Author and Vendor Showcase

DH Anderson became involved with horses through her daughter’s love for riding, leading her to passionately embrace the equestrian community. Witnessing the birth and interacting with Lady Thistle has greatly influenced Donna’s career as an award winning equestrian writer giving young readers a peek into equine life through delightful stories. PA artisans have designed and hand produced associated Horse and "Thistle" themed products.

Kalynn is a writer at heart with a lifetime love of fantasy. Through her books she pursues her passion for exploring feminist themes through fiction. Kalynn loves playing games, taking hikes, and eating super dark chocolate. She lives in Ohio with her husband and their menagerie of children, cats, and chickens

Sarah Arnette writes fantasy and science fiction, and is a reader of everything. She is a wife and the mommy to two loving pit bulls, and possesses an imagination big enough to power galaxies of wonder. Surrounded by her books, it was only a matter of time before their whispers found their way into her mind and began whispering stories, creating worlds that had to find their escape through her.

Hello! I’m a happily married mother of two who loves processing life through creating art, whether that be writing dark fantasy romance books, writing music with my husband’s band, or de-stressing with playing drums. I am passionate about writing stories with queer-normative worldbuilding, mental health representation, and stories about fighting for hope even when it feels as if all the lights have gone out.

Laura Ball, an Ohio native, has been passionate about writing since a young age, with her love for storytelling sparked from reading young adult mysteries. Laura is the author of the cozy mysteries Whiskers in Trouble, The Whiskered Witness, and Whiskers of Suspicion. She is also the author of the children's picture book, The Adventures of Hank the Hamster, Bella’s Beautiful Spots, and the award-winning children's book series Albert the Donkey Meets a New Friend, Albert the Donkey Finds a Treasure, and Albert the Donkey Solves a Mystery, which are heartwarming tales filled with valuable life lessons. Her hope is to bring to life characters that are relatable and storylines that keep your attention and stay in your thoughts long after the last chapter ends.

Chelsea Banning is a writer, reader, and lover of all things fantasy. Chelsea started writing in 10th grade and hasn't stopped since. She started writing Flash-Fictions that bloomed into novels. Along with writing, she has worked at Renaissance Faires on the street cast, directing fairy guilds, announcing and squiring at joust shows with her husband, and working clothing booths. She also owned a small performing business offering various fairytale and superhero characters for kids for seven years.

Chelsea currently lives in Ohio with her her husband, step-gremlin, and dogs, Scooby and Wednesday (a certified therapy dog)

Jillian Beane has been writing since high school. Finally published 25+ years later, she has had oodles of careers at one time or another….

Stay At Home Mom of 2

Preschool Teaching Assistant

Licensed Journeyman Plumber

Secret Squirrel

Security for a Professional Baseball Team

Disability Adjudicator

Credit Card Fraud Investigator

Does she know what she wants to do when she grows up? Nah! Where’s the surprise in that?!?!

Surrounded by support from her loving husband, her two crazy and amazing kids, and her family, she is adding AUTHOR to the ever-growing list of careers.

When she isn’t writing fantastical love stories, you can find her reading, watching movies, listening to music, or hanging out with her Yas at her favorite art studio getting into ALL the shenanigans!

Whether creating with her words or her hands, Jillian finds joy in art of all forms be it remodeling or building homes, crochet, painting on canvas or pottery, or simply sitting in front of the dreaded blinking cursor, preparing to go on an adventure with her imaginary friends.

My writing journey started when I was in middle school, but I never considered publishing anything until I was in my early thirties. My love for creation was brought back to life after joining the Tumblr & AO3 anime fanfiction communities. They helped me see my potential and inspired me to give this author thing a real shot. You can still find some of my fanfics out in the wild if you know where to look.

Outside of writing, I’m a mother of two from Ohio. We have a pet guinea pig named Potato, who is very spoiled. I adore anime, cooking, and rock/metal music. It inspires me everyday, so you’ll always find me sharing new songs I’ve discovered or upcoming music releases I’m excited about. Other hobbies I enjoy include gardening, playing video games, and exploring new parks with my kids.

Suzanne is a Northeast Ohio children’s author, married for over 35 years and mother of two inspiring sons. After retiring two years ago, she felt a profound calling to share her family’s real-life experiences, especially those of her eldest son, Andrew, who lives with autism and sensory processing disorder. What began as simple bedtime stories created to bring Andrew and his younger brother closer together soon grew into a heartfelt mission to support other families on similar journeys.

Her stories celebrates neurodiversity, empathy, sibling connection, and the beauty of embracing differences, reminding children that “nothing’s impossible” with understanding and support.

Dedicated to giving back, Suzanne donates a portion of each sale of My Friend Seymour to children’s charities and hopes to expand partnerships with nonprofits that champion child development, inclusion, and family support. Through school visits, community events, and collaborative programs, she uses her storytelling to raise awareness, celebrate differences, and empower children of all abilities—and the families who love them.

James Colson is a proud husband, father, substitute teacher, and author of The Tale of Tiernan as well as The Legacy of Enid. In his free time, James enjoys spending time with his family, mountain biking, strength training, reading, playing video games, and traveling.

I’m Corrine Dalton, a YA indie author from Northeast Ohio. I have always loved reading, and writing has been a beloved hobby of mine since childhood. (However, those stories will never see the light of day!)

Although my heart will always be in romance—and you’ll never catch my books without it!—I write about the deeper issues of mental health. I’ve faced my own share of challenges with it throughout my life, but it’s something that affects all of us. So, I hope that through my books, someone will feel seen and heard. And if I can help remove some of the stigma around mental illnesses, all the better!

When I’m not writing, I work as a copy editor, proofreader, and sensitivity reader so I can spoil my two kitties. I’ve also curated a store-worth of craft supplies to support my obsessions with crocheting, jewelry-making, and whatever else my ADHD decides to hyperfocus on for the week.

Travis Dombrowski is a crime fiction author from Geneva, Ohio whose stories draw on real-world experience and a deep understanding of the criminal justice system. Holding a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice and having served as a police officer, he brings authenticity, insight, and suspense to every page. Specializing in detective and crime novels, Travis crafts gripping narratives filled with complex investigations, moral dilemmas, and unexpected twists. His debut novel, Conflicted, introduces readers to his compelling storytelling style and passion for the genre.

Katy Epling is an author, speaker, and Bible teacher in northeast Ohio. Her works include Encountering Yahweh: How God Forms His People in the Wilderness and Life on Purpose: 30 Days of Listening to the One Who Calls You. She is passionate about helping others move beyond just gathering information from the Bible and into truly connecting with God through Scripture.

When she isn’t writing and speaking, you’ll find Katy cheering on one of her three children with a chai latte in hand. She and her husband, Jon, have been married for twenty-five years, and love the beautiful, chaotic life they’ve built together. Her youngest son, Joey, has Down syndrome, which has given Katy a front-row seat to the joy of slowing down, celebrating small victories, and finding purpose in our everyday lives.

Katy’s great loves are God, her family, and penguins, almost always in that order. She is currently planning a trip to South Africa to celebrate her fiftieth birthday with penguins in the wild, and she promises not to sneak one home. (And she mostly means it.)

One of Katy’s favorite parts of being an author is meeting readers, hearing their stories, and talking about the God who meets us in His Word.

You can find her at katyepling.com, as well as on Facebook and Instagram as @katyepling.

Frank is a Marine veteran, author, and brand architect from Youngstown, Ohio, whose work explores legacy, resilience, and the disciplined quiet shaped by service. His After the Fall trilogy blends myth with lived experience, examining how silence, memory, and loyalty endure. He co‑hosts The Forgotten Warrior Podcast with his wife, Alexis, providing veterans with clear, practical information and grounded perspective. At home, Remi serves as an oversized, unapologetic fur‑baby, while Amber contributes boundless energy—and Bentley’s memory remains part of the creative foundation he honors

Garcia is an Army combat veteran, having served 8 years, with one deployment to Iraq. During this time, Garcia was inspired to begin writing the Always Forward series. It would take 17 years (and a lot of therapy!) before the series would be shared with the world. Garcia is passionate about sharing her mental health journey and advocating for others in the mental health community.

Susan Helene Gottfried is the heavy-metal-loving, not-disabled-enough divorced Jewish mother of two. A freelance line editor by day, Susan holds a BA and MFA in creative writing. Her fiction centers on contemporary, slice-of-life fiction and building community in unexpected ways and unexpected places.

She lives with a couple cats in the Pittsburgh suburbs, just West of Mars. Visit her at WestofMars.com and TalesFromTheSheepFarm.com.

M. E. Greenfield is from NE Ohio. She is a stay-at-home mom, wife, and puppy wrangler. When she’s not fantasizing about relaxing on a hammock on the beaches of Anna Maria Island, Florida, she’s either writing her next book, reading, or crafting.

Jessa Grey is an adult fantasy romance author. From writing Aladdin fanfiction as a kid to penning contemporaries as a young adult, she’s always been drawn to the magic of storytelling. Finding her latest passion in adult fantasy romance, she thrives on creating complex characters who contend with the power of love and magic. When she’s not immersed in her latest story, Jessa can be found reading (of course!), traveling, hiking, listening to pop punk, or leveling up in Royal Match. She resides in Ohio with her two mischievous kids, an inventive husband, and four cuddly cats.

Dark paranormal mystery author J. K. Grueber is currently preparing her 11th novel for release in June 2026. A native of western Pennsylvania, she currently resides on a small horse farm in northeast Ohio, where the influence of rural life flavors the atmosphere of her creations.

In her debut novel, COLORS OF ENVY, a small farming town is terrorized by a budding serial killer. However, with the cities of Pittsburgh and Cleveland within spitting distance, adding fodder, cityscapes seep into the landscape of her novels. From psychics to vampires, her character-driven thrillers feature morally gray heroes and fiercely determined heroines while exploring a wide range of psychological tension. Whether traversing the backside of a Thoroughbred racetrack, dwelling in the shadows of a nursing home, or trotting through the bowels of a gothic castle or suburban mansion, the suspense and terror resonate and escalate in each new setting.

And the fun is just beginning, with another dark psychic tale on the way and several others in the works.

For your next must-read, be sure to check out jkgrueber.com.

Jennifer Handler is a faculty member in The Department of Biology at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. She holds a BS in Molecular Genetics and PhD in Genetics. She completed a post-doctoral fellowship in The Department of Neurosciences at The Cleveland Clinic and was a research associate in The Alzheimer’s Research Laboratory at The CWRU School of Medicine. Much of the story of KRISPR is her story. Handler was born and raised in Cleveland but spent time as a young researcher at the prestigious Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor, Maine. Raising her family in the Midwest, she accompanied her teen-aged daughter to New York City where she participated in an international modeling competition, and later moved her into her dorm at a university in Midtown Manhattan. As a professor, Handler has a real sense of what it’s like to be a college student in the 21st century. She also has the training and expertise to understand and make relatable technologies in genetics and neuroscience. And she has personally experienced the heart-wrenching and devastating effects of Alzheimer’s Disease as she witnessed her dad suffer from it for several years prior to his passing.

Ciara (Keara) Hartford is a Romantic Fantasy and Romantasy author of character driven stories with swords, slow burn romance, bloody action, and brutal cliffhangers. When not writing she's working on illustration and graphic design freelance, as well as reading every fantasy book she can get her hands on. She lives near Cleveland, Ohio with her mad scientist husband and amazingly talented daughter.

Adam H. Hoskins and Allison Tanager are a husband-and-wife writing and illustrating team. They first met in art school, immediately connecting over shared stories, a love for moral dilemmas, and narrative illustration. Lifelong residents of Northeast Ohio, they have two daughters with whom they love to share their passion for illustrated stories and classic literature. When they can squeeze in a little time, they write and make art.

I am a full-time English Instructor. I have been teaching for a14 years. Besides teaching, I enjoy reading and writing in my free time. I have worked as a freelance writer/author over the last few years. I have published a few short stories and poems and released my first novel in 2020. I am currently working on her second collection. I currently reside in Youngstown, OH.

When I am not writing, I enjoy cooking and baking. I also have three fur-babies, Cooper (8-year-old Golden Retriever), Tucker (6-year-old Golden Retriever), and Izzy (16-year-old Mini Pom).

Courtney N. Johnson is an Ohio educator, reader, and author of the YA thriller Beneath Blackwood, a suspenseful mystery set in the seemingly charming town of Blackwood Grove, where secrets run deeper than anyone wants to admit. With nearly a decade of experience teaching middle school English Language Arts, Courtney brings her love of storytelling, character development, and layered themes into every page she writes.

Her stories are inspired by small-town dynamics, hidden histories, complicated family relationships, and the unsettling idea that appearances can hide something much darker underneath. Blending atmospheric suspense with emotional depth, her work has been described as perfect for readers who enjoy mysteries filled with twists, tension, and morally gray characters.

When she isn’t teaching or writing, Courtney enjoys connecting with readers at author events, supporting local bookstores and libraries, listening to audiobooks, and spending time with her family. She is passionate about encouraging young readers and writers to find stories that make them feel seen, curious, and inspired. Beneath Blackwood is the first novel in a planned thriller series that continues to uncover the secrets buried within Blackwood Grove.

Z.L. Johnson holds a BA in education from Cleveland State University and an MLIS from Kent State University. A healthy love of vampires, his hometown of Cleveland, and driving fictional people insane has inspired his debut A Bloody Deal. A stay at home dad, he lives in Ohio with his family and cat, Godzilla.

I played one season of roller hockey when I was fifteen--it hurt enough that I decided I liked it better as a spectator--and it's been true love ever since! My fictional team is the Las Vegas Sinners, and my real-world teams are the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Vegas Golden Knights. I like strong, capable heroines who bring out the vulnerability in their tough guys. As my day job, I teach English composition at YSU and edit for other authors. I have a BA in Professional Writing and Editing, an MA in English, and an MFA in Writing Popular Fiction. My first book, my thesis novel, sold before I graduated to Crimson Romance. Five books later, I got my rights back and went indie. I’ve loved every minute!

In 2025, after 50 years as a teacher, guidance counselor, and academic advisor, I decided to retire. I was fortunate to have had education as a passion, but I also had another passion. If I wrote a children's book series that shared values of kindness, acceptance, patience, and forgiveness, I could still make a difference in children's lives. My husband and two adult sons have supported me on this 6 year journey with me to create my "Second Act."

A writer, illustrator, and comic creator from Pittsburgh, PA, Grant Lankard is the creator of the hit indie comics: Beowulf, Memoirs of the Morbid, and League of Cryptids. Lankard also wrote and drew a section in Don Simpson’s Megaton Man: Multimensions from Cosmic Lion and illustrated Jess Simm’s Creator’s Guide to Cryptids from Scribble House Books. You can find him on Facebook, Instagram, and Bluesky under @gwlankard.

A native of Youngstown, I now reside in Philadelphia,. Both of these once heavily industrialized cities were final destinations for many southern and central Italians arriving in the 19th and 20th centuries. In 2008, I donated a collection of over 200 pieces of family immigrant correspondence in Italian (1894-2004) to Youngstown State University's Maag Archives.  Currently, I am a contributing writer at La Gazzetta Italiana Newspaper, a monthly publication. My topics have included: local history, immigration, Youngstown area restaurants, and interviews with notable local Italian Americans. I've coauthored two books.

With Joe Tucciarone, I authored two in-depth books that reveal the tortures of immigration from Italy in the 1870s, a decade seldom covered in histories of this time: "Coal War in the Mahoning Valley: The Origin of Greater Youngstown's Italians" and "Italians Swindled to New York: False Promises at the Dawn of Immigration." Both works are extensively footnoted with abundant maps and illustrations.

In "Coal War" we place the initial Italian settlement in Coalburg, a booming coal miners' camp in Hubbard Township. Unwitting Italian were transported there as replacements during the widespread and violent miners' strike of 1873. Sadly, just a few months into the employment of strikebreaking immigrants, Giovanni Chiesa was murdered by a lynch mob in Liberty Township.

In "Swindled to New York" we bring to light some of the abusive practices and economic pressures that drove Italians to leave their native land. Based on primary contemporary documents, our approach was to open this history from the Italian side. Since the focus of our work has been on the decades before the opening of Ellis Island, we believe we've closed a gap in the history of Italian Americans.

In today's immigration crisis I see some of the same problems affecting newcomers as those that impacted my family.

My book writing started from a research project that I was involved in just before I retired. Though I had no authorship experience, I have always felt that everyone has a story to tell, so I began to write mine. Finding an inexpensive way to self publish, my first published book was a sort of memoir that I wrote during COVID, titled, "Horse Lessons, Life Lessons." My newest book is a romance/mystery novel titled "Remorseful Secrets" published in July 2026. I have lived in the Youngstown area for 25 years with my husband.

I am a journalism major with 20+ years of experience writing for magazines, E-commerce, web and social media. To date, I have self-published two titles, BLAZIN' and HE ANSWERS TO GRIEF. On my blog, Desperately Seeking Superwoman, I share my adventures parenting three daughters, section hiking the Appalachian Trail, and traversing the peaks and valleys of life. I live in Indiana with my husband, girls and black-and-white wonderdog, Lucky. I am currently hard at work on my third literary fiction novel, FLOOD.

Patrick Leber is a retired business professional who found a passion for running at an early age. That passion has led him down some unique, and sometimes awkward, roads. ‘Why Run When You Can Drive and Smoke at the Same Time’ shares those stories after hitting the pavement for 40 years :-)

Christopher Lesko writes bizarre, often horror-tinged fiction that blends surreal situations, dark humor, and unique narrative styles. His writing appears in Strange Behaviors: An Anthology of Absolute Luridity (Nihilism Revised), F•cked Up Stories Vol.1 (Filthy Loot), and Where There Are Dragons: An Anthology of Mixed Emotions (Robbers Dog Pub). He wrote The Grlz Like Vodka (2011), Victim 666 (2019), The Locals Are Watching You (2020), among a handful of other novellas and short story collections. When he’s not busy writing his forthcoming novel Green Pasture, he enjoys giving his brain a break from the depths of weirdness by cooking for his wife, photographing landscapes, and going on long walks through the woods with his dog named Ladybird. He lives in Ohio.

I live in a small town in Pennsylvania with my husband, two amazing daughters, and two dogs. I spend my time writing, editing, reading, and graphic designing.

Bryan Michael is the author of the Miller Family Thriller series, including Blood Debt and Past Due. A former journalist whose work has appeared in publications including Men’s Journal, VinePair, and Beer Advocate, he spent years traveling the world covering everything from dive bars and roadside BBQ joints to the culture of craft beer before turning to fiction.

Born and raised in Ohio’s Mahoning Valley, he now lives in North Carolina with his wife and son. He has never forgotten his roots, returning home often to visit friends and family and indulge in what Italian food should taste like.

When he's not writing, Bryan can usually be found at a go-kart track watching his son chase checkered flags, wandering through the woods in search of an errant disc golf throw, or planning his family’s next adventure.

His literary influences include Cormac McCarthy, Ernest Hemingway, Don Winslow, and S. A. Cosby. And he believes everyone should give Nickelback another shot.

Bryan is currently working on the next installment in the Miller Family Thriller series and a crime thriller with ties to Youngstown.

He is always happy to talk thrillers, racing, beer, or the history of pizza.

Darin Miller was born in Portsmouth but currently resides in Grove City, both of which are located in Ohio. While he has worked in Information Technology for three decades, he has not solved a single, solitary crime to date. He is the BookFest award-winning author of the Ohio-based Dwayne Morrow Mystery series, as well as an unrelated short story collection, Broken Bits and Bobs, and a standalone psychological horror thriller, Equilibrium. With equal parts action, humor, suspense and mystery, the Dwayne Morrow series features characters you’re sure to love—and in some cases, loathe.

Chris Mowery is a public historian, creator of the popular YouTube channel Vlogging Through History, and host of the Stories of the Civil War podcast. Dedicated to making the past accessible and engaging for a global audience, his expertise has led to numerous appearances on the History Channel. Guided by the philosophy that history is more than just names and dates, Chris focuses on the compelling human stories behind the events, from the experiences of private soldiers to the lives of presidents. A member of the prestigious Gettysburg History Council, he combines scholarly integrity with modern media savvy to bring forgotten historical narratives to life. A proud Buckeye and father of three, Chris is honored to tell the story of his home state's heroes in Trumbull County Boys.

Anne Natalie is an adult dark fantasy romance author, living in northeast Ohio with her husband, Husky, and three mischievous cats. She is a lifelong reader, writer, and storyteller. Checkmate is her first novel.

Terry Newman is an award-winning author who writes romantic comedy with a splash of fantasy.

Fueled by coffee, peanut butter, and popcorn, she writes stories set in fictional towns in northeast Ohio. Terry loves to place her characters in improbable situations, then allows them to take over…uhm…guide the story.

She lives in a small apartment with overflowing bookshelves, her muse, Moose, and her characters, in North Lima, a real town in northeast Ohio. Yes, it does get crowded at times.

Layla Nox is an author of urban fantasy and dark romance from Ohio. She loves to explore worlds filled with magic and morally gray characters, drawing inspiration from her love for all things dark and spooky. When she's not writing, she can be found reading, playing video games, or working on a new craft project.

I am a USA Today best-selling author, a mom, and a slightly terrible gardener. I live in Western PA, where I’m often daydreaming about my next novel.

Victoria Perkins began writing at a young age and story-telling even younger. After graduating from Kent State University with a BA in English, Perkins held numerous jobs, including teaching at a private school before, in December of 2012, she began to work full-time as a freelance writer.

She has five standalone young adult novels: Reeves' Island; The Last Summer; Three, Two, One; My Immortal, 'm Cara; and The Dragon Three, as well as two short story collections – This Weak and Idle Theme and The Story of My Scars – and A Collection of Plays which contain several plays written for school and church. She also has a completed six-book series, Star Riders, which is in the YA paranormal / supernatural genre. She also released a non-fiction book on writing and a family cookbook. She is currently working on an adult closed-door romance series under the pen name VC Perkins.

In her work as a ghostwriter / writer-for-hire, she has written and contributed to hundreds of short stories, novellas and full-length novels for clients all over the world, some of which have made various best seller lists. She makes her home in Northeastern Ohio near her family.

Nicole Pilolli is a local author who published her first children’s book, Josephine’s Trip to the Beach in February 2023. A graduate of Youngstown State University as well as a Boardman High School, Nicole is a daughter, sister, and mother to a rescue cat named Cat. When she is not working at her 9-5, you can find her reading, walking in the park trying to listen to the many podcasts she subscribes to, or shopping at Target for nothing she really needs. Nicole took her chance at writing her first children’s book after she got inspired by one of her best friends and her daughter. Please enjoy her book where you will follow Josephine’s lovely story about spending time with family and honoring those we lost.

Susan Poole is a mother, lawyer, freelance writer, and nonprofit professional. She enjoys exploring life's moral gray areas through her writing. Susan’s award-winning debut, OUT OF THE CRASH, was published by The Wild Rose Press in July 2025. Prior to publication, that novel earned her the 2023 Rising Star Award from the Women’s Fiction Writers Association. After publication, it earned additional accolades, including top awards from Kirkus, PenCraft, BookFest, Firebird, and Literary Titan. Susan’s essays have appeared on the parenting websites Grown and Flown and Scary Mommy. Her nonfiction work includes a memoir published in Neighborhood Voices and a story about her days as a wrestling mom in Grapple Alley. Susan holds degrees from Baldwin-Wallace University and the University of Buffalo School of Law. She and her husband live in Avon Lake, Ohio, where they raised their three children and now embrace empty nesting with their two codependent dogs, Phoebe and Theo. Susan is excited to announce that her second novel, A Deadly Dose of Reality, releases next year.

Michael Prelee is an award winning crime and science-fiction author who graduated from Youngstown State University. He is the author of the Tim Abernathy Mystery Series, published by North Star Press. The first entry in the series is Murder in the Heart of It All. The sequel, Lost Little Sister, won the Midwest Independent Publisher’s Association award for Fiction-Mystery/Thriller. He also writes the Milky Way Repo sci-fi crime series published by EDGE Science Fiction and Fantasy. His new release, The Unworthy, is the third installment of the series.

Yajna Ramnath writes like she’s crafting spells—equal parts beauty, danger, and a little chaos.

An author of fantasy, romance, and deliciously dark romance, Yajna builds worlds where love burns, bleeds, and sometimes bites. Her stories are filled with powerful heroines who don’t wait to be saved, dangerously charming love interests who toe the line between savior and sinner, and plot twists sharper than a dagger in the dark.

When she isn’t tormenting her characters (and her readers) with emotional rollercoasters and morally grey dilemmas, she’s doing something equally intense—head-shotting opponents in Call of Duty Mobile like the badass she is. Let’s just say her trigger finger is as fast as her plot twists.

Based in a world of words, Wi-Fi, and caffeine-fueled nights, Yajna writes not just to tell stories—but to create entire emotional black holes you’ll gladly get sucked into.

Dark romance with heart. Fantasy with fire. Love that lingers like a ghost.

Welcome to her world. Don’t forget to bring snacks—and maybe a sword.

Hi, I’m Monica Rojas, a documentary photographer, emerging author, and lifelong collector of stories based in Youngstown, Ohio. I’m currently creating a series of children’s books inspired by travel, community, and everyday adventures, combining photography and storytelling to encourage curiosity, imagination, and a sense of wonder. Also, I have a similar book in development documenting a beloved local family business. Stay tuned!

Andromeda (he/him) is four possums in an oversized hoodie from a small town in Ohio who specializes in religious horror, mythological dark fantasy, and small town folk horror. He is queer, disabled, and neurodivergent, sitting comfortably in the 'I don't know what's going on' category in just about everything. This leads to him writing a lot about queer, disabled, and neurodivergent characters.

His work can be found in various forms, from short stories in anthologies such as Reverent: An Anthology of Divinity and We Can Always Tell to novellas like Incorrect Eyes and novels such as the Call Me Icarus series.

A fanatic of all things dark and creepy, Neil Sater lives with his wife, Mary, in the Cleveland, Ohio area. They have two grown children and two grandchildren. Having spent his career doing other things, Neil is happy to be now finding time for writing. A Horror Writers Association member, he has published five supernatural mystery novels, all set in the eerie rural countryside of the fictional Homer County, Ohio. Two of Neil’s novels earned the #1 New Release rating in YA Ghost Stories. Cleveland Magazine named his 2025 release Atrocity: The Haunting of Moravian Village one of “50 Book Releases We Loved in 2025.”

Raised in small town Ohio, Sean Seebach began writing in adulthood. He's published several books and a collection of short stories. His work has also appeared on The No Sleep Podcast and in a variety of anthologies, including Episode 104 of the television series Evil Encounters from Cream Productions. When he isn't writing or working a day job, he enjoys reading, cooking, and listening to an original motion picture soundtrack of some or another.

He currently lives in Ohio with his wife, daughter, son, and their little terror terrier, Bowie.

I’m Penny Simmons, a Cleveland-based spoken word poet, author, creator, dreamer, and founder of Branding Your Artistry Publishing. I’ve spent more than 15 years using words to give a voice to the conversations we’re often afraid to have out loud. My work lives at the intersection of poetry, storytelling, motherhood, mental health, recovery, faith, identity, and learning to love ourselves through every version of who we become.

My catalog crosses genres and generations, from visual and traditional poetry to children’s literature. My titles include Bi Polarity: In Session, Soul Stice: The Journey of Learning to Love Yourself Again, and I Am Loved: Positive Affirmations for Brown Girls. Through Penny Speaks and my literary brand, Penned Down, I also create interactive literary experiences designed to make poetry something readers don’t just read, but feel.

Outside of writing, I’m a mom, a technology professional, and a chronic collector of ideas that usually become another project before I’ve finished the last one. My philosophy is simple: some conversations disappear into silence when we need them most. I write because words have the power to interrupt that silence.

June Summers is a Youngstown native, summa cum laude graduate of Youngstown University, a former art teacher, and a retired accountant. She is now a creative writer. In 2016, at the age of seventy-six, she had her first thriller novel published (Let Freedom Ring). Since then, she has had six additional novels published and a memoir. These are her tnovels: Before we Fade Away, A Conflict of Time, There Was An Old Woman, At Rope’s End, and the most recent published in 2024, What Happened to the Boy? (an exciting story about a homeless woman and a five-year-old boy). Her memoir, Hope Unleashed: Coping with Cancer with Courage and Love: The True Story of an Animal Rescue Caregiver is an inspiring and heartwarming memoir that follows the incredible journey of her daughter, Wendy, a woman whose boundless love for animals transformed her life in ways she never imagined.

Mellanie Szereto is the USA Today Bestselling Author of over sixty romcoms and contemporary romances, most with characters who have plenty of life experience like herself. Her stories are set in real and fictional small towns in Ohio—where she was born and raised—with quirky main characters, fun secondary casts, and plenty of humor. Family, whether by blood or choice, as well as women’s friendships, food, and those necessary happily-ever-afters are always part of her stories. When her fingers aren’t attached to her keyboard and her thoughts on the current and next books to write, she enjoys gardening, cooking, and baking. And hiking. Lots of hiking. Her bucket list includes visiting every U.S. national park (9 of 63 so far, including Yellowstone and Hawaii Volcanoes) and every Ohio state park (30 of 76 so far). She lost count of how many times she’s hiked the trails of Hocking Hills years ago! Nature is her happy place and she loves to listen to the trees. She lives with her husband of forty years in an 1880 farmhouse (that has required many DIY renovations) in rural Indiana. All the wild critters on their 12 mostly wooded acres don’t mind sharing.

Josh Vidmar is the author of the Striker V superhero series. While the characters may be Super, the stories are entirely human. Josh likes to focus on what makes characters tick as people. What makes them laugh? What makes them cry? You’ll be doing plenty of both per book. If you're a fan of Dungeon Crawler Carl, The Dresden Files, and Deadpool, you'll want to check him out.

His current work in progress is a queer cozy seaside cosmic horror called ‘The Great Undersea Tour of Bernadette Hope.’ It dares to ask the question: What would happen if you gave Philomena Cunk the powers of Mary Poppins and set her against Cthulhu?

When Josh isn’t writing, he’s likely catching up on Dungeon Crawler Carl, a piece of classical literature, or playing Star Fox.

Josh lives in Columbus, Ohio with husband and their hoard of cats.

Jonathan Walter has always suspected there are more stories hiding in Northeast Ohio’s forests than most people realize. Growing up near the Cuyahoga Valley, a childhood story his father told him about an eerie encounter along the Cuyahoga River planted the seed for what would eventually become THE TOWPATH, his time-travel suspense thriller set among the trails, waterways, history, and legends of the region. Its companion, THE LOST DIARY OF GIL STANFORD, ventures even deeper into the Valley’s darker mysteries.

Jonathan’s fiction blends his love of science fiction, history, suspense, and horror, and his short stories have appeared in GHOSTLIGHT: THE MAGAZINE OF TERROR, DARK DOSSIER #32, and THE DEVIL’S DOORBELL. When he isn’t writing fiction, he’s a longtime product and UX design leader and inventor with nineteen patents—a career spent asking “what if?” in a very different way.

He lives in the Cleveland area with his wife and two sons and can often be found hiking the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail, camera in hand, looking for wildlife, forgotten history, and perhaps the next story waiting somewhere in the trees.

Cori Wamsley writes sweet, closed door romances filled with heart, humor, and the kind of emotional clarity that sneaks up on you in the best way. Her books explore identity, healing, and the courage it takes to begin again—all wrapped in character driven stories where love grows in peaceful moments, friendships matter, and hope always gets the final word. Readers often tell her that her books feel like a deep breath, a warm hug, and a belly laugh, which she considers the highest compliment.

She’s the author of Ashes and Other Inheritances, Exactly What It Looks Like, and several earlier titles. When she’s not writing, Cori works as a publishing consultant, writing coach, and editor through her company, Aurora Corialis Publishing, helping authors build stories with emotional resonance and careers with staying power.

Cori lives in Pennsylvania with her family, where she can usually be found drafting new chapters, cheering on her kids’ creative chaos, or hunting down allergy friendly chocolate like it’s a competitive sport. Fun facts: she’s in a long-term relationship with her TBR and believes every good romance starts with one honest moment. She loves connecting with readers who crave heartfelt stories, soft humor, and second chances.

Kara M. Zone is an award-winning, best-selling indie author who crafts tales of magic, mayhem, and mischief. Kara provides creative writing & indie publishing workshops to help writers at any stage create the best stories for their voices, ideas, and brands. Her true passion is helping others reach their goals, no matter what publishing path they're interested in.