Josh Karaczewski
It feels like Josh is the only writer living in San Leandro, but he looks forward to retiring somewhere warmer. His stories have been published in several literary journals, a couple receiving Pushcart Prize nominations—though he has yet to win any carts. His books include the seriocomic novel “Alexander Murphy’s Home for Wayward Celebrities,” and the collection “My Governor’s House” and other stories. Until the riches pour in allowing him to write full time, he will continue forcing high school students to read, write, and think, while developing his family’s candy company Chastity Chocolates. Visit his blog.
Ruth Z. Deming
Ruth Z. Deming, winner of a Leeway Grant for Creative Nonfiction, has had her work published in lit mags including The Writing Disorder, Literary Yard, and Hektoen International. A psychotherapist and mental health advocate, she runs New Directions Support Group for people and loved ones affected by depression and bipolar disorder. She lives in Willow Grove, PA, a suburb of Philadelphia.
Bob Thurber
Bob Thurber is the author of “Paperboy: A Dysfunctional Novel” and other titles. Over the years his stories have received a long list of awards and honors, appeared in Esquire and other notable publications, been utilized as teaching tools in schools and universities, and selected for over 50 anthologies. “Nothing But Trouble” a story collection accompanied by photographic images, was released in April 2014 from Shanti Arts Publishing. Bob resides in Massachusetts. For more info, visit: BobThurber.net
Shannon Phillips
Shannon Phillips earned an MFA in Creative Writing from California State, Long Beach. Her chapbooklette, “Cold Bastard is My Favorite Lunch Meat” was published in 2012 by Washing Machine Press. In 2014, Arroyo Seco Press published her chapbook, “My Favorite Mistake.” Currently, she edits Carnival, an online poetry magazine.
Timothy L. Rodriguez
Timothy L. Rodriguez was a journalist when newspapers counted, he is a poet when poetry doesn’t count for much, and he is a novelist when the fate of fiction is uncertain. He has published in English and Spanish. His novel, “Guess Who Holds Thee?” is available on Amazon. His most recent novel, “Never Is Now” is being serialized in the UK at www.newlondwriters.com. He makes loose change selling his seascapes. He is a practitioner of Robert Frost’s line—the only certain freedom is in departure; he has traveled widely and assumed many walks of life. For the moment he lives on a barrier island in North Carolina. This year his stories and poems have appeared in: 2015 Oracle Fine Arts Review, 2015 Anthology The Greek Fire produced by Lost Tower Publications (UK); Ashvamegh Journal, New Delhi, India; The Writer’s Drawer (UK); Baer Books Press.
Daniel J. Cleary
Daniel J. Cleary holds undergraduate and master’s degrees in English from the University of Dayton, an MFA in fiction from Cleveland State University, and a PhD in English from the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. Dan teaches full-time as Associate Professor of English and serves as Writing Program Director at Lorain County Community College, where he won the Faculty Excellence Award in 2013. He is also a 2014 recipient of the Award of Excellence from the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development. Dan’s writings have appeared or are forthcoming in The North Coast Review, Teaching English in the Two-Year College, The Journal of Teaching Writing, and Literacy in Composition Studies. He has also contributed selections to writing textbooks and delivered dozens of scholarly conference papers at regional and national academic conferences, including the Modern Language Association (MLA) convention and the Conference on College Composition and Communication (CCCC). He has recently been appointed to a three-year term on the National Association of Teachers of English (NCTE) Standing Committee on International Concerns.