Birth City

Tucson

Birth State

AZ

Current Location

Colorado Springs, CO

Email (Public)

Author's Website

Biography

MJ James is an own-voice science-fiction and fantasy author for queer and neurodiverse readers. With themes of found family, aromantic and asexual representation, and a focus on belonging, MJ hopes their stories can provide companionship for their readers along with a sense of validation, understanding, and being seen.

Education/Training

MS Developmental Psychology

Local Authors Genres

Published Works

Organizations

Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association (SFWA)

Speaker Availability

Yes

Speaker Topics

Autism, Neurodiversity, Non-Binary, Trans

Birth City

Hayes

Birth State

KS

Current Location

El Paso County, CO

Email (Public)

Author's Website

Occupation(s)

Indie Author

Biography

I am M.M. Ward, an indie author, stroke survivor, and chronic migraine overcomer. I started writing as part of my stroke recovery because I lost most of my ability to use language in 2015. I write in a variety of genres from contemporary stories that focus on realistic-feeling characters dealing with their own internal issues as they navigate the difficulties of life to fantasy and sci-fi series where my characters face as much struggle within as they do in the world around them. My whole writer's journey is to show characters overcoming versus succumbing because that is the way of the world. I want my readers to feel like they know my characters better than their neighbors, that my characters could be their neighbors. Why? Because Life always offers us the choice; be bitter or Become Better. I choose Better.

My Youtube Page https://www.youtube.com/@PenumbraMineMMWard

Facebook Page Author M.M. Ward https://www.facebook.com/authormmward/

Substack PenumbraMine https://penumbramine.substack.com/

Local Authors Genres

Published Works

Interviews

Speaker Availability

Yes

Speaker Topics

I talk about Writing with disabilities, Worldbuilding, Self-editing, Story Seed Creation, and many other topics about being an Indie and Trad author with brain damage.

Birth City

Biloxi

Birth State

MS

Current Location

Colorado Springs, CO

Email (Public)

Biography

Ian Patterson is an award-winning author, engineer, coffee snob, food lover, cat dad, human dad, and bike nerd. He's lived in various places around Colorado since 1999, and currently resides in Colorado Springs with his wonderful family.

Awards/Honors

Education/Training

Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineer (CSU)

Local Authors Genres

Published Works

Published Works Book Jackets

Interviews

Speaker Availability

Yes

Speaker Topics

Indie publishing (how-to, trade-offs, relevant services), and I can add relevance to many science fiction or philosophy focused discussions.

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)

1993

Birth City

Anaheim

Birth State

CA

Current Location

Colorado Springs, CO

Email (Public)

Author's Website

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

Local Authors Genres

Published Works

Published Works Book Jackets

Organizations

Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers

Speaker Availability

Yes

Speaker Topics

I am more than happy to speak about writing, editing, or critiquing fiction.

Birth Year (-Died Year)

1983

Birth City

Ukiah

Birth State

CA

Current Location

Colorado Springs, CO

Email (Public)

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

Local Authors Genres

Published Works

Published Works Book Jackets

Speaker Availability

Yes

Speaker Topics

Self Publishing - LITrpg (a relatively new book genre that is booming) - my book series

Birth Year (-Died Year)

1963

Birth City

Frankfurt, DE

Email (Public)

Author's Website

Occupation(s)

Author

Biography

Davyne spent her life traveling the world and has lived in Germany, Bolivia, Somalia, Afghanistan, Japan, Korea, Mexico, and the United States. She came to Colorado in 1993 and now writes from a cozy spot nestled at the base of the Pikes Peak in beautiful Colorado Springs. One of the settings in her book, Phantom Rising, is loosely based on Glen Eyrie Castle in Colorado Springs.

Awards/Honors

Education/Training

Juris Doctorate, 1992
Bachelor of Science - Decision Studies/Computer Science, 1987
Associate of Science - Business Administrations, 1987
Associate of Science - General Studies, 1987

Local Authors Genres

Published Works

Organizations

Member, Romance Writers of America
Member, Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America
Member, Colorado Bar Association

Speaker Availability

Yes

Speaker Topics

Various aspects of writing

Pseudonym

E.T. Gunnarsson

Birth Year (-Died Year)

2002

Birth City

Colorado Springs

Birth State

CO

Current Location

Colorado Springs, CO

Email (Public)

Author's Website

Occupation(s)

Author and student

Biography

E.T. Gunnarsson translates imagination into words for a living. His debut book Forgive Us was awarded Best Sci-Fi book in the 2021 San Francisco Book Festival and Best Post-Apocalyptic Book in the 2021 Fiction Awards.

Born and raised in the Rocky Mountains (9,000 feet altitude!), E.T. now resides in southern Colorado with his dwarfed Cane Corso and his lifelong interest in Norse myth and culture. A storyteller from an early age, Mr. Gunnarsson spent his formative years developing his writing skills on international roleplay sites.

Outside of writing, E.T. is a well-versed individual. He trained with two different Olympic squads, is an expert in Norse mythology, an experimental cook, a woodcarver, an avid action roleplay gamer, a Judo brown belt, and a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu purple belt.

It’s easy to find E.T. on Facebook and Instagram: just search for his name. His legendary interviews can be found on Youtube and other websites. Or, visit https://bragipress.com to reach his publisher.

Awards/Honors

Education/Training

James Madison High School, 2020, Summa cum laude

Local Authors Genres

Published Works

Interviews

Organizations

Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America

Speaker Availability

Yes

Speaker Topics

The Odemark series, Norse Mythology, muscle cars, and Brazil Jiu-Jitsu

Birth City

Hill AFB

Birth State

UT

Current Location

Colorado Springs, CO

Email (Public)

Author's Website

Occupation(s)

Cybersecurity

Biography

Jim Henderson is a writer of fun, varied, and technically sound science fiction adventures with a bit of exploration of the human condition. He is also a long-term Air Force veteran and a cybersecurity professional with decades of experience in intelligence, communications, computers, and cyber operations. He has been a life-long aficionado of science fiction in almost every form - books, movies, TV, and games (role-playing, tabletop, and computer). When not mentally exploring the universe, he lives with his wife, stepson, and 2 dogs in Colorado Springs. He enjoys hiking in the mountains of Colorado, kayaking on its lakes, spending time with his family, and playing games.

Education/Training

Bachelors and Masters in Computer Science - CISSP - CAP – CSSP – C/CISO

Local Authors Genres

Published Works

Interviews

Organizations

Colorado Authors League, Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers, National Space Society, Rocky Mountain Mars Society, ISSA, ISC^2

Speaker Availability

No