Spoorthy Raman
Spoorthy Raman is a writer at heart, a journalist by profession and a conservation enthusiast in action. She mostly writes about science, the environment and her dog, but sometimes dabbles in short stories, essays and poetry. Her words have appeared in two books and several international magazines and news outlets. Her journalism has been recognized with numerous distinguished honours. When she isn’t at her desk scribbling her thoughts on paper, you can find her lost in a book, making art or wandering in the woods with her dog around the beautiful city of St. John’s, which she now calls home.
Robert Gross
Rob Gross is a writer, arts administrator, and dungeon master living in Corner Brook. Originally from Western Massachusetts, he holds degrees in cinema studies and criminal justice. As a long time reader of the weird, the fantastic, and the strange, Rob recently started creating his own stories. He is currently writing an eco-horror novel, alongside several science fiction short stories.
Stephanie Boone
After working 2 years in Labrador as a fresh out of MUN permanent teacher, writer Stephanie Boone has finally come back to Newfoundland! To cope with the isolation of living in a community far from her home, Stephanie would write various works in her spare time to combat the mental hardships of rural living. Her story, “Riptide” is one such work dedicated to her long-distance partner, who helped her through the toughest of times. Stephanie is eager to start her new technology, science, and math teaching position in central NL…as well as writing more in years to come!
Sadie Butt
Sadie Butt is a 14-year-old student going into 10th grade. A writer of poetry and fiction, she was born and raised in Vancouver, BC until she moved to St. Johns, NL at the age of 10. She was a winner in the Junior Poetry section in The Arts and Letters NL, 2024, and was published in Splashing in Puddles: Young Writers of Canada, at age 7. She still lives in St. Johns with her mom, dad, two brothers, and favourite family member, Bowen the dog.
Janice Young
Janice Young is an outport girl, born and raised in Twillingate, Notre Dame Bay, NL. The ocean has naturally been a source of inspiration, companionship and solace for her. Always happiest when near, in or on the water, Janice currently lives in Conception Bay South, where the ocean and the magnificent Manuels River are within easy reach. Though she has been writing and publishing her entire life (her first published piece was a poem she wrote at five years old for the local newspaper), She and Her Sea is her first foray into competitive writing.
Shawn Doyle
Hi, my name is Shawn Doyle. I come from the tiny community of Petty Harbour. My parents and James Doyle and Elizabeth Bidgood who have always been a source of support.
I am married to Debbie Vaughan of Goulds Nl. She is my constant source of inspiration and my greatest supporter. We have 4 beautiful children together. They are, and will always be our greatest achievement as a couple.
I was an educator for 31 years. In retirement I fill my time with playing in a rock and roll band and working in the tourism industry.
Kyle Penney
At a young age Kyle was one who always had his head in the clouds and a hunger for a story. Kyle was born the youngest of a family of four. Raised in Corner Brook, Newfoundland. He has a very strong love for nature, outdoor activities, family, friends and hard work. Also being born with very high functioning autism, he tends to see the world differently than most. With a passion for learning and creativity especially anything that involves cooking, reading, animation and storytelling. A love for fantasy, action and adventure. May inspiration fly!
Mi’kmaq Moons and Magnetically Attuned
Erica (Samms) Hurley
Erica (Samms) Hurley is a Mi’kmaw woman from Mount Moriah, located on the west coast of Newfoundland, and is connected to the community of Flat Bay on the island. She is a registered nurse and Assistant Professor with the Faculty of Nursing, Memorial University with a cross appointment in the School of Arts and Social Science Interdisciplinary Humanities Department, Grenfell Campus Memorial University. Erica is also a wife with two children, Shantel and James. She has been involved in community all of her life with a particular interest in advocating for Indigenous issues and rights, in all areas with a focus on health.
Krista Vokey
Krista Vokey is an educator and former administrator from Newfoundland and Labrador who now works at Memorial University. Besides her love of reading and writing, she enjoys running, knitting, and traveling with her husband. She is also often found exploring local trails with her dog, Tilly, and searching for the perfect latte with her two adult daughters. Krista lives in St. John’s.
Meghan Donovan
Meghan Donovan came to Newfoundland as a teenager to study at Memorial University in the Marine Biology Program. The island has since brought her back for work, where her passion for the ocean has led her to a research career in the fisheries. Fiction literature allows her to combine her love of the beauty of reality with the magic of fantasy and folklore.
Virginia Ryan
Ginny Ryan was born and raised in the U.S., but moved to Newfoundland as a young woman as a result of an ancestral connection to the place. She married here, and she and her husband spent six years as multigrade school teachers in Labrador. Subsequently, Ginny taught at the Marine Institute and in the College system, spending the last 21 years of her career as the director of MUN’s Writing Centre. She has published a small number of poems, essays, and short stories in various journals, and has produced a CD of her own and traditional songs entitled “Great Wings in Flight.” Writing the story “Golden Bay” was particularly meaningful to her, as she spent time on Newfoundland’s Cape Shore collecting the songs and personal stories of many people there and had always longed to find a way to tell the story of the family who lived in Golden Bay – a story that has long lived inside her.
Melissa Elizabeth Wong
Melissa Wong is a multimedia creator in St. John’s, Canada. A MUN alumni with a B.A. (Hons) and a diploma in journalism, Wong’s short story “Chirp”, won the 2021 Icelandic Festival of Manitoba: Poetry and Pose contest. Wong’s writing has been published in The Newfoundland Herald, Truth Serum Press, Pure Slush, Applebeard, The Icelandic Connection Magazine, The Understorey Magazine, WANL Winter E-Zine, After Books Inc, and Engen Books. Her latest poem, “The First Loss,” was published in 2024 in Loss Lifespan Vol. 9. She is a co-creator of the YouTube channel “The Little Book Digital Theatre” with fiancé Evan Maddick.
Fiona Conway
A Marine Cook on Turbulent Waters
Terry C. Bersey
T.C. Bursey is a science fiction novelist, freelance journalist, autism self-advocate and former marine cook from the seaside village of Dover, Newfoundland and Labrador. TC. (short for Terry Carson) grew up with the Atlantic Ocean for his front yard and has had an irrevocable love for the ocean (and its wildlife) for as long as he can remember. He employs his lived experience as a proudly autistic Newfoundlander in his stories to weave narratives with strong foundations of truth — narratives that serve to promote awareness of topics that are close to his heart, such as environmental conservation, human rights, and The Neurodiversity Movement. To this day, he still lives in front of his beloved ocean — raising his son, Max.