Marianne is the author of four novels: Finding Ruby Draker, Shadows in the Aftermath, Reinhardt, and her latest release, Underneath the Fireflies, which has garnered a Pinnacle Book Achievement Award, a Readers’ Favorite Award, and a Literary Titan Achievement Award. She is currently working on her 5th novel and lives in Ontario, Canada.
“If it wasn’t for your encouragement, it [my novel] certainly wouldn’t be as far along as it is. So thank you for your support and honesty. I truly wouldn’t be able to do it without you. You’re an inspiration to me.”
Phil Eastwood served as a police officer for over 35 years in London and Canada. He earned his Masters of Art in Leadership and Training (MA) and became a Certified Speaking Professional (CSP). He began telling daring tales of detectives to his children around the campfire, and now crafts tales of murder, mystery and suspense.
Carrianne Leung holds a Ph.D. in Sociology and Equity Studies from OISE University of Toronto. Her debut novel, The Wondrous Woo (Inanna Publications) was shortlisted for the 2014 Toronto Book Awards. Her short story collection, That Time I Loved You (Harper Collins) was published in 2018.
Julie Larade, Cape Breton author and retired elementary school teacher, draws from her Acadian roots in her writings. Her first novel Laura’s Story, a work of historical cozy fiction was published in November 2014. In June 2020, Julie published To Fly Again, a continuation of Laura’s Story, and in 2025, her third novel, The Stories That Lead Us Home, was released.
Julie is also a children’s book author. In 2018, she published Lazare le détective: Un cadeau and its English version, Lazarus the Detective: The Gift, and in March 2020, Lazare le détective: Une quenouille dans les grenouilles and its English version, Lazarus the Detective: A House in the Mouse.
Judy Haveson is a Texas-born New Yorker whose debut memoir was awarded the Chick Lit Café Book Excellence award for Best Memoir and first place in the Non-fiction/Personal Memoir Category at the BookFest Awards Spring 2023. Her work can be seen in Your Teen magazine and Next Avenue magazine.
Mary Poffenroth, PhD, is an award-winning researcher and member of the biology faculty at San Jose State University. Her groundbreaking approach to fear and risk-taking, along with her insights on the biology of fear, have made her a leader in the field of fear science. Her work, inspired by her own experiences as a multi-cultural scientist, has been featured in publications such as Forbes, Science, Entrepreneur, National Geographic, TedEd, HuffPost, TIME, Refinery 29, and Inbound. She has three master’s degrees (biology, psychology, science communication) with a Ph.D. in Psychology. Her book, Brave New You: Strategies, Tools, and Neurohacks to Live More Courageously Every Day (Hachette, October 2024), has won the San Jose State University Innovation Award and BookFest’s Award for Nonfiction – Health & Wellness – Mental Health.
Ryan Manucha is a Frederick Sheldon Fellow, Harvard University, and holds a J.D. from Harvard Law School, and a B.A. in Economics from Yale University. Ryan is a widely published author on interprovincial trade. He lives in Toronto. *Winner of the 2023 Donner Prize (the best book on Canadian policy).
Jennifer Andrews, founder and CEO of FreshLeaf Marketing, is a marketing expert with a science background and an MBA who is passionate about simplifying the complex in order to grow scientific businesses. She is also a business mentor and industry expert through several accelerators and entrepreneurship centres across Southern Ontario, including Innovation Guelph.
Paul has been an illustrator, graphic designer, advertising art director, film director, screenplay writer, writer, and multiple disciplinary artist. Then, after five years of showing up each day writing and rewriting, memoirist. Paul lives with his wife and their little dog in the Beaches area of Toronto, where he also has a studio in which he works as an artist and writer.
Brendon Larson is a professor in the School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability at the University of Waterloo.
Ray is a novelist, lawyer, past executive officer of and faculty member for the National Institute of Trial Advocacy, and a lifelong student of mystical phenomena. Now, living and writing in Richmond, Virginia, he spends his time creating contemporary stories that incorporate a blend of empowering, transformative, and spiritual themes.
Josée is a French-Canadian Indigenous Métis who has been helping parents feel at home in nature since 2009. As a mother of five, Bergeron has over a decade-and-a-half of experience guiding both her children as well as other families into nature. She has written for Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), Active for Life, Explore Magazine and in other parenting books such as Oh Crap, I Have A Toddler by Jamie Glowacki and The Call of the Wild and Free: Reclaiming the Wonder in Your Child’s Education. Her debut nonfiction book Beyond the Front Door: Embracing Nature for a Happier, Healthier Family was released in February 2026.
Jamie is the first novel of the Mythical Wardens of the Vale series. Lisa lives and writes in Canada.
Anna Hall is an author, pastor, consultant and coach who loves superhero TV and movies almost as much as she loves travel and church.
Emily Sadowski, PhD, writes, teaches, and coaches smart, sensitive leaders in cultivating their self-awareness and self-compassion so they can connect with their inner genius and trust their inner knowing.
Anthony spends his non-writing time watching his kids play sport, travelling, and teaching drama and English at the local high school. He also tries to play hockey, rather unsuccessfully. When he gets stuck for ideas, he runs around Paris, Ontario, where he now lives. After focusing on creative non-fiction pieces for many years, Tess is his first novel.
Tamika is a psychotherapist in private practice, award-winning social worker, counselor, emotion code practitioner, and meditation teacher trainer. Former university instructor, school social worker, and co-founder of DevaTree Wellness, Tamika has explored the ethics of truth-telling with students from around the world. For over three decades, she has created and facilitated numerous trainings and programs, certifying hundreds of yoga and wellness leaders.
Chukwudi Eze is an architect who graduated with triple-honors and a Phi-Beta-Kappa from Vassar College, received the William Kinne Award during his Master’s Degree from Columbia University, New York and studied creative writing at the University of Toronto. His novel, The Return of Half-Something, was shortlisted for the ANA Prose Prize.
Joan Ulsher is a San Antonio-based writer, philanthropist, retired U.S. Army Major, and award-winning child advocate. A survivor of abuse with first-hand experience of foster care, Joan serves children and teens as a Court Appointed Special Advocate, or CASA, in the foster care system in Bexar County, Texas. In February, 2024, Joan received the 40th Annual Texas Governor’s Volunteer of the Year Award. Learn more at https://www.joanulsher.com/
Nupur Dave is an author, speaker, and ex-Googler who specializes in writing about the NRI life. After spending over a decade at Google, she moved back to India. Since then, her second book, Back Home, became a bestseller in its category, and has become a go-to guide on moving back to India. For more info, visit nurpurdave.in
Zoe Asher is the author of Choices, a four-book series. She divides her time between New York, Los Angeles, Toronto, and the cobblestoned little nooks of Greece and Southern France.
Nora is a businesswoman and a civic and philanthropic leader in New York.
Tony Clark has been a professional magician for over 30 years. He has worked as a magic consultant for numerous hit television shows such as USA TV’s “Monk”, FOX TV’s “House MD”, ABC’s “Brothers & Sisters”, Disney Channel’s “Suite Life On Deck”, and most recently NBC’s “The Good Place”. You can see more about Tony at his production company, Tony Clark Productions.
Lianne is a community organizer and volunteer; an avid world traveller; and she loves to play as much tennis and golf as is physically possible. Lianne and her husband Paul divide their time between their home in Toronto and their country retreat in the Caledon Hills, along with their two dogs, Scout and Coco. Lianne and Paul look forward to family dinners and travelling adventures with their three young adult children.
With over 20 years in business accounting, Melissa Houston, CPA, CGA, is a money coach, founder of the “She Means Profit” blog and podcast, and is a regular contributor at Forbes and Entrepreneur. Her book, Cash Confident: An Entrepreneur’s Guide to Creating a Profitable Business, was released in May 2023 by Post Hill Press (Simon and Schuster).
Murray Mollard is a former UBC champion player, coach, governor, passionate supporter and observer of the sport in Canada. He is a regular contributor to the sports and op-ed pages of major newspapers such as the Vancouver Sun and The Province. He lives in Vancouver, BC. Winning Pitch (Harbour Publishing) is “a definitive look at the past, present and future of Canadian men’s soccer ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.”
Cori is an internationally acclaimed composer and producer and the creator of “Global Shifts” and the Super Me! Empowerment Programs.
Ordinary Mary is a lively narrative non-fiction book on the life and times of Mary Loretto Flynn (1904-1977). After her difficult childhood in Ottawa, Mary’s family moved to Pembroke, Ontario where, despite her best attempt to be ordinary, she had an extraordinary effect on thousands. Kit lives in Ottawa, Canada.
Michelle Tang (she/her) is a Chinese-Filipino writer of speculative fiction. Her short stories have been published by Cemetery Gates, Escape Pod, and Flame Tree Publishing, among others. She released DuMort in 2025, which was nominated for “best novella” in the Shirley Jackson Awards. Her debut novel, She Waits Where Shadows Gather, was released May 2026, and she has a second book coming out in 2027, also published by Poisoned Pen Press.
Nonfiction writers Miriam Ticoll and Naomi Frankel are writing partners; this is their first collaborative chapbook.
Maria’s Song, her first book which she self-published, is based on lived experience. A survivor of past trauma, an artist, poet and storyteller, Maria’s own dark night of the soul, took her on an inner spiritual journey back to her own divinity.
Tim is the owner of award-winning Cream Ridge Winery, in Cream Ridge, New Jersey.
Richard is an award-winning author of the Dead Path Chronicles 3-Book Series and the Alamptria series. He lives and writes in Canada.
Amanda Laird is a menstrual health specialist, holistic nutritionist and host of the podcast Heavy Flow, covering topics in the health and wellness industry. Publisher: Dundurn Press. Coach, Jenna Kalinsky
Heather Mallett’s first poem was published in a school yearbook when she was seven, and she has been writing ever since. A member of the Anglican Church and the Calligraphy Society of Ottawa, she is active in her community, and enjoys swimming, canoeing, paddle boarding, and creativity of all kinds. Heather is the author of a self-published collection of poetry and photography, REFLECTIONS (2015). She lives in Ottawa, Ontario, with her husband of sixty-one years and their puppy, Bella.
As an interior designer and mother of two, Amber Hayes shares her journey from trauma to triumph, battling depression and abuse. Her debut book, The Obedient Daughter, published in September 2024, chronicles her resilience and empowerment and encourages women to overcome past traumas. Amber advocates for racial and ethical harmony through authenticity, inspiring others to find strength they may have never known they possess.
Kellie Garrett is a recovering executive who left corporate life to become an executive coach and speaker. Her mission is to help clients get out of their own way so they can shine. The book covers leadership as a way of being and common coaching themes, along with a self-coaching model that guides readers through a process to coach themselves.
As a writer, CEO, motivational public speaker, and engaging strategic expert, Heather has helped people be seen, heard, and celebrated by opening them up to possibilities, framing pathways for achievement, and igniting actions. She is CEO & Co-founder of Ready Set Recover, and has held senior leadership roles in media companies such as VP Synergy and Brand integration at ESPN and VP of Alchemy at Audacy. She’s the recipient of the “Going the Extra Mile” Volunteer Award from Big Brothers Big Sisters, and helped found a public middle school while Chair of the School and Education Committee in District 2 of NYC. Heather earned her MBA on full scholarship at NYU and her BA from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. After almost thirty years in NYC, she now lives in the Berkshires with her family.
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