Leslie Clark

Leslie Clark retired from Cochise College in Arizona after 41 years of teaching and now lives in Oceanside. She is the author of two collections of poetry, "Cardiac Alert" and "Ward Off the Night." Leslie is editor/publisher of an online poetry journal, "Voices of the Wind."

Mike Casper

Mike Casper is a Southern California author with a passion for storytelling. He is a world traveler, husband, father and avid reader. Although life can be tragic, Casper believes, it can also be meaningful, beautiful and fulfilling. Based on the idea that books can take you places that no other media can, Casper wrote "Stone Thrower" and "The Sing Song Child."

Maj. George Durgin

During the 1969 TET Offensive, Capt. George Durgin and 60 of his men were surrounded by 1,000 North Vietnamese soldiers. In "The Delta Dogs," Durgin recounts this and other battles they fought. Retired since 1972 with more than 20 years of service, Durgin lives in Oceanside. 

Kristi Hawthorne

Longtime Oceanside resident Kristi Hawthorne is the president of the Oceanside Historical Society and vice president of events at the Oceanside Chamber of Commerce. Passionate about researching, preserving and sharing the history of Oceanside, Hawthorne is the author of “Oceanside, Where Life Is Worth Living," a local history since the 1880s.

Michelle Ann Hollstein

Michelle Ann Hollstein is the author of the Fatal Reaction series, the Vienna Rossi Paranormal Mysteries, the Ms. Aggie Underhill Mysteries and the nonfiction series Who Says You Can't Paint? She resides here in Southern California with her two children and her two spoiled kitties.

R.D. Kardon 

One of San Diego Magazine's Five San Diego Authors to Read, Robin "R.D." Kardon is a former corporate and airline pilot who had a 12-year flying career that took her all over the world. A native New Yorker, Robin now lives in San Diego with her beloved rescue pets. Her first novel, "Flygirl," was released in 2019. 

Alexa Kingaard

Alexa Kingaard was born in and has lived most of her life in the San Diego area. Kingaard has written two novels, "Keep Forever," highlighting the collateral damage of post-traumatic stress disorder, and "My Name Is Rose," a story of her generation.

Charise Noel

Charise Noel has scratched many itches in life, including being a middle school teacher, entrepreneur and author of the motivational business book "Itchy Feet Happy Soul." Noel designs clasp-free jewelry inspired by her mother, a stage IV cancer survivor who has lost the ability to fasten necklaces, and lives with her husband and 2-year-old daughter, Kara.  

Ann Robson

Ann Robson was born and raised in South Africa where she worked as a newspaper columnist. She now lives and writes in Southern California. Robson is the author of two novels, "Marula Ridge," an excerpt of which won a Writer's Digest Short Story award, and "Guadalupe's Gift." She is currently working on her third novel, "Searching for a Shadow," set in Mozambique.

Pat Spencer

A retired community college president, Pat Spencer wrote "Story of a Stolen Girl" to raise awareness of human trafficking. Every year, 800,000 children, women and men are trafficked, including 50,000 slaves in the United States. If "Story of a Stolen Girl" stimulates conversation that makes a difference for even one victim, Spencer will be satisfied.

S.L. Vaden

S.L. Vaden started writing stories at a young age and kept her dream of being an author a secret until her first book was self-published. The author of The Legend of Zelkova fantasy series, Vaden also writes sci-fi and romance. She is a fan of anime and lives with her husband and cats.

Audrey Wyatt

Los Angeles fiction writer Audrey Wyatt bases her novels, short stories and even a television sitcom on her experiences. Her stories often feature strong-willed, quirky women. Audrey’s novel, "Poles Apart" has been honored with five awards. Wyatt has worked in various arts – most notably acting, teaching and creating children’s theater curricula.