Meet Liz Fountain, Jae Carvel, and Laurie Klein: three spirited Columbia basin authors who journey deep into the questions beneath the story, and encounter the strength that comes with being true to oneself. Whether writing about turn-of-the-century ranch women, aliens, spirituality, magic, or the dissolution of a marriage, these authors will carry you with them into undiscovered territory.

Liz Fountain of Ellensburg WA writes science fiction, fantasy, and adventure stories that capture the delight and unintentional humor of everyday life, told through the eyes of aliens and angels, Death and dogs.  

In An Alien’s Guide to World Domination, Earth’s future is in the hands of the last person on the planet who thinks humanity is worth saving—so it’s a good thing her dog knows what to do.  

Louise Armstrong Holliday, the last person on Earth you’d expect to save the human race, discovers that her boss is an alien the color of lime jelly gone horribly wrong, and is at the center of a plot to destroy humanity. Attacked by flying books, overly-sensitive monsters, and her own self-doubts, Louise begins a journey where she must learn the truth about her closest friend, stand up to her boss, confront her oldest enemy, and even make peace with extremely annoying Aunt Emma. She also has to rely on Buddy, the little blind mini-Schnauzer who saves her life twice—and really is from Mars.

Jae Carvel creates stories inspired by the lives of her Eastern Oregon ancestors. Carvel’s latest, Secrets from the Little Red Box, is the second in her Strawberry Mountain series, picking up where By the River left off.

In Secrets From the Little Red Box, a young woman poised at the turn of the century must choose between education and duty—between her own dreams, the love of her life, the dreams of her mother, and the needs of her father. When her true love writes of his travels and adventures, and his wish that she were with him, will she join him or stay in Prairie City, caring for an aging parent and the family ranch? Perhaps her answer has been in the little red box all along…

In By the River, Sarah Ann and her three young children survive the wagon journey west in 1869—but her husband does not. Sarah Ann throws herself into her new life, re-marrying, ranching, and raising nine children. But on a once-in-a-lifetime journey back East to see her mother, Sara Ann discovers she has been living a lie. Liberated in unexpected ways, she moves into the last half of life as a modern woman—but there is one secret she will carry to the grave.

Contemplative writer Laurie Klein helps distracted, heart-weary people refocus on God, hope and wholeness.

Her latest book of poetry, Where the Sky Opens, explores the mysteries of love. Through these poems, with their exquisite attention to detail. sound, and rich natural settings, Klein journeys into solitude and wilderness. And there, perhaps, hope for the future is born.

Author Brian Doyle says, "I cannot remember the last time I read a poet with such burly, thrumming, love-addled music—dense and real and salty and singing . . . Read any three poems and you will be more awake . . ."

Klein is also the author of the prize-winning chapbook Bodies of Water, Bodies of Flesh and the classic praise chorus “I Love You, Lord.” Her poems and prose have appeared in many publications, including Ascent, The Southern Review, Atlanta Review, and Terrain. She is a recipient of the Thomas Merton Prize for Poetry of the Sacred.