Discover the Next Generation of Christian Storytellers…
Featuring Julia Dunt
Julia Dunt writes science fiction that blends mystery, wonder, and horror, exploring what happens when ordinary people confront the unknown. Drawn from an early age to stories that asked big questions and ventured beyond the familiar, she now creates immersive worlds filled with hidden truths, impossible challenges, and a lingering sense of wonder. Julia is a student at The Author Conservatory and was a semi-finalist for the 2024 Aurora Award. When she isn’t writing, she develops library programs, works with writers through StoryLab, and helps connect people with stories and ideas that inspire curiosity. Her goal is to create books that stay with readers long after the final page.
Find Her on the Web
About Her Short Story
The Van Meter Visitor by Julia Dunt
Eleven-year-old Britt is determined to prove Van Meter’s infamous monster doesn’t exist. So when Will Carter, the most annoying boy in her class, dares her to sneak into the abandoned mine where the creature was supposedly trapped nearly a century earlier, she accepts—determined to prove him wrong. On Halloween night in 1997, Britt and her friend venture inside with a camera, expecting nothing more than an eerie adventure and proof that the old legend is just a story.
But when they approach the mine, Britt discovers the legend is terrifyingly real—and realizes she has released the very monster she was so sure didn’t exist. Now she must face the creature and the consequences of what she’s done. Can Britt find the courage to stop the monster, or will it destroy the town?
Her Accomplishments
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Semifinalist in the Realm Makers Aurora Contest (2024).
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Graduate of the Author Conservatory.
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Led community writing groups for over ten years.
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An organizer of the Des Moines Public Library statewide writing contest.
Meet the 11 other authors in the anthology!
tabitha Lyon
A.D. Garcia
Cheyenne Thornton
allie jo andersen
abigail ellison
sarah rye
kirsten L. Pierce
lucy peterson
hannah r. smith
karrissa zanett
mia katherine
Support the next generation of writers
100% of the proceeds from this anthology go toward helping up-and-coming writers achieve their goals, such as attending writing conferences where they can pitch their work to agents and publishers.
About the Author Conservatory
Conservatory, noun: “A school specializing in one of the fine arts.”
The Author Conservatory is an online apprenticeship-modeled program that teaches students the writing & business skills they need to get published and support themselves financially.
