Faculty List

Alan Bahr is the award-winning and best-selling lead designer and founder of Gallant Knight Games, as well as publisher of upcoming speculative fiction imprint Raven Canticle Press.

Alex Jay Lore (he/they) is a queer and trans author of science fiction and fantasy full of queerness with a chance of explosions. His debut, EMPIRE OF LIGHT, written as Alex Harrow, is out now from NineStar Press with more books forthcoming. Alex is represented by Stacey Kondla at The Rights Factory.

Alexis is the Editorial Associate at Torrey House Press. She's passionate about environmental fiction written by BIPOC and LGBTQ+ writers.

Andrew "Andy" Pacejka, Samantha "Sam" Hammond and Michele Marfori are employed by the only full-service forensics laboratory in Utah, and caters to every federal, state and local law enforcement agency within Utah's borders, as well as periodically assisting law enforcement agencies outside of Utah. Andy is the supervisor of the Fingerprint section, Sam is a Forensic DNA analyst, and Michele is the Quality Assurance Manager for the entire laboratory system.

Anna Marasco is the perfect 50/50 split of Gryffindor and Slytherin. Her natural chaotic neutral personality is probably why her favorite Winchester brother is Dean. Anna is a licensed clinical social worker with specialty in conceptualization and trauma. She also has an MFA in creative writing with emphasis in fiction. Her poetry and short stories have won awards nationally and internationally. When she is not working or writing, Anna enjoys adventuring in the wilderness, stargazing, discovering magic, and spending time with her ark—two cats, two dogs, and two horses.

Ben Miller-Callihan (he/him/his) joined Handspun Literary Agency as an agent in 2019, after working behind the scenes since the agency’s founding in tech support and bookkeeping roles, as well as more than a decade teaching high school English. A graduate of the University of Kentucky (B.A., English), and New York University (M.A., English Education), he lives in San Diego with his human, canine, and kitchen appliance families.

Brandon Callor has worked for the Office of the Medical Examiner for over 22 years. He is a medical examiner assistant and manager of morgue operations. In conjunction with forensics, Mr. Callor is part of a suicide prevention research team. He wrote a book titled, "Life After Suicide: The Impact of Suicide on the Ones Left Behind," that details his personal experience with suicide from his perspective as a forensic scientist and suicide prevention researcher.

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C.R. Langille spent many a Saturday afternoon watching monster movies with their mother. It wasn't long before they started crafting nightmares to share with their readers. They are a retired, disabled veteran with a deep love for weird and creepy tales. This prompted them to form Timber Ghost Press in January of 2021. They are an affiliate member of the Horror Writer's Association, a member of the League of Utah Writers, and they received their MFA: Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University.

Callie Stoker is an editor with over fifteen years of experience and a knack for knowing what makes a story shine. Her business The Manuscript Dr supports writers by teaching skills to improve craft through coaching and editing services.
Callie has three children on the Autism Spectrum and ADHD and is a champion for neurodiverse representation. She was a guest on Brandon Sanderson’s podcast Writing Excuses and is a member of the Editorial Freelancers Association, League of Utah Writers, and DFW Writers Workshop. She currently resides in the Dallas, TX area.

Cambria Williams believes that storytelling is a collective experience that is both limitless and timeless in its transformative nature. Cambria writes fantasy fiction that emphasizes the magic of hope. Her award-winning debut dark fantasy novel, THE BEFALLEN, promises a story of reckoning and redemption. The moon and its magic. Faith and found family. She teaches secondary creative writing and has presented at LTUE. Cambria loves traveling, reading, and taking walks with her husband and dog. Cambria has a Master of Fine Arts in writing and lives in Utah. To learn more about Cambria, find her on Instagram, Facebook, or her website: www.cambriawilliams.com.

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Christina Allen (publishing as C.W. Allen) is a Midwestern transplant to rural Utah, where she serves as the League of Utah Writers newsletter editor and the president of the West Desert Wordsmiths chapter. She writes fantasy novels for tweens, picture books for children, and short stories for former children. Her middle grade novels Relatively Normal Secrets, The Secret Benefits of Invisibility, and Tales of the Forgotten Founders are out now, with many more stories waiting in the wings. Follow her latest projects at cwallenbooks.com.

Dax is a full-time professional Dungeon Master fascinated with the human mind. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and an Intercultural Peacebuilding Certificate at BYU-Hawaii. He studied conflict, culture, mediation, and forgiveness as part of his Machiavellian plan to write dark and heart-wrenching epic fantasy. Since founding Dungeon Master Direct in 2020, he has mastered hundreds of online Dungeons & Dragons games for paying clients all over the world. At Dragonsteel Con 2022, his one-shot game of Honey Heist set in the Mistborn world raised over $7,000 for charity (doubled to $14,000 by Brandon Sanderson).

EK Johnston is the New York Times bestselling, critically acclaimed author of several YA books. She is also a big fan of any nature documentary narrated by David Attenborough.

Gabino Iglesias is a writer, editor, professor, and book critic living in Austin, TX. He's the author of Zero Saints, Coyote Songs, and The Devil Takes You Home. His work has been nominated to the Bram Stoker Award, the Edgar Award, the Anthony Award, and won the Wonderland Book Award. His reviews appear regularly in places like NPR, the Boston Globe, and other venues. He teaches creative writing at SNHU's online MFA program.

Gabino Iglesias is a writer, editor, professor, and book critic living in Austin, TX. He's the author of Zero Saints, Coyote Songs, and The Devil Takes You Home. His work has been nominated to the Bram Stoker Award, the Edgar Award, the Anthony Award, and won the Wonderland Book Award. His reviews appear regularly in places like NPR, the Boston Globe, and other venues. He teaches creative writing at SNHU's online MFA program.

Jodi L. Milner is the author of the YA fantasy Shadow Barrier series, which includes Stonebearer’s Betrayal, winner of the LUW Recommended Read award, and Stonebearer’s Apprentice, winner of the LUW Silver Quill. When not chasing daydreams, she enjoys destroying movie plots, making amigurumi, and plotting to take over the world.

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JOHNNY WORTHEN is an award-winning, multiple-genre, tie-dye-wearing author, voyager, and damn fine human being! Trained in literary criticism and cultural studies, he writes upmarket fiction, long and short, mentors others where he can, and teaches writing at the University of Utah.

His best-selling science fiction series beginning with OF KINGS, QUEENS & COLONIES, and now with OF CIVILIZED, SAVED & SAVAGES is an epic tale in the vein of Frank Herbert’s DUNE. It is available from Flame Tree Press. Like Johnny’s many other titles it is available wherever better books are sold.

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Whether editing short or long fiction, RPG sourcebooks or podcast anthologies, Katherine lives for strengthening the written word. She hails from Cincinnati, Ohio, where her non-wordsmithing pastimes include playing video games and thinking about fictional characters a normal amount.

Kelley J. P. Lindberg writes award-winning adult and YA fiction, nonfiction, and how-to books. Kelley loves talking about writing with other writers and book lovers, and she leaves her audiences with plenty of take-away information they can use the very next day. When she isn’t writing from her home in Colorado, she’s traveling as far and as often as she can. She blogs about writing craft and the writing life on her website: www.KelleyLindberg.com. Follow her on Twitter at @KelleyLindberg1.

Kendra Griffin is a professor, developmental editor, and author who has never met a good dog or a good underdog she didn’t love. She is addicted to writing (and reading) about quirky misfits and diverse ensemble casts. Kendra has taught college-level creative writing for nine years. She coaches authors of all levels through community programs, local libraries, and professional conferences, and she is an active member of RMFW and Borderlands Writers. Kendra wishes she could jump between parallel universes and find time to write every novel that has ever occurred to her.

Kyro Dean is an award-winning author of the Rogue Royals series and Owner and President of Eight Moons Publishing and the writing resource blog, www.vanillagrass.com. She has a passion for helping authors find their voice and succeed.

The Baldi Agency is an eclectic agency specializing in literary fiction, memoir and cultural history. Baldi believes the strength of the author's voice and the heart of the story to be key when considering new work. Please review www.baldibooks.com

She worked as a cashier at Gotham Book Mart, in the Ballantine Books Publicity Department, as an associate at Candida Donadio & Associates and the Elaine Markson Agency before going out on her own. Baldi graduated from Hampshire College and lives in NYC. The Baldi Agency is an independent and eclectic agency specializing in literary fiction, memoir and cultural history. Baldi loves reading fiction filled with character and voice. The nonfiction list covers topics ranging from the history of New York City garbage; to Greenland ice shelf melts; Hollywood divas; gay male hustling; nautical sayings; social behavior and cultural attitudes in the Victorian novel; cultural history topics include horror, furries, gay film and culture, men's beards and awkwardness; biography, urban tantric sex practice; dog behavior; foodie culture; gender/queer/trans studies and a host of powerful memoirs.
Baldi is always looking for new work.
Interdisciplinary topics are key.

Patricia Bittel (writing as Pat Thomas) has been hearing and deciding primarily labor and employment disputes for over 35 years. She has served on the American Arbitration Association Employment Panel since approximately 1992, in addition to service on the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, National Mediation Board and a number of private panels. She is a past neutral co-chair of the American Bar Association Committee on ADR in Labor and Employment Law and has served on the Board of Governors of the National Academy of Arbitrators. Her most interesting international project was to work with the Senegalese judiciary towards incorporating mediation into their judicial system. She is a member of the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers. Ms. Bittel is a graduate of Emory College and The University of Virginia School of Law.

Pat Thomas is certified to teach yoga at the advanced, 500-hour level and has been teaching for 10 years. She was trained in Vinyasa and Kripalu yoga and teaches at Basin Recreation in Park City, Utah.

RJ Walker is a spoken word poet and playwright from SLC. He placed 4th at the National Poetry slam, 6th at the World Poetry Slam, and is a writer in residence at the Utah Arts Alliance.

Rae Smith is a retired body removal technician and professional vampire. She has been published in horror anthologies such as The Daughter of Darkness and is currently working towards her Bachelor’s in Creative Writing at UVU. In her spare time, she enjoys ghost hunting and long walks through cemeteries at night.

Rhett is an editor for Monster Ivy and holds an MFA from UNR. Monster Ivy Publishing is a publishing house with award-winning, bestselling fiction. The Kiss List was filmed as a movie with Marvista, starring Megan Suri (Never Have I Ever), Parminder Nagra (ER), Emjay Anthony (Bad Moms) and Lachlan Watson (Chilling Adventures of Sabri). We focus on "edgy, clean" fiction at a PG-13 or less rating.

Ronald Gerber joined Lowenstein Associates as an agent 2019, after several years in literary scouting at Sanford J. Greenburger Associates and Maximum Films & Management and supporting two agents at Writers House. Ronald is a proud graduate of Bard College at Simon’s Rock and Clark University. His clients include Sonja Thomas, whose debut SIR FIG NEWTON & THE SCIENCE OF PERSISTENCE (Aladdin/Simon & Schuster) is a 2023 Oregon Book Awards finalist, and Lorissa Rinehart, whose biography FIRST TO THE FRONT published from St. Martin’s Press in July, 2023. Follow him on Twitter @RGerberAgent.

Sammi is a local slam poet, she is on the Utah state leadership board, competes for the state of Utah with the team “butterfly effect”, teaches slam poetry to high schoolers and is a published author “a series of beautiful collisions”

Despite nearly daily declarations she’s giving up writing forever, Shannon Baker managed to have published fourteen novels in three mystery series, two stand-alone suspenses, and a few contemporary romances. A winner of the 2019 New Mexico/Arizona book award and two-time Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers Writer of the Year, Baker loves a cold cocktail at sunset on her Tucson deck, which is set on traditional Pascua Yaqui land, but she is, and always will be, a Nebraska Cornhusker.

Theresa Braun has a Master's degree in English literature and lives in South Florida where she has taught literature and writing for over 20 years. Traveling, ghost hunting, and all things dark are her passions. In 2018 Unnerving released her horror novel Fountain Dead, a coming of age ghost story. The Broken Darkness, her debut short story collection, came out in February of 2023. Her short works have appeared in The Horror Zine, Sirens Call, Hardened Hearts, and Best Indie Speculative Fiction: November 2018, Double Barrel Horror (Volume 3) and Emporium of Superstition.

Willow Dawn Becker is an author, marketing director, and award-nominated editor as well as the CEO of Weird Little Worlds Press. She has hundreds of publications about education, marketing, business, and has both fiction and nonfiction publications to her credit. You can find her fiction at Black Fox Literary Magazine, Space & Time Magazine, Irreantum, and the Story Hour Podcast, among others. Her first novel, Leto's Children was released in 2022, and her next novel, Leto's Legacy, will be released in December 2023. She lives in Utah and dreams about a world where summer never ends.