In the Lot

Dave Agans, corrupted by Mad Magazine, Rocky & Bullwinkle, and Get Smart at an early age, began writing spy spoofs in the sixth grade. He is the author of the musical comedy Hot Buttons, dozens of comic stage monologues, the popular, funny technical book Debugging, and the humorous adventure Urban Legion Trilogy. He wrote the flash fiction noir story The Big Nap, and won the 2018 Bulwer-Lytton Award in the Crime and Detective category.

Dr. Smita Bharti has a PhD in Mechanical Engineering. She writes children's picture books and middle grade books. Her published works include the picture books "The Flying Boy," "Spring Fever" and "The Great Summer Escape." 

She's currently working to release her first middle grade novel, "Mouse in a Bottle," a science oriented adventure story. 

She lives in State College, PA with her family, dog, and chickens. She enjoys gardening and kickboxing in her spare time. 

L. Bossi is a professional artist and graphic designer. She has 10 years of experience in footwear/fashion design and over 15 in graphic design, as well as being a professional artist/illustrator. She has held an intimate love for both art and writing since early childhood and has used The Enpirion Project to bring both together in a trilogy of fully illustrated fantasy novels.

Cathy Breisacher has a thirst for whimsical stories. She is the author of picture books including CAVEKID BIRTHDAY, CHIP AND CURLY, THE GREAT POTATO RACE, and THE LAST STRAW with additional books forthcoming.  She has a Master’s Degree in Counselor Education and a Master’s Degree in Library Science.  When Cathy’s not stirring up new story ideas, she works as an elementary school librarian and STEM teacher.  Cathy lives in Central Pennsylvania with her husband. 

AE Faulkner writes speculative fiction that explores humanity’s impact on the planet. Her Nature’s Fury series imagines a world where Mother Nature strikes back, while her Divided States duology portrays an America splintered under authoritarian rule. Her latest release, Whispers in the Dark, is a chilling collection of thriller short stories. Alongside her husband and two sons, her family includes five rescue cats and a rotating crew of foster kitties awaiting their forever homes. 

Victoria is a social worker, author, and outdoor lover. She utilizes poetry as a way of healing, often including themes of nature and mental health. Through her own experiences with chronic illness and mental health challenges, Victoria is able to write with empathy and authenticity on challenging topics, such as trauma, mental illness, and chronic pain. 

A childhood friend went to prison about the time I graduated from college. Upon visiting him I realized the need for something to change and embarked on a quest to help inmates truly change. That led me to start what has turned into a global prison ministry and there are many stories along the way which I enjoy sharing with my readers. 

Former crime reporter Lori Duffy Foster was born and raised in the Adirondack Mountains, where her historical suspense novel, SPRING MELT, is set. Her previous novels include NEVER LET GO, a thriller, and the Lisa Jamison Mystery Series. Her books have won the International Impact Book Award and were finalists for Agatha, Silver Falchion and Shamus awards. NO STRANGER HERE, a thriller set in the hills of Northern Pennsylvania, releases from Speaking Volumes in 2027. 

Steven Gellman is an award-winning songwriter turned author. Inspired by his early reading of Judy Blume’s groundbreaking stories, Steven has found his passion for writing coming-of-age fiction that centers LGBTQ+ voices and the real-life challenges of navigating adolescence in an ever-changing world. 

Steven has long championed authentic queer storytelling — first through song, now through fiction. Billboard Magazine once praised him as one of the ‘out-queer tunesmiths [...] making waves along the coffeehouse circuit.’ His debut album Photobook was nominated for Debut Album of the Year by the Gay/Lesbian American Music Awards (GLAMA). His latest release, All You Need, was a finalist for four Wammie Awards and earned a silver from the Mid-Atlantic Song Contest for “Twenty-Nine.”

When he’s not writing, Steven can be found sipping a cup of Dark Rose tea and plotting new adventures for his book club, Tea & Peril. Now in its tenth year, the club has hosted a growing number of New York Times bestselling authors including Travis Baldree, Sarah Beth Durst, Emily X.R. Pan, Eleanor Brown, and William Kent Krueger.

His debut novel Somewhere in Nowhere will be published by NineStar Press (April 14, 2026).  Steven lives in Maryland’s Piedmont region with his husband and a houseful of rescued companion animals. 

Dave Housley has published five novels and five collections of short fiction, most recently the novel-in-stories Aliens Attack!, the novel The Other Ones, and the collection Looney. His work has appeared in Los Angeles Review, McSweeneys Internet Tendency, Mid-American Review, and some other places. He is one of the founding editors at the literary organization Barrelhouse, and the primary organizer of the Conversations and Connections: Practical Advice on Writing conference, which is held at American University in the Spring. He is the Director of Web Strategy for Penn State Outreach and Online Education. He an be found at housleydave dot com. 

Laura Irwin is a Philly girl who now lives in the wilds of central Pennsylvania with her ruggedly handsome husband and their gooey-fingered five-year-old son. She has a bachelor's degree in writing from the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, where she met said ruggedly handsome husband.

When she's not writing magical Romantsy novels (or reading them), she enjoys daydreaming, baking, gaming, traveling to far away lands, and visiting historical places. She loves dogs, baby jowls, spring flowers, and her Roomba.

Cathleen Lykens is a self admitted collector of books and small dogs.  She has been an avid reader all her life and doodles when she can. Her long and continuing career as a middle school teacher has challenged her to take the leap into illustrating the stories she has been writing for years.  She now has 4 books to her credit and 4 small pups to keep her lap full and her heart happy. She lives in central Pennsylvania and enjoys the support of her husband and two adult children. 

An award-winning author, Ms. Krause was honored with the 2025 Seasons of Kidlit Holiday Award for Zadie and the Witch’s Tea and First Place in the 2022 Kids’ Choice Kidlit Writing Contest for A Whisper of Spellfire. She is a PAL member of SCBWI. Gayle’s husband graduated from State College High School, and they return to the Arts Festival every year. She’s the author of seven published works, with a new picture book coming in 2027. 

S. E. Lower writes urban fantasy and paranormal romance fueled by myths, lore, and resilient characters who fight back when the world knocks them down. Her stories feature protective alpha males, supernatural intrigue, and emotional grit—all wrapped in immersive, high-stakes adventure. A former teacher turned full-time explorer, S. E. Lower spends her days thrifting for hidden gems, riding motorcycles, sipping tea, and walking her dog while dreaming up her next twist of fate. 

Shawn is the author of a supernatural fantasy series, and a fantasy novel that was the first of his book picked up by Hell bender Books.  They have now also decided to publish the Grey Girl Series.  Shawn also has two Zombie novels that are self published.  When he is not writing he works as a crematory operator, where he gets some hot ideas for his next story.  He lives in Harrisburg, with his awesome wife and their cats. 

Bestselling author Carrie Anne Noble writes fantasy infused with folklore and fairy tales for teens and adults. Her titles include The Mermaid’s Sister, winner of the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award for YA Fiction, and the Realm Award for Book of the Year. Carrie lives in the PA mountains, where she enjoys traipsing through the forest, frolicking with her half-Corgi, and drinking too many cups of tea. 

K.C. Norton lives on a small farm in central Pennsylvania with two bad dogs, one perfect cat, and more goats than is strictly reasonable. 

Josh Putnam, a fan of history and heavy metal, has combined the two with "A Heavy Metal History Lesson." This US Army veteran and father of one summarized the historical events that inspired ten different heavy metal songs. 

Willamette Sutta is the pen name of a former academic librarian who has always been more fascinated with the worlds of imagination than the STEM books that she curated. Now she combines her love of information and speculation to create fantastic stories that nevertheless give an air of a world truer than the one we see. Find the story beneath the story. 

My first book was released in 2023 as a dark, adult fantasy trilogy, The Utopia Falling Saga. My debut novel, Utopia Falling: A Darkness Rises won the American Writing Award for Best New Age Fiction of the Year in 2023. Combined, all three books have been recognized with ten writing awards.

I'm a landscape photographer and father of four. 

W.S. Wiist is a professional designer, illustrator, and writer who lives in central Pennsylvania. When not writing, illustrating, or designing books for kids, he enjoys hiking and exploring creeks, caves, and wooded areas with his wife and fellow artist, Nancy. 

Colby Woodring writes mystery novels that are more on the cozy side with a little twist. When she isn't writing, she is reading other mystery novels. She lives in State College, Pennsylvania  with her wife and their dog, Cheeze Louise. They have two adult kids. 

Christopher Whitlatch is a storyteller, world-builder, and creator of Adventurer Brands — a collection of books, games, and creative worlds that inspire imagination, curiosity, and kindness. His work brings together real science, history, play, and problem-solving in ways that help young readers explore, learn, and believe in their own superpowers.

Christopher writes across many worlds — from wildlife conservation and environmental heroes, to mysteries, time capsules, holiday adventures, and epic journeys across the past, present, and future. The Animal Heroes series is one of his favorites, because real animals are some of Earth’s greatest protectors — and their true stories help show kids that they can protect our planet too.

In addition to his creative work, Christopher also helps communities and organizations across the country solve real challenges — especially around clean air, clean energy, and protecting the places we all call home.

He lives in Pittsburgh (and in his imagination) surrounded by notebooks full of new ideas, future story worlds, and Animal Heroes just waiting to be discovered. 

Laura L. Zimmerman has a heart for writing young adult fantasy with recurring themes of finding identity, belonging, and found family. Besides writing, she’s an avid coffee drinker and is passionate about loving Jesus, singing loudly, and practicing yoga. A sucker for anything Jane Austen related, she has a young adult fantasy retelling of Pride and Prejudice releasing with Quill and Flame Publishing in 2027. She’s the author of the award-winning YA fantasy Banshee Song Series and two middle-grade mysteries. Her favorite tropes to read and write are enemies-to-lovers and grumpy/sunshine. You can find her in a tiny rural town in south-central Pennsylvania, where bears sometimes wander over from the state park and hang out in her neighborhood. She hides away in her writing hole with her husband of twenty-five fantabulous years, three daughters, and four adorable kitties.