Born in New York and educated at Kenyon College and Columbia University, Scott Kenemore is the national bestselling author of Lake of Darkness, The Grand Hotel, and Zombie Ohio, as well as numerous other works of horror and satire. He lives in Evanston, IL.

Eden Robins' debut novel, When Franny Stands Up, was named a best book of 2022 by the Chicago Reader, a best queer book of 2022 by Autostraddle, and best book of the month by Bustle and Buzzfeed. Her next novel, Remember You Will Die, will be out in October. She also writes short stories and self-absorbed essays at places like Slate, Catapult, USA Today, LA Review of Books, Apex magazine, Shimmer, and others. She is currently a crossing guard, and she once did a stand-up comedy set to an audience who didn't boo. She lives in Chicago, has been to the bottom of the ocean, and will never go to space.

Noreen Nasir (pronounced NAH-surr) is a national video journalist for The Associated Press and covers stories about racial disparities and injustice across the U.S. She’s covered a range of breaking news, political events and enterprise stories, from the wave of racial justice protests around the country and unrest in Minneapolis after the killing of George Floyd in 2020, to the Iowa caucuses, to the effects of pandemic restrictions on rehab programs in prison in California. Noreen joined The AP in 2015 in Washington, D.C. Before that, she was a producer for the PBS NewsHour. She is currently based in the Bronx, New York, but grew up right here in Grayslake and graduated from Grayslake Central in 2007. After that, she studied broadcast journalism at Northwestern University and she's been reporting and storytelling ever since.

Ron looks forward to bringing his one-man interactive Shakespeare experience “To Be! Shakespeare Here and Now” to Grayslake’s Writers Week! “To Be!” has played for more than 80,000 people from Los Angeles California to Washington DC, and in Florence, Italy. Ron has also played Shakespeare in Dirty Filthy Shakespeare, which he also wrote, for FESTA (Florence English Speaking Theatre Artists.) Performances were in the historic Teatro Goldoni in Florence, Italy. Ron was the founding Artistic Director for Milwaukee’s Shakespeare in the Park, where he directed, acted, and designed for some of Shakespeare’s best work. Before that he was an Artistic Director for Renaissance Entertainment Productions, working with the Bristol Renaissance Faire in Wisconsin, the Renaissance Pleasure Faire in Los Angeles, and the New York Renaissance Festival outside New York City. Ron currently works as an independent Theatre Artist in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Peter Dankelson is a musician and speaker. Over 800k social media followers have found inspiration and motivation from his music, books, and merchandise.

Peter's story and talent is the inspiration that fuels Pete's Diary. He is 23 years old and undergone 37 surgeries to correct birth defects due to Goldenhar Syndrome. Peter found his passion for playing guitar at the age of 15 and used it to get through his toughest recoveries. His music is available on all streaming platforms.

FULLAMUSU BANGURA is a writer originally from Washington, D.C. and currently residing in Chicago, Illinois. They are the author of the essay-book “…Considers Lil’ Kim’s Hard Core.” Their work has been published in New Delta Review, Apogee Journal, and Cosmonauts Avenue. Fullamusu is an educator at heart, working in various formal and popular education roles since 2015. In 2020, they were selected as a 2020 Best of the Net Poetry finalist.

LUIS TUBENS, a.k.a “Logan Lu”, was born in Chicago’s West Town neighborhood and raised in Logan Square. In 2014, he earned a B.A. in Communications, media and theater from Northeastern Illinois University. He is the 2017 Artists in Residence at Oak Park Public Library. Luis has performed poetry across the United States including with the GUILD COMPLEX, Tia Chucha Press, and the National Museum of Mexican Art. He has toured Mexico City in 2016 and 2018 presenting his work at the acclaimed “Show Socrates MX” (2016) and the National Book Fair of Leon GTO (2018) and featured in Puerto Rico at “Poets Passage” and “Gathering of Cities” at Libros AC (2019). He has also held workshops for the residents of the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center and students in the Chicago Public Schools. On stage, he has opened for notable acts including Saul Williams and Calle 13. He is the author of Stone Eagle (2017) published by Bobbin Lace Press, Chicago. Currently, Luis is the resident poet for ESSO Afrojam Funkbeat (2016 Best New Band and Best International Music Act, Chicago Reader) and represented Chicago in the 2014 and 2018 National Poetry Slam.