Dark City LIT! Author List
Find below a huge list of Authors planning to have table presence at the 2026 Black City LIT! Festival. Please visit their websites to learn more.
Tom Allison
I am an 85-year-old Appalachian American that has seen so many changes socially, culturally and economically. I have always been able to see the humorist side of things. I love telling stories.
Linda-Marie Barrett
Linda-Marie Barrett is a writer, editor, and executive director of the Southern Independent Booksellers Alliance. She is the author of Creating a Salon: The Magic of Conversations That Matter (Agate Publishing, 2025), praised by Elizabeth Gilbert as a “deeply loving guide to building spaces where real people can gather for real conversation.” She is a contributor to Spinning Toward the Sun: Essays on Writing, Resilience, and the Creative Life, an anthology benefitting the recovery of Asheville, NC after Hurricane Helene.
Learn more at https://www.lindamariebarrett.com
Roberta Baum
Roberta Baum is a professional jazz singer and composer. She has performed and recorded with Ornette Coleman, Fred Hersch, Kenny Barron and Anthony Davis. Her compositions have been featured on Lifetime Television, Erick Hawkins Dance Company and Off Broadway. Roberta has performed locally at venues including The White Horse Black Mountain, The Monte Vista Hotel, Isis Music Hall and United Research Light Center. She is a private voice instructor and vocal coach.
Learn more at www.robertabaum.com/author
Lizzie Brooks
Lizzie is a mom, yoga teacher, freelance editor, and author represented by Emily Keyes. Her debut picture book, Imperfectly Perfect Posey, received a Kirkus starred review and is a July 2026 Kirkus book of the month. Her work can be found in the IPPY award-winning, Spinning Toward the Sun, Door = Jar Literary, Beyond Words Literary, Tyger Tyger, Yoga International, and more. Lizzie runs a critique and author-advising business where she delights in helping authors take their work to new heights. She’s a member of SCBWI and Courage to Create and lives in North Carolina with her family who—despite her constant puns—still love her.
Learn more at http://www.lizziebrooksbooks.com
Megan Byrd
Megan Byrd lives in Asheville, North Carolina with her husband and two kids. She hates running, but loves hiking in the mountains toward a waterfall or scenic view and taking kickboxing, HIIT, yoga, and Zumba classes. When she’s not reading, writing, or chasing waterfalls, she enjoys visiting local bookstores, wandering through thrift shops in search of special gems, listening to live music, and catching up with friends. You can find out more about her books on her website MeganByrd.net) and learn more about her on Instagram (@megan.e.byrd).
Jim Carillon
Jim Carillon writes and publishes poems about day-to-day life experiences, spiritual insights and social justice. He and his wife Aline have fostered children in Asheville the last seven years and enjoy being honorary grandparents to four former foster children and their siblings. Jim continues social and economic justice volunteering for the Root Cause Farm, for Pisgah Legal as an ACA Healthcare Navigator and Tax Preparer for lower income families, and for Habitat for Humanity. He is also active in his Black Mountain UU church community and for his retirement community at Givens Estates.
Julia Nunnally Duncan
Julia Nunnally Duncan is an award-winning author of fourteen books of prose and poetry, including Through All Seasons (Iris Press, 2026), The Flood of Remembrance (Redhawk Publications, 2025), When Time Was Suspended (Redhawk Publications, 2024), and All We Have Loved (Finishing Line Press, 2023). Julia's upbringing in a Western North Carolina mill town plays predominantly in her work, which is filled with family, community, and nature. Julia is a frequent contributor to Smoky Mountain Living Magazine, and lives in Marion, NC, with her husband, Steve, a woodcarver.
Nora Esthimer | Nora Gaskin
Nora, a lifelong resident of the Durham–Chapel Hill area, holds an English degree with Honors in Creative Writing from UNC and a master’s from the University of Washington. After a 24-year career as a financial advisor, she retired in 2005 to write full time. Her works include the novel “Until Proven” (2012), the nonfiction “Time of Death” (2013), “The Worst Thing” (2018), and the 2026 suspense novel “Lammie Loves Cubby.” She founded Lystra Books in 2013, publishing more than forty titles. She lives and writes in Chatham County, inspired by her native landscape, her husband, and dogs. Her favorite expression is “y’all means all.” Her favorite word is gratitude.
Learn more at https://www.noragaskin.com/
Leigh Foley
Leigh Foley began her path to writing by being a book-obsessed child. She earned her bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD in criminal justice, with a focus on victimology and social media. Her degrees plus her family connection to crime and the justice system really help her bring her novels to life.
She's proud of her two adult children, Autumn who's following in her mother's criminal justice footsteps, and Aubrey who is pursuing the trades. As of Summer 2026, Leigh lives in Western North Carolina with her drummer husband, and she's excited to explore the mountains after 40+ years of living at sea level in Florida.
Learn more at http://www.leigh-foley.com/
Scott | S.M. Foran
S. M. Foran has a Master of Arts in English and a Ph.D. in Mythological Studies and has been teaching literature and creative writing for thirty years. He currently works at Montreat College in North Carolina and lives in Black Mountain with his wife and two sons. He has had poems and short stories appear in a wide variety of literary magazines and journals and is also the author of four poetry collections, including his most recent, MAD AS BIRDS. In addition to poetry, Foran's SHADOW SIDE OF GRACE, a unique work of literary criticism about Flannery O'Connor and her first novel, has been published by Mercer University Press.
Carolyn Fraiser | Carolyn Bennett Fraiser
Carolyn Bennett Fraiser is a literacy advocate and award-winning author of several nonfiction books for children, including M IS FOR MASON JAR and MOON TREE, a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection and SCBWI Crystal Kite award-winner. Carolyn currently lives on a small homestead in Brevard, where she serves on the board of Bound for Glory, a summer literacy and adventure camp for struggling readers. When she is not writing, Carolyn enjoys playing the piano, hiking, and exploring the region’s many beautiful waterfalls.
Learn more at http://carolynbfraiser.com
Nicole Soper Gorden | Nicole Leland | Nicole L. Soper Gorden
Nicole is a fantasy, science fiction, and romance author with a not-so-secret identity as a biology professor at a small liberal arts college. When not writing or teaching, Nicole enjoys growing heirloom vegetables, baking award-winning cookies, and plotting new ways to make people appreciate how wacky plants are. She lives in the Appalachian Mountains with her husband, child, and a veritable menagerie of animals.
Learn more at https://nicolelsopergorden.com/
Ann Howell
Ann Howell is the author of Never Let Me Go (Holand Press, 2025), inspired by her great‑grandfather’s Civil War service. Her manuscript earned multiple honors, including Semi‑Finalist placements in the Novel‑In‑Progress and William Faulkner – William Wisdom competitions, and a Finalist spot in the 2024 Thomas Wolfe Fiction Prize. Her work has appeared in Hungry for Homeand several short publications. A member of multiple historical and writing organizations, Ann lives with her husband and rescue dog in Asheville, North Carolina. A lifelong reader, she enjoys history, travel, museums, and cheering for her favorite sports teams.
Jeffrey Hutchins | Jeffrey Melvin Hutchins
Jeffrey Melvin Hutchins has been honored as a pioneer of the closed-captioning service that makes television accessible. Born in New York City, Jeff grew up in Saudi Arabia, attended high school in Beirut, Lebanon, and studied broadcasting & film at Boston University. In the ‘70s, Jeff was a TV producer at WGBH in Boston, and later was a founder of VITAC, the captioning company. He created a collection of children’s stories, songs, and videos about Denton the Dragon. In 2022, “Denton the Dragon the Musical!,” a stage show he wrote with Matthew Gould, debuted.
Learn more at http://jeffhutchins.com
Malia Johnson
Malia K Johnson is an author, maker, massage therapist and energy practitioner living in the mountains of Western North Carolina. Her writing is deeply influenced by nature, silence, and the quiet spaces where healing and transformation begin.
As a Deaf woman, Malia brings her own relationship with silence, language, and the world around her into storytelling. Her work explores the experiences that shape us, the losses we carry, and the often-winding journey of finding our home to ourselves.
When she isn’t writing or working with clients, Malia can often be found creating up-cycles pieces and hand-crafted self-care products through Free Spirit Wellness, walking among the trees, or finding inspiration while hiking in the mountains and the natural world that surrounds her.
Learn more at http://maliakjohnson.com
Shane Kamer
Shane Kamer spent thirteen years serving in the U.S. Air Force as an Air Evac medic before turning his attention to civilian life — first as a chiropractor and college instructor, and later in real estate across Western North Carolina. Across every chapter of his career, Shane has been drawn to the same question: how complex systems hold together, and what happens when they don't. That fascination with structural elegance and systemic failure became the seed for his debut techno-thriller, Atlas Unbound. When he's not writing, Shane can be found tinkering with 3D printing projects or spinning classic rock. He lives in Black Mountain, North Carolina, with his family and rescue dogs.
Jacob Kramer
Jacob Kramer lives and writes poems in Black Mountain, NC. Meditation, friendship, and coffee are his big loves. He has a BA in Creative Writing from UNC-Asheville and is currently enrolled in the Master’s program of Writing at Vermont College of Fine Arts.
Learn more at http://kramerworks.com
Constance Lomardo
Constance Lombardo is the author/illustrator of three middle grade novels about Mr. Puffball, the stunt cat. Her picture books are Everybody Says Meow, Tiny Spoon vs. Little Fork, Itty Bitty Betty Blob, and Itty Bitty Betty Blob Makes a Splash. She is also the recipient of a North Carolina Arts Council Artist Support Grant for her zine, Please Be Small, Adventures in Online Dating. Constance lives in Asheville, NC with her family.
Learn more at http://www.constancelombardo.com/
Larry Pearlman
Born in Brooklyn and raised in Hillside, NJ, Larry earned an engineering degree from Rutgers and built a 30-year career in corporate sales. He also taught creative living and spiritual classes, served as a minister for 20 years, and hosted the radio show “Evolution in Consciousness.” Author of several spiritual and inspirational books, including his newest, “Poetry for the Common Man,” Larry served in the Peace Corps in Ghana at age 60 and later lived in the Sunrise Ranch spiritual community. A seasoned traveler, he is now an author and storyteller based in Black Mountain, NC.
Learn more at https://www.larrypearlman.com
Nancy Poling
Nancy Werking Poling writes from her home in the North Carolina mountains. Her most recent books include Leander's Lies, a historical novel set in the Appalachian foothills; While Earth Still Speaks, an environmental novel; and Paradise Affirmed: stories of scandal and virtue at Happy Corner Church, linked short stories. Her fiction and creative non-fiction have appeared in numerous literary journals.
Learn more at https://nancypoling.com
Beth Revis
Beth Revis is an internationally acclaimed bestselling author with books available in more than 20 languages and has toured internationally to meet her fans. Five of her novels have listed in the NY Times.
Beth primarily writes science fiction and fantasy for both adults and young adults. She’s written three books for Star Wars, including the fan-beloved The Princess and the Scoundrel. Her most recent books include the historical romantasy duology starting with The Crimson Throne, co-written with Sara Raasch, and a snarky sci fi novella series called Chaotic Orbits.
Beth is the co-owner of Wordsmith Workshops and the author of the Paper Hearts series, both of which aid aspiring authors. A native of North Carolina, Beth is currently working on multiple more books. She lives in rural Western NC with her son, husband, dog and cat.
Learn more at http://bethrevis.com
Amelia Schroeder
Nature, meta-musings, good love, emotions, wordplay, and catharsis are some of Amelia's inspirations. More work can be found in their chapbook, "Hillbilly Pillory" (Bottlecap Press, 2023), in the "Dark City Poets' Society Anthology", in "Understory", a 2024 relief zine for Western NC, by Loblolly Press, in Eunoia Review, The Dewdrop, and others. Amelia holds a BA from Marietta College, lives outside Asheville, NC, and is tickled be part of the Dark City Poets' Society. Amelia enjoys mushrooms, flower farming, vegan mayo, and working for a more just and peaceful planet.
Learn more at http://Ameliaschroeder.blogspot.com
Jean Sutton | Jean Culbertson Sutton
Jean Culbertson Sutton is a spiritual director, a retired professional counselor, and ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church (USA). Over the course of her life and work, she has gathered wisdom from listening deeply to others and from her own journey of growth and transformation. Along the way, sacred rituals—both simple and elaborate—became a home for grounding, healing, and opening the heart.
With this book, she offers the practices that have shaped her life, so others may also experience the beauty and strength that comes from creating personal rituals for themselves, their families, and their communities.
Learn more at http://www.jeancsutton.com
Doug Sutton-Ramspeck
Doug Ramspeck is the author of ten collections of poetry, two collections of short stories, and a novella. Individual stories have appeared in journals that include The Southern Review, Iowa Review, and The Georgia Review. His short story “Balloon” was listed as a Distinguished Story in The Best American Short Stories (2019). He is a three-time recipient of an Ohio Arts Council Individual Excellence Award, twice for poetry and once for fiction. His previous story collection, The Owl That Carries Us Away (University of Missouri-Kansas City, 2018) received a starred review in Library Journal. Barbara Hoffert praised the book’s “beautiful storytelling.” Doug and his wife live in Black Mountain, North Carolina.
Learn more at https://dougramspeck.com/
Ray Tobias
Ray Tobias is the author of “A Sirius Adventure” and “Aligouran’s Quest “, historical adventure novels that blend maritime history, exploration and enduring legend.
A lifelong sailor and student of history, he draws inspiration from the great sea routes of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, where trade, exploration and empire shaped the course of nations.
David Allen Voyles
Having taught literature for thirty years, David Allen Voyles is no stranger to weird tales and horror fiction in general. In addition to publishing his stories and novels in print, he is also the creator of the Dark Corners podcast where he narrates many of his original horror stories. Best-selling author and Bram Stoker award winner Paul Kane said of Voyles’ writing, “Maybe it's because Voyles is an accomplished oral storyteller that you can ‘hear’ the words as you read, but man, can this guy create an atmosphere!”
Voyles brings that same atmosphere and tone to his latest novel Edgar, a tale which imagines one summer in the life of fifteen-year-old Edgar Allan Poe when the young writer experiences a series of terrifying events that would inspire the stories he would write years later.
Learn more at http://davidallenvoyles.com
Emily Paige Wilson
Emily Paige Wilson is the author of the young adult novel-in-verse Four Months Past Florence and the full-length poetry collection Jalubí (Unsolicited Press, 2022) in addition to two chapbooks: Hypochondria, Least Powerful of the Greek Gods (Glass Poetry Press, 2020) and I'll Build Us a Home (Finishing Line Press, 2018). Her work has been nominated for Best New Poets, Best of the Net, and the Pushcart Prize. She works as a non-profit fundraiser and lives in Asheville with her husband, son, and two cats.
Learn more at https://www.emilypaigewilson.com/