A - F • 2026 Authors & Creators
Hery Acosta
Hery Eddie Acosta is a survivor of child abuse and neglect who has dedicated his life to helping youth overcome trauma.
With over twelve years of experience as a teacher’s aide, he has worked with at-risk and special-needs children for the City of Hillsboro and the Hillsboro School District.
Through his platform, Eddie in the Rough: Becoming a Diamond, he inspires young people to believe that healing is possible and that there is always light at the end of the tunnel.
Website:
Freya Aguiar
Freya Aguiar is a fantasy author, mother of three, and founder of The West Witch, LLC.
A lifelong lover of enchanted stories and misty coastlines, she crafts tales filled with magic, heart, and the rhythm of the Pacific Northwest—where she writes beneath fog and stars.
Her debut novel, Water Wishes: Bound by Tides, invites readers into an oceanic world of mermaids, destiny, and dark secrets that swirl beneath the waves.
Website: thewestwitch.com
Adriana Baer
Adriana Baer is a theatre director, educator, and arts leader with over 20 years of experience.
She has held leadership roles at Profile Theatre and Cutting Ball Theater and directed productions at Portland Center Stage, Artists Repertory Theatre, and Houston’s Alley Theatre.
Founder and CEO of I’m Into This Place, a Clark County–based media company, Adriana also hosts a podcast of the same name.
Through Claim Center Stage, she coaches speakers and creatives to share their stories with confidence and purpose.
Website: imintothisplace.com
Thecraftyweebothy
Crafty Wee Bothy – Lorna Lambert
Handcrafted nature and literature-inspired ceramics for home and garden décor, plant markers, ceramic buttons, scarf rings, etc.
Website:
Non-toxic soy candles and wax melts hand-poured in Vancouver, WA.Paula Charles
Paula Charles writes cozy mysteries with wit and warmth from her home in Washington State, where she lives with her patient husband and a lively mix of furry and feathered companions.
She’s the author of the Hometown Hardware Mysteries and the Zen Goat Mysteries (written as Janna Rollins).
A member of Sisters in Crime—national, Guppies, and the Columbia River chapter—Paula’s debut novel Hammers and Homicide was featured in Woman’s World.
Visit her at www.PaulaCharles.com.
Deb Cushman
Books:
FRIGG'S JOURNEY TO ANASGAR | PING'S MYSTERY IN PIXIANDRIA
Deb Cushman writes fantasy adventure stories for children and teens.
A lifelong storyteller, she began crafting imaginative tales in grade school and never stopped.
Her career in libraries deepened her passion for connecting young readers with great stories, including helping to establish an arts school library.
Now living in the Pacific Northwest, Deb draws inspiration from its forests, mountains, and beaches—and delights in sharing her love of reading and imagination with her grandchildren.
Website: DebCushman.com
L J Dix
Books: Diplomat’s Apprentice series (12 books), Starship Cat series (suitable for all ages, 4 books), Star Trader Independence (4-5 books), Empire’s Rogues (probably 3 books by June)
LJ Dix grew up surrounded by books and encouraged by her mother’s love of science fiction and fantasy.
Her first series grew out of stories she told her children on long car trips.
With an MBA and a background in global supply chains, LJ blends real-world logistics with interplanetary adventure in her sci-fi tales.
A devoted animal lover, she often includes animal companions in her stories—and shares her home with three opinionated cats.
Website: LjDix.com
Rebecca M. Douglass
Rebecca M. Douglass has lived across the West—Idaho, Arizona, California, Washington, and briefly Maine—but now calls the Seattle area home.
A lifelong book lover and avid hiker, she writes both children’s and adult fiction, including the Ninja Librarian series, Pismawallops PTA cozy mysteries, and the new Seffi Wardwell Mystery series.
After seventeen years working in her local library and volunteering in schools, Rebecca now devotes her time to writing, travel, and adventures shared with family and friends.
Debby Detering
Debby Detering writes stories that explore family, resilience, and faith.
A longtime Washington resident, she crafts historical and contemporary fiction that highlights human connection in the pre-digital era.
Her works include Three Tales, God with Us, Panama and Beyond, and Sunshine Summer.
The Aunt Tabby series brings middle-grade readers face to face with history, while her forthcoming novel follows teens aging out of foster care.
Debby’s writing blends compassion, courage, and a deep belief in the power of love and hope.
Sue Dockstader
Sue Dockstader has worked internationally as a lawyer, writer, and editor, contributing to print and online publications in London, Hong Kong, and the U.S.
She recently collaborated with her 90-year-old mother, Jo Coker, to create a charming children’s series about a curious mouse exploring the English countryside.
Inspired by the publishing journey, Sue is now turning to adult fiction. She writes about life in retirement on Medium while crafting a novel featuring loyal dogs and wise women.
Jordan Fitch
Jordan writes thrillers inspired by the wilds of the Pacific Northwest.
A lifelong reader and storyteller, he answered the call to bring his novels to life after years of crafting short stories and blogs.
Originally from rural New Hampshire, Jordan served in the U.S. Marine Corps and later lived in New York’s Hudson Valley.
He holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from SUNY New Paltz and now lives in Washington, where he explores with his wife and two children.
Koren Freel
Koren Freel is an author from Camas, Washington. Her debut novel, The Ginhouse Hollow, blends humor and heartbreak in a story inspired by real events from her family’s past, exploring how the secrets we keep shape who we become.
Koren enjoys traveling with her family of six, hiking Columbia River Gorge trails, and blogging about life’s detours on Keep It Golden Girl.
She’s often found at thrift shops, brew pubs, Jazzercise, or adventuring with her dogs, Roxy and Molly.
Booth 20
Website: ljdix.com
LJ Dix is a science fiction and fantasy author whose Diplomat’s Apprentice series combines space battles, daring rescues, and a touch of diplomacy in a fast-paced space opera adventure.
Inspired by the stories she once told her children on long road trips, her books often feature animals, interplanetary trade, and heroic journeys across the stars. Watch for her upcoming series debuting in September 2025, where the legend of the first starship cat takes center stage.