Lisa is an award-winning author, a speaker, and an advocate for mainstream distribution of fiction featuring multicultural protagonists. An avid reader, the only thing she likes more than curling up with a good book is writing one.

Hadley Raydeen has been both traditionally and self-published for seven years. In total, she has published 14 books with more titles on the horizon. Most of her books are set in contemporary times, regularly dealing with multicultural relationships. Hadley is also an editor of Romance and Erotica for ten plus years, with well over 200 books edited

Alyssa a multi-published author, the publicity manager for Mountain Brook Ink and Mountain Brook Fire, an editor with Sherpa Editing Services, and a freelance writer. Always happy to talk shop.

Stephanie started writing as soon as she could hold a pencil steady. At her alma mater, Washington College - a small liberal arts school in Chestertown is renown for its writing program, she studied English and Creative Writing was fortunate to be named winner of the 2001 Sophie Kerr Prize, the largest undergraduate literary award in the country. Her inspiration to start Salt Water Media evolved from her love of writing and her own experiences with publishing her novel, Crossings.

Austin is the president of the Columbia chapter. He is a novice writer, but a great leader for the Columbia chapter of writing. They have many informative sessions, on the craft of writing, as well as support.

Jen Graybeal specializes in self-published romance and mystery projects. I can also help authors struggling to get noticed by traditional publishers. Let's talk about your book or series concept, together we can identify opportunities to engage the reader so they fall in love with your writing.

Johnthan rose is the director of programs for the south flordia writers association. He is a long time poet and a recovering lawyer.

As of January, 2015, along with being an indie author, Patricia has also published with Lake Union Publishing. This is the women’s fiction arm of Amazon Publishing.

With a focus on her love of the south of France, women’s issues and ageing, her stories celebrate the feminine spirit and the power of friendship. Encouraging women of all ages to stare down the fear factor and embrace change, Patricia has heard from readers (men too!) ages 20 to 83

Charlie Rossiter, NEA Fellowship recipient and multiple Pushcart Prize nominee, hosts the twice-monthly podcast series at www.poetryspokenhere.com. His work has been featured on NPR and numerous statewide public radio networks. For 9 years he hosted the Poetry Motel TV program. He has performed at the Geraldine R. Dodge Poetry Festival in NJ; Green Mill, Chicago; Nuyorican Cafe, NYC; and was among a handful of poets chosen to ever perform at the Chicago Blues Festival. He has toured as part of "3 Guys from Albany" and "Avant Retro" performance poetry groups. Like Kenneth Rexroth, I'm self-taught in poetry. Like Ferlinghetti I have completed many years of higher education

Betsy Boyd's fiction has been published most recently at Eclectica and Loch Raven Review, and in Story Quarterly, Sententia, Shenandoah and Verb: An Audioquarterly. She is the recipient of a Maryland State Arts Council award, an Elliot Coleman Writing Fellowship, a James A. Michener Fellowship and residencies through Fundación Valparaíso, the Alfred and Trafford Klots International Program for Artists and the Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts. Her short story "Scarecrow" received a Pushcart Prize.