Pub Rants

Jonathan Messinger

by Angie Hodapp

Jonathan Messinger is an award-winning author and journalist. Messinger was a founding editor of Time Out Chicago, where he edited its books section and then went on to be the web editor for Time Out Chicago Kids. He has been named one of the Top 50 literary figures in Chicago five times by NewCity, and was named one of Chicago’s “Top 30 under 30” by UR Chicago, though he has since aged and balded his way out of qualification for that award. His 2007 book of stories, Hiding Out, was named a Best Book of the Year by The Omaha World-Herald, and was an Alex Awards nominee. Following the success of The Alien Adventures of Finn Caspian, he co-founded Gen-Z Kids, a podcast production company that has created some of the most popular podcasts for kids. He currently serves as executive producer and lives in Chicago with his wife and two sons.

Valerie Valdes

by Angie Hodapp

Valerie Valdes’ work has been published in Nightmare Magazine, Uncanny Magazine, SHE WALKS IN SHADOWS, and TIME TRAVEL SHORT STORIES. She is a graduate of the Viable Paradise workshop and lives in Florida with her husband and children. Join her in opining about books, BioWare games, and robots in disguise on Twitter @valerievaldes.

Meghan Scott Molin

by Angie Hodapp

Meghan comes to writing by way of a Masters in Architecture, a minor in Opera, a professional career as a barn manager, and two years crash course as a mother. She currently resides in Colorado with her fellow zookeeper (husband), son, two horses, cat, and dog. She is an avid lover of everything nerdy from Wars to Trek, Hobbits, Who, and beyond. When she’s not writing, she’s cooking, dreaming of travel, coveting more corgis, and listening to audiobooks while hanging out at the barn.

Primo Gallanosa

by Angie Hodapp

Primo Gallanosa is an author and illustrator for children’s picture books. He previously worked as an artist for video games, and created and co-owns an award-winning kids app called Pocket Worlds. He has lived in Southern California all his life and attended the prestigious art school, CalArts. He now devotes himself full-time to creating stories. When Primo isn’t drawing, you can find him playing video games, reading a book, or surfing. He lives in Los Angeles with his amazing author wife and two adorable pups. Who Made This Mess? is his debut children’s picture book.

Sierra Kincade

by Angie Hodapp

Sierra Kincade lives in the Midwest with her husband and son. When she’s not writing naughty books, she loves eating chocolate cupcakes, binge-watching cable series, and singing loudly in the car. She wholeheartedly believes that love stories are real, and you should never choose a partner who doesn’t make you laugh.

Shana Galen

by NLA_Admin

Shana Galen is three-time Rita award nominee and the bestselling author of passionate Regency romps, including the RT Reviewers’ Choice The Making of a Gentleman. Kirkus says of her books, “The road to happily-ever-after is intense, conflicted, suspenseful and fun,” and RT Bookreviews calls her books “lighthearted yet poignant, humorous yet touching.” She taught English at the middle and high school level off and on for eleven years. Most of those years were spent working in Houston’s inner city. Now she writes full time. She’s happily married and has a daughter who is most definitely a romance heroine in the making.

Kristen Simmons

by NLA_Admin

Kristen Simmons is the author of the ARTICLE 5 series, THE GLASS ARROW, and METALTOWN. She has worked with survivors of abuse and trauma as a mental health therapist, taught Jazzercise in five states, and is forever in search of the next best cupcake. Currently she lives in Cincinnati, Ohio with her husband, where she spends her days supporting the caffeine industry and chasing her delightfully rambunctious son.

Scott Reintgen

by NLA_Admin

Scott Reintgen is the author of the Nyxia series, as well as Saving Fable. He’s a former teacher in the NC public school system. The birth of his son has convinced him that magic is actually really. Currently, he lives in North Carolina, surviving mostly on cookie dough and the love of his wife, Katie. If you ever have trouble spotting him in a room, he’s the tall one with no hair, and I’d bet you anything he’s halfway through telling someone a story.

Rhiannon Thomas

by Kristin Nelson

Rhiannon Thomas is a recent graduate from Princeton University, where she studied English and Japanese, and smuggled bubble tea into the library on a regular basis. She now lives in her native home of Yorkshire, England, in an area where the horses outnumber her neighbors six to one. In her “day” job, she works as an academic editor and a freelance writer, and runs the blog FeministFiction.com, discussing TV, books, and all kinds of fannish things from a feminist perspective. When she isn’t writing, she spends her time geeking out and playing online video games with her friends.

Stacey Lee

by Kristin Nelson

Stacey Lee is a fourth generation Californian with roots in San Francisco Chinatown. Born in Southern California, she graduated from UCLA then got her law degree at UC Davis King Hall. She has lots of experience with earthquakes, having skinned her knees more times than she wants to remember diving under tables. One day she hopes to own a hypoallergenic horse and live by the sea.