Blake Allwood write all things gay romance. After years of living in a desert with few fiction books dedicated to telling our stories, he took up the mantle, and published his first gay fiction novel, Aiden Inspired in 2019. Since then Blake has written over 40 novels including gay fantasy/romantasy books under the pen name Adam J. Ridley. BlakeAllwood.com , AdamJRidley.com, GreysonMcCoy.com
After a near-death experience, Peter Bedard faced his greatest challenge: Living life in physical wreckage, emotional suffering, and spiritual exhaustion. Peter healed and discovered the gifts in the pain. He helps people live their full potential while integrating their lessons of pain whether the pain is physical, mental, or spiritual. Peter is an international speaker, published author (Simon & Schuster), and mental health therapist specializing in healing addiction, anxiety, and pain. www.ConvergenceHealing.com/Books
Tom Burns is a multi-disciplinary artist and writer whose career bridges visual art and literature. A former publisher of ARTWORKS Magazine, he is known for his large-scale abstract oil paintings that explore memory, emotion, and time. His debut novel, Under Cover Up, is a bold, emotionally charged story of love, secrecy, and identity set against Boston’s world of finance and family legacies. Burns is currently at work on his second novel, Lost in L.A., inspired by the art and film worlds that shape his creative life in Palm Springs.
Gareth Carter was a mild-mannered librarian until a backlash against LGBTQ+ children’s books launched his writing career. Branded a “pornographer” for stocking inclusive stories, he turned the insult into inspiration. With sharp humor and unapologetic defiance, he now writes a gay-erotica spy series, think James Bond meets Queer as Folk, mixing deep-state intrigue and sexy adventure, with a dash of globe-trotting queer joy. Carter’s forthcoming debut novel for the series celebrates readers who resist bans and proves censorship can’t silence a kiss, or a plot. http://www.garethcarterauthor.com
David Ciminello is a proud Lambda Literary Fellow and the recipient of a Table 4 Writers Foundation Grant. His fiction has appeared in the Lambda Award winning anthology Portland Queer: Tales of the Rose City, Nailed Magazine, Best Gay Romance, The Untold Gaze, and elsewhere. His original screenplay Bruno, directed by Shirley MacLaine, was an Academy Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting finalist. His debut novel The Queen of Steeplechase Park is a Foreword Reviews Silver Award winner and a Kirkus Reviews Best Book of 2024. https://www.davidciminello.com/
Kyle Coffman is an award-winning filmmaker, writer, and horror podcast host with a passion for emotionally charged storytelling. Through his company, Sebastian Films Unlimited, he has written & directed several short films, including Groomsday, which earned multiple awards at LGBTQ+ festivals. He also directed and co-produced the hit LGBTQ+ web series Guys Like You. Kyle’s writing extends to literary fiction as well. His debut novella Hell’s Road (2016) is a teen survive the night thriller, and his upcoming novel Falling for Theo explores the complexities of love, timing, and soulmates in a stirring gay romance. Whether on screen or on the page, Kyle brings a distinct voice that connects deeply with audiences and readers across genres and platforms. www.KyleCoffman.com
Susan Detlefsen PhD, is a former French professor (St. Olaf College, Portland State University) and French interpreter and translator. Since retiring, she writes short fiction and poetry. Her primary themes are open role Argentine tango, climate change, gender fluidity. Also known under her pen name, Gay Douglas, she has published several queer-themed books, including “Blue Poire Tango Bar and Sapphic Theme Hotel,” and “From the Vulva Lounge,” a collection of lesbian erotica and tango tales.
Kergan Edwards-Stout is an award-winning director and author. His “fictional” memoir, Never Turn Your Back on the Tide (Or How I Married a Lying, Psychopathic Wannabe Murderer and Kinda Lived to Tell, was called a top indie book of the year by Shelf Unbound magazine and was awarded an IndieReader Discovery Award, among other honors. His collection of short stories, Gifts Not Yet Given, was named on multiple "Best Book" lists, and his debut novel, Songs for the New Depression, won the Indie Book Award and was named one of the Top Books for 2012 by Out in Print. His greatest honor, however, was being named a Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Father of Year, as his husband and children nominated him. https://www.kerganedwards-stout.com/
Bob Gross is a retired Coachella Valley tour guide who has spent a dozen years leading tours of the San Andreas fault, Indian Canyons, Joshua Tree and the Palm Springs neighborhoods that the stars of the Golden Age of Hollywood calledhome. Based upon his extensive research he created his book, Palm Springs Star Tours, as a self-guided tour sharing all the sizzle, scandal and juicy anecdotes of the stars’ lives in our city that’s perfect for architecture buffs, film fans, visitors, locals or anyone who loves a good Hollywood tale.
Matthew Kennedy is a film historian, author, anthropologist, teacher, and film curator and host. He is the author of books on classic Hollywood: Marie Dressler, a Biography, Edmund Goulding's Dark Victory: Hollywood's Genius Bad Boy, Joan Blondell: A Life between Takes, Roadshow! The Fall of Film Musicals in the 1960s, and On Elizabeth Taylor: An Opinionated Guide. He has taught film history, including queer film history, and was host and curator of the CinemaLit film series at the Mechanics' Institute Library in San Francisco. He loves to introduce film screenings, and has done so at the Museum of Modern Art, UCLA Film & Television Archive, and Pacific Film Archive, and has written for the San Francisco Silent Film Festival, Turner Classic Movies, the National Film Registry, and the respected Bright Lights Film Journal. http://MatthewKennedybooks.com/
Born in 1954, Kim Kieler grew up on a cattle ranch in the interior of British Columbia, living in a log house where the first ten years were spent without electricity or television, and winter temperatures often plunged to forty below. She attended a two-room elementary school with outhouses before later heading to the University of British Columbia—trading cold for rain—and earning a degree in biology.
After backpacking around the world for a year, Kim pursued computer science at the British Columbia Institute of Technology, swapping moose tracking for coding. A lifelong lover of travel and adventure, she now lives in Palm Springs with her wife and their chihuahua. When she’s not traveling or writing, Kim devotes her time to the women’s community—publishing a weekly newsletter and leading hikes through the stunning landscapes of the Coachella Valley.
Dak Kopec is a literary force of nature — part architect of the mind, part maestro of human drama. A prize-winning author and internationally renowned architectural psychologist, Dak doesn’t just tell stories — he engineers them. With a pen sharpened by insight and a pulse tuned to justice, he crafts bold, emotionally charged narratives that tear down façades and expose the truth within.
Whether it’s courtroom storms, media frenzies, or quietly powerful moments of redemption, his fiction pulses with lived experience and fierce empathy, especially for voices that have been silenced or sidelined, through characters like the Vandermarks, Roberts, Blackburns, and Medicis. Dak Kopec weaves worlds where trauma meets transformation, secrets unravel, and love dares to be complicated.
His mission? To stir hearts, challenge norms, and architect a more humane world — one story at a time.
Dr. Steve May, Ph.D. is a dedicated mental health professional specializing in supporting adults 25 and above, primarily in the GLBTQ+ Community in Palm Springs, California. His expertise coers anxietym drpression, addiction, aging, grief and loss, relationship challenges, LGBTQ+-related concerns, and sexual abuse. With a unique perspective gained from celebrating his 50th anniversary with his husband in 2024, Dr. May is passionate about helping gay men discover their authentic selves and live healthier, happier lives. His eclectic person-centered therapy approach emphasizes collaboration with clients to define their goals and strategies. As a spiritual psychologist who has been a practicing Buddhist for 15 years, he integrates psychology and spirituality to foster personal growth and well-being, helping clients unlock their potential within their body, heart and mind.
Dwayne Ratleff - As a product of the segregated school system of Baltimore, and a former special ed student, Dwayne Ratleff never dreamed he would learn to read a book let alone write several. The theme of much of his writing is turning disadvantage into advantage. He is the author of the award-winning novels/memoirs Dancing to the Lyrics: Finding an Inner Rhythm and See, What Happened Was...https://dwayneratleff.com/
Susan Rukeyser lives in Joshua Tree, the setting of her novel, The Worst Kind of Girl (Red Light Lit Press, 2025). She created the Desert Split Open to amplify literary work that is feminist, queer, and otherwise radical. She recently self-published BAD WORDS, a collection of flash, hybrid prose. www.susanrukeyser.com
Dr. Douglas Sadownick founded the LGBT Specialization in Clinical Psychology at Antioch University (2006) and Colors LGBTQ Youth Counseling Services (2011). He is the author of Sex Between Men: An Intimate History of the Sex Lives of Gay Men, Postwar to Present, Healing Gay Sex and Love, the GQMAP Workbook, and How & Why to Find a Therapist. His novel, Sacred Lips of the Bronx, will be republished this fall as a 30-year commemorative by Rebel Sartori Press. An award-winning journalist, he received recognition for his pioneering AIDS coverage and is co-founder of Highways Performance Space in Santa Monica. For more than thirty years, he has contributed to queer healing as a therapist, professor, and writer. Alongside his private practice, he teaches at the Los Angeles campus of The Chicago School of Professional Psychology and is active on YouTube and Substack under the Psychology for the People framework. www.psychologyforthepeople.org
Richard S. Sargent has found a way to combine his love for both film and food with his best-selling movie cookbook series: The Horror Movie Night Cookbook, The Ultimate Chick Flick Cookbook and more coming soon! His award-winning career has taken him all over the country, producing and publishing films and plays, acting and cooking from NYC to CA. You can find some of his short plays published in the anthology Gay For Plays on Amazon. When he isn’t performing or cooking for his friends or watching movies, he is rocking out with the band he started with his husband, The Green Winter. You can listen to their music on iTunes/Spotify or purchase their CD/vinyl on Ebay. Follow Richard on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok to see what’s coming next. linktr.ee/rsargent83
Dirk Schultz is a speaker, author, and wellness expert who blends world-class life coaching with fitness and mindful movement. His work goes beyond the physical—it’s about aligning the whole person: body, mind, and purpose. He’s the author of three transformative books: Out, Gay, Gray, and Fit After 50 — a groundbreaking guide to thriving in your fifties and beyond; The 90-Day Holistic Fitness Journal — a practical roadmap for daily alignment through mindset, movement and meals; and Fit and Fearless After 50! — his latest book, inspiring readers to redefine what’s possible in midlife and live boldly.
Through his signature M3 Method, built on the three pillars of Mindset, Movement, and Meals, Dirk helps people cut through the noise, clear mental clutter, and create lasting transformation from the inside out. With 20+ years of experience, elite certifications, and a no-cookie-cutter approach, Dirk’s mission is simple: To help people over 50 rise, realign, and live their boldest, most badass life.
Born in San Diego, Gary Smith spent the majority of his adult life in Los Angeles before retiring to Palm Springs. He is a film historian and author of ten books dealing with various aspects of film history, the most recent being "Cavemen vs. Dinosaurs which came out in September 2025. He has also written the novel "The Play's the Thing," a gay historical romance set in England during the reign of Charles II.
David Stern is the author of the acclaimed otherworldly memoir Elevator Boy. He spent over 25 years building platforms for the LGBTQ+ community. He co-founded IN Publications, which later acquired its competitor, Frontiers Media, publisher of Frontiers magazine, the Gay and Lesbian Yellow Pages. He also created an events division that organized the first Lesbian and Gay Wedding Expo. Mr. Stern founded the Frontiers Awareness and Education Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to training the next generation of LGBTQ+ media professionals and their allies. He is also the author of the children’s book The Tailor’s Gift - A holiday tale for everyone. Above all else, Mr. Stern considers himself to have the soul of a poet. https://www.elevatorboymemoir.com/
Malakai Strong, MSW is an author, speaker, and advocate whose work explores the intersections of identity, disability, and resilience. As the founder of StrongWheeld Consulting LLC, Malakai uses storytelling to spark social change and promote equity, accessibility, and inclusion. A proud wheelchair user and lifelong advocate for disability justice, Malakai writes and speaks from lived experience — blending personal narrative with a background in social work to challenge stereotypes and inspire connection. His debut book, Super Me, invites readers to see strength and self-acceptance through a new lens.
Tom Stewart grew up in Iowa and graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in Marketing. He moved to Florida where he lived for 33 years. His first novel, 12th Ave. South is a collection of characters he met when he encountered "Florida Man" culture. He spent many years in the real estate industry, and decided to retire in Palm Springs with his husband Ken, his dog and his cat.
Rodney Rhoda Taylor is a playwright and author whose creative journey spans from co-founding San Francisco’s Left Coast Theatre Co. to publishing their memoir, A Life in Letters, A story of resilience, sequence and hope. They currently reside in the South with their chihuahua Isabela, continuing to write and hope for a visit from Cupid. https://www.rodneyrhodataylor.com/
