Van Essler is a storyteller and poet with an MFA in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University. Essler uses her lyrical voice to craft cross-genre fiction, blending horror, sci-fi, and fantasy with a dark political edge.

Essler’s love of story started at a young age with her introduction to Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, which inspired her to stay up far past bedtime writing her own spooky stories. This late-night tinkering grew into an art form.

Essler received the Founder’s Award from the Professional Writers of Prescott for her short story “The Photograph.” That and other works of short fiction led to publications in Story Emporium Magazine, Zimbell House anthologies, and Like Sunshine After Rain. Currently, Essler is working on novel-length cross-genre works with a dark flavor.

When she isn’t reading, writing, or researching for her next book, Essler enjoys experimenting with new recipes (with hit or miss results), yoga, and afternoon cat naps. She collects tarot card decks and has been known to give a reading or two. She would rather plan a dream vacation than do the dishes. Residing in the Seattle area, she is always striving to take her coffee obsession to the next level. Essler’s a Pisces, foodie, and pluviophile. Find her on Instagram at VanPunkAuthor.