The son of two librarians, Mark Stevens was raised in Lincoln, Massachusetts and has worked as a reporter, television news producer, and in public relations. He's the author of The Fireballer (2023, Lake Union). He's also the author of The Allison COil Mystery Series including Antler Dust, Buried by the Roan, Trapline, Lake of Fire, and The Melancholy Howl. Buried by the Roan, Trapline, and Lake of Fire were all finalists for the Colorado Book Award (2012, 2015 and 2016 respectively). Trapline won. In September of 2016, Stevens was named Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers' Writer of the Year. Stevens hosts a regular podcast for Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers and has served as president of the Rocky Mountain chapter for Mystery Writers of America. Stevens also writes book reviews; follow them at the blog link.

Collin Irish is an engineer-storyteller. Both halves of his brain get a workout each day. With over twenty-five years of experience as a mechanical engineer he can believably explore the breadth of science fiction from preindustrial to fantastical technology. He volunteers as a storyteller for youth mentoring groups using mythological imagery for emotional development. He lives in Lakewood, CO, where his wife and two children claim the third half of his brain, and his whole heart.

Paul is a science fiction author, technology blogger, and former punk rock drummer. His short fiction appears online and in multiple anthologies. His non-fiction includes some really boring programming books.

Originally from Flint, MI, Paul resides in Colorado, where he tries to avoid reliving his punk rock days. He is still trying to teach his cat to play drums.

Award-winning multi-genre author Laurel McHargue, a West Point grad, was raised near Boston and somehow found her way to the breathtaking elevation of Colorado's Rocky Mountains—where she lives and laughs and publishes and podcasts. She writes about life, real and imagined, and hosts the podcast "Conversations with Laurel." Contact her for interviews, book signings, and speaking engagements.

Her publications include:

2183, a dystopian sci-fi fantasy set in the year 2183 a century after the Earth stops spinning.

DARK EBB: GRIM TALES, Volume 2. A collection of 20 short stories with elements of horror, scifi, tragic love, and dark humor, each with an original sketch by the author.

DARK EBB: GRIM TALES, Volume 1. A collection of 19 short stories with elements of horror, scifi, tragic love, and dark humor, each with an original sketch by the author. 2020 CIPA EVVY Bronze Award for horror.

Peace by Piece: 10 Lessons from a Jigsaw Puzzle! Written in collaboration with Nadine Collier (LPC), a fresh exploration of timeless life lessons. 2021 CIPA EVVY Bronze Award AND 2021 Colorado Authors' League (CAL) Award Finalist!

The Waterwight Series:

• Waterwight: Book I of the Waterwight Series. This YA fantasy adventure earned a Silver CIPA EVVY Award in 2016 for Fiction/Fantasy, a Bronze CIPA EVVY Award in 2017 for Fairy Tales/Folklore, and a Merit CIPA EVVY Award in 2017 for Audiobook.

• Waterwight Flux: Book II of the Waterwight Series. A YA fantasy adventure, 2018 CIPA EVVY Merit Award for Juvenile Fiction.

• Waterwight Breathe: Book III of the Waterwight Series (final book). A YA fantasy adventure, 2019 CIPA EVVY Merit Award for YA Fiction, and IndieReader Approved Award.

Waterwight Coloring Book. Twenty original illustrations (by the author) of scenes from Book I of the Waterwight Series, and a hidden message waiting to be discovered! Ages 4+

Hunt for Red Meat (love stories). Humorous, relationship-focused essays spanning three years of hunting the wily elk in Colorado with her husband.

The Hare, Raising Truth. When was the last time you read an adult fairy tale? This Grimm's Fairy Tales, Twilight Zone mashup is not for children!

"Miss?" Based on her experience as a first-year teacher, "Miss?" is a loosely fictionalized novel. IndieReader Approved Award.

Haikus Can Amuse: 366 Haiku Starters. A gift journal. Finish the 2nd and 3rd lines of a haiku when given the first line, and write down your inspiration!

Hai CLASS ku. A 90-day spinoff of Haikus Can Amuse, this workbook provides a semester's worth of creative prompts. An alternative to Sudoku and crossword books!

Crow-Magnum. A short story about crime-solving twins assisted by supernatural crows.

QUACK. A vibrant children's picture book about raising ducklings, complete with a little song to sing!

Laurel's goal is to author as many books as possible in genres of every type.

She has also been known to act.

Visit Laurel's blog where she writes about life, real and imagined, at leadvillelaurel, where you may sign up for her newsletter, and subscribe to her podcast "Conversations with Laurel" on iTunes, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts!