Thrillers/Suspense

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
Image
Book cover for Exceptionals
Image
Book cover for Fresh Starts
Image
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

Tapper, Emil

Emil Tapper
Pseudonym
E.T. Gunnarsson
Birth Year (-Died Year)
2002
Birth City
Colorado Springs
Birth State
CO
Current Location
Colorado Springs, CO
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
Winner, Post-Apocalyptic – 2021 American Fiction Awards
Winner, Science Fiction – 2021 San Francisco Book Festival
Finalist, Science Fiction – 2021 Best Book Awards
Honorable Mention, Science Fiction – 2021 Hollywood Book Festival
Honorable Mention, Science Fiction – 2021 New York Book Festival
Runner Up, Science Fiction/Horror – 2022 New York Book Festival
Honorable Mention, Science Fiction – 2022 San Francisco Book Festival
Education/Training
James Madison High School, 2020, Summa cum laude
Local Authors Genres
Organizations
Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America
Speaker Availability
Yes
Speaker Topics
The Odemark series, Norse Mythology, muscle cars, and Brazil Jiu-Jitsu

Hatfield, Lisa

Photo of author Lisa Hatfield
Birth City
Glen Ellyn
Birth State
IL
Current Location
Monument, CO
Occupation(s)
Wildfire risk reduction
Biography

Lisa moved to Monument in 1990 with her husband and the Air Force. She has also lived in Illinois, Ohio, and Colombia, South America. She's been a computer mapper and editor, newspaper reporter and managing editor, teacher of English as a Second Language, and member of a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT). Now, she has learned to run a chainsaw and wood-chipper, and to do public speaking (even scarier) to promote wildfire risk reduction and emergency preparedness.

Awards/Honors
2019 Volunteer of the Year: Tri-Lakes Chamber of Commerce
2020 National Wildfire Mitigation Award (with Tri-Lakes United Methodist Church Emergency Preparedness Group): National Association of State Foresters (NASF), the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC), and the National Fire Protection Assn.
2021 Service to Mankind Award: Gleneagle Sertoma
Education/Training
Geography B.A, University of Illinois
Western State University, Certificate in K-12 Linguistically Diverse Education
Community Emergency Response Team - Pikes Peak Regional Office of Emergency Management
NFPA Assessing Home Ignition Potential From Wildfire
Local Authors Genres
Published Works Book Jackets
Image
Book cover for To Starve an Ember
Organizations
Pikes Peak Regional Community Emergency Response Team
Tri-Lakes United Methodist Church Emergency Preparedness Group
Our Community News reporter
Speaker Availability
Yes
Speaker Topics
* The Story of the Flying Ember - 20-minute tale for property owners about how to co-exist with wildfire
* Wildfire risk reduction for homeowners
* How to prepare today: your home's "ignition zone" & wildfire's flying embers (10 minutes or 2 hours - let me know)
* Emergency preparedness for everybody
* Emergency preparedness for seniors
* Solar oven cooking

Bowen, Barbara

Author Barbara Bowen
Pseudonym
B. J. Bowen
Birth City
Galveston
Birth State
TX
Current Location
Colorado Springs, CO
Occupation(s)
Retired - Author
Biography

For 19 years, I played in the Colorado Springs Symphony. My current cozy mystery series is based on those experiences.

Awards/Honors
For "Letting Go with Grace": Finalist and Honorable Mention 2018 Eddie Awards
Education/Training
Bachelor's Degree in Music, Boston University, 1976
Published Works Book Jackets
Image
Ballistics at the Ballet
Organizations
Sisters in Crime
Speaker Availability
Yes
Speaker Topics
Music - Rookie Publishing

Hayden, Laura

Pseudonym
Elle Vaughn
Birth City
Birmingham
Birth State
AL
Current Location
Colorado Springs, CO
Occupation(s)
Author and bookseller
Biography

Brought to the Springs twice thanks to the Air Force, Laura and her family returned for a third time for keeps. Originally from Alabama, she's the author of fourteen novels, and eight short stories/novellas. She also writes as "Elle Vaughn" in collaboration with Yvonne Jocks and Evelyn Vaughn. In addition, she's the owner of Author, Author! and supplies authors with their own books at deep discounts. 

Awards/Honors
Golden Heart Winner, 1993
Education/Training
BS in Industrial Engineering, University of Alabama
Organizations
* Past President and Founder of Pikes Peak Writers
* Ten-time director of the Pikes Peak Writers Conference
* Member, Mystery Writers of America
* Member, Novelists Inc.
* Member and faculty, Superstars Writing Seminars
Speaker Availability
Yes
Speaker Topics
* Creativity: Thinking Outside of the Box
* The Subliminal Writer: Using music to influence your writing
* Reverse Engineering your Suspense/Mystery Plot

Artzberger, Jodi

Artzberger, Jodi
Birth City
Camp Hill
Birth State
PA
Current Location
Colorado Springs, CO
Occupation(s)
Author
Biography

Jodi writes inspirational romantic suspense stories that are Gospel centered and intertwined with God's love and plan of redemption. Her passion for the Word has led her to teach women how to study their Bibles for themselves. She loves living in beautiful Colorado with her wonderful husband, two awesome boys, and rescue dogs. In her spare time, you can find her playing with her latest kitchen gadget and exploring where God has graciously place her in Colorado.

Published Works Book Jackets
Organizations
American Christian Fiction Writers - American Christian Fiction Writers Colorado Springs
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

Miner, Kathy

Miner, Kathy
Birth City
Flint
Birth State
MI
Current Location
Colorado Springs, CO
Occupation(s)
Caregiver - Writer
Biography

Kathy Miner lives in Colorado Springs with her family and her critters. When she isn’t writing or “momming,” she enjoys reading everything from current scientific research to Harry Potter. She also loves hiking in all kinds of weather, especially when she can bully one of her sweet pups into coming along, and she will try her hand at any kind of hand-craft there is. You can learn more about her and her novels on Facebook at Kathy Miner Books, visit her website at www.authorkathyminer.com, or email her at kathyminerwriter@gmail.com.

Awards/Honors
My first book, What Survives of Us, won the National Indie Excellence Award and is a B.R.A.G. Medallion Honoree
Education/Training
I have a B.A. in English with an emphasis in both practical and creative writing.
Published Works Book Jackets
Organizations
Independent Book Publishers Association and Colorado Independent Publishers Association
Speaker Availability
Yes
Speaker Topics
Before I became a caregiver for my adult disabled son, I was a high school English teacher, so I'm able and willing to present on all levels of writing craft, from the basics of story development and the importance of mechanics and grammar, up to more advanced topics like realistic dialogue development and building believable characters. I can also present on the ins and outs of indie publishing, as it pertains to my journey. I would love to do this - I miss the classroom VERY much! :)

Hickey, Barry James

Birth City
Chicago
Birth State
IL
Current Location
Colorado Springs, CO
Occupation(s)
Novelist
Biography

My family moved here from Chicago in 1976. I write novels about ordinary people experiencing life-changing events. I write in all genres of fiction, often influenced by my own extraordinary adventures and infinite imagination. I grew up on the Southside of Chicago in a large, struggling family, working full-time while attending four colleges. I studied Cultural Anthropology, English, Journalism and Theater, eventually earning a B.A. degree in Diversified Studies from the University of Colorado - UCCS in 1982. I later enjoyed a modestly successful career in Hollywood as an actor, writer, and producer in independent films interspersed with stints working for motion picture studio executives. My close friends call me "Hollywood." A cancer survivor, I also write screenplays and original music.

Education/Training
Bachelor of Arts, English, Communications, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs
Published Works Book Jackets
Image
Book cover for Chasing God's River by Barry James Hickey
Image
Book cover for Finding Paul Bunyan by Barry James Hickey
Image
Book cover for The Five Pearls by Barry James Hickey
Image
Book cover for The Glass Fence by Barry James Hickey
Image
Book cover for The Mermaid Latitudes by Barry James Hickey
Image
Book cover for The Pendragon Prophecy by Barry James Hickey
Image
Book cover for Waking Purgatory by Barry James Hickey
Image
Book cover for The Water Lawyer by Barry James Hickey
Speaker Availability
Yes
Speaker Topics
How to develop a story, write it, and publish it.

Bowersox, Jodi

Author Jodi Bowersox
Pseudonym
J. B. Stockings
Birth City
Franklin
Birth State
NE
Current Location
Colorado Springs, CO
Occupation(s)
Author, artist, seamstress
Biography

Jodi Bowersox has never liked being put in a box. Over the course of her life, she has been an actress, seamstress, designer, business owner, homeschool teacher, kid's choir director, and artist, so it's only natural that her writing would take on an eclectic flare as well.

Her romance novels span genres from faith fiction to suspense to time travel to sci fi with small town and big city settings. Several have won awards from the Colorado Book Awards, the Colorado Authors League, and the Colorado Independent Publishers Association. She has also been named a finalist in the American Fiction Awards and the Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Awards.

In addition to novels, she has children's picture books to her credit under the name J.B. Stockings that include her new series of books for birth to three that she calls Sing-a-Story books.

As an award-winning watercolor artist, Jodi specializes in pet portraits and has illustrated a couple of her children’s books herself. A Tale of Two Kitties and Cats feature some of her favorite pets. You can read more about Jodi’s writing and other creative endeavors, as well as read samples of her books, at jodibowersox.com.

Jodi lives in the heart of Colorado Springs with her husband and too many cats where they never get tired of looking at the mountain views.

Education/Training
B.A. in Theater from Sterling College, Sterling KS
Published Works Book Jackets
Organizations
Member of the Colorado Authors League
Speaker Availability
Yes
Speaker Topics
* The Writing Process
* The Editing Process