Fantasy/Magical realism

Gillings, Bowen

Author Bowen Gillings
Birth Year (-Died Year)
1973
Birth City
Oshkosh
Birth State
WI
Current Location
Colorado Springs, CO
Occupation(s)
Author, Park Interpreter
Biography

Bowen Gillings is an award-winning author writing to bring fun back to fiction. He has been featured in anthologies, periodicals, and podcasts. Bowen is a member of Pikes Peak Writers, Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers, and The League of Utah Writers. He's a former actor, financial advisor, personal trainer, defense contractor, and Army officer. He's been hiding among us for over a decade disguised as a park interpreter at Garden of the Gods Park. Bowen holds five martial arts black belts and hikes whenever he can. He loves travel, cooking, and a fine adult beverage. He lives in Colorado Springs with his wife and daughter.

Awards/Honors
2018 Third Place, Zebulon Fiction Writing Contest: SciFi/Fantasy
2019 Finalist, Colorado Gold Rush Literary Awards 2019
Education/Training
Bachelor of Science, Mass Communications (St. Cloud State University)
Master of Education, Adult Education (University of Alaska Anchorage)
Published Works Book Jackets
Image
Book cover for A Night to Remember
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Book cover for Exceptionals
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Book cover for Fresh Starts
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Book cover for Journeys Into Possibility
Organizations
* Pikes Peak Writers
* Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers
* League of Utah Writers
Speaker Availability
Yes
Speaker Topics
* Writing fight scenes
* Getting the most out of a writers conference
* Self-publishing
* How to critique writing
* How to conduct a critique group
* Turning a short story into a novel
* History of Garden of the Gods
* Charles Elliott Perkins (Perkins family gave the original piece of land that would become Garden of the Gods)
* The Civilian Conservation Corps in Colorado Springs

Porter, I'Sha'Keyva

Author I'Sha'Keyva Porter
Birth Year (-Died Year)
1993
Birth City
Richmond Heights
Birth State
MO
Current Location
Colorado Springs CO
Occupation(s)
Writer, baker, and customer service rep
Biography

Though I was not born here, Colorado is my home and has been since the age of 4. I started writing early; at that time I enjoyed seeing others response to the stories I told, I didn't realize writing was a part of me, and the thing that I wanted to do for the rest of my life. Now that I am older, I have set goals, and I am reaching them. As a writer, I hope and plan to go far. I look forward to stealing hearts and captivating the mind with amazing stories.

Local Authors Genres
Organizations
GoodNovel.com
Speaker Availability
Yes
Speaker Topics
My journey as a new writer coming out of the shadows, finding my way, working through self-doubt, and gaining confidence.

di Rotstein, Martlet

Pseudonym
Martlet di Rotstein
Birth Year (-Died Year)
1997
Birth City
Colorado Springs
Birth State
CO
Current Location
Colorado Springs, CO
Occupation(s)
Writer
Biography

Born and raised in Colorado Springs, I returned after college and took advantage of the time before me during the 2020 COVID lockdown to devote myself to writing. After finishing my first book, I look forward to continuing forward on to my next projects.

Education/Training
Bachelor's of Science in Computer Engineering.
Local Authors Genres
Speaker Availability
No

Herbert, Amber

Herbert, Amber
Birth Year (-Died Year)
1993
Birth City
Anaheim
Birth State
CA
Current Location
Colorado Springs, CO
Occupation(s)
Writer - editor
Biography

Amber Herbert is a published author/poet living in Colorado Springs with her husband and two sons. She has a BA in English Literature and has worked as a freelance editor since 2018. She writes high fantasy, horror, science fiction, and YA and New Adult fiction. Lipstick Covered Magnet is her first novel.

Education/Training
BA in English Literature - developmental and copy editor since 2018 - judge for Colorado Book Awards and the Colorado Gold contest
Published Works Book Jackets
Image
Book cover for Lipstick Covered Magnet by Amber Herbert
Organizations
Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers
Speaker Availability
Yes
Speaker Topics
I am more than happy to speak about writing, editing, or critiquing fiction.

Barber, Sean

Head and shoulders photograph of Sean Barber
Birth Year (-Died Year)
1983
Birth City
Ukiah
Birth State
CA
Current Location
Colorado Springs, CO
Occupation(s)
Local truck driver
Biography

I have been a Colorado Springs resident for over 20 years and have been a member of the Pikes Peak Library District for nearly as long. I have been a lifelong reader and have always dreamed of becoming a published author. I finally accomplished my dream in January of 2022 and hope to be a full time author in the next couple years.

Education/Training
Associates Degree in IT - Bachelors Degree in Psychology - CDL holder
Published Works Book Jackets
Image
Book cover for Initialization, Book 1 (Paths of Power series)
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Book cover for Initialization, Book 2 (Paths of Power series)
Speaker Availability
Yes
Speaker Topics
Self Publishing - LITrpg (a relatively new book genre that is booming) - my book series

Emanuelson, K. L.

Author K. L. Emanuelson
Birth City
Milwaukee
Birth State
WI
Current Location
El Paso County, CO
Occupation(s)
Author
Biography

K. L. Emanuelson is an Army veteran. She was a working cowgirl for many years, a horse trainer and a riding instructor. As a Beowulf scholar, she's presented at academic conferences and been published in the proceedings. She's entered the poetry, essay and short-short fiction divisions and won, at the Colorado Veterans Arts competitions, but now focuses upon writing her novels. She shares her ranch in the beautiful, historic Bijou Basin with her horses, dogs and cats. She's a historian with a focus upon pre-Viking early 6th century Scandinavia and the 19th century American West.

Awards/Honors
First Place, "Blue Agave," Colorado Women's Poetry Competition, open division
2018 Colorado Veterans Arts Competition: First Place Essay, First Place and Best in Show in Writing for a Short-short Fiction piece
2019 Colorado Veterans Arts Competition: First Place Essay, First Place Short-short Fiction, First Place Poetry
Education/Training
MA-English/Language Arts
Published Works Book Jackets
Image
Book cover for The Woman Who Rode Destiny by K. L. Emauelson
Organizations
Pikes Peak Writers
Sons of Norway
Speaker Availability
Yes
Speaker Topics
Beowulf, horses, including accurate horse portrayals in film and fiction, Viking and pre-Viking Norse culture, and cowboys/cowgirls

Berge, Bekah

Author Bekah Berge
Current Location
Colorado Springs, CO
Biography

Bekah Berge fell in love with all things mystical at a young age. Her love of stories led to her writing her first book in her early twenties, and she's never looked back since. When not scribbling down fantastical tales, she enjoys traveling, baking, hiking in the nearby mountains, and brewing the perfect cup of tea.

Local Authors Genres
Published Works Book Jackets
Speaker Availability
No

Haines, E. L.

Author E. L. Haines
Birth City
Dallas
Birth State
TX
Current Location
Colorado Springs, CO
Occupation(s)
Writer
Biography

Ethan reads all the time and writes so that you can read. He travels the world, ignoring the usual boundaries of space and time, collecting stories, which he loves to tell almost as much as Sparrow himself does.

He has visited more than 25 countries in person, and perhaps more than a hundred in books. He has also time-traveled to more than 40 different years in history. We won’t tell you exactly which ones.

Speaker Availability
No

Converse, Brian

Converse, Brian
Birth City
Jackson
Birth State
MI
Current Location
Monument, Colorado
Occupation(s)
Proposal Manager
Biography

Brian S. Converse is a writer of science fiction, fantasy, horror, and poetry. He lives with his wife, four kids, and two animals in the Front Range area of Colorado. Brian assists with the Teen Writing program at the Monument library every month. Brian is a US Army Veteran and grew up in Michigan.

Education/Training
BA, English, University of San Diego
Published Works Book Jackets
Speaker Availability
Yes
Speaker Topics
Writing - Self-publishing - Publishing

Kingston, A.R.

Author A.R. Kingston
Current Location
Colorado Springs, CO
Occupation(s)
Author
Biography

A.R. Kingston grew up in a small town in Massachusetts. She holds a degree in psychology and has spent several years working in the mental health field before turning to writing.
When she’s not reading or working on her own books, you can find her playing video games, enjoying archery and photography, or volunteering at her local pig rescue.
She currently lives in Colorado Springs with her two teenage boys, her dogs, and pet pigs.

Published Works Book Jackets
Image
Book cover for Toska by A.R. Kingston
Speaker Availability
Yes
Speaker Topics
Please contact author via author website for a list of speaker topics.