Annika Strauss, born in 1984, attended a drama school in Stuttgart and studied general rhetoric and German language and literature in Tübingen. She began making films during her studies. To date, she has appeared in almost 40 film productions - many of which are in the horror genre, earning her the nickname "German Screamqueen". Whether horror or thriller - it always has to be exciting for her. In her private life, she tends to be more cautious, which is how she deals with the darker sides of the world and people. The opposite pole is her work as an editor at SWR.

Prof Michael Becker was born together with his twin brother Christian in Krefeld in 1972, where he spent his childhood and school years with his two brothers. His medical studies at the RWTH Aachen also took him to the Charité in Berlin, the Royal Medical School in London and the Washington School of Medicine in Seattle/USA.

After studying at film schools in Rome and London, Stefan Grebe is now known for his is known for his 180-minute film portraits of stars from the music industry, which have been broadcast with great success on television and in cinemas, including films about Queen, Whitney Houston and Die Fantastischen Vier. With his political thriller debut Die Übermacht in 2024, he transfers his passion for suspenseful storytelling and his fascination with people, their stories and their abysses in the pursuit quest for power and fame into the world of literature.

Jouanna Hassoun, who fled to Germany from the civil war in Lebanon and has Palestinian roots, has been active as a political educator for over 15 years. She is a recipient of the Order of Merit of the State of Berlin and an ambassador for democracy and tolerance, as well as co-founder of the educational organisation Transaidency e.V., which was established in 2015 and is also dedicated to humanitarian aid. Her commitment includes addressing the Middle East conflict, anti-Semitism and combating hostility towards Muslims.

Sarah Bestgen, born in 1990, lives with her family in the Rhineland. She studied psychology in Cologne and Bonn and worked in legal psychology and clinical psychology before working for a renowned personnel consultancy in executive selection and development. In addition to her fascination for people, their stories and their psychological abysses, writing is her great passion. She was able to combine both in her thriller debut Happy End.

Thorsten Schleif, born in 1980, judge at the local court in Dinslaken, married and father of two children, has worked as a judge in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia for over 16 years. Schleif has been writing non-fiction books (Urteil: Ungerecht, Endlich richtig entscheiden, Wo unsere Justiz versagt) and novels (Richter morden besser, Richter jagen besser, Richter sterben besser) since 2019.

Regina Denk was born in 1981 on the Bavarian-Austrian border. Her love of books and writing has accompanied her throughout her life. From studying literature in Munich, to the other side of the world and back home again, near Munich, where she lives today. She publishes entertainment ranging from thrillers to science fiction under several pseudonyms, while under her real name she devotes herself to more serious material. As a publishing consultant, she advises publishers, authors and artists from the initial idea to the finished book.

Megumi Maria Loy was born in Japan but grew up mainly in Germany and has been working as a freelance artist under the name Megumi_M for several years. Her focus is on figurative representations in different styles that bring together the aesthetics of two cultures. She is particularly fond of conveying emotions and personalities and utilising the possibilities of modern media to create both digital paintings and animations. Since 2019, you can watch her create her works on Twitch (www.twitch.tv/megumi_m) and elsewhere.

Anja Tsokos was born in a country that no longer exists. At least that's the answer she gives her children when they ask her about it. She was born in 1973 in Oschatz, Saxony. At the age of six, her family moved to Moscow as her parents were working in the diplomatic service of the GDR. Shortly before reunification, the family returned to East Germany. Anja Tsokos has lived in Berlin since the 1990s, where she met forensic scientist Michael Tsokos, whom she married in 2010.