Tales from the Trunk Creators & Guests

Steve Toase is a science fiction and horror fiction writer.Toase's fiction has appeared in Nightmare Magazine, Shadows & Tall Trees 8, Analog – Science Fiction and Fact, Three Lobed Burning Eye, Shimmer, and Lackington’s, and has been collected in anthologies. His first book, the collection "To Drown in Dark Water," was published in 2021.

Michael R. Underwood is an author, podcaster, and publishing professional. His books include space opera Annihilation Aria, the Ree Reyes Geekomancy books, the Genrenauts series, and Born to the Blade (written with Malka Older, Cassandra Khaw, and Marie Brennan). He’s been a bookseller, sales representative, and the North American Sales & Marketing Manager for Angry Robot Books. He is also a co-host of the actual play show "Speculate!" and a guest host on "The Skiffy and Fanty Show."Mike lives in Baltimore with his wife, their dog, and an ever-growing library. He also loves geeking out with games and making pizzas from scratch.

Aimee Ogden is an author of speculative fiction. She also the co-edits the speculative fiction magazine Translunar Travelers Lounge.Ogden's work has appeared in Analog, Shimmer, Orson Scott Card's Intergalactic Medicine Show, and The Dark.Before becoming a full-time writer, Ogden was a science teacher and software tester.

Kelly Robson is a science fiction, fantasy, and horror writer.Robson received the 2018 Nebula Award for Best Novelette for her novelette "A Human Stain." She was nominated for the Nebula Award for Best Novella in 2016 for "Waters of Versailles" and in 2019 for "Gods, Monsters and the Lucky Peach." She received the 2016 Prix Aurora Award for "Waters of Versailles."

L.D. Lewis is an editor, publisher, and writer of speculative fiction, and the Director of Programs and Operations at Lambda Literary. She co-manages the Ignyte Awards.Lewis was a co-founder and Project Manager for Fiyah Literary Magazine, where she was also the founding Director of FiyahCon. Before that, she was a researcher for the podcast "LeVar Burton Reads." Lewis's work has appeared in Fiyah, PodCastle, Anathema, Lightspeed Magazine, Fireside Magazine, and Mermaids Monthly, as well as in anthologies. Her first book, the collection "A Ruin of Shadows," was published in 2018. Her second book, the novel "Year of the Mer," was published in 2025.

Sam J. Miller is the science fiction, fantasy, and horror short fiction author. His stories have appeared in publications such as Clarkesworld, Asimov's Science Fiction and Lightspeed, along with over fifteen "year's best" story collections.

Fran Wilde is a science fiction and fantasy fiction author.Wilde's work has appeared in Uncanny Magazine, Beneath Ceaseless Skies, Tor.com, and Nature Magazine. Her first novel, "Updraft," was published in 2015.Wilde received a B.A. in English from the University of Virginia, an M.F.A. in Poetry from Warren Wilson College, and a master's degree in information architecture and interaction design from the University of Baltimore.

Elsa Sjunneson is a writer and editor.

Jordan Kurella is a fantasy and science fiction author who is trans and disabled. He has worked as a radio DJ, photographer, and social worker.Jordan’s fiction has appeared in Beneath Ceaseless Skies, Apex Magazine, and Strange Horizons, and in the Barnes & Noble Short Fiction Roundup. His first novel, "I Never Liked You Anyway," was published in 2022, and his collection "When I Was Lost" was published later in the same year.

Karen Osborne is an author of fantasy and science fiction.Osborne's short fiction has appeared in Uncanny, Clarkesworld, Fireside, Escape Pod, Robot Dinosaurs, and Beneath Ceaseless Skies. Her first book, "Architects of Memory," was published in 2020.

Cheraé L. Clark is a freelance writer and editor of science fiction and fantasy. They publish fiction under the pen name "C. L. Clark."Previously, Clark was a co-host of PodCastle podcast. They have taught English to high school and university students.Clark's work has appeared in Escape Artists, Uncanny Magazine, and Beneath Ceaseless Skies, and collected in anthologies. Their first novel, "The Unbroken," was published in 2021.Clark received their B.A. in Creative Writing and French from the University of Kansas and thier M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Indiana University Bloomington.

Sarah Gailey is the Hugo award-winning best-selling author.

Jason Sanford is a science fiction author. He is best known for his short stories.Sanford's fiction has appeared in Interzone, Asimov's Science Fiction, Analog Science Fiction and Fact, Year's Best SF 14, InterGalactic Medicine Show, and other anthologies. His first novel, "Plague Birds," was published in 2021. Sanford founded the magazine storySouth and ran their annual Million Writers Award for best online short stories.