Chris Valente, raised in Santa Barbara, grew up in a philanthropic family. He now writes novels and essays blending ecology with personal stories in Santa Monica.
Julianne Santos grew up in La Jolla, California, surrounded by the ocean, influenced by her mother’s marine biology career and her family's love for nature.
Nate Caldwell, raised in Scottsdale, values entrepreneurship and community. He combines creativity and business through marketing and motivational storytelling.
Isabela Martínez, born to Cuban immigrants in Miami's Little Havana, values cultural traditions and celebrates her heritage through storytelling and the arts.
Leslie Woodruff, raised in Boise’s North End, comes from a family with Idaho roots, blending agricultural tradition with a creative spirit through her parents' craft brewery.
Carrie Mayfield, raised in upscale Buckhead, Atlanta, values culture and philanthropy, influenced by her financial consultant parents and experiences in charity and art.
Yuan Li, an only child from Beijing, grew up in a literary household. She studied Creative Writing at Peking University and explores themes of romance in her writing.
