Something More Substantial

Jann Rowland is a Canadian, born and bred. Other than a two-year span in which he lived in Japan, he has been a resident of the Great White North his entire life, though he professes to still hate the winters. Though Jann did not start writing until his mid-twenties, writing has grown from a hobby to an all-consuming passion. His interests as a child were almost exclusively centered on the exotic fantasy worlds of Tolkien and Eddings, among a host of others. As an adult, his interests have grown to include historical fiction and romance, with a particular focus on the works of Jane Austen. When Jann is not writing, he enjoys rooting for his favorite sports teams. He is also a master musician (in his own mind) who enjoys playing piano and singing as well as moonlighting as the choir director in his church's congregation. Jann lives in Alberta with his wife of more than twenty years, two grown sons, and one young daughter. He is convinced that whatever hair he has left will be entirely gone by the time his little girl hits her teenage years. Sadly, though he has told his daughter repeatedly that she is not allowed to grow up, she continues to ignore him.

Actor and voice-over artist Mary Sarah is known for her subtle, emotionally potent performances. Classically trained at the Riverside Shakespeare Academy and the Film Actors Studio in New York City, Mary spends most of her time in the dark ages, narrating books filled with adventure, mystery, and romance. A 2016 nominee for the Voice Arts Award from the Society of Voice Arts and Sciences (SOVAS) for her work in Tamara Leigh's The Longing, Mary thrives on character-driven work and powerful heroines. Finding multiple homes in the classics, historical fiction, fantasy, children's literature, poetry, and cultural voices, Mary relishes in the power of storytelling to awaken our hearts. As a film actor, she received critical acclaim for her role in the docudrama Death Valley: A Love Story, was a member of the award-winning ensemble for Call It in the Air (Best Feature Film/Pocono Film Festival), and garnered a Best Supporting Actor nod for her work as Sarah Helvey in The Honour.