Our team represents the full spectrum of the writer experience, from established indie authors (including award finalists and winners) to aspiring indies working on their first novel. What we are most importantly is a big bunch of happy nerds who love creativity and sharing stories. We do this because we know being a creative, be it an author, artist, or anything else, isn’t always easy. We’re here for the beginners, the overthinkers, and the imposter syndrome wrestlers. We don’t guarantee you fame, fortune, or success; what we do guarantee is a place to meet like-minded, creative people and hone your craft. It’s a space where it’s okay to be a beginner, and there’s no such thing as a stupid question.
Events, Content & Programming
HL Tinsley (Holly) is an indie author, podcast host, and GM. She is the author of the Vanguard Chronicles series, which includes the SPFBO 7 Finalist novel We Men of Ash and Shadow and its sequel, The Hand that Casts the Bone, along with the standalone fantasy noir, The Hallows. She has been part of several successful anthology projects and works as a lead editor for multiple magazines. When she’s not busy curating everything that runs through Spotlight Indie, she spends her free time running homebrew DnD campaigns and admiring dice.
Host & Guest Management
SFF writer. Part-time robot. Full-time nerd. Frasier Armitage is the author of New Yesterday, Time’s Ellipse, and A Stitch Between Worlds. He won the 2022 Pen To Print Audio Drama Contest with his script for Postcards From Another World. He reads and reviews for FanFiAddict. As well as being the host of our YouTube channel, Frasier’s job is to make sure everyone who visits us has the best experience – from the guests on our channel to the guests at our events. When he’s not writing, you’ll find him with his wife and son, watching Keanu Reeves movies, or noodling on his guitar.
Co-host & Event Trading
Alex S. Bradshaw is the author of gritty, character-driven stories – Windborn, and Trollgrave. He loves epic tales with unforgettable characters. When he’s not writing you can probably find him reading, playing games, or daydreaming about dinosaurs (not necessarily in that order). Alex can often be found hosting and/or co-hosting on our YouTube channel. During our in-person-events, Alex is the one managing our trading and merch spaces, making sure there are lots of great books on sale!
Fundraising and Patreon Management
An author of epic fantasy, Tim grew up living in a house where every available wall was given over to bookshelves. During the 1980s he discovered fantasy writers like JRR Tolkien, Michael Moorcock, Ursula Le Guin, Alan Garner, Stephen Donaldson and Susan Cooper. Those stories led him into the science fiction worlds created by Frank Herbert, Philip K Dick, Arthur C Clarke and HP Lovecraft. Tim recently took on the challenge of managing our fundraising and sponsorship efforts, alongside running the Spotlight Patreon.
Web and Patreon Content
Amber is a podcaster, writer, and dedicated sci-fi enthusiast. She co-hosts the often chaotic yet occasionally insightful Ctrl Alt Critique podcast, alongside two of her long-time friends. Additionally, Amber runs her website, obliviousinsomniac.com, where she shares reviews, think pieces, and short stories. Currently, she is in the process of penning her debut novel, which she hopes to finish someday soon. Amber is part of the Spotlight web team, creating content for our website, monthly newsletter and Patreon.
Web Team and Event Logistics
JM is one of the website team and is a long time homebrew DM and 5e player. Was stunned to receive a personal letter from Terry Pratchett as a child after his mother wrote him a letter wryly complaining that he was a relatively normal child until he started on Mr Pratchett’s books (not true, he was never normal). JM also manages our on-the-day event logistics, making sure everyone is where they need to be! He is currently attempting to navigate his own path through the murky woods of writing his own first book (albeit slowly).
Friends of Spotlight Indie (Honorable Mention)
They might not be part of the permanent Spotlight Team, but they’re familiar faces on the channel and at our events – you can find us hanging out with The Four Beardsmen of the Bookpocalypse pretty regularly. You can check out their videos, chats and RPGs on their YouTube channel.
To find out about what we’ve got coming up, our events and new content, you can subscribe to our monthly newsletter. We promise not to spam you – only to send you cool book and writing related stuff!
If you’d like lots of extra indie goodness, our members only Patreon page will be launching in the new year! Not only will it offer great behind-the-scenes bonus stuff, it will also help fund our author events!
Spotlight Indie 