Suzanne M. Brazil

My name is Suzanne M. Brazil. I grew up mainly in the Midwest and live less than an hour north of Chicago with my husband and son. We have a daughter getting married in June and our son is in college. I’ve been writing my whole life. When I’m upset, happy, loving, homicidal – it all comes out first in a letter in my head. I once tap danced in a Las Vegas showgirl type outfit in a variety show in Texas and I have owned two horses (neither in Texas). I’ve been published twice in Writer’s Digest and several time in local publications. I finished my first draft of my first novel in August 2014 and am in the thick of revisions. I blog, riff and revise from my daughter’s old bedroom at a desk my husband made for me.

What is the first piece you…

Lauren Faulkenberry

I’m a writer and book artist currently living in North Carolina (US). I published a children’s book in 2002, but currently write novels and shorts stories. Under the imprint of Firebrand Press, I made limited edition handmade books that are letterpress printed. I’ve always loved books and illustration, and have combined my love of writing and image-making in artists books. My books are held in a variety of Special Collections libraries both nationally and internationally. I currently work for the National Park Service and travel to conduct printmaking and book arts workshops.

What is the first piece you remember writing (from childhood or young adulthood)?

A children’s book called “Lost Dog” when I was in grade school. I wrote and illustrated it, and made book covers from cereal boxes.

What is your favorite aspect of being a writer? Your least favorite?

My favorite thing about being a writer…

Lani V. Cox

I was born in a pink hospital on the beautiful Hawaiian Island of O’ahu, a week after my mom landed from Thailand (‘cause she’s crazy). And even though I was lucky to be raised there, we moved to the middle of the Mojave Desert when I was 12 years old and did not return to Hawaii until about 2 years later.

At the time, I felt isolated and cursed because it was the first time I was a minority and had no friends. But now I can see it as a pivotal time in my life because it was when I started to read and write. I fell in love with reading and magically an old-fashioned green typewriter appeared in the kitchen one day – probably right around the time I decided I could write, too.

I’ve lived a rather nomadic life and I want to say…

Amanda Richter

Hi, I’m Amanda! I live in Toronto, Canada and I lived in the United Kingdom for nearly three years- which means I spell it colour not color, honour not honor, and favourite not favorite. I’m an educator by day and write to keep my sanity. I read and write Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Humour, but put any book in my hand and I’m a happy girl. My dream is to write full-time, from home, in my pajamas, because going outside during winter in Ontario is highly overrated.

What is the first piece you remember writing (from childhood or young adulthood)?

The first writing memory I have is ten year old me writing X-Men romantic fan-fiction based on the ninety’s cartoon. I remember using a DOS based word processor with a black and green screen and saving on those really big, thin, floppy disks. I oscillated between being Cyclopes’…

Brittany Boyce

I live in Northern Virginia, just outside D.C., with my husband of almost four years and two beautiful furbabies. I have been writing ever since I was a child, strongly throughout the middle and high school years. In fact I have an entire box of random story ideas from that time period, which I assure you are all hilarious in their lovely teenage angst. I’m currently in the editing process of what will be my debut novel, which I hope to self-publish this year.

What is the first piece you remember writing (from childhood or young adulthood)?

I don’t remember the first piece I wrote – but I do remember the first short story I had published. It was in my senior year literary journal, which in my Creative Writing class I also had the privilege of helping to edit and put together. I gobbled up more copies…

Elizabeth Hein

Elizabeth Hein writes women’s fiction with a bit of an edge. Her novels explore the role of friendship in the lives of adult women and themes of identity. She has published two novels, How to Climb the Eiffel Tower and Overlook. She is currently working on another novel and a mystery series.

In 2002, Elizabeth was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, a cancer of the blood. During her extensive treatment, she met dozens of other cancer patients and developed close relationships with several of them. These friendships were the inspiration for her recent novel, How To Climb The Eiffel Tower. A cancer diagnosis is a life changing experience, yet it does not necessarily change a life for the worse.

Elizabeth Hein grew up in Massachusetts within an extended family of storytellers. Her childhood was filled with excellent food and people loudly talking over each other. After earning a…