GAIL ANDERSON-DARGATZ’s novels The Cure for Death by Lightning and A Recipe for Bees were both short-listed for the Scotiabank Giller Prize. Her thrillers The Almost Wife and The Almost Widow were national bestsellers. Gail also writes hi-lo books for the educational market. She taught for nearly a decade in the CW MFA program at UBC, and now mentors writers online. For more, or to check out her mentoring and editing services, see her website: gailanderson-dargatz.ca

TANYA BOTEJU lives on unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations (Vancouver, BC). Part-time, she teaches English to clever and sassy young people. The rest of her time, she uses writing as an excuse to eat pastries. Her debut novel, Kings, Queens, and In-Betweens, was named a Top Ten Indie Next Pick by the American Booksellers Association. Her second novel, Bruised, is a Gold Standard book with the Junior Library Guild. Look for Messy Perfect in 2025. In both teaching and writing, Tanya hopes she’s bending the universe even the tiniest bit toward justice

JOSEPH A. DANDARAND is a member of Kwantlen First Nation located on the Fraser River about 20 minutes east of Vancouver. He resides there with his 3 children Danessa, Marlysse, and Jace. Joseph is the Director of the Kwantlen Cultural Center. Joseph received a Diploma in Performing Arts from Algonquin College and studied Theatre and Direction at the University of Ottawa. He has been the Storyteller in Residence at the Vancouver Public Library. He has published 13 books of poetry and the latest are: I WANT by Leaf Press (2015) and HEAR AND FORETELL by BookLand Press (2015) The Rumour (2018) by BookLand Press in (2018) SH:LAM (the doctor) Mawenzi Press (2019) The Corrupted by Guernica Press (2020) his children’s play: Th’owixiya: the hungry Feast dish by Playwrights Press Canada (2019) his children’s books: The Sasquatch, the fire, and the cedar basket (2020) and The Magical Sturgeon (2022) published by Nightwood Press along with his poetry manuscript: The Punishment (2022) He also is very busy Storytelling at many events and Schools.

GRACE P. FONG is a narrative designer, writer, and illustrator. She has designed worlds for games of many types, including Palia and Magic: The Gathering. Her short fiction and art have been published in Uncanny Magazine, Apex Magazine, and Tor.com and has been recognized by Levar Burton Reads, the Ignyte, and the Hugo Awards.

TARA McGUIRE's first book, Holden After & Before — Love Letter for a Son Lost to Overdose, a hybrid work in memoir and fiction (Arsenal Pulp Press), was a finalist for the City of Vancouver Book Award and recognized by The Walrus as one of six "Favourite Books of 2022." Her personal essays have appeared in Chatelaine, The Globe and Mail, Geist, Room, Montecristo, The Tyee, and CBC Radio. She holds an MFA from the University of British Columbia’s School of Creative Writing and is a graduate of The Writers Studio at Simon Fraser University. Tara lives with her family in North Vancouver, BC.