A World Without Books

Michelle Caffrey grew up in “Chicagoland” next to O’Hare Airport, dreaming of seeing a larger world. Her dreams were eventually realized, traveling by RV around the United States and later living in Penang, Malaysia. Michelle and her husband then bought a 1906 Dutch barge, the Imagine, and cruised the waterways of Europe, provid- ing stories for her travel memoir, Just Imagine: A New Life on an Old Boat. Michelle has since written two novels as well as Bring Jade Home: A Dog Lost in Yellowstone, her first book with Farcountry Press. Jade: Lost in Yellowstone is her second book with Farcountry Press.

Finola Austin, also known as the Secret Victorianist on her award-winning blog, is an England-born, Northern Ireland-raised, Brooklyn-based historical novelist and lover of the 19th century. Bronte's Mistress, the story of the woman who allegedly corrupted her son’s innocent tutor and brought down the entire Brontë family, is her first novel. By day, she works in digital advertising.

With a diverse background in network and syndicated television, writing for cable TV, and playwriting, Mary Ann Cherry has researched and contributed to multiple independent documentaries. She most recently created and maintains an archive for AIDS Healthcare Foundation. She also enjoys a second career as a specialized yoga therapist.

A freelance writer of middle grade and young adult fiction, Rod Martinez grew up on Marvel Comics and The Twilight Zone. He also had a fascination with American History dating back to grade school. He is the author of The Juniors and regularly speaks at schools, conferences, and libraries promoting a love of the written word.

David Muirhead is a freelance journalist and author and founder of Wildside, a South African ecotourism and nature conservation magazine. He has authored several books, including Cat Among the Pigeons, The Curious Case of the Imaginary Tourist, a collection of short stories, and a novel, The Clamour King, published in London. He lives near Cape Town and is married with two children and two grandchildren.

A prize-winning journalist, essayist and novelist, Kristen Millares Young serves as Prose Writer-in-Residence at Hugo House. Named a staff pick by the Paris Review, her novel Subduction was called “whip-smart” by the Washington Post, a “brilliant debut” by the Seattle Times and “utterly unique and important” by Ms. Magazine.

Raised at the heart of the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation, Gerry Robinson grew up hearing fragmented stories about his ancestors. He then devoted nearly twenty years of his life to researching, traveling the country, and reaching back through time to reclaim his heritage. Robinson is a published historical writer and member of Western Writers of America. His debut novel, The Cheyenne Story: An Interpretation of Courage, is the first installment of a three volume series. It is the book many have waited for: a balanced and compelling presentation of Northern Cheyenne history, shared by a member of the tribe and a direct descendant of those involved.

Based in Las Vegas, Nevada, S.P. Grogan is an award-winning author, his books include Lafayette, Courtier to Crown Fugitive, and anticipated December release of island thriller, Captain Cooked.

Ava Homa is a writer, journalist, and activist specializing in women’s issues and Middle Eastern affairs. She holds an MA in English and Creative Writing from the University of Windsor in Canada. She was born and raised in the Kurdistan Province in Iran and now divides her time between Toronto and the Bay Area. Daughters of Smoke and Fire is her debut novel.

John Fraley worked for the state wildlife agency for nearly forty years, mostly in the forks of the Flathead; he retired in 2017. For thirty-two years he has served as an adjunct instructor at Flathead Valley Community College where he teaches wildlife conservation and other courses.