About Us

Sally 'Qwill' Janin
Founder and Editor-in-Chief

I founded The Qwillery, on October 1, 2008 as a place to chat about things in general. By the middle of 2010 I realized what I like to talk about most is books - speculative fiction books! I am a non-practicing attorney having practiced IP and Telecommunications and Securites Law. I've been reading genre fiction since my brother hooked me on The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction and H.P. Lovecraft when I was a pre-teen. With addition of reviewers, I've become the Editor in Chief of The Qwillery as well as a writer and reviewer.

Some of my favorite early reads, in addition to Lovecraft, were William Tenn, Thomas Burnett Swan, Frank Herbert, Isaac Asimov, Anne McCaffrey, and Robert A. Heinlein to name just a few. One of my favorite book series of all time is the Austra Vampire series by Elaine Bergstrom. My favorite SF movie is The Day the Earth Stood Still (the original; not the awful remake) and I am a huge Doctor Who fan.

I live in New England, with my two kids (one of whom is a Whovian), seven geckos, and more (print) books than I actually have room for.

You can find Sally on Twitter @QQwill and Facebook at The Qwillery page.  You can also follow The Qwillery announcement list on Twitter: @Qwillery.

Trinitytwo aka Tracey Maknis
Editor and Reviewer

I have enjoyed a satisfying love affair with literature since I was a girl. It all started when Dorothy Gale, Lucy Pevensie, Nancy Drew, then later Paul Atreides, Pug of Midkemia, Bilbo Baggins, and Sherlock Holmes became some of my favorite companions. My relief was immeasurable to have my two children develop literary relationships with dragons, wizards, hobbits and kaiju. I revel in walking on the path less traveled. I am somewhat of a movie buff and keeper of a large quantity of useless information. I am a huge New York Giants fan: Go Big Blue! I look forward to heading into Manhattan for a day of adventure or driving to the Rhode Island beaches to chill to the sounds of the ocean. I love talking genre fiction and was so glad to meet Sally at the local Dunkin' Donuts and discover a shared love of all things science fiction and fantasy. Our book chats led to my becoming a reviewer for The Qwillery and I am excited and honored to be a part of her blog.

Chat with TrinitytwoTQ on Twitter @trinitytwoTQ

Melanie Sanderson
Reviewer

I am Canadian living in the UK reviewing for an American blog. Confusing? I also work in IT but love to bake, knit, crochet and weave….when I am not reading, of course. I am a voracious reader and have been gobbling down books since I was a little girl….many, many years ago. I am pretty lucky that I get to share my views every week in Melanie’s Week in Review and a couple of times a month in full reviews.

Its only been a few years since I discovered fantasy and fell in love with the genre through Tigana by Guy Gavriel Kay. I moved onto loving most Urban Fantasy, some PNR but only if the heroine can stick up for herself and enjoy watching Science Fiction more than reading it. I also really enjoy steampunk and some young adult authors. The only plus side of a 2 hour commute to work is that I get a lot of uninterrupted reading time and through The Qwillery I am lucky to have the opportunity to enjoy some truly excellent books.

I hate to play favourites but favourite authors include my fellow Candians – Guy Gavriel Kay, Tanya Huff and Kelley Armstrong plus Ilona Andrews, Philippa Ballantine, Patricia Briggs, Chris F.Holm, Seanan McGuire, her alter ego Mira Grant, Lois McMaster Bujold and finally, I love all things by Michael J. Sullivan. I could go on and on.

Melanie would love to hear from you: Twitter - @mellidrama  ~  Goodreads

Jennifer Dean
Reviewer

I'm a New Englander, born and bred and can't conceive of living anywhere that doesn't have 4 distinct seasons (autumn is my favorite). I'm happily married and am a stay-at-home mom of two, a boy and a girl with a 16 year age gap, so I’m enjoying parenting a teenager and a toddler at the same time. I inherited my love of reading from both of my parents and especially my late maternal grandmother, who was such a frequent visitor to our local library that they handpicked books to send to her on a weekly basis once she became housebound. I am definitely an eclectic reader and love many different genres of fiction, reading both paper and ebooks. If I read nonfiction, I do so using audiobooks. Some of my all time favorite book are To Kill a Mockingbird, The Westing Game, and Pride and Prejudice. My current favorite favorites are The Night Circus, the Caraval Series, the A Court of Thorns and Roses Series. In addition to reading, which will always be my first love, I’m a true book nerd at heart, I am a paper planner and enjoy going to Planner Meetups and Conferences, and have a love of all things Harry Potter. It should come as no surprise that I am a proud Ravenclaw!

Find Jennifer on Instagram www.instagram.com/literary.jenndee73

Deb Bazinet
Reviewer

My older brothers inadvertently hooked me on the horror genre at a very young age. When our parents went out Saturday nights and the boys were left in charge, Chiller Theater’s monster and sci-fi movies were their first order of business. Then there was that tattered copy of Stephen King’s “Carrie,” quietly passed around among my friends in junior high. And in high school, an English class called “Fantasy and Mystery” broadened my genre horizons and introduced me to Richard Adams, Agatha Christie, and Edgar Allan Poe. It also opened my eyes to the subtle meanings in Lewis Carroll’s work, particularly with my beloved Alice and all of her adventures.

Since then, I’ve developed a fondness for gothic fiction and authors like Daphne du Maurier, Henry James, the Brontë sisters and, more recently, Patrick McGrath. I don’t need happily ever after; I’m satisfied with a little dismal atmosphere and maybe a day or two of looking over my shoulder every time a floorboard creaks.

I’m a native New Englander, and when I’m not reading, I’m writing, sketching, poking around in New York City, or tending to my shameless Pinterest addiction.

Chat with Deb on Twitter @contrariwise

Stacey Cypher
Reviewer

Stacey is an avid reader and was lucky enough to meet Qwill at the local B&N. While she would be quite content to read all day in the sunshine, she is sadly forced to work. Stacey grew up reading the classics and will gladly devour any book she can get her hands on. She lives with her three dogs and ton of books and sporadically works in her garden. Autumn is her favorite time of year and her favorite authors are the ones that can make her laugh suddenly and loudly (Jim Butcher, Kevin Hearne, and Jasper Fforde specifically.)

Find Stacey on Twitter: @StaceyCypher

Doreen
Reviewer

I began reading Fantasy and Science Fiction when I was 12 and discovered Andre Norton, J.R.R. Tolkein, Isaac Asimov, and Anne McCaffery. Since then, I’ve evolved with the genre, expanding into Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Fantasy, Horror, Paranormal Mystery, and many other genres. I have two children, three grandchildren, and two Cocker Spaniels. I spend most of my time on my computer writing or reading two or three novels at the same time.

Former Reviewers

Brandon
Reviewer

Ever since The Black Cauldron I have been saved by the medicine that is speculative fiction. I feel like I spent a big portion of my childhood riding my bike back and forth to the library with siblings or friends and bringing home a stack of books. There are relatively few genres I haven’t at least tried to read, but I always return to science fiction and fantasy. In my heart of hearts I’m a lifelong learner and fascinated by people and cultures and what better way to sink into these than to experience a whole new world and life as a series of letters turned into a mental movie.

I’ve spent most of my time in Missouri and Florida, but having also lived in Kentucky, Hawaii, and now Oregon I like to think I’ve seen some of my own adventures. In my Clark Kent persona I’m a human resources professional, but my heart is in books. I hope to someday merge the two adventures into one, but for now I am content to mine dusty stacks of science fiction, fantasy, history, folklore, and science with my partner and our two loaf shaped cats.

Find me on Twitter @bmcrew2

Brannigan Cheney
Reviewer

I have seen the light and moved to Texas. Austin, TX that is. I'm enjoying life down in the hot hill country and look forward to uncovering all the hidden secrets of the Bear King. When not doing that, I'm taking care of two kids and trying to stay sane. In the few spare moments I find in my day, I enjoy reading and writing. I have a B.A. in History and a Master's degree in Library Science and Information Technology--does that make me a scientist? Yes, yes it does. In fact, I experiment with my reading choices and travel wide and far for obscure titles. I do all of this for myself, but I will play it off as if I'm sacrificing my time and money for you. Some of my greatest accomplishments are: never breaking a bone (which doesn't sound impressive, but I've done some stupid stuff), getting in a fight with an alligator and walking away with all my limbs, holding my breath for a little over 30 seconds, repelling off of a 300 foot cliff, never being hit in dodge ball, and blowing three bubbles inside of each other with one stick of gum.

Find Brannigan on Twitter: @brannigancheney