The White Guy Dies First

TERRY J. BENTON-WALKER grew up in rural Georgia and now lives in Atlanta with his son, where he writes fantasy and horror for adults, young adults, and children. He has an industrial engineering degree from Georgia Tech and an MBA from Georgia State. When he’s not writing, he can be found gaming, eating ice cream, or both. The White Guy Dies First is his first anthology. Benton-Walker is also the author of Blood Debts and Blood Justice for teens and Alex Wise vs. the End of the World for middle-grade readers.

Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé is the instant New York Times, International bestselling, & award-winning author of Ace of Spades, Where Sleeping Girls Lie, and Four Eids and a Funeral. She has also written stories for Marvel’s Spider-Verse and BBC’s Doctor Who. Faridah is an avid tea drinker, a collector of strange mugs, and a graduate from a university in Scotland where she received a BA in English Literature. She also has an MA in Shakespeare Studies from Kings College London. When she isn’t spinning dark tales, Faridah can be found examining the deeper meanings in Disney channel original movies.

Kendare Blake is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of sixteen novels, including the Three Dark Crowns series. She holds an MA in creative writing from Middlesex University in northern London. Her books have been translated into over twenty languages, have been featured on multiple best-of-year lists, and have received many regional and librarian awards. Kendare lives and writes in Gig Harbor, Washington. Visit her online at www.kendareblake.com.

H.E. Edgmon did not sleep for several years and is now the award winning author of copious novels and short stories for tweens, teens, and adults. Across genres, their work prioritizes the righteous rage of survivors, the sanctity of queer love in all its forms, and an unkillable hope for an Indigenous future. They live on the ancestral lands of the Suquamish Tribe, surrounded by chosen family and giant dogs.

Lamar Giles writes for teens and adults. He is the author of the Edgar Award finalists Fake ID and Endangered as well as the critically acclaimed Overturned, Spin, and The Last Last-Day-of-Summer. He is a founding member of We Need Diverse Books and resides in Virginia. Visit him online at lamargiles.com.

Tiffany D. Jackson is the New York Times bestselling author of Allegedly, Monday's Not Coming, Let Me Hear a Rhyme, Grown, White Smoke, The Weight of Blood, and The Scammer. A Margaret A. Edwards Award and Coretta Scott King–John Steptoe New Talent Award winner, the Brooklyn native is splitting her time between the South and the borough she loves. You can visit her at writeinbk.com

Adiba Jaigirdar is the author of The Henna Wars and Hani and Ishu’s Guide to Fake Dating. A Bangladeshi/Irish writer and teacher, she has an MA in post­colonial studies from the University of Kent, England, and a BA in English and history from UCD, Ireland. All her writing is aided by tea and a healthy dose of Janelle Monáe and Hayley Kiyoko. When not writing, she is probably ranting about the ills of colonialism, playing video games, or expanding her overflowing lipstick collection. She can be found at www.adibajaigirdar.com.

Markowitz Award–winning and Astounding Award-nominated author Naseem Jamnia (they/them) writes speculative fiction for adults, teens, and kids. Their adult fantasy novella The Bruising of Qilwa was nominated for the Crawford, Locus, and World Fantasy awards, and they contributed to the YA horror anthology The White Guy Dies First: 13 Scary Stories of Fear and Power. A Persian-Chicagoan, former neuroscientist, and current educator and pro-library activist, Naseem currently lives outside Reno, Nevada, with their husband and four furred creatures. The Glade (May 27, 2025, Aladdin, SimonKIDS) is their middle-grade debut. Find out more at NaseemWrites.com, and join their newsletter NaseemWrites.Kit.Com/SignUp.

Born and raised in the rural South, Karen Strong spent most of her childhood wandering the woods, meadows, and gardens on her grandmother’s land. She developed a deep adoration of books from her weekly visits to the public library. A graduate of the University of Georgia, she is an advocate of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). An avid lover of strong coffee, yellow flowers, and night skies, Karen currently lives in Atlanta. You can find her online at Karen-Strong.com.

Mark Oshiro is the award-winning author of the young adult books Anger Is a Gift (Schneider Family Book Award) and Each of Us a Desert as well as their middle grade debut, The Insiders. They are also the coauthor (with Rick Riordan) of the #1 New York Times bestselling novel The Sun and the Star. When not writing, they are trying to pet every dog in the world. Visit them online at markoshiro.com.