social, Bluesky: cowthulu.bsky.social
Photo of Betsy DornbuschBetsy DornbuschBetsy Dornbusch writes epic fantasy and has dabbled in science fiction, thrillers, and erotica. Her short fiction has appeared in over twenty magazines and anthologies, and she’s the author of three novellas. Her first fantasy novel came out in 2012 and her latest trilogy, Books of the Seven Eyes, wrapped up with Enemy. The Silver Scar, a standalone future fantasy novel, was called “a spellbinding saga” by Publisher’s Weekly.

She likes writing, reading, snowboarding, punk rock, and the Denver Broncos. Betsy and her family split their time between Boulder and Grand Lake, Colorado.
http://betsydornbusch.comhttp://facebook.com/betsydornbuschhttp://instagram.com/betsydornbusch
Brent TowellBrent TowellWriter from Idaho, avocational ethnobotanist and Fortean.https://unreliablenarrators.podbean.com/
Photo of Calvin JamesCalvin JamesAuthor, Engineer, Historian, and Game Designer, Calvin James blends historical knowledge and aerospace experience when building his worlds, be they in an RPG campaign or novel setting. His debut novel, Affairs of State, hits shelves July 28, 2026https://www.calvinjamesauthor.comhttps://linktr.ee/calvinjamesauthor
Photo of Candy FantasticCandy FantasticCandy Fantastic is a local Wordsmithery Magician and Literary Transportation Specialist. She can be found creating in the liminal space between dreams and reality. Trauma recovery and alchemy is a passion of hers. When she isn’t working on her dark fantasy book series, she’s painting or talking about the Universe’s quirks with friends. https://candyfantastic.com/https://www.facebook.com/candycanefantastic
Carol-Berg-credit-Jared-HaganCarol BergCarol Berg, recovered software engineer, never expected to write epic fantasy novels. Nor did she expect to win the Colorado Book Award four times or hear that her books had been read on the slopes of Denali, in the war zone of Iraq, or underneath the Mediterranean. She certainly never thought to see her name alongside her literary heroes like Mary Stewart and JRR Tolkien as winner of the Mythopoeic Fantasy Award. She also writes as Cate Glass. Recent excitement is the release of a TTRPG based on her Collegia Magica series.https://www.carolberg.comhttps://www.facebook.com/carolbergNA
Carolyn-Kay-credit-Jared-HaganCarolyn KayCarolyn Kay is a fae changeling from Ashelon struggling to make it in the mortal realms as a meager scientist, writer, and photographer. Her writing crosses multiple genres including steampunk, fantasy, and scifi. You can catch up on her shenanigans at carolynkayauthor.com and across most social media at @betwitching hips.www.carolynkayauthor.comhttps://www.facebook.com/CarolynKayAuthorAmazon: https://www.amazon.com/Carolyn-Kay/e/B00OM37PO0 , https://www.instagram.com/bewitchinghips
Carrie-Vaughn-credit-Lucy-TuckCarrie VaughnCarrie Vaughn's work includes the Philip K. Dick Award winning novel Bannerless, the New York Times Bestselling Kitty Norville urban fantasy series, over twenty novels and upwards of 150 short stories, two of which have been finalists for the Hugo Award. Her latest novels are historical fantasies, The Naturalist Society and The Glass Slide World, about 19th century ornithologists and the magic of binomial nomenclature. An Air Force brat, she survived her nomadic childhood and managed to put down roots in Boulder, Colorado. Visit her at www.carrievaughn.comhttps://www.carrievaughn.com/https://www.facebook.com/carrie.vaughnhttps://www.patreon.com/cw/carrievaughn
Catherine-Cooke-Montrose-credit-Laurence-MontroseCatherine Cooke MontroseCatherine lives in Lakewood and works in theater, including as the producer for the Empire Lyric Players, a long-running Gilbert & Sullivan community theater. Her books include the Mask of the Wizard series, the Winged Assassin series, and The Wendigo Border. She has been going to Mile Hi Con since 1982, and refuses to count how many years that is.www.catmontrose.comhttps://www.facebook.com/authorcatherinecooke
Catlyn-Ladd-credit-Darren-HeinCatlyn LaddCatlyn Ladd (she/her) grew up roaming the Ozark Mountains, spinning stories among the woods, rocks, and rivers. She loves lyricism, rhythm, the sibilant slip of similar sounds. A former stripper turned professor of philosophy, religion, and women’s studies, her work moves between lived experience and layered imagination, drawing on the shadow self and the monsters gestating there. Her fiction appears in numerous magazines and anthologies, and her nonfiction book Strip: The Making of a Feminist is published by Changemakers. Her novels As Those Above Fall and The Jehovah Project are published by Winding Road Stories.https://www.catlynladd.com/https://www.facebook.com/CatlynLaddIG: EclecticAcademic; TikTok: @eclecticacademic
Celina ThompsonCelina Thompson Celina Thompson is basically a vampire. She is a disabled author with multiple invisible illnesses that cause sunlight to be painful, require blood transfusions, and even make garlic off limits. This inspired her debut novel, Sanctuary (#1 Bestseller in Spicy Horror). Her passion for raising awareness for disabilities and healthcare continues with her newest novel, La Mamácita Mafiosa (#3 Bestseller in spicy Horror). Before discovering her medical conditions, she worked in technical theatre and continues to have a deep appreciation for the arts. Currently, she is the Event Coordinator for the Colorado Chapter of the Horror Writers Association.authorcthompson.comhttps://www.facebook.com/share/v/18ehQByUtb/?mibextid=wwXIfrhttps://www.tiktok.com/@authorcthompson?_t=ZT-8vpqhDIU3Jr&_r=1 https://www.instagram.com/authorcthompson?igsh=NTRuNGFyanVlMTZu&utm_source=qr
Chaz KempChaz KempI love SteamPunk, CyberPunk, and Fantasy. SteamPunk and CyberPunk are all about creatively defying authority and forging your own path. It is resistance as art. Fantasy is all about visualizing your dream and then defying the odds to achieve it no matter who you are or what you look like. This is why I draw culturally diverse characters in the watercolor style. Publishers and corporations say that diverse characters don't sell. I love proving them wrong. Defying the odds is what defines me, and forging my own path is what drives me. Art is Rebellion.www.chazkemp.comhttps://www.facebook.com/chaz.kemphttps://x.com/ChazKemp4@chazkemp.bsky.social
Chip-Houser-credit-Sue-HarkenChip HouserChip is a retired architect living in northern Colorado, where he writes and games and hikes. He’s published around 40 micros, flashes, and short stories in places like Bourbon Penn, PodCastle, New Myths, and Pulp Lit. Red Bird Chapbooks published “Dark Morsels”, collecting a dozen flashes. He attended the Odyssey Writing Workshop, an experience that changed him in many positive ways, and currently reads slush for Flash Fiction Online when he’s not juggling his own story drafts. Find links to his work and some of his visual oddities at chiphouser.com.chiphouser.comhttps://www.facebook.com/chazzlepants/chazzlepants
Chloie-Piveral-credit-Drew-BrooksChloie/ C. PiveralChloie Piveral is a writer whose work often combines the dark and whimsical. She is an alumnus of The Odyssey Writing Workshop and holds an MFA in creative writing from the University of Southern Maine’s Stonecoast program. Her most recent publications include stories with alien technology, psychopomps updating their uniforms, and a tiny rebel who wants to reclaim art from the regimes of her world. Her work appears in Shoreline of Infinity, the Flame Tree Press anthology Robots & Artificial Intelligence, Manawaker Flash Fiction Podcast, and more. To explore more of her work, visit her website at www.cpiveral.comwww.cpiveral.comN/AN/A@cpiveral.bsky.social
ChrisChris Miskimon has over 225 magazine/web articles, and book review columns along with a dozen special edition bookazines on military history and current military affairs. He is a lifelong science fiction and fantasy reader and a regular at Milehicon.
Chris-Barili-BT-ClearwaterChris Barili / BT ClearwaterChris Barili has sold two novels and 21 short stories, becoming an anchor author at Wordcrafter Press. He has published in every genre except military thriller (Tom Clancy-ish stuff), and is a true hybrid author, published both transitionally and self-published. He holds a BGS in English from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, and a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing (Genre Fiction) through Western State Colorado University, graduating both Summa Cum Laude. He live sin Colorado with his amazing wife. He will retire in 2027 from the US Intelligence community, and will write full-time until he croaks.www.authorchrisbarili.ink@authorchrisbarili
Connie WillisConnie WillisConnie Willis is the multiple Hugo- and Nebula-Award-winning author of DOOMSDAY BOOK, TO SAY NOTHING OF THE DOG, BLACKOUT/ALL CLEAR, PASSAGE, and CROSSTALK. Her most recent novel is THE ROAD TO ROSWELL, and she is currently working on her time-travel novel, BOOK CIPHER. She loves Christmas, the BBC series PRIMEVAL, teaching about writing techniques, and Harrison Ford, not necessarily in that order. She's a political junkie and writes a daily blog about Trump and other horrors called "Keep Calm and Carry On."conniewillis.net
Craig W. ChrissingerCraig W. Chrissinger writes annually for Locus Magazine, and heads up Bubonicon and the Albuquerque SF Society. Nothing is quite the same since Covid - we suffered through it October 2023. Craig has been in fandom since 1976, and was Fan Guest at ArmadilloCon 40. Many moons ago, he wrote for Starlog, Fangoria, Comics Scene, and Sci-Fi Teen. He lives in Albuquerque with amazing Jessica and two cats, Gizmo and Kaylee. He works at a used bookstore, reads books, magazines and comics; and watches TV and movies. He would like to write more, organize collections, and really de-clutter the house.www.bubonicon.com
Cricket the NarratorSomewhere between an adorable forest sprite and an entire goblin army in a trench coat, you'll find Cricket, a voice actor and owner of MAD Audiobooks, a boutique audiobook production company built for indie authors. Her goal was simple: create a company that gives indie authors access to the quality of larger publishing houses without the larger publishing-house price tag.www.madaudiobooks.com
Photo of Cynthia WardCynthia J WardA strange nerd who loves movies, gaming, craft beer, queer culture, and various combinations thereof. Cynthia has dipped her toes in filmmaking, film criticism, broadcasting, podcasting, homebrewing, and general geekiness. She lives in Denver with her wife, kids, and cats.
Dana BellDana BellDana Bell is owned by cats who always find a way into her stories. She has six published books, more short stories than she can count and an award winning poet. Having lived in several states and traveled to others, their locations are used in her tales. Retired from work, she enjoys lazy summer days, reading and spoiling her cats. She has also edited over a dozen anthologies and launched many writing careers.https://www.facebook.com/dragonlots57https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpcRzYgLS9Pd646GAKmo1jQ
Daniel DvorkinDaniel DvorkinDaniel Dvorkin, Ph.D., served as an Army infantryman and an Air Force medic. He is now a bioinformaticist unraveling the secrets of life itself, or at least coming up with better drugs. Fiction works include the Seaway Station time travel series—so far consisting of three short stories published in Boundary Shock Quarterly, and a novel in progress—as well as two novels coauthored with his father David Dvorkin. Nonfiction includes various scholarly articles, findable by searching for "Dvorkin D" at http://pubmed.gov. He lives in Denver with his fiancée Becca Lee and a quantum field of cats.https://www.facebook.com/DanielTheMedic
Danyda FeldmanDanyda FeldmanDanyda Feldman is a storyteller, NLP hypnotherapist and artist who lives in Colorado. And she’s standing right behind you!!https://www.facebook.com/danyda.feldman/
David BaronDavid Baron is author of The Martians: The True Story of an Alien Craze that Captured Turn-of-the-Century America, named one of the year’s best books by The New Yorker, TIME, Reactor, the Boston Globe, Science News, and the Chicago Public Library. A former science correspondent for NPR and Chair in Astrobiology at the Library of Congress, David has written for the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, and other outlets. His popular TED Talk, about his passion for chasing solar eclipses, has been viewed more than two million times.
Photo of David R. SlaytonDavid R. SlaytonDavid R. Slayton (He/Him) grew up in Guthrie, Oklahoma, where finding fantasy novels was pretty challenging and finding ones with diverse characters was downright impossible. Now he lives in Denver and writes the books he always wanted to read. His debut, White Trash Warlock, received a starred review from Publishers Weekly. In 2015, David founded Trick or Read, an initiative to give out books along with candy to children on Halloween as well as uplift lesser-known authors or those from marginalized backgrounds. His epic fantasy, Dark Moon, Shallow Sea, won the Colorado Book Award.https://davidrslayton.com/https://www.facebook.com/david.r.slaytonhttps://x.com/drslaytonhttps://bsky.app/profile/drslayton.bsky.social
Dr. Jim GundersonDr. GundersonDr. Jim Gunderson believes in LLAMAs, the potential of AI, and the awesomeness of his wife, Dr. Louise.gunderfish.com
Dr. Kim KlimekDr Kim Klimek was so fond of dragons and castles that she became a professor of medieval and women’s history, where she gets to regale students and strangers alike with stories of peoples from England to India, Africa to Peru. An academic writer (whose most recent published work was the undergraduate textbook Global Medieval Contexts), she also dabbles in SFF poetry and short fiction.
Dr. LouiseDr. Louise Gunderson is an expert in the field of Artificial Intelligence and has written extensively about the field.
Rachael KuintzleDr. Rachael KuintzleRachael Kuintzle is a speculative fiction writer, a labor organizer, and a lecturer at the University of Colorado, Boulder. While completing her biochemistry PhD at Caltech, she served as editor-in-chief of Caltech’s first sci-fi anthology, Inner Space and Outer Thoughts. Her debut sci-fi novel, The Ghosts of Gadolin, coauthored with Samuel Clamons, is coming in April 2027.
Learn more at https://rachaelkuintzle.substack.com/
www.rachaelkuintzle.comhttps://www.facebook.com/kuintzlehttps://rachaelkuintzle.substack.com/
Rob S. RiceDr. Rob S. RiceRob S. Rice proudly considers himself an ‘Ambassador from the Past.’ He holds a doctorate in Ancient History and works as ‘The Professor’ at the Colorado Renaissance Festival, where he teaches all kinds of history to participants and customers alike. He’s written large amounts of non-fiction, including 776 entries in Amber’s Encyclopedia of Warfare and young readers’ history. He enjoys reading the old forgotten classics of Science Fiction and Fantasy and wearing period clothing and discussing history and science and old and recent technology. His works of Historical Fantasy are available from the Esterhazy Press, visit his website at http://www.robricebooks.comhttp://www.robricebooks.com/2017index.html
E M NollerE. M. NollerE. M. Noller is a neurodivergent writer and editor of horror stories and weird fiction. She is also the acquisitions editor at Divine Feminine Publishing, co-editor of The Villain’s Club, and is currently working on a novel that examines the narcissistic cycle of abuse through the lens of speculative body horror. E. M. Noller lives with her family (including a few feral animals, an absent-minded engineer, and various offspring) in Longmont, Colorado.https://www.emnoller.comhttps://substack.com/@erinwritesmagic
Emily KrempholtzEmily KrempholtzEmily Krempholtz is the USA Today bestselling author of Violet Thistlewaite Is Not a Villain Anymore and the upcoming Prudence Marsh Is Not a Nobody Anymore (November 10, 2026). Her cozy fantasy romance books are full of heart, whimsy, wordplay, and stabby sentient houseplants.www.emilykrempholtz.comhttps://www.instagram.com/embakesbooks_/ and https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/2318458/emily-krempholtz/
Emily ElletEmily Ellet (she/her) is an award-winning actor, singer, and coach based in Denver, CO. She earned her BA in Acting and has 20 years of experience working in theatre, musical theatre, cabaret, cruise ships, and audiobook narration. A veteran narrator with 16 years and over 800 books of experience, she has multiple Earphones Awards, an IPPY Bronze Medal award, and the inaugural Deadline Awards' Innovator Award. She was also nominated for an Audie Award, a finalist for the One Voice Awards, and a PANA Narrator of Distinction finalist. She is the co-founder and former Executive Officer of PANA, the Professional Audiobook Narrators Association.www.emilyellet.com
Photo of Ezri LellEzri LellReading, writing, gaming, fashion, it's all within the purview of the artist. Am I an artist? Some days it feels like it, and some days not so much, but I keep plugging along. I've learned a lot about myself in the past couple of years and I intend to keep learning and evolving.www.kalijor.com
F.P. DorchakF. P. DorchakF. 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, working in missile warning, satellite operations and support, and technical writing. He began learning the violin in 2020 and now performs with the Colorado Springs New Horizons Band and Orchestra, Intermediate Strings. He can occasionally be reached in séances (and at www.fpdorchak.com), but don’t believe everything he tells you.https://fpdorchak.com/https://www.facebook.com/fpdorchakauthor/https://fpdorchak.wordpress.com/ and https://www.instagram.com/fpdorchak/
Faith RalstonFaith RalstonFaith Ralston is a lover of books, DnD player of 12 years and second generation larper who had a character before they took their first breath. A lover of tea and a strong believer in ambiance adding to an experience whether that is reading, Faith is a bit of an adventure collector with a list of many of the best adventure places in the state (ever growing if you have any recommendations) Their favorite panels are tea dueling, a date with a book, and the 18+ tails and claws panel so if you get the opportunity please check those out!https://youtube.com/@sonder_wander?si=ZkyyVDUS1vFS-Qj2
Megan BethardsMeghan has been playing dress up since she was able to stand. Armed with hubris and an absurd number of sewing machines she has been part of the convention costuming scene since 2005 and the SCA the late 90s. From Viking apron dresses to science fiction gowns nothing is safe from her manic desire to always be the most overdressed person at any event. She wants everyone to feel like they too can be part of the party, and uses her knowledge(and thrifted horde of fabric) to teach classes and workshops at any convention that will have her in the art of costuming and cosplay. After years of sad eyes and a stout refusal to be on stage she finally snuck her way into running the MileHiCon Masquerade and can now be found herding her colorful charges between costume repair and the stage every year!
Fred PoutreFred comes from an extremely large and complicated family, which currently has 5 generations. He is a great-grandfather. Fred has lived in 13 states, and has visited all but Hawaii. Currently he lives in Riverton, Wyoming - almost the dead center of the state. Fred designs card, board, and role-playing games for Cloven Fruit Games. Fred's fandom reaches across many different science-fiction and fantasy, from many different medias. His day job is a mathematics teacher. Fred designs card, board, and role-playing games for Cloven Fruit Games. Fred's fandom reaches across many different science-fiction and fantasy, from many different medias. His day job is a mathematics teacher.
Glen-Engel-Cox-credit-EvaCoppingerGlen Engel-CoxGlen Engel-Cox’s goal is to travel to every country in the world, of which he’s made it to over 100 so far, including stints where he lived in both Asia and the Middle East. Along the way, he has published a novel, Darwin’s Daughter; a non-fiction compilation, First Impressions; and short fiction in The Daily Tomorrow, LatineLit, Utopia, Nature, Factor Four, and elsewhere. A lover of booklore, he publishes a free daily newsletter about events in literature; receive it by becoming a member of his Patreon at https://patreon.com/gengelcox (it’s part of the free tier). engel-cox.comhttps://www.facebook.com/gengelcoxhttps://bsky.app/profile/engel-cox.com
Photo of Goth HobbitGoth HobbitBecca Lee has been a fixture at MileHiCon since the tail end of the Reagan administration. She is working on a long-running series of projects on early 20th Century women's history, has enough primary source material to stock a small museum, and still finds it disconcerting to write about herself in the third person. Engaged to Daniel Dvorkin, her other interests include art, science, gardening, needlework, costuming, cooking, and music; in short, well-rounded nerddom. She also goes by the moniker of Goth Hobbit. If you don't know why, you'll figure it out when you see her.https://www.zazzle.com/store/r_e_lee_photography
Gregory R. HydeGregory R. Hyde's fiction has has been recognized by the international Writers of the Future Contest, including two finalist and two semi-finalist selections and nine honorable mentions—three of them Silver. His most recent publication is in the summer edition of The Literary Fantasy Magazine by The Arcanist Publishing.
He has also received seven honorable mentions from St. Martin's Year's Best Fantasy and Horror. Hyde’s published credits include Midnight Graffiti, The High Fantastic (Ocean View Books), Edward Bryant's Sphere of Influence (Mad Cow Press), and Christmas Magic (Tor Books), co-authored with Wil McCarthy.
After careers in mental health and telecommunications, he now works as a paraeducator—an ironic twist for someone who writes professionally while navigating dyslexia and developmental language disorder.
https://www.facebook.com/gregrhyde - https://www.facebook.com/gregoryrhyde/
Howard-Hendrix-credit-Laurel-HendrixHoward V. HendrixAuthor of six novels and four nonfiction books, most recently Living Fossils, Lost Worlds, Last Humans: The Science and Fiction of Population and Extinction.https://www.facebook.com/howard.hendrix.12https://bsky.app/profile/mcfarland.bsky.social
Photo of JT EvansJ.T. EvansJ.T. Evans writes fantasy and urban fantasy novels. He’ll dabble with sci-fi and horror in short form as well. He is the former president of the Colorado Springs Fiction Writers Group and Pikes Peak Writers. When not writing, he secures computers at the Day Job, and plays way too many tabletop games. Despite having his right arm amputated and reattached after a nasty car crash, he types faster than the average bear. He is the author of the Modern Mythology and Flashing Blades series and is hastily working on more right now.https://jtevans.net/https://www.facebook.com/jtevans.authorhttps://books2read.com/jtevans
James-Persichetti-credit-Angie-HodappJames PersichettiJames Persichetti is a writer, freelance editor, and rock climber who enjoys writing about queer characters going on adventures. He earned an English degree at Regis University and studied Arthurian legends, where he drew inspiration for his debut graphic novel, A TALE OF TWO KNIGHTS, illustrated by L.S. Biehler. He lives with his husband in Denver, Colorado.https://www.jamespersichetti.com/https://www.facebook.com/james.persichettihttps://www.instagram.com/jppersichetti/
James Van PeltJames Van PeltJames Van Pelt writes in western Colorado. His fiction has made numerous appearances in most of the major science fiction and fantasy magazines. His first collection of stories, Strangers and Beggars, was recognized as a Best Book for Young Adults by the American Library Association. The Last of the O-Forms and Other Stories includes the Nebula finalist title story, and was a finalist for the Colorado Blue Spruce Young Adult Book Award. The Radio Magician and Other Stories received the Colorado Book Award. His newest, Slow Dance at the High School and Other Imaginings, will be released next year.https://jamesvanpelt.com/https://www.facebook.com/james.vanpelt.14/
Jane M. H. BigelowJane M. H. Bigelow has published poetry, short stories and short nonfiction on such topics as gardening in Ancient Egypt. Recently, she self-published a mixed-genre novel entitled “A Most Inconvenient Corpse”, and is working on a sequel, “A Most Intriguing Voyage”. She has also published a fantasy novel, Kossinli’s Talisman, and its sequel, Viceroy’s Knot. Several of her short stories appear in the Darkover anthologies, including Citadels of Darkover.

History and mythology, travel and gardening, all influence her fiction.

Jane lives in Denver, CO with her husband, Robert, and one spoiled cat, Shiraz Cloudfur.

https://www.facebook.com/jane.bigelow.9
Jessica CoyleJessica Coyle is from Albuquerque, NM, and is one of the organizer's of Bubonicon, Albuquerque's oldest science fiction literary convention. She has a background of working for museums and other cultural institutions, and currently manages volunteers for the City of Albuquerque's Senior Affairs department.
Jo FontanaJo FontanaJo Fontana is a genre-fluid author with degrees in healthcare and modern languages. She has written books for adults, young adults, and is currently working on a children's book series and a new cozy mystery project.www.jofontana.net
Jocelyn-Wallen-credit-Shuttergoose-PhotoJocelyn WallenJocelyn is the founder and operator of Inked Harpoon Literary, where they work with authors as an editor and book coach to help spear readers right through the heart. Jocelyn specializes in all things messy—horror, romance, fantasy and science fiction with strong characters and plot that keep readers turning pages. Jocelyn has an MFA in Popular Fiction and Publishing from Emerson College and you can catch their latest short story in “The Villains Club, a Delightfully Devious Anthology” titled “Before I Croak.” Jocelyn lives in Denver with their wife and three pet gremlins.inkedharpoonliterary.comhttps://www.instagram.com/inkedharpoonliterary?igsh=MXIyNTQ2YmRhYzAxMw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
John BarnesJohn BarnesJohn Barnes is in process of building a different writing career from the one he had before for about 25 years (followed by a 13 year mostly-hiatus). He has a new novel, DORYPHOROS, in progress, and a Substack called A NUMBER OF THINGS in which he writes about just that. In the prior writing career he published 33 book length works of fiction, about an equal number of short stories, 54 articles in the Oxford Encyclopedia of Theatre and Performance, and buncht of science, tech, business, and marketing journalism and opinion. He has done an improbable number of improbable things for money.JohnBarnesSFhttps://substack.com/@digressinggoliard
Joe RhoadesMarried necromancer discreetly seeks demons, vampires, and catgirls for laboratory assistance. Must be physically fit, demonstrate knowledge of safety standards, and have no 'morality' hang-ups. Strictly legal.
Photo of John E. StithJohn E. StithJohn E. Stith is the author of REDSHIFT RENDEZVOUS, a Nebula Award nominee, and MANHATTAN TRANSFER, which is in development for TV, DISAVOWED, TINY TIME MACHINE, and others. Several of his works with Ace Books and Tor Books have been bought by the Science Fiction Book Club, optioned for film, and translated into numerous languages. He has optioned several feature-film screenplays, and has sold to television (Star Trek). Complete information on his works may be found at www.neverend.com.https://www.neverend.com/https://www.facebook.com/john.e.stithhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_E._Stith
John FialaJohn has been into games, fantasy, science fiction from a young age. He has not grown up yet.https://www.facebook.com/jcfialahttps://bsky.app/profile/jcfiala.bsky.social
Photo of John ScalziJohn ScalziScalzi.com
Photo of John WilkerJohn WilkerJohn Writes fast rompy scifi adventures with witty banter and characters in way over their heads saving the day.https://johnwilker.comhttps://wandering.shop/@jwilker
Photo of Ka Chun YuKa Chun YuKa Chun Yu is an astronomer at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, which he joined originally to create planetarium software to visualize the known universe. Currently, he gives numerous talks to the public, advises on science content in permanent and temporary exhibits, and has helped produce movies and visualizations for digital planetariums. His research interests include studying how to teach astronomy with digital planetariums, storytelling in science educaiton, and astronomical research involving outflows from protostars and young star clusters.https://www.dmns.org/science/science-staff/#SpaceSciences
Kaeden GrigsbyAn unknown entity of many names. 'The Scorekeeper', 'The Programmer', 'Herder of Wayward Cats'. This elusive person can pop up anywhere and everywhere without warning, usually babbling about some archaic piece of trivia that no one ever asked them about.
karen bjornI have been a figment of someone's imagination made real. This figment has been to most milehi cons since 1979.
Karen KrauseKaren's lifetime passion for the written word began as a child when she discovered that putting individual letters together could make words! And, even better, combining those words can tell stories! With the discovery of theatre in elementary school, she dedicated herself to bringing those stories to life. As a trained actress Karen has spent over 30 years performing on stage, film and audiobooks. Born in the Ozark Mountains and raised in America's heartland, Karen has a grounded and authentic style. Her skills in character voices, accents, and comedy make her a great fit for fiction and bios/memoirs.
Kat // KatOfDiamondsKatOfDiamonds has been cosplaying since 2012 and has been streaming cosplay builds on Twitch since 2018. She loves talking troubleshooting and creating as she is self-and-community taught in most things. Meet ups and collaborations are her bread and butter. Her two biggest fandoms at the moment are The Locked Tomb and Dimension 20. Check out her cosplays or reach out on her social media @KatOfDiamonds.https://www.instagram.com/katofdiamonds/https://www.twitch.tv/katofdiamonds
Kevin-Ikenberry-credit-Katie-CurtisKevin IkenberryKevin Ikenberry is a life-long space geek and retired Army officer. He’s an international bestselling author of more than twenty-five novels including Colorado Book Award finalist Sleeper Protocol and the bestselling series The Buzzer War. Kevin is also a renowned writing instructor which is pretty cool because he never imagined being either one of those – he still wants to be an astronaut. Kevin is an Active Member of the International Association of Science Fiction and Fantasy Authors, International Thriller Writers, and SIGMA – the science fiction think tank. A former space operations officer, Kevin continues to work with space.

www.kevinikenberry.comhttps://www.facebook.com/authorkevinikenberry@thewriterike
Kit-Campbell-credit-Beth-EdelmaierKit CampbellIt is a little known fact that Kit was raised in the wild by a marauding gang of octopuses. It wasn’t until she was 25 that she was discovered by a traveling National Geographic scientist and brought back to civilization. This is apparent in the way that she attempts to escape through tubes when startled.

Her transition to normalcy has been slow, but scientists predict that she will have mastered basics such as fork use in the next year. More complex skills, such as proper grocery store etiquette, may be forever outside her reach. Kit can be found at http://kitcampbellbooks.com.
https://www.kitcampbellbooks.com/KitCampbellhttps://bsky.app/profile/kitcampbell.bsky.social
Photo of Kristina AtkinsKristina AtkinsKristina Atkins' debut fantasy novel, Feathers Sharp as Knives, won the Emerald Hidden Gem Award from IFC. Her short work has appeared in Uncharted Magazine and the Earth(ish): Tales from the Splinterverse anthology from Splinter Press.
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Kristina earned her MFA in Creative Writing from Converse College. Her stories draw on a lifelong fascination with people, spirituality, and her own experiences navigating mental illness.
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She lives in Denver with her husband and their three rambunctious sons. When she isn't writing, she can usually be found collecting tarot decks, dyeing her hair mermaid colors, or pursuing the next intriguing question that didn't need answering.
kristinaatkins.comhttps://www.facebook.com/katkinsauthorKatkinsauthorhttps://www.instagram.com/katkinsauthor, https://www.tiktok.com/@katkinsauthor
Laughing BriarL. BriarAward-winning author L. Briar writes fantasy and science fiction with healthy helpings of humor. As a Rocky Mountain resident, she is an engineer by day and worldbuilder by night. When not writing, she enjoys long hikes on distant worlds, defeating opponents in single foam-sword combat, and belting karaoke with friends.

Briar is the 2024 Sidewise Alt-history Award winner for her short story “A Brother’s Oath” and launched her debut comedy sci-fi novel, Gambling on Common Sense, with a 535% overfunded Kickstarter. Check her out at Laughingbriarbooks.com to learn more.
https://laughingbriarbooks.com/https://www.facebook.com/LaughingBriar/https://www.instagram.com/laughingbriar/
Lee MoodyA self-professed gay nerd (or “gerd”), Lee's comedy includes a mix of comical takes on his life experiences as “bi-cultural”, observational humor, and sometimes absurd jokes from somewhere left of left-field. He was born and raised in Maine...Japan, South Carolina, New York, California and Washington state. He was post-raised in Wyoming, Montana, Florida, Texas, and Arizona before finally settling in Colorado in 2006. He's been a featured performer at First Class Laughs at Gnarly's Theater in Golden, Zeal's showcase in Boulder, Lyrics 'N Laughs in Wheatridge, and makes regular appearances at Freak Train at The Bug Theatre in Denver. He currently lives in the Denver area with his artist husband, one of the funniest men he's ever known.
Lauren-C-Teffeau-credit-Kim-Jew-PhotographyLauren C. TeffeauLauren C. Teffeau is a speculative fiction author based in New Mexico. Her books include the eco-thriller Accelerated Growth Environment (Shiraki Press, 2026), the environmental fantasy A Hunger with No Name (University of Tampa Press, 2024), and the cyberpunk/solarpunk adventure Implanted (Angry Robot, 2018), which was shortlisted for the 2019 Compton Crook Award for best first SF/F/H novel. Over twenty of her short stories have appeared in venues like Sunday Morning Transport, DreamForge Magazine, After Dinner Conversation, and the Stoker Award-nominated Chromophobia: A Strangehouse Anthology by Women in Horror. For more information, please visit https://www.laurencteffeau.comhttps://laurencteffeau.com/https://linktr.ee/teffeau
Lou J. BergerLou J BergerLou J Berger lives near Ocala, Florida with his high-school crush and three rescue dogs. A member of SFWA, he has been published in Clarkesworld Science Fiction Magazine, Galaxy’s Edge magazine, an upcoming appearance in F&SF, and a host of anthologies. He is STILL working on his first cozy-mystery novel.
His author website is www.LouJBerger.com.
Follow him on the following social media platforms:
Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/loujberger.bsky.social
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorLouJBerger/
Substack: https://loujberger.substack.com/
www.LouJBerger.com https://www.facebook.com/AuthorLouJBerger/
Lyndsie-Clark-credit-Cassidy-WayantLyndsie ClarkLyndsie Clark is a sci-fi author, editor, and linguist with a passion for immersive science fiction and fantasy. She is a member of the Machines of the Infinite Press author collective, and the author of two sci-fi series: The Savant Uprising and The Adventures of the Cloudbreaker. Armed with a master's degree in Linguistics and a certificate in professional editing, she loves crafting rich worlds and helping other writers strengthen theirs. When she's not writing or editing, she's usually surrounded by books, spoiled cats, and far too many houseplants.www.lyndsieclark.comhttps://www.facebook.com/lyndsieclarkauthorInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/lyndsie.clark.author/
Marie DesJardinMarie DesJardinMarie DesJardin writes science fiction, fantasy, and alternative history, ranging from short stories to novels and screenplays. Credits include Analog Science Fiction and Fact, Compelling Science Fiction, and Flash Fiction Online. She was a Story Quest award winner and a finalist in the AnLab Readers' Choice Awards. Favorite things include fostering traumatized cats and traveling the world. Marie lives in Denver, Colorado, where she enjoys swimming, biking, and hiking when the mountains are not on fire.amazon.com/author/mariedesjardin@marie3d.bsky.social
Marilou GoodwinWriter of a few short stories, former circus teacher/performer, dog trainer, technical writer and holder of too many degrees, Marilou still can't decide what she wants to be when she grows up.
Mario AcevedoMario Acevedo is the author of the national bestselling Felix Gomez detective-vampire series. His work has won two International Latino Book Awards, a Colorado Book Award. and appeared in anthologies such as Denver Noir and Shadow Atlas. Mario taught in the Regis Mile-High MFA program and Lighthouse Writers Workshops. https://www.marioacevedo.comhttps://www.facebook.com/mario.acevedo.754703
Mark ArkoMark Arko is a former technology executive and author with more than 30 years of experience leading complex technology organizations and helping companies implement technology change. He has served in senior leadership roles spanning technology strategy, architecture, delivery, and digital transformation, including executive roles at Idea Integration, Camping World and Computershare. A lifelong science fiction and fantasy fan, Mark is also the author of The Entanglement Saga, a science fiction/fantasy series exploring the intersection of humanity, technology, and the forces that shape our future. He lives in Colorado and enjoys discussing technology, AI, writing, and the future of speculative fiction.
Matthew-S-Rotundo-credit-Tracy-Rotundo.Matthew S. RotundoMatthew S. Rotundo is the author of Wet Work, the first book in The Unseen series, the Prison World Revolt series--Petra, Petra Released, and Petra Rising--and other novels.

His short fiction has appeared in Alembical 3, Intergalactic Medicine Show, and Writers of the Future Volume XXV. He graduated from the Odyssey Writing Workshop in 1998.

Matt also plays guitar and has been known to sing karaoke. He lives in Nebraska, and assures you that he has heard all the jokes.
https://matthewsrotundo.com/https://www.facebook.com/matthew.s.rotundo
Meg WardMeg WardMeg suffers from the condition of being “introvirtuous” which has led her to such fascinating decisions as taking over as head of Programming and agreeing to become convention co-chair. When not making her life more difficult by volunteering for random things, Meg enjoys reading voraciously, fiber arts, sour beers, and hanging out with her wife, teenagers, and four cats.
Michael BurgessMichael BurgessI am venerable (that means old). Retired after 30 years United Methodist Clergy (do the MileHI Worship Service), started Japanese Anime club in Seminary, SF gaming group in College (Nebraska Wesleyan, I was the Emperor), MileHi Art & literacy Auctions for 35+ years, a 30 year DnD group, am writing a book and renovating Dad's house (Burgess Turtle Manor on the Moor). I survived a broken neck, adopted three girls (teenagers Oh My!) now have 3 grandkids. I have cats (lots) books (many lots) artwork (bunches) and I live in a Hobbit Hole in the ground (really).
MJ JamesMJ JamesMJ James is an own-voice science-fiction and fantasy author for queer and neurodiverse readers. MJ hopes to provide companionship for their readers, along with a sense of validation, understanding, and being seen. MJ-James.comhttps://www.instagram.com/mj_james_writes/
Nichelle SeelyNichelle SeelyNichelle Seely is an Author Accelerator certified book coach and developmental editor, as well as an independent author. After 20+ years as an architect, she changed careers to follow her passion for story. She now coaches fiction and memoir, as well as helping writers conquer the summits of independent publishing.

Her novels include the paranormal mystery/suspense series Audrey Lake Investigations. Her serial fiction includes A Game of Leviathan (epic fantasy), The Vanishing (paranormal time travel mystery), and Who Wants to be a Sidekick? (Superhero adventure). She has also written a travel memoir serial entitled Rhinoceros Road.
https://nichelleseely.com
PhilPhilip Armstrong is co-host of Alzabo Soup, a Gene Wolfe and literary speculative fiction podcast.https://www.alzabosoup.com/
Rebecca LickissRebecca Lickiss – While she still hasn’t gotten a life, Rebecca feels that she’s way too busy for that sort of thing. Suffering from novelitis, she has no choice but to write novels. Now that her feral children are all adults and not taking up the rest of her time, she also creates crochet critters and wire bonsai. Along with working the day job, which can’t be called a career, as the job itself has changed over the years.
Reed MingaultReed MingaultReed Mingault is the daughter of a Marine and hasn’t spent more than a few years in one place in her life. Her formative years, when not moving cross country and across oceans, were spent on horseback and handling birds of prey, and she’ll happily tell you more than you wanted to know about either. She draws, paints, dabbles in illuminated calligraphy, and is fascinated by pre-industrial handicrafts. Reed lives with her geneticist husband, precocious daughter, and a small menagerie of furred, scaled, and exoskeleton-ed critters.https://reedmingault.com/n/an/a https://bsky.app/profile/milvusscribe.bsky.social ; instagram @milvusscribe
Richard FriesenRichard FriesenRichard Friesen has been publishing novels for ten years, stories about a fortune-telling sorcerer, and a holy warrior with the power of forty women inside her. And those are just the fantasies! There’s a superhero whose power is falling asleep and taking you into his dreams with him. And a space opera about twin-sister star pilots who change human space with daring and brains.
Come join the adventure!
https://richardfriesen.nethttps://www.facebook.com/richardfriesen.nethttps://www.patreon.com/richardfriesen
Rick-Wilber-credit-Nina-Kiriki-HoffmanRick WilberRick Wilber has published a half-dozen novels for Tor and other publishers, several short-story collections for WordFire Press and others, and some seventy short stories in major markets, most often in Asimov’s Science Fiction magazine. The son of a major-league baseball player, coach and manager, Rick’s stories often reflect his interest in baseball. The parent of an adult son with Down syndrome, Rick often includes characters with Down syndrome in his stories. He is a visiting assistant professor in the low-residency MFA in Creative Writing-Genre Fiction at Western Colorado University. He’s collaborated on several novellas with Kevin J. Anderson, all of which have first appeared in Asimov’s Science Fiction magazine. www.rickwilber.nethttps://www.facebook.com/Rick.Wilber
Photo of Robert WilliscroftRobert G. WilliscroftDr. Robert G. Williscroft is a retired submarine officer, deep-sea and saturation diver, scientist, author, and a lifelong adventurer. He spent 22 months underwater, a year in the equatorial Pacific, three years in the Arctic ice pack, and a year at the Geographic South Pole. He holds degrees in Marine Physics and Meteorology and a doctorate for developing a system to protect SCUBA divers in contaminated water. A prolific author of non-fiction, historical submarine technothrillers, and hard science fiction, he lives in Centennial, Colorado. https://robertwilliscroft.comhttps://www.facebook.com/robert.williscroftRGWilliscroftLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/argee/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rwilliscroft/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/RGWilliscroft YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/RWilliscroft Personal Website: https://argee.net Blog: https://thrawnrickle.com/
Robin D. OwensRobin D. Owens credits the telepathic cat with attitude in selling her first futuristic/fantasy romance, HeartMate. She currently has 31 books, 2 novellas, and 2 story collections to her credit.

Her series include shape-shifting fairies (3 books) and average American women Summoned into another world to fight monstrous evil (5 books), and a ghosts of the Old West – Have Ghost? Will Travel.

She is profoundly thankful to be recipient of the Romance Writers of America RITA Award, the Denver Area Science Fiction Association Lungfish Award and twice named Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers’ Writer of the Year.
https://www.robindowens.comhttps://www.facebook.com/robin.d.owens.73
Ronnie SeagrenRonnie Seagren Ronnie is still working on the sequel to her novel Seventh Daughter, among other things. She's the eldest and oldest member of the Northern Colorado Writers Workshop, and she became a great grandma this year. She's been posting "A Flower A Day" on Facebook and NextDoor since Covid started in 2020.
Rose BeetemRose BeetemRose Beetem is the last fan standing who has attended all the MileHiCons. A founding member of the Denver Area Science Fiction Association (DASFA) and a generalist fan with an addiction to con organizing, she’s been on the MHC con com most years since she was 16, chairs the tiny 100% participatory Karval Kon and dabbles with COSine. She enjoys urban fantasy, most of the Star Wars and MCU canon, and thinks Strange New Worlds, Lower Decks, Galaxy Quest and The Orville are all good Treks. Sort-of retired, she is passionate about curries and tai chi.
Photo of Rose GarciaRose GarciaRose Garcia is a USA Today bestselling author and screenwriter who crafts heart-stopping fantasy where belief is power, love defies all, and hope burns brightest. A lawyer turned writer, she weaves stories of complicated romance, powerful families, deep-rooted friendships, and ancestral magic inspired by her Mexican American heritage. Her diverse heroes face impossible choices, tangled destinies, and unforgettable adventures. Rose lives in Houston, Texas, where she's usually writing, designing escape rooms for her husband, traveling, binge-watching fantasy shows, or spoiling her three rescue dogs. She firmly believes tacos deserve recognition as a core food group.https://rosegarciabooks.comhttps://www.facebook.com/AuthorRoseGarciahttps://rosegarciabooks.com/links
Sam-Knight-credit-Lauren-LangSam KnightThough Sam Knight has written in many cool worlds, such as Jack L. Chalker’s Well World, Planet of the Apes, Wayward Pines, and Jeff Sturgeon’s Last Cities of Earth, among his family, Sam will probably always be known for Chunky Monkey Pupu.https://samknight.com/https://www.facebook.com/AuthorSamKnighthttps://x.com/AuthorSamKnighthttps://knightwritingpress.com/
Sam-Ledel-credit-Paula-WilkesSam LedelSam Ledel is an author with Bold Strokes Books. She write historical and fantasy stories with sapphic romances at their heart. She is twice a finalist in the LGBTQ+ category of the Next Generation Indie Book Awards - in 2023 for Wildflower Words and in 2025 for Adrift, both historical romances. Her 2025 historical romance Discovering Gold placed 1st in Women's Fiction in the CIPA EVVY Book Awards. Her tenth book will be out in January.

Ledel resides with her wife outside of Denver and is working on her next novel.
https://www.samledel.com/https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61571723346202@samledel (Intsagram/Threads)
amanthaCohoe-credit-AlisonMcQuainPhotography
www.alisonmcquain.com
Samantha CohoeSamantha Cohoe is an author of young adult and adult literature with a speculative twist. She loves family drama, awful secrets, and complicated women. She lives with her family in Denver, where she must constantly fend off invitations to ski or camp. Her debut adult horror novel, Hunger Pains, comes out in Spring 2027.
Scott TefoeScott Tefoe is one of those reading junkies who as a child read cereal boxes every morning at breakfast and ended up working in the bookselling business later in life. Reading is one of Scott's passions and he has given up trying to pinpoint his favorite novel or author. He prefers his fiction to be intelligently well written with a twist, encompassing but not limited to SF, dark fantasy, horror, slipstream, magical realism, and the just plain whacked.
Shannon LawrenceShannon LawrenceA fan of all things fantastical and frightening, Shannon Lawrence writes primarily horror and fantasy. The Killing Tree & Other Afflictions is the newest of her seven books. You can also find her as a columnist for Rocky Mountain Reader. 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.www.thewarriormuse.comhttps://www.facebook.com/thewarriormuse/IG: https://www.instagram.com/thewarriormuse/
Sheard GoodwinSheard GoodwinSheard started playing role-playing games back in 1981 and quickly learned that hitting someone with iron rations does not cause the damage he thought they would. This was followed up with learning why a dwarf should not use a lucern hammer. He works in IT and networking to pay the bills to support his gaming habit and has not played half as many systems or games as he would like.http://www.cable-monkey.com/
Shullamuth BallingerShullamuth "Shelly" BallingerShullamuth “Shelly” Ballinger is an author and teacher with an MA and soon-to-be-MFA in creative writing. Her fantasy novels challenge established perspectives on power and envision worlds built on compassion, honesty, and interconnection. Her characters resolve conflicts with music jams, cosmic billiard games, and roller derbies. She draws inspiration from nature, science, and history. Ballinger lives in Colorado with her beloved, his kids, and their menagerie of pets. She writes most days, becomes a garden gremlin in the summer, and goes to as much live music as she can. https://shullamuth.wordpress.com/
Photo of Stace JohnsonStace JohnsonStace Johnson is a writer and musician from Colorado. He has published more than 120 short pieces spanning non-fiction, fiction, and poetry, most recently in Animal Magica Volume 3, A Bit of Luck, Animal Magica Volume 2, and Modern Magic. His poetry has appeared in Star*Line, Tales of the Talisman, and on the Apex Publications website, and he recently republished the first book of poetry from Victorian poet Gerard Manley Hopkins as his masters capstone project. He can often be found performing geeky original parody songs and folk rock covers in his signature steampunk hat. Learn more at https://linktr.ee/lytspeed.www.lytspeed.comhttps://www.facebook.com/wrytspeed@Lytspeedhttps://linktr.ee/Lytspeed/
Sydney DevineSydney DevineSydney Devine is a first-generation, Chinese American who fell in love with books when she read her first Nancy Drew. She read her first romance novel long before she was supposed to; so, of course, she now writes slow-burn romances with some flawed but relatable characters you can’t help but root for, a healthy dose of witty banter, and a whole lot of heart and humor.

She lives in Colorado with her husband and fur kids. She loves to travel and can’t survive without coffee. In her free time, she can usually be found curled up with a cozy blanket, one of her kids, and a book.
www.sydneydevine.comhttps://www.instagram.com/sydneydevinewrites/
Photo of T. KingfisherT. Kingfisher redwombatstudio.comBluesky: @tkingfisher
Thea HutchesonThea HutchesonThea Hutcheson's story in Realms of Fantasy's 100th issue prompted Lois Tilton of Locus to call her work " sensual, fertile, with seed quickening on every page. Well done..." She has appeared in such publications as Hot Blood XI, Fatal Attractions; Baen's Universe Issue 4, Vol. 1; High Noon on Proxima B; and several of the critically acclaimed Fiction River anthologies.
She lives in a comfortable community with stuffed bookshelves and two elderly rescue cats in a largish city in Colorado. When she's not working diligently as a factotum, she writes.
Find more of her work at www.theahutcheson.com
www.theahutcheson.comhttps://www.facebook.com/thea.hutcheson@theah1771.bsky.social
Tiff KrambeerTiffany - AKA 'Tuffany', resident no-nonsense maid with a heart of gold. Mostly harmless; loves tea, cupcakes, and sharp objects.
Photo of Tiffany S. PassmoreTiffany PassmoreAuthor and Writer: Tiffany has been an author for many years, publishing novels and related works such as The White Lion trilogy, Sheherazade’s Princess, and Iris: The Garden Amazon. She also writes online fan fiction and engages in creative pursuits like drawing, painting, dancing, and singinghttps://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B07CKLPNN5?ccs_id=b208541f-f929-495c-b8e9-68983341d938https://www.facebook.com/?form=MT00UG
Veronica CallistoVeronica R. CalistoVeronica R. Calisto (she/her) is an alto, a writer of speculative fiction, and a big nerd. One of those rare Colorado natives, she has a degree in Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology and is a two-time American Idol reject. She is the author of several books, including Diary of a Mad Black Witch and the first two in the SparkleTits Chronicles series. She is also the co-editor of Bizarre Bazaar, a finalist for the 2023 Colorado Book Awards in the anthology category.veronicarcalisto.comhttps://www.facebook.com/veronica.roland.7/
W. Jade YoungW. Jade Young is the founder of Bad Habit Publishing and the creator of the Rainbow Quill Writing Tool and Tarot Deck for Storytellers. Her short publications have appeared in anthologies and literary magazines and she travels all over North America and Europe, attending panels as a guest speaker on topics such as worldbuilding, writer's block, and the importance of reading and journaling as part of a healthy writing career. She writes and runs TTRPG games for a number of different systems, and is an all-around nerd in all the best ways as well as a few questionable ones.www.badhabitpublishing.comfacebook.com/BadHabitPublishing@wjadeyoung (Instagram); @wjadeyoung.bsky.social
Walter J. WieseWalter J. Wiese writes fantasy short fiction and fishing stories. Some of the fishing stories are even true. He lives in Livingston, Montana, with his wife Jani and dog Winnie. Walter also wrangles fly fishing tourists during the summer and library patrons in the winter.https://walterwriter.comwalterwriter.bsky.social
Wil McCarthyWil McCarthyAerospace engineer and startup founder Wil McCarthy, formerly of WIRED and SyFy, has won the Prometheus once and the AnLab award twice. He’s been nominated for the Nebula, Locus, Seiun, Sturgeon and Philip K. Dick awards, and Discover rated his world of “P2/Sorrow” one of the 10 best fictional planets of all time. He has appeared in Analog and Asimov's, and his bestselling novels include New York Times Notable BLOOM, Amazon.com "Best of Y2K" THE COLLAPSIUM, and most recently, BEGGAR'S SKY. He has also written for TV and video games, and published copious nonfiction. McCarthy holds 31 issued U.S. patents.www.wilmccarthy.comhttps://www.facebook.com/wil.mccarthy.9/