Marc L. Abbott is an award-winning author of Hell at the Way Station and the sequel Hell at Brooklyn Tea. His short fiction is featured in Blackened Roots, The Chaos Clock, A Woman Unbecoming, Even in the Grave, Under Twin Suns and New York State of Fright.

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Mason makes artwork to tell stories, to capture the beauty, the oddity, the rich lovely weirdness of existing. The conversations and connections of humans with ourselves and one another, and with this crazy wild beautiful world we inhabit drive him to capture that essence, that profound spark of being, always reaching for the ineffable. Always important is the desire to cause, to convey, to catalyze emotion in the viewer. Mason studied art at UGA, earning a BFA.

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Christina Barber is an award-winning author specializing in dark speculative fiction. Since 2005 she has worked with small press publishers and has three books published, as well as several short stories. Published books include Spirits of Georgia’s Southern Crescent (Non-Fiction, August 2008), Seely’s Pond (Dark Urban Fantasy, April 2008), and Greystone (Paranormal Thriller, Romance, 2005). Her novel, Greystone, won a Dream Realm Award for 'Best Speculative Romance' in 2006. When she’s not writing, Christina is the chief wrangler for a husband, young adult daughter, three dogs and one cat. She’s also the manager of her two chronic illnesses.

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Catherine Barson Eastis is the content creator behind The Gluttonous Geek, a blog and YouTube channel exploring the bridge between food and fiction with recipes based on books, film, and video and tabletop games. A game designer and a recipe developer, her work can be found in The Word Refinery’s Spelljammer Cookbook, as well as her 5th-ed compatible adventure/cookbook, Breakfast of Champions.

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Julia Benson-Slaughter has so many (figurative) hats that it’s hard to remember which one she’s wearing at any given time. Maker, writer, tech geek, storyteller, pyromaniac, drummer, research guru, and cat slave are the ones she wears most frequently since her retirement from teaching computer science at the local community college. As one of the collaborators in the Chronicles of the Multiverse world, she has authored or co-authored six books to date. As the purple-haired creator of Noctua Designs’ eclectic chainmaille, metal, and glass jewelry, she works to satisfy the magpie in all of us. She's also rather prone to shenanigans.

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Kris Bird loves captivating conversations, S’mores, petting moss, and curing other people’s boredom. With over a decade of combined knowledge in the publishing industry, and two 5-star books, Kris is set to release the ultimate Sci-Fi series, "TIME BENDERS,” this year. (Back to the Future and X-men fans will both swoon!) Kris has made it her mission in life to feed the insatiably curious, and get women excited about the Sci-Fi genre.

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Judy Black is a writer who makes her home in Atlanta, Ga. She loves games, books, cats, and most things with caffeine. She's an Ennie-nominated writer of Dungeons and Dragons modules.

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Claudia Blood crafts mystical realms and futuristic worlds, where underdogs challenge authority, conquer demons, and find their destined families amidst chaos. From a research scientist to the world of IT development and then on to an award-winning author, her passion for urban fantasy shines in works like Renegades Rising, Relic Saga, Merged series, and the Supernatural Detective Agency. Juggling roles as a wife, mom, technical business analyst, and pet wrangler, Claudia fills her rare free moments with crafting sci-fi and urban fantasy novels inspired by Dungeons & Dragons, The Dresden Files, and Dragon Riders of Pern, and more.

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An unapologetic extrovert, science fiction and fantasy author Sara T. Bond is the author of the space opera GRAVITY'S HEIR, and SUMMER’S BLOOD and WINTER’S STING, the first two books in the Iron and Earth urban fantasy series from Falstaff books. She has lived many lives, dabbling in academia, politics, and even a short, lucrative career in high-end fashion retail. Born and raised in Atlanta, Sara now lives in Seattle with her husband and two. Catch her on TikTok or visit her website at www.saratbond.com for her latest projects, essays, and even a book review and cocktail pairings blog series.

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Amy Brewer-Davenport is an award winning fantasy artist and lifelong con-goer, always looking for new inspiration or ways to inspire others to create. Through her work she emphasizes whimsy through color, texture, and chance. Along with her studio practice she teaches creativity workshops in multiple mediums.

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Sydney Brianna is an award-winning Erotic Romance Indie who published her first novel in 2019. When she is not writing, Sydney is mom and wife, a gardener, a crafter of soaps and lotions, and a volunteer in her community. Sydney writes Paranormal Fantasy and Contemporary Erotimance featuring mature, diverse characters and strong heroines. She loves found family and good vs. evil stories, and of course, steamy romance reads that stir all the feels.

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Kenneth Broome, Jr. is a big blerd at heart. He is currently a professor now living in Southwest Georgia. He loves speculative fiction and uses it in his classes as much as possible, including using the exploration of monsters as a main topic. Kenneth also works as an editor of fantasy and urban fiction and is an assistant editor for BlackNerdProblems, a website that discusses nerd culture from a Black perspective.

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Ariel, a D.C. area native and dyslexic, is an award winning internationally published digital painter. Her dedicated fans love her hyper-realistic style and hidden references beginning with her work as an Official Wheel of Time artist. Her publications include: “Stan Lee’s How to Draw Comics,” several anthologies, and also the “The Wheel of Time Companion.” Ariel won a Geeky award for “best licensed toy/product” for her Wheel of Time playing cards deck and numerous best in show and judges choice awards exhibiting her fantasy work at conventions. In 2023 she was Guest Artist of Honor at Balticon 57. Currently she is focused on her Patreon community, creating original works of dragons, fairies, vampires, mermaids and even a dragon riding a bunny.

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Tyra Burton side-hustles as a social media strategist and writes about digital marketing. She is a multiple-award-winning professor at Kennesaw State University where she teaches about social media, entertainment marketing, and gender and sexuality in pop culture. Her passions include dark chocolate, Star Wars, Disney, and her fur babies. She co-authored Penduli Station, a sci-fi romance, and is currently working on a light-hearted fantasy, a new social media book, and her podcast, Geek Meets Social. Tyra and her husband live happily in their house in the woods with their three socially-engaging fur babies.

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Jessica Cage is an International Award Winning and USA Today Bestselling Author of speculative fiction and urban fantasy novels. The author of 38 fiction titles, she continues to produce stories that give representation to marginalized communities in fantasy landscapes.

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Dana Cameron writes across many genres, but especially crime and speculative fiction. Her work, inspired by her career in archaeology, has won multiple Anthony, Agatha, and Macavity Awards, and has been nominated for the Edgar Award. Dana's Emma Fielding archaeology mysteries appear on Hallmark's Movies & Mysteries Channel. Her latest book is a thriller: Exit Interview (an a.k.a. Jayne novel) is available now. Anna Hoyt, a noir novel set in 1740s Boston, is forthcoming. When she's not traveling or visiting museums, she's usually spinning, weaving, and yelling at the TV about historical inaccuracies.

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Ashley Chappell writes satire and fantasy featuring expansive world-building and universes filled with magic, mayhem, and monsters. Upcoming releases include A Mother of Gods: Dreams of Chaos Book 4 and Harrowers: Lucifer’s Hawk, a gritty adventure in which Hell is a job for life. Or rather, a job for the afterlife. Ms. Chappell currently resides in North Alabama where she works at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. When not writing or reading a Terry Pratchett or Brandon Sanderson novel, she can be found working alongside her husband building their off-grid, semi-underground dream home in the foothills of the Appalachians.

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Paige L. Christie is originally from Maine and now lives in the NC mountains. Best known for her Legacies of Arnan fantasy series (#1 Draigon Weather), her work can also be found in several anthologies, including Galactic Stew, Witches Warriors & Wise Women, Passages(Valdemar #14), Boundaries(Valdemar #15), and Shenanigans(Valdemar #16). When she isn’t writing, Paige runs a non-profit soup kitchen and food pantry, walks her dog too early in the morning, and is teaching herself to crochet (badly). She is a proud, founding member of the Blazing Lioness Writers.

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Gerald L. Coleman is a philosopher, theologian, poet, and Science Fiction & Fantasy author. He’s been a Scholastic National Writing Juror, is a Co-founder of the Affrilachian Poets, an SFWA member, a Rhysling Award Nominee, a Fellow at the Black Earth Institute, and a Guest author at the University of Kentucky, Centre College, Transylvania University, Western Carolina University, UNC Charlotte, Florissant College, Kenyon College, and Randolph College. His newest releases include a SF&F short story collection, From Earth and Sky, and a collection of poems and micro-essays entitled, On the Black Hand Side.

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Joe Compton is an Indie Author of The Duality of Truth Crime Trilogy, and the coming soon Epic Fantasy Series Fragility. He is also an Indie Filmmaker that’s worked on over 40+ independent TV an dFilm productions in 5 different countries, Joe worked 18 months as a Script Doctor/Consultant in Hollywood and as an instructor at the Speculative Fiction Academy teaching different Screenwriting classes. Since 2106 Joe runs the Online Network Go Indie Now, which highlights, supports, and promotes Indie Artists of all art disciplines through various shows that air on a weekly, monthly, and seasonal basis.

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A Los Angeles based Propmaster and Film Historian, Michael is best known from his social media platform "Props To History" through which he shares the stories of how the magic of Hollywood is made. An entertainment industry professional for 10 years, with work on both stage and screen. Working on productions such as Paramount’s "Babylon" and Netflix's "Bridgerton" and CBS's "Magnum PI" to name a few. Prior to the film industry Michael spent nearly 2 decades as an Aviation Maintenance Engineer, going from turning wrenches to making movies nearly overnight.

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M’Shai S. Dash is a poet, author, speaker, and aspiring cat owner from Washington, D.C. Her series, Quirky Black Sci-Fi Tales, has been lauded as a sci-fi thrill ride full of dystopian futures, alien tech, and memorable heroines. “Fumes,” a story from the second book in the saga, is currently being adapted into a comic book series. Dash lives on the east coast with her son, plants, and indie comic book collection.

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Kevin A Davis is a contemporary fantasy author with three published series including the Khimmer Chronicles, the AngelSong series, and his latest, the paranormal procedural DRC Files, where the adept Kristen is quick to use her magic and her wits. Residing in north Florida, he attends conventions throughout the southeastern US as a speaker, vendor, or a nerdy fan. Additionally, he publishes anthologies as InkdPub.

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Milton J. Davis is an award winning Black Speculative fiction author and owner of MVmedia, LLC, a small publishing company specializing in Science Fiction, Fantasy based on African/African Diaspora history, cultures and traditions. He’s the author of thirty novels and short story collections and has been publishing in various publications, such as Black Panther: Tales of Wakanda, Slay: Stories of the Vampire Noire, and The Year’s Best African Speculative Fiction 2022. His publications have been nominated for various awards, including the Pushcart Award and the British Science Fiction Association Award for short fiction.

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Thom, a friendly neighborhood nerd, is the co-host of of Dragonmount’s weekly YouTube content. His alter ego FeltThom is co-host on LeafCast. A staple volunteer at Cons- he has been volunteering for local ATL cons since 2009! While not on his quest to indoctrinate new generations into Wheel of Time, he’s been a guest speaker at colleges on Sci-Fi/Fantasy panels and hosted a premiere in LA for Prime Video’s The Wheel of Time. When not talking books, Thom spends his time playing D&D, woodworking, protesting for human rights, and petting the three cats that are kindly allow him and his wife to live in their home.

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Melanie C. Duncan, MLS, is Head of Collections & Acquisitions for Middle Georgia Regional Library System, Macon, GA. In addition to surviving story times and wild Eclipse programs, she’s reviewed hundreds of titles for Library Journal (Romance Reviewer of the Year, 2019), and other publications, covering genres and heat levels from inspirational fiction to erotica. She judges book contests, volunteers for DragonCon’s Diversity in Speculative Fiction Track, and is addicted to subscription book boxes, web comics, and fandom enamel pins. Ask her anything about books, libraries, and depression/anxiety/ADHD to help #EndTheStigma against openly discussing mental health.

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Dr. David Ekrut is a novelist and journalist with a broad range of expertise in mathematics, science, and medicine. In addition to writing top-selling fantasy novels, he has earned a doctorate in biomedical mathematics and has post-doctoral publications for his work in biomedical engineering. His scientific background aids in developing balanced magic systems and believable worlds, in which his readers can become fully immersed in the story and fall in love with his characters. Ekrut believes storytelling is not about lying well, but rather a means to open a reader's perspective so they become complicit with altered truths.

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Kelley M. Frank is a horror artist, author, and reviewer. She has appeared in a number of horror anthologies including Slice Girls. She’s also completed interior art and/or lettering for books such as the Georgia Gothic anthology, Zealot by C. Vonzale Lewis, and The Wolves of Kanta series by Marlena Frank. She specializes in creepy watercolor, acrylic, resin, jewelry, and ink illustration, as well as book cover lettering and mixed media expressing her emotional states. She’s also an asexual witch, Horror Writer’s Association Affiliate, and an outspoken advocate for the strange and unusual.

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Marlena Frank is the author of young adult fantasy and horror novels, including several books that have hit the bestseller lists. Readers’ Favorite has praised several of her books with 5-star reviews. The Reader’s House featured her work in March 2024, and De Mode of Literature Magazine in November 2021. A Georgia native, she has been writing and publishing short fiction since 2010. She has various professional memberships, including the Atlanta chapter of the Horror Writers Association and the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association. She enjoys cosplay, gaming, and spoiling her adopted cats.

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Liam is one of the leaders of Metro Atlanta Geeks. He manages the Facebook presence of Metro Atlanta Geeks, building the policy and structure of the group around one word: “Community.” He has worked to make the group a place all kinds of people can come together and positively revel in their respective and collective geekdoms. He is also an avid gamer of 30+ years of experience, having played and run too many game systems to really count. Liam is currently an active member, former leadership member, and GM of the Atlanta branch of Paizo’s Pathfinder Society.

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Jason Gilbert is an author and film critic best known for his action-packed and often irreverent Coldstone Case Files series and his dark Urban Fantasy/Alternate History Clockworks of War series.

Jason streams on Twitch as Failflix with OhHaiMark and TheGreyCat on Terrible Movies with Wonderful People. His influences include horror cinema, bloody video games, dark beer, and heavy metal music.

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Sara’s interest in jewelry design started at a very young age, but her career began with a job at a bead store in Tuscaloosa, AL. Access to other artists and a wealth of materials allowed her to develop her personal style as well as the skills to realize her designs. An interest in textile techniques such as weaving, knitting, and crochet heavily influenced her design aesthetic. She was able to refine some of these textile techniques into jewelry applications thanks, in part, to a workshop at the Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts. Her day jobs as a bookseller and then librarian provided an entirely new source of inspiration in the books she works with.

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Aspiring word wizard Rob Gilmore (writing as Rob Grimoire) is a father, husband, nurse, published author, musician, and fan of all things SFF (well, not all things, but most). As one of the co-hosts and founders of the podcast Glitchy Pancakes, and assistant director at MultiverseCon in Atlanta, his main goal is to share his love for stories with the world. His current story “Regalia” is published with Manawaker Flash Fiction Podcast, he has a working novella project with Crone Girl Press, and a short story soon to be featured in MVmedia’s Funk anthology series “Spacefunk!” whose Kickstarter will be live 6/19/24. He was also a professional guest author at JordanCon 2024.

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Marc Gunn fuses Irish and Scottish music with pop culture. It's rhythm & folk autoharp with rock personality packed with Geek fun. Laugh and sing along with Sci F'Irish music! 

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Despite not completing algebra in highschool, R.M. Hamrick escaped Georgia Tech with a degree in Biomedical Engineering, which she uses mostly to invest time and money into broken appliances before throwing them away. Her published works include the zombie-steeped sister saga The Chasing trilogy, and the wacky all-female space opera, Atalan Adventures. Hamrick lives in Lakeland, Florida where alligators and flesh-eating bacteria roam freely. The city recently named ‘pub subs’ as its official currency. Hamrick is currently equipped with a tantrum-throwing Redfoot tortoise, too many board games, and an affinity for odd numbers. Follow her on Patreon and TikTok.

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Keira is a queer, nerdy personal trainer with a passion for sharing their knowledge, tools, and anecdotes to help others improve themselves. Their classes are trauma informed, built to be flexible for the audience, and empowering. When not lifting heavy weights and putting them back down, they are playing board games, watching Doctor Who, or reading.

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Isabelle Hardesty writes stories about people doing magical things and kicking butt. She writes for all readers, and people like her, who didn’t see themselves in their favorite fantasy adventures growing up. She is the author of The Witch of Belle Fleur, which is part of her book series, The Destroyer Witch Chronicles. Isabelle Hardesty is also the author of The Delacourt Shapeshifter trilogy, Sea Witch High duology, and Viola the Vampire Witch duology. She lives with her husband and family in Atlanta.

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Ris Harp (they/them) is a disabled multiethnic artist, writer, performer, and YouTuber from Durham, NC. They create fantasy art in various forms influenced by Deaf culture, disability, street art, and Shakespeare.

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John G. Hartness is an author, publisher, and editor from Charlotte, NC. He is the author of multiple series, including the award-winning Quincy Harker, Demon Hunter series. He is also the publisher of Falstaff Books, and founder of the SAGA Genre Fiction Writers’ Conference.

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Wanda Harward is a member of The Charlotte Geeks, assisting Joey Starnes and Carol Cowles with Geek Gala, The Geekery Market, and other shenanigans as required. Her geeky interests include anime, filk music, renaissance faires, and gaming (online and tabletop). She runs a twice monthly D&D 5e group presently. She has been attending cons off and on since the 80’s, and consistently since 2006. Professionally, Wanda is a retired social worker, current tarot reader and life coach. She has been reading Tarot for over 2​5​ years​. She has been a tarot reader for many events and locations, including Carolina Renaissance Festival, ​The Geekery Market​,​ various cons, and professional events.

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Ever since he was old enough to read, M. Haynes has been afflicted with the geek bug. From ATLA to Zelda, the world of fantasy has always intrigued M. Haynes, and as an adult he has made a career out of pretty much living the genre. When he is not moonlighting as an academic or professor he can be found residing on Earth 1914 writing, playing video games, or watching any number of video essays.

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Eric is an Atlanta artist, comedian, and co-host of The Goblin’s Corner. Eric has been performing since he was old enough to speak and has carried this into every creative format, from various improv and live acts, to sketch comedy and gaming. With 30 plus years of running various tabletop games, he has extensive knowledge of both the industry and the performance art of storytelling overall. Eric can be seen in the wild building false idols to Godzilla, drinking coffee with abandon, and rolling 20 sided dice wherever fine products are sold.

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Emily Huffman is a fantasy author, weaving multiple fantasy stories into an immersive secondary world you can get lost in. Before becoming an author, she worked in fraud—but now she leaves stopping the bad guys to her characters. If she’s not writing, you might find her cosplaying at various conventions, playing Dungeons and Dragons, or playing video games/board games!

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Hugh “H.D.” Hunter is a storyteller, teaching artist, and community organizer from Atlanta, Georgia. He's the winner of several international indie book awards for multicultural fiction. You can find his work online in Porter House Review. Hugh is also the author of the Futureland series, including Battle for the Park, which was named to the American Library Association’s 2024 Core List for Excellence in Science Fiction, as well as being honored as a Georgia Center for the Book 2023 Book All Young Georgians Should Read. The Futureland sequels, The Nightmare Hour and The Architect Games released in 2023 and 2024. Hugh has served as both a moderator and panelist at FIYAHCON. He’s a “cocoa” founder of the Voodoonauts Summer Fellowship, and his teaching credits include Clarion West Online, Catapult, and a Writer-in-Residence position with the PEN/Faulkner Foundation. Hugh is committed to stories about Black kids and their many expansive worlds.

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Robyn Huss is a freelance editor who specializes in heavy developmental and copy editing. She has spent a lifetime analyzing fiction and writing; she taught literature and writing for more than thirty years in grades six through college, and she has been editing professionally since 2013. She has edited for several Multiverse authors and is a contracted editor for Inkd Publishing, a Multiverse sponsor. Visit her WEBSITE to learn more about Robyn and see samples of her work.

Tiara Janté is a multi-genre author of spec-fic from Pennsylvania. Her work centers Hoodoofuturism; a sub-genre she coined to describe the spiritual legacies and traditions of Black Americans in literature. Living in metro-Atlanta with her children, her greatest inspirations, Tiara’s stories challenge the conventional, as she aims to celebrate the beauty of Black narratives with vibrancy and depth.

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Calley Jones remembers the distinct moment, around age five, when she realized that someone actually wrote all those books she loved; a quarter-century later, she hasn't looked back. There was that detour when she pursued a PhD in molecular biology, but her stint in academia led her right back to her keyboard with a million new stories to tell. Writing about science by day and strange worlds by night, Calley publishes serials on Kindle Vella spanning from cozy fantasy to psychological horror. She is a devoted dog parent and lover of sea turtles fueled by iced tea and terrible jokes.

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Rhonda Jackson Garcia, AKA RJ Joseph, is an award winning, Stoker Award™ and Shirley Jackson Award nominated, Texas based academic and creative writer/professor/editor. She has had works published in various applauded venues. Rhonda is also an instructor at The Speculative Fiction Academy and the co-host of the Genre Blackademia podcast. She is also working with Raw Dog Screaming Press, editing a new novella line, The Selected Papers for the Study of Anomalous Phenomena.

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Kiernan’s books of GLBT romance span diverse genres including thriller, contemporary, humor, science fiction, and paranormal. Her career began in 2005, and she has over one hundred titles to her credit to date in a variety of themes. Her latest series, DRAGON ISLANDS, is a dragon-shifter-MPEG. Kiernan also writes horror, including the short stories THE HOLE and DOLLY. Under her Dakota Chase pen name, Kiernan writes young adult and middle-reader GLBT fiction, which includes the popular MAD ABOUT THE HATTER series, the REPEATING HISTORY series, and EVERY WITCH WAY.

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Darin Kennedy, doctor-by-day and novelist-by-night, writes and practices medicine in Charlotte, NC. Works include his Fugue & Fable trilogy: The Mussorgsky Riddle, The Stravinsky Intrigue, and The Tchaikovsky Finale; The Pawn Stratagem trilogy: Pawn’s Gambit, Queen’s Peril, and King’s Crisis; the Songs of the Ascendant series: Shadows of the Night, All Fired Up, and You Better Run; his YA novel, Carol; and The April Sullivan Chronicles.

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Emily Leverett is a writer, editor, and English professor. She writes the modern fantasy series the Eisteddfod Chronicles with fellow medievalist Sarah Adams. She also writes the paranormal historical romance the Wolf and the Nun based on the life and poems of Marie de France. Her scholarship focuses on popular medievalism, including Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman, and on the use of medieval tropes by the Las Vegas Golden Knights NHL team. She lives in NC with her spouse and four cats.

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Seth Lockhart, also known on the gramz as "Cosmernaut", is a local Atlanta self proclaimed "cosparty-er". Seth can be found usually working on his assorted hobbies at home with his two corgis, Lyanna Morepaw and Toph Barkfong. Many of his hobbies are sewing, 3D printing, tufting rugs, and coming up with crazy crossover cosplay ideas. He is known to frequently haunt JordanCon as their Fantasy Track Director and DragonCon as a cosplayer and a panelist. Seth likes to moderate panels on multiple subjects including Brandon Sanderson's Cosmere, Game of Thrones, Witcher, and other High-Fantasy series. If you see Seth in the hallways please make sure to say hello and give him a high-five!

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Kyoko M is the author of The Black Parade urban fantasy series and the Of Cinder and Bone science-fiction series. The Black Parade has been reviewed by Publishers Weekly and New York Times bestselling author Ilona Andrews. Of Cinder and Bone placed in the Top 30 Books in Hugh Howey's 2021 Self Published Science Fiction Contest. Kyoko M has appeared as a guest and panelist at such conventions as Geek Girl Con, DragonCon, Blacktasticon, Momocon, JordanCon, and MultiverseCon. She is also a contributor to Marvel Comics' Black Panther: Tales of Wakanda (2021) anthology as well as the Captain America: The Shield of Sam Wilson (2024) anthology.

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Misty Massey is the author of the Mad Kestrel series of rollicking fantasy adventures on the high seas and the upcoming Dead Man series. She freelances as a copy and developmental editor for Falstaff Books and Mocha Memoirs Press, and serves as the programming director for the SAGA Writing Conference. Misty is a cast member on the Authors & Dragons actual play D&D podcast and a member of the Shenanigators writing cooperative.

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Bob McGough is an author, podcaster, and indie tabletop game designer from south Alabama. As an author he has been published by a number of small presses in a range of genres, from steampunk to horror. He is best known as the author of his ‘Rural’ Urban Fantasy series, the Jubal County Saga. He teaches a number of classes and workshops on various aspects of the business of writing. He has freelanced for a number of tabletop and video games, as well as publishing his own small ttrpgs. He is the host/cohost for a number of book based podcasts.

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Atlanta native, Violette Meier, is a happily married mother, writer, and folk artist who earned her B.A. in English at Clark Atlanta University and a MDiv at the Interdenominational Theological Center. She is also a certified herbalist, a chaplain, and an educator. The great-granddaughter of a dream interpreter, Violette is a lover of all things supernatural. Her eerie and unpredictable paranormal, fantasy, and horror stories recreate myths and legends and fashion new folklore. Violette is always working on something fresh. To learn more about Violette, her books, and her eerie antics, visit her

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Jess, aka That ModernMombie, is a genealogist and paranormal enthusiast based in Western North Carolina. She combines her interests by investigating abandoned cemeteries using genealogy and historical records in her paranormal research. Jess is a volunteer with the Catawba County Historical Association, gaining access to local history and genealogy information. Her aim is to separate fact from fiction in paranormal events by using her critical thinking skills. Jess is passionate about uncovering the truth and is a valuable asset to any investigation. She is always seeking new ways to learn and grow, whether it be delving into the past or exploring the unknown.

YOUTUBE

Marshall J. Moore is the award-winning author of the Rites of Resurrection trilogy of high fantasy novels, the pirate cozy fantasy Son of a Sailor and its sequel Prisoners of a Pirate Queen, the illustrated children’s book Postcards from a Lake Monster, and over thirty published short stories. He has appeared as a guest on panels at several conventions, including Dragon Con, ApollyCon, Multiverse, and JordanCon. When not writing or talking about writing, you can find Marshall teaching Muay Thai at his gym or reading at his home in Atlanta with his wife Megan and their two cats.

Taylor Munsell, author of Touch of Death, has a passion for telling magical stories about prickly girls. When not writing, you can find Taylor eating a snack, reading a book, or trying to go on an adventure (both in game and IRL).

When Nikki was in sixth grade, she wrote and performed a play, The Hunt for Bigfoot, and later created the Monster Hunter’s Club which entered a cryptozoology exhibit, the first of its kind, in the annual school fair. It won an honorable mention. As an adult, she lived in Budapest, Hungary where she walked in the footsteps of Vlad Dracula and Elizabeth Bathory, looked for Djinn in spirit caves of Oman, and was a member of one of the first paranormal investigation teams to spend the night at the Villisca Axe Murder House. It’s important to understand that it took Nikki Nelson-Hicks a lifetime to get this weird. And now, she uses this love of the strange and all her arcane and mostly inappropriate knowledge to spin her tales of the warped and weird. So, have a seat. Make yourself a drink and get comfortable. She has so many stories to tell. 

James P. Nettles is a sci-fi, fantasy, and nonfiction author, technology speaker & consultant, teaches workshops on business for creatives, and is a founder of the Con-Tinual online convention and host of the Creating Pros podcast.

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Jessica Nettles, author of The Children of Menlo Park: The Thrilling Supernatural Adventures of Kate Warne, Lady Detective has a passion for history, steampunk, and Southern peculiarities. Her short fiction has been featured in Off the Beaten Path 4, Georgia Gothic, A Woman Unbecoming, Lonely Hollows,League of Monsters, and A Magnificent Display of Marvelous Wonders, the Jordancon anthology for 2024. Her next novel, Kudzu Ridge, is in progress. She lives north of Atlanta, GA. For crafts, cats, and future appearances, visit her website and social media.

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Rey Nichols, a native of the Midwest, is the love child of an Eldritch horror with more apostrophes than letters in its name and the front person of a forgotten 80’s rock band she can’t quite remember the name of. Only two degrees away from Kevin Bacon, when Rey is not busy trying to evade capture from monster hunters, she spends her time writing urban fantasy and sci-fi detective noir.

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Jeffrey Nix is a fantasy author, scientist, and national champion martial artist with a master’s degree in applied psychology. He has studied creativity, motivation, habits, and skill acquisition. His master’s degree was used to optimize his writing process. Impractical Magic has been ranked at # 14 on Top Web fiction Guide and top 200 of all time at various points. His academic background also helped to accelerate his training. Jeffrey has earned ranks in seven martial arts and studied many more. His current writing projects work to represent neuro-diverse characters and are motivated by rational fiction, and progression fantasy.

Dee Norman is the author of Burn a Black Candle: An Italian American Grimoire (Watkins, 2022) and was a contributor to Llewellyn’s Complete Book of North American Folk Magic (Llewellyn 2023). She is also a freelance writer and ghostwriter of fiction and nonfiction and is currently writing two nonfiction books on magic. As a professional card reader of 27 years, she serves an international clientele. Throughout the past 20 years, she has been creating oracle decks and presenting workshops about a variety of magical topics. Welcome some magic into your life by following her work.

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Hailing from Ghana, Kobe's passion for art blossomed in his early years. Influenced by nature's vivid hues and the intricacies of human feelings, he set out on a creative journey spanning various artistic forms. Blending classical and contemporary art, Kobe fuses traditional oil painting methods with cutting-edge augmented reality elements. His art mirrors his introspective nature and his delve into the human mind. With a relentless pursuit of artistic mastery, Kobe refines his craft through dedicated practice and ongoing exploration. His commitment to mastering diverse techniques and pushing creative boundaries has garnered him numerous accolades and esteem in the art realm.

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The Oppai Princess is a black, queer animation and video game voice actress, Twitch streamer, plus-sized model, and published cosplayer who has shaken up the industry with her outspoken realness and body-positivity. Specializing in creating an immersive experience for her viewers, she brings unmatched charisma and quips when playing horror games. As a creative she has a wide range of work from cozy game reviews in the series “Comfort games I like to play when I’m depressed’, to voice acting with a background in horror animations and the indie game industry.

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Vikki Perry has sung with someone who was nominated for a Grammy, hula hooped with fire, and driven a tractor. She doesn’t have any tattoos or odd piercings, but that is only because she’s scared of needles. She has written many bad first drafts. Her middle grade novel “Little Dirigible on the Prairie” will never see the light of day, but her debut historical fantasy romance novel will be coming out from Falstaff books in the near future.

J.E. Pittman dabbles in many speculative worlds. He blurs the borders between genre and crafts salient lies to tell a measure of truth. His work has been described as: capriciously chimeric, dreamlike, and a vivid enigma with indelible images stamped on your brain. He independently publishes his darkly cozy urban fantasy series: Felix Chance and his sci-fi action series Pandora Squad*** in addition to several web serials and anthologies.

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Rosie J. Potter (she/her) hails from Tennessee where she lives with her partner, their eight feline furbabies, and Clawdia Scribbles–caticorn extraordinaire. Rose is the ghostwriter behind multiple spicy contemporary romance novels, host of coworking sprints on Twitch, moderator for We Write at Dawn, The Indie Resource, and The Love Club Discord servers, and a mentor for new romance writers in a 10-month novel-drafting program called Pen to Paper. Her forthcoming novel The Tinsel Twist skirts the line between a cozy Hallmark read and high stakes romantic suspense. Rose is also a musician, video gamer, and coffee addict.

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Writer's Digest award-winning fantasy author Ellie Raine is a voracious BookWyrm fueled by coffee-bean concoctions brewed by the finest caffeine alchemists in the kingdom of Atlanta, Georgia. Her high fantasy series, the NecroSeam Chronicles, has won several awards including First Place in Fantasy for Writer's Digest.

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Tonia Ransom is a horror writer and World Fantasy Award-winning creator of horror podcasts NIGHTLIGHT and Afflicted. Tonia has been scaring people since the second grade, when she wrote her first story based on Michael Myers. She lives in Austin, Texas. You can follow Tonia @missdefying on all the socials.

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Jessica Reid has been a library professional for over 20 years and a geek her entire life. Currently, she is the Geek Life Track Director for ConCarolinas and serves on their ConCom. She enjoys random conversations with strangers for book recommendations, how Squirrel Girl is the best superhero, interesting true crime stories, local ghost stories, hockey (go Checkers!) and so much more. An avid crafter, she is also aware that she has no real crafting skills except for her love of glitter.

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Rachel Rieckenberg is an award winning Traditional Mixed Media Artist focusing on Pyrography, Paint, and Pencil. Her work explores the worlds of Myth and Magic that she's loved since a child growing up in the Midwest.

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Jason Roach is an American Writing Awards award-winning finalist in LGBT+ Fiction & Thriller Fiction for his book The House on Dead Man’s Curve – inspired by his personal paranormal experiences in life. He is also the owner and editor-in-chief of Gold Dust Publishing, a new indie publishing company for LGBTQIA+ and Ally authors. A paranormal enthusiast, he previously spent three years as a core member of the Association of Paranormal Study. He has previously been a paranormal/Sci-fi guest panelist or presenter at GalaxyCon, JordanCon, ConCarolinas, and Congregate 9. Originally from Statesville, NC, he now resides in Winston-Salem, NC.

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Juliet Rose is a multi-award-winning cross-genre author in contemporary fiction, visionary suspense, sci-fi realism, and supernatural horror. She is adept at blending genres and challenges both herself and the reader to think outside of their comfort zone by introducing new ideas into familiar tropes. She has ten published fiction books. In her free time, she also dabbles in magazine and anthology writing. While she resides in the mountains of Georgia, she's lived all over the United States and Mexico, using these experiences in her writing.

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Joel Ruiz is a comedian, podcast producer, and content creator. Best known for his hit shows Critical Bits and Oddity Roadshow, Joel has spent the last decade as a comedy writer and producer working on actual play podcasts and sketch comedy shows. Joel also runs Do You Validate? a top Atlanta podcast and video studio specializing in editing, production, and videography for podcasting and smaller video productions. Do You Validate? sponsors the Studio 42 recording space at Multiverse.

October K Santerelli is a fantasy author from Denver, Colorado. His latest releases include books in the Nightfall series and The Book of the Witch's Son. His stories focus on both LGBTQ+ and disabled people, including asexual main character Mila, gay character Aften, and non-binary interest Shae. His work includes strong character driven narratives, found family themes, and just a hint of whimsy.

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Tony is a writer who creates audio dramas, including the award-winning, HARRY STRANGE RADIO DRAMA, and SCARLETT HOOD ADVENTURES. His LADY SHERLOCK HOLMES Episode, ‘The Lady in Red’, performed at DragonCon and the National Audio Theatre Festival won the NATF’s Platinum Festival Fan Favorite award. You can find his short fiction in the GEORGIA GOTHIC anthology, THE LEGENDS OF NEW PULP anthology, and on the WICKED LIBRARY and VICTORIA’S LIFT Podcasts. WHERE THE WALLS CRY, a supernatural thriller feature film written by Tony is currently in development with Scarytime Productions. He is a member of the HWA and MWA.

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Amelia G. Sides is the author of fantasy, science fiction, and alternative history novels. Her books are filled with complex heroes, political intrigue, and finding home among the chaos that is life. Amelia lives in the southern US and enjoys long walks with her dog, Reuben, and late nights at her computer plotting out her next book. The first in a new series, “I don’t want to fight!”: A GameLit Novel, will become available the summer of 2024.

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Sarah J. Sover is the author of the urban fantasy Fractured Fae Series (Fairy Godmurder, Faed to Black, and the forthcoming Pixie Dusted) as well as the comedic fantasy Double-Crossing the Bridge, with a sequel slated for 2025, all from Falstaff Books. Her short fiction appears in anthologies, and she’s a contributor to Dan Koboldt’s Putting the Fact in Fantasy and to Writer’s Digest Magazine. Living in John’s Creek, Ga, Sarah raises two forces of nature with her husband Alex. In addition to writing, she enjoys painting, blues dancing, and sipping on a good IPA.

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A techie by trade and writer by necessity Aziza Sphinx is a hybrid author who has been writing and publishing professionally for over 20 years. The author of gown- folks speculative fiction that blurs the lines between transpersonal psychology, fantasy, and sanity, she’s had fairytale remakes, short stories, and speculative poems included in a wide range of anthologies and ezines. When not sharing her knowledge of overcoming ‘writer’s avoidance,’ Aziza spends her nights playing in the shadows with her vampires, demons, wraiths, and reapers. She also occasionally plays in the light and entertains the living.

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A 2016 MBA graduate and published author, Priya Sridhar has been writing fantasy and science fiction for fifteen years, and counting. Capstone published the Powered series, and Unnerving Press published Offstage Offerings. Priya lives in Miami, Florida with her family.

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Matt is a husband, long time geek enthusiast and storyteller, Cat herder, and cohost of the Goblin's Corner Podcast and YouTube channel. Matt has over 30 plus years of gaming experience; running adventures, world building, storytelling and playing. Additionally, he possesses the mutant ability to find the loophole in any system, which results in amusing gameplay and (oftentimes) frustrated storytellers. Matt can often be found roaming gaming conventions, clad in summer-wear and a bemused expression, while handing out rum to discerning palettes.

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Shannon Strucci is a video essayist and professional video editor, podcast host, voice actor, actual play performer, and writer best known for her video essay FAKE FRIENDS 2: parasocial hell. She's a co-host on Critical Bits, Oddity Roadshow, and Fight Together! on the One Piece Podcast.

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Winnifred, or as most know her by Winnie, is an artist, entrepreneur, and Amazon Bestselling author of her debut series: The Gods’ Scion. Winnie has had a lifelong love of literature and art. She wants to create a beautiful fantasy world with compelling and intriguing characters as a writer. Winnie loves to spread positivity and joy to those around her and look at the world through a glittery pink lens.

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Sean Taylor writes short stories, novellas, novels, graphic novels and comic books. In his writing life, he has directed the “lives” of zombies, super heroes, goddesses, dominatrices, Bad Girls, pulp heroes, and yes, even frogs, for such diverse bosses as IDW Publishing, Gene Simmons, and The Oxygen Network.

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Vincent E.M. Thorn is a Japanese-American fantasy author, best known for the award-winning Dreamscape Voyager series. Stricken by a deeply rooted obsession with mythology, his ultimate ambition is to weave his own works into legend. When not writing, Thorn enjoys video games, animated musicals, meddling with dark forces beyond mortal ken, and heavy metal.

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Steven Van Patten is the author of the critically acclaimed Brookwater’s Curse trilogy, about an 1860s Georgia plantation slave who becomes law enforcement within the vampire community. The titular character in his Killer Genius series is a modern day hyper-intelligent black woman who uses high-end technology as a socially conscious serial killer. SVP’s short fiction includes contributions to over a dozen horror anthologies, including SVP’s Little Black Book of Terror, a horror anthology with sales proceeds going to SAVE (Suicide Awareness Voices of Education).

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What do you do with a degree in world religions and a lifelong love of horror? According to DL Wainright you write a dark fantasy series. Said series, The Hollow Sun, is chock full of folklore, mythology, creepy stuff, and diverse characters. Basically everything DL loves, all wrapped up in a bloody package.

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Janet Walden-West lives in the Southeast with a pack of show dogs, a couple of kids, and a husband who didn’t read the fine print. She writes intersectional sexy-times Contemporary and Paranormal romance, and snarky Urban Fantasy heroines. A Pitch Wars alum and RWA Golden Heart finalist, she's the author of the Contemporary SALT + STILETTOS: South Beach Romances series, and the Region Two Urban Fantasy romance series. Her Urban Fantasy short stories can be found in multiple anthologies. She is represented by Eva Scalzo of Speilburg Literary Agency.

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WesTheDragon is a plus-size, non-binary, Atlanta-based published cosplayer, variety V-Tuber and streamer on Twitch. Since their start, they have focused on making cosplay accessible for everyone; no matter the size, or price. WesTheDragon focuses on thrifting cosplays or supporting smaller cosplay companies that are inclusive to size. Using their platform, they strive to promote and uplift other plus size cosplayers as well as advocate for positivity and inclusivity within the cosplay community. As their platform grows, they yearn to continue growing cosplay for people of all ages, backgrounds, and sizes while adapting in the ever changing world of cosplay.

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Epic fantasy author Katharine E. Wibell has published eight full-length novels and thirteen novellas; three more will release in 2024. The Incarn Saga is a fast-paced, NA, shifter fantasy while The Djed Chronicles is a YA portal fantasy. The Guardian’s Speaker, an adult Viking dark fantasy, retells Nordic myths spanning Yggdrasil’s nine realms. Numerous accolades include fifteen book awards plus several Best-Selling Amazon ribbons. She also hosts weekly live chats on TikTok, conducts author interviews, and participates in literary panels for various cons. Multi-talented, Wibell also hand-paints TTRPG miniatures of her characters, complete with sub-class and character sheets.

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Lucille Yates writes paranormal romance and urban fantasy stories. They feature head-strong women, complicated men, and sizzling chemistry. Lucille lives in a world full of witchcraft and naps. A recent poll from her sister reveals she's the world's okayest sibling. While homophones create endless problems in her author journey, she still enjoys writing the stories that are constantly playing like a movie in her head. When she is not writing, she is reading, playing with her son, watching videos, or playing games. She lives outside of Savannah, GA with her husband, son, and three cats.

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Jessi Ann York’s stories have been featured at several professional rate horror markets, including PseudoPod, Vastarien, Cemetery Gates Media, Love Letters to Poe, and more. Her first two stories, “Phases of the Shadow” and “Women of the Mere,” were mentioned as standouts in the Summation section of The Best Horror of the Year Vol. 13. Her creative work is represented by Elizabeth Copps, the founding agent of Copps Literary Services.

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