Kaia Alderson
KAIA ALDERSON writes historical women’s fiction and contemporary romantic comedies. (And sometimes comics too!) A self-proclaimed history geek, she has spent more than one vacation dragging her husband through the woods to find some obscure historical landmark. Her debut women’s fiction novel SOLDIER GIRLS tells the story of the only unit of African-American female soldiers to go overseas during World War 2.
Kaia is a graduate of Spelman College, and an alumna of the Hurston/Wright Foundation, The Second City and Voices of Our Nation (VONA) writing programs.
Poppy Alexander
POPPY ALEXANDER wrote her first book when she was five. There was a long gap in her writing career and – after studying classical music at university – she decided the world of music was better off without her and took up writing again. However, she quickly discovered making things up is frowned upon when writing feature articles and press releases and it finally dawned on her she was better suited to writing novels.
Poppy adores creating uplifting, romantic fiction with strong, multigenerational friendships and idyllic country settings. She takes an anthropological interest in family, friends and life in her West Sussex village (think, The Archers crossed with Twin Peaks) where she lives with her husband, children and various other pets.
Poppy’s first book – 25 Days ‘Til Christmas – has been translated into several languages and optioned for Film/TV. Her latest book, Storybook Cottage, will be published in 2024.
She is frequently to be found lurking on social media as @PoppyAlexanderBooks.
Tessa Arlen
TESSA ARLEN is the USA Today bestselling author of IN ROYAL SERVICE TO THE QUEEN, a novel of Marion Crawford, nanny to the princesses Elizabeth and Margaret, and the first royal servant to kiss and tell.
Tessa’s latest historical fiction is A DRESS OF VIOLET TAFFETA, a novel of Lucy Duff Gordon the Belle Epoque fashion legend and Titanic survivor.
Other novels include the Lady Montfort historical mystery series set in 1900s England, and the Poppy Redfern, a Woman of WWII series.
Tessa lives with her family in Santa Fe, New Mexico where she gardens in summer and writes in winter.
Joy Avon
A lover of books, tea and sweet treats, Joy Avon decided to combine these in a mystery series about an organizer of the book-themed tea parties Joy herself would love to attend. When not writing or reading, Joy can be found buying bonbons, fluffy socks or notebooks with pretty patterns to write down her next idea.
Gillian Bagwell
GILLIAN BAGWELL is the author of three acclaimed historical novels. The Darling Strumpet, based on the life of Nell Gwynn, seventeenth-century actress and mistress of Charles II, was a finalist for a Romance Writers of America RITA award for Best First Book. Her second book, The September Queen, was the first fictional accounting of the extraordinary adventure of Jane Lane, who risked her life to help the young Charles II escape after the disastrous Battle of Worcester. Her most recent novel, Venus in Winter is based on the first forty years of the life of the formidable four-times widowed Tudor dynast. Gillian lives in Berkeley, California, and is at work on her fourth novel.
Gillian began her professional life in theatre, first as an actress and later as a director and producer, and she now puts her theatre experience to use coaching writers on giving effective public readings. She also offers all levels of editing, specializing in historical fiction and romance. Please visit Gillian’s website, www.gillianbagwell.com, for links to her research blogs, articles, and more on her books and upcoming events.
Shannon Baker
SHANNON BAKER writes mysteries about strong women in dangerous situations. Her books are set in the iconic landscapes of the American West, from the Colorado Rockies to the Nebraska prairies, to the deserts of southern Arizona. Now a resident of Tucson, Baker spent 20 years in the Nebraska Sandhills, where cattle outnumber people by more than 50:1. She is proud to have been chosen Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers’ 2017-18 Writer of the Year.
A lover of the outdoors, she can be found backpacking in the Rockies, traipsing to the bottom of the Grand Canyon, skiing mountains and plains, kayaking lakes, hiking, cycling, and scuba diving whenever she gets the chance. Arizona sunsets notwithstanding, Baker is, and always will be, a Nebraska Husker. Go Big Red.
Jamie Beck
Jamie Beck is a Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author of 17 novels, which have been translated into multiple languages and have sold more than three million copies worldwide. She is a two-time Booksellers’ Best Award finalist, a Women’s Fiction Writers Association STAR award finalist, a National Readers’ Choice Award winner, and critics at Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, and Booklist have respectively called her work “smart,” “uplifting,” and “entertaining.” In addition to writing novels, she enjoys dancing around the kitchen while cooking and hitting the slopes in Vermont and Utah. Above all, she is a grateful wife and mother to a very patient, supportive family.
Fans can learn more about her on the web (www.jamiebeck.com). She also loves interacting with everyone on Facebook at facebook.com/jamiebeckbooks/ and on Instagram @writerjamiebeck. Photo Credit: Kate Kohut.
Kristin Beck
KRISTIN BECK writes historical women’s fiction. The granddaughter of a World War II nurse, Kristin has long been fascinated by the unsung role of women in history. Her forthcoming debut novel, COURAGE, MY LOVE (Berkley/Penguin, 2021), tells the story of women fighting in the Italian resistance during World War II, risking their lives as couriers, saboteurs, and spies.
When not writing or diving down research rabbit holes, Kristin loves to garden, hike, and read – especially with her children. She can often be found buying far too many books at local bookstores, drinking far too much coffee, and getting lost in the Pacific Northwest woods and mountains.
Rose Betancourt
USA Today bestselling author ROSE BETANCOURT enjoys writing quirky and fun novels with a paranormal twist. Her books Forever Charmed, If You’ve Got It, Haunt It, No Shoes, No Shirt, No Spells, How to Date a Werewolf, and Me and My Ghoulfriends have won her a wide following. When she’s not writing about werewolves, vampires and other supernatural creatures, she loves eating cupcakes with sprinkles, reading, spending time with family, and listening to oldies from the fifties. Rose lives near Louisville, Kentucky, with her husband, son, and two sassy Chihuahuas. Please visit Rose at: www.rosepressey.com, www.facebook.com/authorrosepressey, www.facebook.com/rosepressey, or www.twitter.com/rosepressey.
Georgie Blalock
GEORGIE BLALOCK is an amateur historian and movie buff who loves combining her different passions through historical fiction, and a healthy dose of period piece films. When not writing, she can be found prowling the non-fiction history section of the library or the British film listings on Netflix. Her debut historical novel, THE OTHER WINDSOR GIRL, which tells the story of the life of Princess Margaret, released from William Morrow in 2019, to be followed by THE LAST DEBUTANTES (2021) and THE LAST GREAT VICTORIAN PRINCESS.
Sandra A. Block
SANDRA A. BLOCK graduated from college at Harvard, then returned to her native land of Buffalo, New York for medical training and never left. She is a practicing neurologist and proud Sabres fan, and lives at home with her husband, two children, and impetuous yellow lab. Her work has been published in the Washington Post. Little Black Lies is her debut, a finalist in the International Thriller Awards, and The Girl Without a Name and The Secret Room are the other books in the Zoe Goldman series, and What Happened That Night her stand-a-lone. Girl Overboard is her first Young Adult thriller.
Debra Bokur
DEBRA BOKUR is the author of THE FIRE THIEF, the first in a debut mystery series forthcoming from Kensington in 2020. Debra has spent decades traveling the world as a writer, filmmaker, and journalist for national media outlets, and has won multiple awards, including a 2015 Lowell Thomas Award for Travel Journalism.
While working as the Travel Editor for a national health and wellness magazine, Debra was sent to Hawaii to produce a series of features exploring the rich cultural traditions associated with island lore. Overthe course of seven years, she worked with spiritual leaders, attended healing ceremonies, picked herbs on mountainsides, and learned many of the oral traditions, all of which inspired her novels.
Debra divides her time between writing spaces in the mountains of Colorado and coastal Maine, where she enjoys hiking with her husband, drawing, photography, gardening and spending quality time at her desk being supervised by two opinioned cats. Learn more about Debra at http://debrabokur.com/ or follow her on Instagram #debrabokur or Twitter @SpaTravelPro.
John C. Boland
For fifteen years, JOHN C. BOLAND (also writing under James L. Ross) ran a successful hedge fund (Remnant Partners L.P.). His nonfiction has appeared in Barron’s, The Wall Street Journal and The (Sunday) New York Times. His fiction includes about a dozen novels and numerous short stories for Alfred Hitchcock’s and Ellery Queen’s mystery magazines. He has received three Shamus award nominations, including most recently his pseudonymous novel Long Pig which was nominated by the Private Eye Writers for a Shamus, Best Paperback Original. Also, his story “Marley’s Revolution” was nominated for a 2012 Edgar award.
Kate Bromley
KATE BROMLEY writes romantic comedies and contemporary women’s fiction. She lives in New York City with her husband, son, and her somewhat excessive collection of romance novels. (It’s not hoarding if it’s books, right?) She was a preschool teacher for seven years and is now focusing full-time on combining her two great passions – writing swoon-worthy love stories and making people laugh. Kate’s debut rom-com TALK BOOKISH TO ME (Graydon House/Harlequin, 2021) tells the story of a bestselling romance novelist with writer’s block who finds herself having an unexpected creative and personal reawakening when she’s thrown together with her infuriating (and gorgeous) ex-boyfriend during her best friend’s wedding week.
Kate loves to connect with fellow bookworms so be sure to follow her on Instagram at http://instagram.com/katebromleywrites or visit katebromley.com.
Mollie Cox Bryan/ Maggie Blackburn
MOLLIE COX BRYAN/MAGGIE BLACKBURN is the author of the mystery series: “Cora Crafts Mysteries.” The first book DEATH AMONG THE DOILIES was selected as part of “Fresh Fiction’s Not to Miss,” monthly box of curated books. She also wrote the Agatha-award nominated Cumberland Creek Mysteries. She’s also penned a historical fiction: MEMORY OF LIGHT: AN AFTERMATH OF GETTYSBURG and the Kindle World romance novella, THE BEEKEEPER’S BRIDE, A ST. HELENA VINEYARD KINDLE WORLD.
By day, Mollie works as a fact-checker and researcher. She writes in the early morning hours. She started off in the publishing business in the nonfiction area as a food journalist, then moved into writing cookbooks: MRS. ROWE’S RESTAURANT COOKBOOK: LIFETIME OF RECIPES FROM THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY and the regional bestselling MRS. ROWE’S LITTLE BOOK OF SOUTHERN PIES. Mollie lives in Waynesboro, Va., with her husband, two daughters, a dog, and cat. You can visit at molliecoxbryan.com.
Lynn Cahoon
LYNN CAHOON is the author of the NYT and USA Today bestselling Tourist Trap cozy mystery series. GUIDEBOOK TO MURDER, book 1 of the series won the Reader’s Crown for Mystery Fiction in 2015. She’s also the author of A STORY TO KILL (Sept. 2016), the first book in her Cat Latimer series. She lives in a small town like the ones she loves to write about with her husband and two fur babies. Sign up for her newsletter at www.lynncahoon.com
Carrie Callaghan
CARRIE CALLAGHAN is a historical fiction author living in Maryland with her family. Her debut novel, A LIGHT OF HER OWN, is forthcoming from Amberjack Publishing in October 2018. Her short stories have been published in multiple literary journals around the country, and she is a senior editor with the Washington Independent Review of Books. She loves seasons of all kinds, history, and tea. You can find her online at www.carriecallaghan.com or on Twitter @CarrieCallaghan.
Amber Camp
AMBER CAMP writes cozy mysteries that reflect her love of animals and quirky small towns. A lifelong lover of books, she started writing her own stories as a teenager and found she loves to write as much as she loves to read. Amber lives in Northwest Arkansas with her husband and daughter and works as a registered nurse at a small rural hospital. She has a menagerie of animals that includes dogs, cats, horses, chickens and what has been described as the Mule from Hell, which may or may not be a slight exaggeration. Amber is a member of Sisters in Crime.
Diane Capri
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author DIANE CAPRI is a recovering lawyer. She writes the authorized spin-offs of Lee Child’s Jack Reacher series and The Heir Hunter Series (Thomas & Mercer). Her work is what the #1 worldwide publishing phenomenon Lee Child calls “Full of thrills and tension, but smart and human, too.”
Diane is the past Executive Vice President of International Thriller Writers, past member of the Board of the Florida Chapter of Mystery Writers of America, and active in Sisters in Crime, Author’s Guild, Novelists Inc., and other writing organizations. She’s a snowbird who divides her time between Florida and Michigan, and she loves to hear from readers and is always hard at work on her next novel. Contact her at: DianeCapri.com/Contact to receive notice of new releases, subscribe to Diane’s blog and newsletter with exclusive content for members only, or simply connect with her.
B. Celeste
B. CELESTE is a new adult and contemporary romance author who gives voices to raw, realistic characters with emotional storylines that tug on the heartstrings.
She was born and raised in Upstate New York where she still resides with her four-legged feline sidekick Oliver “Ollie” Queen. Her love for reading and writing began at an early age and only grew stronger after getting a BA in English and an MFA in English & Creative Writing. When she’s not writing, she’s working out, binge-watching reality game shows, and spending time with her friends and family.
Janie Chang
JANIE CHANG’S historical novels have been Canadian national bestsellers and nominated for international literary awards. Her debut novel, THREE SOULS, was a finalist for the 2014 BC Book Prizes Fiction award; DRAGON SPRINGS ROAD, her second book, was a Globe and Mail national bestseller. Both were nominated for the International Dublin Literary Award. Her third book, THE LIBRARY OF LEGENDS, was a Book of the Month Club selection and a Globe and Mail national bestseller. Her upcoming novel, THE PORCELAIN MOON, set in WWI France, releases in February 2023. THE PHOENIX CROWN, a novel she is co-authoring with Kate Quinn will be out in late 2023. Janie lives on the beautiful West Coast of British Columbia, Canada.
Monica Chenault-Kilgore
MONICA CHENAULT-KILGORE writes about the rhythms of African American life, love, jazz, blues, resistance, and resilience during the turbulent 1930’s through early ‘40’s. Her debut novel LONG GONE, COME HOME (Graydon House/HarperCollins) is a historical women’s fiction novel that follows characters living though life punctuated by the shifting racial climate during this historic period.
Monica Chenault-Kilgore was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, and currently lives in Edison, New Jersey. She is a graduate of the Ohio State University School of Journalism. Her published works include Liberty and Justice for All…Profiles of Middlesex County African American Veterans of WWII and the Korean War, which is available in the public library. She formerly worked as a contributing reporter for the Home News Tribune and the Courier Newsnewspapers.
When not writing, she enjoys relaxing with her wonderful husband, son, and a very spoiled cat, with a freshly brewed cup of coffee, or something a little stronger, while listening to all sorts of jazz and, of course, show tunes.
Becky Clark
BECKY CLARK is the seventh of eight kids, which explains both her insatiable need for attention and her atrocious table manners. She likes to read funny books so it felt natural to write them, too. She surrounds herself with quirky people and pets who end up as characters in her books. Her stout-hearted dog keeps her safe from squirrels, UPS deliveries, and autumn leaves.
Becky is a proud member of Sisters in Crime, Colorado Authors League, and Pikes Peak Writers. Find out Becky’s least favorite words at http://beckyclarkbooks.com/bio and hang out with her on Facebook ( https://www.facebook.com/BeckyClarkAuthor/ ) where all sorts of fun things happen.
Chanel Cleeton
Originally from Florida, NYT bestselling author CHANEL CLEETON grew up on stories of her family’s exodus from Cuba following the events of the Cuban Revolution. Her passion for politics and history continued during her years spent studying in England where she earned a bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Richmond, The American International University in London and a master’s degree in Global Politics from the London School of Economics & Political Science. Chanel also received her Juris Doctor from the University of South Carolina School of Law. She loves to travel and has lived in the Caribbean, Europe, and Asia. The author of eleven books, her most recent novels are WHEN WE LEFT CUBA and the Reese Witherspoon book club pick NEXT YEAR IN HAVANA.
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Joe Clifford
After spending the 1990s as a homeless heroin addict in San Francisco, JOE CLIFFORD got off the streets and turned his life around. He earned his MFA from Florida International University in 2008, before returning to the Bay Area, where he currently lives with his wife and two sons. His memoir, Junkie Love, chronicles his battle with drugs and was first published in 2010 and re-released in 2018. He is the author of the award-winning Jay Porter Thriller Series, as well as several standalones including The One That Got Away, The Lakehouse, The Shadow People, Say My Name and All Who Wander.
His bestselling Jay Porter Thriller Series (Oceanview Publishing) has received rave reviews from Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, and the San Francisco Chronicle, among many others. Joe is also editor of Trouble in the Heartland: Crime Stories Based on the Songs of Bruce Springsteen and Just to Watch Him Die: Crime Fiction Inspired by the Songs of Johnny Cash. Currently Joe teaches online writing courses for FIU, as well as around the country at various conferences and retreats (or frankly anywhere someone will pay him).
Audrey J. Cole
AUDREY J. COLE is a USA TODAY bestselling thriller author. She resides in the Pacific Northwest with her family. Before writing full time, she worked as a neonatal intensive care nurse for eleven years.
Courtney Cole
COURTNEY COLE is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Beautifully Broken series and the Nocte Trilogy, along Saving Beck (Gallery Books), Such Dark Things and I’ll Be Watching You (Mira Books, writing as Courtney Evans Tate). Born and raised in Kansas, USA, she’s a rural farm girl at heart, although she has since been refined and wears high heels on occasion. She’s a staunch believer, however, that you can take the girl out of the country, but you can’t always get the country out of the girl.
Courtney spends her days dreaming of new characters and story lines, writing them beneath rustling palm trees in Florida. She leans toward emotional story lines, surprising plot twists, and complex characters. To find out more about her, please visit www.courtneycolewrites.com.
Vivian Conroy
Having spent many afternoons as a teen on the Nile with Poirot or confronting sinister spinsters in sleepy English towns with Miss Marple, it was only natural VIVIAN CONROY would start writing mysteries of her own. Atmospheric descriptions, well developed characters and clever plotting made several of her cozy mysteries #1 Amazon US and Canada bestsellers in multiple categories. Her Victorian mystery series features a female zoologist exploring the costly deceit and extraordinary theories surrounding the development of natural history.
The contemporary Stationery Shop Mysteries, set in scenic Montana, combine Vivian’s love of paper crafting and outdoor activities. Besides writing, Vivian loves to hike, try new desserts and connect on Twitter via @VivWrites.
Pamela Crane
PAMELA CRANE is a USA Today bestselling author and wrangler of four kids and a zoo of animals. She lives on the edge of a horse farm, and writes on the edge…where her sanity resides. Her thrillers unravel flawed women with a villainous side, which makes them interesting and perfect for doing crazy things worth writing about. When she’s not cleaning horse stalls or cleaning up after kids, she’s plotting her next murder. Visit her website at www.pamelacrane.com to get a free mystery book, because she loves being generous.
N.J. Croft
After a number of years wandering the world in search of adventure, N.J. CROFT finally settled on a farm in the mountains and now lives off-grid, growing almonds, drinking cold beer, taking in stray dogs, and writing stories where the stakes are huge and absolutely anything can happen.
Terry Dehart
TERRY DEHART is a former U.S. Marine and NASA security analyst. He is the author of The Unit (Orbit, an imprint of Hachette Book Group). Three of his stories have been nominated for the Pushcart Prize. His short stories have appeared in The Barcelona Review, Zoetrope All-Story Extra, Night Train Magazine, In Posse Review/Web del Sol, Paumanok Review, Smokelong Quarterly, Vestal Review and Opium, among others. Terry lives with his wife and daughters in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Camille Di Maio
At the age of 12, Camille Di Maio decided that it was her life’s goal to write a novel, so she wrote a letter to her future self to make sure she’d gotten it done. Nearly three decades later, the dream has come true. When she’s not ignoring her responsibilities in favor of reading a page-turner, she wears many other hats. Together with her husband, she homeschools their four children, runs one of the most successful real estate teams in San Antonio, spends too much time at farmer’s markets, and is training to be a black belt in Tae Kwon Do.
Camille regularly faces her fear of flying to indulge her passion for travel. Favorite experiences include: visiting King Tut’s tomb in Egypt, spending the night in the church of Sacre Coeur in Paris, exploring lava caves in Maui, watching glaciers calve in Alaska, sailing the Bosphorus River in Istanbul, posing with wax statues of The Beatles in London, and meeting Pope John Paul II (Rome) and Mother Teresa (Denver). She is inspired by the concept of “sucking the marrow out of life”.
Camille believes that there is always room to squeeze one more bookshelf in to her house, and add one more item to her bucket list. She figures that she’ll have to live to at least 150 to make it all happen.
Stephanie Dray
STEPHANIE DRAY is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal & USA Today bestselling author of historical women’s fiction. Her award-winning work has been translated into eight languages and tops lists for the most anticipated reads of the year. Before she became a novelist, she was a lawyer and a teacher. Now she lives near the nation’s capital with her husband, cats, and history books.
Emma Dues
EMMA DUES writes twisty thrillers inspired by her interest in true crime. After teaching middle school for several years, she began writing for a healthcare company and working on her novels full time. When Emma isn’t writing, she’s rescuing every cat that shows up on her doorstep and rewatching her favorites — Star Wars, and anything featuring zombies.
Bella Ellwood-Clayton
BELLA ELLWOOD-CLAYTON is part academic, part freelance editor, but her greatest love is writing fiction. Her debut novel is Don’t Play with Amy (Post Hill Press 2023).
She has a Ph.D. in sexual anthropology—and, yes, that makes for interesting dinner party conversations. In 2012, her nonfiction book, Sex Drive: In Pursuit of Female Desire, was published by Allen & Unwin. She frequently appears on TV and radio and gives talks about relationships, including a TEDx talk. She has published short stories, poetry, and written for publications such as Huffington Post and Daily Life.
Married, she is a mom of two spirited tweens and a teacup maltese who thinks he’s a pit bull.
For more information, please see: www.drbella.com.au
Christina Estes
CHRISTINA ESTES is the recipient of the 2020 Tony Hillerman Prize for Best First Mystery Set in the Southwest. She is the author of OFF THE AIR (Minotaur 2023). The novel, featuring a local TV news reporter investigating a murder, is inspired by Christina’s award-winning reporting career. Currently a journalist for the NPR member station in Phoenix, Christina’s reporting has also been heard on National Public Radio and appeared in the Arizona Republic, Phoenix Business Journal, and Arizona Business Gazette. @reporterestes www.christinaestes.com
Lauren Marie Fleming
LAUREN MARIE FLEMING (xe/her) is an author, story coach, and creator of Write Your Friggin’ Book Already®.
Lauren has been featured in prominent media outlets including Good Morning America, Glamour, and Cosmo, and has had columns for Curve Magazine, Vice Magazine, and the Huffington Post. Xe is an entertaining and educating keynote speaker and has spoken at prestigious conferences and colleges including Yale, Brown, Wordstock, BinderCon, and BlogHer.
When not traveling the world, Lauren can be found walking her dog on the beach in San Diego, listening to a good audiobook.
Dana Fredsti
DANA FREDSTI is an ex B-movie actress with a background in theatrical combat (a skill she utilized in Army of Darkness as a sword-fighting Deadite and fight captain). Through ten plus years of volunteering at Exotic Feline Breeding Facility/Feline Conservation Center, Dana’s had a full-grown leopard sit on her feet, been kissed by tigers, held baby jaguars and had her thumb sucked by an ocelot with nursing issues. She’s addicted to bad movies and any book or film, good or bad, which include zombies. Her other hobbies include weight lifting, collecting beach glass, and wine tasting.
She is the author of the Ashley Parker series, touted as Buffy meets the Walking Dead, as well as what might be the first example of zombie noir, A Man’s Gotta Eat What a Man’s Gotta Eat, first published in Mondo Zombie edited by John Skipp, and more recently published as an eBook by Titan books. She also wrote the cozy noir mystery Murder for Hire: the Peruvian Pigeon, is co-author of What Women Really Want in Bed, and has written several spicy genre romances under the pen name Inara LaVey. Dana was also co-writer/associate producer on Urban Rescuers, a documentary on feral cats and TNR (Trap/Neuter/Return), which won Best Documentary at the 2003 Valley Film Festival in Los Angeles. She guest blogs frequently and has made numerous podcast and radio appearances. She lives in San Francisco with her boyfriend and fellow author David Fitzgerald, their dog Pogeen, and a small horde of felines.
Lea Geller
Author LEA GELLER, recipient of the 2019 Kathryn Gurfein Writing Fellowship at Sarah Lawrence College, lives in New York with her husband and five children, for whom she frequently wakes up and makes five separate breakfasts. Lea began her writing career by blogging about her adventures in the trenches of parenting and got the idea for her first novel, Trophy Life, when her two sons were in middle school. When Lea’s not writing and eavesdropping on her children, she can be found running, drinking diner coffee, and occasionally teaching middle and high school English. She is a graduate of Columbia University and Stanford Law School. You can find Lea at www.leageller.com, Instagram (@leagellerauthor.com), Facebook (@leagellerauthor), and Twitter (@lrgeller).
Emily George/ S.J. Short
EMILY GEORGE/ S.J. SHORT writes female-centric mysteries, from sweet and cozy to dark and twisty. She is the author of the Cannabis Cafe Mystery series, the debut of which received starred reviews from Library Journal and First Clue, and the page-turning psychological suspense novel, The Young Widows. Originally from Australia, she now resides in Toronto Canada, where she was a writer in residence with the Toronto Public Library. When she’s not figuring out creative ways to fictionally kill people she enjoys knitting, baking, playing video games, and listening to true crime podcasts.
Daryl Wood Gerber
Agatha Award-winning author DARYL WOOD GERBER writes the Fairy Garden Mysteries, Cookbook Nook Mysteries, and Literary Dining Mysteries. As Avery Aames, she penned the popular Cheese Shop Mysteries. In addition, Daryl writes suspense novels and short stories. Fun Tidbit: as an actress, Daryl appeared in “Murder, She Wrote.” She loves to cook, fairy garden, and read. She has a frisky Goldendoodle who keeps her in line. And she has been known to jump out of a perfectly good airplane. You can learn more on her website: httsp://darylwoodgerber.com
Penny Haw
After working as a journalist and columnist for several leading South African newspapers and magazines for three decades, PENNY HAW finally mustered the courage to pursue a lifelong dream and turned her hand to fiction. She tip-toed her way in with a children’s chapter book about a strong, independent woman (her grandmother) and her miscellany of animal friends. The experience convinced Penny that writing books wasn’t only possible for her, but also great fun. Since then, she’s written women’s fiction, which continues to feature fascinating, strong-minded female characters and includes stories about unconventional women who changed history. Penny’s writing also illustrates her love for animals and nature. She lives in a small seaside village not far from Cape Town, where she hikes on the mountainside or to the beach with her husband and three dogs or has her nose in a book when she’s not writing. For more information, go to https://pennyhaw.com/.
Elizabeth Heiter
Critically acclaimed author ELIZABETH HEITER likes her suspense to feature strong heroines, chilling villains, psychological twists, and a little bit (or a lot!) of romance. Her research has taken her into the minds of serial killers, through murder investigations, and onto the FBI Academy’s shooting range.
Elizabeth graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in English Literature. She’s a member of International Thriller Writers, Mystery Writers of America and Romance Writers of America. Elizabeth is also a regular columnist for International Thriller Writers at The Thrill Begins as part of “Murderers Row.” She writes a psychological suspense series (The Profiler series) for MIRA Books and a romantic suspense series (The Lawmen series) for Harlequin Intrigue.
You can visit Elizabeth on the web at www.elizabethheiter.com.
Rachel Howzell Hall
NYT bestselling RACHEL HOWZELL HALL is the author of Land of Shadows, Skies of Ash, Trail of Echoes, City of Saviors (Tor/Forge), The Good Sister (in The Family Lawyer) (Grand Central Publishing) and A Quiet Storm (Scribner), which was a Borders ‘Original Voices’ selection and a Black Expressions book-of-the-month pick. She is also the author of two e-novelsThe View from Here and No One Knows You’re Here. Rachel is a writer for City of Hope, a national leader in cancer research and treatment. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and daughter.
Anna Lee Huber
ANNA LEE HUBER is the Award-Winning and National Bestselling Author of the Lady Darby Mystery Series. A summa cum laude graduate of Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee, Anna majored in music and minored in psychology. She currently resides in Indiana with her family and is hard at work on the next Lady Darby Mystery. Visit her at www.annaleehuber.com.
Jane Igharo
JANE ABIEYUWA IGHARO was born in Nigeria and immigrated to Canada at the age of twelve. She has a journalism degree from the University of Toronto and works as a communications specialist in Ontario, Canada. She writes about strong, audacious, beautifully flawed Nigerian women much like the ones in her life. When she isn’t writing, she’s watching “Homecoming” for the hundredth time and trying to match Beyoncé’s vocals to no avail.
Jane’s debut, TIES THAT TETHER, tells the story of a Nigerian woman who is caught between love and cultural obligations. It will be published in 2020.
Marci Jefferson
Growing up in an Air Force family took MARCI JEFFERSON across the world, inspiring an interest in culture and travel, but her passion for history sparked while living in Yorktown, Virginia, where locals still tell Revolutionary War tales. She kept a love of writing to herself, and eventually abandoned it to pursue the more “practical” path of becoming a Registered Nurse. Years after graduating from Virginia Commonwealth University, immersing herself in a Quality Assurance nursing career, and then having children, she realized she’d neglected a few of her passions. She began traveling again, writing along the way, delving into bits of history that caught her fancy. GIRL ON THE GOLDEN COIN was released by St. Martin’s Press in 2014, with ENCHANTRESS OF PARIS following in 2015. Marci is a member of the Historical Novel society. She resides in the Midwest with her husband, making hair-bows for their daughter and trying not to step on their son’s Legos. www.marcijefferson.com (Photo by Jill Sloffer)
Julie Christine Johnson
As a little girl, JULIE CHRISTINE JOHNSON read Harriet the Spy by Louise Fitzhugh and decided that one day she would be a writer, just like Harriet. Julie grew up, earned undergraduate degrees in French and Psychology and a Master’s in International Affairs, and went on to do many things, including teaching English as a Second Language, administering university study abroad programs, and buying wine and beer for a multi-store natural foods co-op. But it took her nearly forty years to follow in Harriet’s footsteps and begin writing.
Julie draws from her experiences living abroad in lands as varied as France, Japan, Chad, and New Zealand to craft stories about characters searching for a sense of self and place. She hopes to move her readers with fiction that navigates the borders of heart and mind. She is the author of IN ANOTHER LIFE (Sourcebooks, 2016), and THE CROWS OF BEARA (Ashland Creek Press, 2017). A runner, hiker, and wine geek, Julie makes her home on the Olympic Peninsula of northwest Washington state with her best friend and husband of twenty-three years, Brendan. Visit Julie’s blog chalkthesun.org
Valona Jones
VALONA JONES writes paranormal cozy mysteries set in Southern locales. Her work blends mystery and the unexplained, along with a sprinkle of romance. A former scientist, she’s drawn to the study of personal energy. She sharpened her people-watching skills as a lifelong introvert and thankfully had a bank vault full of personal observations when she began to write fiction. She is the author of Snuffed Out, A Magic Candle Shop Mystery. She’s a member of Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime. She lives in coastal Georgia, where she’s seen time and tide wait for no one.
https://facebook.com/ValonaJonesAuthor
Laura Kamoie
A New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of historical fiction, LAURA KAMOIE has always been fascinated by the people, stories, and physical presence of the past, which led her to a lifetime of historical and archaeological study and training. She holds a doctoral degree in early American history from The College of William and Mary, published two non-fiction books on early America, and most recently held the position of Associate Professor of History at the U.S. Naval Academy before transitioning to a full-time career writing genre fiction. She is the author of AMERICA’S FIRST DAUGHTER and MY DEAR HAMILTON, co-authored with Stephanie Dray, allowed her the exciting opportunity to combine her love of history with her passion for storytelling. Laura lives among the colonial charm of Annapolis, Maryland with her husband and two daughters. Learn more at LauraKamoie.com
Minka Kent
MINKA KENT has been crafting stories since before she could scribble her name. With a love of the literary dark and twisted, Minka cut her teeth on Goosebumps and Fear Street, graduated to Stephen King as a teenager, and now counts Gillian Flynn, Chevy Stevens, and Caroline Kepnes amongst her favorite authors and biggest influences. Minka has always been curious about good people who do bad things and loves to explore what happens when larger-than-life characters are placed in fascinating situations.
In her non-writing life, Minka is a thirty-something wife and mother who equally enjoys sunny and rainy days, loves freshly cut hydrangeas, hides behind oversized sunglasses, and travels to warmer climates every chance she gets. Photo credit: Jill Austin Photography.
Noué Kirwan
NOUE KIRWAN is a Bronx, NY native, raised between there and the Bay Area of Northern California. She currently, and for many years, has lived in Harlem, New York. When she’s not consuming copious amounts of media: binging TV shows, devouring movies, hoarding comic books and inhaling romance novels, she’s writing herself, dreaming up lives for formidable women and passionate men.
E. Knight
ELIZA KNIGHT is a USA Today bestselling author of historical women’s fiction. Her love of history began as a young girl when she traipsed the halls of Versailles and ran through the fields in Southern France. She can still remember standing before the great golden palace, and imagining what life must have been like—themes she got to thoroughly explore with a group of bestselling authors in the forthcoming novel, Ribbons of Scarlet. She is the owner of the acclaimed blog History Undressed. Eliza lives in Maryland atop a small mountain with a knight, three princesses and two very naughty newfies. Visit Eliza at www.eknightauthor.com/eknight, or her historical blog, History Undressed, www.historyundressed.com. You can follow her on Twitter @EKHistoricalFic and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EKnightAuthor.
Elizabeth Langston
Elizabeth Langston spent most of her career as a software engineer before discovering she loved writing stories more. THE MEASURE OF SILENCE is her twelfth novel. When she’s not researching her next book, she enjoys traveling the world with her family, binge-watching mystery shows, or curling up in her North Carolina home with a cup of coffee and a good book. Learn more about Elizabeth at https://elizabethlangston.net .
Kristen Lepionka
KRISTEN LEPIONKA wanted to write mysteries from the time she first saw Mike Hammer reruns on daytime cable as a kid. She is obsessed with getting the details correct in her writing, which has led her to multiple police ride-alongs, shooting ranges, and inside an Icelandic volcano. Kristen lives in Columbus, Ohio with her partner, two cats, and a very tall to-be-read pile.
Natasha Lester
NATASHA LESTER worked as a marketing executive for L’Oreal before penning the New York Times and internationally bestselling novel The Paris Orphan. She is also the author of the USA Today bestseller The Paris Seamstress. Her latest book is The Three Lives of Alix St Pierre. When she’s not writing, she loves collecting vintage fashion, traveling, reading, practicing yoga and spending time with her three children. Natasha lives in Perth, Western Australia. You can find out more about her at: www.natashalester.com.au
Martin Limon
MARTIN LIMON is is the author of many novels, including The Ville Rat, The Iron Sickle, The Joy Brigade , Mr. Kill, GI Bones, The Wandering Ghost, The Door to Bitterness, and Jade Lady Burning, a New York Times Notable book. He is also the author of numerous short stories which have been published in Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine and Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine. Limon lives near Seattle, Washington.
Photo: Michelle Kim Limon.
Jessica Lourey
JESSICA (JESS) LOUREY is best known for her critically-acclaimed Murder-by-Month mysteries, which have earned multiple starred reviews from Library Journal and Booklist, the latter calling her writing “a splendid mix of humor and suspense.” She is also active in Mystery Writers of America, where she served two terms on the national board, and Sisters in Crime. A tenured professor of creative writing and sociology, she also teaches writing workshops all over the country. When not teaching, reading, traveling, writing, or raising her two wonderful kids, you can find her watching terrible SyFy movies and dreaming of her next story.
Tara Lush
TARA LUSH is a Florida-based mystery author and journalist. She’s an RWA Rita finalist, an Amtrak writing fellow, and the winner of the George C. Polk award for environmental journalism. She lives on the Florida gulf coast with her husband and two dogs.
Annette Lyon
USA Today bestselling author ANNETTE LYON is an award-winning writer of women’s fiction and romance. As the child of a bibliophile and a linguist, she was drawn to writing at a young age, when she piled pillows and blankets on a chair to reach her mother’s typewriter. She has published many novels and dozens of other works. Her first foray into women’s suspense releases in 2023.
She lives in the Rocky Mountains near her four grown children and cat Fiona, a geriatric flame-tipped Siamese with an attitude. When she’s not writing, knitting, or eating chocolate, she’s ignoring the spots on the kitchen floor and binge-watching Gilmore Girls or Criminal Minds with her husband.
Fans can find her online on her website, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
Jeanne Mackin
JEANNE MACKIN is the author of several novels: The Sweet By and By (St. Martin’s Press), Dreams of Empire (Kensington Books), The Queen’s War (St. Martin’s Press), and The Frenchwoman (St. Martin’s Press). She has published short fiction and creative nonfiction in several journals and periodicals including American Letters and Commentary and SNReview. She is also the author of the Cornell Book of Herbs and Edible Flowers (Cornell University publications) and co-editor of The Norton Book of Love (W.W. Norton), and wrote art columns for newspapers as well as feature articles for several arts magazines. Jeanne’s most recent releases include The Beautiful American (NAL/Penguin 2014) and A Lady of Good Family (NAL/Penguin 2015). Her next historical novel, The Last Collection, centering on the rivalry between fashion designers Coco Chanel and Elsa Schiaparelli will release from Berkley/Penguin in 2019. She was the recipient of a creative writing fellowship from the American Antiquarian Society and her journalism has won awards from the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education, in Washington, D.C. She teaches creative writing at Goddard College in Vermont, has taught or conducted workshops in Pennsylvania, Hawaii and New York and has traveled extensively in Europe. She lives with her husband, artist Steve Poleskie, in upstate New York. Please visit Jeanne at www.jeannemackin.com or on her Facebook page at www.facebook.com/jeannemackinauthor.
Kerri Maher
KERRI MAHER is the author of The Kennedy Debutante, which People magazine described as “a riveting reimagining of a true tale of forbidden love,” and This Is Not a Writing Manual: Notes for the Young Writer in the Real World under the name Kerri Majors. She holds an MFA from Columbia University and founded YARN, an award-winning literary journal of short-form YA writing. A writing professor for many years, she now writes full time and lives with her daughter and dog in a leafy suburb west of Boston, Massachusetts.
Mia P. Manansala
MIA P. MANASALA is a writer from Chicago who loves books, baking, and bad-ass women. She uses humor (and murder) to explore aspects of the Filipino diaspora, queerness, and her millennial love for pop culture. Her debut novel, ARSENIC AND ADOBO (Berkley, 2021) is the first in the Tita Rosie’s Kitchen Mystery series.
Find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram: @MPMtheWriter. Or check out her website: www.miapmanansala.com
Neve Maslakovic
NEVE MASLAKOVIC is the author of Regarding Ducks and Universes (Amazon Encore). Before that she was busy writing technical papers and finishing her Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering at Stanford University’s STAR Lab (Space, Telecommunications and Radioscience Laboratory). After much moving back and forth between Belgrade—where she spent her early years speaking Serbian in then communist Yugoslavia—and London, New York, and the San Francisco Bay Area, she has settled near Minneapolis/St. Paul. She enjoys the Minnesota weather (even, on occasion, in January). She is a member of the Loft Literary Center and is currently hard at work on her second, as yet untitled, novel.
Beth Merlin
BETH MERLIN, a native New Yorker, loves anything Broadway, romantic comedies, and a good maxi dress. She is the author of The Campfire Series: One S’more Summer, S’more to Lose, Love You S’more, Tell Me S’more and the stand alone novel, Breakup Boot Camp. When Beth isn’t writing, you can find her spending time with her husband, daughter, and two Cavapoos, Sophie and Scarlett.
Kristin Miller
KRISTIN MILLER is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of dark psychological suspense, sexy paranormal romance, and sweet contemporary romance novels. She’s a Daphne DuMaurier Award finalist, and a former president of the San Francisco Chapter of Romance Writers of America. After graduating from Humboldt State University with a major in psychology and a minor in English, Kristin used her love of language to teach high school English before crossing over to a career in writing. She lives in northern California with her husband and their two children. www.kristinmiller.net
Danielle Modafferi
DANIELLE MODAFFERI, with almost 18 years spent as an English teacher by day and about six of those working as a writer and publisher by night, strives to find new ways (and enough time in the day!) to express her creativity and generate new excitement for story craft. She is an enthusiastic crafter, a sucker for a good pun, a professional napper, and a believer in fairy tales! She loves making memories with loved ones, traveling to far away (and some not-so-far away) places, and snuggling with her two dogs, Jackson and Liam, who are also incidentally her biggest fans.
Julie Moffett
JULIE MOFFETT is a bestselling author who writes in the genres of mystery, historical romance and paranormal romance. She has won numerous awards, including the the 2016 Award of Excellence, the 2014 Mystery & Mayhem Award for Best YA/New Adult Mystery, the prestigious 2014 HOLT Award for Best Novel with Romantic Elements, a HOLT Merit Award for Best Novel by a Virginia Author (twice!), a PRISM Award for Best Romantic Time-Travel AND Best of the Best Paranormal Books of 2002, and the 2011 EPIC Award for Best Action/Adventure Novel. She has also garnered additional nominations for the Daphne du Maurier Award and the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence. Her book A Double-Edged Blade was an Amazon #1 Bestselling Novel.
Julie has a B.A. in Political Science and Russian Language from Colorado College, a M.A. in International Affairs from The George Washington University in Washington, D.C., and an M.Ed from Liberty University. She has worked as a proposal writer, journalist, teacher, librarian and researcher, but she loves her job as a writer best. Julie speaks Russian and Polish and has two sons. Visit Julie’s website at: www.juliemoffett.com.
Marin Montgomery
MARIN MONTGOMERY was always fascinated by true crime and suspense thrillers, so much so that she minored in Criminal Justice. Since releasing her debut novel in late 2017, she has continued to contribute to the genre, and has had four thrillers reach #1 on the Amazon charts.
A midwestern girl at heart, she now lives in the desert with her goldendoodle, Dashiell.
Shara Moon
SHARA MOON is a first-generation Haitian American writer and amateur historian who enjoys exploring black world history. She is a graduate of the University of Central Florida, an alum of the City College of New York, and a former writing instructor. She has published numerous contemporary and historical romances as USA Today bestselling author Lena Hart, with starred reviews from Library Journal and features in the Washington Post and Shondaland. Her debut historical fiction novel, OUR NEW DAY BEGUN, and follow-up novel, GOLD STAR MOTHERS, are forthcoming from William Morrow/Harper Collins.
For more information about her upcoming works, visit www.sharamoon.com.
Korina Moss
KORINA MOSS is the author of the Cheese Shop Mystery series (St. Martin’s Press) set in the Sonoma Valley, including the Agatha Award winner for Best First Novel, CHEDDAR OFF DEAD. Her books have been featured in PARADE Magazine, Women’s World, AARP, and Fresh Fiction. For more information about Korina and her books, and to subscribe to her free monthly newsletter, visit her website at korinamossauthor.com.
David Nix
DAVID NIX’s ninth grade English teacher, Mr. Patton, suggested that he become a writer. Due to caution and perhaps cowardice, he waited twenty-five years before taking up his teacher’s challenge. Since 2010, he has self-published or traditionally published science fiction, historical westerns, and historical romance (as Sawyer North).
David lives in Austin, Texas with his wife of over 30 years, where he does science by day and writes by moonlight.
Shelley Noble
SHELLEY NOBLE is the NEW YORK TIMES Bestselling Author of the women’s fiction novel BEACH COLORS, a #1 Nook bestseller. It is followed by STARGAZEY POINT, BREAKWATER BAY, WHISPER BEACH, and four novellas, Holidays at Crescent Cove, Stargazey Nights, and Newport Dreams.
As SHELLEY FREYDONT she is the author of the CELEBRATION BAY FESTIVAL MYSTERIES (Berkley Prime Crime) as well at the Katie McDonald and Lindy Haggerty mystery series and the Newport GILDED AGE MYSTERIES.
She has written several romance novels under the pseudonym Gemma Bruce. Her novella Bah Humbug, Baby appeared in a USA Today bestselling anthology. Her books have been translated into seven languages and have finaled in The Holt Medallion, Golden Leaf, Booksellers Best and More than Magic awards.
A former professional dancer and choreographer, she most recently worked on the films, Mona Lisa Smile and The Game Plan. Shelley is a member of Sisters-in-Crime, Mystery Writers of America, Romance Writers of America, and Liberty States Fiction Writers. For more about Shelley, please visit her websites www.shelleynoble.com and www.shelleyfreydont.com.
Kayte Nunn
KAYTE NUNN was brought up in the UK and the US, and is a former book and magazine professional, including several years as editor of Australian Gourmet Traveller WINE magazine. Kayte writes both contemporary and historical fiction and is the author of six novels, including the international bestselling The Botanist’s Daughter, which was the winner of the 2020 Winston Graham Historical Fiction Prize. Her books have been translated into ten languages. Kayte lives in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, Australia with her family and when not writing loves to read, bake, ski and hike. You can find out more about Kayte at www.kaytenunn.com. Photo Credit: Jane Earle
Loretta Nyhan
LORETTA NYHAN was a reader before she was a writer, devouring everything she could get her hands on, including the backs of cereal boxes and the instructions booklet for building the Barbie dream house. Later, her obsession with reading evolved into an absolute need to write. After college, she wrote for national trade magazines, taught writing to college freshmen, and eventually found the guts to try fiction.
She is the author of The Other Family (Lake Union, 2020), Digging In (Lake Union, 2018), and All the Good Parts (Lake Union, 2016). Previous published novels include Home Front Girls and Empire Girls (MIRA Books).
When she’s not writing, Loretta can be found knitting, baking, and doing all kinds of things her high school self would have found hilarious. She lives in the Chicago area.
Diana Orgain
DIANA ORGAIN is the USA Today bestselling author of the Maternal Instincts Mystery Series: Bundle of Trouble, Motherhood is Murder, Formula for Murder, and Nursing a Grudge. She is also the author of the Love or Money Mystery series and Yappy Hour and is the co-author of GILT TRIP in the New York Times bestselling Scrapbooking Mystery series with Laura Childs.
Diana holds a B.A and M.F.A. in Creative Writing from San Francisco State University with a minor in acting. She has acted professionally both on stage and in national commercials. She’s written several plays, which were produced at San Francisco State University, GreenHouse Productions, and PlayGround. She lives in San Francisco with her husband and three children. Visit her at http:/www.dianaorgain.com.
Chloe Palov
CHLOE PALOV, writing romance as Chloe Douglas, was born in Washington, D.C., and graduated from George Mason University with a degree in art history. Although she began her writing career in the romance genre, Chloe switched gears several years ago, making the leap to thrillers, written under the name C.M. Palov for Penguin UK (www.cmpalov.com). Chloe is excited now to be returning to her romance roots with two time-travel romances to be published later this year by the Forever Yours imprint of Grand Central Publishing, A Love For All Time (Sept ’14) and Our Love Is Now (Dec ’14). Chloe lives and writes from her home in Virginia. You can visit her at www.chloedouglasbooks.com.
Gigi Pandian
USA Today bestselling and Agatha-Award winning author GIGI PANDIAN is the child of cultural anthropologists from New Mexico and the southern tip of India. After being dragged around the world during her childhood, she tried to escape her fate when she left a PhD program in favor of art school. But adventurous academic characters wouldn’t stay out of her head. Thus was born the Jaya Jones Treasure Hunt Mystery Series.
Gigi was awarded the prestigious Malice Domestic Grant for the first novel in the series Artifact which went on to be named a “Best of 2012” debut mystery by Suspense Magazine. She’s a graphic designer and photographer in the San Francisco Bay Area. Find her online at http://www.gigipandian.com.
Andrea Penrose
ANDREA PENROSE began her writing career at age five, creating a number of Westerns lavishly illustrated with crayon drawings of horses and cowboys. However, she has since moved on to Regency England, an era that has fascinated her ever since she picked up a copy of Jane Austen’s Pride And Prejudice. (Clearly she has a thing for Men in Boots.)
She graduated from Yale, and went on to get a MFA in Graphic Design from the Yale School of Art, concentrating in publication design. After working as an Art Director in the magazine world, she’s turned to writing full time. (She cheerfully admits to having a left brain-right brain love affair with the printed page.) Her books have garnered numerous awards, including two Daphne Du Maurier Awards for historical mystery, The Golden Leaf, and she’s been a three-time finalist for the prestigious RITA Award.
Andrea writes the Wrexford & Sloane Regency Mystery Series for Kensington. Please visit her website, www.andreapenrose.com, for links to her research blogs (which include art, of course!) and more on her books and upcoming events.
Angela Pisel
ANGELA PISEL doodled her way through every math and science class in high school, pretending to care about neurons and quadratic equations, biding her time until she could graduate and become the next Dear Abby. After a discussion with her guidance counselor led her in a more “practical” direction, she decided to attend Washington University in St. Louis where she received a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Occupational Therapy.
Angela has taken a special interest in mentoring women throughout various transitions in their lives. After researching women on death row, she decided to return to her first love and write a novel, A Place I Knew Well (Putnam 2016). She lives in North Carolina and juggles writing in-between a husband, four children, a cat, and two goldendoodles. Find out more at www.angelapisel.com.
D.M. Quincy
D.M. QUINCY is the author of the Atlas Catesby historical mystery series set in Regency England and featuring a brilliant world traveling amateur sleuth. D.M. covered dozens of unsolved murders as a Washington, D.C. street reporter, which probably motivated her decision to pen her own stories in which a brilliant amateur detective always nabs the killer. As a U.S. Foreign Service brat, D.M. was bitten by the travel bug practically at birth and, like Atlas, tries to visit far-flung destinations as often as she can. When she isn’t hunched over her laptop researching ways for her villain to kill people, D.M. enjoys reading, forces her teenaged sons to spend time with her, devours foreign television mystery series on Netflix and plots her next travel adventure. You can visit D.M. at http://www.dmquincy.com/.
Kate Quinn
KATE QUINN is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of historical fiction. A native of southern California, she attended Boston University where she earned a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Classical Voice. She has written four novels in the Empress of Rome Saga, and two books in the Italian Renaissance, before turning to the 20th century with The Alice Network, The Huntress, and The Rose Code. All have been translated into multiple languages. Kate and her husband now live in San Diego with three rescue dogs.
A.D. Rhine
A. D. RHINE is the pseudonym of Ashlee Cowles and Danielle Stinson. The authors are united by their military “brat” upbringing, childhood friendship spanning two decades, and love of classical literature. Ashlee holds graduate degrees in Medieval History from the University of St. Andrews and Theological Studies (with an emphasis in the Ethics of War and Peace) from Duke University. Danielle holds a Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy from Tufts University. Their adult debut Horses of Fire (releasing from Dutton in 2023) is the book they have always dreamt of writing together.
Alix Rickloff
Critically acclaimed author of historical and paranormal romance, ALIX RICKLOFF’s family tree includes a knight who fought during the Wars of the Roses (his brass rubbing hangs in her dining room), and a soldier who sided with Charles I during the English Civil War (hence the family’s hasty emigration to America).
Her previous novels include the Bligh Family series (Kensington), the Heirs of Kilronan trilogy (Pocket), and, as Alexa Egan, the Imnada Brotherhood series (Pocket). Her most recent novels, SECRETS OF NANREATH HALL and THE WAY TO LONDON (William Morrow), are historical women’s fiction.
Lauren Rico
LAUREN RICO has earned a reputation as one of the top Classical music broadcasters in the country—introducing listeners to the stories of the great composers. But there came the point when she wanted to start writing some stories of her own, and in less than a decade, she’s turned a hobby into several award-winning books. Lauren loves to write relatable characters and compelling storylines that will keep readers up all night turning pages. When she’s not talking on the radio or tethered to her laptop, Lauren enjoys a quiet but crazy life in a lovely but messy home on Long Island with her husband and rescue pup.
Ava Roberts
AVA ROBERTS is a clinical psychologist turned writer and mom. She’s the author of THE PERFECT BOYFRIEND (Severn River, 2025), THE VANISHING NEIGHBOR and JUNIPER ISLE. Originally from the West Coast, she now lives in the New England area with her husband and two children.
Jennifer Robson
JENNIFER ROBSON is the author of the internationally bestselling Somewhere in France (HarperCollins, 2014), as well as After the War is Over (HarperCollins, 2015) and Moonlight Over Paris (HarperCollins, 2016). She holds a doctorate in British economic and social history from the University of Oxford, where she was a Commonwealth Scholar and SSHRC Doctoral Fellow. She lives in Toronto, Canada, with her husband and young children.
Erika Robuck
ERIKA ROBUCK is the national bestselling author of Hemingway’s Girl, Call Me Zelda, Fallen Beauty, The House of Hawthorne, and Receive Me Falling. She is a contributor to the anthology Grand Central: Postwar Stories of Love and Reunion, and to the Writer’s Digest Essay Collection, Author Unboxed. She writes satire (#Hockeystrong: A Novel) as E. Robuck. Her latest novel The Invisible Woman will release from Berkley/Penguin February 2, 2021. Robuck was named Annapolis’ Author of the Year in 2014, and she resides there with her husband and three sons.
Renée Rosen
RENÉE ROSEN is the USA Today bestselling author of The Social Graces along with five other historical novels including Park Avenue Summer, Windy City Blues and What the Lady Wants. Her newest novel Fifth Avenue Glamour Girl is about the cosmetic icon, Estée Lauder. Renée lives in Chicago and is at work on a new novel about the Barbie doll creator, Ruth Handler. To learn more visit her website: www.reneerosen.com.
Aimie K. Runyan
AIMIE K. RUNYAN writes to celebrate history’s unsung heroines. She has been honored as a Historical Novel Society Editors’ Choice selection, as a three-time finalist for the Colorado Book Awards, and as a nominee for the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writer of the Year. Aimie is active as an educator and speaker in the writing community and beyond. Her next books, The Castle Keepers (in collaboration with J’nell Ciesielski and Rachel McMillan) and A Bakery in Paris will release in 2023 from Harper Collins. Also from Harper Collins, Aimie’s contemporary Women’s Fiction debut, The Memory of Lavender and Sage, will release in early 2024. She lives in Colorado with her amazing husband, two (usually) adorable children, two (always) adorable kitties, and a dragon. To learn more about Aimie, please visit www.aimiekrunyan.com.
Patricia Sargeant/Olivia Matthews
Award-winning author PATRICIA SARGEANT writes romance and, as Olivia Matthews, cozy mysteries. Her work has been featured in national publications such as Publishers Weekly, USA Today, Kirkus Reviews, Suspense Magazine, Mystery Scene Magazine, Library Journal and RT Book Reviews. She’s also been interviewed on podcasts, including Destination Mystery with Laura Brennan, Conversations LIVE! with Cyrus Webb, Read You Later with Lasheera Lee and Katara’s Café with Katara Johnson.
Patricia has been a keynote speaker and presenter at various events. She’s conducted numerous writing craft workshops for writers groups and book conferences. Visit her online at PatriciaSargeant.com or follow her on Twitter at @BooksByPatricia.
Victoria Schade
VICTORIA SCHADE is an author, speaker, and dog trainer known for her upbeat approach to living and working with dogs. She has been featured in The Washington Post, Martha Stewart Living, Real Simple, Reader’s Digest, The Bark, and many dog-specific publications. Victoria has worked on Animal Planet’s annual Puppy Bowl special for the past twelve years, and appeared on two seasons of the Animal Planet show Faithful Friends. She has served as a pet expert for Petside, Pet360, petMD, PawCulture and Chewy, writing training and behavior content and appearing in educational videos.
Victoria shares her 1850’s always-in- need-of- renovations home with Millie the Smooth Brussels Griffon (who wants you to know that she is not a skinny pug), Olive the mixed breed dog, the occasional foster pup, and her incredibly tolerant husband, Tom.
She has written two dog training books, Bonding With Your Dog and Secrets of a Dog Trainer. Her novels include LIFE ON THE LEASH (Gallery/S&S) and the upcoming WHO RESCUED WHO (Berkley/Penguin). Check out her blog for more adorable canine content: http://www.victoriaschade.com/blog/
Joanna Schaffhausen
JOANNA SCHAFFHAUSEN is a scientific editor who spends her days immersed in research on potential new therapies for cancer, addiction, and neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease. Previously, she worked as an editorial producer for ABC News, where she advised and wrote for programs such as World News Tonight, Good Morning America and 20/20. She holds a doctorate in psychology, which reflects her long-standing interest in the brain—how it develops and the many ways it can go wrong. Her debut novel, The Vanishing Season, won the Mystery Writers of America/St. Martin’s Minotaur First Crime Novel Award in 2016. She lives in the Boston area with her husband and daughter.
Debra Sennefelder
DEBRA SENNEFELDER is an avid reader who reads across a range of genres, but mystery fiction is her obsession. Her interest in people and relationships is channeled into her novels against a backdrop of crime and mystery. When she’s not reading, she enjoys cooking and baking and as a former food blogger, she is constantly taking photographs of her food. Yeah, she’s that person.
Born and raised in New York City, where she majored in her hobby of fashion buying, she now lives and writes in Connecticut with her family. She’s worked in retail and publishing before becoming a full-time author. Her writing companions are her adorable and slightly spoiled Shih-Tzus, Susie and Billy.
Dorothy St. James
Cozy mystery author DOROTHY ST. JAMES (www.dorothystjames.com) loves nothing better than to curl up with a good book along with a plate of decadent chocolates to nibble. A former beach bum, she now lives mere minutes outside historic Charleston, South Carolina with her sexy sculptor husband, their spirited Papillion pup (Iona), crazy rescue collie (Rosie), and mischievous kitten (Suki). An environmental urban planner by profession and wildlife biologist by education, she gave up her day job to devote her time to writing in 2001. Writing as Dorothy McFalls, she’s penned several award-winning romances.
A.M. Stuart
Australian author A.M. STUART learned her passion for history from her father and began her writing career half way up a tree in the school playground where she wrote her first (unpublished) historical romance. There have been many published (and multi award nominated) historical romances since then but her first love has always been historical mystery.
Born in Kenya, her family came to Australia when she was ten years old. As an adult she lived in Singapore for a number of years, where the idea for the Harriet Gordon Mysteries first crystallized.
In her life outside writing, she enjoyed a varied career as a lawyer in a wide number of fields including the military (where she held the rank of Major) and as a senior executive in the fire services.
The first of The Harriet Gordon Mysteries, SINGAPORE SAPPHIRE, will be published by Berkley in August 2019. Readers can connect with A.M. Stuart at her website, Facebook, or subscribe to her newsletter.
Rebecca Taylor
REBECCA TAYLOR was born to a single, British teen during a February blizzard in Green Bay, Wisconsin. When she was three, her mother met and married a US Marine. Like many children of military families, she spent the next fifteen years of her life moving. From Canada to Okinawa, and then all over the United States, she attended eight different schools before graduating high school.
Not really understanding how people manage to stay in one place for more that twelve months, she spent her twenties working as a domestic and international flight attendant and pursing degrees in psychology and sociology. It was while pregnant with her first child, and working on her graduate degree in school psychology, that she began writing fiction.
She has since written seven novels; ASCENDANT won the Colorado Book Award and AFFECTIVE NEEDS was a finalist for the Romance Writers of America RITA Award. HER PERFECT LIFE is her first work of women’s fiction and will be published by Sourcebooks in 2020.
Thankfully, Rebecca did eventually learn how to sit and stay. She currently lives in sunny Colorado with her husband, two teens, and two tragically spoiled dogs.
Stephanie Thornton
STEPHANIE THORNTON is a writer and high school history teacher who has been obsessed with forgotten women from history since she was twelve. Her first two novels, The Secret History: A Novel of Empress Theodora and Daughter of the Gods: A Novel of Ancient Egypt retell the lives of two of ancient history’s forgotten women while her third and fourth books, The Tiger Queens and The Conqueror’s Wife, center around the women who helped launch Genghis Khan’s and Alexander the Great’s epic conquests.
Her latest project, American Princess (Berkley 2019), reimagines the life of wild child Alice Roosevelt, resident Washington D.C. hellion and eldest daughter of Theodore Roosevelt. Her next book, And They Called It Camelot, a novel about Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis, will release from Berkley in 2020.
Stephanie lives with her husband, daughter, and three-legged kitten in Alaska, where she’s at work on her next novel about Jackie Kennedy (Berkley 2020).
Maggie Toussaint
Southern author MAGGIE TOUSSAINT found her true vocation as a mystery author after writing in the genres of romantic suspense and dystopian fiction, with twenty fiction novels and two nonfiction novels to her credit. A three-time finalist for Georgia Author of the Year, her work won two Silver Falchions, the Readers’ Choice, and the EPIC Awards. She’s past president of Southeast chapter of Mystery Writers of America and an officer of LowCountry Sisters In Crime. She lives in coastal Georgia, where secrets, heritage, and ancient oaks cast long shadows. Visit her at https://maggietoussaint.com/
Bryn Turnbull
BRYN TURNBULL is the internationally bestselling author of The Woman Before Wallis and The Last Grand Duchess. Equipped with a master of letters in creative writing from the University of St. Andrews, a master of professional communication from Toronto Metropolitan University and a bachelor’s degree in English literature from McGill University, Bryn focuses on finding stories of women lost within the cracks of the historical record. She lives in Toronto.
With a penchant for fountain pens, antique furniture and traveling, Bryn is happiest either with a book in hand at her family cottage or with a book in hand exploring a new city. In any case, she’s sure to have a book stashed away somewhere.
Learn more about Bryn at brynturnbull.com, or follow her on Instagram at @BrynTurnbullWrites. Photo credit: AnaPascos.com.
Jacquelyn Vincenta
JACQUELYN VINCENTA spent her childhood in the suburbs of Washington, DC where she discovered great literature at a young age and something was illuminated that she was never able to “un-see” – the alchemy of language and imagination. After graduating from the University of Iowa with a B.A. in English Literature she started her writing life as a police beat reporter for a daily newspaper near New Orleans. Then life brought marriage, two stepchildren, entrepreneurial efforts, and three children. While raising her family she worked as managing editor of the publishing company she and her then-husband owned, wrote magazine articles, and became involved with non-profit organizations dedicated to causes she is passionate about.
Jacquelyn works part-time for a translation company based in Prague, and devotes herself to her writing. Her debut novel, THE LAKE AND THE LOST GIRL, will release from Sourcebooks in 2017. She lives in Kalamazoo, Michigan, where she is currently at work on her next novel.
Kirsten Weiss
KIRSTEN WEISS worked overseas for nearly fourteen years, in the fringes of the former USSR and in South-east Asia. Her experiences abroad sparked an interest in the effects of mysticism and mythology, and how both are woven into our daily lives.
Now based in San Mateo, CA, she writes mysteries for Kensington and Midnight Ink, blending her experiences and imagination to create a vivid world of magic and mayhem. Kirsten has never met a dessert she didn’t like, and her guilty pleasures are watching True Blood and drinking good wine.
Christine Wells
CHRISTINE WELLS writes historical fiction featuring strong, fascinating women. From early childhood, she drank in her father’s tales of kings and queens and epic struggles for power across the globe, and has been a keen student of history ever since. She began her first novel while working as a corporate lawyer, and has gone on to write about periods ranging from Georgian England to post World War II France. She loves dogs, the beach and antiquing on Instagram and lives with her family in Brisbane, Australia. Her WWII-era historical novel SISTERS OF THE RESISTANCE will release from William Morrow in 2021.
Melissa Wiesner
MELISSA WIESNER’s mother didn’t allow her to watch much TV as a child and instead, made her play with paint, colorful pipe cleaners, random bits of fabric, and other crafty things. This set Melissa up for a lifetime of creative pursuits, and it was only a matter of time before things took a bookish turn. A night owl, Melissa began writing novels when her early-to-bed family retired for the evening. She is the author of emotional women’s fiction and romantic comedies. Along with her charming husband and two adorable children, Melissa splits her time between the big city of Pittsburgh, PA and rural West Virginia.
Andrew Wolfendon
ANDREW WOLFENDON’s path to novel-writing was a winding one. His first creative loves were music and theater. In his mid-twenties. he joined with an old college friend to write, produce, and perform a traveling comedy act. It was then he discovered he enjoyed the writing more than the performing and earned his master’s in writing at Emerson.
For several years, he penned optioned screenplays and then fell into the computer-game industry, where he wrote many of the “classic” kids’ software titles of the ‘90s and ‘00s, such as Darby the Dragon, several Magic Tales and JumpStart titles, and 3D Dinosaur Adventure. After an enjoyable career in games, Andy finally came around to working on his first love—books. He has ghostwritten over sixty titles. Fishermen’s Court is his first novel. Best Thrillers calls him an “exciting, fresh new voice,” and a “gifted debut novelist,” and the book has been called “a thriller of epic proportions,” and “one of the most suspenseful books I ever read.”
Caroline Woods
CAROLINE WOODS is the author of THE MESMERIST (coming from Doubleday in fall 2024), Fräulein M. (Gallery Books) and The Lunar Housewife (Doubleday, June 2022), which received acclaim from The New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the TODAY Show, Bookpage, Publishers Weekly, CrimeReads, the Read with Jenna community, and more.
Caroline has taught creative writing at Loyola University Chicago, Boston University, and the Boston Conservatory. In 2008 she completed an MFA in Creative Writing at BU, where she studied under Leslie Epstein, Ha Jin, and Allegra Goodman. She earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia, where she was a Jefferson Scholar.
Her website is: http://www.carolinewoodswriter.com. Twitter: @Carocour
