Mountain of Authors 2026
Join us for the 2026 Mountain of Authors program, featuring keynote speaker and author Randi Samuelson-Brown, plus over 80 local authors at the Local Author Showcase.
Mountain of Authors provides an opportunity for readers and local authors to connect and offers participants the opportunity to learn more about writing and trends in publishing. All are welcome at this no-cost event and registration is only required for the writing workshops.
Sat., May 16, noon - 5 p.m.
at the Venue in Library 21c
- Noon – Local Author Showcase and Tween Writing Workshop
- 1 p.m. – Panel Discussion for USA250/CO150 - Reading and Writing History: Celebrating Colorado and the American West featuring Gail Beaton, Antonio Farias, and Cynthia Swanson
- 2 p.m. – Local Author Showcase, Teen Poetry Performance Workshop
- 3 p.m. – Keynote Address, followed by audience Q&A
- 4 p.m. – Book signing and Local Author Showcase
Keynote Speaker
Randi Samuelson-Brown
Randi Samuelson-Brown is originally from Golden, Colorado but now lives in the rollicking city of Denver. A passion for Colorado history was instilled by her father from childhood, and to this day she feels haunted by the West’s lesser-known histories (the dark side) and their long-reach into the present. The Bad Old Days of Colorado: Untold Stories of the Wild West (Two Dot 2020), her first non-fiction, was a finalist in the 2021 Colorado Book Awards in History and was featured on C-SPAN. THE WESTERN HORSE: A Popular History of the Wild and Working Animal is a 2025 Finalist for the Western Writers of America’s prestigious SPUR Award.
When not writing, in her free time Randi can be found riding horses and traveling around Colorado and the West, finding inspiration from people, places, and whispers from the past.
Mountain of Authors Panelists
Gail Beaton
Gail M. Beaton is a retired public-school teacher and former community college instructor. Gail earned a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Colorado Boulder and master's degrees in United States history and public history from the University of Colorado Denver. She is the author of Colorado Women: A History and Colorado Women in World War II. With Dr. Thomas J. Noel, she co-authored The Women’s Bank: A Denver Success Story. As a member of the Colorado Humanities History Speakers Bureau, Gail regularly presents her “Gail Murphy: Colorado’s “Rosie the Riveter” character to a variety of audiences. She is the president of the Denver Woman’s Press Club and holds membership in Women Writing the West, the Western History Association, and the Denver Posse of the Westerners. Her new book, Colorado Women Homesteaders, will be published in spring 2026.
Antonio Farias
Antonio Farias has an MFA in creative writing from the University of California, Riverside-Palm Desert. His work has been published in Sudden Fiction Latino (W. W. Norton, 2010), Chicken Soup for the Latino Soul, Latino Boom, Urban Latino Magazine, Tilde, and Bilingual Review. He lives, works, and plays in Denver, Colorado. In The Company of Wolves, his debut YA novel, was published September 9, 2025, by Arte Público Press.
Cynthia Swanson
Cynthia Swanson is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the psychological suspense novels The Bookseller, The Glass Forest, Anyone But Her, and the forthcoming short story collection This Isn’t New: Women’s Historical Stories. Cynthia was named 2025 Indie Author of the Year by the Indie Author Project, has received the Colorado Book Award (twice) and the WILLA Literary Award, won the Indie Author Project contest, and been a finalist for the High Plains Book Award, the WILLA Literary Award, and the CAL Award. Her work has been translated into up to 18 languages and optioned for film by Julia Roberts’s production company, Red Om. Cynthia is also the editor of the award-winning anthology Denver Noir. She lives with her family in Denver.
Workshops
Writing Workshop for Tweens – noon
Learn what it takes to be a writer in this interactive, hands-on writing workshop hosted by local author Roxanne Troup. Tweens will learn how to find their story and the process of revision through fun feedback activities. Registration is required. Ages 9 - 12.
Award-winning author, ghostwriter, and speaker, Roxanne Troup writes children's books that celebrate wonder in all its forms—from the wonder of nature to the wonder of relationships—and can be used in the classroom. Roxanne grew up along the waterways of Missouri, surrounded by farmland and legends. Her childhood home, built in the late 1800s, was visited by members of Jessie James-Cole Younger gang and full of stories about hidden passageways, underground tunnels, and false floors. In that house, she learned to read and create her own wonder-filled stories. Today, Roxanne lives in the mountains of Colorado but still loves old houses and history. She is the author of over 70 books for kids, including My Grandpa, My Tree, and Me (which was named Book of the Year by the Ag Foundation), Reaching for the Stars: A Mission to Space (a Space Foundation Small Steps - Giant Leap read aloud), and Happy Birthday, America! When not writing, Roxanne loves hiking with her family, gazing at stars, and exploring our amazing world through stories. With a background in education, she often visits schools to water seeds of literacy and inspire the next generation of explorers and storytellers.
Poetry Performance Workshop for Teens – 2 p.m.
Join local poet Arthur Bellfield as he takes you through the process of finding your voice through poetry and the different performance techniques used when sharing your work. In this workshop, teens will create their own poetry and have the option to put their performance skills into practice. Registration is required. Ages 13 - 18
Arthur Bellfield is a life coach, poetic wellness facilitator, and the founder of the Colorado Springs Poetry Slam. He is known for transforming lived experience into healing frameworks that help people reclaim their voice, rebuild their confidence, and reconnect with their inner power. Through his work with Poetic Wellness, Arthur blends storytelling, mindfulness, and trauma-informed practice to create spaces where creativity becomes a pathway to resilience and liberation.
As a community leader, he has built one of Colorado Springs’ most vibrant platforms for spoken word—an inclusive stage where poets, newcomers, and seasoned artists alike can be seen, heard, and celebrated. Arthur’s workshops and coaching sessions have empowered individuals across diverse backgrounds to step into their truth with courage and clarity.
He’s written a novel, Ghetto to Coffee Shop, along with several comic books including Tainted Love, War’s Chosen, and more. He has also published a volume of poetry.
Presenting Sponsor
2025 – Pete McBride
Photo by Aaron Colussi
2024 – Adrian Miller
2023 – Alan Prendergast
2022 – Craig Johnson
Photo by Investigation Discovery - Stephanie Diana
2021 – Joe Kenda
