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.

Jennifer Lewis is a writer, editor, and publisher of Red Light Lit. Her debut short story collection, The New Low (Black Lawrence Press), was an SPD Bestseller. She is the winner of the Nomadic Press Bindle Award and The Los Angeles Review Flash Fiction Award. Her fiction has appeared in publications such as Cosmonauts Avenue, Midnight Breakfast, The Los Angeles Press, and CRAFT, among others. Additionally, her most recent nonfiction work has been featured in The Rumpus, The Creative Independent, and Alta Journal, where her piece “The High Desert’s Funkiest Art Gallery” won the Los Angeles Press Club’s 17th annual National Arts & Entertainment Journalism Award. She received her MFA in creative writing from San Francisco State University. Jennifer teaches at The Writing Salon in San Francisco.

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.

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.

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.

Vic Terry is a playwright, performer, and producer based in the high desert, and the driving force behind the independent production company Good Vibe Cinema. She can often be found on stage at The Palms in Wonder Valley as part of the Laughing Bones Sketch Comedy Troupe, and is the co-creator of their annual comedy festival The Hi-Desert Comedy Campout. Prior to putting down roots in the desert, Vic spent several years touring the country with her partner and their award winning Fringe show Desperate to be Seen, Horrified of Being Known: a Ghost Story. In addition to her theatrical work, Vic has written and produced several Super 8 Films, and is a founder of The San Diego Halloween Film Festival.