SHAMELESS WOMEN:​

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Brooke Axtell is an award-winning writer, performing artist and media consultant. She is a passionate advocate for survivors of gender violence. As a member of the speaker's bureau for Rape, Abuse, Incest, National Network and the founder of Survivor Healing and Empowerment, a healing community for survivors of rape, abuse and sex-trafficking, she speaks about Radical Recovery, the intersection of personal healing and social justice. Brooke is a contributing writer for ForbesWoman addressing women's rights and leadership. Her work has been featured in many media outlets, including Fox News, The San Francisco Chronicle, The Boston Globe, CBS Radio and Pacifica Radio, New York. You can listen to her new CD, Creatrix, and read excerpts from her poetry collection, Kore of the Incantation at BrookeAxtell.com.​

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Nina Burleigh is a journalist and the author of five books. She is currently working on an ebook single about women and the "Arab Spring" to be published in March 2012 by Byliner. Her latest book, The Fatal Gift of Beauty, was a New York Times bestseller. In the last several years, she has profiled a wide array of subjects, including American politicians, Israeli archaeological forgers, an Arab feminist, a small-town Italian mayor murdered over slow food politics, asteroid deflection experts and Chinese immigrants to Italy. She's written for numerous publications including Businessweek, The New Yorker, Time, New York, The New Statesman, New York Times and is a contributing editor at Elle. She has appeared on Good Morning America, Nightline, The Today Show, 48 Hours, MSNBC, CNN and C-Span, on NPR and numerous radio programs. Nina was born and educated in the Midwest, has traveled extensively in the Middle East and lived in Italy and France.​

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Rachel Kramer Bussel (rachelkramerbussel.com) is an author, editor, blogger and event organizer. She has edited over 40 anthologies, including Dirty Girls, Curvy Girls, Orgasmic, Women in Lust, Gotta Have It, Going Down, Passion, Suite Encounters, The Mile High Club, Anything for You, and the nonfiction Best Sex Writing series. She writes widely about sex, dating, books and pop culture, and her work has been published at The Frisky, Glamour, New York, The Root, Salon, Time Out New York, xoJane and elsewhere. She teaches erotic writing workshops and organizes readings around the world. She has appeared on The Martha Stewart Show, The Gayle King Show, and others. She co-edits the blog Cupcakes Take the Cake. (http://cupcakestakethecake.blogspot.com)​

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Hollye Dexter is the author of two memoirs and co-editor of the anthology Dancing At the Shame Prom (Seal Press). Her essays have been published in anthologies as well as online in numerous publications. Hollye enjoyed a twenty-year career as a singer/songwriter, releasing four albums. As President of the Music Heals Foundation, she worked alongside Denise Brown (sister of Nicole Brown Simpson) on a campaign to end domestic violence. In 2003, Dexter founded the nonprofit organization Art and Soul, running arts workshops for teenagers in the foster care system. She has been awarded by both Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael Antonovich and Dr. Michael Beckwith (from The Secret) for her work with at-risk youth. Currently, she teaches writing workshops with her creative partner Amy Ferris. Hollye lives in Los Angeles with her husband and three children, where she does yoga, hikes with her dog, and blogs about living an authentic life:  www.hollyedexter.blogspot.com