Meet the Team


			Aaron
			Location: Iowa, USA About Aaron: Aaron is currently immersing himself in the life of a college student with a major in English. To go along with this, he is entertaining the fantasy (and working toward the reality) of one day ascending to great fame and glory by becoming a published author. He is obsessed with movies and desperately in love with books (and feels most at home when snuggled between the shelves of a bookstore). Aaron is also extremely proud to be a nerd, and so therefore isn’t ashamed to admit that he doesn’t get out much. He spends his free time unintentionally growing a beard. What he finds important in a novel: Characters, Setting, Writing Style, Creativity. Favorite Fantasy Authors: George R.R. Martin, Patrick Rothfuss, Steven Erikson, Brent Weeks, Neil Gaiman, Brandon Sanderson. Favorite Fantasy Sub-Genres: Dark Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, Low Fantasy, Magic Realism, Sword & Sorcery, Heroic Fantasy, Adventure.
			Aaron is a regular reviewer. You can read his reviews here.


			Cameron
			Location: Cincinnati, Ohio About Cameron: Many people think the old adage of being born a nerd is hyperbole, but if they met me, they would know it was true. I have been an avid reader of fantasy for many years now. While most college students find partying to be fun, I typically like being lost in the pages of a book instead. I also enjoy playing a copious amount of video games, and watching a lot of anime. What he finds important in a novel: Strong characters are the reason that I continue to read a novel. If the characters are badly characterized, then I will most likely drop the book. Interesting magic systems also are a huge positive. Favorite Fantasy Authors: Brandon Sanderson, Jim Butcher, Guy Gavriel Kay, Patrick Rothfuss, Joe Abercrombie, Mark Lawrence, C.S Friedman, J.R.R. Tolkien, Brent Weeks, and Steven Erickson. Favorite Fantasy Sub-Genres: Epic, Urban, Dark, and Sword and Sorcery.
			Cameron is a regular reviewer. You can read his reviews here.


			Dan
			Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada About Dan: Dan is a History and Philosophy graduate from Laurentian University. When he’s not reading an excessive amount of fantasy and sci-fi novels, or putting way too much time into online gaming and forums, he runs a Wine Shop in the north end of Toronto Ontario. A lifelong fantasy reader, and gamer nerd, Dan’s life ambition is to become a librarian. What he finds important in a novel: Setting, Presentation, Background, Premise. Favorite Fantasy Authors: Guy Gavriel Kay, Terry Pratchett, Patrick Rothfuss, Robert Jordan, Jim Butcher, Mercedes Lackey, Tanya Huff, Ed Greenwood. Favorite Fantasy Sub-Genres: Epic Fantasy, High Fantasy, Adventure, Dark fantasy.
			Dan is our team philosopher. As such, his articles are always intriguing to read. Oh, and he reviews regularly as well. You can find his articles and reviews here.


			Garrett
			Location: Virginia, USA About Garrett: As an avid musician, gamer, and reader, Garrett is an accompanist by night and an all-around nerd by day. And vice versa. Other hobbies include ultimate frisbee, RPGs (both on and off the table), and lurking various forums (just waiting for the right thread to pounce on). He is also a Disciple of the Snark, inserting the occasional witty comment into conversation. He has recently realized that his life really can be defined by Billy Joel’s music. What he finds important in a novel: Writing Style, Pacing, Premise, Creativity, Predictability. Favorite Fantasy Authors: Jim Butcher, R.A. Salvatore, Kevin Hearne, Kat Richardson, Tom Sniegoski. Favorite Fantasy Sub-Genres: Urban Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, Sword and Sorcery.
			Garrett is our superstar writer and editor. He’s also our team’s urban fantasy guru. Read all Garrett’s articles and reviews here.


			Janea
			Location: Michigan, USA About Janea: Janea is an avid fantasy reader who after college inexplicably found herself working in a library. She was the only one surprised by this strange turn of events. When not surrounded by books, she enjoys working on her own fantastical fiction (thereby restoring order to her universe by having a book nearby), as well as making music (clarinet, vocals, renaissance recorder), cooking, and honing various skills made obsolete by the industrial revolution. What she find important in a novel: Relatable and multi-dimensional characters, internally consistent and well executed world building, and a clear writing style. Favorite Fantasy Authors: While she hates picking favorites (There are so many! How to choose just a few?), authors who’s work she consistently enjoys are (in no particular order) Jim Butcher, Sherwood Smith, Cherie Priest, Kristen Britain, Sarah Monette, Brent Weeks, Mercedes Lackey, Sharon Shinn, and many many more. Favorite Fantasy Sub-Genres: As you can see from the above list, Janea likes epic fantasy, urban fantasy, steampunk, and just about anything else out there. Really, why chose a few when you can choose them all?
			Janea is a regular reviewer and the writer of the Beyond the Page column. You can read all of her reviews and articles here.


			Magen
			Location: Texas, USA About Magen: Magen is twenty-six years old and has been a professional bookseller for eight of those years. She is completely obsessed with books and cannot imagine having at least one book on her person at all times, although it takes a pretty compelling read to pass what she calls the Worth Lugging Around Test. She is an incurable optimist who absolutely loves learning new things and often amuses those nearby with her unbridled enthusiasm. When she isn’t gushing over some wonderful book or another at work, she can be found playing hermit, reading, writing, and unintentionally surrendering hours of her life to things like Tumblr and Pinterest. Favorite Fantasy Authors: Simon R. Green, Robin McKinley, Patrick Rothfuss, Neil Gaiman, J. R. R. Tolkien, Peter S. Beagle, Alfred Bester, H. P. Lovecraft, Orson Scott Card, Rob Thurman, William Goldman, and Tamora Pierce. Favorite Fantasy Sub-Genres: Magen is absolutely terrible at defining any given genre, but it’s generally safe to say that she enjoys Dark Fantasy/Horror, High Fantasy, Sword & Sorcery, Urban Fantasy, Comic Fantasy and anything in between. What she finds important in a novel: Catch her eye with an intriguing premise and then keep her attention with fleshed-out characters in a well-built world, throw in an unpredictable plot and a few clever turns of phrase and Magen couldn’t be happier.
			Magen is an editor. She rights all our wrongs.


			Rebecca
			Location: Salt Lake City, Utah, USA About Rebecca: Rebecca, a 25-year-old from Arizona, is a born bibliophile and wordsmith. She began “reading” books out loud at 1 ½ years old, and was really reading and writing by the age of 3. By age 12, she knew she wanted to be an author. Since high school, she has been the go-to girl for all her friends’ essay editing needs. When Rebecca isn’t busy at work or editing articles for RD, she enjoys Skyping with Stephan, planning for their wedding, and reading fantasy and occasionally science fiction. She also sometimes plays video games. She currently works providing relay calls for deaf and hard of hearing people. What she finds important in a novel: Rebecca isn’t usually a picky reader. She’ll lose interest in a book if too many factors are weak, but as long as the overall product is strong, individual factors don’t matter as much. Favorite Fantasy Authors: Rebecca’s ultimate favorite author is Brandon Sanderson. She also quite likes Timothy Zahn, Jane Lindskold, Tamora Pierce, Sharon Shinn, and Shanna Swendson. Favorite Fantasy Sub-Genres: Rebecca enjoys many sub-genres, including epic or high fantasy, low fantasy, magic realism, mythic, sword and sorcery, heroic fantasy, adventure, science fantasy, and young adult.
			Rebecca is our most fervent editor. She also writes now and then. Read those writings here.


			Stephan
			Location: Soest, The Netherlands About Stephan: A 26 year-old Communications student, Stephan loves publicity and design, particularly web design. When he’s not designing websites, he’s busy being a total geek for fantasy. In The Ranting Dragon, he has found a way to combine these passions and discover a new love for writing too. Most of all, though, Stephan is just a crazy Dutch guy who enjoys doing things that people don’t expect. He has a lot of bad habits, the least of which is going to bed at 5 AM night after night because he enjoys talking to his American fellow reviewers and editor fiancée Rebecca. What he finds important in a novel: A believable, well-conceived world and magic system, fleshed out characters who feel like individuals, an original premise. Favorite Fantasy Authors: Brandon Sanderson, Patrick Rothfuss, Brent Weeks, Stephen Deas, Peter V. Brett, Mazarkis Williams, Mark Lawrence, and N.K. Jemisin. Favorite Fantasy Sub-Genres: Epic, Dark, Heroic, Science, and Postmodern Fantasy, as well as some Steampunk every now and then.
			Stephan is the ~~evil overlord~~ editor-in-chief and a regular writer of The Ranting Dragon. Read his writings here.