With 19 New York Times bestsellers and more than 350 million copies of his works in circulation, L. Ron Hubbard is among the most enduring and widely read authors of our time. As a leading light of American Pulp Fiction through the 1930s and '40s, he is further among the most influential authors of the modern age. Indeed, from Ray Bradbury to Stephen King, there is scarcely a master of imaginative tales who has not paid tribute to L. Ron Hubbard.
Then too, of course, there is all L. Ron Hubbard represents as the Founder of Dianetics and Scientology and thus the only major religion born in the 20th century.
David Farland (Dave Wolverton) began writing during college and entered short stories into various contests, but his career began in 1987 when he won the top award in the Writers of the Future Contest. Farland published several science fiction and fantasy novels including On My Way to Paradise, Star Wars: The Courtship of Princess Leia and, and several bestselling fantasy series including The Runelords and Of Mice and Magic. He has been nominated for the Nebula Award and the Hugo Award. Farland became a Contest judge in 1991 and served as an instructor at the annual WotF workshop for several years.
Jody Lynn Nye is known for her numerous works of science fiction and fantasy including An Unexpected Apprentice and its sequel, A Forthcoming Wizard, Applied Mythology, Advanced Mythology, and others. She has collaborated with New York Times best-selling author Anne McCaffrey on The Death of Sleep, The Ship Who Won, Doona and other novels, and with another New York Times best-selling author, Robert Asprin, in his Myth series. She lives in Illinois with her husband and two cats of superior bearing.
Orson Scott Card is the author of the novels Ender's Game, Ender's Shadow, and Speaker for the Dead, which are widely read by adults and younger readers, and are increasingly used in schools. His most recent series, the young adult Pathfinder series (Pathfinder, Ruins, Visitors) and the fantasy Mithermages series (Lost Gate, Gate Thief, Gatefather) are taking readers in new directions. Besides his writing, he teaches occasional classes and workshops and directs plays. He frequently teaches writing and literature courses at Southern Virginia University.
Brittany "Bea" Jackson is an award-winning freelance illustrator most notably known for her ability to tell a story through her art. Her work has been featured in various publications, from cover art, to interior illustration, children's books, character design, and more.
Alana Fletcher received the Governor General’s Academic Gold Medal for her doctoral work on the community of Déline, which she completed at Queen’s University.
