Mitch White grew up reading the greats of his time in science fiction, fantasy, action and mystery. While in graduate school, Mitch was fortunate enough to take creative writing courses led by Orson Scott Card. After a short pause to complete a career in industry and raise a family, Mitch is back to the desk. Mitch writes murder mysteries, cozy and otherwise, as well as science fiction and fantasy novels. Mitch performs as a professional musician when not writing. Mitch finds that the two avocations cooperate well. He lives in central Texas, very close to the center of the universe.

Sloane Golden, grandson of bestselling author Harry Golden, is a professor, author and screenwriter of film and television (IMDB). Mr. Golden has a BA in History and an MA in English. He is a scion of an old and revered literary family.

grew up in Mt. Vernon, Indiana, a small town on the banks of the Ohio River where Friday nights meant football and everyone knew your name whether you wanted them to or not. He left for the United States Navy and served aboard the USS Lockwood, FF-1064. The men he served with are still the men he calls brother. That bond, and what it costs to be part of one, shows up on every page he writes.

After the Navy he landed in Florida and built a career as a screenwriter and screenwriting instructor, seventeen years of it. He learned structure the hard way, in rooms where a scene either works or it doesn’t and nobody has time to be gentle about which. He still teaches. He still believes a good story can change how a person thinks, which is the only reason worth doing any of it.

P. J. Kozeman is the author of the Mel Hunter and Jeanine Hudson cozy mysteries. A former librarian, she finds inspiration for her clever plots on long-distance runs through the Texas Hill Country, where she lives with her husband. She believes the discipline of training for marathons is the best preparation for the marathon of writing a novel.

When she isn’t crafting her next page-turner, P. J. can be found in her pottery studio, volunteering at her local food pantry, or fostering litters of kittens for a local animal rescue—an endeavor that provides endless chaos and inspiration. She is the proud mother of two grown children and the delighted grandmother of three.

Denise Sheppard is the author of delightfully twisted paranormal cozy mysteries, a competitive amateur cyclist, and a future marine biochemist. Currently an honors student with a perfect GPA at a coastal university, she effortlessly balances rigorous scientific studies with writing fiction. When not in the lab or conducting marine water sampling, Denise is outdoors. She credits grueling endurance workouts, like cycling and distance running, as the secret to her intricate plotting. Long coastal runs help her untangle mystery twists and dream up magical lore. Her analytical science background helps her craft tight, logical mysteries wrapped in quirky characters, humor, and supernatural elements. At home, she shares her writing desk with two feline muses: a pudgy black tomcat named Inky and a rambunctious chocolate Siamese named Tiramisu, a.k.a. "Terror." A woman of dynamic contrasts, Denise proves you can explore ocean depths while keeping your head happily in the clouds.

Trace Bridges is a decorated US Army Special Forces veteran and the author of gritty, adrenaline-fueled mob and noir thrillers. Following his service in Iraq, where he was wounded and recognized for his valor, Bridges faced an unthinkable personal tragedy: the sudden loss of his wife and daughter in a car crash. He turned to writing fiction as a form of profound healing therapy, channeling his intimate knowledge of survival, trauma, and redemption into stories of flawed heroes and dangerous underworlds.

Today, the 52-year-old author lives on the Texas Gulf Coast, where he owns and operates a thriving, family-friendly bar and restaurant. When he isn't plotting his next novel, Trace enjoys running local fishing charters for redfish and trout, working out with a tight-knit crew of friends, and spending time on the water with his fiercely loyal chocolate lab, Mousse.

Reid Mercer is a former aerospace tech executive, a Texas real estate magnate, and the author of the ICTF and China Dragon action-adventure series. After founding and selling successful aerospace software companies in California, Mercer relocated to Dallas, where he runs a sprawling commercial real estate operation. A natural thrill-seeker, he divides his semi-retirement between his Preston Hollow home, his Wasatch Range chalet—where he is an avid skier and hang-glider—and the Texas Gulf Coast. As a licensed private pilot navigating industrialized Gulf waters, Mercer uses his intimate knowledge of aerospace engineering, heavy industry, and high-stakes business to bring gritty authenticity to his maritime thrillers. A widower who places family first, he is the proud father of two entrepreneurs and a devoted grandfather to his eight-year-old granddaughter. He shares his adventures with his long-term partner while writing the next ICTF novel.

Clarissa H. Tewksbury is the author of the “Clocks & Clues” mystery series. A former fixture of Walsingham’s High Street, Clarissa spent two decades owning and operating the celebrated Honeycomb Tea Room. After the loss of her husband, Basil, she traded her rolling pin for a pen, channeling her years of eavesdropping on tea-sipping patrons into a new career as a novelist.

Clarissa captures the tension and resilience of pre-World War Two England with the authenticity of a true historian and the wit of a local gossip. A tall, striking figure with silver-streaked red hair, she is famous in literary circles for her flower-print dresses and extravagant hats. At home, however, she prefers muddy boots and solitude. She lives in a stone cottage in the woods near St. Mary's Abbey in Norfolk with her Sussex Spaniel, Boomer, and her tuxedo cat, Licorice.

Hazel P. Puddlewick is a storyteller whose mysteries are as sharp as her knitting needles and as comforting as her homemade baked goods. Residing in the idyllic, mist-draped village of Willow Creek, Hazel spends her mornings writing delightfully clever Barnyard Cozy Mysteries aimed at teen and young adult readers. At seventy-eight years young, she proves that a keen mind and a gentle spirit are the ultimate tools for solving crimes—even fictional ones. When she isn't unraveling agricultural whodunits with her trusty quill pen, she can be found baking in her cottage kitchen, smelling of lavender, and offering unsolicited but always correct advice.

Mrs. Puddlewick shares Bramble Cottage with Nutmeg, a discerning multicolor cat who provides moral support and structural editing via purrs. Hazel’s stories are inspired by her belief that the most dramatic secrets are often hidden behind the most charming, cottage-core exteriors.

Mistletoe “Missy” Merriweather is a storyteller whose heart is as cozy as a Texas Christmas. Based in the ruggedly beautiful Hill Country of central Texas, Missy spends her days weaving tales of holiday magic and festive wonder. At thirty-five, she balances a life of athletic adventure with the quiet, focused craft of a published author. When she isn’t trail running through the juniper groves or scouting for the perfect holiday antique in Wimberley, she can be found in her sun-drenched cottage with a slight, knowing smile and a pen in hand.

Missy shares her limestone home with Trixie, a spirited calico cat who serves as both her chief editor and professional lap-warmer. Her stories are inspired by the sparkling frost on the prickly pear cacti and the belief that a little bit of Christmas spirit can be found in every corner of the world, no matter the temperature outside.

D. Brian Bayne grew up in Erie, Pennsylvania. Shortly after graduating from high school, he left home to begin a career in the U.S. Air Force, where he served for 21 years before retiring. His experiences gave him an enduring appreciation for discipline, duty, perseverance, and the bonds forged among people facing difficult circumstances.

He writes speculative fiction about fractured futures, impossible power, and people still becoming who they are. His stories explore what happens when extraordinary abilities meet human limitations. In his work, strength demands sacrifice, training becomes instinct, and every choice carries a cost.