Mystic Ink Publishing Voices of the Masters Series - Santa Barbara Writers Conference 2024 - Nonfiction Panel
Matthew J. Pallamary, moderator, is an award-winning writer, musician, and sound healer who’s been studying shamanism all his life. He has books covering several genres. His latest story collection is The Thinning Veil: 13 Twisted Tales. He explores how art imitates life and reflects our human condition.
G. Brian Kurtz is an intuitively-guided medical empath, energy healer and author of Access the Real You: Touching Your Divinity and Applying its Wisdom to Your Life. As a speaker and teacher, he has brought his message to more than 2,500 people from six countries. He lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he works with groups and individuals toward personal growth and healing.
Kelly Giles obtained his Juris Doctor Degree from Pepperdine University School of Law. He practiced U.S. immigration law for twenty-three years and continues to practice Canadian immigration law. He’s written a trilogy of poetry books. Killing Justice is his debut memoir. He currently lives in Culver City, California. He’s passionate about raising awareness about mental illness and the criminal justice system and encouraging others on their healing journey, especially through the arts.
Lorissa Rinehart is an author, cultural producer, and public speaker. Her writing explores women’s history, politics, war, and their points of intersection. Her debut book, First to the Front: The Untold Story of Dickey Chapelle, Trailblazing Female War Correspondent (St. Martin’s Press) has received rave reviews. She’s a TEDx speaker who’s appeared at the National Press Club, Friends of the National World War II Memorial, the Women’s National Press Club, and the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation among other prestigious organizations. She’s been featured on numerous podcasts.
Marianne Dougherty whose latest is Dye: a memoir of art, music, faith, family and hair color, based on the life of celebrity hairdresser Brad Johns, is an award-winning writer and former beauty editor and publisher. In 2017 she received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Beauty Bus Foundation, which provides grooming services to seriously ill people and their caregivers. In 2019 and 2022, she was a finalist for a Golden Quill Award for journalistic excellence. She lives in Santa Barbara and is author of the novel, What We Remember.
Diana Raab MFA, PhD, is an award-winning memoirist, poet, and thought leader. She’s been writing personal stories and memoir for more than 5 decades. She’s author of 14 books, including 3 memoirs. Her latest, Hummingbird: Messages from My Ancestors, a memoir, has writing and reflection prompts. She speaks and writes about writing for healing and transformation. Many of her talks are based on her books, Writing for Bliss: A Seven-Step Plan for Telling Your Story and Transforming Your Life, and Writing for Bliss: A Companion Journal.
