Short Stories

Hello, my name is Safra and I'm a university student at the University of Manitoba. I have been drawing for as long as I can remember, and my favourite mediums to use are copic markers and oil paint. I mainly do anime art, however I am slowly practicing more and more realism, and I am also trying new art mediums to help my expand as an artist. If I'm not doing art in my spare time, then I'm either reading or ice skating. Don't be afraid to reach out to me for any questions :).

I have an eclectic mix of interests reflected both in my personality and work. From Japanese pop culture and history, folklore, gaming, to gothic/cute street fashion and more! If I find it engaging and fun, I want a piece of it; I want my creative practices to be centered on joy!

I was raised on books and visual arts in all their myriad forms. So, of course, that's where my creative outlets flourished! From as early as grade one I was writing and illustrating, surprisingly tragic and dramatic, stories to share with my classmates and teachers.

I have one novel self-published, with more on the way, and several small pieces published in local libraries and such. My inspiration derives from whatever emerges from my head, be it in the form of dreams, random thoughts, or unexpected eureka moments.

Miles S. Crossman is a Brandon, Manitoba based producer, director, and writer who has spent the past several years building film production capacity in rural Canada. He financed and produced two Manitoba-made features, The Farm Hand (2022) and Homesick (2026), and co-produced Heartland Homicide, a 26-episode docuseries, alongside Winnipeg's Farpoint Films, a partnership that grew into writing and story editing credits across more than 250 hours of broadcast true-crime and documentary television. His directorial debut, The Princess & The Dragon (2026), won Best Horror Film at the Liverpool Indie Awards and Best Feature Film at the Bloody Horror International Film Festival. Crossman holds a Master of Arts in Film Studies from Staffordshire University and got his start directing short films and stage productions in Manitoba before moving into series television. He will release his first novel, The Remnant, in 2027, which has already sparked interest in a film adaptation. Miles continues to pursue opportunities that keep production dollars and crews working in rural Canada.

I am Charles- a student leader, writer, and aspiring filmmaker who cares deeply about people, stories, and the impact we leave behind.

I currently serve as President of the Brandon University Students’ Union, where I’ve had the privilege of representing student voices and working to build a more inclusive and supportive campus community. I’m also in my third year studying Computer Science, with a growing interest in the intersection between technology and storytelling

I’m a poet and writer. My first poetry book, “How You Feel” is set to go live on Amazon on the 25th of August 2025 and set to have a book launch at Brandon University on September 25th 2025.

I’ve always believed that my calling is to bring people together and that is what I have set out to do in my first poetry collection. How You Feel’s purpose is to let its reader realize that someone out there- perhaps unknown to them- feels they way that they do.

I am really passionate about writing and acting and directing. Last year I served as a Script Supervisor, and Assistant Stage Manager in a live theatre play titled “Life is Wonderful” at Brandon University. This play was directed by a drama professor and it was a great experience for me. I also played a character named “Charlie” in the play (it was funny because I’m Charles)

I’m also working on a screenplay that explores the complexities of family dynamics. I am looking at the impact on a family whose mother is an alcoholic.

I am looking to be mentored as I believe I have so much to learn. I believe I have the potential to tell powerful stories through poetry, public speaking, film, and screenwriting. I also want to collaborate with others so I can learn more and contribute to their projects as well

S.M. (Samantha Mary) Beiko is an award-winning author of young adult fantasy, and the artist and writer of the graphic novel series KRAMPUS IS MY BOYFRIEND! She has worked in the book publishing industry as an editor and graphic designer since 2010, both freelance as well as for established publishing houses. She has won the Aurora Award for Best Artist multiple times, notably for her covers for Laksa Media.

Beiko's novels have been published by ECW Press in Toronto since 2013. Her first novel, THE LAKE AND THE LIBRARY, was nominated for the Manitoba Book Award that year, while SCION OF THE FOX won the Copper Cylinder Award for science fiction in 2018. She was the co-editor on the original comics anthology GOTHIC TALES OF HAUNTED LOVE (Bedside Press), and the sole editor on its follow up, GOTHIC TALES OF HAUNTED FUTURES. Her current series, The Brindlewatch Quintet, are capsule stories featuring queer characters and cozy monster romance. Her short fiction has been published in the following anthologies: GUSH, THAT WITCH WHISPERS, PARALLEL PRAIRIES, plus a short comic in DIRE BEASTS.

Beiko is also the sole creator (artist and writer) of KRAMPUS IS MY BOYFRIEND!, a slice of life teen romantic comedy which won the 2020 Aurora Award for Best Graphic Novel, and was nominated for the Joe Shuster Award for Best Webcomic that year. It is ongoing and self-published.

Beiko's freelance editorial work covers all aspects of developmental editing for prose fiction. She specializes in science fiction, fantasy, and horror, and also edits and art directs for comics and graphic novels at all stages (from pitch to script to layouts and finals). She has a studio in downtown Winnipeg's Exchange District, and is the Artistic Director for Prairie Comics Festival.