Meet the Board

President - Michelle Aleckson
After growing up on both the east and west coasts and traveling the world, Michelle Sass Aleckson now enjoys living the country life in central Minnesota with her husband and four children. She loves rocking out to 80’s tunes on a Saturday night and playing board games with family and friends. She’s a graduate of Novel Academy’s Storycrafter course, and she won the 2018 Genesis Award for Romantic Suspense and the 2018 Cascade Award for Contemporary Fiction. Look for her debut novel with Sunrise Publishing in 2021. And in the meantime, you can connect with her at michellealeckson.com!
After growing up on both the east and west coasts and traveling the world, Michelle Sass Aleckson now enjoys living the country life in central Minnesota with her husband and four children. She loves rocking out to 80’s tunes on a Saturday night and playing board games with family and friends. She’s a graduate of Novel Academy’s Storycrafter course, and she won the 2018 Genesis Award for Romantic Suspense and the 2018 Cascade Award for Contemporary Fiction. Look for her debut novel with Sunrise Publishing in 2021. And in the meantime, you can connect with her at michellealeckson.com!

Vice President - Patrice Doten
Patrice belongs to that rare and lamentable species of writer known as The Extrovert. Not even earning a Creative Writing degree could cure her of the strong preference for time with people over time alone at her writing desk. After nearly twenty years of crafting and editing stories while working undercover in corporate America, she’s finally pursuing her dreams of publication. A former missionary to Uganda, Patrice is still involved with the operation of the school and children’s ministry she helped plant, and in her free time enjoys reading, traveling, singing at the top of her lungs, and (of course) spending time with her people.
Patrice belongs to that rare and lamentable species of writer known as The Extrovert. Not even earning a Creative Writing degree could cure her of the strong preference for time with people over time alone at her writing desk. After nearly twenty years of crafting and editing stories while working undercover in corporate America, she’s finally pursuing her dreams of publication. A former missionary to Uganda, Patrice is still involved with the operation of the school and children’s ministry she helped plant, and in her free time enjoys reading, traveling, singing at the top of her lungs, and (of course) spending time with her people.

Secretary - Katelyn Raab
As an avid reader, Katelyn discovered her love for writing her own stories at an early age. After writing copy for non-profits, as well as radio and TV commercials for the corporate world, as an adult, she decided to delve more deeply into the world of fiction. She currently focuses on nineteenth century America. Katelyn holds a degree in journalism from the University of Minnesota and is part owner of her family’s industrial footwear business. She lives with her husband and three young daughters.
As an avid reader, Katelyn discovered her love for writing her own stories at an early age. After writing copy for non-profits, as well as radio and TV commercials for the corporate world, as an adult, she decided to delve more deeply into the world of fiction. She currently focuses on nineteenth century America. Katelyn holds a degree in journalism from the University of Minnesota and is part owner of her family’s industrial footwear business. She lives with her husband and three young daughters.
Treasurer - Gao Martell
Gao has combined her childhood love of world building with a passion for praising God through story craft. Her stories retell the miracle that is reconciliation with the Most High and being loved by Him, to embolden the saints to keep our gazes high as we journey on the narrow road laid for us. Brokenness. Roiling evil. Helplessness. Betrayal. Separation. Hope. Rescue. Sacrifice. Ultimate love. Home. Father. All the ingredients for a twisting epic are day to day realities in a Christian life, even while thick mists of present darkness seek to hide us. May tender souls drink a hearty draught of joy and wonder in her work |