Birth State

TX

Current Location

Colorado Springs, CO

Author's Website

Occupation(s)

Author

Biography

Adara Vesper is the pen name of a romantasy author living in the Colorado Springs area with her fiance and two dogs.

Her comfort genre is Romantasy, but she also reads and writes Contemporary, Paranormal, Fantasy, Sci-fi, Murder Mysteries, Romance, and Horror. Adara likes to write fantastical sprawling worlds and quirky flawed characters, usually in stories spanning multiple books with dark entangled plots.

Local Authors Genres

Published Works

Published Works Book Jackets

Speaker Availability

Yes

Speaker Topics

Writing, editing, social media marketing, or self-publishing

Birth State

PA

Current Location

Colorado Springs, CO

Author's Website

Occupation(s)

Author, Mom

Biography

Amy has always been fascinated by stories, whether she is discovering them in the history of people and places or imagining them in to life.

She was born in Pennsylvania and raised in Connecticut by an American mother and an English father. She grew up watching old episodes of Doctor Who taped off the local PBS station, reading every Nancy Drew in the school library, and dreaming of telling her own stories one day.

Amy went on to attend the Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, New York. There, she served as a mentor in the Women of the School of Film & Animation program, completed her thesis in screenwriting, and graduated with honors with a BFA in film. She also met her husband.

When she’s not writing, Amy enjoys people watching in the abundant Colorado Springs sunshine, knitting her own sweaters, and sharing trivial facts learned in the name of book research. She can often be found at Library 21C, editing her latest project or meeting with the Fiber Arts group!

Education/Training

BFA, Film/Video/Animation, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY 2005

Local Authors Genres

Published Works

Published Works Book Jackets

Organizations

Member of Pikes Peak Writers

Speaker Availability

Yes

Speaker Topics

I'd love to chat with small groups, like book clubs and writer's groups about my book specifically or the writing process in general

Birth Year (-Died Year)

1951

Birth City

Springfield

Birth State

MO

Current Location

Colorado Springs, CO

Email (Public)

Author's Website

Occupation(s)

Retired Engineer - Writer

Biography

C. Buck Jones writes science fiction and fantasy novels with a Christian perspective. When he retired as an engineer, he took up writing to give himself something to occupy his time and keep him out of his wife’s hair. He enjoyed reading, especially science fiction and fantasy. When not at his computer writing or editing, he fishes with his grandkids or his dog in the Colorado streams and lakes near his home. He enjoys soccer, walking with his wife, and spending time in God’s infinitely beautiful creation.

Awards/Honors

Education/Training

Graduated from W. J. Palmer High School
B.S., Colorado State University Pueblo Mechanical Engineering and Technology
M.B.A., University of Colorado, Colorado Springs

Local Authors Genres

Published Works

Published Works Book Jackets

Organizations

Member of the American Christian Fiction Writers national and the Pikes Peak chapter
Member of the Alliance of Independent Authors

Speaker Availability

Yes

Speaker Topics

Becoming a writer after retirement - Self-publishing an expensive hobby

Birth City

Colorado Springs

Birth State

CO

Current Location

Breckenridge, CO

Email (Public)

Author's Website

Biography

I am a Colorado native, born in Colorado Springs, with a bachelor’s degree in biology (which I rarely use). An incurable thirst for knowledge led me astray to philosophy and psychology classes, which inspired stories like my debut novel, Chasing Nightmares. I love merging magic with science, creating worlds grounded in physics and biology… but still fantastical. I grew up practically living at various PPLD branches and am honored to now have my debut in the library catalog.

Local Authors Genres

Published Works

Published Works Book Jackets

Organizations

Pikes Peak Writers

Speaker Availability

No

Birth State

MD

Current Location

Colorado Springs, CO

Email (Public)

Author's Website

Occupation(s)

Programmer, writer

Biography

Jeff Schmoyer tries to find humor in the crazy world around him. Several of his short plays have been produced, and his short stories have been published in the Pikes Peak Writers anthologies, Journeys into Possibility and The Other Side of the Mountain. He is the author of the Snack-Sized Mystery series starring food blogger Murph Murphy, including Smoked, Cracked, Tossed, and Squashed. He has lived in the Pikes Peak region for over 40 years, and is always up for a tasty meal and a friendly game of cards. Find more at JmarsInk.com.

Local Authors Genres

Published Works

Published Works Book Jackets

Organizations

Pikes Peak Writers

Speaker Availability

Yes

Speaker Topics

Cozy-ish mysteries

Birth Year (-Died Year)

1962

Birth City

Wichita

Birth State

KS

Current Location

Colorado Springs, CO

Email (Public)

Occupation(s)

Author, Registered Nurse

Biography

Reggie has lived in Colorado Springs for 27 years with her husband. She has worked, volunteered and reared two children in Colorado. Her new passion for writing came later in life and the joy of pursuing the goal of writing more novels fuels her happiness.

Education/Training

Registered Nurse. MBA

Local Authors Genres

Published Works

Published Works Book Jackets

Speaker Availability

No

Pseudonym

Vincenzo

Birth City

Newport News

Birth State

VA

Current Location

Colorado Springs, CO

Email (Public)

Occupation(s)

Regional Senior Librarian Associate

Biography

Vincent Burke III is a cultural anthropologist and fiction writer who specializes in queer storytelling. His degree in Cultural Anthropology comes from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, where he began writing short horror fiction in 2016. Soon after having published his first story, The Remains of Adrian Hewitt, Vincent began formulating a plan for Flesh and Bone, a sprawling series that would encompass his studies, his love of reading, and his own tumultuous past. Growing up in a divided house, Vincent's experiences with abuse and survival ultimately led him into the United States Army where he started developing an understanding of his own queerness and spirituality. After briefly serving as a combat engineer, Vincent moved back to Colorado where he began pursuing his degree in Anthropology at UCCS. Now living safely and comfortably with his boyfriend, best friend, and their cat, Orpheus, he spends the day reading, writing, playing lacrosse and thinking of the next best American novel.

Education/Training

BA in Cultural Anthropology, concentration in History and Memory

Local Authors Genres

Published Works

Published Works Book Jackets

Organizations

Member of the Pikes Peak Library District - National Archives (Citizens Archivist)

Speaker Availability

Yes

Speaker Topics

Queer Storytelling, Embracing Gay Spirituality, Writing as Therapy, Fiction as Healing.

Birth Year (-Died Year)

1973

Birth City

Oshkosh

Birth State

WI

Current Location

Colorado Springs, CO

Email (Public)

Author's Website

Occupation(s)

Author, Park Interpreter

Biography

Bowen Gillings writes to keep fiction fun. Readers love his quirky, offbeat style that "boggles the genre mind." Bowen has shared writing tips and secrets on TV, radio, podcasts, YouTube channels, and through a variety of workshops. He holds a Master of Education, five martial arts black belt certifications, and is an Army veteran. Travel enthusiast, outdoors lover, and RPG nerd, Bowen enjoys cooking big meals for family and friends. Find out more at storiesbybowen.com.

Awards/Honors

Education/Training

Bachelor of Science, Mass Communications (St. Cloud State University)
Master of Education, Adult Education (University of Alaska Anchorage)

Local Authors Genres

Published Works

Published Works Book Jackets

Interviews

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

Current Location

Fountain, CO

Email (Public)

Author's Website

Biography

James Schannep is a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) with a degree in English Literature and minor in General Engineering. After serving honorably, he left the service to write full time.

Local Authors Genres

Published Works

Published Works Book Jackets

Speaker Availability

Yes

Speaker Topics

Self-publishing, interactive fiction

Birth Year (-Died Year)

1958

Birth City

Chicago

Birth State

IL

Current Location

Colorado Springs, CO

Email (Public)

Author's Website

Occupation(s)

Author, speaker, editor, book reviewer

Biography

Susan Miura is an author, editor, and speaker as well as a former Chicago-area journalist and public relations professional. She believes book characters should reflect the world in which we live, and therefore includes characters of various ethnicities, abilities, and cultures in her novels. Her award-winning young adult books are clean fiction with suspense, danger, and touches of romance and humor. Susan also writes inspirational women’s fiction and has one children’s poetry book that features several of her wildlife photos. Hobbies include nature photography, hiking, baking, and reading. Susan recently moved to Colorado Springs from a Chicago suburb and loves the sunshine, mountains, and hiking opportunities.

Awards/Honors

Local Authors Genres

Published Works

Interviews

Organizations

* SCBWI
* ACFW
* Served as ACFW-Chicago Chapter Vice President for 3 years
* Served as ACFW-Chicago Chapter President for 3 years
* Taught workshops at the Write to Publish Conference and the ACFW-Chicago Conference

Speaker Availability

Yes

Speaker Topics

Please Note: All topic descriptions can be found on my website at https://www.susanmiura.com

AUTHOR VISIT: I talk about my books and provide insight on the writing & publishing process.

WRITING WORKSHOPS:
* The Art of Imagery
* Nail That Pitch: How to Talk to Agents & Editors
* Query Letters That Get Results
* Dynamic Dialogue
* The Allure of Foreign Settings
* Write What You Know (for teens)
* Nail that College Admissions Essay (for college-bound high school students)

TRAVEL PRESENTATIONS:
* Florida Keys Journey
* Chocolate USA! (a combination of travel and chocolate)
* Sensational Sicily (one of my books is set in Sicily)
* Roaming the Midwest
* Greek Island Voyage
* Intriguing Italy
* Explore the Smokies
* Savor the 60s (a year-by-year glimpse of the 1960s)