Debbie Abbott ~ ANGELS

As Publisher and Editor of Dharma Direction, Debbie uses her extensive experience from the world of magazine publishing to create a unique—no ads, ever—uplifting digital e-zine centered each month around the current zodiac.

Her dream is to inspire and lift hearts with stories of hope, humor, wellness, romance, and fantasy, along with musical and artistic expressions all from kindred spirits on a mission to unleash the Muse that drives their Dharma.

Five years before surviving surgery to remove a Stage II brain tumor in 2010, Debbie saw an angel … glowing on a street corner. The event validated the truth of a greater existence beyond that which the five senses can account for.

Debbie is currently working on her “auto-fiction” debut novel, The Angel Records, which takes a nostalgic journey into how she believes her own childhood was influenced by both light and dark angels.

Colleen Markley ~ HUMOR

Award-winning writer, and recently named Erma Bombeck Writers’ Workshop Humor Writer of the Month, Colleen’s path went through the hallowed studios of Jim Henson Pictures and Thirteen/WNET (NYC’s public television station).

Colleen has enjoyed turning life’s mishaps into memories worth writing about, and finds her friends and family are excellent material.

Her award-winning essay ("Unflappably Calm, Occasionally Furious, Ready and Willing to Hide the Bodies,") was published in an anthology entitled Sisters! Bonded by Love and Laughter.

Colleen’s latest project, Lilith Land, is a story about a pandemic virus and the end of the world where only the women survive. (It’s a novel, not an action plan).

Candy Lesher ~ CULINARY WELLNESS

A veteran Chef, Instructor, Writer and Recipe Innovator, Candy shifted her prestigious food and beverage career into that of Culinary Wellness Coach after a bout with Stage III cancer.

Now, as a Culinary Wellness Coach, she guides those who must adhere to healthier life choices by helping them choose tasty, yet simple substitutes, for the foods they still crave.

Candy is an AZ Culinary Hall of Fame inductee as well as Vice President of the esteemed Les Dame d’Escoffier’s Phoenix (AZ) Chapter. She is also the recipient of a coveted Telly Award, and was host & executive producer of Food & Life Television on Phoenix’s independent station KAZTV.

Mark Abbott ~ CULINARY CRAFT

As a professional chef for over 20 years who cut his culinary teeth at a Five-Star Scottsdale resort, Mark Abbott was a regular contributor to AZ Food & Lifestyle magazine for several years.

Mark was also the host of the “Two Chefs & A Car” segment, which aired locally in Phoenix on the AZ Food & Lifestyle Show.

He is currently pursuing his passion for cooking with fire at Little Miss BBQ in Phoenix, where award-winning brisket is only the beginning of their smoked delights.

L.J. Longo ~ FANTASY ROMANCE

L.J. is an award-winning Romance author, a queer geek and feminist. She writes a medley of dark romance (which can be found through Evernight Publishing), magical realism, weird sci-fi/fantasy, and very implausible creative non-fiction.

"Vita Mia," a romance story about a ghost and a dying woman, appeared in the Autumn 2021 issue of Monologging, an annual online literary magazine and small press.

L.J. has received an Honorable Mention in Writer’s Digest Popular Fiction Awards (Horror, 2019) for her story "Needle and Knife." She was also a Reader's Choice nominee for for "Freeing the Witch" at Evernight Publishing.

Anja Dubberke ~ ENERGY

Someone who has learned to walk the walk is now talking the talk. In the ENERGY column, Anja is turning the toughest parts of her life-experience into the driving force for helping others learn how to overcome the emotional stronghold that our minds have on us all.

Her expertise on why energy is the most important factor in combatting disease and dis-ease in our lives is invaluable. And for those who want to dive deeper into the healing process, Anja is a Certified Practitioner of B.E.S.T.

This Bio-Energetic Synchronization Technique taps into ancient wisdom and energy pathways that, once cleared, can and will change your life in ways traditional medicine never can… by getting to the root of the issue (or should we say “tissue” as in the muscles that harbor lactic acid and other energy blockers).

Hattie Jean Hayes ~ Poet/Author

Hattie Jean Hayes is a writer and comedian, originally from a small town in Missouri, who now lives in NYC. She is Interviews Editor at the word west revue. Her work has appeared in Old Pal Magazine, Janus Literary, The Puritan, and others. Her writing has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net. Hattie completed a SAFTA residency in September 2022, has a poetry chapbook forthcoming from Bullshit Lit in 2023, and is working on her first novel.

You can read Hattie’s newsletter on her new Substack platform that includes weekly lessons about poetry, musings on life, and ill-advised shopping recommendations. You can also connect with @queenhattiejean on Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter.