Fantasy/Magical realism

Maschger, Eileen

Maschger, Eileen
Birth City
Rome
Birth State
NY
Current Location
Colorado Springs, CO
Biography

Eileen moved to the Colorado Springs area with her family when she was 8 years old. Although she had lived in three different homes before then, Colorado Springs is where she grew up and has her most fondest memories. After becoming an Army wife she has lived on the west coast, the east, and on the Gulf Coast as well. But now he is back in Colorado, raising her own family in her hometown. She is inspired every day by her children and various friendly faces that help her to imagine a world of stories. She has a newfound love of writing to help bring these stories to life for her young readers in age and in heart.

Education/Training
Associate degree, Psychology, Pikes Peak Community College
Local Authors Genres
Published Works Book Jackets
Speaker Availability
Yes
Speaker Topics
Inspiration for Youth confidence and pursuing their dreams - Self-confidence - Encouraging individual creativity to shine

Colter, Liz

Colter, Liz
Pseudonym
L.D. Colter, L. Deni Colter
Current Location
Colorado
Biography

Liz has followed her heart through a wide variety of careers, including farming with a team of draft horses and working as a field paramedic, Outward Bound instructor, athletic trainer, and roller-skating waitress, among other curious choices. She also knows more about concrete than you might suspect. Her novels written under the name L. D. Colter explore contemporary and dark fantasy, and ones written as L. Deni Colter venture into epic fantasy realms. Following a long interlude in Southern and Northern California, she returned some years ago to her home state of Colorado, where she spends her time with her husband, dogs, horses, and writing (according to her husband, not always in that order of priority).

Awards/Honors
A Borrowed Hell - Winner of the 2018 Colorado Book Award for Science Fiction/Fantasy
Published Works Book Jackets
Speaker Availability
Yes
Speaker Topics
Publishing through a large press, small press or indie - Writing technique - Short story writing and submissions

Orton, D.L.

Orton, D.L.
Current Location
Front Range of the Rockies
Occupation(s)
Time Machine Mechanic
Biography

AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR D. L. ORTON lives in the Rocky Mountains where she and her husband are raising three boys, a golden retriever, two Siberian cats, and an extremely long-lived Triops. In her spare time, she's building a time machine so that someone can go back and do the laundry.

Awards/Honors
Publishers Weekly "Booklife Prize in Fiction" Quarter-Finalist (CIT 2016 and DT 2017)
Next Generation Indie Book Awards, E-book Fiction Finalist (CIT 2017)
Colorado Book Award Finalist, Science Fiction (2017)
Book Excellence Awards Winner, Science Fiction (2016)
Readers' Favorite Book Award Winner, Audiobook (2016)
SWIRL Awards Finalist, Science Fiction (2016)
Indie Excellence Book Award Winner, Cross-Genre Fiction (2016)
USA Best Book Award Finalist, Cross-Genre Fiction (2016)
International Book Award Finalist, Cross-Genre Fiction (2016)
Colorado Gold Finalist, Science Fiction (2015)
Novel Beginnings Award Winner, Science Fiction (2015)
Education/Training
Ms. Orton is a graduate of Stanford University's Writers Workshop and a past editor of <em>Top of the Western Staircase</em>, a literary publication of CU, Boulder. The author has a number of short stories published in online literary magazines, including Literotica, Melusine, Cosmoetica, The Ranfurly Review, and Catalyst Press.
Published Works Book Jackets
Organizations
Independent Book Publishers Association
Speaker Availability
Yes
Speaker Topics
Writing a book series - Indie publishing - How to find an editor, publisher, and audience

Bissett, Carina

Author Carina Bissett
Birth City
Lincoln
Birth State
NE
Current Location
Colorado Springs, CO
Occupation(s)
Educator and author
Biography

Carina Bissett is a writer, poet, and educator working primarily in the fields of dark fiction and fabulism. Her short fiction and poetry have been published in multiple journals and anthologies including Upon a Twice Time, Bitter Distillations: An Anthology of Poisonous TalesArterial BloomGorgon: Stories of EmergenceWeird Dream SocietyHath No Fury, and the HWA Poetry Showcase Vol. V, VI, and VIII. She has also written stories set in shared worlds for RPGs at Green Ronin Publishing and Onyx Path Publishing. In addition to writing, she has edited several projects; the most recent is in the role as co-editor for Shadow Atlas: Dark Landscapes of the Americas.

As an educator, Carina has taught at Pikes Peak Community College, Glendale Community College, and Arizona State University. She also participated in the Colorado Writing Project and works with educators to develop writing instruction in college and secondary school classrooms. She currently offers workshops focused on story generation at The Storied Imaginarium. Her fiction has been nominated for the Sundress Publications Best of the Net Award and was a finalist for the Ron L. Hubbard Writers of the Future Awards. Her poetry has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize and the Sundress Publications Best of the Net Award. In her editorial capacity, she’s received recognition as the Winner at the Colorado Book Awards 2022 (Anthology) and as a Finalist in the Fiction: Anthologies category of the 2022 International Book Award.

Awards/Honors
Finalist, 2019 Writers of the Future (1st quarter)
For “An Authentic Experience”: Finalist, ANTHOLOGY, 2020 Colorado Book Awards
For “C8 : A Tessellation of Faces, Wings, and other Obscure Things ”: Nominated for 2018 Best of the Net Award
For “Fairy Tale Prohibition”: Nominated for 2021 Best of the Net Award
For “Gaze with Undimmed Eyes and the World Drops Dead”: Winner, Fiction: ANTHOLOGY, The 2020 Best Book Awards
For “Radiant”: Nominated for 2021 Best of the Net Award
For “Rotten”: Finalist, Superior Achievement in an Anthology, 2020 Stoker Awards
For Shadow Atlas: Dark Landscapes of the Americas: Winner, ANTHOLOGY, 2021 Colorado Book Awards
For Shadow Atlas: Dark Landscapes of the Americas: Finalist, ANTHOLOGY, 2021 International Book Awards
Honorable Mention, 2017 Writers of the Future (2nd quarter)
Honorable Mention, 2017 Writers of the Future (4th quarter)
Honorable Mention, 2020 NESFA Short Story Contest
Horror Writers Association, 2016 HWA Scholarship
2021 Silver Hammer Award
Silver Honorable Mention, 2018 Writers of the Future (4th quarter)
“The Sweet Sleep of Roses or, After the Fall”: Nominated for the 2018 Pushcart Prize
For “Swimming with the Shark Boys”: Honorable mention in 2016 Best Horror of the Year, Vol. 9
For “Wild Girl”: Nominated for 2014 Sundress Publications Best of the Net Award and the Pushcart Prize
For “The Yellow Press of an Ancient Power”: Nominated for 2015 Sundress Best of the Net
Education/Training
MFA in Creative Writing (University of Maine, 2018) - M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction (University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, 2011) - B.A. in Integrative Studies (Arizona State University, 1999) - A.A. in Humanities (Glendale Community College, 1998) - A.G.S. in General Studies (Glendale Community College, 1997)
Organizations
Horror Writers Association - Science Fiction Poetry Association - Colorado Poets Center - Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America
Speaker Availability
Yes
Speaker Topics
* Speculative fiction
* Creative non-fiction
* Speculative poetry
* Memoir
* Other creative pursuits

Manivong, Tai

Author Tai Manivong
Birth City
Colorado Springs
Birth State
CO
Current Location
Colorado Springs, CO
Occupation(s)
Author and Voiceover Actor
Biography

Fantasy author Tai Manivong was inspired to write a children’s novel while she was a third grade teacher, six years ago. But the seed was planted well before when, as a teenager in high school, a class assignment resulted in her first “book,” a story about a girl on a quest in a magical land.
Tai believes a great book is one with believable characters that readers can relate to. With many of her own books’ characters on a journey of self-discovery and finding out where they fit in the world, she hopes her young readers come away from her fantasy novels with a self-acceptance that stays with them long after the book is closed.

When she isn’t writing or being creative, Tai records audiobooks and enjoys spending time with her daughters. They live in Colorado along with their three dogs and two horses. 

Education/Training
Master of Arts in Teaching - Master of Arts in Psychology
Local Authors Genres
Published Works Book Jackets
Image
Book cover for Crimson (book 1 of The Dragon Keeper Chronicles) by Tai Manivong
Image
Book cover for Azuran (book 2 of The Dragon Keeper Chronicles) by Tai Manivong
Image
Book cover for Chalcedony (book 3 of The Dragon Keeper Chronicles) by Tai Manivong
Image
Book cover for Onixian (book 4 of The Dragon Keeper Chronicles) by Tai Manivong
Speaker Availability
Yes
Speaker Topics
I can speak about world building, character inspiration, my journey self publishing, formatting novels or education topics.

Firebird, Bradley

Author Bradley Firebird
Pseudonym
Bradley Firebird (Bradley Thunderbird Phoenix)
Birth City
New York City
Birth State
NY
Current Location
Southern Colorado
Occupation(s)
Customer service and office clerk
Biography

Born in Brooklyn, Long Island, New York, I have been a resident of southern Colorado since November 2011. I have written over 100 original stories (short stories, poems, indie screenplays, stage plays, and audiobook short stories (radio) plays & skits) of several genres: Twilight Zone-type stories, science fiction, horror, comedy, satire, and drama. I am currently working on a sci-fi novel that is a cross between Star Wars and Lord of the Rings.  I am a former homeless veteran (U.S. Army).

Awards/Honors
2017 - APPR Writing Center Contest, dramatic reading of my short audio play, "The Holocausts of Our Lives."
2016 - APPR Writing Center Contest, dramatic reading of my short audio play "The Day the Music Lived"
Education/Training
A.A. degree in General Studies, Suffolk Community College, Long Island, NY, 1977 - Army Admin School, Fort Jackson, 1980 - Cal Simmons Travel Agent School, Alexandria, VA, 1985. Attended Pikes Peak State College in Southern Colorado.
Organizations
Pikes Peak Community College Radio Theater Club - Pikes Peak Community College Entrepreneurs Club
Speaker Availability
Yes
Speaker Topics
Radio Theater - How to Start a Radio Theater Club - How to Write a Radio Play or Script

Cox, Jodi

Cox, Jodi
Birth City
Union City
Birth State
IN
Current Location
Colorado Springs, CO
Occupation(s)
Author - Illustrator - Graphic Designer
Biography

Jodi Cox is an American dieselpunk author born on April 10, 1979 in Union City, Indiana. She graduated from Simon Kenton High School in 1997. Later she went on to graduate with a BFA from the College of Mount Saint Joseph, now known as the University of Mount St. Joseph in Cincinnati, Ohio. After college, Jodi started writing for Citybeat magazine. Later she went on to become a pioneer in internet graphics and website development. After spending nearly ten years writing for everything from tax websites to poetry, Jodi began developing the world of the Nether After, unbeknownst to her that steampunk and dieselpunk was turning into a literary genre. Jodi enjoys all things speculative fiction, but has a pension for the weird and unusual. She describes herself as a comic book snob. She is often found with a stack of Japanese and American graphic novels in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other. She enjoys drawing and painting, as well as writing. Her hours not spent on writing are devoted to geeking out over new computer hardware, or the latest video games. She loves ripping into electronics to see how they work, as well as cooking and developing new recipes. As a writer Jodi has been writing steampunk, dieselpunk, and fantasy of all types. She has even dipped her toe into science fiction.

Education/Training
BFA, Mt. St. Joseph University
Published Works Book Jackets
Organizations
Pikes Peak Writers - Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers - Tesla Writers
Speaker Availability
Yes
Speaker Topics
Dieselpunk - Steampunk - Self publishing - Book layout and design - Web comics - High fantasy world building - Fantasy & pop culture tropes and how not to use them - Minority heroes - Ghost stories for kids - Comics in the new digital age - Comics in the classroom - Pop culture fandom

Ander, Laura

Current Location
Colorado Springs, CO
Biography

Laura Ander grew up in Palmer Lake, CO and participated in numerous summer reading programs through the Pikes Peak Library District during her adolescent years. As she grew older, she developed an interest in writing short stories and dreamed of one day becoming an author. Laura Ander currently resides in Colorado Springs and spends her days working on her series The Alchemist Saga.

Education/Training
Bachelor of Science, International Business
Local Authors Genres
Speaker Availability
Yes
Speaker Topics
Self-publishing

Boroch, Peter

Author Peter Boroch
Birth City
Ft. Stewart
Birth State
GA
Current Location
Colorado Springs, CO
Occupation(s)
Primary Technical/Editor Writing
Biography

Peter E. Boroch is a former Marine, husband, and proud father. He is the author of the science fiction/military series Gothic Opera and the hard-boiled/mystery book The Man in the Leather Jacket: Predator Games. Peter studied art at Calhoun College and writing at American Military University. Peter is always eager to speak with fans and interact with fellow authors. In his free time, Peter enjoys spending time with his family, reading comics, drawing, writing, killing aliens on his Xbox, and working on the next great American novel!

Education/Training
Bachelor of Arts in English, emphasis on Creative Writing, American Military University, 2016
Organizations
Phi Theta Kappa - Sigma Delta Kappa - Golden Key International Honor Society
Speaker Availability
Yes
Speaker Topics
Author is available to speak on a wide variety of subjects.

Casale, Nicholas

Nicholas Casale
Birth Year (-Died Year)
1985
Birth City
Vendenbergh Air Force Bace
Birth State
CA
Current Location
Colorado Springs, CO
Occupation(s)
Paralegal
Biography

Nicholas S. Casale grew up in Palmer Lake, which is a small town in Colorado. Shortly thereafter, he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs and began working as a paralegal.

From a young age he was attracted to history, myth, religion, and spent several years searching for the religion that best matched his personal beliefs; he is now a practicing Messianic Jew and is happily married to the woman who taught him Hebrew.

He first started writing stories when he was 6 years old. He invented a simple character named "Mousey," who was a mouse and a wizard. While his stories have grown more sophisticated since then, he has always had a love for the themes of that original story; the idea that the weak may overcome the strong through cleverness and imagination.

Education/Training
Bachelor of Arts Degree in History, University of Colorado, Colorado Springs
Speaker Availability
Yes
Speaker Topics
The Novels - History - Mythology - Religion