Writers Cantina

Alumni Alerts: Tales from the Clockwork Coyote by Jay Barnson

by nshumateAlumni April 21, 2026No Comments

Spotlighting new work by Writers Cantina participants (and that’s right Jay Barnson is the subject of two posts in a row!): Brass gears. Steam engines. Impossible machines. In this collection of six high-adventure steampunk tales, daring heroes, stubborn heroines, and dangerous mechanical creations collide in worlds powered by steam and imagination. From desperate airship combat …

Presenter spotlight: Jay Barnson

by nshumatePresenters April 20, 2026April 27, 2026No Comments

Jay Barnson is the author of the Blood Creek Saga, the Vanished series, and dozens of published short stories and articles. He’s a former (or lapsed?) video game developer based in the Salt Lake City area. By day, he creates Virtual Reality-based training simulators, and by night he writes imaginary worlds. It’s questionable if he …

Presenter spotlight: John M. Olsen

by nshumatePresenters April 17, 2026April 27, 2026No Comments

John M. Olsen edits and writes speculative fiction across multiple genres and loves stories about ordinary people stepping up to do extraordinary things. His short stories have appeared in dozens of anthologies. He’s also written several novels across multiple genres, including the Polecat Protocol science fiction series (Discovery, Breakdown, Emergence), the Riland Throne fantasy series …

Presenter spotlight: Jonna Hayden

by nshumateUncategorized April 15, 2026June 23, 2026No Comments

UPDATE: Jonna Hayden will not be able to attend. Jonna Hayden, Production Manager of Raconteur Press, is a retired Costume Designer and Clothing Historian who spent the better part of 40 years in SF fandom collecting authors. She began her love of SF as a Navy brat, reading Heinlein Juveniles and spending her formative years …

Hotel Deal for Writers Cantina!

by nshumateVenue April 14, 2026April 14, 2026No Comments

For those coming in from out of town, we again have a special deal!! The Crystal Inn in West Valley City is holding a bunch of rooms with a special price — these are rooms with either a king-sized bed or two queen-sized beds (i.e., up to four adults) for $140 per night (cheaper than …

Presenter spotlight: Jason James King

by nshumatePresenters April 13, 2026April 27, 2026No Comments

Jason King would say he’s a lover, not a fighter, but really isn’t good at either. He was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah, shaped by the dark forces of 16-bit consoles, anime, junk food, and tabletop games, and was mentored by the ghost of an Aztec shaman. Jason is married (sorry, ladies) …

Presenter spotlight: Rick Partlow

by nshumatePresenters April 10, 2026April 27, 2026No Comments

Rick Partlow is that rarest of species, a native Floridian. Born in Tampa, he attended Florida Southern College and graduated with a degree in History and a commission in the US Army as an Infantry officer. His lifelong love of science fiction began with Have Space Suit—Will Travel and the other Heinlein juveniles and traveled …

Presenter spotlight: Tyler Tarter

by nshumatePresenters April 8, 2026April 27, 2026No Comments

Tyler Tarter grew up throughout the western United States, getting to live in several different places and experiencing several different states. After a few years of living in Brazil and on the east coast, he pursued his two loves of writing and technology. He currently spends his days working in the IT and Cyber Security …

Presenter spotlight: David J. West

by nshumatePresenters April 6, 2026April 27, 2026No Comments

David J. West writes dark fantasy and weird westerns because the voices in his head won’t quiet until someone else can hear them. He is a great fan of sword & sorcery, ghosts and lost ruins, so of course he lives in Utah. Schedule: Fri, 4pm: “Sword & Sorcery” (panel) Sat, 11am: “Horror is Bacon …

Presenter spotlight: Joe Vasicek

by nshumatePresenters April 3, 2026April 27, 2026No Comments

Joe Vasicek fell in love with science fiction and fantasy when he read The Neverending Story as a child. He is the author of more than twenty books, including Genesis Earth, Gunslinger to the Stars, The Sword Keeper, and the Sons of the Starfarers series. As a young man, he studied Arabic at Brigham Young …