Born in the Year of the Dragon, Vonnie Winslow Crist is author of award-winning short stories, poems, and books. An active member of the Horror Writers Association, Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers Association, Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators, and National League of American Pen Women - she taught creative writing for the Maryland State Arts Council for 10 years.

"Shivers, Scares, and Goosebumps" won a 2023 Imadjinn Award. "Beneath Raven's Wing" won a 2022 International Edgar Allan Poe Festival Saturday Visiter Award and was an Imadjinn Award Finalist. "The Enchanted Dagger" won a Maryland Writers Association Book Award and was a Compton Crook Award Finalist. Both "Owl Light" and "The Greener Forest" won eFestival of Words Short Story Collection Awards (2017 & 2018).

Her speculative writing appears in hundreds of books and magazines including "Asimov's Magazine," "Amazing Stories," "Chilling Ghost Short Stories," "Slay: Stories of the Vampire Noir," "Faerie Magazine," "Weirdbook: Witches," "Black Infinity," "Cirsova," and "Cast of Wonders."

As an illustrator, she's had over 1,000 illustrations published in books, magazines, and calendars.

She is an avid JRR Tolkien and CS Lewis fan, and a firm believer in the magical world that surrounds us! A clover-hand who has found so many 4-leafed clovers she keeps them in jars, Vonnie is quite fond of Harry Potter & Hogwarts, The Hunger Games, A Song of Ice & Fire, Star Wars, Star Trek, and everything Faerie!

I love words. I always have. I remember being five years old at Christmas and my parents gave me a crazy set of "Children's Classics." Black Beauty, Water Babies, The Man in the Iron Mask. I couldn't read any of them, but the potential was heady. By 8th grade, I knew I wanted to be a writer when I grew up. I had landed in honour's english class, which was all about words. I learned about Shakespeare and wrote my own Greek myth. And I never looked back.

If you let me, I'll share that love with you, in ways you may not have explored before. We'll go on journeys into dark, forbidden places. We'll sigh and smile and turn the page and hold our breaths. I promise to bring you safely home.

A lifelong writer, Nicholas Wilkinson lives in Kearny, Arizona where he writes almost every day against the backdrop of the beautiful desert vistas. Nicholas Wilkinson, along with his wife Kate, wanted to find something that they could do together as a couple, and so, "Inappropriate Children's Stories" was born. With a daughter of their own, the couple quickly realized how boring and unappealing children's books can truly be. Using rhyming couplets, the husband and wife team put their own unique twist on the everyday adventures of modern parenting.

Nick spent over 10 years working with "at-risk" youth, and Kate has worked with pre-school-aged children for as long as she can remember. Nick Wilkinson has authored books on child abuse and teens in crisis, and helping survivors of child abuse and neglect is a passion that his both personal and rewarding.

In 2018 Nick's sister Yolanda passed away because of a tragic accidental overdose, thus the book "H is for Heroin" was created to honor his sister's memory and help combat the nationwide crisis of opioid abuse and addiction

https://ramseseternal.wixsite.com/nicholaswilkinson

Luis Manuel Torres went in search of El Dorado but instead found an old curse which should remain buried. He escaped Raccoon City after it suffered a biological outbreak. He participated in the mages rebellion in the city of Kirkwall. Okay, maybe he did all this in video games but they have inspired his writing.

Luis Manuel Torres was born in Puerto Rico, lived in Boston Massachusetts for thirteen years and currently lives in Springfield Mass. He has a love for stories in all forms they come in, from books to television to video games. His work can be found in multiple anthologies. He is always working on multiple writing projects.

You can follow him on twitter at https://twitter.com/Luis1989Manuel

Joshua D Taylor is an author who started writing a few years ago when he realized he was too old to play make-believe. He lives in southeastern Pennsylvania with his wife and a one-eared cat. He enjoys gardening, comic books, ska-punk music, Disney World, and traveling with his wife. Raised during weirdness that was the late 20th century Josh’s eclectic interests produce eclectic works. He loves to mix-n-match things from different genres and story elements to achieve a madcap hodgepodge of the truly unexpected.

Patrick Winters is a graduate of Illinois College in Jacksonville, IL, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature and Creative Writing. As a student, he was a two-time co-editor in chief of the college's literary and art magazine, Forte, and is a member of the international English honors society, Sigma Tau Delta.

Winters is now a proud member of the Horror Writers Association. His works have been published in numerous anthologies and magazines and have been featured on various web-based offerings, including the Horror Tree, the Sirens Call, Deadman's Tome, Fantasia Divinity Magazine, Sanitarium Magazine, and many more. While appreciating an array of genres, his favorite to both read and write in is Horror, because he's just plain weird like that!

Winters is an avid listener of all things hard-rock and heavy-metal, a compendium of comic-book knowledge, can (and will) do a perplexing array of voice impersonations, and can bend his thumbs further back than any person should have the right/capability of doing. It is all quite odd . . .

A full list of his publications can be found at: http://wintersauthor.azurewebsites.net/Publications/List

J. L. Royce (@authorJLRoyce) is an author of science fiction and macabre stories who strays (when left unattended) into noir, horror, and non-genre fiction. He resides in the United States upper Midwest, where he listens for inspiration from the coyotes and owls. Follow him on X/Twitter (@authorJLRoyce), Bluesky (jlroyce), Instagram (authorJLRoyce), and Facebook.

Andrew Kurtz is an emerging voice in the world of horror literature, known for his graphic and intense short stories. His works have garnered attention in various horror anthologies, captivating readers with their vivid descriptions and unsettling themes.

Since his childhood, Kurtz has been fascinated by the horror genre, finding inspiration in films and books that evoke fear and intrigue. This early passion laid the foundation for his writing career, which focuses on delivering chilling narratives that linger in the mind long after reading.

Kurtz draws significant inspiration from a range of acclaimed authors. Renowned names like Stephen King and Clive Barker have profoundly influenced his style and approach to storytelling. He admires King’s ability to delve into the psychological aspects of horror and Barker’s talent for blending fantasy with terror. Additionally, the works of H.G. Wells and Richard Matheson inspire Kurtz's love for speculative fiction, while Edgar Rice Burroughs and Ian Fleming shape his narrative structure and character development. These influences merge seamlessly in Kurtz’s own writing, creating a unique blend of styles.In his stories, Kurtz often explores complex characters confronting their deepest fears. He delves into the human psyche, studying how trauma, guilt, and fear can manifest in destructive ways. His characters embark on harrowing journeys where they must face both external horrors and internal demons. This exploration of duality adds depth to his narratives, engaging readers on multiple levels. By portraying characters that are both relatable and flawed, Kurtz creates a connection that enhances the reader’s experience of his unsettling tales. Kurtz’s graphic descriptions contribute to the impact of his stories. He utilizes vivid imagery to evoke strong emotions and transport readers into the terrifying worlds he creates. His attention to detail brings scenes to life, allowing audiences to feel the tension and dread that permeate his work. While his stories may be disturbing, they are never without purpose. Each graphic element serves to amplify the central themes of fear and survival, making his tales resonate with horror enthusiasts who appreciate intensity and depth. As an up-and-coming author, Andrew Kurtz is carving out his niche within the horror genre. His dedication to crafting powerful narratives and exploring the complexities of fear positions him as a compelling figure to watch. With each new story, Kurtz continues to evolve as a writer, drawing on the influences of his literary heroes while establishing his voice. As he contributes more works to horror anthologies, readers eagerly anticipate the chilling tales that will emerge from his imaginative mind.

Chris lives in the beautiful garden of England and in the odd moment he’s not walking the dog he pursues his passion for writing fiction. Specialising in horror, fantasy, and science-fiction Chris has stories in print with several publishers. To keep up with future stories be sure to follow @ https://mused.blog

Author of twisted horror tales as well as innovative science fiction and epic fantasy stories. Chisto is a genre author with an unstoppable imagination who writes 7 days a week and tries to write at least one story or chapter every single day. It's his biggest passion. The only thing that means as much as his writing is being a dad to his awesome kids. He also dabbles in art and music and being an interesting person. His fiance refers to his dog as his other girlfriend. His baby refers to him as urrrrghhaaaa. People that know him share the opinion that he's a little crazy and he doesn't necessarily disagree with them. It makes for good art. He loves hearing from people that enjoy his work. He loves networking and connecting with authors, artists, publishers, agents, and readers. He is living his dream and recommends that you go live yours and be your best self. It's the key to happiness.

Warren Benedetto writes dark fiction about horrible people, horrible places, and horrible things. He is an award-winning author who has published over 250 stories, appearing in publications such as Dark Matter Magazine, Fantasy Magazine, and The Dread Machine; on podcasts such as The NoSleep Podcast, Tales to Terrify, and Chilling Tales For Dark Nights; and in anthologies from Apex Magazine, Tenebrous Press, Scare Street, and many more. He also works in the video game industry, where he holds 50+ patents for various types of gaming technology. For more information, follow @warrenbenedetto on Twitter and Instagram.

Evan Baughfman works in a very scary place: a middle school! (He’s a teacher.) He writes all genres, but horror is where he’s most comfortable. His horror fiction has been published in numerous anthologies, including titles from No Bad Books Press, Critical Blast Publishing, Improbable Press, and Grinning Skull Press. Evan has penned a collection of 13 short scary stories titled THE EMACIATED MAN AND OTHER TERRIFYING TALES FROM POE MIDDLE SCHOOL, published by Thurston Howl Publications. His spooky novella, VANISHING OF THE 7TH GRADE, is now available from D&T Publishing. D&T has also published Evan's first full-length novel, BAD FOR YOUR TEETH. Evan is also the co-author of the choose-your-own-adventure-style horror/fantasy novella, TRY NOT TO DIE IN A DARK FAIRY TALE, alongside Mark Tullius.

Evan has also adapted a number of his short prose works into screenplays, of which "The Tell-Tale Art," “A Perfect Circle,” and “The Creaky Door” have won awards in various film festival competitions.

Additionally, much of Evan's writing success has been as a playwright. He’s had many different plays produced across the globe. Evan is a playwriting member of PlayGround-L.A., as well as a company member with Force of Nature Productions. His children's play, “R.O.M.3.O. and Julia” (Romeo and Juliet with robots) has been published in PLAYS Magazine. His play for young adults, “Lipstick and Heroics,” is available through YouthPLAYS, as is Evan's all-ages script, "Sprout Wants Out." In addition, his middle grade play, "Percy Pangolin Wants to Go Viral," is published by Heuer Publishing. Heuer has also published Evan's plays, "Bookworm's Dilemma," "The Not-So-Haunted Auditorium," "A Taste of Amontillado" (an adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe's "The Cask of Amontillado") and his script, "Untragically Ever After." Next Stage Press has published Evan's horror-plays-for teens, "Fear Pressure" and "The Dodo Challenge," as well as his one-act satire of American public education, "F is For."

Online theater education resource, Drama Notebook, has added many of Evan’s children’s plays to its catalog. His plays can also be found at New Play Exchange.

Paul J. Scribbans always wanted to write, but due to a busy working and family life didn't seriously start until his early forties. He lives in the Lake District, UK, which he finds a huge inspiration for his work. His primary writing genre is speculative fiction, adopting strong environmental and survival themes.

His day job is in Information Technology, and apart from writing, he enjoys reading and exploring the local countryside with hobbies such as trail running and hiking.

K. J. Watson's flash fiction and short stories have appeared on the radio; in comics, magazines and anthologies; and online. He also writes as Kevin Watson.

Award-Winning Director Reyna Young resides in San Francisco, California with her husband, musician John Gillette and son Logan. Together they both run Last Doorway Productions, an independent film company. She is also known as TV Horror Hostess Miss Misery of Miss Misery's Movie Massacre, author of the books Halloween Night Series and her Monsters book series which includes The Creature of Stowe Cabin, Mr. Torture and Horror Lullabies published by Last Doorway Press. She also continues to publish horror comics through Scattered Comics.

Charlotte Langtree is the prize-winning author of Fractured: Tales of Flame & Fury. She has been published in several magazines and anthologies, as well as online. In September 2021, she was voted the Great Clarendon House Writing Challenge winner. Dragon Soul Press selected her story ‘The Shadow Queen’ as an Editor’s Pick of 2021. She was also longlisted in the Bedford International Poetry Competition 2022.

Deborah Dubas Groom is a Canadian West Coast author. She’s published work in over 23 anthologies in Canada, the U.S, the U.K. and Australia, with more in the works.

Canadian Stories Magazine

Stormy Island Publishing - Fear and Fables

WPC Press - Circle of Magic, Holiday Spirit, and Love in the Dark

Raven and Drake - April Horrors, Candy Capers

Black Ink Fiction -New Tales of Old, New Tales of Old Volume 2, The Mummy, Once Upon a Drabble, Pestilence, Heartless,

Reaperman, Winter Shocks

Breaking Rules Europe Publishing - Lost Lore and Legends, Rise and Fall, Adventure Awaits Volume 3

Iron Faerie Publishing - Elven, and Merfolk

Indie Blu(e) Publishing - But You Don't Look Sick: The Real Life Adventures of Fibro Bitches, Lupus Warriors, and other Superheroes Battling Invisible Illness.

There are more soon to be released.

She’s a member of the Langley Writers’ Guild and the Federation of B.C.Writers.

She has degrees in history and medical social work, and considers anything after the industrial revolution to be current events. She’s mom to an outstanding human being, Joshua, and grateful to be the daughter of Helen and Stan and sister of Heidi and Krista.

She’s a sci fi/fantasy/vintage monster movie geek who loves humour, the doors that shouldn't be opened, the bizarre, agoraphobic vampires, dragons with balance issues and tentacles. Lots and lots of tentacles.

She is also a secret super hero fighting the tyranny of every day cooking.

Jeff is a British/Australian prizewinning author of dark fiction, fantasy and horror. His stories have reached the finals of the Aurealis Awards, the American BookFest Awards and the National Indie Excellence Awards. He has been awarded an ‘Honourable Mention’ in the Robert N. Stephenson competition for short fiction in horror and is the winner of the 2023 Asylumfest Mayday Hills Ghost Story Competition. Jeff’s writing runs from horror, to magic realism, to haunted love stories and is inspired by folktale, mythology, and the notion that the old gods still walk among us. Jeff lives and writes in Sydney.

Diana Lee Woody is a writer, artist, and physicist. She writes stage plays, radio plays, short stories, and screenplays. She has produced, written, and directed award winning films. Because of her physics background she likes to include science in her stories when she can. Her favorite genres are comedy and horror. She is a native of the east coast, hailing from Silver Spring Maryland.