Authors

Julie M. Adams was born and raised in the small West Texas town of Big Spring. After graduating in 2000 she went to Texas Tech to study broadcast journalism. While at Tech Julie was actively involved in many writing classes. She has written over fifteen short stories and a novella. Julie spent the last four years as a television reporter in the Texas towns of Abilene and Tyler. She is now a marketing representative for a small company in Dallas. Julie loves writing in her spare time, often writing inspirations and short stories to share with her friends. She tells people God gave her the gift of writing to spread hope to others.

Glynis Becker cannot remember a time in her life when she wasn’t carrying around a book. Her father’s Air Force career took the family through move after move around the United States, and her best friends during those times were her books and the stories she wrote. Although her college career took her about as far from writing as possible (a degree in mechanical engineering), she’s winding her way back to that first love. She makes her home in Rapid City, South Dakota with her husband and their two children.

Guy Belleranti writes freelance and works as a library assistant at an elementary school. His work has appeared in many publications for both adults and children including Woman's World, Capper's, The LA Times Kids’ Reading Room, Boys' Quest, Jack and Jill and Pockets.

Matt Bird is an upstart writer hailing from Ajax, just outside Toronto, Ontario. With a B.A. in English and History under his belt and a degree in Journalism underway, he wonders if he’ll ever get out of school. He enjoys writing short fiction and would love to actually finish typing up a full novel one of these days.

Amy Blizzard is a freelance writer and Indiana native. Her publication credits include: The Islander (2002 Literary Holiday Short Story winner), Vegetarian Teen Online, Teen Hollywood, The Christian Online Magazine, Club Romance, Baku's Zine, Highland Press anthologies Recipe for Love and Love Under the Mistletoe. She has also released a young adult novel with Publish America. 

Holly Bowne’s short fiction, humorous and personal essays have been published in "Western New York Family Magazine," "Motherwords," "Sasee," "Strut," "Hearts at Home" and Central Michigan University’s “Framework” magazines. She has also had feature articles and profiles published in a variety of newspapers. Visit her website at www.hollybowne.com.

Gilda V. Bryant has written for and about children in regional and national magazines such as, 
Boys’ Life, Young Rider, The Lutheran, Ag Journal, MetroFamily Magazine, Metro Parent Magazine, Ann Arbor Magazine, Holiday Writes Anthology, Kid’s Ministry, Youth & Christian Education, and Church Educator.

Ann Carmichael was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois.  She received a B.A. in creative writing from The University of New Mexico in Albuquerque and a M.F.A. from Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota.  She has worked as a freelance writer for The Miami Herald and African-American Family Magazine.  Her work has also appeared in Puget Sounds Stories: 2003 Award Winning Short Stories and Poetry.  She currently resides in Chicago, Illinois.

Gayla Chaney lives in central Texas with her husband, Phil. They are the parents of three sons.  Her fiction has appeared online and in print journals, including Potomac Review, Thema, U.S. Catholic, Carve, Natural Bridge, and Cicada. When not writing, she can often be found in antique shops or flea markets seeking interesting pieces or inspiration for a future story.

Peg Cook and Annette Ilowiecki are a mother and daughter free lance writing team. Peg was a regional correspondent for The Elkhart Truth in Elkhart, Indiana. She has also been published in The Dude Rancher; Single Today, and The International Lion’s Club magazines. Annette is currently enrolled in the Institute of Children’s Literature “Writing for Children and Teenagers” correspondence course.

L. K. Clark is a freelance writer who lives in Bulgaria with her husband. Her articles have appeared in numerous publications. Her short stories cover a broad range from humor and children's stories to more serious topics, including acid attacks in Bangladesh , Uganda 's ongoing war, locked-in syndrome, honor killings and suicide bombers.

Barbara Croce was born and raised in Belgium, Europe. She came to live in the US in 1982 where she raised three great kids with her husband and best friend, Rich. She fills her days being a personal trainer and a weight management specialist.

Jonathan Cutler is a freelance marketing communications writer living and working in the small town of Sonoma, in the wine country north of San Francisco. He has one book published and is currently hard at work on a screenplay.

Roger deBry is the grandfather of 16 grandchildren and loves to tell them stories. He worked for IBM for 30 odd years in research and development, and now teaches computer science at Utah Valley University. He enjoys writing, drawing, painting, and working in the garden.

Lisa Dovichi lives in Novato, CA with her husband, son, and Killer the Beta fish. She is a freelance author and a budding novelist.

Ann Easterbrook - I have always loved to write and enjoy what I feel is ‘painting with words.’ I like to try and create a mental picture that the reader can really see and feel by reading the book. I write in many genres but particularly love to write young children’s short stories. When I write for children, I try and think like a child would when they are creating their own amazing imaginary world. I find it a delicious mental challenge and privilege to knock down the boundaries and step into the wonderland that a child would create for themselves.  Apart from children's short stories, my other works are a biography on my early life entitled ‘Tykes Tales, the Life of a Yorkshire Lass’ and I am currently writing a book called ‘Living like Kings’. This is an anecdotal account of my current life taken from where I live in a remote part of a small Canarian island. Here, my partner and I have bed and breakfast accommodation and our guests from many different countries provide us with a wealth of material, along with the help of a handful of neighbours.

Christopher J. Ferguson has had previous works published in the journals "Nefarious" and "Fantasy Gazetteer" and he's currently finishing up a gothic horror novel for young adults. He currently works as a professor of clinical and forensic psychology at Texas A&M International University in Laredo, TX.

Ryan Fitting - I am 17 years old, I live in northern Idaho, and I have been writing since I was in Kindergarten, but all of my pieces have been for school assignments. Recently, I have realized my talent and decided to at least try to write for a living. And, if that doesn't work out, I also have a future in the orchestra thanks to my cello. I hope you enjoy The Blue Blanket and my other future stories.

F.J. Fiordalisi has a B.S. from St. John's University, (N.Y.) where he graduated as a Pharmacist. He taught high school and middle school before leaving New York to become a police officer in Miami-Dade County, Florida. He retired as detective sergeant in 2001 after serving for twenty nine years and is currently living in Gainesville, Florida.

April Fourman - I grew up in Indiana. The daughter of a preacher. I am a wife and mother of three children. Two of my children are grown and one is married with a new baby boy. I am a proud grandma. I suffer with chronic illness. I have Addison's Disease as one of the autoimmune illnesses I deal with. I love to write. I write for myself really. It is a way to give myself some inspirational and uplifting self talk. I have many stories and most of them are true or based on true events. My daddy was a great storyteller. He reminded me of Andy Griffith in his "country" style. I have taken many of his stories and put them on paper. I truly believe that with all the negativity in this world, we can surely use some uplifting stories to warm our hearts, relax our minds, and deepen our own understanding and faith.

Michael J. Gilley found a love for writing when he began pursuing his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering. He’d always been a fan of books, and as a musician he reached out to various forms of art for inspiration. It was when he took English Composition that he really fell in love with creative writing. He writes mainly for fun, but has posted some articles with various sports websites; writing about mixed martial arts, another outlet he enjoys. Much like writing, Music is another passion of his. He finds he can have fun, and enjoy it even without the paycheck. If only he could be so fortunate to make a living doing what he truly loves.

Dennis Goldberg is known as the 'Fiction Writer Extraordinaire' whose motto has always been, "You want it, I write it!" He is a storyteller within many disciplines and has penned all genres in his produced short and feature screenplays as well as within his many published short stories.  In addition to 'Double Bubble Trouble', Mr. Goldberg has penned another novel for young readers as well as four other adult novels.  The author is the instructor of 'How To Write Short Stories' with the Powell Valley Community Education Department of Northwest College, Powell, Wyoming, U.S.A.  He has also penned over 130 short stories entitled 'From Chuckles to Chills' which vary from mainstream to experimental; from twenty-five word flash fiction to novella; and represent all genres. Many of these have been published in various anthologies.

Carol Davis Gustke holds a Bachelor of Science degree in human services from Western Michigan University. Her slice-of-life stories have appeared in Woman's World, Chicken Soup for the Recovering Soul, God Allows U Turns, and other top selling magazines. Her first children's book, "An Angel's First Job" published by Dragonfly Publishers has just been released.

Jeff Guthrie, a long-time resident of Raleigh, NC, lives with his lovely wife and 5-year-old son (two dogs, a cat and some goldfish too). By day he is a mild-mannered Oracle Programmer/Analyst, by night, writer extraordinaire. While not working, you will usually find Jeff playing with his son, sipping a latte at Starbucks or working on his next writing project. For additional details or to contact Jeff, please visit www.custombuiltliving.com.

Kathie Harrington has been a short story writer for many years. She loves inspiring others with true stories of her childhood and those of her own children and friends. Kathie is a speech-language pathologist, with a private practice, Good Speech, Inc., in Las Vegas NV. She has authored books on autism, speech therapy, and is an international speaker on autism and speech-language development. Kathie would love to hear your feedback at tappyh66@cox.net. 

S.A. Harris - Born and raised in the heart of Middle America, S. A. Harris launched her childhood affection for writing by jamming the keys of her mother’s Smith Corona typewriter. In 1998, her career commenced as a freelance columnist for Cornerstone Newspaper. Having written a collection of short stories, children’s picture books, poetry, and the completion of her first YA novel, she continues the avid pursuit establishing her lifelong aspiration. In 2007, she received an Editor’s Choice Award for outstanding artistry by a poet, and in 2008, was selected as one of fourteen applicants to attend Simon Van Booy’s writing workshop. Her work appears in the anthology Forever Spoken, and is a contributor for Estella’s Revenge and Bedtime.com. 

Janet Hounsell - I'm a retired weekly newspaper photo/journalist; have several magazine credits; wrote a town history book; continue to supply two weeklies with columns. Age 81 and hooked on writing!

Karl C. Johnson is a writer, speaker and actor residing in Boise , Idaho .  A prolific producer of op-ed pieces and newsletter journalism, Karl only this year has entered the exciting world of professional writing.  Still needing to eat and pay rent, Karl works part time in the clerical field.  “Filing is so mind-numbingly dull,” he says, “I find I have plenty of time at work to hatch new stories, plays and speeches.”  By only working part time, he adds, he can actually find time to craft and complete his stories.  Karl acts in numerous community theatres in the Boise area and is much sought after as a speaker among the area’s Toastmasters Clubs.

Christine Kettle was born in Glasgow, Scotland.  She and her husband came to Canada over thirty years ago and live in a small village just north of Toronto. She worked as a buyer for over twenty years until two years ago. She is a new writer.  

Donna M. Kohlstrom graduated with a Bachelor Degree in Psychology and worked in a variety of business fields as well as owned her own business.  Her essays, articles and advertising copy have appeared in several newspapers, newsletters and business magazines.  She lives in Florida and writes fiction and non-fiction short stories and memoirs.

Crystal Kupper is a military wife, piano teacher of 26 students and a freelance writer.  A published author in several national magazines, including Focus on the Family, Young Salvationist, Standard, Brio and Today's Pentecostal Evangel.

Tom LaPorte lives in north Georgia. Prior to publishing his first novel, Carnival, Tom wrote articles and columns for local newspapers and edited a literary magazine. Tom’s most treasured writing experience came when he worked with a fifth grade school teacher and began the Hembree Elementary Stories. The award winning first book in the series, Hembree Heist, introduced a zany cast of school-based characters who were created with the help of the fifth grade students. The Hembree stories, six in all, promote reading, the writing process, strong character education and vocabulary building. In addition to time spent writing, Tom is an avid runner and works as a special education teacher. His wife, Shannan, is also an educator. Together they enjoy traveling about the nation and beyond.

Bob Liddil is a freelance writer and an active member of Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. His work has appeared in Sorcerer’s Apprentice, Dragon Magazine, Marion Zimmer Bradley’s Fantasy Magazine and Absolute Magnitude. From 1994 to 2007, Bob was editor and publisher of Gulf Coast Computing Magazine in Pensacola, Florida. He also has many nonfiction articles to his credit. 

Kathleen Livingston enjoys playing with words. She added college teaching to her self-staring freelance writing work; a mother of three she has been writing and editing for over 16 years.

Chris Matier is in his tenth year of teaching and his eighth year of fatherhood. Both of these professions consume a tremendous amount of time and provide an enormous amount of pride. With his spare time, he enjoys hiking, camping, cycling, and writing. He is currently a blogger for Teachers of Faith, The Lost Blog, and a freelance author for Associated Content.  

Tina Mattern.  I’m a Portland, Oregon writer who was published last year in “Chicken Soup For The Breast Cancer Survivor’s Soul” as well as several other small press magazines. I consider myself blessed by God who inspires me with the stories I write and consider myself little more than a faithful “scribe”. My husband and I have been married for 27 years and are the parents of two wonderful children, a son, Aaron, who is 27 and a daughter, Summer (the heroine of this story), who is now 24. I welcome email at tinamattern@earthlink.com.

Steven McBrearty grew up in San Antonio, Texas, in one of those large, loud, rollicking Catholic families.  He attended San Antonio College then the University of Texas in Austin, from which he obtained a degree in English.  He has published more than fifteen short stories in literary journals, along with a number of non-fiction essays, articles, and humor pieces.  He also served as a ghostwriter for a time management and self-help book published by Simon & Schuster.  He is the father of two children in their twenties.  He lives in Austin.

Karen McCoy A 2005 graduate of the Institute of Children’s Literature, I enjoy writing for both children and adults. Publishing credits include Boys’ Quest, Partners, Wee Ones, Baltimore’s Child, and The Dollar Stretcher, Institute of Children’s Literature.

Sharon McGregor is a mother of two and grandmother of five who has stocked her empty nest with pets.  She has had stories and articles published in Horizon, Fifty Something, North of 50 and Reader's Digest Canada.

Chris Meziere spent the first 20 years of his life in Rancho Cucamonga, CA living in the house he was born in. Much like his other 5 siblings he inherited a love of music and literature from his parents. So Chris did the natural thing and combined his two loves to tell stories through music. But after years of fronting one rock 'n' roll band after the other, Chris found himself living in Centralia, WA, tired of trying to break through into the fickle music scene. Chris now spends as much of his free time as he can writing stories, making music (for fun), and simply enjoying life with his fianceè, Katie.

Lee Ann Sontheimer Murphy is a full time writer. Fiction is her first love but she writes in many other venues to pay the bills. She lives and writes in the far corner of southwest Missouri in a small town in the Ozark hills. Her fiction has recently appeared in Everyday Fiction, The Evergreen Review, Coyote Wild, The Chick Lit Review and in many other journals over the past twenty years.

Diane Payne teaches creative writing at University of Arkansas- Monticello. She is the author of two novels: Burning Tulips and A New Kind of Music. She has been published in hundreds of literary Magazines, which most recently include: Fiction International, The Rambler, Tea Party, and Arkansas Literary Fiction. More info can be found at; http://home.earthlink.net/~dianepayne/

Sarah Prentice  is a senior at the University of Minnesota. She teaches, creates and leads community art workshops. This is her first published work.

Thomas M. Quigley - Enjoys writing rhymes and short stories.  He always has story to tell. He has written far more scientific articles than rhymes or short stories during his long career in science. He enjoys his grandkids and telling just one more story.

Matthew Von Prince is a freelance writer from the state of Michigan. He has been writing fiction and non-fiction alike since he was a middle-schooler. His favorite genres include: sci-fi, fantasy and short stories/fables. "I don't write stories, the story is already there, I simply put pen to paper." Matthew Von Prince, 2007.

Leslie Reynolds has just finished her junior year in high school. She is an editor of the school newspaper and the school literary magazine. In her spare time, she and a group of friends founded a girls environmental group, and have spent the past six years raising money to fund trips for various ecologically oriented activities such as caring for wolves in a wolf sanctuary, helping injured sea turtles, and removing invasive species from wildlife habitat. She lives in Austin, Texas with her parents and older sister.

Jenny Schwartz is an Australian writer. Double Dragon eBooks published her first fantasy novel, The Walk Alones. Her short stories have appeared in The People's Friend, Beyond Centauri, and the Lorelei Signal.

Jacqueline Seewald has taught writing courses including Creative Writing at the high school, middle school and college level and has also worked as an academic librarian and educational media specialist. Seven of her books of fiction have been published. Her short stories, poems, essays, reviews and articles have appeared in numerous publications such as: SASEE, AFFAIRE DE COEUR, LOST TREASURE, THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR, PEDESTAL, SURREAL, AFTER DARK, THE DANA LITERARY SOCIETY JOURNAL, PALACE OF REASON, LIBRARY JOURNAL, THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE and PUBLISHERS WEEKLY. A mystery thriller for adults, THE INFERNO COLLECTION, was published by Five Star/Gale in hardcover. The novel appears in a new large print edition from Wheeler September 2008. A sequel, THE DROWNING POOL, has been contracted for publication in February 2009.

Laila Sholtz-Ames was born in Plano, Texas, but moved to Maine at five weeks old, where she grew up with an older sister Ariel and an older brother Jason, now a foreign service diplomat. Both parents are teachers, who homeschooled Sholtz-Ames throughout school. At the age of 15, Sholtz-Ames published her first book, “And So We Remember” a book of poetry about Sept. 11, 2001. Now, she is currently working on writing an autobiography, children’s stories and being a journalism student at the University of Maine. In her spare time, Sholtz-Ames enjoys reading, writing, traveling, spending time with friends, cooking and watching foreign movies.

Annie Laura Smith’s publications include stories, articles, curriculum, and test materials for Grades K-12. She is the author a World War II historical trilogy (The Legacy of Bletchley Park, Will Paris Burn? and Saving da Vinci), and a contemporary YA novel, Whispers in the Wind, for young readers. Her second contemporary YA novel, First Place, Love, will be published by Living Waters Publishing Company later this year.

Peter Stone has an international marriage, two children, and a cute, insane cat. He came to know Jesus closely through a sickly childhood. Currently suffers from epilepsy and otosclerosis but praises God through it. A Bible College Graduate, he teaches Sunday school and plays the piano in church. Peter Stone has been a member of FaithWriters.com for just over a year and has made a name for himself by placing in the Weekly Writing Challenge on a regular basis.

Camille Subramaniam lives with her husband in St. Charles, Missouri. She writes and teaches writing at Southern Illinois University—Edwardsville. She enjoys spending time with her family, who lives very close, and her husband's family, who lives in faraway Malaysia. Luckily, she loves to travel.

Susan Sundwall is a freelance writer and children's playwright. She writes from her home in upstate New York and has recently completed her first novel, a cozy mystery.  Check out her latest story, Bridge Nine, on Amazon Shorts. 

Pat St. Pierre is a freelance writer and amateur photographer from Wilton, CT. She has had both children’s and adult nonfiction, fiction, and poetry published in a variety of places. Her photos have been on the cover of Wee Ones Magazine and in the Shine Literary Journal Magazine. Her children’s writings have appeared in Fandangle, Wonder Time, Positively Kids, US Kids, More, Look and Listen, etc. Her adult writings have been published in The Writer, Beanfeast, The Homesteader, The Gardener’s Gazette, etc. Her poetry has received awards and honorable mentions. Her chapbook “Reality of Life” has been published by www.foothillspublishing.com. 

Mark D. Weaver grew up in Fairborn, Ohio and then embarked on a life journey that has taken him around the US and around the world. He has spent the last ten years teaching Linguistics and English as a Second Language in colleges and universities in Texas, Minnesota, and California. Before that, he worked with a linguistics organization in Ethiopia. He is currently a freelance writer living in Minneapolis. 

Suzan L. Wiener has had numerous articles, stories, poems, and other shorter pieces published in major publications such as Mature Years, Mature Living, Capper's, Verses, Canadian Writer's Journal, Metro Seven (Australia), The Writer's Newsletter, Poetry Canada, etc. She will also soon have an e-book up at Stonehedge Publishing and enjoys writing greetings for major card companies such as Andrew McMeel, Graphique de France, Gallant, Peaceable Kingdom Press. 

JuQuan Williams wrote his first book at the age of ten, entitled "Rex Mariner: Kid Detective." He self-published the comic book "Mr. Prime” in high school before attending the University of Michigan to major in Graphic Design. While there, he spent two years as an entertainment reviewer for the Michigan Daily newspaper. He took creative writing courses under the tutelage of novelists Jonis Agee (South of Resurrection, Strange angels) and Tish O'Dowd. He had also self-published three comic books. Since graduating, JuQuan has been looking to establish himself in the writing community. He wrote the Young Adult novel "The Leopard Man," and wrote and illustrated the webcomic "Unbeatable Heroes."