Best-selling author AJ Adaire lives on the east coast with her partner of thirty-four years. Because they love a challenge, they provide a loving home for two spoiled cats instead of a dog! In addition to writing, any spare time is devoted to reading, mastering new computer programs, and socializing with friends.

Jane Alden was born and raised in a small Mississippi River Delta community in Arkansas where everyone knew everyone else. After graduating from the University of Arkansas, she taught 7th grade English in Porterville, California, and later moved to Los Angeles to begin a career in health care management. After many lucky circumstances and thanks to wonderful mentors, she became a successful hospital administrator and is presently an executive coach.

Jane and her partner of thirty years live in a small town thirty miles east of metropolitan Los Angeles. Their chocolate lab, Delilah, is the captain of the domestic ship.

Roslyn Bane started writing while recuperating from an injury that kept her indoors. A US Navy veteran she served as an Aerospace Physiologist and earned her flight wings. After leaving active duty she served several years in the reserves before resigning her commission. She continues to work in medicine.

She spends her free time in the outdoors enjoying photography, skiing, shooting, and enjoying the fresh air on her motorcycle. The inspiration for her stories comes from daily life, her love of the outdoors, and people-watching. She now lives near York, Pennsylvania with her family and two lovable labs.

Molly J. Bragg is an autistic trans woman with a degree in Astrophysics and a love of storytelling. She loves science fiction, superheroes, and giant robots. Her hobbies include collecting transformers, watching way too many crafting videos on YouTube, playing Dungeons & Dragons, and complaining bitterly about the way a certain comic book company treats her favorite superhero.

Nat Burns is an award-winning novelist who lives in New Mexico. Her life has been devoted to the written word, whether poetry, fiction or journalism. She also retired in 2007 from a career as editorial systems coordinator for a medical publishing firm. She now writes full-time.

Her work has appeared in dozens of publications. With somewhat eclectic interests, her writing encompasses several genres and many forms. She is probably best known for the ten romance novels she has with Bella Books. Other fantasy and erotica books are with Regal Crest and her horror novel is with Desert Palm Press.

Kellie Doherty has a master’s in book publishing from Portland State University. She’s the author of the Cicatrix Duology (Finding Hekate and Losing Hold, Desert Palm Press) and is currently working on a five-book fantasy series. The first book, Sunkissed Feathers & Severed Ties, will be out in early 2019. During the day, she’s an office assistant and freelance editor, and by night she’s crafting adventures full of magic and daggers...and maybe a few dragons, too. She also enjoys reading, taking walks, playing video and board games, and hanging out with her friends.

My favorite lesbian fiction book:

The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet, by Becky Chambers, because while the queer romance is quieter than others, it feels natural and easy.

My old favorite has to be:

Harry Potter, by JK Rowling, because it made me want to be a writer. However, my current favorite is A Darker Shade of Magic by VE Schwab because her characters are amazing, and her plots twist in delicious ways.

Connect with Kellie:

WEBSITE

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

INSTAGRAM

Toni Draper was born and lived most of her life in the Mid-Atlantic state of Maryland. These days, home is a cozy casita on a two-acre sprawl that she shares with her wife and their current pack of perros: Kona, Juneau, Tucker, and Ellie, deep in the heart of Texas. She has rescued a number of senior and special needs underdogs over the years and immortalizes them via nods on her pages. A Spanish Teacher, the language siempre seems to find its way into her writing. Her debut novel WILDFIRE, a second-chance lesbian romance, was published in July 2021.

After graduating from Arizona State University in 2018 with a broadcast journalism degree, Emily moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in writing and the arts. Her original screenplay, PURLIEU, was placed as a semi-finalist in the 2019 San Francisco International Screenwriting Competition. This past year, she completed her first LGBTQ+ novel, inspired by her time spent on the Côte de Lumière. Currently, she works as an assistant to a producer in the film industry.

Laury A. Egan is the author of eleven novels: “Doublecrossed,” “The Firefly,” “Once, Upon an Island,” “Wave in D Minor,” “Turnabout,” “The Swimmer,” “The Ungodly Hour,” “A Bittersweet Tale,” “The Outcast Oracle,” “Fabulous! An Opera Buffa,” and “Jenny Kidd,” and a collection, “Fog and Other Stories.” Her work ranges from psychological suspense, literary fiction, YA, comedy, and romance. Poetry volumes: “Snow, Shadow, a Stranger;” “Beneath the Lion’s Paw;” “The Sea & Beyond;” and “Presence & Absence.” In addition to 85 stories and poems published in literary journals and anthologies, she is also a fine arts photographer and lives on the northern coast of New Jersey. Check out her website for her previously published books, poetry, and photography.

Kayla Gornick is a lifelong Midwesterner with a great love for the Great Lakes. She is also a southpaw, an aspiring librarian, and an all-around oddball. She enjoys a variety of creative outputs, especially ones she is not particularly good at. A self-identified storyteller through and through, she is also delighted to be a part of Weird Little Beasties, a small, independent, and entirely-woman owned visual novel game studio, and is honored to be a new member of the Desert Palms Press family.

Angela Graves is a fifth-generation Alaskan who spends her time skiing and horseback riding through the Interior wilds. When she’s not outside, she leads a classroom full of rambunctious elementary students. Angela enjoys supporting young writers in their creative journeys and singing with her local rainbow choir. In the evenings, you can find Angela playing rowdy board games with her wife, her partner, and her daughter and cuddling with her fur babies. Angela loves sharing queer stories from her beautiful community.

Ellen Hoil lives in wine country on the North Fork of Long Island between The Sound and The Peconic Bay. “I can’t imagine living anywhere that isn’t near water and open space.” When she isn’t writing fiction, she does writing for her other career as an in-house counsel attorney.

During her downtime, Ellen enjoys her hobbies of photography and getting involved in local politics. She is an ardent Sci-Fi geek and can be found at various conventions. My philosophy on life is that failure is never the end, but only a temporary stopping point for a new adventure.

I was bred, born, and raised in New York and I have no desire to live anywhere else. One day, I would like to travel, but for now, I am content where I am.

I started out writing poetry in junior high. I wrote short stories throughout high school and college. In between writing, I managed to get a college degree in history.

I had fun with fan fiction and decided to try my hand in original fiction. I plan to continue writing as long as I continue getting ideas for stories and it continues to be fun.

She lives in Los Angeles. She has published numerous short stories and articles in various magazines and periodicals throughout her life. She belongs to the Dog Writers Association, where she has won several awards. Her first book, Priorities, was nominated for a Lambda Literary Award in SF and is still available on Amazon.

Rae D. Magdon is an author of queer speculative fiction. She believes everyone deserves to see themselves represented in the stories they read, especially lesbians, bisexual women, queer women, trans women, and nonbinary folks. She has published over 10 novels through Desert Palm Press. Her cyberpunk novel, Lucky 7, received a Golden Crown Literary Award for Sci-Fi/Fantasy (2019) as well as a Rainbow Award for Science Fiction (2019). Starless Nights, her 2017 space opera with co-author Michelle Magly, also received a Rainbow Award.

A non-lesfic book that has inspired me:

Daughter Of The Forest by Juliet Marillier

Connect with Rae:

EMAIL

WEBSITE

FACEBOOK

TUMBLR

And sometimes it happens in a magical literary world that two authors in their own right come together to tell shared stories and write books together.

And so that happened with Rae D. Magdon & Michelle Magly!

Rae D. Magdon is a writer of queer and lesbian fiction. She believes everyone deserves to see themselves fall in love and become a hero: especially lesbians, bisexual women, trans women, and women of color. She has published over ten novels through Desert Palm Press, spanning a wide variety of genres, from Fantasy/Sci-Fi to Mysteries and Thrillers. She is the recipient of a 2016 Rainbow Award (Fantasy/Sci-Fi) and a twice-nominated GCLA finalist (Fantasy/Sci-Fi). When she isn't working on original projects, she spends her time writing fanfiction for Mass Effect, Legend of Korra, The 100, and Wynonna Earp.

Michelle Magly is a queer writer and academic scholar. She lives for writing about far-off lands in the distant future and fantasy landscapes.

Michelle co-authored her first novel, All the Pretty Things, with Rae D. Magdon. They followed with Dark Horizons, and its sequel, Starless Nights, won a Rainbow Award. The conclusion to the trilogy, Eclipsing the Sun, is coming soon.

Michelle’s first solo work, Chronicles of Osota - Warrior, debuted in July 2014. She is now working on the second book of the series.

When not writing, Michelle hikes, goes rock climbing, skis, and plays a lot of video games.

Michelle Magly is a queer writer and academic scholar. She lives for writing about far-off lands in the distant future and fantasy landscapes.

Michelle co-authored her first novel, All the Pretty Things, with Rae D. Magdon. They followed with Dark Horizons, and its sequel, Starless Nights, won a Rainbow Award. The conclusion to the trilogy, Eclipsing the Sun, is coming soon.

Michelle’s first solo work, Chronicles of Osota - Warrior, debuted in July 2014. She is now working on the second book of the series.

When not writing, Michelle hikes, goes rock climbing, skis, and plays a lot of video games.

Franci has competed in long distance races on Arabian horses she has bred and raised. Her first novel, Staying The Distance includes the suspense of a one hundred mile competition. A series of three novels followed, Night Mare, White Horse In Winter, and The Impasse.

Montana will always be where her heart lives, though her body now lives near Tucson, Arizona. Her primary companion is an eleven year old Australian Shephard.

In support of lesbian literature she has donated her time to the Golden Crown Literary Society as an awards judge for the past ten years. She is an alumna of Hedgebrook, a writer's retreat for women on Puget Sound.

K. L. Mitchell was raised all over the South in a series of increasingly tiny towns until she finally joined the Air Force out of a desire for some Culture. She’s spent most of her professional life working on computers in one capacity or another and occasionally manages to get them actually to work.

She's been writing for fun most of her life and for publication since about 2011. She's written for multiple websites and local publications and, in 2013, was a recurring columnist for the Kansas City Star. She lives with a gray cat named Molly and would like to be an astronaut when she grows up.

Jan was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and earned degrees at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She moved to the Washington, DC area, where she taught special education and mathematics for fifteen years before becoming a High School Principal and Director of School Improvement. She earned her Ph.D. in Instructional Leadership for a Changing Population at Notre Dame University of Maryland and taught Educational Leadership. Jan mentors new administrators and enjoys reading, writing, cooking, fitness, and volunteering while traveling between her homes in Annapolis, MD, and Rehoboth Beach, DE. Her most important roles are wife, sister, aunt, and friend.

Emarya Montgomery is a queer woman who was born in Spokane, Washington and grew up in Lewisburg, West Virginia. She earned a degree in Musical Theatre from West Virginia University and works as a professional actor, singer, violinist, and author. When she isn’t acting, she’s reading, practicing yoga, spending time with her cat Falkor, or stress-baking.

Ann & Michele Modtland have been married for ten beautiful years. Michele graduated with honors from the University of Utah with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. Ann is artistic and loves to crochet and express herself through works of art. Ann and Michele currently reside in Utah, enjoying the life-changing experience of raising their daughter, Jersey, whom they adore and are teaching to live in a world without labels. Their profound love for animals keeps them involved in several animal rescue efforts. Presently, the Modtlands have the privilege of sharing their lives with five dogs and three cats.

Barbara Lynn Murphy is originally from Long Island, New York, but currently lives in suburban Atlanta, Georgia, with her wife and five dogs. She is a late bloomer to writing, having only started doing so in earnest during the Covid years. What was once a passing fancy has morphed into a second chapter in her professional life (although she still maintains her day job in Technology—for now.)

Barbara Murphy’s When It's True received a 2023 Lesfic Award in Fiction. This book also received the Third Place BookFest Award in the

Fiction - LGBTQ+ - Romance category.

I began to create lesbian fiction after my wife suggested I write her a story as a personalized gift. I was privileged to be mentored by another published author who helped turn a raw manuscript, into an actual novel. Upon completion, she encouraged me to submit to Desert Palm Press. DPP offered me a contract for my first novel, 'frame by frame' in 2017. My second novel, The Bucket List, was published in late 2018. I credit my storytelling ability to being an avid reader and having an adventure-filled occupation for twenty-five years as a career firefighter.

Molly Myers was born in Columbus, Indiana, often referred to as Athens on the prairie. Molly's fighting spirit comes from both her parents, John and Martha, who taught her never to give up and keep striving to be your best. Molly graduated from Columbus North High School. She graduated from Ball State University with an Exercise Science and Fitness degree. In 1994, Molly enlisted in the Air Force. After leaving the military, Molly went back to school to get her teaching license. She graduated from I.U.P.U.I. with a Master's in Education.

Gail is a native of Long Island, New York, currently living and working near Virginia Beach. Discovering a long-forgotten manuscript, Gail was excited with the prospect of trying her hand at writing again. Her mind opened to new ideas which culminated in her writing Sunlight in the Shadows.

Excited by new thoughts and ideas, Gail plans to continue writing and sharing her stories.

Gail and her wife Elise split their time between Virginia and their second home on Shelter Island which they love to fill with friends and family.

I’ve been writing since I could read, but I couldn’t seem to finish writing anything fictional. I am a proud member of the Golden Crown Literary Society Writing Academy’s first graduating class from 2015. I finished writing my first book in July 2015 and was lucky enough to be offered a contract for that book in August 2015 by the same publisher as my favorite author, AJ Adaire.

I grew up in Florida, and my partner and I live here with a spoiled Yorkie and a Chihuahua in an honest-to-goodness resort—it says so on the sign out front.

Dee was born in California and raised in Iowa. After two years in college, she served in the US Navy from 1981 to 1985. Upon leaving the service, she held a couple different jobs, until settling in as a financial fraud investigator for two different institutions. Over the years she’s lived in Georgia, Virginia, and Delaware. Currently, Dee is single, retired, and living in Corpus Christi, TX.

Favorite Book: Yellow Eyes by Rutherford Montgomery. Yes, I realize this is a children's book. But to this day, I still distinctly remember this book as the one that got me back into reading books again after a long time of not reading. I still possess the paperback, and I'll never forget how much the story touched me.

Favorite Lesbian/Lesfic Book: Ruby Fruit Jungle by Rita Mae Brown. I think this choice pretty much speaks for itself.

Writing since I was a child in Long Beach, California, I’ve always enjoyed making people laugh, and have often heard “you should be a writer.” Many careers later: graphic design, photography, and social work, before coming full circle back to the writer phase and I love it.

I live in Claremont, California with my partner Jan, and a variety of pets on our one-third acre. We enjoy international travel and are both avid photographers. We volunteer at Crossroads, a program for women coming out of prison.

I lead a therapeutic writing group and Jan is a cooking coach.

Ann Tonnell is a retired RN, having worked in management for most of her nursing career. However, her first career was in typesetting and composition. It was not until retirement that she found inspiration to capture stories in writing. She lives with her wife in a small community in the North Georgia mountains just yards from the Appalachian Trail. She is a DIY dabbler and avid cloud admirer.