Samantha Benedict

Samantha Benedict is a blogger, prolific reader, and occasional writer of stories which might not ever emerge from the category of “under wraps”. The first “grown up” book series which really and truly grabbed her attention and fangirling energy when she was a young hobbit was a fantasy series, and she’s never looked back. These days, she’s happiest when reading anything by a British author, especially Lewis, Tolkien, or Chesterton, and thinking (and/or blogging) about how those stories and the philosophical-ish thoughts thereof connect with many other things in her life. When she’s not reading or blogging, she can often be found knitting while in lecture, practicing using her camera on manual, or in the chapel.

DJ Edwardson

DJ Edwardson is the Grace Award nominated author of several novels and shorter works. He traveled a lot when he was younger, but now he’s busy crafting exotic destinations of his own. Although he has written both Science Fiction and Fantasy novels, he likes to say he writes in the “genre of imagination”. He lives in Tennessee with his wife and three children and an ever growing collection of wonderful books.

Jem Jones

Jem Jones writes stories because they refuse to appear fully-formed before her, shame on them. She works at a library, and consequently has a pile of books beside her bed which is large enough to one day murder her in her sleep. As an Australian, she believes in the supremacy of salties over alligators and is qualified to speak on drop bears.

Mackenzie Keene

Kenzie is a writer, blogger, full-time day-dreamer, fanatic of all things whimsical, and daughter of the King. Frequently found with books in her hands and gnomes in her pockets, her mission in life is to sprinkle the universe with pixie dust, whimsy, and all the cookies she can possibly fling. When not tapping away at her latest work-in-progress, Kenzie can most often be found re-reading her favorite books; recreating Disney covers on her trusty ukuleles, appropriately named Watson and Sherlock; making a mess with watercolors; or snuggling with her baby cockatiel, Durachi.

Sarah Pennington

Sarah Pennington has been writing stories since before she actually knew how to write, and she has no intention of stopping anytime soon. She is perpetually in the middle of writing at least one or two novels, most of which are in the fantasy and fairy tale retelling genres. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys knitting, photography, and trying to conquer her massive to-be-read list.

E.E. Rawls

Rawls is the product of a traveling family, who even lived in Italy for 6 years. She loves exploring the unknown, whether it be in a forest, a forgotten castle, or within the pages of a book. She runs on coffee, cuddly cats and the beauty of nature to keep the wheels of her imagination turning as she writes stories that will both entertain and inspire others, giving them worlds they can explore and become lost within.

Jenelle Leanne Schmidt

Jenelle Leanne Schmidt first fell in love with stories through her father’s voice reading aloud to her before bed each night. A dreamer and relentless opener of doors in hopes of someday finding a passage to Narnia, it was only natural that she soon began making up fantastical realms of her own. The award-winning author has published four books in The Minstrel’s Song series as well as a couple of short stories. She resides in the wintry tundra of Wisconsin with her husband and their four adorable children who are all named after characters in The Lord of the Rings.

Christine Smith

Christine Smith lives in the deep south of the US where childhood days playing in the thick woods first sparked her love for writing about enchanted forests and magical lands. Tolkien, Disney, and fairy tales are to blame as well. When not writing, she’s probably talking about writing (and fiction in general) via her blog, Instagram, and newsletter. And because she has no qualms about embracing stereotypes, she does indeed drink a lot of coffee and has a pet cat. Her greatest passion lies in using the power of words to delight, set hearts aflame, and encourage creators to always keep the stars in their eyes.

Grace Taber

By day, Grace Taber works as on the communications team for a nonprofit organization; by night, she procrastinates working on her current young-adult fantasy WIP containing two of her favorite things: sweater vests and selkies. Her favorite methods of bouncing back from her newly completed MFA degree include writing fanfiction, thrifting far too many mugs for an irregular tea drinker, indulging in comfort shows like Leverage or Agents of SHIELD, and reading all the books she can get her hands on, fantasy or otherwise. She has a story published in Leading Edge Magazine, and whatever genre she writes in, she wants her words to bring honor to God and hope to her readers.