Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers

Paulla Hunter is a long-time resident of Cheyenne, Wyoming. She lives in the historic downtown area of the city with her husband, Roger Schreiner, a volunteer and past chairman at Cheyenne Frontier Days. She is a member of Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers, Sisters in Crime, and Wyoming Writers. She earned her B.A. from the University of Wyoming in English, Speech and Drama. She has a passion for history, reading, theatre, travel, and obviously writing. Rough Ride, published in 2022, is her first published novel. It's the first in the Darcy Moreland Mystery Series and all take place in Cheyenne, WY. With shows like Yellowstone, 1883, and rising popularity of all things Western, her book fits perfectly into this popular genre and is loosely based off of Cheyenne Frontier Days. More about Paulla: https://www.paullahunternovels.com/ For video versions of this podcast, subscribe: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBP81nfbKnDRjs-Nar9LNe20138AiPyP8   Mark Stevens' website: https://www.writermarkstevens.com/ Intr

Jason Evans always wanted to be a writer, he just didn’t know it. He grew up in Southern California and taught high school social studies after college until he got married and moved to Denver in 2004. He continued in education and earned an MA in History, until he realized his heart was in fiction. Since 2012 Jason has had over a dozen short stories and essays published, ran an online magazine, and became a regular panelist at local conventions. He blogs regularly on his own website and newsletter. The Whimsycon Anthology was published March 2nd, 2018, giving Jason his first editorial credit. His debut novel, The Gallowglass, was published in July of 2019. Since then he has published three other novels of historical fiction.  On the podcast, we talk about a new short story collection Jason is publishing in 2023 and a day-long education event he is coordination for RMFW on January 28, 2023: A Day Of Genre. More about Jason: https://jasonhenryevans.com/ For video versions of this podcast, subscribe: https://w

Ffor the first time in more than seven years of producing this podcast, the host, Mark Stevens, takes the hot seat as a guest. The excuse is The Fireballer, a novel coming out rom Lake Union on January 1, 2023.  The writer firing the questions on this episode is Shannon Baker, the author of the Kate Fox Mystery Series, the Nora Abbott Mystery Series, the Michaela Sanchez Southwest Crime Thrillers, and a standalone novel, The Desert Behind Me. Shannon was twice named RMFW’s Writer of the Year—in 2014 and 2017. The conversation includes an update on Mark's work on publishing the works of the late Gary Reilly.   For video versions of these podcasts, follow: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBP81nfbKnDRjs-Nar9LNe20138AiPyP8 Mark Stevens' website: https://www.writermarkstevens.com/ Shannon Baker’s website: https://severnriverbooks.com/authors/shannon-baker/ Intro Music by Moby Gratis: https://mobygratis.com/ Outro Music by Dan-o-Songs: https://danosongs.com/

tenderbastard is a songwriter, playwright, screenwriter, novelist, activist, pancake enthusiast. He and his dog are public intellectuals. The tenderbastard pledge: "I do solemnly swear to be intelligent, kind, helpful, and to have fun as often as possible," reflecting our commitment to inspire creative conscientiousness. tenderbastard’s latest novel, released in September, is Poof. More: https://www.tenderbastard.com/ For video versions of these podcasts, follow: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBP81nfbKnDRjs-Nar9LNe20138AiPyP8   Host: Mark Stevens: https://www.writermarkstevens.com/ Intro Music by Moby Gratis: https://mobygratis.com/ Outro Music by Dan-o-Songs: https://danosongs.com/

Tamara Cribley is a self-professed formatting junkie who believes beautiful books don’t happen by chance. Having worked as a Commercial Photographer, Graphic Artist, and Art Director, Tamara’s unique skills enable her to put together classy and professional books that keep the reader focused on the story. She resides on the Palmer Divide and, in her free time, enjoys reading, photography, and exploring with her dog, Sammy Sue. More: https://deliberatepage.com/staging/ For video versions of these podcasts, follow: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBP81nfbKnDRjs-Nar9LNe20138AiPyP8 Host: Mark Stevens: https://www.writermarkstevens.com/ Intro Music by Moby Gratis: https://mobygratis.com/ Outro Music by Dan-o-Songs: https://danosongs.com/

Award-winning journalist Gwen Florio has covered stories ranging from the shooting at Columbine High School to the glitz of the Miss America pageant and the more practical Miss Navajo contest, whose participants slaughter and cook a sheep. She’s reported from Afghanistan, Iraq and Somalia, as well as Lost Springs, Wyoming (population three). Florio turned to fiction in 2013 with the publication of her first novel, Montana, which won the Pinckley Prize for Debut Crime Fiction and a High Plains Book Award. Four more novels followed in the Lola Wicks series, termed “gutsy” by the New York Times. Silent Hearts (Atria, July 2018) was a standalone novel set in Afghanistan. In the last few years she has launched two series, one featuring amateur sleuth Nora Best and one with public defender Julia Geary solving cases. Florio is a member of International Thriller Writers, Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers and was named Writer of the Year in 2018 by RMFW. Her latest book, due

Karen is a hopeless foodie, award-winning novelist, produced screenwriter and writing coach. Many of her stories are inspired by her experience marrying into a Taiwanese family. Mu Shu Mac & Cheese and American Moon: A Chinese Immigrant Story are available on Amazon. She, her husband, and their two boys have traveled the world as she researches recipes for a literary cookbook.  She teaches for Princess and Celebrity cruise lines and writers conferences in Colorado where she’s part of a rich author community.  On the podcast, Karen talks about the many experiences she has had in working with literary agents, including one troublesome situation that did not go well.   More: www.karenalbrightlin.com For video versions of these podcasts, follow: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBP81nfbKnDRjs-Nar9LNe20138AiPyP8 Host: Mark Stevens: https://www.writermarkstevens.com/ Intro Music by Moby Gratis: https://mobygratis.com/ Outro Music by Dan-o-Songs: https://danosongs.com/

T.O. Paine is a suspense novelist whose authentic characters triumph over extreme situations in challenging, true-to-life settings. Though his novels are contemporary, things always get out of control. Cults are real, anger is a disorder, and everyone loses when a friendly competition becomes an obsession. T.O. holds multiple degrees in computer science and spends extreme amounts of time running and cycling through the mountains of Colorado, USA. He has run over thirty marathons, ridden over twenty 100-mile cycling events, and completed an IRONMAN. He is supported by his wife and a Boston terrier/ogre mix named Fiona. More: https://topaine.com/books/the-excursion/ For video versions of these podcasts, follow: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBP81nfbKnDRjs-Nar9LNe20138AiPyP8 Host: Mark Stevens: https://www.writermarkstevens.com/ Intro Music by Moby Gratis: https://mobygratis.com/ Outro Music by Dan-o-Songs: https://danosongs.com/

Warren Hammond is known for his gritty, futuristic KOP series. By taking the best of classic detective noir, and reinventing it on a destitute colony world, Hammond has created these uniquely dark tales of murder, corruption and redemption. KOP Killer won the 2012 Colorado Book Award for best mystery. His last novel, Tides of Maritinia, was released in December of 2014. His first book independent of the KOP series, Tides is a spy novel set in a science fictional world. Josh bio: Joshua Viola is a 2021 Splatterpunk Award nominee, Colorado Book Award winner, and editor of the StokerCon™ 2021 Souvenir Anthology. He is the co-author of the Denver Moon series with Warren Hammond. Their graphic novel, Denver Moon: Metamorphosis, was included on the 2018 Bram Stoker Award™ Preliminary Ballot. Viola edited the Denver Post #1 bestselling horror anthology Nightmares Unhinged, and co-edited Cyber World—named one of the best science fiction anthologies of 2016 by Barnes & Noble. His first novel, The Bane of Yoto, won

David R. Slayton grew up in Guthrie, Oklahoma, where finding fantasy novels was pretty challenging and finding fantasy novels with diverse characters was downright impossible. Now he lives in Denver, Colorado and writes the books he always wanted to read. David’s debut, White Trash Warlock, was published in October 2020 by Blackstone Publishing and was a finalist for the Colorado Book Award. Book two in the series, Trailer Park Trickster was released in October 2021. Book three, Deadbeat Druid, will be released in October 2022. In addition to writing, David is a regular presenter and speaker on writing. He has appeared on panels at Fan Expo Denver and taught workshops at the Pikes Peak Writers Conference, Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers, the League of Utah Writers Quills Conference, and the Seymour Agency Winter Retreat. He also regularly speaks to library, college, and high school audiences. If you’d like to contact David for a school visit or appearance, please email him at author@davidrslayton.com. More abo

Francelia Belton’s love of short stories came from watching old Twilight Zone and Alfred Hitchcock Presents television shows in her youth. Her fiction has appeared in various publications, including "Dreaming of Ella" in Denver Noir by Akashic Books, and most recently, "Red Riding in the Hood" in Bizarre Bazaar by Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers. Francelia's short story, “Knife Girl,” was a finalist in the 2020-2021 ScreenCraft Cinematic Short Story Competition and a semi-finalist in the 2021 Outstanding Screenplays Shorts Competition. Her short story, "The Brotherhood of Tricks and Tricks" was a quarterfinalist in the 2022 ScreenCraft Cinematic Short Story Competition. She also published a  collection titled, Crime & Passion: Three Short Stories.  Francelia s an active member of Sisters in Crime and has served as Vice President and President for the Colorado chapter. She is also a member of Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers, Mystery Writers of America, Crime Writers of Color, and Short Mystery Fiction Societ

This time on the Rocky Mountain Writer podcast, a chat with the co-editors of Bizarre Bazaar, the brand new short story anthology from Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers that will debut in a few short weeks.   Veronica R. Calisto is a massage therapist, an alto, a writer of speculative fiction, and a big nerd. One of those rare Colorado natives, she has a degree in Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology and is a two-time American Idol reject. Veronica is best described as a walking musical who might also be a figment of her own imagination. She is the author of several books including Diary of a Mad Black Witch and the first two in the SparkleTits Chronicles series. Amy Drayer grew up a free-range kid on a charming island in the Pacific Northwest, then migrated south to attend Scripps College in California. She later moved to Washington, D.C. where she worked in politics for far too long. Amy is a graduate of the inimitable Lighthouse Writers Workshop Book Project, an enthusiastic member of Rocky Mountain Fic

On Saturday, July 16 the Rocky Mountain Chapter of Mystery Writers of America and Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers teamed up to host a vitual event--an interview of mystery writer James Lee Burke by fellow mystery writer (and RMMWA member) David Heska Wanbli Weiden.  This is the audio from that event.  To watch the interview on YouTube, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6FSMzELysg    

Ben Miller-Callihan joined Handspun Literary Agency as an agent in 2019, after working behind the scenes since the agency's founding in tech support and bookkeeping roles, following more than a decade teaching high school English. Ben's interests include humor, YA, fantasy and speculative fiction, crossover fiction a la William Gibson and Erin Morgenstern, the macabre (for all ages), off-the-beaten-path folklore, deaf culture and community, and anything food-related. Writers from marginalized communities are especially welcomed.  Ben will be one of the featured guest agents at the RMFW’s Colorado Gold conference in September.   More about Handspun Literary Agency here. For video versions of these podcasts, follow: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBP81nfbKnDRjs-Nar9LNe20138AiPyP8     Intro Music by Moby Gratis: https://mobygratis.com/ Outro Music by Dan-o-Songs: https://danosongs.com/

Angela Sylvaine is a self-proclaimed cheerful goth who still believes in monsters. She adores reading and is always looking for a great book recommendation. Angela writes primarily horror, science fiction, and dark fantasy. She has published one novella, Chopping Spree, and her short stories have appeared in over two dozen publications. Her debut novel, Frost BIte, will be available in October of 2023 from Dark Matter INK. Angela  grew up in North Dakota and holds degrees in psychology and philosophy from the University of North Dakota. After marrying her high school sweetheart, they moved to Colorado, and now live on the front range of the Rockies with their three creepy cats. Angela is a member of the Horror Writers Association, Pikes Peak Writers, and, of course, Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers. More about Angela Sylvaine here.  For video versions of these podcasts, follow: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBP81nfbKnDRjs-Nar9LNe20138AiPyP8 Intro Music by Moby Gratis: https://mobygratis.com/ Outro Mus

Amy Collins, Associate Agent with Talcott Notch Literary Services, has over 30 years’ experience matching books with readers. As a former book buyer, publisher, and sales director for one of the largest non-fiction publishers in the US, Amy has been focused on market and sales potential research for authors for over ten years. As an agent, she represents many authors who have signed deals with major publishers for non-fiction projects such as The Unseen Photos of Sesame Street, Sex and the City and America’s Forgotten Suffragists. She also works with authors who have successfully launched their non-fiction series such as the Eat Happy Series. Amy is the author of several non-fiction books ranging from self-help (It’s The Little Things,) to books on publishing and working toward becoming a successful author. She is currently traveling the country with her two dogs meeting with editors and authors and can be found on Twitter at @askamycollins.   Talcott Notch Literary Services For video versions of these podcas

Michael Neff is an award-winning author, Pushcart-nominated poet, widely published short fiction writer, literary agent, writer conference organizer, as well as an accomplished developmental editor. His first novel All The Dark We Will Not See was published by the distinguished academic press, Serving House Books. A few years later, an urban fantasy, Magicians Impossible, was created and co-edited by him, and later published by Macmillan Books. His science-fantasy novels, Piper Robbin and The American Oz Maker, and the prequel, World Maker, have both received multiple awards. Michael is also the founder and chief architect of Algonkian Writer Conferences including the famous and highly successful New York Pitch Conference, and has agented and developmentally edited many successful commercial novels. In his spare time, he publishes the quirky and popular literary journal Del Sol Review. Michael is one of the guest literary agents coming to Colorado Gold in September.    Algonkian Conferences: https://algonkian

Fleur Bradley grew up in the Netherlands where she spent her childhood riding a bike, catching tadpoles, and reading Pippi Longstocking and Roald Dahl books. Her very favorite book was The BFG by Roald Dahl. She would read under the covers well past bedtime, secretly hoping for the BFG to knock on her window. Today, she is the author of several middle grade and young adult books, including Midnight at the Barclay Hotel, which was the winner of 2021 Colorado Book Awards for Juvenile Fiction. The book was also a finalist for the Agatha Awards, Reading the West Book Awards, the Anthony Awards, and others. Fleur's new title, launching in August 2022, is Daybreak on Raven Island. More about Fleur: http://www.ftbradley.com/home.html Intro Music by Moby Gratis: https://mobygratis.com/ Outro Music by Dan-o-Songs: https://danosongs.com/

LS Hawker is the author of USA TODAY bestseller and ITW Thriller Awards finalist The Drowning Game, End of the Road, and The Throwaways. Starting July 1, she is teaching an online class for Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers — Writing a Thriller That Readers Can’t Put Down.  Visit LSHawker.com to read about her adventures as cocktail waitress, traveling Kmart portrait photographer, and witness to basement exorcisms. For video versions of these podcasts, follow: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBP81nfbKnDRjs-Nar9LNe20138AiPyP8 More about Lisa Hawker: https://lshawker.com/ A few tune suggestions from LS Hawker - songs she found from movies and television ads: Chanel No 5 ad - "I Don't Want to Set the World on Fire" - The Inkspots Volkswagen ad - "Pink Moon" - Nick Drake My Favorite Year - "How High the Moon" - Les Paul & Mary Ford Kissing Jessica Stein - "I Wish You Love" - Blossom Dearie American Hustle - "Jeep's Blues" - Count Basie American Graffiti - "Green Onions" - Booker t and the mgs Star Trek (

This time on the Rocky Mountain Writer, a conversation with the three Writer of the Year Nominees.  Karla M. Jay is the award-winning author of When We Were Brave, It Happened in Silence, and The Puppet Maker's Daughter.  She makes her home in Salt Lake City. Over the years she has written in several different genres, ranging from humor to noir, but currently is focused on historical fiction. When she's not writing, she's reading, gardening, playing with her dog, or traveling to new places to try to find a story that has never been told. Pamela Nowak writes in two genres. Her historical women’s fiction tells the stories of real women whose stories have been forgotten and her historical romance novels weave fictional relationship stories into historical settings and events. A member of RMFW since 1993, Pam resides in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Amy Rivers is an award-winning novelist, as well as the Director of Northern Colorado Writers. She was recently named 2021 Indie Author of the Year by the Indie Author Pro