Jayne Allen

Jayne is a writer, producer, and entrepreneur. In the earliest years of her career, as an alumna of Harvard Law School and Duke University Pratt School of Engineering, she worked as an entertainment attorney, including in service to the late artist Prince. Purposeful in centering and celebrating black women’s societal contributions, Allen’s writing crafts transcultural stories to explore contemporary issues such as modern relationships, workplace and career dynamics, and the complexities of race. Her common themes include mental and physical health and highlight the importance of self-love and self-care—all with a healthy dose of warmth and humor. Allen currently serves on the Diversity Committee of the Author’s Guild Council. A proud native of Detroit, she lives in Los Angeles, CA.

Byron Lane

Byron is an author, playwright, and screenwriter. His latest novel, Big Gay Wedding, is a Golden Poppy Award finalist and named a Best of the Year by Audible. His debut novel, A Star is Bored, is inspired by his time as former assistant to actress Carrie Fisher and hailed by The New York Times Book Review as "wildly funny." Lane is a two-time regional Emmy Award winner from his time as a television news journalist, he wrote the acclaimed play Tilda Swinton Answers An Ad on Craigslist, and he lives in Palm Springs, California, with his husband, author Steven Rowley, and their rescue dogs, Raindrop and Shirley.

Courtney Maum

Courtney is the author of five books, including the groundbreaking publishing guide that Vanity Fair recently named one of the ten best books for writers, BEFORE AND AFTER THE BOOK DEAL and the memoir THE YEAR OF THE HORSES, chosen by The Today Show as the best read for mental health awareness. A writing coach, director of the writing workshop “Turning Points,” and educator, Courtney's mission is to help people hold on to the joy of art-making in a culture obsessed with turning artists into brands. Passionate about literary citizenship, Courtney sits on the advisory councils of The Authors Guild and The Rumpus and runs a bestselling Substack about publishing.

J. Courtney Sullivan

Courtney is the best-selling author of the novels Commencement, Maine, The Engagements, Saints for All Occasions, and Friends and Strangers. Her work has been translated into seventeen languages. Sullivan's writing has appeared in The New York Times Book Review, The Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, New York, Real Simple, and O, The Oprah Magazine, among many others. In 2017, she wrote the forewords to new editions of two of her favorite classic novels—Anne of Green Gables and Little Women. She lives in Massachusetts with her husband and two children. Her latest novel, THE CLIFFS, was the July 2024 selection for Reese Witherspoon’s Book Club.