Abigail Stewart is a fiction writer from the California desert. Originally from Houston, Texas, she studied Literature and Art History at Sam Houston State University, before going on to earn an M.Ed at Lamar University. She is the author of two novels, The Drowned Woman and Foundations, as well as a short story collection, Assemblage. Her new novel, Select Screen, is out now!

Originally from Germany, Andreas studied film at USC and worked for over 30 years as a cinematographer, producer, and screenwriter. He joined the Writers Guild of America in 2004. Andreas taught screenwriting at CSUSB for six years and founded the "Written by Veterans" creative writing program with support from its Veterans Success Center. Andreas is associated with two movies shot in the High Desert. He produced and co-wrote one of them and served as the director of photography on the other. He also set parts of a novel in the High Desert. Andreas lives in the Low Desert.

Angelus is a poet rooted in the ancestral land of her people. She writes poetry as an act of devotion to truth that transcends subjectivity. Through language, she distills what is profound into clarity, and in that space, encounters—The Self. Her accolades include giving birth at home, growing food in the desert, and allowing her kids to un-teach her everything she knows. You can find her in the garden or on Instagram, where she voices her poetry with penetrating visuals of her life: @Notes2theself

Anna Olivia Eve moved to the high desert of California in the spring of 2016. Originally hailing from the suburbs of NYC, she headed west in search of something greater than her Self. Rolling through the desert on a whim, she came upon a space of comfort and community—a community that encouraged her to share her voice. Through her words, Anna invites others to join her in discovering the profound beauty of connection and finding love in the echoes of our shared journeys

Antoinette Godin, a first-time novelist and an enrolled member of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, combines her rich heritage and legal expertise in her debut novel, Native Brush Strokes. A UCLA graduate in Law, she has practiced tribal law for over three decades. Her work, inspired by the Native American experience during the Age of Aquarius, explores love, trauma, and resilience. Listed in Who’s Who in America and Women of Influence (2021), Godin currently resides in Washington State. Her commitment to social justice extends beyond her writing, contributing to organizations like the Southern Poverty Law Center and the Environmental Defense Fund.

Ben Coil is a musician, bartender, surfer, and author of JOSHUA TREES The Book, which debuted at the 29 Palms Book Festival in 2024. In June of this year, he unveiled a theatrical companion to the book, with its second production slated for November 2 in Hollywood. A lifelong Californian currently based in Los Angeles, his work celebrates the spirit of the West, exploring the history, modern folklore, and music that shape life in the Golden State. 

Bri Gonzalez (they/them) is a Chicanx, queer writer from San Antonio, TX. They are the author of A Wellness Check (Game Over Books, 2024), a hybrid collection that investigates diagnosis by putting prescription pads and glitter pens in the hands of Gotham's dark knight. A graduate of the University of Colorado Boulder MFA program, Bri is wondering how exactly writing even works. Bri currently teaches at Front Range Community College in Longmont, CO and is diligently researching vampires.

Brian Townsley is an award-winning writer, as well as the Executive Editor for Starlite Pulp. He is the author of the crime fiction books A Trunk Full of Zeroes and Outlaw Ballads, as well as three books of poetry. His short fiction has appeared in various publications, including Mystery Tribune, Black Mask, Quarterly West, Frontier Tales, Connecticut Review, and many others, and had a story make the distinguished list in Best American Mystery Stories, 2019. He is a graduate of the Professional Writing Program at USC and is also an alum of the mighty California Golden Bears. He shares his time between the mountains and deserts of Southern California.

Bruce Craven teaches Leadership Through Fiction, a popular MBA/EMBA elective at Columbia Business School, and has been on the Executive Education faculty for 30 years, leading workshops on resilience, emotional intelligence, and flexible thinking. He co-runs Craven Leadership LLC with his wife, Sherelle. Bruce is the author of Fast Sofa, which was adapted into a feature film, and Win or Die: Leadership Secrets from Game of Thrones. He also published a poetry collection, Buene Suerte in Red Glitter. He studied politics and literature at UC Santa Cruz and earned his MFA from Columbia. He lives in California’s Coachella Valley.

Carole Marie is a Native American writer who co-authored the sci-fi book Global Warning – A Native Gaian Prophecy, which she has adapted into the current feature screenplay Gaia. She has also written three other screenplays: Klutz Attack from Outer Space (a humorous family sci-fi/fantasy adventure), Ahwahnee – Land of the Yosemite (a true story/historical adventure), and Star Spangled Rodeo Queen (a Native American adventure).

C von Hassett is a writer living in Pioneertown, CA. He is publisher and chief editor at Riot Material magazine. A onetime professor of literature, C von is also a decades-long practitioner of a radical if not revolutionary wisdom practice known as Dzogchen. His book Entering the Mind is a richly poetic exploration of that transformative meditation practice. Hassett’s post-world visionary tale, The Boundary Stone, is a narrative poem set in the embering afters of an apocalypse. His new work, Awakening in the End, can be found in the Desert General bookstore.

Carla Fernandez is a community strategist and facilitator focused on collective care and cultural change. She co-founded The Dinner Party, a national network for young adults navigating grief, featured in The New York Times, NPR, and Oprah Daily. Through her community design studio, she works on projects related to climate, democracy, and the arts. Carla is a senior fellow at USC’s Annenberg Innovation Lab and a Catherine B. Reynolds Scholar in Social Entrepreneurship at NYU. She splits her time between the Hudson Valley and Joshua Tree.

Catherine Auman is a multiple-award winning author with four of her books maintaining bestseller status on Amazon. She writes about the potential of the human spirit, sexuality, and personal and spiritual growth. In her day job, Catherine is a licensed psychotherapist in private practice. She lives in Yucca Valley with her husband and their two cats and five turtles.

Chase Bradburn is a filmmaker from the PNW, living in Austin, TX and Mexico City with a film degree from Vancouver Film School in Canada. His poetry has been published in a small press book print from allpoetry.com. His first novel entitled, The Rooster without Shadow, (El Gallo Sin Sombra) is forthcoming. It is about a workaholic American detective who is forced to go on vacation and travels back to the Mexican town he was born in for relaxation and to reconnect with his roots. But his tranquility is disrupted by the local town rooster.

Christopher C. Gorham is a lawyer, educator, and acclaimed author of THE CONFIDANTE (a Goodreads Choice Award finalist in History/Biography) and MATISSE AT WAR (Citadel, Sept. 30, 2025). His writing has appeared in the Washington Post, Literary Hub, Paper Brigade, and elsewhere. He is a frequent speaker at conferences, literary events, classrooms, and book club gatherings around the country.

Cindy Rinne creates poetry, zines, and fiber art in San Bernardino, CA. Her poems have appeared in anthologies, art exhibits, and dance performances. Cindy is the author of several books: Dancing Through the Fire Door (Nauset Press), Today on Two Planets (Written by Veterans), The Feather Ladder (Picture Show Press) and more.

Colleen B. Leonard is an author, educator, and passionate advocate whose writing bridges family, memory, and heart. Her debut children’s book, Better Than Magic, explores dementia through a gentle, imaginative lens, offering solace to young readers and their caregivers. She is currently at work on The Skeleton Mermaid, set to be released in 2025. Originally from coastal North Carolina, Colleen now lives in the Hi-Desert with her husband, two kids, a spirited dog named Max, and a cat named Mylo (courtesy of the Cat Distribution System). Her stories celebrate empathy, resilience, and connection.

Damien Gossett received a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts degree from the University of Minnesota in 1973 and a Masters in Multimedia from California State University East Bay in 2005. He has been involved in a variety of endeavors from including, painting, photography, poetry, graphics, furniture design, music, housing finance and development, crashing a business and planning a new career for his later years. His history confirms accomplishment, setback and continued evolution of idea. His ultimate goal is to unravel a few threads that have hung on to his sleeves over the past thirty years. He doesn't believe in scissors.

Daniel Pyne is a versatile storyteller who moves between prose fiction and screenwriting. He is the author of Twentynine Palms, A Hole in the Ground Owned by a Liar, Fifty Mice, Catalina Eddy, and Water Memory (2021). His film credits include Backstabbing for Beginners, The Manchurian Candidate remake, Pacific Heights, Any Given Sunday, and Fracture. He has written for Miami Vice and Amazon’s Bosch. A Stanford graduate and UCLA MFA, he taught screenwriting for 20 years. Raised in Colorado, Pyne lives in Los Angeles and Santa Fe with his wife, their dog Luna, and a grumpy box turtle.

Deanne Stillman is a critically acclaimed author known for her place-based literary nonfiction. Her latest book, Blood Brothers, about the alliance between Sitting Bull and Buffalo Bill, received a starred Kirkus review and is under option. Desert Reckoning, based on her Rolling Stone piece, won the Spur and LA Press Club Awards. Twentynine Palms, an LA Times bestseller, explores a post-Gulf War double homicide and was praised by Hunter S. Thompson. Mustang won the California Book Award silver medal and helped rescue wild horses. Her work appears widely, and her plays have been produced and honored in festivals nationwide.

Dena Olayinka Broderick is the author of My Mother’s Land: Tales and Tastes of Liberia, a heartfelt and occasionally humorous travel memoir about family legacy, grief, and cultural reconnection through food. Born in Los Angeles to West African parents, she now lives in Twentynine Palms with her husband and two young children. Guided by a love of storytelling, shared meals, and an enduring curiosity about people and places, she believes food is a powerful and beautiful expression of who we are.

Dennis Tafoya lives near Philadelphia and is the author of three crime novels set in and around the city, including Dope Thief, developed for Apple TV by Peter Craig and Ridley Scott. His short stories have appeared in magazines and anthologies such as Philadelphia Noir and Best American Mystery Stories. His work has been nominated for multiple awards and optioned for film and television.

Derrick Davis grew up in Southern California's vast desert landscape. The endless terrain allowed his imagination to paint on its blank canvas. This evolved into a deep passion for films, music, and vivid stories with complex characters. Among Derrick's projects, he has provided vital consultation work on several products, including Insight Edition's Jurassic Park: The Official Script Book and Criterion's home media release of the classic film Journey to the Beginning of Time. Invertiverse is his debut science fiction novel. When Derrick isn't creating various media, he enjoys theme parks, nature hikes, and the wonder of what mysteries lie beyond.

Desiree Wetz (Juaneño/Luiseño/Cahuilla) lives on the Pechanga Reservation with her family. She spends most of her time with her family and community on the reservation, volunteering to help educate Indigenous children on traditional practices, plant uses, gathering of native materials, and basket weaving. Oral history is an important part of her culture, and she uses writing to carry on this tradition. Desiree aspires to encourage positive self-reflection among the youth in her community, and through her writing, show all children positive examples of Indigenous peoples in an effort to create a more accepting and informed society.

Crime novelist, editor, and essayist Domenic Stansberry is known for innovative noir fiction that delves into the criminal mind. His forthcoming novel, The Lizard (2025), follows award-winning works including The White Devil—winner of the Hammett Prize—and The Confession, an Edgar Award–winning neo-noir classic. His North Beach Mystery Series, featuring investigator Dante Mancuso, earned praise for its vivid portrayal of San Francisco’s ethnic and political subcultures, with The Ancient Rain named by Booklist as one of the decade’s best crime novels. Translated worldwide, Stansberry lives north of San Francisco with his wife, poet Gillian Conoley, and their daughter, Gillis.

Meet Dr. Oolong, the unconventional wordsmith whose life is as diverse as their storytelling. From living on a boat to roaming deserts, their eclectic experiences fuel their work, spanning sci-fi, comedy, and beyond. With a resume including directing plays, working in special effects for major films, and even chauffeuring bands to iconic concerts, Dr. Oolong's journey is nothing short of extraordinary. Inspired by encounters with the Integratron and Giant Rock, their acclaimed book, Bedtime Stories for Robots, is a testament to a life lived outside the lines.

Duncan Birmingham is a writer and filmmaker in Los Angeles. The feature film he wrote and directed, Who Invited Them, was named one of the best horror films of 2022 by The Hollywood Reporter. He's written on various TV shows including as an executive producer and writer on Maron (starring Marc Maron) on IFC and co-executive producer and writer on Blunt Talk on Starz. His screenplay Swingles was featured on The Black List and his short films have premiered at festivals including Sundance and AFI. His first book of short stories, The Cult in My Garage, (Maudlin House), came out in August 2021.

Esinam Bediako is a Ghanaian American writer from Detroit. She is the author of the Ann Petry Award–winning novel Blood on the Brain (Red Hen Press, 2024) and the essay/poetry chapbook Self-Talk (Porkbelly Press, 2025). Her recent work appears in Porter House Review, Cathexis Northwest, Great River Review, North American Review, and Southern Humanities Review. She has worked as a high school English teacher and administrator, and currently writes and edits for the Spondylitis Association of America. Esinam lives in Southern California with her family.

Francene Kaplan is a native Californian and desert lover, enjoys writing poems and short stories when not playing household percussion or creating weird mixed–media art. She loves all things animal, vegetable, and mineral, reading / watching Sci Fi, and organic gardening. Attaining far too much formal education, she thus shares tidbits of this knowledge to alternative high school students. She teaches science, psychology, sociology, health, and foods. Teaching composting workshops to communities in Southern California, has earned her the moniker of the "Priestess of Rot".

Francis Moss is an award-winning author and veteran screenwriter who wrote and story-edited hundreds of episodes for classic animated series including She-Ra, DuckTales, Iron Man, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. His fan-favorite TMNT episode “The Fifth Turtle” topped IGN’s reader poll of all 193 episodes. He also co-authored three bestselling internet guides for kids and is the author of The Rosenberg Espionage Case. His novel Losing Normal won SCBWI’s Gold Medal. Francis lives in Joshua Tree, California, with his wife Phyllis. His latest books include the best-selling She-Wolf and WWII thriller Operation Overlord.

G.A. Lawrence, a native of Mamaroneck, NY, ventured from a background in theater to a prolific career in animation design in California. Influenced by Edward Gorey and Edgar Allan Poe, she created the eerie world of Zomvoos. Her series “Recycle Your Souls” gained acclaim at Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival’s TRASHed campaign, winning first place consecutively in 2009 and 2010. In 2023 she unveiled Ghostly Trees, a chilling fusion of haunting drawings and poignant poems. Collaborating with Valerio Ventura in the horror tale, Pale Witch, they explore the supernatural in a novella, showcasing her enduring talent in crafting unsettling narratives.

Gabriel Hart is an author and journalist based in Morongo Valley, CA. His debut novel, On High at Red Tide, was published in 2024 by Pig Roast Publishing. His other books include Fallout From Our Asphalt Hell, Virgins In Reverse / The Intrusion, and poetry collections Unsongs and Hymns from The Whipping Post. His short fiction appears in Expat, Hobart, Punk Noir, and Rock and A Hard Place, which nominated “Crossing Alvarado” for Best American Mystery and Suspense. Hart is co-producer of Mil-Tree’s Mojave Noir series and a daily reporter for Z1077fm.com.

Gene Rosow is a writer, filmmaker, historian, and photographer whose career spans books, articles, television, film and music. A former UC Berkeley history professor, he’s written, directed, and produced award-winning documentaries and feature films on topics ranging from gangster films (Born to Lose) to Jewish-Muslim coexistence (Routes of Exile), Afro-Cuban music (Roots of Rhythm), medieval knights (Les Chevaliers) and soil preservation (DIRT The Movie). His credits among others also include Doctora, Laurel and Hardy: A Tribute to the Boys, Silent Tongue, Zeus and Roxanne, and a new project, Joshua Tree Dance Party (2025).

George Bixley held a string of jobs, from parking attendant to night desk clerk, before finding his groove in Los Angeles, settling into the seedy underbelly of the metropolis and trying to keep ahead of the wave of gentrification. Bixley sells his soul by day and dredges the bottom by night.

Dr. Gerard Gibbonsis a cinematic storyteller, historian, and CEO of Fight for Glory LLC. For 30+ years he was an award-winning filmmaker and brand strategist for NASA, DARPA, U.S. Special Operations Command, Military Health System, and Disney Imagineering. Today his focus is the Fight for Glory series, chronicling his family’s remarkable journey in early twentieth-century America. The first volume, The St. Paul Phantom (Fall 2025), tells the true story of his hall-of-fame prizefighting great-uncle and grandfather, Mike and Tommy Gibbons. His book Shelby 1923 won Boxing Hall of Fame’s Book of the Year. He lives in Southern California.

Gina Frangello is the author of Blow Your House Down: A Story of Family, Feminism, and Treason, a New York Times Editor’s Choice and a “Best of 2021” pick. She has also written four novels, including A Life in Men and Every Kind of Wanting. Her latest work, Elena Ferrante: The Neapolitan Novels, explores Ferrante’s iconic series and will be featured at the festival. Gina is a lead editor at Row House Publishing and co-founder of Circe Consulting. She also teaches in the low-residency MFA program at the University of Nevada-Reno/Tahoe.

Greg Gilbert’s novel, Butchy’s Rainbow, is the story of a three-generation household in post-war Los Angeles and the horrific events that necessitated their move into the political and social maelstrom that was San Bernardino in the mid-1950s.

J.D. O'Brien is the author of the novel Zig Zag, a 2023 Southwest Book Of The Year, which is partly set in the High Desert. His writing has appeared in Starlite Pulp, Maggot Brain, Crimereads, The Lowbrow Reader, and elsewhere. His story “Outlaw Country” was selected for The Best American Mystery And Suspense 2025, edited by Don Winslow. He lives in western Massachusetts.

Jade Fassbinder is a poet, filmmaker, editor, organiser and proud mother & daughter. A Filipina-American from California, she has lived in New York, Puerto Rico, México, Canada, Portugal and the Philippines. She has been producing underground films, helping run autonomous cultural festivals and events and producing music & art since childhood. XXXV is her first book.

Born and raised in Dearborn, Michigan, Jamal graduated from the University of Michigan and George Washington University Law School, which led him to a dynamic career in New York City, where he worked at major financial institutions, including Goldman Sachs and American Express. After several years in this fast-paced environment, he moved to the West Coast with his husband to pursue a career in the technology sector. Eventually feeling fatigued by the relentless pace of corporate life, Jamal sought a more meaningful path. This journey culminated in the creation of Give Away Your Attention: How to Become Aware and Dissolve the Ego—a practical guide to self-awareness that offers tools for dissolving the ego through non-judgmental observation and deeper inquiry into the nature of identity.

Jamie Evans, aka The Herb Somm, is a four-time author, certified sommelier, and founder of a cannabis lifestyle brand focused on infused food, wine, and wellness. Her work bridges the culinary and cannabis worlds through books, events, and educational content. She’s the author of The Ultimate Guide to CBD, Cannabis Drinks, Let’s Get Baked! and the forthcoming High Times Cannabis Cocktails (2024). Named a Top 40 Under 40 Tastemaker by Wine Enthusiast, Jamie has been featured in High Times, POPSUGAR, and Wine Enthusiast, and co-edited GoldLeaf’s Cooking Journal. She lives and works in California.

Janet Tucker, author of How to be a High Desert Minimalist Gardener, has been the custodian of her 1.5-acre High Desert "Park" for 25 years. She dreamed of a small house in a large garden, transforming her vision into reality through innovative watering techniques and creative space use. Janet's High Desert Minimalist Garden style celebrates the desert's unique beauty while being water-efficient, becoming a hallmark for residents. Her approach involves space-consciousness and water-efficient methods, transforming outdoor areas into living extensions of homes. Through her work, Janet provides invaluable insights into creating thriving gardens in the challenging High Desert environment.

Jardine Libaire is the co-editor of PO Box Outer Space, a new zine series of "open letters to the beyond," alongside Jennifer Prediger and designer Beth Middleworth. She lives in the High Desert and is captivated, confused, and enchanted by both the seen and unseen. Jardine is the author of Here Kitty Kitty, White Fur, and You're An Animal (Hogarth); co-writer of The Sober Lush (Tarcher Perigee); and has created two collaborations for Neotext: GoldTwinz with Neil Krug and A Lesson in Murder Ballads with Denise Prince. She also co-wrote the film Endings, Beginnings with Drake Doremus.

Jay Jones is the 3x award winning author of A Bilagáana Boy Among the Navajo, a true story about his four years living on the Navajo Reservation in Window Rock, Arizona. Born in Japan to Air Force veterans, Jay had a turbulent childhood and joined the Marine Corps at 17. His career path included roles from cook and DJ to financial advisor, ultimately retiring after 33 years as a Chartered Financial Consultant. He earned a Business Management degree while working full-time. Now living near Tucson, Jay enjoys golfing, traveling, cooking, and soaking up the Arizona sun with a good book and a strong cocktail.

Jeff is a turd who loves to write about his people and their origins, and who aspires to one day author more toilet paper than any other writer. He can be spotted in public on the sidewalk, or on someone’s shoe, and he has been known to make appearances in public pools, or in a flaming paper bag on your doorstep. Jeff is married to an awesome woman and has a great daughter who step around him as he festers in Southern California and bakes in the sun, hardening.

Jennifer Brody (a/k/a Vera Strange) is the award-winning author of many popular books, including The 13th Continuum Trilogy, the Disney Chills series, Stranger Things: Starcourt Mall Escape, and Spectre Deep 6, which was a Bram Stoker Award Finalist. She is the co-author of All Is Found: A Frozen Anthology and Star Wars: Stories of Jedi and Sith, where she penned the Darth Vader story. A fan of all things dark, weird, and wonderful, she writes and lives in Joshua Tree, California.  

Jennifer is a writer exploring the power, freedom, and mystery of the crone years. At 61, she brings a blend of wisdom, irreverence, and deep reverence for nature, spirituality, and feminine transformation. She is a contributing author to La Clínica del Pueblo de Río Arriba: The First 50 Years (2024), and a member of both the Desert Writers’ Guild and Mojave Sage Writers. Through storytelling and reflection, she celebrates the wild, shadowy, and radiant aspects of aging womanhood—inviting others to join her in embracing this vibrant phase of life.

Joel Tomfohr is a writer living in the Bay Area. He is the author of the chapbook, A Blue Hour ​(Bottlecap Press). His short stories can be found in Short Beasts, Bending Genres, Joyland, Vol. 1 Brooklyn, X-R-A-Y, BULL, Hobart, and others. He teaches English to immigrants from around the world at Fremont High School in Oakland, CA. 

John J. McBrearty is an award-winning author and retired Lt. Colonel with over 32 years of military service, including duty in Iraq, Kuwait, Japan, Australia, Mexico, and Thailand. A graduate of Valley Forge Military Academy, Temple University, and American Public University, he also taught Military Science at CSU San Bernardino and Claremont McKenna College. Recognized for excellence by President Barack Obama, John now mentors fellow veterans and has published more than a dozen books spanning history, memoir, leadership, writing, self-help, golf, and children’s literature. He is an Amazon Best-Selling author and a first-place winner in the National Veterans Creative Arts Festival.

John R. Cole was born in Kentucky and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1968, training at Parris Island and Camp Geiger before serving in a rifle company in Viet Nam. He has dedicated his writing to honoring American combat veterans and capturing both the hardships of war and the struggles of returning home. John is the author of A Teller’s Tales series—Pies for Grandpa, Jawin’ With The PreacherMan, Memories of James and Willie, The Rocking Chair Stories, and Trippin’ Down Memory Lane—as well as the poetry collection Giants and Friends. He lives by the credo, “Once a Marine, Always a Marine.”

John Sierpinski lives in Yucca Valley, California. His two poetry collections: "Sucker Hole" and "Vacancy/No Vacancy" were published by Cholla Needles Arts and Literary Library.

Josh Jackson is a writer, photographer, speaker, and leading voice for public lands managed by the BLM. Through his evocative Forgotten Lands Project, Josh employs immersive storytelling and striking visual narratives to inspire appreciation and engagement with our least understood, least protected, and largely unknown landscapes. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife and three children.

Julia Martel is a Laguna Beach-based author who writes YA fiction packed with daring adventures, quirky characters, and heartfelt themes. By day, she’s a full-time Corporate Career Girlieᵀᴹ; by night (and weekend), she squeezes writing into every spare moment. Julia is open about living with anxiety, depression, and ADHD, and her stories reflect her commitment to honest mental health representation. She thrives on sunshine, community, and a little chaos, infusing her work with joy and vulnerability. Whether on the page or IRL, Julia strives to care deeply for herself, her people, and sometimes, her delightfully complicated characters.

Kate Spencer is a mental health professional with a passion for poetry. Writing under the pen name Joella Muncel, she began sharing her poetry on Substack earlier this year. She released her first collection of narrative poetry, Desert Fairy Tales—a whimsical journey of magical stories inspired by the enchanting and mystical Mojave Desert—and is working on a second volume. Kate is a student of that which lies beyond the limitations of human perception. Her second work, The Book of RA, is a distillation of the RA Material, channeled in the late 80's from an entity named RA. The book contains all of the guidance RA offered to show humanity how to live a life in Love & Light.

Katie Nartonis is a writer, curator and documentary filmmaker. She will debut two new books at this year's festival. The first is a reissue of Jack Rogers Hopkins: California Design Maverick and Volume 2 of California Desert Artists. Her next book, Chasing Eudorah: Adventures in California Design Art History includes essays on influential mid-Century California artists and makers is slated for early 2026. Her exhibition, Crafting the Counterculture: Garry Knox Bennett and Nicki Marx is now open at the Maloof Foundation. She serves as Gallery Director for the HDA: Hi Desert Art Center in Yucca Valley, California.

Kelli Shapiro, PhD, is a public historian, historic preservationist, and local history author from Southern California. She holds degrees from Pomona College, Texas State University, and Brown University. She has written two books for Arcadia Publishing's Images of America series: 2024's "Inland Empire and San Gabriel Valley Movie Theatres" and 2018's "Historic Movie Theatres of West Virginia" (the latter done as the Preservation Alliance of WV's Program Associate). She has also authored successful state landmark nominations in California and Texas; academic journal articles; and entries for several encyclopedias.

Kenneth Nowling is a best-selling author, producer, and veteran television executive with over 30 years of experience in film and TV production. He began his career in 1992 as a production assistant and rose through the ranks to bring major stories to life on screen. Now a full-time writer, Kenneth brings his cinematic instincts to the page, captivating readers with acclaimed Young Adult fiction and gripping Crime & Suspense novels. His debut, Havana Nights, blends high-stakes drama with atmospheric storytelling. Across every medium, Kenneth crafts immersive stories that entertain, challenge, and leave a lasting impression.

Kenneth Pinckney is a motivational runner and author whose inspiring memoir, The Hills We Climb, Love it, Hate it, Embrace it... Life's Journey, charts his journey through personal battles, perseverance, and transformation. With vulnerability and strength, he shares how confronting fear, shedding emotional baggage, and redefining purpose helped him climb life’s toughest hills—both literal and figurative. His story resonates with athletes and non-athletes alike, offering hard-won insights into resilience, growth, and the power of pushing forward. Pinckney’s message is clear: we all face mountains, but it’s in the struggle that we find meaning. His work invites readers to embrace their own journeys and pursue a life that is truly boundless.

Kent Wilson is a writer whose work has appeared in literary magazines like Cholla Needles and Howl. He discovered fiction and poetry later in life, crafting short stories that capture the subtle moments of everyday life. Kent’s goal is to create characters with a sense of familiarity and authenticity. With family roots in the Morongo Valley—his father having attended 29 Palms High School—he brings a deep connection to the desert in his writing. 

Kerri is a community organizer, wellness activist and author of the forthcoming book American Detox: The Myth of Wellness and How We Can Truly Heal. She is the founder of CTZNWELL, a movement that is democratizing wellbeing for all. A descendant of generations of firemen and first responders, Kerri has dedicated her life to kicking down doors and fighting for justice. She’s been teaching yoga for over 20 years and is known for making waves in the wellness industry by challenging norms, disrupting systems and mobilizing people to act.

Kimberly Lee, JD, is the author of Have You Seen Him, a gripping thriller known for keeping readers up past bedtime. A former attorney, she’s now a versatile writer, creativity coach, and workshop facilitator. Kimberly is a graduate of Stanford and UC Davis School of Law and an Amherst Writers & Artists affiliate, also certified in SoulCollage®, Guided Autobiography, and multiple therapeutic writing methods. Her work has appeared in LA Parent, Minerva Rising, and numerous anthologies. She teaches with Hugo House, The Loft, and more. Kimberly lives in Southern California with her husband and three children.

Kristina Ten is a speculative fiction writer and the author of Tell Me Yours, I’ll Tell You Mine (Stillhouse Press, Oct. 2025). Her stories appear in McSweeney's, Best American Science Fiction and Fantasy, Lightspeed, Nightmare, and more. She has won the Stephen Dixon Award, the Subjective Chaos Kind of Award, and the F(r)iction Writing Contest, and has been a finalist for the Shirley Jackson, Locus, and WSFA Small Press Awards. A Clarion West and University of Colorado MFA graduate, Kristina has lived all over—with mischievous dogs, melodramatic plants, and bookshelves full of scary stories.

Larry Fike is a former tenured department chair who holds degrees in philosophy from UCLA and Columbia University. He now teaches critical thinking, logic, and ethics at community colleges and writes from his home in Joshua Tree. He is working on a sequel to the memoir Piker: A Memoir of Child Abuse, Academic Disillusionment, and Familial Redemption, and is the author of Obstinate Air: Poems on Beating the Wind and Unheard Tick of Time: Poems in the Healing Mode. His lyrics have been included in songs that have aired on "The Young and the Restless," "General Hospital," and "Summerland."

Laurie Kaye is the author of Confessions of a Rock N Roll Name Dropper: My Life Leading Up to John Lennon’s Last Interview, a gripping memoir that recounts her 1980 interview with Lennon—his final one before his tragic death hours later. The book also explores her turbulent early years in LA and rise through the music industry, interviewing legends like Paul McCartney, David Bowie, and Mick Jagger. Laurie began her career at KFRC-AM San Francisco, later writing for RKO and Dick Clark. She now works in television and film as a writer, producer, and casting director.

Lex Neale is an independent Integral Theorist and a member of the Integral Research Center. After taking a B.Sc. in Zoology at London University he became involved in consciousness studies, traveling the world to develop his thesis that the origin of Life is Consciousness. In India he became a practitioner of Prem Rawat's "Knowledge of the Self," and enjoys an ongoing affiliation with The Prem Rawat Foundation, www.tprf.org. As well as a scientist and inventor, he is also an artist and musician. He lives with his family in the beautiful redwood forests of northern California.

Lisa Schyck is the creator of Glimpses of the Joshua Tree Dream, a book series celebrating the authentic lives and creative spirit of Hi-Desert residents. The first volume launched in August 2024, with a second set for March 2026 during Women’s History Month, spotlighting modern-day women pioneers of the region. A former organizational development executive with over 20 years of experience at top Detroit firms, Lisa holds a Master’s in Administration and has studied design at the Interior Design Institute and OTIS. She is also a student of Judaic, Chassidic, and mystical teachings and donates book proceeds to local cultural projects.

As an author, Maxfield's voice is fierce, funny and focused on women's issues. Her upcoming memoir JewGirl uses flashpoints from lived experience to explore what it means to be Jewish and female at a time when women's rights are at risk and antisemitism is on the rise. She lives in Southern California.

A poet and longtime visitor to Joshua Tree, Megan Haugh is a member of the Mojave Sage Writers group and former writing instructor at UC San Diego. Their work has appeared in Cholla Needles, The Courtship of Winds, and Thuya Poetry Review. They are currently submitting a chapbook titled desert poems and live in San Diego.

Michael A. Delitala is a Thousand Oaks–based author with four published works in his Revisionist series, which explore family dynamics, coming of age, the shifting stories we tell ourselves over time, and the search for authenticity through reflections on past loves. His forthcoming book, The Surplus of Love, tackles the taboo subject of sex work with empathy and candor, aiming to show that sex workers are, like everyone else, human beings striving to make ends meet. Michael’s books are available on all major platforms.

Michael G. Vail is a novelist, short-story author and poet. His most recent book, High Desert Elegy: Stories & Poems, and his novel, The Salvation of San Juan Cajon, are available at several locations in the Morongo Basin and on Amazon. A California native, Michael divides his time between San Clemente and a former homestead cabin in Twentynine Palms.

Michael “Aibo” Juarez is an A.I. software patent holder and sci-fi author whose writing is heavily influenced by an extensive philosophy, journalism, and business background. Before starting his career as a writer, Aibo owned a retail business in San Francisco, employing local teens from at-risk communities. Now, Aibo’s work often explores themes of disadvantage, violence, spirituality, and the desire to break free from oppressive systems. When he isn’t writing, Aibo enjoys reading, cooking, working, and watching anime, TV, and movies.

Michael Robert Liska is a fiction writer whose work has been featured in Epoch and on McSweeney’s Internet Tendency. He is a graduate of the MFA program in creative writing at Rutgers and is currently seeking representation/publication for two completed historical novels. In addition to his work in fiction, he co-hosts the podcast What Ho… A Rat!! which provides irreverent, lowbrow readings of Shakespeare’s plays for contemporary non-scholarly audiences. He lives on the Delaware river with his dog, Django.

Mike Stillman first traveled on Route 66 as an infant in his parents' Rambler during the summer of 1960. He may be the only person who remembers the layout of the gold mine that his father invested in (and received little in return). In his early 20's, Stillman wrote fiction and poetry that appeared in Mendocino Review, Permafrost, Metrosphere, and Wordeater. For decades, he worked in Chicago as a Software Engineer and I.T. Specialist, but was always thinking of the desert and visiting on vacations. In 2016, he retired and moved to the Joshua Tree area, where he wrote the historical novel In The Joshua Sea over seven years.

Nancy is the author of six non-fiction books that share powerful, real-life stories about thriving through authenticity. 50 Cents for a Life: A True Story of Surviving by Synchronicity, is a co-authored memoir based on her father’s raw manuscript—given to his daughters nearly 50 years after fleeing WW2 Lithuania. Nancy’s passionate research revealed harrowing truths, mapping timelines and places for a gripping story of tormenting circumstances and magical protections. A former CFO and strategic planning consultant, she is an inspiring and insightful national speaker at conferences, events, and podcasts. Nancy lives in Maui, Hawaii, creating vibrant art and grateful for life in paradise.

Natalie is an internationally published and prize nominated poet, visual artist, photographer, and cat lady. In her work she seeks to explore the intricacies of language by letting words speak for themselves and operating under the etymological definition of poetry as “something fashioned or made”. She is interested in the poetry found in the mundane, analytical, and scientific. She is an alumna of both California Institute of the Arts and New York’s The New School. She previously studied classical theatre at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London and is now best friends with a rookery of rattlesnakes.  

Nevada McPherson is the author of the Eucalyptus Lane novels (Poser, Cracker, and Baller), a neo-noir series blending romance and crime fiction from Outcast Press. A graduate of LSU’s MFA Creative Writing Program, she has also written award-winning screenplays, four graphic novels, and numerous short stories and essays. Her work appears in Deep South Magazine, Noir City, Twisted Pulp Magazine, and Starlite Pulp Review. Based in Georgia, Nevada enjoys reading, cooking, yoga, and porch-sitting with her husband and chihuahua. A devoted gardener, she jokes that she’s just one or two houseplants away from full-blown “crazy plant lady” status.

Nico Slate is a historian and author whose work explores race, democracy, and social change in the United States and India. Raised in California’s Mojave Desert, he was inspired by his mother, a public school teacher, and driven by personal experiences, including his brother’s tragic death. A Rhodes Scholar and Harvard Ph.D., Nico is the author of Brothers and several acclaimed books, including Colored Cosmopolitanism and Gandhi’s Search for the Perfect Diet. He teaches at Carnegie Mellon University, where he also co-founded LEAP and the Bajaj Lab for Rural Development. His writing blends scholarship with a deeply personal lens on justice.

Nikki Rawnsley is an award-winning author, marketing leader, and creative force whose work blends soulful depth with whimsical imagination. A British-born Australian living in California, she draws inspiration from travel, spiritual practice, and global connections. With a curious spirit and empathetic heart, Nikki channels mythic energy into poetry that stirs emotion and awakens the soul. A seeker and high-vibe traveler, she lives each day in love for the highest good of all, guided by creativity and connection. She is the author of Black Heart Words & Poems, Volume One, an anthology inspired from the edge of darkness illuminated with a sprinkling of light.

Nolan Knight is the author of Gallows Dome, The Neon Lights Are Veins, and Beneath the Black Palms. He is a fourth generation Angeleno and former staff writer for Los Angeles’ Biggest Music Publication, the L.A. Record. His short fiction has been featured in various publications including Akashic Books, Thuglit, Shotgun Honey, Starlite Pulp, and Action, Spectacle. His work has been met with praise by luminaries such as Barry Gifford, James Sallis, Allison Anders, and Lydia Lunch. His latest novel, The Gorgon of Los Feliz, is out now from Down & Out Books.

Pamela Nickel Williams is the author of Clearly Lies Are True, a memoir that offers a first-hand account of growing up as the daughter of early Scientology followers during the 1950s, ’60s, and ’70s. Through detailed experiences and vivid memories, she reveals how the movement powerfully and forcefully shaped her family and her own childhood and teenage years.

Philip Miller is a sculptor, metal fabricator, photographer and writer. His book Cynics Guide to Spiritual Awakening was an underground hit with his Los Angeles circle in the 1980’s. He likes to write songs and poetry when he’s not watching TV. He will be participating in the Happy Poetry Hour on Saturday, November 8.

Raphael Perez is a French photographer and creator of IsraeliJazz, a multimedia project exploring the rich history and contemporary scene of jazz in Israel. Launched in 2022 with exhibitions in Tel Aviv, Paris, and Juan-les-Pins, the project includes a bilingual art book (published in 2024), an exhibition series, and an online platform. Born in Tunis and raised in France, Perez began photographing musicians over a decade ago. During the pandemic, he shifted focus to Israeli jazz, combining his passion for music and visual storytelling. His work is rooted in deep historical research and close collaboration with jazz musicians worldwide.

Rose Baldwin is a Midwesterner by birth and a storyteller by instinct—plainspoken, occasionally thickheaded, and often unexpectedly insightful. A lifelong joker, daydreamer, and scribbler, she spent years working in banking, teaching finance, and serving in government, where her supervisors frequently noted she might be happier elsewhere. They were right. In 2014, she moved to California and now lives in Yucca Valley with her two cats. Her works include The Claire Stories (2016), Mike's Magic Burgers (2017), Claire Streaking Through the Autumn of Her Life (2021), and Claire Still Kicking (2023). She's still writing—and still kicking.

Ruby Dee grew up riding horses near Folsom Prison and singing with family on the back porch. After studying engineering and drama at SDSU at fifteen, she drifted into San Francisco’s early punk scene. She later co-founded North Coast California Earth First!, fished in Alaska, and opened restaurants in Seattle before launching her band, Ruby Dee and the Snakehandlers, in 2002. Thrice Grammy-considered, they tour globally. Her novel Bag of Tricks (2023) draws on her wild youth in the punk world, true events, twisted slightly for fun, reconnecting her with lost friends and memories, both real and imagined.

Ruth Nolan is editor of No Place for a Puritan: the Literature of California's Deserts. A former wildland firefighter in the Mojave Desert and beyond, her desert-centric writing has most recently been published in Writing the Golden State: The New Literary Terrain of California (Angel City Press), Boom, California, McSweeney's, East Bay Times, KCET Los Angeles, Joshua Tree: Where Two Deserts Meet (Wildsam Guide), Los Angeles Fiction: Southland Writing by Southland Writers (Red Hen Press;), and Campfire Stories Volume II: Tales from America’s National Parks and Trails. She is the author of the poetry books After the Dome Fire and Ruby Mountain, and is Professor of English and creative writing at College of the Desert. She lives in Twentynine Palms.

Ryanna Hammond is the founder of All With Heart, where creative writing, mental health, and spirituality meet. After overcoming years of anxiety, disordered eating, and self-doubt, she found healing through therapy, journaling, and spiritual awakening. Ryanna holds a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology and a Master’s Degree in Creative Writing. She now creates books, workshops, and services to help others expand their mindset, reconnect with their authentic selves, and transform their lives. Through poetry, education, and deep inner work, Ryanna empowers others to share their stories and heal from within—always, and only, with heart.

Award-winning author S. Kensington is a retired educator who has lived and taught in various countries for the past thirty years. Inspired by her discovery of a woman's glove and a WWII news clipping about the undercover Phantoms in her father's war possessions, Kensington's latest novel, Just Another Girl on the Road, delves into the complexities of World War II and its aftermath. Like her protagonist, Kensington enjoys long voyages by freighter, her favorite being on the French cargo ship CMA CGM Matisse from Tilbury, England, to Tahiti, during which she encountered a bomb cyclone.

S. Jayne Brennan is a successful executive with a powerful story of resilience. A survivor of childhood abuse and poverty, she rose through the ranks of the automotive industry and Silicon Valley while battling deep struggles with self-worth. Her memoir, Still Standing, shares her journey from pain to purpose, inspiring others, especially young women and underserved communities, to believe in the art of the possible. Passionate about giving back, she devotes her life to helping others heal and grow. A proud mother of two daughters, she currently splits her time between Los Angeles and Montana, embracing each day as a gift.

Terence Latimer is a writer whose work spans essays, prose, and poetry, blending historical reflection, philosophical insight, and social commentary. With a deep appreciation for language and linguistics, his work explores how words shape identity, memory, and culture. Grounded in studies of history and philosophy, Terence writes with clarity and conviction across genres. His essays and prose tackle themes of power, place, and belonging, while his poetry offers intimate reflections on grief, resilience, and the rhythms of the desert. He is currently working on two book projects: A hybrid essay collection exploring Black futurism and displacement; and a desert anthology centered on ritual, loss, and grace.

After an international childhood lived throughout Asia because of her father’s non-profit aid work, Tracy Wise has spent her career in theatre, opera, and then higher education administration. She currently writes university presidential speeches, campus communications, and news stories in California’s Inland Empire. She has a BA in Theatre and Spanish from Washington University in St. Louis (which includes a year at the University of East Anglia in Norwich, UK) and an MA in Cultural Studies (a historiography degree) from the University of East London in the UK. A life-long passionate reader, she published her first work of literary fiction—MADAME SOREL’S LODGER—in 2025 with Type Eighteen Books.

Vanda Krefft is the author of Expect Great Things!, a social history of the Katharine Gibbs School and its pioneering role in expanding workplace opportunities for women. The book, which explores the unlikely story of Katharine Gibbs and her school's trailblazing graduates, will be published by Algonquin Books in March 2025. Vanda is also the author of The Man Who Made the Movies (HarperCollins, 2017), the first full biography of Twentieth Century Fox founder William Fox. A former journalist, her writing has appeared in Elle, Redbook, Woman’s Day, and the Los Angeles Times. She holds degrees from the University of Pennsylvania.

Valerie Stivers is the author of Blood Is the New Black, a darkly funny fashion-industry satire about a magazine intern who suspects her glamorous coworkers may actually be vampires. Previously, she worked at Mirabella, CondeNet, Time Out New York, and Travel & Leisure. She is currently the literary critic for UnHerd and was formerly the books critic at Compact. Her next book, The Writer’s Table: Famous Authors & Their Favorite Recipes, will be published by Frances Lincoln on October 7, 2025. Stivers blends wit, cultural critique, and a touch of the macabre across genres and media.

Valerio Ventura is a multi-award-winning artist, copywriter, and 2014 Emmy recipient for design at Walt Disney Studios. Born in Rome’s gritty Quadraro neighborhood near Cinecittà, he moved to California to pursue a creative career. With over 30 years in the film industry, Valerio has art-directed animated shows and directed TV commercials and music videos. Writing professionally since 2001, he now turns to fiction. His debut novel in the Akira series blends razor-sharp action, dark humor, and urban poetry in a world of assassins. Valerio is now a U.S. citizen and continues to explore storytelling through visual and written mediums.

Virginia Mekkelson is a playwright, novelist, and lyricist for musical theatre. A former Peace Corps volunteer in Eritrea, she has been a longtime member of the Lehman Engel Musical Theater Workshop and the Academy for New Musical Theatre in Los Angeles. Her work includes the musicals Condor and Don Quixote in Las Vegas, as well as the novel The Sunset Bar (Black Rose Writing). She has also self-published The Christmas Contest and Musical Theatre: Secrets of the Great Shows. Based in Yucca Valley, she is currently working on a screenplay.

Will Torres is a member of the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indian tribe. He grew up on the reservation located in Thermal, California. Will is also a combat-decorated Marine who served as a radio operator with Third Battalion Third Marines from 2003 to 2007. Will's screenplays, Freelance: A POG Story and My Night With Mukat, became Amazon bestsellers.

Yasmine Golchan, raised in France and the U.S., studied theater and film at USC and UCLA. She produced plays in Paris before founding the French Theater at the Beverly Hills Playhouse, where she produced, directed, and acted in French comedies. Her short film Next Stop, Eternity won Best Short at the first Internet Festival and earned international nominations. As VP of Production for Oscar-winning producer Bob Yari, she co-produced the Golden Globe–winning The Painted Veil. Now collaborating with Magenta Light Studios, Golchan has authored The Adventures of Yasmine, a children’s book celebrating multicultural journeys and timeless, tech-free storytelling.