DIANNE PEARCE, MA, MFA

Dianne Pearce is an award-winning author, editor, writing coach, and publisher who has helped hundreds of authors achieve their publication goals. Recognized by organizations including The National Council of Teachers of English and The Delaware Press Association, Dianne has over 20 years of experience teaching creative writing at colleges across the country. She holds an MA from West Chester University and an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts, where she was mentored by acclaimed authors such as Juan Felipe Herrara and Sydney Lea.

In 2014, Dianne founded The Milton Workshop, a bi-monthly group that nurtured a team of local authors and led to the publication of multiple novels and collections. She cofounded Devil’s Party Press, an award-winning independent publishing house specializing in authors over forty, and the award-winning digital lit magazine, Instant Noodles, dedicated to recognizing exceptional short-form writing. In 2022, she created Old Scratch Press, a poetry collective whose team aims to support poets and short-form authors while expanding opportunities for new voices in these genres.

Dianne is also a columnist at Authors Electric and has been a featured speaker at major writing events, including the Atlanta Writers Conference and the Bay to Ocean Conference. A lover of editing, she excels at helping authors hone their voice, strengthen their manuscripts, and bring their visions to life. Dianne’s favorite authors include Tom Robbins and Walter Mosley, and she finds joy in fostering creativity and helping writers achieve their publishing dreams.

DAVID YURKOVICH, MBA

David Yurkovich, co-founder of Current Words, is an award-winning author, illustrator, and editor with over 25 years of experience working with Lippincott, Hearst, and Reedsy. He holds a BA from the University of Pittsburgh and an MBA from Wilmington University.

David began his career by writing and illustrating graphic novels, including Death by Chocolate, which received a Xeric Foundation grant, and the alternative superhero team book, Less Than Heroes, published by Top Shelf Productions. His works are known for their wry takes on the superhero team genre. He also created Altercations, a full-color graphic novel exploring pivotal super-human conflicts through the 20th century, and Mantlo: A Life in Comics, a benefit project for Marvel legend Bill Mantlo.

David has authored the novels Glass Onion and Banana Seat Summer, has recently completed his third novel, New Santa | Crimson Red (2026); and a graphic novella, White Van Theory (2026). He currently has two novels and an additional graphic novella in progress. A Delaware Division of the Arts grant recipient, his favorite genres are sci-fi, horror, and nonfiction. Influences include Harlan Ellison, Ray Bradbury, Annie Jacobsen, and Adam Higginbotham.

As co-founder of Devil’s Party Press and Current Words Publishing, David has designed award-winning book covers and trailers. He collaborates closely with authors to ensure they are part of the team, and that their books are error-free, attractively designed, and ready to share with the world.

Learn more about David.