Members
Janet T — Dystopian/ Utopian Lead Editor
Janet is terribly fond of horrific/apocalyptic stories and science fiction — A Clockwork Orange is an old favorite. She finds herself fascinated by the interplay between language and content, the process of warping chronological stories into something else entirely, and St. Elmo’s fire.
Mari S — Horror Lead Editor
Not only does Mari love to read, but her extensive experience in horror allows her to combine critical knowledge with a true love of the genre. Her master’s thesis, entitled “Oh yes, there will be blood”: Manifestations of Cultural Trauma in Contemporary U.S. Torture Films, focused on critical and in-depth research of horror films. Her analyses of the films’ characters and their development, storylines, and cultural settings showed that these films not only thrill viewers through shock and gore, but are actually intensely illustrative of our society’s secret fears, passions, and even subversive yearnings.
One of her greatest passions is learning (or intuiting) what an author wants to say, and then helping them produce a product that actually tells the story intended, filled with imagery, imagination, and exuberance. By assisting writers world-wide in bringing their visions to fruition, Mari bring great works of fiction to life.
Christine R — BioPunk / SteamPunk/ Sci-Fi Lead Editor
Christine studies engineering and creates convincing science fiction.
Allie P. – Soft Sci-Fi / Stagework Lead Editor
Allie is a reader and lover of many different genres, but her true passion lies with dramatic text. In particular, she is fascinated by the unending cycle of adaptation inherent in the dramatic process. Her academic work focused greatly on these adaptations, and culminated in a staging of The Birthmark by Nathaniel Hawthorne, a 19th century prototypical speculative fiction story that embraces science as a near mythical calling, and treats the scientist as something akin to alchemist or sorcerer.
Allie is fascinated by the role of myth in science fiction, and the analysis of our current culture through the medium of science fiction. In addition, her experience as a dramaturge has taught her to approach a play or novel on its own terms, and accept what it is attempting to be. She is eager to work with playwrights and authors to actualize their ideas, worlds and people, and to share them with readers.
Mara H. — Sci-Fi Romance Lead Editor
Mara is a patron of all sciences, especially environmental science and psychology. Mara likes encouraging authors to think outside the box and break the mold to produce thought-provoking literature. She loves authors who are brave enough to say what they really think rather than what they have been indoctrinated to think.
Jessica T. — YA Lead Editor
Since devouring The Catcher in the Rye as a teenager, Jessica has harbored a love for stories featuring adolescent protagonists. Her hours spent scouring bookshelves for the next Holden Caulfield grew into a passion for young adult literature. She holds bachelor’s degrees in English and communication studies as well as a juris doctor. From her education (formal and otherwise), she developed an editorial eye useful in helping authors polish their manuscripts to a high shine while balancing the equally fundamental concerns of preservation of the author’s vision and optimization of marketability. From the literary to the lyrical, Jessica loves compelling voices with a dark edge. She also has a soft spot for gothic/neo-gothic touches, foreign settings, magical realism, urban fantasy, dystopian themes, and, of course, steampunk.
Alexandra P. — Experimental Fiction Lead Editor
Alexandra loves all things weird, experimental, and existential. She has a BA in English from UCLA and specializes in speculative fiction with a strong metaphysical element. She gravitates toward writing that questions perception, reality, and the limits of human consciousness. When she’s not delving in mysteries, Alexandra works with authors to expand and perfect their individual visions. She currently lives in Sacramento.
Scott H. — Science Fantasy Lead Editor
Not only is Scott an avid reader but also aspires to become a renowned novelist. His love for other worlds and the realm of endless possibilities began with the works of Bill Brittain, Jane Yolen, and J.R.R Tolkien. While working on his first novel about wolves he became a dedicated advocate for the preservation of wildlife and the restoration of all endangered species. As an editor Scott’s main focus is helping fellow authors perfect their skills by helping them work through writer’s block, becoming aware of the writer’s trance, and encouraging them with constructive criticism as the basis for the editorial process.
Kelley O — Transmedia Developer
Kelley is a transmedia artist and writer from the Bay Area. She graduated with degrees in Studio Art and English.
Sam C — Creative Lead, Dark Fantasy & Urban Fantasy
A life-long book lover, Sam favors small press horror and dark fantasy. He is a cryptozoology enthusiast, and one of the presumably few people who have seen both Black Flag and The Beach Boys in concert. So far, Sam’s favorite place in the world is The House on the Rock.
Michael ‘Words’ B — Transmedia Developer, Editor at Large
Michael enjoys the art of storytelling–from the building of characters and worlds to choosing the perfect word to evoke those characters and worlds–just as much as he enjoys the story itself.
Erik J – Transmedia Developer
Erik works with authors and their stories to rethink those things that we all feel so comfortably aware of, to share empathy and entertainment in a different, and hopefully more honest manner than what came before. He spends his time writing fiction, recording music, and sitting at the computer looking for something new. His favorite artists are Cormac McCarthy, Werner Herzog, and the Beatles.
Charlie F — Night Manager
Charlie stays up late into the night managing the demon words and subversive ideas that keep the chauvinists and zealots warm and their book fires stoked.
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