Zena Dell Lowe

Zena Dell Lowe has worked professionally in the entertainment industry for over 20 years as a writer, producer, director, actress, and story consultant. She has won numerous awards for her work as a writer, and she also has several feature film projects in development through her independent production company, Mission Ranch Films. In addition to her work as a filmmaker, Zena hosts “The Storyteller’s Mission with Zena Dell Lowe,” a podcast designed to serve the whole artist, not just to focus on craft.

In 2021, Zena launched The Storyteller’s Mission Online Platform, where she offers advanced classes and other key services to writers. Zena loves story and supporting storytellers. Her passion is to equip artists of all levels to achieve excellence at their craft, so that they will truly have everything they need to change the world for the better through story.

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Simon Gervais

Simon Gervais was born in Montréal, Québec, and joined the Canadian military as an infantry officer, later commissioning as a second lieutenant. During his time in the military, Simon received extensive training in advanced reconnaissance and small-unit tactics. In 2001, he became a federal agent, and over the next eleven years served as both a drug investigator and a close-protection specialist tasked with guarding foreign heads of state visiting Canada. Among many others, he served on the protection details of Queen Elizabeth II and United States President Barack Obama. In 2012, Simon was transferred to his organization’s counter-surveillance unit, but in May 2014 he returned to his former unit to serve as a bodyguard for the American and Israeli ambassadors to Canada until his retirement in September 2014.

Simon is now a full-time New York Times and #1 Amazon bestselling author and a member of International Thriller Writers. He, his wife, and their two children divide their time between Ottawa, Miami, and The Bahamas. He’s an avid skier and boating enthusiast.

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Mike Maden

Mike Maden grew up working in the canneries, feed mills, and slaughterhouses of California’s San Joaquin Valley. A lifelong fascination with history and warfare ultimately lead to a Ph.D. in political science focused on conflict and technology in international relations. Years later he earned a Th.M. from Dallas Theological Seminary. Like millions of others, he first became a Tom Clancy fan after reading THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER. He began his published fiction career in the same techno-thriller genre, starting with DRONE and its sequels, and in 2017 joined “The Campus” as a writer in Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, Jr., series starting with POINT OF CONTACT. LINE OF SIGHT, ENEMY CONTACT and FIRING POINT followed, each hitting #3 on the New York Times bestseller list.

Mike is currently working on an exciting new franchise that has yet to be announced…

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Natalie Jenner

Natalie Jenner is the author of two books, the instant international bestseller THE JANE AUSTEN SOCIETY and a second novel slated for release in spring 2022. A Goodreads Choice Award runner-up for historical fiction, THE JANE AUSTEN SOCIETY was named one of the best books of 2020 by Amazon, was a USA Today and #1 national bestseller, and has been sold for translation in twenty countries. Born in England and raised in Canada, Natalie has been a corporate lawyer, career coach and, most recently, an independent bookstore owner in Oakville, Ontario, where she lives with her family and two rescue dogs.

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Tim Shoemaker

Award-winning author Tim Shoemaker is a master of writing exciting whodunits and mysteries for young adults. In addition to writing eleven books, Tim also speaks at schools, churches, and writing conferences. He has been a full time speaker and writer since 2004, lives in the greater Chicago area, and has been happily married to Cheryl, the love of his life, for more than 30 years. Actively involved with the leadership at his local church, Tim also writes books focused on sharing Biblical teachings with the next generation.

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Kendall Haven

Kendall Haven is the only West Point graduate to ever become a professional storyteller. The author of two internationally-celebrated books on the science of story structure, Haven holds a graduate degree in Oceanography from Oregon State University and spent eight years as a Senior Research Scientist for the Department of Energy. He regularly serves as a consultant to government agencies such as the Navy, the Environmental Protection Agency, NASA, NOAA, and the National Park Service, as well as to organizations and corporations such as The World Bank and Boeing. He was selected as the only storyteller to participate in the 2012-2014 Department of Defense (DARPA) Narrative Networks Research Program. Haven’s award-winning published works include five audio tapes, thirty-five books, two scripts, and a radio drama miniseries.

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Kevin Cordi

Kevin Cordi was the first full-time high school storytelling teacher in the country and is committed to engendering a love of storytelling in the next generation. He is considered one of the nation’s “primary advocates for youth storytelling” and has also taught storytelling at both the university and secondary level.  Over the last 25 years, he has told stories in over forty states as well as England, Scotland, Singapore, Canada, Japan and in Qatar. 

Kevin’s award-winning story work has been commissioned by The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, American Library Association, National Storytelling Network, Newsweek, and the Qatar Foundation International. He holds a doctorate from Ohio State University in Education, Storytelling, and Story Making and lives in Lancaster, Ohio. 

Transcription available on request.

Adam Brookes

Join us for an engrossing conversation with spy thriller author Adam Brookes. After reporting for the BBC in over 30 countries, Adam turned his attention to writing spy novels. Listen to him share the encounter in China that motivated him to write his espionage series. You’ll also hear some of his recommendations for other stellar spy novels.

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Joel Burcat

Joel Burcat is a practicing environmental lawyer and author who writes legal and speculative thrillers, as well as imaginative stories about everything from beer to murder. His realistic environmental legal thrillers explore many facets of life, although he has a true fascination with unexpected twists. His characters’ reasons for doing things are as important as their actions. Joel has completed five novels, the latest of which, AMID RAGE, came out in February of 2021. He grew up in Philadelphia and still lives in Pennsylvania, which provides the setting for many of his stories.

Transcription available on request.

Rowan Gibson

According to Forbes, Rowan Gibson is “one of the most recognized thought leaders in business” and is “the maestro of business innovation.” He is the internationally bestselling author of three books that have been published in 25 languages, a top keynote speaker in 64 countries, and a trusted strategic adviser to both the private and public sector worldwide. In 2015, Rowan received the prestigious “Global Leader of Innovation” award for his significant contribution to the field of innovation strategy. Rowan is one of the world’s most in-demand public speakers. 

Transcription available on request.