Presented by Charm City Books
Come with us on a deep dive into how these authors blend the magic of fantasy, the world building of science fiction, the history of folklore and mythology, and the haunting atmosphere of horror together to create spell binding narratives of dark fantasy.
Moderated by Stephanie Henderson (@booksandbounty)
Savannah Stephens is a dark fantasy author who proudly creates the representation she lacked growing up. Her complex protagonists are warriors, queens, assassins, witches, and monsters who embody Black Girl Magic. Her goal is not only to give readers fantastical worlds to escape into, but lessons and tools to survive the real one when the pages stop turning. Her debut novel Witch Queen Rising, first of the Blood and Magic Duology, was an Amazon Editors’ Pick for Best Sci-Fi & Fantasy (April 2026). She is represented by Helen Lane of Ki Agency. Savannah lives in Central New York with her feline familiar, Sir Beaumont of Fluffbottom, and an ever-expanding hoard of hobbies.
Brigid Kemmerer is the New York Times bestselling author of dark and alluring romantic fantasy novels like Warrior Princess Assassin, A Curse So Dark and Lonely, and Defy the Night, as well as compelling contemporary YA romance like Letters to the Lost. Her books have sold over one million copies and been translated into more than 20 languages, finding readers all over the world. A full time writer, Brigid lives in the Baltimore area with her family. When she’s not busy writing or being a mom, you can usually find her with her hands wrapped around a barbell.
Multimind resides in her hometown, Baltimore City, Maryland. MultiMind writes books that are fairly Black, usually queer, and very much embedded in the world of Sci-Fi, Fantasy & Horror. Her short fiction has previously appeared in award-winning Nightlight Podcast and in Yemoja Tears: An Anthology of Water, Bodies and Bodies of Water. Her works also include Dreamer, The Glassman, Kinetics and The Harlequin. Her works will appear in The Cookout Anthology and the Wings Under the Leaves anthology in 2027. Website: MultiMindPublishing.com
Stephanie M. Henderson is a Baltimore-based publishing, editorial, and product strategist. She is the founder and owner of Books & Bounty, whose mission is to use publishing acumen and a growing bookish community to amplify women writers, Black and Indigenous voices, and support the ecosystem of independent publishing by equipping storytellers and publishing organizations with the editorial expertise, tools, and insight needed to produce work with confidence.
Her understanding of literacy’s power and her passion for reading began early with street signs, school newspapers, and a treasured first-edition copy of Matilda. She studied English Language & Literature at the University of Virginia, where she revitalized Pride Magazine, the university’s Black student-interest publication.
Stephanie’s career spans academic and research publishing, editorial production, and product management, including launching and scaling The Baltimore Banner. She specializes in connecting content, technology, operations, and business strategy to create stronger experiences for readers, learners, authors, and mission-aligned organizations.
