Russell C. Connor has been writing horror since the age of five, and has self-published three short story collections, nine eNovellas, and seventeen novels. His books have topped the Amazon bestseller lists many times, as well as winning two Independent Publisher Awards and a Reader’s Favorite Award. He has been a member of the DFW Writers’ Workshop since 2006 and served as president for two years. He lives in Fort Worth, Texas with his rabid cat, demented film collection, mistress of the dark, and demonspawn daughter.

A

ABBOTT, PATRICIA

All or Nothing at All - Historical Fiction
Goodbye Dear, I'll Be Back in a Year - Historical Fiction

ALLAN, RICH

Drafted - Humorous Fiction

ALLEN, TRICIA

A Well-Respected Dead Man - Adult Mystery
Texas Weather - Adult Mystery
The Children under the Playhouse - Children's

AYARS, MIMI

Abundant Harvest - Reference
Jacobean Applique: Exotica - Reference
Jacobean Applique: Romantica - Reference
Jacobean Applique: The Best of - Reference
Jacobean Rhapsodies - Reference
Summer Splendor - Reference

B

BALES, PERRY

Last Man to Kill - Western
No Man Canyon - Western
Second Fastest Gun - Western

BALL, JR., HENRY FLETCHER

Bartholomew's Children - Genealogy

BALLAS, JACK

A Town Afraid - Western
Angel Fire - Western
Apache Blanco - Western
Bandido Caballero - Western
Durango Gunfight - Western
Granger's Claim - Western
Gun Boss - Western
Hanging Valley - Western
Iron Horse Warrior - Western
Land Grab - Western
Maverick Guns - Western
Montana Breed - Western
Powder River - Western
The Hard Land - Western
The Homesteader - Western
The Rugged Trail - Western
Tomahawk Canyon - Western
Trail Brothers - Western
West of the River - Western

BAVOUSETT, GLENN B.

Combat Aircraft of World War II - Historical Nonfiction

BAXTER, J. DAVID

Guardsman - Fantasy

BETHARD, WAYNE

Lotions, Potions, and Deadly Elixirs: Frontier Medicine in America - American History

BIVONA, GINNIE

Haunted Encounters - Fiction
Haunted Encounters: Ghost Stories from Around the World - Fiction
Haunted Encounters: Personal Stories of Departed Pets - Fiction
Ida Mae Tutweiler and the Standing Tea Party - Fiction
Notes from a Chameleon - Memoir
Top Texas Chefs Favorite Recipes - Cooking
Words Words and Words - Poetry

BOGEN, K. B.

Go Quest, Young Man - Fantasy

BONI, TOM

Iron Broderick - Fantasy

BRUDERER, BRIAN

The Secret Lives of Moth & Butterfly Book 1 - Children's Illustrated
The Secret Lives of Moth & Butterfly Book 2 - Children's Illustrated

BUCKNER, SHARRY

Exploring Austin and the Hill Country with Children - Travel
Exploring Texas with Children - Travel
The Great Stays of Texas - Travel
Top Texas Chefs Favorite Recipes - Cooking

BURDETT, SILVER

Making Music - Reference
Making Music: Resource Book - Reference
Making Music: Student Guide - Reference

BURGER, ROBERT

Cooling Tower Technology - Reference

BUTTS, J. LEE

A Bad Day to Die - Western
Ambushed - Western
Bad Blood - Western
Brotherhood of Blood - Western
Lawdog - Western
Hell in the Nations - Western
Nate Coffin's Revenge - Western
Written in Blood - Western

C

CAIN, DEL

Lawmen of the Old West: The Bad Guys - Western
Lawmen of the Old West: The Good Guys - Western
Songs on the Prairie Wind - Poetry
Words Words and Words - Poetry

CAMPBELL, PATRICIA B.

Jacobean Applique: Exotica - Reference
Jacobean Applique: Romantica - Reference
Jacobean Applique: The Best of - Reference
Jacobean Rhapsodies - Reference
Summer Splendor - Reference

CAROLAN, JILL

Sadie's Bargain - Young Adult

CHAPPELL, HENRY

At Home on the Range with a Texas Hunter - Nonfiction
Blood Kin - Western
The Callings - Western

CLEMENT-MOORE, ROSEMARY

Hell Week - Speculative
Prom Dates from Hell - Speculative
Spirit and Dust - Speculative
Texas Gothic - Speculative
The Splendor Falls - Speculative

COLEMAN, BRITTA

Potter Springs - Romance

CONNOLLY, KARA

No Good Deed - Fantasy

CONNOR, RUSSELL C.

Good Neighbors - Horror
Race the Night - Horror
Texas Road Kill Anthology vol. 1 - Horror
The Jackal Man - Horror

CRABTREE, BRUCE

The Bastrop Kid - Historical Fiction
Winds of December - Historical Fiction

CRAMER, JR., WILLIAM L.

Air Combat with the Mighty 8th - Memoir

D

DANHOF, LAUREN

It's Not a Cult - Book Club/Literary Fiction - Amazon - Barnes & Noble

DAVIS, BARBARA

Stalked - Biography

DE SOLA, RALPH

Crime Dictionary - Reference

DENT, HELEN

The Burning Tree - Young Adult Fantasy - Amazon

DIBELL, ANSEN

Plot - Resource

DONNER, DOLORES

The Peregrine Path - Poetry
Words Words and Words - Poetry

E

EDMARK, TOMINA

Cigar Chic - Nonfiction

EGGSPUEHLER, DON

Life Lessons Learned in Grade School - Memoir

ENMON, LARRY

Biowatch - Thriller
City of Fear - Thriller
Class III Threat - Thriller
Murder so Foul - Thriller
The Burial Place - Thriller
Wormwood - Thriller
Worst Case Scenario - Thriller

EVANS, TABOR

Longarm and the Ghost of Black Mesa - Western
Longarm and the Palo Dura Monster - Western
Longarm and the Panther Mountain Shootout - Western
Longarm and the Pecos Promenade - Western
Longarm and the Tascosa Two-Step - Western
Longarm in Devils River - Western
Longarm in Hell's Half Acre - Western

F

FOSSEY, BROOKE

The Big Finish - Adult Book Club Literary Fiction

FRELS, MERRY HASSELL

Simmering Secrets of Weeping Mary - Middle Grade Mystery

FURLONG, JEANNIE FLINN

Out You Monsters! - Children's Illustrated - Amazon

G

GLADYSZ, JEROME S.

T.A.O.S. The Art of Skiing - Nonfiction

GOLDRING, KAT

All Signs Point to Murder - Fiction
Death Medicine - Fiction
Work of the Angels - Fiction

GOLDTHWAITE, CARMEN

The Way West - American History
Wild Women of the Old West - American History

GOLDTHWAITE, GEORGE

Captain Marsh's Gold - Western
From Youth to Vengeance - Western
Return to Mystery Mesa - Middle Grade
Summer at Eagle Mountain - Middle Grade
Survival on Mystery Mesa - Middle Grade
The Return of Sam Rashe - Western

GOODNER, THOMAS

Ginny Goblin Cannot Have a Monster for a Pet - Children's
Ginny Goblin is Not Allowed to Open this Box - Children's

GOODNIGHT, KAY

Petdemonium - Children's
Sideways Wishes - Children's

GRAY, A. M.

The Man Offside - Crime Thriller

GUTIERREZ, HECTOR

Are We Meant? - Poetry
Beyond the Bridge - Poetry
Words Words and Words - Poetry

H

HABER, JULIAN STEWART

A Nail in the Body of Christ - Nonfiction
ADHD: The Great Misdiagnosis - Nonfiction
Blood Avenger - Thriller
They Were Soldiers in Peace and War - Historical Nonfiction

HALL, HARRY

The Pedestriennes - Historical Nonfiction
This Used to Be Dallas - Historical Nonfiction

HAVENS, CANDACE

Charmed and Dangerous - Fantasy
Charmed and Deadly - Fantasy
Charmed and Ready - Fantasy
Dragons Prefer Blondes - Fantasy
Like a Charm - Romance
Model Marine - Romance
She Who Dares, Wins - Romance
Take Me if You Dare - Romance
The Demon King - Fantasy
Truth and Dare - Romance

HOLMES, COLIN

The Oxygen Farmer - Science Fiction
Thunder Road - Historical Fiction

I

INGLE, KENNETH E.

Cross the Styx - Thriller
First Contact - Science Fiction
Saragossa Prime - Science Fiction
Second Contact - Science Fiction
Space Pirate - Science Fiction
The Last Starship - Science Fiction
The Queen's Best - Science Fiction
Third Contact - Science Fiction
To Kill a Thief - Thriller
Who Killed the Killer - Thriller

J

JENT, STEVEN A.

A Browser's Book of Texas History - History
A Browser's Book of Texas Quotations - History

JONES, C.C.S.

Daughter of Ash and Myth - Young Adult Fantasy - Author's Store - Amazon

Magicbound - Young Adult Fantasy - Author's Store - Amazon

JOY, CAROLEE

Careless Whisper - Romance
Love Mystifies - Romance
Love Triumphs - Romance
Secret Legacy - Romance
Wild Fire and Ice Cream - Romance

JORDAN, SARAH CLARK

The BossQueen, Little BigBark, and the Sentinel Pup - Children's

JUSTICE, ALAN DAVID

The Final Bow - Historical Fiction

K

KAUTEN, LANETTE

Cassia - Historical Fiction

KAY, ELLIS

How a Heart Beats - Romance

KNIGHT, DAMON

Creating Short Fiction - Reference

L

LAMB, KRISTEN

We are Not Alone: The Writer's Guide to Social Media - Reference

LAROCQUE, PAULA

Championship Writing - Reference
Heads You Win - Reference
The Book on Writing - Reference

LAYNE, YVONNE

Words Words and Words - Poetry

LENHARDT, MELISSA

Badlands - Western
Blood Oath - Western
Heresy - Western
Run Baby Run - Romance
Sawbones - Western
Stillwater - Western
The Fisher King - Western
The Secret of You and Me - Western

LIVINGSTON, PHIL

Team Penning - Reference

LLOYD, M. C.

Moving Beyond Woodstock - Nonfiction

LOGAN, JAKE

San Angelo Shoot Out - Western

LUNDEN, JANE E. (AS EDIE MACKENZIE)

Golden Retrievers - Nonfiction
Goldendoodles - Nonfiction

LUTZ, LESLIE

Fractured Tide - YA Suspense -Linktree

Sweetest Darkness - YA Suspense -Linktree

M

MCADOO, CARYL & RON

Absolute Pi - Thriller
Amazing Graci - Children's
Antiquing in North Texas - Nonfiction
Great Firehouse Cooks of Texas - Cooking
The Adventures of Sergeant Socks: The Bravest Heart - Children's
The Adventures of Sergeant Socks: The Journey Home - Children's
The Apple Orchard Bed and Breakfast - Romance
The Price Paid - Fiction

MCBRIDE, SUSAN

And Then She Was Gone - Fiction

MCCALLUM, C. DAWN

The Caretaker of Tree Palace - Children's

MCCORD, JOHN S.

The Baynes Clan - Western
The Baynes Clan: California Eagles - Western
The Baynes Clan: Kansas Gambler - Western
The Baynes Clan: Montana Horseman - Western
The Baynes Clan: Nevada Tough - Western
The Baynes Clan: Texas Comebacker - Western
The Baynes Clan: Wyoming Giant - Western
Walking Hawk - Western
Words Words and Words - Poetry

MCKEE, MAC

Wolfer - Western

MCGINNIS, DARYLE D.

A Waterfall in a War - Historical Fiction
He Found Himself in a Jet - Historical Fiction
Thirty Years of Flying - Memoir
Westport Landing - Historical Fiction

MCGUIRE, TIM

Danger Ridge - Western
Gold of Cortes - Western
Manhunt - Western
Nobility - Western
Outcasts - Western
Texas Gold - Western
Texas Prime - Western
Texas West - Western
The Law of the Barbary Coast - Western

MCMULLEN, MIKE

I, Superhero - Humor

MACRAE, DONALD

Conflict of Interest - Western

MALONE, SUSAN

Body Sculpting - Fiction
By the Book - Fiction

MANNING, STEVE

Our Hero Next Door - American History
Texans Touched by World War II - American History

MARTIN, JENNY

Marked - Young Adult
Tracked - Young Adult

MARTINEZ, A. LEE

A Nameless Witch - Fantasy
Chasing the Moon - Science Fiction
Constance Verity Destroys the Universe - Fantasy
Constance Verity Saves the World - Fantasy
Death's Excellent Vacation - Paranormal
Divine Misfortune - Speculative
Gil's All-Fright Diner - Fantasy
Helen & Troy's Epic Road Quest - Fantasy
In the Company of Ogres - Fantasy
Monster - Fantasy
Robots Versus Slime Monsters - Science Fiction
Strange Afterlives Anthology - Horror
The Automatic Detective - Science Fiction
The Last Adventure of Constance Verity - Fantasy
Too Many Curses - Fantasy

MATHIS, EDWARD

Another Path Another Dragon - Thriller
Dark Streaks and Empty Places - Thriller
From a High Place - Thriller
Little Man Blues - Thriller
Natural Prey - Thriller
Only when She Cries - Thriller
Out of the Shadows - Thriller
See No Evil - Thriller
September Song - Thriller
The Burned Woman - Thriller
The Fifth Level - Thriller

MENSINGA, SARAH

Kindred Dragons - Middle Grade Graphic Novel - Abrams

METTS, JAMES SHERWOOD

Planet Storyland and the Words of the Few - Science Fiction

MILLER, PETER

Get Published! Get Produced! - Reference

MOORE, DULCE D.

A Place in Mind - Historical Fiction

MOORE, LAURIE

Constable's Run - Romance
Constable's Wedding - Romance
The Lady Godiva Murder - Romance
The Wild Orchid Society - Romance

MORGAN, TRACY

Michael's Wife - Romance

MURDOCK, MACKEY

Blood for Brothers - Western
Chute #3 - Western
Last of the Old-Time Texans  - Western
Texas Veterans Remember Korea - Historical Nonfiction

N

NELLIS, MICKI

Logan and the Duck Patrol - Children's

NORMAN, CHARLES

The Fire in the Rock - Fiction

O

OLSON, DAVE

Exploiting Chaos - Reference

O'NEAL, D. M.

Shambles - Mystery - Amazon

Shattered - Mystery - Amazon

OWEN, KATE

Once Bitten - Romance

P

PERRY, ANNE G.

Orison X - Poetry

PRIDDY, LAURANCE L.

Critical Evidence - Suspense
Son of Durango - Fiction
Winning Passion - Fiction

Q

R

RAE, CAROLYN

Romancing the Gold - Adult Romance
There is Life after Lettuce - Cooking

RHODES, STEPHEN

Discarded Souls - Thriller

ROLLINS, MATTHEW

Dangers to Society - Adult Contemporary Fantasy - Author's Store - Amazon - Barnes & Noble

Steelwing - Middle Grade/Tween Fantasy - Author's Store - Amazon - Barnes & Noble

Steelwing: Friend or Foe - Middle Grade/Tween Fantasy - Author's Store - Amazon - Barnes & Noble

S

SANDERS, J. BENJAMIN

Mexicanos Hustle - Adult Mystery

SCHUTTE, JAMES E.

The Bunyip Archives - Fiction

SHARPE, JON

Black Hills Blood - Western
Blood Canyon - Western
Buzzard's Gap - Western
Camp St. Lucifer - Western
Commanche Crossing
Desert Desperados - Western
Gold Mine Madness - Western
Gun Valley - Western
Gunsmoke Gulch - Western
Lonestar Lightning - Western
Shoshoni Spirits - Western
Southern Belles - Western

SHELTON, GENE

Brazos Dreamer - Western
Captain Jack - Western
How the West Was Lost - Western
Last Gun - Western
Manhunter: The Life and Times of Frank Hamer - Historical Fiction
Rawhider - Western
Tacosa Gun - Western
Texas Horsetrading Co. - Western
Texas Horsetrading Co.: Devil's Deathbed - Western
Texas Horsetrading Co.: Hangtree Pass - Western
Texas Horsetrading Co.: Skull Creek - Western
Texas Legends: Last Gun - Western
Unwanted: Dead or Alive - Western

SKJOLSVIK, PAMELA

Death Becomes Us - Nonfiction

SLOAN, B.J.

The Forgotten Son - Upmarket Fiction - Amazon - Books2Read

SNYDER, PATRICIA

The Gift of Lovely Song - Poetry
Words Words and Words - Poetry

SONNA, LINDA AGLER

The Homework Solution - Self-Help

SOULE, RON

Aaron and the Magic Go-Cart - Middle Grade
Aaron and the Traveling Ring - Middle Grade
Escape from the Emerald City - Middle Grade
The Heart of Magic - Middle Grade

STEBEL, S. L.

Double Your Creative Power! - Self-Help

STEPHENS, KRISS

Fear: A Ghost Hunter's Story - Paranormal

SULLIVAN, TOM

Drawing Dead - Mystery

T

TAYLOR, PAMELA

Last Priest of Tintagel - Historical Fiction
My Father, My King - Fantasy
Second Son - Fantasy
The Rest of His Days - Historical Fiction

THOMPSON, ARIANNE "TEX"

Dreams of the Eaten - Fantasy
Medicine for the Dead - Fantasy
One Night in Sixes - Fantasy

TORRANCE, LORI

Elvis in Texas - Historical Nonfiction
Tea for Texas - Nonfiction

TOTEN, A. D.

Papa's Memories: The Early Years - Biography

TRACEY, BRIAN

Picking Up The Pieces - Cozy Mystery (as J.B. Abbott)

U

V

VELASCO, M. G. 

Cardslinger - Young Adult

VON DER HEYDI, RON

The Alice Chronicles: Rabbit Slayer - Fantasy

VOIC, JASON

The Swamp Peddlers - Nonfiction

W

WALDREP, KENT

Fourth and Long - Autobiography

WARNER, SHAWN

Homeland Insecurity - Young Adult Fiction
Leigh Howard and the Ghosts of Simmons-Pierce Manor - Young Adult Fantasy

WEATHERS, JACKIE

121 North: A Collection of Short Stories - Fiction
Empower! Inspire! - Nonfiction
Expressions of Life, Love, Laughter, and Spirit - Poetry
Food for Thought - Cooking
Words Words and Words - Poetry

WHITINGTON, MICHEL

A Ghost in My Suitcase - Travel
Ghost Ship - Paranormal
Spook House - Paranormal
Vampire Mom - Paranormal
Werewolf Tonight - Paranormal
Zombie Queen - Paranormal

WHITTINGTON, DON

Arriva La Regina Deglizombi! - Fantasy
Blood Coin - Thriller
Dark Charm - Fantasy
Field of Screams - Children's Suspense
Freak Show - Fantasy
Grim Weeper - Fantasy
House of a Thousand Screams - Children's Suspense
Mia Mamma e un Vampiro! - Fantasy
Una Magia Per Molly - Fantasy
Viva I Morti Viventi! - Fantasy

X

Y

Z

2026 RSVP Coming Soon!

THE 2025 PARTICIPATING AUTHORS

We had a great collection of twenty Workshop authors represent all sorts of genres and age groups. Everything from debut authors to new releases to long-time members with many books to peruse! Throughout the event, the authors read excerpts from  their books in the HPB Community Room (schedule found below the author list). 

J.B. Abbott (Brian Tracey) - Mystery

Brian Tracey is the past Chairman of DFWCon, Texas's premier multi-genre writing conference. He's an active member and long-serving officer of the DFW Writers’ Workshop and a member of International Thriller Writers, serving as a volunteer in several capacities for ITW's annual conference, ThrillerFest. He's published business articles and white papers, and his short stories have appeared in Suspense Magazine (written as Patrick J. McKnight). In addition to his thrillers, he also writes cozy mysteries with Jeff Ayers. He lives in Texas with his wife, two children, two cats and many rabbits who've claimed his yard as their own.

Tricia Allen - Mystery

A fan of 1940s noir, Texas history, Dallas history, and a good mystery, Tricia Allen combines all four in her series set in 1947 Dallas. In Texas Weather, prosecutor David Weather and reporter Jane Alder work a sensational murder trial while a stalker and a serial killer watch, wait, and kill. Blood, betrayal, and surprises abound. David and Jane return in A Well-Respected Dead Man, set against the backdrop of the factual April 1947 Texas City explosion. Dallas gambling mob boss Willie Peabody pays Weather a visit, then turns up dead in the Trinity river bottoms. Jane goes undercover in the mob while Weather sets out to catch the mobster's killers. Tricia is a long-time member of the DFW Writers' Workshop, Sisters in Crime, and Mystery Writers of America.

Brian Bruderer - Children's Chapter Books

Brian Bruderer was born in Salt Lake City, Utah. He currently lives with his loving wife Vickie in Allen, Texas where they raised five children who have grown and are raising 14 grandchildren. Brian got his private pilot’s license at age 17. Brian started dabbling in writing in 1999. He wrote two unpublished books and got the idea for Moth and Butterfly in 2018. After finishing a first draft in 2021 Elizabeth Firmage agreed to be the illustrator. She has been instrumental in enhancing the story into what it is today. Originally the bats were to be terrifying creatures of evil. Elizabeth objected to vilifying the bats just because they are predators. That inspired the idea of having Butterfly learn about love by seeing the bond between a mama bat and her pup.

Russell C. Connor - Horror

Russell C. Connor has been writing horror since the age of five, and is the author of three short story collections, nine eNovellas, and seventeen novels. His books have won two Independent Publisher Awards and a Reader’s Favorite Award. He has been a member of the DFW Writers’ Workshop since 2006 and served as president for two years. He lives in Fort Worth, Texas with his rabid cat, demented film collection, mistress of the dark, and demonspawn daughter.

Lauren Danhof - Book Club/Contemporary Fiction

Lauren has loved telling stories since she was a small child. Hell is paved with cringeworthy poetry she wrote in high school. Lauren got her BA in English at The University of the Incarnate Word and her MA in English Literature from Texas Tech University. She lives in the Dallas-Fort Worth area with her patient husband, Robert, her two girls, and her two rescue kitties. She is a member of The DFW Writer’s Workshop and a founding member of the WHAM writing group. In her free time, she enjoys photography, reading, crafting, and volunteering. Lauren exists on cold brew coffee and true crime podcasts.

Helen Dent - YA Fantasy

Helen Dent’s career as a writer began at age nine, when her grandfather paid her a dollar a page for what turned into quite a lengthy story. She studied monster theory (among other things) in graduate school, taught English at a Chinese university, and toured the Scottish Hebrides in a car with a needy radiator. Now she lives in Texas with her husband, kids, a cat, and a hamster. She belongs to the DFW Writers Workshop, the Fort Worth Poetry Society, and Art House Dallas. 

Brooke Fossey - Book Club/Literary Fiction

Brooke Fossey was once an aerospace engineer with a secret clearance before she traded it all in for motherhood and writing. She’s a past president and an honorary lifetime member of DFW Writers’ Workshop. Her debut novel, The Big Finish, released in 2020 from Penguin/Berkley (US), and Piper/Pendo (DE). It was also included in the Reader’s Digest book series for Portugal, Hungary, Germany, Finland, Australia and US/Canada. When she’s not writing, you can find her in Dallas, Texas with her husband, four kids, and their dog Rufus. She still occasionally does math.

Kay Goodnight - Children's/Crafts

Kay Goodnight retired as an educator after twenty-nine years teaching secondary students and adults. Now she pursues her writing career full time, primarily writing fiction for children with occasional side trips into short stories and nonfiction. Her fiction includes three middle grade books Petdemonium, Mistwizzled, and Sideways Wishes and a chapter book series for young readers, The Adventures of PB and Jay. Traditional publishing credits include the Adventures in Mathopolis series, eighteen how-to books for educators, nonfiction articles, poetry, and video scripts for the educational market. Kay has also published three cross stitch pattern books. In addition to writing, Kay enjoys cross stitching, painting, and spoiling her granddaughters.

Colin Holmes - Historical Fiction/Science Fiction

Colin Holmes is a former advertising creative director who has written everything from tweets to TV. Now he writes novels, short stories, and screenplays. His debut novel Thunder Road a noir detective novel was published by CamCat Books in February 2022. His second novel, also from CamCat, is The Oxygen Farmer a sci-fi thriller released in December 2023. Holmes is an honors graduate of the UCLA Writers Program, a long-time board member of the DFW Writers Workshop, and serves as on the steering committee DFW Writers Conference. He’s a fan of baseball, barbeque, fine automobiles, and unpretentious scotch. Colin and his ever-patient wife live just west of Fort Worth, Texas.

ChristaCarol Jones - Fantasy

C.C.S. Jones is the award-winning author of Magicbound, the first in The Last Mage series, and Daughter of Ash and Myth, the debut of The Mythic Saga released in March 2025. With a background in education and curriculum design, she crafts emotionally resonant, high-stakes stories rich in immersive world-building and driven by strong female protagonists. A returning member of DFW Writers’ Workshop, first joining in 2008, she’s proud to be part of a thriving creative community once again. In addition to fantasy, she writes romance exploring the nuances of human connection and occasionally dabbles in screenplays. When not writing, she’s performing on stage, watching movies, or spending time with her family, usually with a cup of coffee in hand, where her best ideas tend to brew.

A. Lee Martinez - Fantasy/Science Fiction

A. Lee Martinez has been writing professionally for 20 years with 13 traditionally published novels, including Gil'S All Fright Diner, The Automatic Detective, Monster, and the Constance Verity trilogy. His novel Monster was adapted into the Chinese language film Monster Run, currently streaming on Netflix USA. His novels have been praised for their mix of the ordinary and the fantastical, metaphysical exploration, and comedic elements. He has been a member of the DFW Writers Workshop for over 30 years.

Sarah Mensinga - Picture Books/YA Fantasy/Fantasy

Sarah Mensinga’s debut graphic novel, Kindred Dragons, will be published by Abrams Books on October 14th and is available for preorder. She has also illustrated many books, including Flipping Forward Twisting Backwards, the Trillium Sisters series, and the New York Times bestseller, Different: A Great Thing to Be. Her short stories have appeared in comic anthologies such as Flight 4, Flight 5, and Fablewood. She’s published three indie books, and she has also worked on a variety of animated movies and TV shows, including The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Escape from Planet Earth, and The Ant Bully. Originally from Canada, Sarah now lives in Texas with her husband, three kids, and two cats.

D. Michelle O'Neal - Mystery

With thirty-five years’ experience as a Forensic Scientist, D. M. O’Neal retired from the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office in Fort Worth, Texas. She served several years as a committee member for the non-profit DFW Writers’ Workshop Conference and sat as the Board President for The Samaritan House/Samaritan Villages. Through her experience gained as a single parent, drug analyst, and crime scene investigator, Ms. O’Neal shares her experiences and adventures with a twisted sense of fiction in her debut novel Shambles and the sequel, Shattered.

Carolyn Rae - Romantic Suspense

Carolyn Rae follows her passion, writing romantic suspense where bullets are flying, people are dying, and lovers are resisting attraction until they can escape the danger following them. As a teenager, Carolyn Rae told stories to kids she babysat. On a long road trip, she entertained her younger sister with stories. She is the author of Romancing the Gold, from MuseItUp and Searching for Love, from The Wild Rose Press. Her romantic suspense Double Jeopardy will be published by The Wild Rose Press. Carolyn Rae has a master’s degree in home economics and as a researcher for a mincemeat company, she met her neighbors with samples of mincemeat pies. In Texas she taught and supervised inmates at a federal prison and lives with her husband in Hurst, TX.

LeAnn Robinson - Romance/Fantasy/SciFi

LeAnn Robinson has been writing since she was in the first grade, and she sold her first book to a schoolmate for ten cents when she was in the third grade. She loves up-beat science fiction and appreciates writers who get their military facts straight. LeAnn spent her first few years in the military enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, where she worked on the radar systems of fighter-interceptor aircraft. Following that, she used her G.I. Bill to put herself through college, signing up for the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) and getting her commission upon graduation. She majored in Geography, a multi-faceted discipline that gave her insight into cultures, governments, climates, and landforms. She served in both the Signal Corps and the Ordnance Corps and was stationed in the U.S. and Korea. During her career, she deployed to Saudi Arabia for Desert Shield/Storm, to Somalia for Operation Restore Hope and to Kuwait and Afghanistan for OIF/OEF. She now lives in Little Elm, Texas, just a little north of Dallas, where she studies astronomy, biology and anthropology, and anything else that can inform her creation of aliens and their worlds.

Matthew Rollins - Tween & Adult Fantasy

Matthew Rollins is the current VP of Programs for DFW Writers' Workshop, and the award-winning author of Steelwing, Steelwing: Friend or Foe, Dangers to Society, and forthcoming fantasy and science fiction books for adult and young readers. He spent his formative years in Loveland, Colorado, developing a life-long love for skiing and the Denver Broncos. He graduated from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota - look it up, it's a real place! Matthew now resides in the Dallas, Texas area with his wife and daughter, coaches volleyball, and is hard at work on the next story.

J. Benjamin Sanders, Jr. - Mystery

J. Benjamin Sanders, Jr. is a freelance writer in Richardson, Texas and a Marine Corps Vet. He lives with his wife, Rosemary, a pair of loving Airedales called Fiona and Angus Og, as well as a rescued feral cat he calls Loki. He’s a longtime member of the DFW Writers' Workshop, rubbing elbows with several noted authors. An eclectic reader with a special life-long love of pulp fiction and thirties noir. His Texas Noir novel, Mexicanos Hustle, was released July of 2024 by Fawkes Press.

Ron Soule - Middle Grade Fantasy Adventure

Born on a military base, Ron started life as a Navy brat. The seventh of twelve children, he bounced around the United States as his fighter pilot father was reassigned. He earned a BA in English and an MS in Interdisciplinary Studies from the University of Texas at Arlington. He published two middle grade novels: The Heart of Magic, A Magical Mystery, which has been described as Nancy Drew with a touch of magic, and Escape from the Emerald City, which transports three kids to the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair. Ron and his wife live in Fort Worth, Texas, near their two children and five grandchildren. Working down his bucket list, he has explored Wyoming’s Yellowstone National Park, Hawaii’s Kilauea Volcano, England’s Stonehenge, Italy’s Roman Colosseum, and Ireland’s Giant’s Causeway. He still needs to see the Northern Lights.

B.J. Sloan - Upmarket Fiction

Newsprint in her blood and staining her fingers novelist B.J. Sloan, uses life experience for her latest work, The Forgotten Son which was featured in Lonestar Literary Texas Books Preview. Texas native B.J. and husband Steve enjoy farm life surrounded by a menagerie of animals including a boss cow named Zulu. Her second book, The Unfavored Children's Club, comes out September 9, 2025!

Shawn Warner - Young Adult

Shawn is the author of best selling YA Action/Adventure Leigh Howard and the Ghosts of Simmons-Pierce Manor  and The Langley Irregulars series origin story, First Mission: Homeland Insecurity. Like the adventures he writes, Shawn's life has been a thrilling tale of being a paratrooper, sky diver, scuba diver, pediatric therapist, engineer, martial artist, and bungee jumper. The most exciting adventure is being a devoted husband for 30 years and father to two amazing children.

The 2025 author reading schedule: