As a kid, Elizabeth Carroll always loved stories and spent as much time daydreaming as she did playing Barbie with her sister. Because her imaginary friends hung around even when there was nothing more to say, she decided to try her hand at writing and has found great delight and purpose for all the little people in her head. Her published stories are part of a young adult fantasy series, but she also currently has a children's novel in the works as well as a love story and an historical fiction novel. She has been mentored by such talents as Philip Gerard and Clyde Edgerton, and she belongs to WIP, a small and cozy and very talented circle of writers. When she's not writing, she teaches high school English. Currently, she lives in North Carolina with her wonderful husband and gorgeous son.

Originally from New York’s Long Island, Simon moved to North Carolina in 1998 and became a teacher in a low-wealth school system for fifteen years. During that time, he taught middle grades Language Arts to seventh graders and elementary school subjects to fourth and fifth-grade students. He continues to live in the county in which he was an educator.

Dawn R. Taylor is a talented writer and abstract painter whose journey through creativity has been deeply influenced by her vibrant upbringing in Flatbush, a culturally rich neighborhood in Brooklyn, New York. Surrounded by a melange of sights, sounds, and aromas, she found inspiration in the diversity that characterized her surroundings from a young age. This multicultural environment not only fueled her imagination but also cemented her lifelong passion for artistic expression.

At the age of 17, seeking adventure and new experiences, Dawn made a pivotal decision to enlist in the United States Army. The promise of travel to distant lands called to her, and she embraced the opportunity. During her ten-year tenure in the military, she discovered solace in writing. She crafted poetry and short stories, sharing them with her fellow soldiers as a way to connect and uplift their spirits amidst the rigors of service. These early writings became a crucial outlet for her creativity and laid the foundation for her career as a storyteller.

Upon completing her military service, Dawn returned to the bustling streets of New York City, where she enrolled at the Borough of Manhattan Community College. It was during this transformative period that she encountered *Tally’s Corner*, a seminal work by sociologist Elliot Liebow. The poignant exploration of life in a community resonated deeply with her and served as a catalyst for her own writing journey. Inspired, she set up her writing space right in front of a neighborhood deli on the corner of Hudson and Franklin Streets, where she penned her first novel. This spontaneous choice of location, steeped in the energy of her surroundings, further reflects her ability to draw inspiration from the world around her.

Since that defining moment, Dawn has flourished as a writer, producing an impressive array of short stories that explore the intricacies of human experience. Additionally, she is diligently working on two more novels that promise to add to her literary repertoire. Her storytelling captures the essence of her diverse background, weaving narratives that resonate with various audiences.

In parallel to her writing endeavors, Dawn has embraced her passion for painting, creating expressive abstract artworks that mirror the emotional landscapes of her literary creations. Currently, she works from her studio, Artistically Speaking, located in Downtown Durham, North Carolina. The studio, situated at 305 East Chapel Hill Street, serves as a sanctuary for her creative pursuits, allowing her to delve deeper into both her writing and painting.

Dawn R. Taylor’s journey is a testament to the power of creativity and the ways in which life experiences shape artistic expression. Through her multifaceted talents, she continues to explore the intersection of written and visual art, drawing on her rich cultural heritage and personal history. With each new piece she creates, she invites others into her world, sharing stories and colors that reflect the beauty and complexity of life itself. As she forges ahead in her artistic endeavors, there is no doubt that her contributions to literature and art will leave a lasting impact.

Elizabeth Hein writes women’s fiction with a bit of an edge. Her novels explore the role of friendship in the lives of adult women and issues of identity. Her novel, How To Climb The Eiffel Tower, explores the role of friendship in one woman's journey through cancer. Overlook and Escape Plan explore how friendship can lift a woman up, as well as hold her down.

Samantha Bryant believes in love, magic, and unexplainable connections between people. Her favorite things are lonely beaches, untamed cliff tops, sunlight through the leaves of trees, summer rains, and children's laughter. She lives in North Carolina, grew up in Kentucky, and left her heart in Alaska. She is fierce at heart, though she doesn't look it.

She reads poetry and comic books, sometimes on the same day because she contains multitudes.

She writes blogs, poems, essays, and novels. Mostly she writes about things that scare or worry her because writing is a great work to work things out. Someday, she hopes to make her living solely as a writer. In the meantime, she also teaches middle school Spanish, which, admittedly, is an odd choice for money-earning, especially in North Carolina.

When she's not writing or teaching, Samantha enjoys time with her family, watching old movies, baking, reading, and going places. Her favorite gift is tickets (to just about anything).

In the late fifties through the sixties, Rebecca Leanda grew up moving. She went to school in both the eastern and western hemispheres. Young Becky often lived in areas that didn't have niceties like television, but she always had books.


So much moving left Rebecca wondering about people who grew up in one place. It also left her wondering about how to explain how difficult it is to be accepted when you aren't from "around here."


She spent the first part of her adulthood in the Virginia suburbs of the D.C area. Almost two decades ago, she moved to North Carolina. In between, she raised four beautiful children and started writing her own stories. 


She and her partner ended on a farm near Hillsborough, North Carolina. Rebecca has developed a slight southern accent, but is still trying to figure out how to accept things like tomato sandwiches, Brunswick stew, and mowing a yard with a tractor. 


Since moving to the farm, she has had her first bout with poison ivy and wasp stings; and determined that bluebirds like to poop on cars. Rebecca discovered that the black snake is a good snake and spiders make glorious webs on the outside of windows that have just been cleaned. And yes, stink-bugs are real.


But the stars are bright at night and she wouldn't live anywhere else, probably.