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Exhibiting Authors
Rachel McRady is an Emmy Award-winning entertainment journalist. She’s had pieces published in The Washington Post, Entertainment Tonight, Time Magazine, E! News, Us Weekly, Teen Vogue, The Huffington Post, Parade, Yahoo Travel, Motherly and more. Her debut novel Sun Seekers has been featured on Good Morning America, Yahoo Life, NPR’s VPM Radio, and was the Book of the Week pick for Maria Shriver’s The Sunday Paper.
She has lived in New York and London and currently resides in Richmond, Virginia with her husband Caleb, two daughters, Iona and Isla, and rescue dog, Skye.
Robert J. Hooper is an ‘accidental author.' Tasked with preserving the collected poetry, plays and short stories of his Great Aunt Grace Duncan Hooper, Robert was persuaded by a publisher/editor to take Grace’s works and write her story. With the help of other family memorabilia and lifetime of professional research skills, Robert’s first book became a published reality entitled “Finding Grace, Meandering Through The Life and Times of Grace Duncan Hooper."
Grace’s story fostered a second book involving Grace’s mother and like-minded, wealthy, New York women poised to provide comfort, education and temporary shelter for a forgotten group of New York’s youngest poor. These young girls at the dawn of the 20th century were left to mind their younger siblings, while one or both parents toiled for meager earnings. These ‘little mothers,' as they were known would soon be given substantial support by caring women who formed the “Little Mothers Aid Association." Robert’s second book, “Born to Responsibility" tells this story.
While now working on a third related book, Robert enjoys time with family and friends and is active in a local senior center. Robert is a retired lawyer from Tempe, Arizona, now happily living in Hickory, North Carolina with his wife and best friend Ellen. Their son Matthew lives and teaches in Boston.
Dylan West is a Jesus lover, web developer, video game developer, former Navy nuclear operator, foreign language nut, and a nut in general. While other people are busy thinking normal thoughts, he's crafting corny jokes. He lives in Chesapeake, VA, with his wife and daughter.
Patti Gaustad Procopi knew she wanted to be a writer the moment she discover the magic of reading at the age of five.
Her father was in the Army and she lived the life of a nomad, moving twelve times by the time she graduated from high school. She attended schools on three different continents. At each post, the first place Patti would find was the post library where she would immerse herself in the world of books.
In eight years since retiring, she’s written three novels, “Please…Tell Me More” published in 2020, “I’ll Get By” published in 2022 and “Stop Talking” the sequel to her first novel published in 2023. Patti calls her work biographical fiction. Her novels are about families – the good, the bad and the ugly. Her stories are heartbreaking and heart-filling. They will make you cry but also make you laugh. Patti just finished her first murder mystery titled “The Murderer You Know,” which should be out in early 2025.
Patti has had stories published in literary journals and won prizes in the Golden Nib and the Keating Award. Patti has presented several talks on “Writing Your Story” for the Virginia Writers Club, Chesapeake Bay Writers and area libraries. Patti also writes articles for “Next Door Neighbors” Magazine in Williamsburg, Virginia.
Peyton H. Roberts, M.A., is an award-winning writer and contemporary fiction and nonfiction author living in Virginia Beach. Her stories have appeared in The New York Times, Modern Love Podcast, Newsweek and more. She holds a Master’s in Communication from San Diego State University and is the recipient of the Col. Darron L. Wright Memorial Writing Award for creative nonfiction.
Peyton’s newest release My Dearest Bea (Anchor Line Press, 2024) is an intimate collection of love letters her grandfather wrote aboard the USS Midway to her grandmother in Norfolk, Virginia, in the months following their wedding day. Her social impact novel, Beneath the Seams (Scrivenings Press, 2021), was an Amazon #1 new release, selected as book club picks by Military Families Magazine and Kitabe Club, a literary nonprofit in India.
In addition to writer, Peyton’s other roles include communications professional, speaker/presenter, church volunteer, seasoned Navy spouse, and (best of all) mother of two. She enjoys spending time outdoors with her family, especially when fishing for their dinner and boogie boarding in the ocean on hot summer days.
Thomas A. Burns Jr., the author of the Natalie McMasters Mysteries. He writes from Wendell, North Carolina, where he lives with his wife Terri, four cats, and a Vizsla.
He has begun a new series featuring Amos Murdoch and the 3M Detective Agency with To Keep Our Honor Clean. The 6th book of the Natalie McMasters Mysteries, Killers!, won the Silver Falchion award for best action/adventure book of 2021 at the Killer Nashville International Writers’ Conference and the 7th book, Sister!, was a finalist for the same award in 2023.
The 8th McMasters volume, Shooters!, was published in 2024. Tom’s Holmes story, The Camberwell Poisoner, appeared in the March–June issue of The Strand Magazine in 2021, and many others have been published by MX Books and Belanger Books.
Tom published his first volume of Sherlock Holmes stories, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson: Ten Steps from Baker Street, in 2023 and the 2nd volume, A Peek into Watson’s Dispatch Box, in 2024. Tom has also written a Lovecraftian horror novel, The Legacy of the Unborn, under the pen name of Silas K. Henderson‒a sequel to H.P. Lovecraft’s masterpiece At the Mountains of Madness.
Kristin Kisska used to be a finance geek, complete with her MBA and Wall Street pedigree, but now she is a self-proclaimed #SuspenseGirl. She has contributed over a dozen short suspense stories to crime and mystery anthologies.
Her debut novel, The Hint of Light, was an Agatha Award finalist for Best First Mystery Novel. Kristin is a Mystery Writers of America, International Thriller Writers, Sisters in Crime, and James River Writers member. Kristin lives in Richmond, Virginia, with her family and their moody tabby cat, Boom. She loves hearing from friends, readers, and book clubs at www.KristinKisska.com
Ana Moraine was born in Croatia, where she enjoyed climbing the neighbors' apricot trees and running through vineyards. She grew up, went to school, and worked as an insurance underwriter in Hamburg, Germany. Although she loved Europe, she never felt she belonged-until she landed in the United States. She resides in Virginia.
‘Mount Thionx’ is her first novel.
In this coming-of-age novel, a young girl is hunted by an evil lord who challenges her and the amazing power she has yet to uncover.
Award winning short story author and fantasy writer. Jacqueline T. Johnson has enjoyed advancing her writing career by garnishing several best book award nominations and premier finalist. Her writing has received five star reviews on Amazon and Goodreads for her fantasy series.
Originally from Phillipsburg, N.J., Mark Piggott is a 23-year U.S. Navy Veteran. He retired in 2006 and currently works as a writer-editor in Washington, D.C. Since 2009, he has published several award-winning books. In 2021, he signed with Curious Corvid Publishing of Geneva, Ohio.
S.K. Ehra is an author of fantasy, horror, and all that lies between. When not reading or writing, she can be found wandering the woods and, while skittish, is friendly when approached.
Anna Maylett has completed three books in her time of writing fiction, as well as Illustrated many books previously. She is a full time Mom to eight kids who have inspired some of her characters and help critique her work. She is currently working on her 4th book, (her first historical fiction,) which she hopes to complete soon.
"Home is where you park your wheels."
An author and translator living in North America and Europe, Virginia native JT Hine grew up in Rome, Italy. After a naval career in cruisers and destroyers, he spent ten years at the University of Virginia, first as Administrator of the Physics Department, then as Director of Housing (Management Services). He left the University with a PhD, to focus full-time on translating and writing. He parks his wheels in Williamsburg when not touring on his bicycle or visiting his son in Charlottesville.
He is a member of the Authors Guild, PEN Center America, the Alliance of Independent Authors, Chesapeake Bay Writers, the Virginia Writers Club, the American Translators Association, and Sisters in Crime.
His fiction includes adventure crime novels featuring female heroes. His non-fiction includes self-help booklets for freelancers and career-changers. (https://jthine.com/books).
JT is available for speaking engagements on price-setting for freelancers, expatriate living in Europe, self-supported bicycle touring and camping, Italian culture, and translation studies.
Contact him at: jt@jthine.com
Karen Batshaw is the author of three historical novels about Greece during World War II. She currently resides in both Kensington, Maryland and Williamsburg, Va. Karen is available for books group and lectures about the holocaust in Greece and the burning of Smyrna. Karen is a native of Chicago Illinois and loves to travel.
David K. Wessel is a retired U.S. diplomat who served at U.S. embassies in Rome, Guatemala City, Budapest and Podgorica (Montenegro). He is an historian and writer of historical fiction whose first novel, Choosing Sides, tells the story of an ordinary family torn apart by Hitler’s Germany.
When it comes to writing about the years leading up to World War II he relies not only on his family story, but fifty years of studying how the Weimar Republic shaped the lives of “ordinary Germans." At university, he majored in history with a focus on Germany between the wars and has continued his interest in the subject ever since. After leaving the U.S. Foreign Service, he returned to those studies and dove into the specific research so well reflected in Choosing Sides.
Wessel, who spent his high school years in Alexandria, VA and has recently returned to live in that city’s Old Town district, is a member of the American Historical Association (AHA), Association for Diplomatic Studies and Training, Historical Novel Society, and National Council for Social Studies as well as the Northern Virginia Writers Group and the Virginia Writers Group.
In 2024, in addition to Choosing Sides Wessel published articles in AHA Perspectives (in April) and the Foreign Service Journal (in November). He is available for delivery of presentations on “Ordinary People in Hitler’s Germany” or “Fact vs. Fiction: The Study of History Through Fiction” to libraries, museums, school groups , historical societies and/or book clubs. He invites reader comments on his book and can be reached at davidkwessel@gmail.com or through his website, www.davidkwessel.com.
Kathy Kasunich, originally hailing from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, now calls Williamsburg, Virginia, home. Her debut novel, Always Remembering, is a heartfelt historical fiction romance set against the backdrop of World War II. Inspired by her father’s service as a medic during the war, this captivating work honors the everyday heroes of the Greatest Generation and has earned acclaim, including a bronze medal from the Military Writers Society of America (MWSA). Kathy also contributes articles to WIlliamsburg's Kingsmill magazine, where she shares her insights and reflections with the local community.
In addition to novels, Kathy’s short fiction is featured in the recently released anthology Christmas on the Bay. She was also honored as a finalist in the 2023 Golden Nib Awards for her poetry. Currently, she is crafting a new novel set in 18th-century Williamsburg, inspired by her love of history and the vibrant stories of her surroundings.
As a dedicated member of the Chesapeake Bay Writers, the Writers Guild of Virginia, and the Williamsburg Library Writing Group, Kathy actively engages with the literary community to promote creativity and collaboration. In her spare time, she draws inspiration from photography, nature, and music, weaving these passions into her creative work.
Joyana Peters is the Indie author of the best-selling novels, The Girl in the Triangle and The Girl From Saint Petersburg. The Girl in the Triangle won the YA Spark Award from SCBWI, the Ben Franklin Award for Historical Fiction from IBPA, the Book Excellence Award for Multicultural Fiction and was a Top Five Finalist for Shelf Unbound’s Indie Best Book of the Year.
Dr. Kimberly A. Matthews received her Bachelor of Arts in Communication from George Mason University and a Masters in Adult Education and Doctor of Philosophy in Education, both from Virginia Commonwealth University.
Dr. Kimberly A. Matthews is the author of Forever Friends: Angela released in 2023, Images of America: Richmond’s First African Baptist Church, released in 2023, Forever Friends: Kimberly released in 2022, Forever Friends, released in 2020, Images of America: The Richmond 34 and the Civil Rights Movement, released in 2020 and Images of Modern America: The Richmond Crusade for Voters, released in 2017.
Her projects focus on empowerment, diversity and inclusion, and leadership, with the goal to engage and educate a new generation to the sacrifices of our ancestors and to encourage a continued quest for empowerment and equality for all.
Heather S. Cole is a writer and public historian living in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. She is author, most recently, of "Virginia's Presidents: A History & Guide" and "Ohio's Presidents: A History & Guide," both published by The History Press. She works as an editor for Bridgewater College and runs a small publishing company specializing in local and family history (RockStreetPress.com).
Joanna Wolford is a horror writer. She is a graduate of SNHU with a B.A. in English and Creative Writing. She was a semi-finalist in the 2019 TSL Free Screenplay Writing Contest for her short script, The Boy and the Son of Dracul, and in 2015, her short story, Borrowed Time was performed at the Grace Street Theater in Richmond, Virginia. I Kept a Piece of You (2023-2024 Reader Views Classics: Gold Award Winner for Horror, 2023 Readers’ Favorite Finalist in Horror and 2022 IAN Book of the Year Finalist), is her debut novel.
Pamela K. Kinney gave up long ago trying not to ignore the voices in her head and has written horror, fantasy. science fiction, a children’s fantasy picture book, poetry, nonfiction ghost books, and a nonfiction cryptid/indigenous mythology book, Werewolves, Dogmen, and Other Shapeshifters Stalking North America, ever since. Her horror short story, “Bottled Spirits,” was runner-up for the 2013 WSFA Small Press Award and is considered one of the seven best genre short fiction for that year.
Her poem, “Dementia,” that was in the HWA Poetry Showcase Vol VII, got her a mention in Best Horror of the Years, Vol 13. Her faerie children’s picture book, Christmas Magic, took second place in the Children’s-Holidays category of the Book Fest Awards, Spring 2024. She has a story and a poem in The Haunted Zone, a charity horror anthology with stories and poetry written by women military veterans, a horror story published in the horror anthology, Vinyl Cuts, a story in Halloweenthology: Witches' Brew, and a poem included in the Terror at Miskatonic Falls anthology—all three anthologies were released in 2024.
Her YA dark fantasy novel, first in the Moon Ridge, Virginia trilogy, Demon Memories, was released October 15, 2024. She is working on a new nonfiction ghost book for Schiffer Publishing, about ghosts/cryptids/UFOs on or near the Appalachian Trail.
Pamela and her husband live with one crazy black cat (who thinks she should take precedence over her mistress’s writing most days). Along with writing, Pamela has acted on stage and film and investigates the paranormal for episodes of Paranormal World Seekers for AVA Productions. She is a member of Horror Writers Association, Virginia Writers Club, and James River Writers. Learn more about her at https://PamelaKKinney.com.
Educator and entrepreneur Lee Knapp was born during the loudest reverberation of the Baby Boom in suburban Richmond, Virginia, where the symbols and legacy of the Civil War defined that city. After graduating from high school there in America’s bicentennial year, she went on to study history at the historic College of William & Mary, where it was not uncommon to see Patrick Henry, George Wythe, or James Monroe throwing back beers at the Greenleaf Cafe before riding their mopeds off towards Jamestown Road. Despite a professor’s admonition that “there’s no future in history,” Knapp’s life has been unavoidably circumscribed by it.
Knapp began her teaching career in 1980 and by 1986 had three sons. She took a seventeen-year hiatus from education during which she ran a studio art business and launched grammarRULES! (www.grammarstuff.com), gift items that address common grammar pet peeves. In 2003, Baker Books published Knapp’s Grace in the First Person, and she returned to the classroom at her alma mater. This formed the inspiration for her second book, I’m History…but do I repeat myself?
Knapp retired from public education in 2021. She now lives in rural Virginia and revels in her views of horses and mountains, and in traveling with her companion. She relishes time with her sons and their families who endlessly fascinate her.
Carolyn McGrath is a writer of fiction and non-fiction. Two Faces of the Moon – A Small Island Memoir was released in July 2023 by Brandylane Publishers. Queenbird was one of six books short-listed for the Faulkner Wisdom Prize in creative nonfiction in New Orleans in 2017. Stories from her collection, Do Not Go Gently, have been published in various venues. McGrath has a degree in Classics from the University of Iowa, an M.A. in Creative Writing, and taught for 25 years in the Dept. of English at Stony Brook University where she directed Stony Brook’s $1000 Short Fiction Prize for undergraduates in the U.S. and Canada.
She now lives in Charlottesville where she has taught and formed a book club in a high security prison for women.
David Gorman writes about a setting he’s very familiar with: the amusement park his family owns and operates. His Waldameer Mystery Files series follows siblings Seth and Julia as they solve mysteries at the park with their friends. He lives in Richmond, Virginia.
Teresa Inge is an award-winning mystery author. Her work appears in over a dozen anthologies and novellas including First Comes Love, Then Comes Murder, Murder by the Glass, Virginia is for Mysteries, Mutt Mysteries, and Coastal Crimes. Her non-fiction essay appears in Promophobia, an Agatha award-winning collection.
She is a member of Sisters in Crime, Short Mystery Fiction Society, and Virginia Writer’s Club, and she blogs regularly on Sand in our Shorts and Writers Who Kill.
Teresa grew up reading Nancy Drew mysteries. Combining her love of reading mysteries and writing professional articles led to writing crime fiction. By day, she works for a global financial firm as an admin assistant, corporate reporter, and notary administrator. When not writing, she can be found showing her 1955 Torch Red Thunderbird at car shows.
She lives in Southeastern Virginia with her husband and mixed-shepherd Luke and can be reached at www.teresainge.com
Through the years, Heather Weidner has been a cop’s kid, technical writer, editor, college professor, software tester, and IT manager. She writes the Pearly Girls Mysteries, the Delanie Fitzgerald Mysteries, The Jules Keene Glamping Mysteries, and The Mermaid Bay Christmas Shoppe Mysteries.
Her short stories appear in the Virginia is for Mysteries series, 50 Shades of Cabernet, Deadly Southern Charm, Murder by the Glass, and First Comes Love, Then Comes Murder, and she has non-fiction pieces in Promophobia and The Secret Ingredient: A Mystery Writers’ Cookbook.
She is a member of Sisters in Crime: National, Central Virginia, Chessie, Guppies, and Grand Canyon Writers, International Thriller Writers, and James River Writers, and she blogs regularly with the Writers Who Kill.
Originally from Virginia Beach, Heather has been a mystery fan since Scooby-Doo and Nancy Drew. She lives in Central Virginia with her husband and a pair of Jack Russell terriers.
Robert Archibald is Chancellor Professor of Economics and Public Policy Emeritus at the College of William & Mary. Bob was born in New Jersey, grew up in Oklahoma and Arizona, and was educated at the University of Arizona (BA) and Purdue University (MS and PhD).
At William and Mary, where he was on the faculty for 41 years, he held several administrative positions: Department Chair, Director of the Public Policy Program, and Interim Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, but was always honored to be promoted back to the faculty.
While there are those who thought his academic writings contained some fiction, upon retirement he started writing books which were intentionally fictitious. He has published six novels with Blue Fortune enterprises: Roundabout Revenge (2019), Guilty Until Proven Innocent (2020), Crime Might Pay (2021), Who Dung It? (2021), Illusion of Truth (2022), and Fractured Frame (2024).
Bob lives in Williamsburg and is married to his wife of 51 years, Nancy. They have a son and daughter and four delightful grandchildren.
Lee Clark is the author of the Matthew Paine Mystery series of classic murder mystery novels, including Dead Spots, Prefer Death, MIA, Christmas Punch, Iced, Forbidden Relics, and the upcoming Killer Convergence to be released in the spring of 2025.
According to multiple reviews across the book series on Goodreads and Amazon, Clark "writes like Agatha Christie," and is reminiscent of Margaret Maron and Louise Penny. A North Carolina native, Clark grew up in Raleigh with family roots in Virginia. An admitted chocoholic and coffeeholic, Lee Clark still resides in North Carolina with spouse, two mostly grown children who are in and out, and a dwindling petting zoo of geriatric dogs and cats.
Lee Clark attended Campbell University, obtained a degree in Journalism from East Carolina University, and then a Master’s in Technical Communication from North Carolina State University. Following a twenty-year career in the software development industry of corporate America at IBM, Clark turned to writing fiction in 2021 with the release of Dead Spots, the first in the Matthew Paine Mystery series.
The Matthew Paine character is a beloved character to the author. Though a fictional character, Matthew was inspired by two very important men in the author’s life, brother Sean and son Will. Both will catch glimpses of themselves in the character and identify with some of Matthew’s struggles.
Chris Register served in the Peace Corps, graduated Georgetown Law, and litigated cases in federal court before bicycling some 16,000 miles to connect with everyday Americans from walks of life. His Conversations With US series now invites readers to ride along and discover the landscapes and people of our shared nation. Visit spokewordbooks.com and conversationswithus.com to learn more.
Kathleen P. Decker is an award-winning poet, fiber artist, physician, and musician. She is a past president of the National League of American Pen Women, Seattle Branch, and Vice President of the Poetry Society of Virginia, Eastern Region from 2019-2023 and 2024-current. Dr. Decker was a member of the Williamsburg Poetry Guild from 2018-2022, and Haiku Society of America since 1996. She authored several books of poetry including Russian Reverie, Whispers on Paper, and Essence of Woman, Updraft, and Fishmas: Twelve Days of Christmas by the Sea, in addition to multiple poems published in national and international publications. She edited and published an online and print international haiku journal called Chiyo’s Corner and was an editor for the World Haiku Association.
She edited two haiku anthologies: My Neighbor’s Life (Laughing CyPress, Seattle, WA, 1999 On Crimson Wings (Laughing CyPress, Seattle, WA, 2001). With three other poets, she created a poetry/music/art film Shedding Winter Coats from a 100-line renku. She has edited three anthologies for the Poetry Society of Virginia: Quilted Poems, Views of Virginia, and Blended Voices.
Her non-fiction publications include the book Fit, Unfit, or Misfit: How to Perform Fitness for Duty Evaluations in Law Enforcement Personnel (Thomas, Springfield, IL, 2006) and over 60 peer-reviewed scientific publications. Dr. Decker is a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association.
Juanita Graham, an ordained minister and counselor, is the author of Find Your Voice Find Your Healing. Her book of poetry, which includes pictures and reflection questions, focuses on helping people explore what makes up their voice and how expressing that voice facilitates healing.
Rochelle Ransom grew up in a small rural town in western New York with little access to TV. This led to an overzealous imagination, a memorable and cherished childhood, and plenty of time to craft stories. In college Rochelle recognized her pastime may suit her as a profession.
Caterina Novelliere is passionate about history, music, romance, old languages, and travel. She regularly intertwines these subjects in her writing.
A musician, martial artist, and dog lover, Ted Hale works as a cyber-security analyst and software engineer. He writes Science Fiction novels and short stories to keep his sanity.
He lives in the woods of Virginia with his wife, Donna and their Pit Bull, Bella. Like many people, Ted finally got inspired to write during the Coronavirus lockdown of 2020. The result was Carronia Incursion, his first full length novel to be published.
Along with camping and playing guitar, Ted likes to spend his time creating electronic gadgets. He is an active volunteer, teaching electronics and programming to children at the local Makerspace.
Though he is retired now, Ted was a certified Taekwondo instructor for over a decade and holds the rank of 3rd Dan in the World Taekwondo Federation. Like his main character, he is quite proficient with a bo staff.
Vanessa Jones is a voice actor and former English and theatre teacher. After being diagnosed with adult ADHD when she was 42, Ms. Jones did a deep dive into ADHD research. She applied this knowledge to her teaching practices with ADHD students, and she wrote down her own stories to help other ADHD adults understand the impact of ADHD on their lives.
John Molino is a native of Brooklyn, New York and the author of six suspense-filled novels. After retiring from the Army, his professional life included stints in trade and non-profit organizations, the US Senate, and service as a deputy under secretary of defense in the Pentagon. John and his wife, Eileen, live in Virginia.
James A. Scott is the author of three acclaimed spy/political thrillers. "The Blood of Patriots and Traitors" (2023) and "The President’s Dossier" (2020). Both won the American Book Fest competition for Best Thriller/Adventure Novel for their respective years. His first novel, "The Iran Contra-dictions," was a Foreword Magazine Book of the Year Finalist.
He lived in Europe for twenty years and traveled from Ireland to North Africa, through the Baltic nations, Asia, and Australia. His thrillers reflect those travels and his experience in oversight of Pentagon intelligence activities. He is a retired Army officer, combat veteran, and former paratrooper. Scott also edits articles and writes book reviews for a prize-winning community magazine. He lives in Virginia.
M. Angel resides in Southeast Virginia, originally from central New York, he joined the U.S. Military just three days after graduation. That decision resulted in many years of travel, as well as meeting people from many different cultures and walks of life. These experiences are what he hopes to bring to his writing.
In her Potomac Shores eco-fiction series, Carolyn McBride draws inspiration from the places she lives and loves, from South Florida’s blue waters to Virgina’s historic Potomac River. Her debut novel, The Cicada Spring, weaves tales of the natural world with the complexities of human relationships and celebrates the delicate balance between humanity and nature. McBride is a professional copywriter and a former editor and columnist for National Geographic Traveler. A graduate of the College of William and Mary, she is completing an MFA in fiction writing at Lindenwood University.
Christine Gunderson grew up on a fourth-generation family farm in rural North Dakota where she read Laura Ingalls Wilder books in her very own little house on the prairie.
She’s a former television anchor and reporter and former Capitol Hill aide. She currently lives in the Washington D.C. suburbs with her husband and three children. When not writing, she's re-reading Jane Austen novels, sailing the Chesapeake Bay, playing Star Wars Monopoly, or unloading the dishwasher.
Her debut novel, Friends with Secrets is an Amazon Best Seller, and a July First Reads Pick. Readers call it "a timeless, beautiful, relevant, laugh-out-loud funny homage to motherhood."
Maureen Wlodarczyk (www.past-forward.com) is an author, columnist, genealogist, speaker and admitted history and genealogy addict. She is retired from a career as a senior vice president and director of operations in commercial real estate and investment banking. Maureen has been a featured columnist for Garden State Legacy and Irish Lives Remembered e-magazines and was selected for 2014, 2015, 2017 and 2020 Excellence-in-Writing awards by the International Society of Family History Writers & Editors.
She has presented over 125 programs to various groups and organizations on a variety of genealogy and history topics, has taught classes for the William and Mary OSHER Lifetime Learning Institution, and has appeared on local television and radio programs to speak about genealogy and her writing.
She is the author of 7 books, each having family history and women’s personal struggles as pivotal elements, including Scarlet Letter Lives, a National Indie Excellence Awards finalist. Maureen’s writing is informed and inspired by her work in rediscovering true stories of people and events lost to time through her work as a genealogist, history researcher, and storyteller. Maureen has helped many people discover their own unique family histories and the lives, experiences, and challenges their ancestors faced.
Leslie Eva Tayloe is an award-winning children’s picture book author. Her inspiration for writing, I’m Fishing with Pop-Pop Today, Save the Trees, and The Attic Door come from her personal life experiences. Save the Trees is a Moonbeam, Bronze Medal Winner! She’s a former analyst with the federal government and worked as a substitute teacher for elementary school-aged children. She holds a Master’s degree in Human Resource Management from the University of Maryland.
Leslie lives in Virginia, with her partner, Michael, two cats, and a dog. She loves to fish on the Rappahannock River, read, take long walks with her black lab Frankie, and craft anything.
Mary, known as Motivational Mary, is a dynamic author and inspirational force with over a decade of writing experience. As a devoted wife and mother, she embodies resilience, having triumphed over domestic violence and bullying. Her mission is to empower individuals to cultivate healthy relationships, live with purpose, and embrace the joy of lifelong learning through Christ.
With six published books to her name, Mary has not only made a significant impact in the literary world but has also been recognized for her contributions to the community. She was nominated for the 2019 Top Female Author Award by TheAuthorShow.com and was a finalist for the IALA 2018 Indie Author of the Year for Education. Her accolades include multiple nominations for the ACHI Magazine's prestigious awards and recognition as a semi-finalist for the 2016 NAACP Image Hometown Champion Award for RVA.
Mary's influence extends beyond the page; she has been featured on prominent platforms such as WWBT Channel 12 News, WRIC Channel 8 News, and 105.7 Kiss FM radio. Through her work, she helps others share their stories and regain the confidence to move beyond past hurts and failures. With a passion for relationship-building, parenting, and self-help, Mary is a beacon of hope and empowerment, inspiring many to rise and thrive.
Michael Gryboski was born and raised in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area. He graduated from George Mason University with a bachelor of arts and then a master's, both in history. In addition to writing fiction, Michael also writes news articles for a living. Michael would rather be correct than widely accepted.
Amy M. Reade is the USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of cozy, historical, dual timeline, and domestic suspense mysteries.
A former practicing attorney, Amy discovered a passion for fiction writing and has never looked back. She has penned seventeen novels, including the Cape May Historical Mystery Collection, the Juniper Junction Cozy Holiday Mystery Series, the Libraries of the World Mystery Series, the Malice Series, and three standalone novels of domestic suspense. Her stories and essays have appeared in several anthologies of fiction and non-fiction.
In addition to writing, she loves to read, cook, and travel. Amy lives in New Jersey and is a member of Sisters in Crime and the Alliance of Independent Authors.
You can find out more and follow her on social media by visiting her website at www.amymreade.com.
Bill Shea, a former Madison Avenue Creative Director and original Creative Director at Autism Speaks, steps into the literary world with the release of his debut book, A Grandpa Joe Day! This enchanting tale, based on a true story, brings to life the enduring spirit of positivity and love that Bill experienced firsthand as a boy. Bill Shea takes readers on a memorable journey, showing that memories are made when we focus on the good that life has to offer. A Grandpa Joe Day! is a heartfelt tribute to Bill's grandfather, Joe, who served as a beacon of unwavering support and love. Through the pages of this book, readers are invited to join a journey that captures the essence of sharing love and creating lasting memories.
In addition to his illustrious career in advertising, Bill Shea has dedicated himself to making a difference. As the original Creative Director at Autism Speaks, he played a pivotal role in shaping the organization into the leading autism charity in the country. Beyond his professional endeavors, Bill channels his creativity into producing impactful videos for nonprofit organizations.
Bill Shea's diverse talents as an artist, former Creative Director, and philanthropist converge in this touching narrative. The book not only showcases Bill's storytelling prowess but also reflects his deep-rooted commitment to spreading positivity and making a meaningful impact.
One of Bill’s favorite things to do is ride rollercoasters. May you always have a Grandpa Joe Day!
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