celebrating new mexico authors & writers
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2026 Event Program
Saturday, Nov 7th from Noon – 4pm at The Block in Rio Rancho
FREE ADMISSION FOR THE PUBLIC!!
12:15: Welcome and Opening **
Host: Diane Hatz, Award-winning author of the Mind Monsters series
Book Bites
Bite-sized intros to local authors
Panel: The Creative Process
Moderator: Sonja Dewing – Sonja quit her job in 2014 to journey through Inca ruins, myths, and living history, which sparked an award-winning series – The Idol Maker – that blends adventure/thriller/fantasy with ancient legend. She’s won numerous awards for her writing, including her memoir Chasing the Horizon: How I Built a Life on Courage, Coffee, and Saying Yes.
Panelists: Neal Holtschulte – author of two novels, Crew of Exiles and Tall Boy Sun and Vicki Todd – author of Shine Happy Shine: A Mystical Memoir of Art, Destiny & A Tenacious Mother-Daughter Bond
Spoken Word
Jonathan Chisdes – New Mexico based award-winning author of short stories, poetry, and film criticism
Farzana Marie – Author of When Language Left Me, Load Poems Like Guns: Women’s Poetry from Herat, Afghanistan, and 43 Poems for People Who Don’t Read Poetry
Panel: Books as a Catalyst for Change
Moderator: Marie Parks – Award-winning LGBTQIA+ author of fantasy novels and founder of Sandia Starforgers Workshops and Retreats for writers
Panelists: Weyodi OldBear, author of As Many Ships as Stars (Android Press) and Dr. Korie Leigh, author of When Everything Changes: Parenting Through Loss and Grief (Free Spirit Publishing)
Talk: Handling Stress over the Holidays
Melanie Smithson, Dance-Movement Therapist and Award-Winning Author supporting transformation and letting go
Book Bites
Bite-sized intros to local authors
Panel: Romance, The Speed Dating Game
Moderator: Anna Taylor Sweringen – president of Land of Enchantment Romance Authors and indie-published author of the lite paranormal Haunted Harlem series. A retired minister, she has been a member of Romance Writers of America since 2003 and writes in three romance subgenres.
Panelists: Ellia Bryn, indie-published rom-com author of Isla Takes the Scenic Route, Jordyn Kross, indie-published romance author of the Dirty Daisy series; Belle Sloan (Barb Simmons), indie-published western romance author of The Widow’s Redemption; Lauren C. Teffeau, traditionally published science fiction romance author of Accelerated Growth Environment; BA Tortuga, hybrid-published LGBTQ+ western romance author of Let Er Puck
Spoken Word
Mary Dezember, Award-winning author of the genre-blending adventure series Magic of Evenfall.
Panel: How to Be Your Own Publisher
Moderator: Cyndi Coon – Cyndi Coon is the founder and publisher of Turkey Hill Press, an independent publishing house championing creative voices, original ideas, and unconventional storytelling. An author, creative entrepreneur, and applied futurist, she brings 25 years of experience turning ideas into books, businesses, and creative adventures.
Panelists: Rubina Cohen – Publisher and author marketer at LUMENIS Press of non-fiction, business, self-development, and radical wellness; Bladen Mercutio – author of Southwest Gothic and publishing director at Bohemian Trash Studios; and J.J. Cagney – Former literary agent who brings New Mexico to life in thrillers and mysteries
Book Bites
Bite-sized intros to local authors
4:00: Closing
** Times approximate; program subject to change
PARTICIPATING AUTHORS, POETS & PUBLISHERS
Children’s
- Barbara Alt – Indie author of children’s books Rose, Lily, Dreamland
- Katherine Davis-Gibbon – Children’s indie author of Words, My Old Friend Then
Memoir and Nonfiction
- Bruce Berlin – Memoir and political nonfiction author of From Camden to Kathmandu, Breaking Big Money’s Grip on America
- Cynthia Villyard – Author of The Bad Bitch Adult Coloring Book
- Jacob Rainwater – Indie author and publisher of Tooth Tales:Unbelievable True Stories from a Dental Assistant
- Kate Sjostrand – Nonfiction, memoir and self-help indie author of And So, She Rose, Survivor’s Guide to Survival
- Korie Leigh – Author of When Everything Changes: Parenting Through Loss and Grief (Free Spirit Publishing)
- Loretta Hall – Nonfiction indie author of Out of This World, Higher Faster Longer
- Maceo Carrillo Martinet – Nature and politics indie author of Healing the Land Teaches Us Who We Are
- Melanie Smithson – Self-help, somatic psychotherapy indie author of Shake Yourself Free, Stress Free in 30 Seconds, Make Some Noise
- Shannon Muller – Nonfiction indie author of She Belongs at the Table
- Vicki Todd – Indie author of Shine Happy Shine: A Mystical Memoir of Art, Destiny & a Tenacious Mother-Daughter Bond (VickiWorldArt LLC)
Mystery and Thriller
- Don Weston – Mystery indie author of Alligator Investigations, Death From Above, The Facebook Killer
- J.J. Cagney – Former literary agent bringing New Mexico to life in thrillers and mysteries: The Kill Line, A Pilgrimage to Death, An Artifact of Death
- J. L. Greger – Mystery & thriller indie author of Crazy Like a Goat, Fair Dreams, For Whom the Cranes Call
- Kari Bovee – Historical mystery indie author of Girl with a Gun, Grace in the Wings, The Pryce of Conceit
- Sonja Dewing – Author of award-winning series – The Idol Maker, blending adventure/thriller/fantasy with ancient legend.
- Suzanne Stauffer – Small press indie publisher of historical cozy culinary mysteries Fried Chicken Castaneda, French Toast a la Santa Fe
Poetry & Fiction
- Farzana Marie – Poet, small press indie publisher of When Language Left Me, Load Poems Like Guns, 43 Poems for People Who Don’t Read Poetry
- Jonathan Chisdes – Poet and indie author of A Man of No Significance and Other Stories, Seeing Ourselves Reflected, What I’m Looking For
- Mark Fleisher – Poet and indie author of The Long Game, Incidental Moments, Knowing When
- Wanda W. Jerome – Poet, indie author of Journey Beyond the Veil, After the Journey, Magical Morning Moments
Has to pay still: Vivian Carroll: Talking Leaves Scrapbook
Not sure: Manuel Gonzalez
Romance
- Anna Taylor Sweringen, Land of Enchantment Romance Authors – Indie-published author of the lite paranormal Haunted Harlem series
BA Tortuga – Hybrid-published LGBTQ+ western romance author of Let Er Puck - Belle Sloan – Indie-published western romance author of The Widow’s Redemption
- Ellia Bryn – Indie-published rom-com author of Isla Takes the Scenic Route
- Erin Krueger – Kissed by the Elements, Exit, Stage Left, Author Survival Guide
- Jenn Romano – Just in Time, Another Time, Be Still
- Jens Plougmann – Dark morally gray romance indie author of Love Chronicles: Book 1 Vol 1 Henry
- Jordyn Kross – Indie-published romance author of the Dirty Daisy series
- Kathleen Buckley – Historical romantic mystery/suspense author of A Winter’s Disgrace, A Murder of Convenience, Most Secret
- Piper Sheldon – Contemporary Romance and Paranormal Romance author of Keeping Pace, Stranger Than Fan Fiction, My Bare Lady
- Roger Sweet – Cozy Straight Guy Romance/Mystery author of The Money Garden by Heshe Sweet
- Ryley Banks – Spicy romance indie author of Heat Waves: A MM Monster Romance
Science Fiction, Fantasy & Beyond (Absurdist, Satire, Horror, Speculative, Genre-Bending, and More)
- Bladen Mercutio – Urban fantasy/folk horror indie author of Southwest Gothic: The Harvesting Angel of the Plains and its soundtrack
- Cassie Sanchez – Fantasy romance and urban fantasy indie author of Chasing the Darkness, Battle Beyond the Veil
- Diane Hatz – Award-winning author of Rock Gods & Messy Monsters, Fallen Spirits, The Light of Wounds, The Journey Home – The Mind Monsters series (Whole Healthy Group LLC)
- Elizabeth Gabel – YA Fantasy small press indie publisher of Gates of Erin
- Jason DeGray, Outlaw Star Press – Small press indie publisher of Prince Aidan and the Monster’s Eye, The Saga of Shamus, Those Left Behind
- Jennifer Nelson – Psychological horror indie author of Don’t Get Blood on the Daisies
- Karl Richter – Fantasy indie author of Lifemagic: The Traitor’s War, The Invaders’ War, The Dragons’ War
- Lauren C. Teffeau – Traditionally published science fiction romance author of Accelerated Growth Environment
- Marie Parks – Award-winning LGBTQIA+ author of fantasy novels and founder of Sandia Starforgers Workshops and Retreats for writers
- Mary Dezember – Award-winning author of the genre-blending adventure series Magic of Evenfall
- Neal Holtschulte – Science Fiction indie author of Crew of Exiles, Tall Boy Sun
- Weyodi OldBear – Indie author or As Many Ships as Stars (Android Press)
- Winston Malone, Enchanted Books – Small press indie publisher, indie bookstore owner, and indie author of Take Me There, Take a Breath
Has to pay still: Jonathan Davis: The Wendigo and the Werewolf, Sister Cassidy, The Swamp Witch
New Mexico Publishers & Associations
- Lumines Press, Rubina Cohen – Fiction, business, self-development
- New Mexico Book Association – Supporting writers and authors across the Southwest
- Running Wild Press, Benjamin B. White – Poetry
- Synergetic Press, Deborah Snyder – Independent trade books focusing on paradigm-shifting and countercultural ideas
- Third Rail Press, Alle Mudrick – Memoir and fiction, women’s stories
- Turkey Hill Press, Cyndi Coon – Championing creative voices, original ideas, and unconventional storytelling
Spicy romance alert! Come meet Ryley Banks (@ryleybauthor) at the Sage & Ink Book Fest at The Block in Rio Rancho on Saturday, November 7th from 12pm-4pm. Enjoy some good food and get a jump on shopping for the spicy bookworm on your holiday shopping list
Author Diane Hatz sharing her work at Author Nation 2025. Come meet her and browse her award-winning Mind Monsters series – eccentrically funny novels about monsters and coming home to yourself.
Meet Jonathan Chisdes, award-winning author of short stories, poetry, and film criticism (pictured here with his recently-published poetry book What I’m Looking For) at the Sage & Ink Book Festival at The Block in Rio Rancho on Saturday, November 7, from noon to 4pm.
award-winning author Kari Bovee, creator of the Annie Oakley Mysteries, Grace Michelle Mysteries, and The Pryce of Murder series. My books feature spirited, strong-willed women who aren’t afraid to challenge convention—or get themselves into a bit of trouble along the way! From the Wild West to the glamour of 1920s Hollywood, my stories are filled with historical intrigue, humor, heart, and plenty of murder and mayhem!
Join Cassie Sanchez, award-winning fantasy romance author of The Darkness Trilogy and Battle Beyond the Veil—immersive adventures where magic, danger, and romance collide—at the Sage & Ink Book Festival NM at THE BLOCK in Rio Rancho on Saturday, Nov. 7, from noon to 4 p.m.
Join Kathleen Buckley, award-winning Author of historical fiction, on Nov 7th. Kathleen’s First Place winners, A Murder of Convenience (Romance Writers of America Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Historical Mystery & Suspense, 2026) and By Sword and Fan (CROW National Excellence in Storytelling, Historical division, 2024) will be there.
Piper Sheldon writes Contemporary Romance and Paranormal Romance. Her books are a little funny, a lotta romantic, and with just a little twist of something more. She lives with her husband, daughter, and an elderly dog at home in the desert Southwest. She finds writing bios in the third person an extreme sport of awkwardness.
Come visit Melanie Smithson. She’ll be sharing tips from booth and stage on how to use movement and sound to release stress and agitation. Especially useful at this time of year!
Melanie Smithson, award-winning Author- Shake Yourself Free, Stress Free in 30 Seconds and Make Some Noise. At the Sage & Ink Book Festival NM at THE BLOCK in Rio Rancho on Saturday, Nov 7, from noon to 4pm
Join us Nov 7th
A day for local New Mexico authors and readers to connect and build community.
Mission
To celebrate, elevate, and build community for New Mexico readers, writers, authors, poets, and small press publishers.
Future Events
Be the first to know about future Sage & Ink events!
Vision: A New Mexico where statewide literary and writing talent has the same visibility, support, and career pathways as authors and writers from elsewhere, anchored by a permanent festival and, eventually, a year-round literary hub.
The Opportunity for Writers
Sage & Ink Book Festival asks the question: what about writers in New Mexico?
The Santa Fe International Literary Festival does something important: it brings world-renowned authors to New Mexico.
Sage & Ink does the opposite.
The festival exists to elevate the state’s authors, writers, screenwriters, poets, and small press publishers, and help bring their work to the world.
Sage & Ink is building energy and a creative scene from the ground up: raw, artistic, a little defiant, and the kind of event people want to be part of from the start.
Inaugural Event: The Block, Rio Rancho
A free, public marketplace day at The Block in Rio Rancho, sponsored by Lumenis Press, The Block, and indie bookstore Enchanted Books.
- Authors, publishers, and book groups connect with readers, host signings, and sell directly to the local community
- Four panel discussions on the creative process, romance books, books as a catalyst for change, and how to be your own publisher
- Poetry from the stage, raw and live
- Shipping containers, food vendors, desert grit, and a great vibe. This is not a hotel ballroom.
This is the proof of concept: building community, bringing in our first cohort of New Mexico writers and publishers, and creating a track record for funders heading into 2027 and a larger event.
Learn more….
Phase 2: Santa Fe 2027 — Advice and Support for Writers
A two-day festival to help writers and authors further their career and to celebrate literary talent in the Land of Enchantment.
Program* includes:
- Informative panels: how to indie publish, books to screen, book marketing, etc
- Indie author awards
- Pitch competition
- Cover design critique
- One-on-one mentoring sessions
- Networking and relationship-building opportunities
This is career infrastructure for creatives serious about writing, not just a celebration. More details to come after November 7th.
*Subject to change.
Become A Sponsor
We’re currently reaching out to aligned businesses, organizations, funders, and individuals to develop collaborations and partnerships to help boost New Mexico writers.
If you’d like to join us, please check out our sponsor deck and get in touch!
About
Diane Hatz is CEO Founder of Whole Healthy Group LLC, a consulting, special events and publishing company working to maximize health of mind, body, and spirit.
She is also the founder of the Sage & Ink Writers Festival.
She is the creator of A Writer’s Life with Diane Hatz, a Substack and YouTube podcast on indie writing, creativity, and life in the second half.
She is an award-winning author and has published four fictional books, Rock Gods & Messy Monsters, Fallen Spirits, The Light of Wounds, and The Journey Home. Her debut novel, Rock Gods & Messy Monsters, has earned numerous honors, including First Runner-up, 2024 Eric Hoffer Award and Grand Prize Shortlist Finalist.
Diane was also Founder/Organizer of TEDxManhattan, Founder/Executive Director of nonprofit Change Food, Impact Producer at film production company Participant, mentor to artists at Creative Capital Foundation as well as entrepreneurs in food startups, plus much more.
