Gail Bowen is known best for her Joanne Kilbourn Shreve mystery series. The Solitary Friend is the twenty-third novel in the series. Bowen has written four Rapid Reads novellas in the Charlie Dowhanuik series. As well, Bowen wrote Sleuth, a text to guide emerging mystery writers as they produce publisher-ready manuscripts. Bowen has written four plays that have been produced across Canada. Bowen lives in Regina with her husband, Ted and cat, Ollie. https://www.gailbowen.com/
Jake Byrne is the author of Celebrate Pride with Lockheed Martin and DADDY. He lives in Toronto.
Craig Davidson was born and grew up in St. Catharines, Ontario. He has published four previous books of literary fiction, including Rust and Bone, which was the inspiration for a feature film of the same name; the Scotiabank Giller Prize–nominated novel Cataract City; and the novel The Saturday Night Ghost Club, which was a finalist for the Rogers Writers Trust Fiction Prize. His bestselling memoir, Precious Cargo, about his year spent driving a school bus for children with special needs, was a finalist for Canada Reads. Davidson lives in Toronto, Canada, with his partner and two children. He also writes horror fiction under the pen name of Nick Cutter.
Tara Gereaux (Métis-Settler) has published two books of fiction, Saltus (Nightwood Editions, 2021) and Size of a Fist (Thistledown Press, 2015), and her third, Wild People Quiet, is forthcoming. She is a descendant of the Red River Métis and a citizen of Métis Nation-Saskatchewan.
“Axis” Alexandra Jarrett is a spoken word poet with a rhythmic, thought-provoking style that challenges societal taboos. She holds a Marketing Degree from the Edwards School of Business and is a member of the Canadian League of Poets, the Saskatchewan Writers’ Guild, and Ânskohk Writers’ Circle Inc. Her work explores Indigenous and matriarchal themes, influenced by her roots in Eagles Lake First Nation, Treaty 10 Canoe Lake Cree First Nation, and the Métis community of Île-à-la-Crosse. With a background in creative writing, Axis is committed to using poetry as a powerful tool for storytelling, advocacy, and cultural expression.
Joseph Kakwinokanasum is a writer, storyteller, and member of the James Smith Cree Nation. A finalist for CBC’s 2020 Nonfiction Prize and selected by Darrel J. McLeod as a Writers Trust of Canada’s 2022 Rising Star, his debut novel, My Indian Summer, won the 2023-2024 First Nations Communities READ Award, and was shortlisted for the 2023 ReLit Fiction Award. For more about Joseph visit starblanketstoryteller.com
Ashleigh Mattern is the author of the young adult fantasy novel Magicked Born. A copywriter and nationally published journalist, she has been working as a professional writer since 2007. She’s the co-owner of Vireo Creative Web Design & Marketing and co-owner of Play Sask Sports, an adult rec sports league based in Saskatoon. In her spare time, you’ll find her writing, reading, riding her bicycle, and playing recreational sports. Read more about Ashleigh at ashleighmattern.com.
Rowan F. Neufeld (he/they) is a poet from Saskatoon on Treaty Six Territory. His work has been published in Silence Zine and Poetry All Over the Floor: Volume One. When they’re not writing poems, you’ll find them papercrafting or distracted by birds. Rowan is also the Executive Director of JackPine Press, a limited-run chapbook publisher.
Michelle Porter is the descendent of a long line of Métis storytellers originally from the Red River area (the Goulet and Genthon families). She’s the author of one novel, A Grandmother Begins the Story (2023), two books of nonfiction, Approaching Fire and Scratching River, and one book of poetry, Inquiries. Her poetry has been shortlisted for national and international awards. She’s a member of the Manitoba Métis Federation and she currently lives in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Marissa Stapley is an award-nominated journalist and the bestselling author of the novels Lucky, soon to be an Apple limited series starring Anya Taylor-Joy, The Lightning Bottles, Mating for Life, Things to Do When It’s Raining, and The Last Resort. Her writing has appeared in newspapers and magazines across North America, including The Globe and Mail (Toronto), National Post, Toronto Star, Reader’s Digest, Elle, and Today’s Parent. She has taught creative writing and editing at the University of Toronto and Centennial College. She lives in Toronto with her family. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram @MarissaStapley or like her page on Facebook (Facebook.com/MarissaStapleyAuthor) for updates and contests!
