Bards and Sages Publishing began in 2002 with the launch of our annual charity writing competition. In 2004, we released our first roleplaying game, the Neiyar: Land of Heaven and the Abyss campaign setting and the short story collection September and Other Stories. Since those humble, stumbling beginnings, we've grown into a unique micro press that continues to produce a wide variety of speculative fiction and roleplaying game materials. 

Julie Ann Dawson, Owner

Julie Ann Dawson is an author, editor, publisher, RPG designer, and advocate for writers who may occasionally require the services of someone with access to Force Lightning (and in case it was not obvious, a bit of a geek).Julie began publishing professionally while attending college at Rowan University, where she earned her English, Liberal Arts degree. Besides operating Bards and Sages, she also serves as a volunteer judge for the IBPA's Benjamin Franklin Awards and is as a regular reviewer through NetGalley.

Julie Hedge, Assistant Editor

The "Evil Twin" of Bards and Sages (though there is often some confusion regarding which "Julie" is, in fact, the evil one), Julie Hedge studied Education at Atlantic Cape Community College and has been activity involved in the gaming community running LARPs and other events at various conventions. She is our lead copy editor and proofreader. She is available to provide proofreading services to indie authors. Please use our Contact Us form if you are interested in hiring Julie.

Brian Koukol, Publishing Assistant

Brian Koukol, raised in the suburbs of Los Angeles, now makes his home among the salt breezes and open spaces of San Luis Obispo County on California’s Central Coast. A lifelong battle with muscular dystrophy has informed the majority of his fiction, which is written with the aid of voice recognition software.

Despite his challenges, Brian maintains an adventurous spirit, a wicked sense of humor, and a willingness to delve into the darker sides of the human experience with his work. There is no genre he won’t explore, but science fiction remains a lifelong favorite.

Lance Schonberg, Publishing Assistant

Lance Schonberg is both surprised and pleased to serve Bards and Sages as a Publishing Assistant, seeing all kinds of great adventures ahead.

Eclectic, and occasionally published, genre fiction writer, Lance also answers to the titles of husband, father, wandering ninja, geek, and menagerie inmate (currently sharing living space with various teenagers, mammals, reptiles, and denizens of the deep). Look for WritingDad on social media, and you’ll probably find him.

He’d also like to remind you that, logically, no day is complete without a Star Trek reference.

Samantha Payne, Publishing Assistant

Samantha Payne has a BA in English from Northern Arizona University and is currently working toward her MFA in Creative Writing. Her new adult romance Maleficium was recently published by Cobblestone Press. When not writing, Samantha spends her time enjoying manga, playing MMOs, drawing, and crafts.