Meet our local writers and make sure that you check out their work!
Brad Abdul is a Canadian author of fiction. He enjoys the geekier side of life, and can be frequently found playing Magic: The Gathering or reading the latest chapter of One Piece. He is happily married and a father of two boys. He will, one day, successfully perform a Kamehameha. His debut novel is The Devil’s Advisor Find him on Instagram & Twitter
Ellie Anglin is a writer of fiction, poetry and memoir that deals with themes of gender, queerness, pop culture and cats. Much of her writing is illustrated with collage and drawing and made into zines and videos. Her work can be seen at www.ellieanglin.com
Anne R. Bailey is a novelist, entrepreneur and when she can find the time: wife. Her love of historical fiction, writing, and romance encouraged her to dive head first into the world of publishing. With a cup of warm coffee by her side and her dog at her feet, she can be found at her desk writing late into the night. She is currently hard at work on upcoming projects. For more information about her books, short stories, as well as contact information you can go to: www.inkblotpressco.com
Daryl J. Ball has spent many of his years with one feline pal or another. He developed a love for reading at a young age especially in regards to Science Fiction and Fantasy.
Website: Daryl J Ball
Chris Banks is a Canadian poet and author of six collections of poems, most recently Deepfake Serenade out with Nightwood Editions (Fall 2021). His first full-length collection, Bonfires, was awarded the Jack Chalmers Award for poetry by the Canadian Authors’ Association in 2004. Bonfires was also a finalist for the Gerald Lampert Award for best first book of poetry in Canada. His poetry has appeared in The New Quarterly, Arc Magazine, The Antigonish Review, Event, The Malahat Review, GRIFFEL, American Poetry Journal, Prism International, among other publications. He lives and writes in Kitchener, Ontario.
Website: https://chrisbankspoetry.com/
Erin Bow is the author of eight books — five novels, and two volumes of poetry and a memoir (the poetry under her maiden name, Erin Noteboom). The novels are a pair of stand-alone high fantasies, Plain Kate and Sorrow’s Knot, and the science fiction duology The Scorpion Rules and The Swan Riders. Her poetry has won the CBC Canadian Literary Award and several other awards. My novels have a fistful of honors, including the GG, the Canadian Library Association Book of the Year award, and the award sometimes called “Canada’s Newbery,” the TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award. No one read the memoir.
Website: www.erinbow.com
Nic Brewer writes strange literary fiction with more than a hint of the surreal. Her debut novel, Suture (Book*Hug 2021), follows three artists through a world where art is literally made with the body to explore the weight of mental illness on artists and their loved ones. She loves tea, boxing, her wife, and their dog, and she really wants to hear about what you love most in the world. Order Suture through Words Worth Books, Indigo, or anywhere books are sold!
Bill Brubacher is a long-time resident of the Region of Waterloo, a former successful business entrepreneur and an internationally published author of 15 national best-selling books. He is a Certified Bereavement Specialist, and a Certified Conflict Coach/Elder Mediator, helping seniors and their families through difficult time through Caregivers Oasis, Pathfinder Canada, and Heart and Soul Bereavement for Seniors. Currently he is writing two more books and working with a script-writer on the adaptation of an earlier book of his called, “The Secret Pond” for a animated TV series.
Website: https://legacypress.ca/
April Bulmer is an award-winning Canadian poet who has had a dozen books of poetry and prose published. She holds Master’s degrees in creative writing, religious studies and theological studies. Some of her books are know for their themes of feminist spirituality. Her most recent, Year of the Dog: A Poet’s Journal, was shortlisted for the International Beverly Prize for Literature in London, England. Originally from Toronto, where she worked at Maclean’s magazine and TVOntario, April now lives in Cambridge, Ontario where she won a YWCA Women of Distinction Award in the Arts & Culture category. Website: aprilbulmer.wordpress.com
Julene Butler is an eclectic, brutally honest, and genuinely caring woman. In her role as a Child and Youth Practitioner, she has helped hundreds of parents and children cope with emotional and mental challenges. In her first book, Knots in my laces Knots in my tummy, Julene leverages over 19 years of experience working with children/youth, and a passion for writing to create an accessible resource that gets parents and young children talking about mental health. She holds a Bachelor of Applied Arts degree in Child and Youth Care from Toronto Metropolitan University. In her spare time, she volunteers as a mentor encouraging children and youth to strive for excellence. Julene is a wife, and a mother of three beautiful children. She believes in doing her absolute best by taking leaps of faith and trusting God in the process.
Website: http://julenebutler.ca/
Angela C Charles, a former IT consultant, teacher and entrepreneur, lives in Kitchener, Ontario. She was born in the Caribbean island of The Commonwealth of Dominica and graduated from the University of Windsor. Angela writes Christian fiction. Her first novel, “When God is Silent” was published in 2019. Her second novel, “Sisi’s Journey”, published in 2021, made ‘The 2022 Word Awards Short List’ honouring the Best of Canadian Christian Writing from 2021, in 3 categories and she’s currently working on her third novel.
Website: https://www.facebook.com/angela.charles.90
Cheryl M. Charles is a retired teacher who resides in Waterloo, Ontario. Cheryl was born in Trinidad but grew up in Toronto. She started her career as a registered nurse, but a life-changing diagnosis ended her career. Eventually, Cheryl returned to school and graduated with a Master’s Degree in the field of Education. Now a retired teacher, her focus is her love of writing. Since 2020, Cheryl has released six books in the Messy Marvyn & Friends series. The target audience is children (ages 6-10). The books are fictional stories, but when the opportunity arises, non-fiction learning content is added to enhance both enjoyment and learning.
Website: www.messymarvyn.com
Suzanne Church‘s writing runs the gamut from horror to science fiction to fantasy. Her award-winning short fiction has appeared in Cicada, Clarkesworld, and several anthologies. Some of her more memorable characters frequent the Couch Teleportation Universe stories, three of the twenty-one stories collected in her Aurora Nominated book Elements. Once in a while, talking chickens invade her brain.
Website: www.suzannechurch.com
Pamela Clayfield has lived in Waterloo all her life with her daughter and close to her family. She is the author of more than a dozen women’s fiction novels that she likes to call “romances-with-a-twist” as she likes to add some mystery or paranormal and sometimes both! She has also written 2 non-fiction books and dozens of articles on a variety of topics and is a casual reporter for the Waterloo Region Rural Post. She always has books in stock at home. Have a look at her website for titles or look her up on Amazon. Website: http://www.pamelaclayfield.ca
A. S. Compton grew up on her family’s inter-generational farm in Ontario and attended the University of Western Ontario, receiving her BA in English and Literature in 2012. Before beginning university, she lived in Botswana, Africa for her gap year. She is the author of A Grandmother Named Love. She has published articles in local newsletters and through MennoMedia’s Purpose. She is currently working on an historical fiction about WWII conscientious objectors, Mennonite culture and the familial shame of those who went to war against the will of their church. She loves reading and cycling and still spends much of her time on the family farm with her two children.
Website: https://www.ascompton.com/
Ryan Consell is a costumer, armorer, and sculptor with a background in bicycle research and science education. He is a blogger for Mad Art Lab and has been featured on io9 and Kotaku. He is best known for blogging about armor, his Slave Leo and Darth Shakespeare costumes, and his forays into trampoline archery and other poor life choices on YouTube.
Website: https://stealingfromwizards.com/
Rhythm Dang is a part-time teen author who immigrated from India to Canada at the age of ten with her family. She is attending a University in Southern Ontario and enjoys writing and drawing as pastimes. As such, she decided to publish her first ever picture book called “Poutine Routine.” Her passion for aesthetics and her collection of cute stuffed animals inspired her to create bright and colourful picture books. She is quite fascinated by children books as they allow you to immerse yourself into a complete different world, which is a good break from her academic workload at times.
Website: https://linktr.ee/rhythmdang
Ian Darling is a former journalist for The Record and taught writing courses at Wilfrid Laurier University before beginning work as a full-time author. He has two books available and is working on his third.
Website: www.iandarling.weebly.com
Lilith Darville is the international bestselling author of dangerously delicious romance — paranormal reverse harem, dark and contemporary. Her stories are guaranteed to make readers flush and blush. She lives in Ontario with her beloved Hubster and their somewhat challenged cat.
Website: www.lilithdarville.com
Kit Daven, when not writing, is involved in other creative projects that include visual arts, acting, and developing board games and game-inspired pins with her gaming collective, RAMSTAR Games. In those rare moments of free time, she usually hangs out with her husband and two wily cats in the quiet rabbit-covered hills of Hespeler, Ontario.
Website: https://www.kitdaven.com/
Lauren Dawn Davidson – 22 years ago, a doctor told Lauren’s family that she would never learn or live a meaningful life. At age 20, Lauren expressed an interest in writing a book. With the support of her family, Lauren’s dream of writing and publishing a book is now a reality and today has 6 published books! Lauren’s ambition is to be happy, successful and independent. She hopes her stories will help her attain and sustain her life goals while bringing joy to others.
Website: https://www.laurendawndavidson.com
Lesley-Ann Forbes is a debut author, corporate trainer & entrepreneur. Founder of Forbes Voiceover. Her voiceprint extends across businesses in the Waterloo Region & surrounding areas Never Perfect Always Blessed – tells her experience as a single teen mother, losing her mother to Alzheimer’s & her journey to authentic happiness. She hopes her story will encourage young women to trust & believe in themselves. To be a light to their self-limiting thoughts & remind them of their Queenship. Her vision is to host Soul Workshops, retreats and mentorship self love days; cultivating how to begin creating a new narrative in thinking that includes daily self love & honoring.
Website: http://forbesvoiceover.com/merch/
Zahra Habib is a contributing writer for the cookbook “No Recipe, No Problem!” by New York Times Best-Selling author Phyllis Good. She loves cooking and is determined to keep her kids interested in the vast world of South Asian food. Zahra wants her first publication Spice Baby! to be useful and inspirational for new and seasoned parents, a celebration of South Asian food, and to open the hearts, minds and taste buds of babes and their families everywhere. She lives in Waterloo, Ontario with her partner, two kids, two cats and a fish.
Jennifer Harris writes for children and adults. Kirkus Reviews wrote of her first children’s picture book, She Stitched the Stars: A Story of Ellen Harding Baker’s Solar System Quilt (Albert Whitman 2022), “The text bubbles with enthusiasm” and “sparkles with curiosity and joy; it’s sure to inspire questions in young listeners.” Forthcoming picture books includeWhen You Were New (HarperCollins 2023) and The Keeper of Stars (OwlKids 2024). Her lockdown-inspired poetry chapbook, Poems for Reluctant Housewives, was published by the award-winning Gaspereau Press. Otherwise, she’s a professor of English at the University of Waterloo.
Website: www.mypbjam.com
Shirley Hartung is a retired teacher who loves children. Although known in the past for her series of Best Selling cookbooks specializing in gluten-free and allergy-friendly recipes, she is now enjoying venturing into the world of children’s literature. Her first project Grounded which took several years to research and write is now followed by her latest book entitled You and Me. This is Shirley’s first children’s picture book.
Website: www.authorsmhartung.com
Carolyn (Carly) B. Henderson is a lover of words and painted word pictures. For as long as she can remember, she has delved into word play and followed it where it led. Her writing takes the form of fiction and poetry, but she also likes to explore her thoughts and ideas through blogging. She enjoys the challenge of following a story to see where it leads and though she says she enjoys crafting stories of self discovery after hardship – with a dash of romance thrown in, she is not against the idea of following other less conventional genres (SciFi and Dark Fantasy).
Website: www.carolynbhenderson.wordpress.com
Phyllis Hinz and Lamont Mackay. are co-authors of Stratford For All Seasons: Theatre & Arts, Stratford For All Seasons: Secrets & Surprises, 10 cookbooks, travel blogs, travel articles, and a regular food-travel column in RV Lifestyle Magazine. Their tenth cookbook On The Road With The Cooking Ladies, Let’s Get Grilling combines grilling and smoking recipes with travel stories that reflect the authors’ traveling lifestyle. Phyllis and Lamont have visited every province and territory in Canada, except Nunuvut, and every state in the United States. They are presently living in Stratford, Ontario. Phyllis is writing a novel and Lamont is working on book three of their Stratford For All Seasons series.
Website blog: www.thecookingladies.com
Anna Humphrey lives in a big, old brick house in Kitchener, Ontario with her husband and two kids, but she regularly work with publishers in New York and Toronto, and with clients based in Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Sudbury.
Website: http://anna-humphrey-snkg.squarespace.com/
Jessi Joan is a kinky, polyamorous, queer trauma therapist, artist and writer based out of Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario. She is a survivor of historical, chronic, childhood physical, sexual and emotional abuse and homophobic violence by her biological parents. Jessi entered the foster care system at fifteen when her biological parents discovered she was queer. Jessi expresses raw emotion combined with logic and finds writing to be a helpful process. She shares her writing with the hopes that other survivors find validation through the pages. She is a poet and also writes non-fiction essays on queerness, sexuality and complex trauma.
Website: https://www.alongsidetrauma.ca/
E.K. Johnston‘s books range from contemporary fantasy (The Story of Owen, Prairie Fire), to fairy-tale reimaginings (A Thousand Nights, Spindle), from hopeful sci-fi to quiet epic fantasy (That Inevitable Victorian Thing, The Afterward), and from small town Ontario (Exit, Pursued By A Bear), to a galaxy far, far away (Star Wars: Ahsoka, Queen’s Shadow, Queen’s Peril). She has no plans to rein anything in.
Website: www.ekjohnston.ca
Paul Kalbfleisch is a skilled writer, educator, visual artist and creative business leader. But, primarily he is a creative collaborator, placing himself in the middle of projects with a strong focus on vision and critical goals. He specializes in the area of real estate development projects and how they can relate to innovative city building. Recently he co wrote “The Joy Experiments – Starting A New Conversation On City Building” which was the result of a five-year strategic collaboration with Scott Higgins and HIP Developments in Canada. Their work stresses the need for creating Infrastructure for The Human Spirit as a priority for future communities. Kalbfleisch is also a creative director on many public realm projects and a visual artist. Website: https://www.paulconsultinginc.com/
T.R. Kavanaugh grew up on Labyrinth, Dragonlance and Sailor Moon, so she draws from a lot of different forms of fantasy to find inspiration. A story spinner since childhood, she’s now happy to share it with people other than close friends. Writing often finds her with a mug of coffee or tea at her side and her calico cat, Asriel, near by. She is currently hard at work on upcoming projects.
Website: https://www.trkavanaugh.com
Paula Kienapple-Summers is a poet from Kitchener, Ontario. Her poems have been published in literary journals such as Existere, The Nashwaak Review, Tower Poetry, Amethyst Review and Spadina Literary Review as well as anthologies including Another Dysfunctional Cancer Poetry Anthology and Voicing Suicide. Locally, her poetry has been recognized several times by the Dorothy Shoemaker Literary Awards and published in a CAA branch anthology Words from Here. She is an associate member of the League of Canadian Poets.
Becka Kinzie creates her own horror/darkly inclined comics and art, which are posted onto her website and social media, under the online name The Becka (@the_becka, or @the.becka). The comics are eventually self-published, and sold at conventions and other art events.
Website: thebecka.com
Mark Leslie (Lefebvre) is an author, professional speaker and bookseller with more than a quarter century of experience in writing, publishing, and bookselling.
Website: markleslie.ca
Paulus Linnaeus is a former professor, doctor, parachutist, military instructor, scuba diver, writer, poet, and musician, who has travelled and lived throughout the world, he has lived several lives and thus brings this broad perspective of life into his stories. He is both writer and artist for The Demonhuntress.
Website: https://thedemonhuntress.com/
Sheryl Loeffler. Bio coming soon.
Website: https://sherylloeffler.com/
Lisa MacColl writes B2B/B2C, insurance, investment, parenting & robots articles. She tries to keep her cats off the table. Her book “Cannoli” is available on Amazon.
Website: www.lisamaccoll.com
Tanis MacDonald is an essayist, poet, professor, reviewer, editor, and creative writing instructor. Her memoir via instruction, Out of Line: Daring to be an Artist Outside the Big City (Wolsak and Wynn 2018) is a guide to starting out in and playing the long game in the literary world. She is the author of four books of poetry, the latest of which is Mobile (Book*hug 2019). Tanis is also a co-editor (with Ariel Gordon and Rosanna Deerchild) of the multi-genre anthology GUSH: menstrual manifestos for our times (Frontenac House), and her book The Daughter’s Way (WLUP, 2012) was a finalist for the Gabrielle Roy Prize. Her creative nonfiction has appeared in Tessera, Prairie Fire, Studies in Canadian Literature, Hamilton Arts and Letters, The New Quarterly, and in the anthologies Far and Wide: Essays from Across Canada (Pearson), Against Death (Anvil), and Far Villages (Black Lawrence Press).
Website: www.tanismacdonald.com
Tanya MacIntyre spent 22 years as a broadcast journalist before deciding to pack up negative news to start promoting positive media! That move also began her journey of recovery from drug and alcohol addictions, and the founding of her company, Red Roof Recovery, a program to soften the path of recovery from harmful substances and behaviours.
Website: https://redroofrecovery.com
Dr Katherine (Katie) Mack is a theoretical astrophysicist who studies a range of questions in cosmology, the study of the universe from beginning to end. She currently holds the position of Assistant Professor of Physics at North Carolina State University, where she is also a member of the Leadership in Public Science Cluster. Throughout her career she has studied dark matter, the early universe, galaxy formation, black holes, cosmic strings, and the ultimate fate of the cosmos. Alongside her academic research, she is an active science communicator and has been published in a number of popular publications such as Scientific American, Slate, Sky & Telescope, Time.com, and Cosmos Magazine, where she is a columnist. You can find her on Twitter as @AstroKatie.
Website: www.astrokatie.com/book
Sanja Markovski is the author of children’s fiction book Little Rabbit Finds New Friends. She has always loved creating new stories and sharing them with her children. When she told them the story of Little Rabbit, they loved it so much they asked to hear it again and again. Sanja hopes this story will encourage young readers to conquer their fears and make new friends, even if they’re a little nervous at first. Sanja has graduated Business Management at Conestoga College and has built a successful career in banking. She is looking forward to new adventures with being an author and an example to children with dreams. All dreams are achievable if you work hard and never give up. Sanja lives in Kitchener, Ontario with her family. Little Rabbit Finds New Friends is her first book.
Website: https://sanjamarkovski.com/
Diane & Alex Matyas, Mother-daughter POWER TEAM, Founders of DNA Everyday Global, Award-Winning Entrepreneurs integrating technology to help people everyday. Together they represent Canada on trade missions, present to Olympic Committees, MEMS Tour, Medical Sensors, Sensors, Consumer Electronics Show, Sports Analytics World Series, Future Innovation Sport Technology. Their story has been featured in media outlets around the world as well as in the Concussion Documentary by Protocol Sports Marketing. They are multisport athletes, world travellers and innovators leading the research, design, development and manufacturing of new products into the marketplace to solve global challenges. Together they inspire the world with their vision.
Website: http://dnaeveryday.com/
Arlene McFarlane is the USA Today bestselling author of the Murder, Curlers series. She’s won and placed in over 30 contests, including the Readers’ Favorite Book Awards, the Golden Heart®, the Daphne du Maurier, and the Chanticleer International Mystery & Mayhem Book Awards. She’s also received a Voice Arts nomination for her audiobook, Murder, Curlers & Cream. The nomination landed her in L.A. where she walked the red carpet at Warner Bros. Studios. Previously an aesthetician, Arlene still dabbles in the beauty industry. She’s also an accomplished pianist. When time allows, she plays publicly and posts the odd makeover on her website. Arlene lives with her family in Canada.
Website: www.arlenemcfarlane.com
Tina McFarlane is a Regional Library Assistant and has been writing dark poetry and short stories for TBM Horror Experts, a horror promotion site, since 2017. Her work has also appeared in Spillwords, Luna the Blog/The Poetry Bar and Lucy’s Works. You can find her on Instagram, Twitter, and her website, Tina McFarlane-Poet and Writer.
Jane Ann McLachlan writes in several genres, from contemporary short stories to medieval historical fiction to young adult science fiction and fantasy. She also has a website for non-fiction where you will find writing advice and her books on creative writing. But she prefers writing story — the kind of stories you hate to finish reading!
Website: www.janeannmclachlan.com
David McPherson is a Waterloo author, freelance writer, and communications consultant. His The Legendary Horseshoe Tavern: A Complete History was published in 2017 by Dundurn Press. His latest book – Massey Hall – was published in November 2021. A regular contributor to the Toronto Star, Words + Music and Canadian Cycling, over the years his writing has appeared in countless publications including: Grammy.com, Zoomer!, Sharp, the Globe & Mail, No Depression, Paste, American Songwriter, Bluegrass Unlimited, Exclaim! and Canadian Musician. As president and chief creative officer of McPherson Communications, David helps clients get the words right. Books
Amy Neufeld. With her degree in English Literature and diploma in Theatre Arts, Amy Neufeld is a Theatre for Young Audiences playwright and co-founder of Lightning Banjo Productions, and a contributor to Shameless Magazine and CBC Radio’s The Irrelevant Show. Amy has been published on the Dreamers Creative Writing site, Flash Fiction Magazine, and on the Daily Drunk Magazine, and is a member of Pat the Dog’s 2021 Women’s Room for playwrights. Amy lives in Kitchener Ontario with her husband, two daughters, and calico cat.
Ardin Patterson is a Canadian voice actor with Noble Caplan Abrams. Her voice can be heard in animated series such as Polly Pocket, Tiny Tukkins and Hailey and the Hero Hearts. Aside from performing, her interests include reading and reviewing books, drawing, and writing. Vermin, her debut novel released in August 2021.
Website: https://ardinpatterson.com/
Kelly Peasgood. Bio coming soon.
Website: https://www.kellypeasgood.com/
Howard Pell has written and self-published two non-fiction books: Retire Fit, Fit and Fit (www.howardpell.ca) and co-authored and self-published Retire Fit with S.A.F.E. Workouts (www.retirefit.life). He has written many short stories and poems, and is working on his first novel. Howard retired in 2014 and is a writer, videographer, Flamenco promoter, Rotarian and a world traveller. Howard and his wife Rosemary live in Kitchener, Ontario, Canada.
Mariam Pirbhai is the author of a debut collection of short fiction titled Outside People and Other Stories (Inanna 2017), which won the 2018 IPPY Gold Medal for Multicultural Fiction, the 2019 American BookFest’s Best Book Award for the Short Story, and ranked #6 in a CBC “must-reads” list of 2017. She is a Professor of English at Wilfrid Laurier University where she teaches and specializes in postcolonial literature, diaspora studies and creative writing. She is the author/editor of two academic books on the South Asian diaspora and its literatures, cultures and histories of migration. Mariam Pirbhai was born in Pakistan and was in her late teens when her family immigrated to Canada. She and her husband settled in Waterloo, Ontario, in 2005, and much of her current work in the genres of fiction and creative non-fiction is inspired by her meanderings through and musings of the region, its watershed and its landscape.
Website: mariampirbhai.ca and Facebook
Lindsey-Anne Pontes was born and raised in Cambridge, Ontario in July 1992, but currently resides in Kitchener, Ontario with her husband, Justin, and Holland Lop bunny, Willow. Lindsey comes from a Portuguese background and is fluent in both English and Portuguese. Although Lindsey works as a full-time Dental Assistant, one of her greatest passions is reading manga and light novels, along with watching anime – thus inspiring the story of Let Me Save You. Lindsey’s newly discovered joy is to go to Café O, a local café near her house, order a sandwich and a cappuccino, and write or read there in peace. After eight long years in the making, going through numerous edits and annoying all of her friends, Lindsey’s first ever novel is now available!
Website: Petal Publishing Instagram, Goodreads & AllAuthor Page
Kenzie Quinn is an erotica and erotic romance writer who loves corsets, handcuffs, fangs, and a good long snuggle. Her stories are for readers who like variety — straight, LGBTQ+, couples, ménage, contemporary, paranormal, dark, BDSM, romantic — Kenzie loves to explore different subgenres. But one thing is always the same — lots of steamy sex!
Website: Kenzie Quinn
Maryam Rafiee was born in 1983 in Tehran, Iran, and has worked as a chemist, a conservator of cultural heritage sites, and an archaeologist. She is the author of numerous articles on the cultural heritage of Iran. She currently lives in Ontario, Canada, where her personal essays on her experiences as an immigrant and as a daughter of a political prisoner have appeared in local and international newspapers.
Website: Maryam Rafiee
Elle Renee was born and raised in KW and still resides here till this day. Her Sci-Fi thriller novel is based on the worlds most powerful psychic Gloria Stevens, who learns more about who and WHAT she is while growing up in Kitchener in the 1970s. This book is instalment 1 of 4, and Elle is looking forward to perfecting her craft in the second novel, As The Faucet Drips coming in October, 2023.
Website: https://www.amazon.ca/Seeing-Through-Doors-Gloria-Stevens/dp/0228868971/ref=sr_1_1
Vanessa Ricci-Thode is a word sorceress — an SFF author and editor — who loves a good story. She’s a NaNoWriMo veteran, a Halloween enthusiast, and a bookish geek who loves dragons, dogs, astronomy, travel and good tequila. She writes primarily fantasy, with two novels out through Iguana Books. Follow her on Twitter @VRicciThode
Website: www.thodestool.ca
Frances Roberts Reilly is a Romani writer and award winning documentary filmmaker. True to the spirit of the Romani diaspora her poems have been published internationally in well regarded anthologies in Canada, U.S., U.K., Wales and Europe. Her books include Parramisha (Cinnamon Press) and The Green Man (TOPS Stanza Series). Her essays are published in the Critical Romani Studies Journal by the Central European University, Budapest and Planet Welsh Internationalist. She is a contributor to the Roma Peoples Project at Columbia University. Frances has been a guest author on CBC Radio, WSRQ Radio, Sarasota and CKWR 98.5 Community Radio. She is producer of Watershed Writers on Midtown Radio KW. Her documentaries are More Than Just a Job and The Constitution: New Rights for Women? Follow her on Twitter @francesCSR Website: francesrobertsreilly.wordpress.com
Marion Roes is a researcher, author and self-publisher of four local history books, plus articles for the Waterloo Historical Society and Ontario Mennonite History. Most are related to early and present histories — and vehicles — of Waterloo Region undertakers and funeral businesses. All stem from family connections and an abundance of photos and other fabulous records. Books are for sale in local book stores, some gift shops and from Marion.
P.T. Russell is a Bahamian creative entrepreneur based in Bowmanville, Canada. She writes Short Stories, Microfiction, poetry and Screenplays. P.T. was awarded an Honorable Mention from L. Ron Hubbard’s Writers of the Future contest for her first short story, “Orev.” She is currently adapting Orev into a graphic novel. She has been published in, NonBinary Review, Fresh.Ink Magazine , The Orono Weekly Times , Lolwe Magazine, Montreal Writes and The Penmen Review. You can follow her on Twitter @ptwrites
David Sarachman. Bio coming soon. Website: davidsarachman.com
Lynne Sargent is writer, aerialist, and philosophy Ph.D student currently studying at the University of Waterloo. They are an Aurora and Rhysling Award nominated poet, and you can find their poetry in venues such as Strange Horizons, Truancy, and Augur magazine. They received an OAC recommender grant in 2019 to write their first full-length poetry collection “A Refuge of Tales,” which is forthcoming from Renaissance Press.
Website: scribbledshadows
Maria Sayde Hraiki is the proud author of her debut poetry book, Sun Set Moon Rise, which will forever be one of her most exceptional breakthroughs. This collection of poems took courage, honesty, love and surrender. It has reached best-seller status and won first place “Best Local Author” in The Record Readers Choice Awards 2021. Maria is a mother by nature, and an artist by soul. She feels most free, alive and in her highest self when she is creatively living through her curiosities and passions for art. She is currently in the genesis phase of her next omnific endevour and is excited to share with the world her creation.
Website: https://linktr.ee/mariasayd
Russell Scott is one of the new generations of “no dogma spiritual teachers” and the author of the best-selling book: “Awaken The Guru In You” He has led hundreds of self-inquiry meditation retreats and assisted thousands of people in his one-to-one and group programs break through past limitations and inner sabotage so that they can walk in the beauty, honesty, and magnificence of their true nature. His greatest joy in life is watching people fall off their seats in fits of laughter when they realize who they really are.
Website: www.awakentheguruinyou.com
Susan Scott is the author or editor of works that plumb the relationship between story, spirit, self, and culture. Her latest book, Body & Soul, celebrates women writers and poets, and unorthodox approaches to the sacred. Her next book, Sainted Dirt, explores shame and the sacred in the lives of women and girls. In her role as an editor and mentor, Susan works with artists, activists, and adventuresome scholars, releasing powerful stories that effect change and healing transformation. Susan directs the Wild Writers Mentorship Program, is a Contributing Editor with The New Quarterly, and co-chairs the Region of Waterloo Arts Fund.
Website: https://susanlscott.twohornedbull.ca
Komal Sing is a mother to two little humans, a woman of color, software engineer by background, a technology leader, adventurer with family and friends, and a kind person. She works at Google as an Engineering program manager in a field she’s passionate about — Responsible AI — to make AI systems equitable for humanity. International bestselling author of the STEM book series “Ara”. She’s a public speaker featured in numerous media, keynotes & TEDx talk. She’s a board member at Grand River Hospital Foundation, and a forever learner who thrives at the intersection of technology, creativity, social impact.
Website: https://www.komalsingh.ca/
Richard H. Stephens began writing circa 1974; a bored child looking for something to do. A trip to a local bookstore saw the proprietor introduce him to Terry Brooks and Stephen R. Donaldson and his writing life was forever changed. Richard worked in a warehouse for 22 years, before going back to school. Graduating with honours, he joined the local Police Service. In 2017, Richard resigned from the Police Service to pursue writing full-time. With the support of his family, he has finally realized his boyhood dream and has currently published 13 novels with many more on the way.
Website: http://www.richardhstephens.com
Glynn Stewart is the author of Starship’s Mage, a bestselling science fiction and fantasy series where faster-than-light travel is possible–but only because of magic. His other works include science fiction series Duchy of Terra, Castle Federation and Vigilante, as well as the urban fantasy series ONSET and Changeling Blood.
Website: www.glynnstewart.com
Jody Swannell is a local author from the beautiful Region of Waterloo. Her goal is to keep readers eagerly turning pages while trying to guess what happens next—occasionally adding a splash of romance here and there to spice things up a bit. She loves writing contemporary fiction in mystery, thriller, and sci-fi genres.
Website: https://linktr.ee/jodyswannell
Brenda and Ashley Tindall are non-fiction writers and have recently published, The Way I See Things: A Mother and Daughter Offer Hope Through Tragedy. In this memoir they share their lived experiences as survivor and caregiver following a catastrophic motor vehicle accident. They are currently working on the sequel titled, Looking Forward. both are actively involved in the brain injury community and have a desire to support others experiencing trauma.
Website: www.ashleyandbrendatindall.ca
Sarah Tolmie is an award-winning poet and speculative fiction writer and professor of English at the University of Waterloo.
Website: www.sarahtolmie.ca
Caroline Topperman is a European-Canadian writer, entrepreneur, dancer, and world traveler. Born in Sweden, raised in Canada with a recent stint of living in Poland, she holds a BFA in screenwriting. Her book credits include, Tell Me What You See visual writing prompts for the wandering writer & FitWise: straight talk about being fit & healthy. She has written articles for Huffington Post Canada, was the Beauty Editor for British MODE Magazine and is the Managing Editor for Nonbinary Review. Her writing career also includes professional copy writing for a well-funded online start-up and real estate development websites. You can find her on Instagram & Twitter as @styleontheside
Websites/blogs: www.carolinetopperman.com & www.styleontheside.com
Brian Van Norman. With three highly acclaimed novels currently on the market THE BETRAYAL PATH, IMMORTAL WATER and his latest, AGAINST THE MACHINE: LUDDITES available through Chapters/Indigo and Independent Bookstores(Canada), Barnes & Noble (USA), Waterstones (Great Britain), Amazon, Goodreads and his publisher www.guernicaeditions.com, Brian’s next book, the sequel to LUDDITES set in Waterloo Region, is titled AGAINST THE MACHINE: MANIFESTO. It will launch this fall. He is currently researching and writing a third book for his AGAINST THE MACHINE trilogy. Once a teacher, theatre director and adjudicator, Brian left those worlds to travel with his wife, Susan, and take up writing as a full time pursuit. He has journeyed to every continent and sailed nearly every sea on the planet. His base is Waterloo. For more, his website is www.authorbrianvannorman.com.
Todd Vercoe is a director, producer, playwright, writer, and award-winning theatre instructor. Originally from Toronto, Todd has directed, lectured, or taught in North America and Asia, though he now makes his home in Waterloo, Ontario.
Todd holds a specialized honours degree in directing and playwriting from York University’s Faculty of Fine Arts, where he also earned the York University President’s Prize for Playwriting. In addition he holds an M.A. from Columbia University.
The founding Artistic Director of Toronto’s Open Mind Productions, Todd was faculty advisor to Inje University’s ‘Research on English Drama’ over ten seasons. Since 2017, Todd has been the Artistic Director at actOUT! The Kitchener Waterloo Children’s Drama Workshop. A member of the Playwrights Guild of Canada, Todd has penned The Scheme of Things (Jin Young Press), Wake Me Gently (Jin Young Press), The Petition Against Coffee, and most recently Box: The Empathy Project. Todd has written for The Korea Times, The Korean Herald, The Asian EFL Journal, The English Connection, and others. With Moon Seung-Won he co-translated Yang Gui Ja’s Nuri, Nuri, What Are You Doing? (Jin Young Press) and has compiled, edited, and published a six-hundred page humour reader of Light Bulb Jokes: Light Bulb 101 (MG Press).
Jessica Vitalis is a Columbia MBA-wielding writer specializing in middle grade literature. An American expat, she now lives in Canada with her husband and two precocious daughters. She loves traveling, sailing, and scuba diving, but when she’s at home she can usually be found recording book talks for Magic in the Middle and changing the batteries in her heated socks. Her debut novel, The Wolf’s Curse, published in 2021 with Greenwillow/HarperCollins, and the companion novel, The Rabbit’s Gift, comes out October 25th of 2022.
Website: www.jessicavitalis.com
Trevor Waurechen. Bio coming soon.
Website: www.waurechen.com
Carolyn R. Wilker, author, editor and storyteller, explores her muse in memoir, poetry, inspirational, and children’s stories. She’s a gardener, scrapbooker, and loves taking photos for her blog https://www.storygal.ca/ Carolyn looks forward to the day when she can hug her grandkids, family, and friends again.
Jennifer Willcock is a writer and speaker, and she’s thrilled that her English degree is finally being put to good use. Jennifer spent some of her best hours at the dance barre. She is the author of Exit Stage Right, her debut YA novel and Whole: Hope for the Broken Pastor’s Wife, about her struggles as a pastor’s wife. She lives in Ontario, Canada with her husband, two sons, and their pet dwarf rabbit, Whiskers. You can find her on Twitter @jenwillcock, Facebook @wholePW and Instagram @jenniferwillcock
Website: www.jenniferwillcock.com
Sandra Wilson is a children’s author, educator and illustrator that lives in Ontario, Canada. With her writing she hopes to empower and inspire children and help get the conversation started on topics that can make a difference in the life of a child. She believes compassion and understanding are key concepts to learn to create a better world. And stories are a powerful tool to help teach these concepts to children. You can connect with Author Sandra Wilson at www.quiteacharacter.ca, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube
Lori Wolf-Heffner is the author of nine novels, all of which take place in town. Her 10th local novel comes out in November. She’s lived in K-W most of her life. She has many happy memories especially of Belmont, where her grandparents lived, and Belmont Village became especially precious to her when she discovered that her grandparents’ family were regulars at the store her husband’s family owned in the 60s and 70s. Anyone remember Kwiki Mart? Lori has set both her young adult series, Between Worlds, and her sweet romance series, Love on Belmont, in Belmont.
Website: https://loriwolfheffner.com/
GRAND RIVER WRITERS & KW WRITER'S ALLIANCE 