Carmen M. Alex is a scientist, writer and photographer. She is especially concerned with the sustainability of our natural resources and the preservation of wilderness areas in the U.S. and abroad. Alex received a bachelor’s of science in geophysics from UC Santa Barbara and a master’s degree in earth science from UC Santa Cruz. After 20 years working in academia, national labs and, most recently, for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Alex shifted her focus to conservation efforts, such as the restoration of the coral reefs and surrounding marine environment in the Florida Keys, as well as the protection of mineral-rich landscapes of the Colorado Plateau in the southwestern U.S. Through her writing and photography, Alex hopes to highlight the beauty of natural spaces.
Bill Bowers is a freelance writer and editor. He is the author, with his wife Eileen, of “50 Hikes in Central New York’s Leatherstocking Country,” published by W.W. Norton in 2010 and the editor of two recent anthologies, “Great American Ghost Stories” and “Great American Crime Stories,” published by Lyons Press in 2017. A professional copy editor for many years, Bowers specializes in outdoor subjects, and freelances for Fly Fisherman, Covey Rise, Key West and Outdoors Unlimited magazines. A former staff editor at Lyons Press, he also edits book manuscripts on many subjects, including medicine and law textbooks, and trade books on everything from fishing and hunting to gardening and French Renaissance swordsmanship.
Daniella Cressman is a college student double majoring in English and conservation management, at the New Mexico Highlands University. She lives in rural New Mexico with her family, two dogs and two cats. She is a fan of reading and writing. She enjoys books such as “Refuge,” by Terry Tempest Williams and “A Fierce Green Fire,” by Aldo Leopold. During her free time she enjoys kayaking, hiking, bicycling, motorcycling and reading and writing about nature and the environmental issues facing the planet.
Joe Drake is a wildlife biologist, conservationist, and avid outdoor sportsman. He is currently working toward a doctorate in ecology from UMass – Amherst. Whether it’s fly-fishing, upland bird hunting, backpacking or rock climbing, he just likes to be outside. He is also a freelance outdoor writer, science communication blogger and photographer. He hopes to publish in new venues. Find him on Instagram @ fieldbiojoe, Twitter @van_dll and read his blog www. secretlifeofafieldbiologist.wordpress. com. He has two stories in “The Wildlife Confessional: An Anthology of Stories,” coming out later this year.
Candice Horner is a competitive shooter and an avid hunter. Like most professionals in the firearms industry, she has a diverse background. She has worked as an aviation mechanic in the U.S. Marine Corps and as a registered nurse in a federal prison. Horner let passion guide her to pursue a career in writing, photography and editing. After freelancing for several years, Horner became an editor for RECOIL magazine and its specialty publications in September 2017. Horner lives with her husband and daughter in the middle of nowhere in Georgia, where she can shoot out to 500 yards whenever she desires.
Drew YoungeDyke is the Great Lakes Communications Coordinator for the National Wildlife Federation and a freelance outdoor writer. He writes primarily about conservation issues, hunting, fitness and outdoor recreation. His work has been published on the National Wildlife Federation blog, Woods-N-Water News, Michigan Outdoor News and Michigan Outof-Doors. He grew up in Central Lake, northern Michigan, and earned political theory and law degrees from Michigan State University. He lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan, with his wife Michele and spends his free time bowhunting, backpacking, trail running, kayaking, attempting to flyfish and volunteering for Backcountry Hunters & Anglers. ♦