Christopher Gerrib

Chris Gerrib has wanted to be a writer since he was a child riding his bicycle to the library in the small Central Illinois town where he grew up.  Since then he spent a tour in the US Navy, got an MBA, and now has a day job with a multi-national software company as a Project Manager.  For fun, he plays golf, travels and is a voracious reader.  He lives in the Chicago suburbs and is active in his local Rotary Club.  He’s had four science fiction novels published, and his first suspense thriller, Strawberry Gold, was recently favorably reviewed by Publisher’s Weekly. 

Learn more at https://privatemarsrocket.net.

Patricia Motto

Patricia Motto’s first published work appeared in the Byford Booster when, at age six, she wowed her teacher with two complete correctly punctuated sentences. Since then she has, at various times, taught composition at the college level, made sort of a living as a freelance writer and, because she is fond of nice meals out, became an attorney specializing in sexual harassment.

Her plays have been produced by, among others, the Open Door Playhouse in LA, The Springline Radio Players of Oxford, England and the Arizona Woman’s Theatre.

Pat’s memoir, “To the Men I’ve Loved (God Help Them)” was recently released by Eckhartz Press. She is currently working on a young adult novel.

Pat lives happily with her shelter dog, Fosse, in Elmhurst where she also choreographs for, and dances with, the Tree Town Tappers.

Ellen Jo Ljung

Illinois Master Teacher Ellen Jo Ljung spent nearly four decades teaching and learning from her students. She taught middle school, high school, and other teachers in three different states as her family moved. Author of two textbooks on teaching writing with computers and more than two dozen articles, Ljung also maintains an education blog. Her latest novel, Caught in the Crossfire, is about a teacher chafing under micromanagement in Texas. A trailblazer in Problem-Based Learning, Ljung developed and taught a course that became a model for a state innovation program. She wrote many of the professional development materials for that program and for Teacher-Match. 

Ljung also helped bring Gay/Straight Alliances to her school district and is a co-founder of the Illinois Safe Schools Alliance. When she isn’t busy reading and writing in her home office, Ljung and her husband of 54 years create art glass sold in galleries and travel the world to kayak. They’ve kayaked on five continents, from Alaska to Africa to Asia. She is also a Court Appointed Special Advocate/Guardian in foster care and a political activist. In her spare time (isn’t sleep overrated?!), Ljung creates wearable art. You can read her blog at http://www.imwriter.com and reach her at imwriter@imwriter.com.

David W. Berner

David W. Berner’s memoirs and novels have been honored by the Chicago Writers Association, the Eric Hoffer Awards, and the National Association of Independent Writers and Editors to name a few. 

His short stories, essays, and poetry have been published in several publications, including the Chicago Tribune, Southword (the Munster Literature Centre in Ireland), Write Launch, Beyond Words, and others. 

David’s first poetry collection, GARDEN TOOLS from Finishing Line Press was released in October of 2025.

He’s been honored as the Writer-in-Residence at the Jack Kerouac Project and at the Ernest Hemingway Birthplace Home and Museum.

Learn more at https://www.davidwberner.com.