Committee Chair
Chelle Honiker is an advocate for the empowerment of authorpreneurs, recognizing the importance of authors taking charge of both their craft and careers. In response to this need, she has founded a media and training company dedicated to supporting these creative professionals.
As the co-founder and publisher of Indie Author Magazine, IndieAuthorTraining, Indie Author Tools, and Direct2Readers.com, Chelle’s team of more than 80 writers, editors, trainers, and support staff provides resources and insights that help authors navigate the complexities of self-publishing. Her role as the programming director for Author Nation, an annual conference in Las Vegas, further exemplifies her commitment to fostering a community where authors can grow and succeed.
With a career spanning over two decades in executive operations and leadership, Chelle has honed her skills in managing complex projects and delivering impactful training programs. Her experience as a speaker and TEDx Organizer has taken her to many countries, where she has shared her insights with diverse audiences.
Eryka Parker, an award-winning editor, book coach, and author marketing strategist at Legacy Book Coaching and Consulting, boasts nearly two decades of experience shaping stories for subject matter experts, entrepreneurs, and individuals. Her mission is to diversify the publishing landscape to make room for underrepresented voices. Eryka's commitment extends to educational initiatives, presenting at prestigious events, and conducting workshops for libraries, writing groups, and publishing companies. Her commitment to sharing knowledge and insights has led her to present at esteemed events such as Rise2Wealth Ohio, the University of Michigan College of Medicine, Women in Networking, the Cleveland Leadership Center, and writing masterclasses focusing on brand building and the craft of powerful storytelling. As a Consulting Editor for the Annual Western Reserve Writers’ Conference, freelance journalist for Indie Author Magazine and Beautiful Brown Girls, and book reviewer for the African American Literary Book Club, Eryka's influence is felt across the literary spectrum. Recognized by Who’s Who in Black Cleveland, she hosts community writing workshops, showcasing her dedication to literacy, enrichment, and empowerment.
Fatima Fayez is a fantasy author with wanderlust. Fatima grew up traveling around the world and has lived in several countries across continents. She currently calls Kuwait home and boards a plane every month in search of adventure. She has a Bachelor of Science in Journalism, along with a Master’s in Business Administration.
Fatima unites her love of connecting with people and giving back to the author community by volunteering across multiple platforms. An extroverted introvert, Fatima is a founding member of The Author Conference on Clubhouse, where she has organized two conferences, and continues moderating author conversations daily since 2021. She is an active administrator of the 75k+ member 20BooksTo50K® Facebook group, and an annual volunteer at the Self Publishing Show in London.
As her closest friends can attest, you will always find Fatima sitting in the front row of every panel.
Grace Snoke is an avid writer who has been writing for as long as she can remember.
For more than a decade she was a corporate journalist moonlighting as a video game journalist. She wrote for several major game sites and occasionally misses the work. Now she works as a virtual assistant, moonlighting as an author. She writes articles for Indie Author Magazine and for her clients. She hopes to be a full-time writer one day.
Grace writes nonfiction as well as urban fantasy and paranormal romance. If and when time permits, she plans to write sci-fi.
Widowed in her mid-30s, she resides in Lincoln, Nebraska. She has an adult son, Richard, and two cats. She has a significant other who resides in Australia and hopes to eventually end up there.
For more information about her virtual assistant work and website services, visit https://spiderwebzdesign.net.
For more information on her books, visit: https://gracesnoke.com
Aside from being a writer and professional reader, Ines Johnson is a seasoned educator. For over 15 years, she taught college level courses in screenwriting, story development, and media history. A lifelong learner (read: academic addict), she holds a Master’s in Instructional Design, and a Doctorate in Educational Technology. She is constantly taking courses on the latest digital marketing techniques, reading how-to books, and keeping her skills at the cutting edge, so that you don’t have to!
Kate Pickford was a shadow artist for decades, working—as a screenwriter, script doctor, book coach, developmental editor, and a ghostwriter, covering everything from international uprisings to dragons and one-eyed samurai—either under a pen name or with no attribution.
A self-described literary omnivore, since she’s stepped out of the shadows, her post-apocalyptic novels have sold hundreds of thousands of copies. She’s currently co-authoring a steamy rom-com series with Erin McCabe—the two of them writing under the pen name Katherine Avery—for Peak Press, an imprint of Muonic Press.
Kevin McLaughlin is the USA Today bestselling author of 83 books. He writes mostly science fiction and fantasy, and is also the author of The Coffee Break Novelist and You Must Write. He’s enjoyed reading and writing serials for decades.
USA Today and Amazon #1 Bestseller M. L. "Matt" Buchman has over 75 novels, 200 short stories, and 50 read-by-author audiobooks. From the very beginning, his powerful female heroines insisted on putting character first, then a great adventure. PW declares of his Miranda Chase action-adventure thrillers that: “Tom Clancy fans open to a strong female lead will clamor for more.” About his military romantic thrillers: “Like Robert Ludlum and Nora Roberts had a book baby.” He is also the founder and editor of Thrill Ride – the Magazine. A project manager with a geophysics degree, he’s designed and built houses, flown and jumped out of planes, solo-sailed a 50’ sailboat, and bicycled solo around the world…and designs quilts. He and his wife presently live on the North Shore of Massachusetts. More at: www.mlbuchman.com.
Morgana Bevan is a Welsh contemporary romance author with twelve novels under her belt. She’s staunchly wide, business-focused, email marketing obsessed and loves a new challenge practically if it involves a new piece of tech. She’s one of the admins of the Wide For The Win Circle Community and reader group, Romance Gone Wide. When not writing, dreaming up new worlds or helping fellow authors, you’ll find Morgana travelling the world.
Natalia Hernandez is an Indigenous, Latinx, and queer book nerd who was lucky enough to have grown up all over the world. As a Third Culture Kid she has lived in Turkey, Romania, Poland, Guatemala, England, and now resides in the east coast with her cheagle Mija. As an avid reader and passionate writer, she wants to create queer fantasy novels that feature strong women of color in sweeping Latin American-inspired settings. With a BA in Communications and Public Relations and a Masters in Media and Communication, Natalia utilizes her background and education to not only market her own books but champion other marginalized authors and uplift fellow indie authors or color. She can be found on TikTok and on Instagram @NataliaHernandezAuthor
Attorney Shannon Humphrey is a trial lawyer and former writ attorney whose persuasive writing skills have secured multiple victories at the California Court of Appeals. She has practiced in child abuse and neglect, criminal law, employment discrimination, business law, and advocated loudly and proudly for equal justice under the law and general civil rights. Under her real name, she once wrote sci-fi/fantasy, and currently, she publishes contemporary and historical romance under the pen name Lula White.
Tee’s passion for strong females and ability to spin a fairly decent sentence, has resulted in over 60 published titles spanning 3 pen names and over 7 genres. While Tee writes mainly fantasy (hence the Narnia cupboard to the right (Tee’s alter ego, Toni Vallan, writes Psychological Horror and Suspense. Writing since 2010, Tee currently lives in Middle Earth. She is a proudly #AfricanAuthor, and in South Africa will her roots remain. Her heart still longs for the endless beaches and the smell of moist soil after a summer downpour. She loves the beach, and her readers, is an artist, a nerd, and a geek, hates crowds, and sings like Adele (only in her head). If she could grow up to be Wonder Woman she’d die happy.