Buzzy Jackson

Buzzy Jackson is the award-winning author of three books of nonfiction as well as the novel TO DIE BEAUTIFUL (Dutton, May 2023). A recent fellow of the Edith Wharton Writing Residency, she has a Ph.D. in History from UC Berkeley and is a member of the National Book Critics’ Circle. 

Buzzy Jackson grew up in the mountains (Truckee CA and Montana), lived all over the place (Iowa City, Perth Australia, Los Angeles, Barcelona, NYC, Berkeley, Cambridge MA, San Francisco, Oakland, Cape Town South Africa), and then moved back to the mountains again (Colorado), where she lives with her family and Ralph (a dog). She is the proud daughter of Motor City legend Ruth J. Hall and beloved mystery writer Jon A. Jackson.

To Die Beautiful is Buzzy’s debut novel and fourth book. She has a Ph.D. in History from UC Berkeley and is a member of the National Book Critics’ Circle. She is currently working on a new novel based on a historical American true crime. 

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Tyler Merritt

Tyler Merritt is a Nashville-based actor, activist, cancer survivor, founder of The Tyler Merritt Project, and author of "I TAKE MY COFFEE BLACK: REFLECTIONS ON TUPAC, MUSICAL THEATER, FAITH AND BEING BLACK IN AMERICA." Over the course of his career, Tyler has gained recognition through notable acting projects including "Kevin Probably Saves The World," "Outer Banks," and "The Outsider," as well as serving as the face of the worldwide teaching curriculum for The Gospel Project for Kids.

In 2018 Tyler's viral video "Before You Call The Cops" (released by The Tyler Merritt Project) was viewed by over 100 million people worldwide and voted one of the Top 20 videos of the year by NowThisPolitics. In 2020, "Before You Call the Cops recirculated and has now been viewed by over 60 million people and has appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live, MSNBC Live, and Access Hollywood. Merritt has also been featured in the Las Vegas Review Journal, The New York Times, MSNBC, and the Huffington Post. His most recent viral video "The Playlist" is also stirring the much needed conversation of how we see and communicate with each other. Raised in Las Vegas, NV he has always had a passion for bringing laughter, grace and love into any community that he is able to be a part of.”

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David Corbett

David Corbett is the author of seven novels, which have been nominated for numerous awards, including the Edgar. His short fiction has twice been selected for Best American Mystery Stories, and a collaborative novel for which he contributed a chapter—Culprits—was adapted for TV by the producers of Killing Eve for Disney+ in the U.K. He’s also written the writing guides The Art of Character and The Compass of Character, and is a monthly contributor to Writer Unboxed, an award-winning blog dedicated to the craft and business of fiction.

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Meg Mitchell Moore

Meg Mitchell Moore released her debut novel, The Arrivals, in 2011 and her newest novel, her eighth, Summer Stage, releasing soon, is being called a “must-read” for the summer of 2023! (summer 2022), is her seventh. Before turning to fiction Meg worked as a freelance journalist for a variety of business and consumer magazines, where she often managed to pitch stories involving dogs. Before that she worked on the staff of a family of technology magazines.

Meg received a B.A. from Providence College and a master’s degree in English Literature from New York University.

In 2012 Meg, her husband, their daughters moved from Massachusetts to northern California. Despite California’s many charms, they lasted exactly one year and returned to the beautiful coastal town of Newburyport, Massachusetts, where their busy household now includes a golden retriever who is a certified therapy dog and three daughters who somehow turned into teenagers when nobody was looking.

Setting is an important aspect of her stories.

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Damyanti Biswas

Damyanti Biswas is an Indian author currently based in Singapore. Her short fiction has been published at Smokelong, Ambit, Litro, Puerto del Sol, among others, and she's the coeditor of The Forge literary magazine.

She's the author of You Beneath Your Skin, an Amazon-bestselling crime novel, which has been optioned for screens by Endemol Shine. Her crime novel, The Blue Bar was published by Thomas & Mercer USA. It received a starred review from Publishers Weekly, and Goodreads named it one of 2023's Most Anticipated Mysteries & Thrillers. The sequel, The Blue Monsoon, will be out in Oct 2023.

Her popular blog Daily (w)rite, where she speaks about the writing life and interviews publishing professionals, turned 15 this year.

Listen as Steven interviews Indian author, Damyanti, Biswas, and they have an incisive conversation about writing, about the importance of both hubris and humility in the writing process, respecting your readers, trusting your characters, and being honest with your stories. Also, they talk traffic in Hyderabad, India and capturing the essence and paradox of Mumbai for her novel THE BLUE BAR. Check it out!

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MP Woodward

M.P. Woodward is a veteran of both US intelligence ops and the entertainment industry.  As a naval intelligence officer with the US Pacific Command, he scripted scenario moves and countermoves for US war game exercises in the Middle East. In multiple deployments to the Persian Gulf and Far East, he worked alongside US Special Forces, CIA, and NSA. Most recentlyWoodward ran international partner distribution for Amazon Prime and Prime Video. 

His latest book, DEAD DROP, releases May 23, 2023.

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Elle Marr

Elle Marr is the author of  thrillers THE MISSING SISTER (2020), LIES WE BURY (2021), STRANGERS WE KNOW (2022), and THE FAMILY BONES (2023). She is (evidently) a fan of coffee.

THE MISSING SISTER was a #1 Amazon bestseller and an Amazon Charts bestseller, while LIES WE BURY earned a Kirkus starred review, and STRANGERS WE KNOW was an Audible Most Anticipated Thriller. Publishers Weekly gave a starred review to THE FAMILY BONES, saying “Readers will be captivated from the very first page.”

Originally from Sacramento, Elle Marr graduated from UC San Diego before moving to France, where she earned a master’s degree from the Sorbonne University in Paris.  When not working on her next book, she enjoys watching French Netflix shows with the subtitles off, in Oregon, where she lives with her family.

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Don Bentley 2023

You’ll be inspired to hear the words of advice and encouragement from NYT bestselling author Don Bentley as he shares hints and secrets on writing action sequences, pursuing the passion you have for your work, and going all in with your project. A former Apache pilot, FBI agent, and SWAT member, Don brings authenticity and relevance to his action and military thrillers.

Don Bentley is the New York Times Bestselling author of the Matt Drake thriller series including Hostile Intent, The Outside Man, and Without Sanction as well as one forthcoming title. Don also writes in the Tom Clancy Jack Ryan, Jr. universe with Zero Hour, Target Acquired, and one forthcoming title.

Don spent a decade as an Army Apache helicopter pilot during which time he was stationed in South Korea, Germany, and Texas. While deployed to Afghanistan as a Troop Commander in support of Operation Enduring Freedom VI, Don was awarded the Bronze Star Medal and the Air Medal with “V” device for valor. Following his time in the military Don worked as an FBI Special Agent and was a member of the Dallas Office Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team.

After leaving the FBI, Don worked for companies that developed technology for the U.S. Special Operations Community. He holds a B.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the Ohio State University, and an M.F.A in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University.

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