Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers hosted by Mark Stevens

Kevin Wolf is an award-winning Mystery and Western author. His books include Trailridge (2024), The Homeplace, winner of the 2015 Tony Hillerman Prize and the 2016 Strand Critics Award finalist for Best Debut Mystery. His short story "Belthanger" received the 2021 Spur Award for Best Short Fiction and his novel, The Bootheel was a 2024 Peacemaker Award finalist. The legends and landscape of the We...

Cynthia Swanson is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the psychological suspense novels The Bookseller, The Glass Forest, and Anyone But Her. Cynthia is also the editor of the Colorado Book Award winning anthology Denver Noir. She lives with her family in Denver. Find Cynthia online at www.cynthiaswansonauthor.com and follow her on Facebook (Cynthia Swanson, Author), Instagram...

David R. Slayton (He/Him) 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 and writes the books he always wanted to read. His debut, White Trash Warlock, was a finalist for the Colorado Book Award. In 2015, David founded Trick or Read, an initiative to give out books...

Jill Lynn is a two-time ACFW - that’s American Christian Fiction Writers - Carol Award winning author of inspirational romance for Harlequin Love Inspired and a co-author of the Selah Award winning nonfiction book of the year Just Show Up. She lives near the Colorado Rocky Mountains with her husband and two teenage children. Jill’s latest book, just out, is The Summer of Keeping Secrets. More at h...

This time on the podcast we talk with writer Kirk Rafferty about his experiences in the querying trenches as he looks to find an agent for his novel, The Cosmonaut and The Fisherman. Kirk Rafferty is a native Coloradan who has lived in many places worldwide but has always managed to return home. Kirk writes historical fiction and fantasy and is still looking for his first breakout novel. A former...

This year at Colorado Gold in September, you can sign up for a special mentor session with one of nine mentors who will take time to work with you one-on-one and discuss any topic about writing and publishing under the sun. Well, there were originally nine mentors, but one mentor’s schedule is already full. The appointments cost only $40. You can schedule the mentor session as you register, but if...

This time on the podcast, a chat with Kate Jonuska and Connie Conolly-Bauldree, the co-chairs of the Colorado Gold conference coming right up at the end of September. To be precise, Sept. 27 through Sept. 28. As this year proves yet again, this a conference for writers that is always finding new approaches, new means of accessing the material. From the “one-day” pass to hybrid access to mentoring...

This time on the podcast, a check-in with the two writers who will be offering social media check-ups at the Colorado Gold conference (Sept. 27 - 29) in Denver. Bestselling author Mariah Ankenman lives in the beautiful Rocky Mountains with her two rambunctious children and loving spouse who is her own personal spell checker when her dyslexia gets the best of her. Mariah loves to lose herself in a...

October K Santerelli is a fantasy author from Denver, Colorado. His works include City of Day, book one in the Nightfall series, and The Book of the Witch's Son. He works as a sensitivity editor for LGBTQ+ and disability content. Beyond his writing, October spends his time as an advocate for disabled, neurodivergent, and queer persons with the Colorado government. For more information, please visi...

Bethany Turner is a seasoned author who works with a major publishing house, but she’s made the decision to look for an agent now — and not finding the process all that easy. On this episode of the Rocky Mountain Writer podcast, she explains her decision and also talks about her brand new book, just out this week, Cole and Laila Are Just Friends - A Love Story. Bethany has been writing since the s...

Scott Graham is the author of the National Park Mystery Series, featuring archaeologist Chuck Bender, paramedic Janelle Ortega, and their daughters Carmelita and Rosie. The series is published by Torrey House Press. Release date for Death Valley Duel, book nine in the series, is June 2024. In addition to his mysteries, Scott is the author of five nonfiction books, including Extreme Kids, winner of...

Angie Hodapp is the Director of Literary Development at Nelson Literary Agency. She holds a BA in English and secondary education from the University of Northern Colorado and an MA in English and communication development from Colorado State University. A graduate of the Publishing Institute at the University of Denver, she has worked in professional writing, editing, and education for more than t...

Angela Sylvaine is a self-proclaimed cheerful goth who writes speculative fiction and poetry. Her debut novel, Frost Bite, a ‘90s sci-fi horror comedy, is available now, and her debut short story collection, The Dead Spot: Stories of Lost Girls is forthcoming. Her short fiction and poetry have appeared in or on over fifty anthologies, magazines, and podcasts, including Southwest Review, Apex, and...

Tom Farrell has worked as a golf course starter, a chemist and clerked at City Hall in Chicago while attending law school. He is the author of The Wager Series, a mystery-thriller series set in the world of sports betting, horse racing and poker. The series includes Wager Tough, WagerEasy, and Wager Smart. Wager Tough was selected by Kirkus Reviews as one of the Best Indie Books of 2021 and one of...

Z.S. Diamanti is the award-winning author of the Stone & Sky series, an epic fantasy adventure and the result of his love for fun and fantastical stories. His short works have been published in magazines, literary journals, newspapers, and books. He went to college for a very long time and has far too many pieces of paper on his wall. He is a USAF veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom and worked i...

Tasha Christensen believes the best love stories are found in the geekiest places. When not composing tuba closet make-out scenes, she enjoys playing volleyball, getting way too competitive about board games, and exploring the gorgeous Rocky Mountains. Tasha lives with her husband, daughters, and an overly affectionate dog named after her favorite Stranger Things character. Tasha’s Itaska High boo...

Ryanne Glenn began writing as a way to battle depression and continued because she believed she had a story to share. An avid reader herself, Ryanne wanted the chance to add to the bookshelves of young adults everywhere. She is currently signed with Atthis Arts LLC to publish her first young adult fantasy trilogy. Ryanne Glenn is a member of the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers in Denver, CO, where...

Justin Weaver, who writes as J. Warren Weaver. is the author of the award winning, international bestselling Shadow of a Spy Trilogy. He lives in small town Colorado, where he enjoys the bountiful great outdoors with his wife, daughter, and three dogs. When his infant child isn't demanding his complete and undivided attention, he writes page-turning thrillers with thought-provoking mysteries. The...

How do you shift easily among writing a variety of genres? Aimie K. Runyan knows a few things about that, especially with the release of her debut women's fiction this month after writing a variety of historical fiction novels. Aimie K. Runyan writes to celebrate history’s unsung heroines. She has been honored as a Historical Novel Society Editors’ Choice selection, as a three-time finalist for th...

This time on the Rocky Mountain Writer podcast, we get to know the folks behind the Writers Who Read podcast — Gary McBride, Mira Landry, and Whitney Pinion. ++ Gary McBride founded the Writers Who Read novel study group back in August of 2018. After meeting at the Boulder Book Store, the group moved to the Boulder Public Library in 2019 after its adoption as part of the Boulder Writers Alliance....

Linda (L.V.) Ditchkus has written her whole life. But until eight years ago, her writing was either technical, scholarly, or in travel magazines. In 2015, she jumped into novel writing with both feet. After drafting her first chapter, which only amounted to a few hundred words, she realized she had plenty to learn. So she found a network of writing friends—many through RMFW—who gave her writing ti...

After nearly two decades of interaction with authors, musicians, and dignitaries in the arenas of publishing, international media, large-scale events, and agricultural endeavors, Terrie founded AKA (Also Known As) Literary Management (AKALM) in 2009. As a full member of the Association of American Literary Agents (AALA), she received the Agent of the Year Award in 2021 from American Christian Fict...

Bowen Gillings writes to bring fun back to fiction. His latest novel, EXCEPTIONALS was released in 2023 while his short works have been published in anthologies and periodicals. He’s been featured on TV, radio, podcasts, and YouTube channels. His quirky, offbeat tales are lauded as "perfect," "charming,” and "fun," with writing that "boggles the genre mind." Bowen facilitates a variety of writing...

Dani Coleman is a four-time finalist in RMFW's Colorado Gold novel contest. She works as a scientific computer programmer, karate instructor and parent and has many hobbies that attempt to steal time from her writing. She is also co-chair of the Workshop Selection Committee for the Colorado Gold conference and this time on the podcast we run down all the details about workshop proposals and the su...

Linda Keir is the pen name of Linda Joffe Hull and Keir Graff. Their previous titles include The Swing of Things, The Three Mrs. Wrights, and Drowning with Others. Independently, they have published over a dozen novels. You can find them on X @LindaeJH and @KeirGraff. Their latest collaboration, due out on January 30 from Blackstone Publishing, is The Royal Game. For more information: www. LindaJo...