Jack Maher

I am a fifth generation Coloradoan, two-book author, and President of the Colorado Authors League. I spent 34 years as a Multimedia Journalist and News Executive for Denver’s KUSA-TV (9NEWS) where my work earned four Emmy awards from the local chapter of the National Academy of Arts & Sciences as well as multiple honors from the Colorado Broadcasters Association and Associated Press.

Carmen Swick

Carmen Swick since 2008 has inspired Young readers through her books and appearances at schools, libraries, book events, and children’s writing conferences. When she’s not writing or connecting with readers, Carmen and Joy spending time outdoors with her family and dogs.

Patti E. Jones

Patti E. Jones is a writer, designer, traveler, and observer. She still believes in magic, chooses joy, loves to laugh, and adores her fur babies. She collects degrees like others collect fine art, and encourages everyone to pursue a craft like art, writing, dance, or anything else that makes their heart sing. Check out her website to learn more and see her fur babies at writingwithfurbabies.com

Tom Radovich

A veteran of working on the front lines of video stores when they still existed, Tom Radovich is a screenwriter who has worked for Blumhouse Productions as an office PA and Kingdom Story Company as a consulting writer. He writes a variety of spec and adapted projects in the genres of horror, comedy, thriller, action, biopic, and drama. He currently lives in Colorado Springs with his wife and Siberian Husky.

Jesse Taylor

Jesse Taylor is a student leader at ACC and a soon-to-be graduate from their Creative Writing transfer program. At ACC I have led the creative writing club for the last few semesters and have served on the award-winning Progenitor Art & Literary Journal editorial staff. 

Joseph Caldera

Joseph Caldera is an independently-published children's author of the Black Walrus books. It is a goofy superhero adventure series about a kid with a radioactive super brain who recruits an army of walruses to fight crime. There are currently two books in the series, with the expected release of the third in March. He has traveled Colorado for various book signings and author visits at local schools.

Susan Rocco-McKeel

Susan Rocco-McKeel, a Poetry Society of Colorado Member since 2013  co-edited PSC’s Centennial Anthology. Susan is a retired attorney, active arbitrator, a founding organizer of the Castle Rock Writers nonprofit, and a member of the Colorado Author’s League. Her short stories and poetry have been published in journals and anthologies, and she is the co-author of two books on Douglas County history published through Arcadia Press.

Jim Brown

James W. Brown is a PIXAR annimator and storyteller known for Enchanted (2007), After Earth (2013) and Priest (2011) 

Polly Holyoke

Polly Holyoke is the award-winning author of the MG sci/fi Neptune Trilogy (Disney/Hyperion) and the MG fantasy series, Skyriders (Viking Children’s Books). A former classroom teacher, Polly has presented at hundreds of schools and believes kids need to read, write, unplug from their gadgets, and spend more time… daydreaming!

Stephanie Lindberg

Stephanie M. Lindberg (she/her) is a writer and instructor at three Colorado Denver Metro Area colleges. She earned her Bachelor's in Journalism from Colorado State University and a Master of Fine Arts in Nonfiction Writing at Antioch University Los Angeles. She enjoys writing about the odd and wonderful, exploring the world, and learning always. 

Olivia D'Zavala

Olivia D'Zavala has spent 25 years nurturing emerging writers as a college English instructor, specializing in composition, literature, and technical writing, with recent publications in Harrow House Journal and Amaranth Journal, the latter marking her debut on the international literary stage. She is a current finalist for a writer’s residency at the 2026 Poets on the Coast conference. Her work, whether fiction or non, mirrors her personal world: dark, subverted, and quietly bold.

AD Uhlar

AD Uhlar is a treasure hunter at heart, seeking out hidden gems in the world and within her own creativity. Her journey began in education. After guiding students to uncover their potential, AD dove into her own creative depths. In November 2019, she wrote a fantasy novel manuscript that led her to pursue an MFA in Writing & received a grant to learn blacksmithing where she forged the sword from her book! When she’s not weaving intricate tales of Ethereal or exploring her Slovak ancestry in fiction, she’s coaching her four children and students in their own creative ventures. 

GiGi New

A finalist for The Disney Fellowship, GiGi began her career as a personal assistant on Everybody Loves Raymond. She moved on to write for the award-winning Nickelodeon series, The Brothers Garcia, as well as the groundbreaking FOX series, The Ortegas.

GiGi returned to write for The Brother’s Garcia reboot - The Garcias - which aired on HBO Max. Her TV show Mercy garnered the attachment of Oscar winner Olivia Colman, as well as Oscar and Emmy winners, Killer Films.

GiGi has developed, optioned, and written numerous features for several studios and independent producers, among them: Disney, Lifetime Television, AGC Studios, and Paulist Productions.

Michele Battiste

Michele Battiste is the author of four poetry collections, including Waiting for the Wreck to Burn, which won the Louise Bogan Award from Trio House Press (2019). Her most recent collection, The Elsewhere Oracle (Black Lawrence Press), doubles as an oracle deck and tells the story of a mountain town lost to time. Michele lives in Lafayette, CO, where she works for The Nature Conservancy, raising money to save the planet. She loves space buns, parlor games, and the bear cam at Katmai National Park.

Sheri Cobb South

Sheri Cobb South is the award-winning author of more than thirty books, including a bestselling mystery series as well as a number of critically acclaimed romances set in England’s elegant Regency period. Her books have been translated into Chinese, Dutch, French, German, and Italian; have been published in large-print editions; and have been recorded for the Library of Congress’s Books for the Blind Program. Her mystery series featuring idealistic young Bow Street detective John Pickett was featured in USA Today’s book blog. She and her husband moved to Colorado from Alabama in 2011.

Marj Charlier

Marj Charlier is the author of eleven novels and three novellas. The Rebel Nun (Blackstone 2021), based on the true story of a nun who led a rebellion in the sixth century, won first place in both fiction and historical fiction from the Colorado Independent Publishers Association awards in 2023. The Candlemaker’s Woman was published by Sunacumen Press in 2024. She has taught memoir and fiction writing workshops at libraries, book festivals and OLLI programs, and has been a board member of several local writers’ guilds and institutes, and enjoyed residencies at the Dorland Mountain Arts Colony and the Vashon Island Artist Residency. Marj began her writing career at daily and mid-size newspapers before joining the Wall Street Journal as a staff reporter in 1984. After twenty years in journalism, she began a second career in corporate finance. She retired in 2013 to write novels.

Taryn Skipper

Taryn Skipper writes for children and adults and has created commissioned portraits and paintings for over a decade. Publications include her YA sci-fi novel, Between Tungsten and Gold (Splinter Press, 2025), picture and activity books for children, short stories, art, and poetry in anthologies; and cover art. She sits on the Board of Directors for the Storymakers Conference and served as President of a literary awards program. She enjoys teaching at several conferences and will present workshops at the Pikes Peak Writers Conferenece in April. She holds a dual degree in philosophy and international studies with an emphasis on formal logic. Outside of writing and art, she loves to travel and hike the beautiful Colorado mountains around her. 

Abe Brown

Cheryl Carpinello

Tales & Legends is my vehicle to give back to readers of all ages, particularly those who have struggled with reading. Through my 25 years of teaching experience with diverse readers, I found Arthurian Legend & stories from the Ancient Worlds draw readers of all abilities.

I write Arthurian Legend for young readers & teens, tales from Egypt & my series Feathers of the Phoenix meld the ancient/medieval worlds with today, & Grandma/Grandpa’s Tales, for the youngest readers building reading skills. 

My books have won a variety of awards: CIPA Evvys, Chanticleers, Mom’s Choice Award Honoree, Most Notable of 2023 Indies, CAL Awards, Readers’ Favorite, Moonbeam Children’s Book

J. Claire

J. Claire, known as the Poet of the Wild, is a multi award-winning poet and author whose debut collection, Revelry, has received national and international recognition for its exploration of nature, identity, and human connection. Her poetry has been featured in Harness Magazine, and she is currently a writer for Colorado Springs Lifestyle magazine.

Born in the heart of Pennsylvania and a native of both coasts, J. Claire began writing poetry in her early teen years. What started as a private practice grew into a lifelong relationship with language—one rooted in listening, noticing, and returning to what feels most true.

She serves as Vice President and Promotions Director for the Colorado Authors League, Poetry Editor for WayWords, and Indie Author Spotlight Writer for The Writer’s Workout. An endurance athlete, traveler, and explorer, J. Claire writes poetry as both mirror and medicine, offering language that illuminates the wild landscapes, both inner and outer, that shape the human spirit.

M.J. Evans

M.J. Evans is the award-winning author of twenty-six published works spanning middle-grade, young adult, and adult fiction, as well as a selection of picture books. She is the recipient of the 2024 Colorado Authors League Lifetime Achievement Award. Her writing often explores themes centered around horses and equine fantasy, reflecting a lifelong passion for these remarkable animals. A graduate of Oregon State University and a former educator with experience teaching both middle and high school students, Ms. Evans brings both educational insight and storytelling flair to her work. She resides in beautiful Colorado with her husband, Tom, where they enjoy the company of their horses and standard poodle. She is the proud mother of five and grandmother of thirteen.