Genre:
Young Adult
Marique Moss
Marique Moss is an Afro Indigenous (Hidatsa and African American) author, poet, educator, and herbalist from Minneapolis, MN. An enrolled citizen of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation, she writes about identity, healing, history, and belonging through an Afro Indigenous lens. She is the author of Sweetgrass and Soul Food: A Memoir in Poems, Sweetgrass…
Mary Quirk
As a freelance writer since 1997, Mary Quirk has authored book chapters, news and feature articles, and educational materials for healthcare professionals and people of all ages. In addition, she served as a public health writer for the Immunization Action Coalition for more than 15 years and a communications specialist for the National Foundation for…
Damone Bester
Damone Bester is a two-time award-winning author whose debut novel Mendel received both a BookFest Award and a Black Excellence Award for Outstanding Fiction. His highly anticipated sequel, Blue Smoke Rises, releases in 2026. Known for bold storytelling that blends emotional depth with social insight, Bester teaches writers how to develop authentic voice, build compelling…
Andrew Kantar
Born and raised in Minneapolis, Andy Kantar is the author of a trilogy of Great Lakes shipwreck books written primarily for young adults. His first book, 29 Missing, was a Michigan Notable Book for Young Adults. Black November was a finalist for the Foreword Book of the Year (YA nonfiction) and the major source for…
Debra J. Stone
Debra J. Stone is a Jerome Hill Arts Fellow in Literature 2023-25, a Minnesota State Arts Board grant recipient, and The Loft Mirrors and Windows Fellow 2023. The University of Minnesota Press has published her debut novel, The House on Rondo. Stone resides in Minneapolis with her husband and dog Ruby, an ACD Red Heeler.
Chloe Spencer
Minnesota native Chloe Spencer (she/her) is an award-winning writer, indie gamedev, and filmmaker. She is the author of multiple sapphic horror novellas, novels, and short stories. In her spare time she enjoys playing video games, trying her best at Pilates, and cuddling with her cats. She holds a B.A. in Journalism from the University of…
Erin Makela
Erin Makela is a writer, middle school teacher, and theater enthusiast. While she calls Worthington, Minnesota home, Makela is always looking for her next travel adventure with her stuffed alligator, Swampy. She is a graduate of Luther College and Vermont College of Fine Art’s MFA program. When choosing music to write to, her go-to playlists…
Dralandra Larkins
Dralandra Larkins is a multi-genre writer, three-time award-winning spoken word poet, and the author of Before I Lie. She is a teaching artist at COMPAS and has performed for the NAACP, Button Poetry, Mill City Museum, Minnesota State Capitol, Minnesota Black Business Ball, and the Minnesota Black Authors Expo. Larkins co-edits Cracked Walnut’s Rewilding Hope…
A.J. Briscoe
A.J. Briscoe is an author, entrepreneur, and founder of the non-profit community literacy initiative “To Succeed You Must Read.” His mission is to assist in raising the literacy levels in underserved communities. Briscoe has established strategic partnerships with various schools, businesses, and community pillars in an effort to impact the lives of our young people…
Micah Ruelle
Micah Ruelle is a queer poet from America’s Heartland. They hold an MFA from Texas State University. Their first chapbook, Failure to Merge, was published by Finishing Line Press. Their second chapbook, Clean Getaway, was a semi-finalist for the YesYes Books’ Vinyl Chapbook Competition and a finalist for both the Concrete Wolf & Nine Syllables…