Nicole Givens Kurtz is an author, editor, and educator. She’s the recipient of the Ladies of Horror Grant (2021), the Horror Writers Association’s Diversity Grant (2020) and the two-time Atomacon Palmetto Scribe Award Winner (2021 and 2022). She’s a Bram Stoker finalist for her contribution to Sycorax’s Daughters. She’s also the editor of the groundbreaking anthology, SLAY: Stories of the Vampire Noire.  She’s written for White Wolf,  The Realm’s The Vela: Salvation series, and Baen. Nicole has over 50 short stories published as well as numerous novels and three active speculative mystery series. She enjoys reading scary stories and watching true crime.