Gini Koch started writing in the American Southwest as something to do in between staring at pictures of good-looking leading men, but now sweats out the words, both literally and figuratively, in Hotlanta and dreams of dry heat.
She’s best known for her award-winning Alien/Katherine “Kitty” Katt series from DAW Books, which started with Touched by an Alien and has sixteen books out currently, with seventeen through twenty on the way.
Gini’s made the most of multiple personality disorder by writing under a variety of other pen names as well, including G.J. Koch (the Alexander Outland series), Anita Ensal, Jemma Chase, A.E. Stanton (the New West Series and the Legend of Belladonna series), and J.C. Koch, and all her various personas have stories featured in excellent anthologies, available now and upcoming. No matter what length – from science fiction, fantasy, paranormal, space opera, urban fantasy, horror, mystery, thriller, dystopian, westerns, romantic suspense, weird west, and more – if it’s genre, she writes it.
Prior to becoming a full-time author, Gini spent over 25 years in marketing and advertising, first in small- to mid-sized direct marketing firms in Los Angeles, and then within the Fortune 50, and she was a social media maven before it was cool.
She’s an avid follower of pop culture, comics, and anything and everything animated. She guests, exhibits, and panels frequently at cons across the U.S., large and small, because if there’s one thing that she likes (and you can be sure that there is) it’s getting to run her yap and interact with fans.
She’s still has the most wonderful and patient husband in the world, a remarkably supportive family who don’t mind that she spends most of her time in other worlds, and she remains inspired mainly by good-looking leading men. She’s also inspired by the need to keep her Canine Death Squad and Killer Kitties in kibble and treats because they’re both her cheering squad and one of her main distractions (and all the furred beasts say sorry not sorry about that).
Rob Cerio was born at an early age, and has since grown much more hair. As a comedy writer, he denies all rumors of making inappropriate jokes at funerals. He has published four novels, six short stories, and helped author a YouTube web series. He has also won two awards for his writing contributions to his local 48hr Film Festival. He now lives in Metairie, Louisiana with his lovely wife, two adorable step kids, and a small annoying dog named after a large Japanese monster.
K.D. Wood lives in north Mississippi with her family, a very spoiled White Waug, one old Goblin, and a princess. She creates love stories and smoking southern erotic romance, but not your mama’s happy ever after. A consumer of chocolate, but not spiders, and is completely composed of liquid awesome. When not in her office pounding the keys she can be found under a blanket, cup of coffee close by with her nose in a book. Her available titles are Unwilling, Unloved, Unboundless (paranormal romance series), and Boys of Fall (contemporary romance) Her catalog of work is available in eBook, print, and audiobook format. Follow her on Twitter at @KDWoodauthor, Instagram at @K.D.Woodauthor, like her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/writerK.D.Wood, get awkward with her on TicTok @kdwoodauthor, or email her at K.D.Woodauthor@gmail.com
Originally from Ohio, Julie always dreamed of a job in science. Either shooting for the stars or delving into the mysteries of volcanoes. But, life never leads where you expect. In 2011, she started writing stories to entertain her sister, deployed with the US Navy. Julie currently lives in Mississippi with her husband and son. She’s a bit of a factotum that’s currently acting as a full-time author and part-time R/C mechanic.
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/JulieWetzelAuthor/
Twitter – https://twitter.com/JulieKWetzel
Website – http://www.juliewetzel.com/
Z-tier author/S-class editor, but generally awesome, J. B. Garner has written over a dozen novels across multiple genres and edited hundreds. Born near Baltimore, MD in 1976, she’s seen and done many things in my life, but her true passion has always been the written word. She writes fantasy, sci-fi, and pro-wrestling epics, among other things, and is always out to entertain and amaze!
Ernest Russell has written for Pro Se Productions, Beyond the Threshold Studios, and the literary journal Violet Windows. His stories and poetry can be found in All That Weird Jazz, The Further Adventures of Ned Land, and When The Shadow Sees The Sun – all published by Pro Se Productions. Monster Mayhem: An Anthology of Monstrous Proportions from Beyond the Threshold Studios.
He was a content and copy editor for “Tales of The Interstellar Bartenders Guild”- winner of the 2019 Pulp Factory Award for Best New Pulp Anthology, and for “Nightveil: Crisis at the Crossroads of Infinity” winner of the 2020 Pulp Factory Award for Best New Pulp Novel.
Some of his favorite things (besides coffee) are science fiction, horror, steampunk, and fantasy books and movies. His writing splits among those genres. As often as possible, you can find him playing board games, tabletop, or an RPG.
You can find him at ernest.russell.com, Facebook, Twitter, and Amazon
Derek is a Mobile, AL native, and terminal Geek. He’s been writing for his friends and family for 25 years, killing characters and bad ideas as needed, and always bringing the need for thought to his writing. Read, think, reflect – and look out; that is the only guide we can offer when reading his work. His overactive imagination is a gift to us all. Pick up his books, and peek into his worlds; you’ll be glad you did.
Derek formally finished his degree at the age of forty. Over the years, he privately continued his studies in art, literature, archaeology, Celtic history, and a cornucopia of other subjects that interested him.
Derek moved home to Mobile, Alabama in early 2008 after living away for almost a decade. His journey home was a catalyst for the foundation of his first novel, MADNESS. In addition to writing, Derek enjoys photography, parenting and using any medium available to bring the creations of his mind to life. More of Derek’s work can be found by visiting www.derekdykes.com
Dale Kesterson was born in Manhattan, NY and grew up on Long Island. Since then, she has lived in six widely diverse locations, from New Orleans to deliberately moving to a town too small to have a red-yellow-green traffic light.
Odd creative opportunities presented themselves throughout the years, however, with two highlights. Dale did a two-year stint with an opera company where she performed pantomime characters while singing with the chorus and she worked on a radio show as an anchor and character voice artist.
She co-authored the first two Time Guards novels, and now pens the Lauren Kaye Mystery series published by Jumpmaster Press. RESORT TO MURDER (2021) was the introductory novel, followed by STAGED FOR DEATH (2022), and MURDEROUS INTENTIONS (2024). The fourth title, DEADLY REFLECTIONS will follow in late 2025. Not one to stick with a single genre, she has several science-fiction and paranormal short stories in anthologies and magazines.
Dale is a seasoned traveler who is also a professional photographer. In 2018 she auditioned for a part for a community theater and has been active as an actress, singer, and assistant director with two local community theaters in her area, even playing the lead in a mystery!
She lives in southwest Kansas with her husband (of over 30 years) and their hairless cats. When she’s not writing, performing, or appearing at conventions as an author or panelist or songstress, she does handcrafts. This lady hates being bored!
Kevin Pettway hails from Jacksonville Florida and is the author of the Misplaced Mercenaries books, a funny adult fantasy series that was awarded by the NYC Big Book Club, a finalist in the 2022 Imadjinn Awards, and has received several professional write-ups in Kirkus Magazine for which the author did not even have to pay. He has published a modest number of short stories, both within and without the Mercenaries world, with more on the way. Most excitingly, Kevin’s publisher, Cursed Dragon Ship Publishing, has threatened encouraged him to open his world to other authors, creating the Misplaced Adventures Shared Universe. There are currently six authors toiling away to bring even more humor, fun, and backstabbing murder into the world. As of this writing, there are nine new Adventures books, with more being added all the time.
Although the old stereotype about writers just wanting to be locked away in a darkened room with a typewriter is as true of Kevin as it is anyone else, the other thing he enjoys tremendously is going to conventions and meeting new people. (In writing, two opposing motivations in the same person are often used to create tension and conflict and engage reader interest. Now that you know his conflicting motivations you understand just how deep and fascinating Kevin is!)
He regularly attends many popular culture conventions, selling books and telling stories to people who haven’t heard them before while his wife Lena tries to ignore him. Feel free to walk up and say hi. Nothing makes him happier. (You might also express condolences to Lena, who has heard all the stories, over, and over, and over.)
Kevin and Lena’s dogs River and Jayne also love meeting people, but hotels rarely love meeting dogs, so they stay behind at the puppy resort where they play in the “crazy dog” group. Canine fan-mail will be accepted and forwarded to the appropriate addressee.
Kevin thinks Strange New Worlds is the best Trek series, nudging The Orville off that top spot, and had to manfully wipe the tears from his eyes even before the opening credits of Wicked: Part 1. His favorite new author is Tamsyn Muir, and his favorite old author is Roger Zelazny. He has also developed an obsession for kayaking, having discovered it late in life and is unable to get enough.
Despite being from Florida, Kevin still has all his own teeth and has never had a restraining order placed against him.