Authors

Stephen Castle is a South African writer with a long-standing interest in agriculture, borderlands, and the quiet economies that shape people’s lives behind official statistics.

When not writing crime and conspiracy fiction, he has worked in agribusiness/development projects/consultancy across Southern and Central Africa, spending time on farms, in small towns, and along transport corridors that rarely make the news but carry much of a region’s story.

Cover Crop is the first Paul Smart novel and the opening book in The Border Syndicate Series.

Stephen lives in Cape Town with his Family.

Mary-Jo Bathe is the debut solo author of Built to Thrive, which ranked Top 1,500 in Women’s Biographies (Books) on Amazon and Top 400 in Women’s Biographies on Kindle.

Anera Banovec is a Croatian author and storyteller, fascinated by the myths and legends that echo across forgotten civilizations. After leaving a successful career in the fashion industry, she turned to writing to explore the ancient mysteries that had always captivated her imagination.

The Return, published in Croatia in 2023 and now available in English, is the first book in the Vibrations of Time series—a fusion of science fiction and alternative history that weaves together ancient mythology and the enigmatic legacy of the Anunnaki.

The second instalment, The Arrival, was published in Croatia in early 2025, with the English edition following soon. A.B. is currently working on The Origin, the trilogy's epic conclusion that unveils the dawn of the Anunnaki themselves.

On her personal blog at www.svarunworld.hr, Anera chronicles the development of the Vibrations of Time trilogy, exploring the myths, legends, and scientific theories that inspired the novels, while sharing insights from book promotions and literary events.

About the ar

Michaela Riley is the award-winning author of dark fantasy novels, including The Witch’s Rebirth Series, which received 9 prestigious honors recognizing excellence in writing and storytelling. Her dark fantasy novels delve into themes of power, sacrifice, and the struggle between light and darkness. She is a retired Major, Army Reserve Nurse. Is happily married lives with her 2 pets.

I am an author from Sheffield, South Yorkshire, a 'true Yorkshire lass' as they say.  I love books and love writing even more, particularly stories with  an unusual slant, a tinge of magic within an otherwise ordinary setting.  My books are titled An Ordinary Life, The Healing and Black Sheep and I am currently half way through my fourth novel.   I am also a trends artist and professionally trained vocalist, in short - a creative with a 'scatterbrain', as I was told at school. 

Living in the Pacific Northwest, Brenda has been making poetry for over 70 years.  Her book of poetry that spanned her lifetime (90 poems) was published in 2021. Pathways: Walking Through Creation was not her first but the one in print at this time.  There are also Asterino poems in the Anthology, This Uncommon Solitude. Another poetry book is coming out soon. Her first novel will also be released in 2026. A retired educator, her interests are eclectic and expansive. She currently does psychic readings; paranormal work; sells her original art and is exploring jewelry. Her enduring love is her family. Her curiosity of culture and life keep her invigorated.

Mary Elizabeth Fricke has lived her entire life within five miles of the Missouri River. She and her husband of 43 years have lived 40 of those years on a farm that has been consistently owned and operated by his family for five generations. They have two grown sons married to wonderful women and two beautiful grandchildren.

A graduate of the Writer's Institute of America and a member of the Heartland Writers Guild, she has published a number of articles in various forums and magazines. She is also a prolific ghostwriter.

Her stories, based in rural mid-western areas, concern the unique but quickly vanishing way of life on the family farm as well as other mysterious intricacies that evolve life from generation to generation. Romance is her preferred genre.