Invited speaker

Leslye Penelope is the award-winning author of the Earthsinger Chronicles. The first book in the series, Song of Blood & Stone, was chosen as one of TIME Magazine's 100 Best Fantasy Books of All Time.

Equally left and right-brained, she studied filmmaking and computer science at Howard University and sometimes dreams in HTML. She hosts the My Imaginary Friends podcast, co-hosts the Ink & Magic podcast, and lives in Maryland with her feline dependents.

Visit her online at www.lpenelope.com and join her newsletter for writers at myimaginaryfriends.net.

If you could read any book again for the first time, what would it be?

Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor.

Invited speaker

Derek Murphy is a starving artist turned professor of literature. As a book designer and guerrilla marketing expert, Derek has helped tens of thousands of authors finally realize their dream of publishing a book (and launching to #1 bestseller). With his support, authors have been featured everywhere from Oprah Magazine, the NYT and USA Today Bestseller lists, and he’s personally been featured in Forbes, CNN and the Wall Street Journal.

These days, Derek is mostly focused on building up a creative empire and exploring new ways to Create Good Work – he makes DIY publishing solutions for indie authors and occasionally works with authors directly through private masterminds and coaching. He dreams of castles, cabins, cats and coffee, and someday plans to build a wilderness commune of creative geniuses in the Pacific Northwest.

Invited speaker

she/her/they/them

K. McCoy is the author of the Women’s Fiction novel A Dove’s Cry. Through indie author webinars, she helps authors write drama-filled, heart-gripping, and authentic stories. In her many years of publishing, she has traveled around the world, crafting stories based on real-world experiences combined with hopeful possibilities. As a serial hobbyist, you can find her studying other languages, tinkering with her camera, or trying out a new yoga pose when she’s not writing or working on another bittersweet story.

If you could read any book again for the first time, what would it be?

This is such a tough question! Okay, if I could read any book again for the first time, it would be The Thirteenth by L.A. Banks.

Invited speaker

she/her

Jennifer Hilt is a USA Today Bestselling author of The Trope Thesaurus: An Author Resource, a five-book series. She has written twenty-four books across four pen names, plus her urban fantasy trilogy: The Undead Detective. Jennifer works as a plotter and concept creator. As a frequent podcast guest, she has appeared on Joanna Penn's The Creative Penn, Bryan Cohen's Sell More Books, Matty Dalrymple's The Indy Author Podcast, and the Kobo Writing Life Podcast, among many others. She teaches authors about story development in workshops and classes across the US. 

With degrees in linguistics and literature, Jennifer loves collecting dictionaries in unfamiliar languages, binge-watching scandi-noir series, and shouting out tropes from the comfort of her couch. Visit www.jenniferhilt.com for information on her events, classes, and workshops. 

If you could read any book again for the first time, what would it be?

The Rook by Daniel O'Malley

Invited speaker

she/her

Kerrie Flanagan is an accomplished author, writing consultant, instructor, and freelance writer with over twenty-five years of experience in the publishing industry. She has published hundreds of articles, is the author of The Writer's Digest Guide to Magazine Article Writing, and is the creator of the online course Magazine Writing Blueprint. She has also published over twenty books, including three sci-fi/fantasy series co-authored under the pen name C.G. Harris.

Her expertise and passion for teaching writers have led her to present at writing conferences nationwide and teach continuing studies classes through Stanford University. When not writing, she can be found outside enjoying the beautiful Rocky Mountains with fly-fishing, camping, hiking, and spending time with family and friends. 

If you could read any book again for the first time, what would it be?

The Chronicles of Narnia

Invited speaker

he/him

A multiple-time New York Times Bestseller and Eagle Award winner, Tony Lee has worked professionally as a writer for over thirty-five years. These include two decades in comics, where he has written for publishers including Marvel, DC, Dynamite, Titan Publishing, Markosia, Rebellion, Penguin, Image, Heavy Metal, Oni Press, Z2, and IDW, amongst others, writing a variety of creator-owned titles and licenses including X-Men, Spider-Man, Star Trek, Battlestar Galactica, Doctor Who, Superboy, Starship Troopers, MacGyver, Wallace & Gromit, and Shrek. In addition, he’s worked on books with musicians such as Joe Satriani, Iron Maiden, Bruce Dickinson, Ozzy Osbourne, Pantera, and Megadeth. He is also currently releasing GNs under his own graphic imprint, Caliburn Comics.

Outside of comics, he has written several novels aimed at reluctant readers published by Badger Learning, as well as audio plays for Big Finish, including the Doctor Who Fifth Doctor adventure Rat Trap. He has adapted both his Oliver Twist sequel, Dodge & Twist, as well as Jules Verne’s Twenty Thousand Leagues Under The Sea into full-cast audio dramas with Audible / Amazon and written a Robin of Sherwood full-cast audio drama for Spiteful Puppet / ITV, which he has also adapted into prose.

In Film and TV, he’s written for BBC One, ITV Studios, and has films and TV in development/production in both the US and UK.

Under the pen name Jack Gatland, he’s written a series of UK-based crime novels featuring Detective Inspector Declan Walsh, a second series featuring “cop for criminals” Ellie Reckless, an action series featuring outcast British spy Tom Marlowe, an adventure series in the Dan Brown-vein featuring treasure hunter Damian Lucas, and several stand-alone books. These have all been for digital-first publisher Hooded Man Media, and as of March 2024, he’s had almost a million copies sold on Amazon, with over two hundred million pages read on Kindle Unlimited.

In addition to this, he’s a Freeman of the City of London and the founder of the Caliburn Prize, a yearly £2,500 grant for unpublished UK comic creators. He also travels the world with his Change The Channel school tour, aimed at helping reluctant readers pick up books.

If you could read any book again for the first time, what would it be?

Nine Princes In Amber by Roger Zelazny

Invited speaker

she/her

Welcome to the whimsical world of Lisa Wells, where contemporary romance meets laugh-out-loud humor. Based in Missouri, Lisa crafts romantic comedies that will steam up your Kindle and leave you grinning.

Her life is as vibrant as her writing, fueled by dark chocolate, rich red wine, and the most swoon-worthy book boyfriends. Lisa’s stories blend real-world warmth with a touch of magic, inviting you to escape into tales where laughter blooms, passion ignites, and happy endings are just a page away.

So pour yourself a glass of your favorite beverage and dive into the delightful romantic comedies of Lisa Wells—where every story is a celebration of love and laughter.

If you could read any book again for the first time, what would it be?

Firefly Lane or Where The Red Fern Grows

Invited speaker

If you could read any book again for the first time, what would it be?

Sirens of Titan or Ender’s Game

Invited speaker

he/him

If you could read any book again for the first time, what would it be?

Frank Herbert's Dune