Authors

KATIE BRECKENRIDGE 

Silent Sorrows.

Katie Breckenridge is External Affairs Liaison and contributing writer for the children’s rights organization Them Before Us, and a Premier Fellow for the public policy organization Society of St. Sebastian. She has a master’s degree in Mental Health and Wellness and is working towards a graduate certificate in Trauma-Informed Practice.

MAX CHERRY

The Guilty Must Pay, Murder with a Capital C.

Max Cherry was born in Thorn, Mississippi on what he believes is a hotbed of psychic activity. His bedroom was the most terrifying place on earth, and his parents had to nightly reassure him that the monsters he swore were in his closet and under his bed were only in his head. He quickly discovered his parents were right, but it was not until he picked up his first pencil and started writing that he fully realized how crowded it was up there. 

As the pencil worked its gray magic on every piece of scrap paper he could scrounge, Max discovered that writing was the only way to chase the monsters away. 

Max currently lives in Yalobusha county with his wife and daughter. He refuses to trust empty boxes and cannot tolerate sitting next to food he cannot pronounce. When his family goes to sleep, Max still passes the time by writing the monsters away.

DICK DENNY 

Hell for the Company, Paved with Good Intentions, Abandon All Hope

Dick Denny is a veteran of the 82nd Airborne and a graduate of Auburn University. Dick SCUBA dives, hikes, camps, and has summited Kilimanjaro. The Double D is a disappointment to his family, a fun guy to be around, and a handy guy to have about in a pinch.

DEBBIE ELLIS 

All That and a Bottle of Jack.

Debbie has had a love for literature from a young age, and started writing when she was only sixteen. She is best know for writing rock fictions with a romantic subplot, even though she absolutely adores reading horror novels. The gorier, the better! Even after spending three years studying Hospitality (and working ten agonizing years in the industry), she realized that writing was her genuine passion and pursued that instead. 

She currently resides in Oudtshoorn, South Africa with her husband, son, daughter, and their seven cats. If she could have any more, she probably would.

BENNION ELLSWORTH 

Jovie Jade and the Monster Under her Bed.

Bennion lives in beautiful Cedar City, Utah with his wife and two daughters. He studied Creative Writing at Southern Utah University and has worked in the mental health field for nearly ten years. Bennion loves the outdoors and all forms of stories, including video games, TV and movies, and (obviously) books. While he enjoys science fiction and fantasy, reading and writing for his kids are where he finds real enjoyment.

TRACY CAPLE

The Blue Guitar Pick.

Tracy Caple was born and raised in rural Auckland, New Zealand. Raised like an only child, seeing her brother and sister had already left home, she found company in books and thanks to her father’s influencebegan to write her own stories. Now living in rural South Australia with her husband, three dogs, three miniature goats and a cat, Tracy has found time to once again escape into the world of reading and writing. The Blue Guitar Pick is her debut novel and its squeal is already in the works.

F.D. FAIR

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F.D. Fair is a paranormal romance author who was born and raised in Ontario, Canada. She is a wife and mother to three beautiful boys who keep her on her toes. 

She has always loved everything strange, unexplained and magical.  She started as an avid reader of paranormal romance and created fantastical stories in her head which she eventually put down on paper, starting her Westwood Pack Series.

C.J. FOSTER

A Seaside Story.

C.J. Foster enlisted in the military after graduating high school. After several tours of duty, C.J. went to medical school and became a physician. Returning to the military, C.J. spent the next few decades stationed throughout the world, including serving in both Iraq and Afghanistan, learning foreign languages and experiencing different cultures through medical engagements on multiple continents.

JENNY FULTON

1 Corinthians Bible Study.

Jenny Fulton is a wife, mother, children’s book author, YA fantasy author, blogger, and freelance writer with a B.S. in Bible, a B.S. in elementary education, and an endorsement in K-12 ESL. After graduating from Grace University in 2007, Jenny worked as a teacher in a variety of cultural and educational settings, both abroad and in the United States. She is a storyteller, a follower of Christ, and a seeker of truth. An enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, Jenny grew up hearing stories from her dad about the supernatural workings on the Navajo Reservation. As a child, she collected angels and loved anything related to fairy tales. Her days are now mostly spent raising her three young daughters (homeschooling two of them) and writing as much as time and opportunity allows.

JENNA GREENE

The Reborn Series.

Jenna Greene is a middle school teacher, dance enthusiast, dragonboat coach, and semi-professional napper. She lives with her husband, Scott, and daughter, Olivia, in Alberta, Canada.

ELIZABETH GUIDER

Milk and Honey on the Other Side, Connections, Our Long Love's Day, The Casserole Courtship.

I am a longtime entertainment journalist who has worked in Rome, Paris and London as well as in New York and Los Angeles. Born in the South, I hold a doctorate in Renaissance Studies from New York University. During the late 1970’s I was based in Rome where I taught English and American literature and where much of the action of my first novel, The Passionate Palazzo, takes place. While in Europe I worked as an entertainment reporter for the showbiz newspaper Variety, focusing on the film business, television and theater. I traveled widely, reporting on the politics affecting media from Eastern Europe to Hong Kong as well as covering various festivals and trade shows in Cannes, Monte Carlo, Venice and Berlin.  Back in the States since the early 1990’s, I specialized on the burgeoning TV industry and eventually held top editor positions at Variety and latterly at The Hollywood Reporter. Most recently I have freelanced for World Screen News as senior contributing editor. I divide my time between Los Angeles and Vicksburg, MS where I grew up, and which is the setting for my second novel, Milk and Honey on the Other Side. 

My first novel, The Passionate Palazzo, is set in Rome, Italy in the late 1970s where I lived and worked during that time of amazing political and cultural upheaval. My third, called Connections, came out in September 2018, and focuses on three generations of women as they grapple with their personal demons, confront professional challenges and shifting social mores, and fumble their way to lasting relationships. In addition to my enjoyment of writing, I try to read widely, everything from contemporary novels -- think Jonathan Franzen, Jennifer Egan, Donna Tartt, Denis Lehane, Amos Towle -- to nonfiction -- of late Elizabeth Kolbert (The Sixth Extinction), Mary Beard (SPQR) and Ian Morris (Why the West Still Rules).

BRADLEY GUIRE

The Ward.

Bradley Guire started writing and drawing as a child, leading to his professional work as a reporter, editor, and designer spanning four newspapers across two decades. He has won numerous awards for both reporting and design, including placing third in the Reporter of the Year category in the 2011 Idaho Press Club Awards. As a designer, he won first place in daily page design for three years straight from 2017-19 and even swept the category the first two years. His personal column (2018-19) for the Idaho Press garnered much attention, including handwritten letters from readers.          

In the fall, he works at Spirit Halloween, where he champions the Spirit of Children charity, which helps children’s wards of hospitals across the country. Plus, he just really loves Halloween.         

His personal experiences with addiction to painkillers following multiple surgeries, depression, a stint in a behavioral health center, and his career as a journalist have informed this story. Many of the scenes in this novel are based on his life.  Today, Guire has just a bit more hope than Dean and hopes his written work continues to mean something to the community.         

Guire, a native Alabaman and graduate of the University of Alabama, now resides in Boise, Idaho. "The Ward" is his first novel.

CREIGHTON HALBERT

Pity's Prelude, Origin Songs.

Creighton Halbert grew up pouring over the adventures of the Pevensies and the fantastic imagery from Dr. Seuss’s imagination. As he was raised in Dallas, Texas before moving to the Nashville area, there’s no denying he’s a Southern boy. He spent formulative years running around in parks and woods with friends, building fortresses, cultures, and tiny ecosystems from whatever nature offered. 

At age 13, Creighton started spinning the first threads of what has become the massive web that is the world of the Network, writing his first novel at age 16 and building the first bones of the series with Foundations Books in 2016. These days, he combines an unruly imagination and the lessons he manages to remember from his time at Mississippi State University to create his own brand of literary havoc.

D. THOMAS JERLO

Dark Prisoner: The Kruthos Key, Hellbound Bound.

As a best-selling and award nominated author of fantasy and paranormal, D. Thomas Jerlo's novels hook unsuspecting readers into worlds of mage'ic and refuses to let them go until that last page is read. 

Although published in the United States, D. Thomas Jerlo is a Canadian author through and through. "Everything in life happens for a reason, be it good or bad, and it's because of this we learn to never take anything for granted."

GARY S. KADET

Mens Rea.

Gary S. Kadet was a journalist for 20 years working the crime, arts and general assignments beats for such newspapers as the Boston Herald, Globe, the Quincy Patriot Ledger and others. He was the Crime Editor for the nationally read Boston Book Review and wrote for Playboy Magazine, which published his fiction. He also ran the world's tenth-largest adult website and was a trailblazer in the early years of the Internet. He's the author of the literary thriller/romance novel "D/s - an Anti-Love Story" with Tor/Forge/Macmillan which was a main selection of the Doubleday book-of-the-month-club. The work broke new ground in detailing the seamy side of real-world (non-fantasy) BDSM, much to the chagrin of its self-appointed "community," who felt threatened by this work of fiction (in the same way bogus preachers felt threatened by Sinclair Lewis' "Elmer Gantry"). He spends his time ghostwriting screenplays and writing novels at a breakneck pace. "The Ogre Life" (Ukiyoto Publishing) shatters the already tarnished image of the world of bodybuilding. "Condition Zero" (Melange Books) first of the "Null & Boyd Noirs," is now available, a hard-boiled book dealing with freakish Boston crime. Mens Rea" (Foundations Books) - a novel of bank-robbing as revenge for a tilted economy - inaugurates the new year. Now, two NEW novels have been launched in time for summer: "Breath Control" (Ukiyoto Publishing), a tragi-comic tone poem of America's greed and degeneracy and "Violent Mind Candy" (Melange Books) warped Boston crime that turns love into hate and thugs into drugs - another Null & Boyd Noir to whet your dark fancy. Next up: "Viral Load" a devastating (if I do say so myself) political novel presenting fascism as a mental illness - "Diary of a Madman" meets "Art of the Deal!" From Yard Time Publishing! Watch for it! 

JOE KING

A Salted Slug.

Joe King got his first taste of professional writing as a print journalist, earning several awards in the field from the Tennessee Press Association. He later expanded his craft by moving into the world of fiction and poetry writing. His works include the novels Raw Egg and A Salted Slug as well as the poetry collection Human Ants. Reviewers of his work have compared his writing to the likes of Dostoevsky, Sartre, Vonnegut, Ginsburg, and Bukowski. King also writes and records songs under the moniker Bones in the Museum, and he has released several albums with this musical project. He lives in Knoxville, TN.

T.K. LAWYER

The Guardian League Series, Serenade.

International Bestselling Author and Award Winning Paranormal Romance and Contemporary Romance Author, TK Lawyer has been writing since high school but it was sometime in 2011 when her writing blossomed into a career. Craving excitement and adventure, she jotted down a few notes and never looked back.

She writes what she loves with a realistic twist: fiery paranormal romance with curvy girls and alpha, protective, possessive males. Each unique tale is standalone with a guaranteed HEA. She loves to hear from her fans and invites them to contact her. New readers are encouraged to open one of her books and dive in, enjoying the fantasy worlds she builds solely from her imagination.

SYDNI MAHAFFREY

Pablo The Pig Learns Manners.

Sydni Mahaffey is a college student by day and an author by night. She was born and raised in Madison, Mississippi and currently resides in Flowood, Mississippi. In May of 2021, Sydni Graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi with a bachelor’s degree in Nutrition and Dietetics. Why children’s books you may ask? Sydni chose to write children’s books because stories can really stimulate a child’s imagination and play. Sydni is an advocate for children’s literacy and Pi Beta Phi’s Philanthropy Read, Lead, Achieve. One in four children in America grow up without learning how to read. A love for reading can unlock true potential and create a more literate and productive society. Reading truly is a steppingstone to success in all aspects of life! Sydni enjoys writing books about topics that children will use in everyday life and hopes that her books will educate children in a way that is enjoyable Sydni has worked with preschool aged children for the last five years and is also the twin sister of a first-grade teacher. Children, education, and reading have always played a huge role in her life and she is thrilled to be releasing her first book. 

During her free time, Sydni enjoys reading, cooking, baking, playing with her dog, and spending time outdoors. Pablo the Pig Learns Manners is meant to be the first book in a three-part series.

Sydni can’t wait to see which story develops next!

JOHN-KEVIN McDONAGH

Tenebrous the Liar Series.

John-Kevin was born and raised in the west of Ireland. He read voraciously as a child, which made his father proud, and wrote stories ever since his father brought home the office typewriter for a weekend in the summer of 1990. His father was still proud but annoyed he couldn’t get his own work done.

John-Kevin went on to study mechanical engineering in the University of Limerick where he adapted his love of writing to telling enthralling epic anecdotes to his friends, sometimes while sober. His career brought him all over the world, with years spent in Germany, Japan, and the USA but he finally settled in Dublin, with his beloved Galway-girl. Now he can be found keeping his son away from his work-laptop, or walking the Wicklow hills in his spare time.

EBONY NICOLE

GO! All Year Long.

Ebony was born in Phoenix, Arizona, then moved to Seattle, Washington, and is now settled in Jackson, Mississippi. She is the fifth of ten children. Ebony's father, Rev. Edward S. James, provided a lifelong example of being a community servant. Her older brother, Eddie James, has also set a standard by having the heart to give. Eddie James is a leading Christian artist; whose ministry has touched millions through song and giving. 

Ebony has seen the needs of those in the Jackson community. She founded Give Outrageously, or GO, a nonprofit that provides fun family-oriented community events while feeding those in need and providing basic essentials. GO serves the inner-city schools in Jackson with their GO to School initiatives. Ebony contributes much of Give Outrageously's success to forging lasting partnerships with other organizations to reach a common goal. Ebony is married to Wilbur Jones. Together, they have a beautiful blended family of six children, Devin, Leah, Phoebe, Cameron, Judah Lyon, and King. Ebony became a homeschooling mom when she realized Leah and Phoebe were struggling with dyslexia. Through her daughters' challenges, they overcame hurdles presented to them and developed a passion for reading and writing. Ebony's family has a growing farm with three ducks and ten chickens. Once a week, you can find them at the local farms market selling eggs. 

Ebony graduated from Forest Hill High School in Jackson, MS. She completed her undergraduate studies at Strayer University, majoring in Business Marketing. Ebony has a master's in Organizational Leadership from California Baptist University. In May of 2021, she will complete her studies in Church Leadership and Biblical Studies from Relate University in Byram, MS. Ebony serves on the Mississippi Food Systems and the Mississippi Food Policy. In 2020, Ebony was recognized as one of the 50 Top Black Women in Business by the Mississippi Black Women Business Expo. From time to time, you may find Ebony doing comedy, cooking, or ministering to other women about their God-given potential.

MIKE PACE

Belle Bannon Series.

Born in Pittsburgh, Mike received a B.F.A. degree from the University of Illinois and a law degree from Georgetown University where he served on the editorial board of the prestigious Georgetown Law Journal. He taught art in a Washington D. C. inner-city public school before being appointed Assistant U.S. Attorney for Washington D.C.. After a stint as a commercial litigator, he served as General Counsel to an environmental services company before resigning to practice law part-time, thereby allowing him to focus on his first love, creative writing. 

He’s a member of the International Thriller Writers Association, the Mystery Writers of America, and the Women’s Fiction Writer’s Association, Suspense Magazine said of his stand-alone supernatural thriller, One to Go, (Oceanview): “Completely unique; you hold your breath waiting for the next shoe to drop!” The book also received strong endorsements from NYT bestselling authors such as Steve Berry (“terrific”), Douglas Preston (“ripping good”), and Gayle Lynds (“devilishly clever”). Kirkus Reviews said of his supernatural thriller, Dead Light (Sapphire Star): “Compelling characters … thrilling plot,” and Suspense Magazine advised: "Pace delivers a page turner in Dead Light, that should be on every horror / thriller readers bookshelf." Writer’s Digest called Mike’s women’s fiction book, The Chocolate Shop (writing as J.J. Spring) “Exceptional,” and selected it as the magazine’s 2019 first place award winner for contemporary fiction (sp-ebook.) 

Mike lives in Florida and when not writing or practicing his sax he loves long beach walks with his parti-standard poodle, “Handsome Jack”.

S.J. PIERCE

Alex Rayer Series, Captivate Me Series, Specticle Series.

International Bestselling Author Susan James Pierce writes Paranormal and Sci-fi Romance novels, and they all have the same thing in common - the characters' love defies all odds. Her "unputdownable" stories will make you laugh, cry, swoon, and keep you on the edge of your seat. Enjoy the ride!

LAURA RANGER

Royalty, Deception, Rogue.

Laura was born a storyteller. She has been turning all of life into stories since she was young. This mother of one daughter, grandmother of four girls began writing down her fictitious stories to the delight of her family and friends. She's been writing her tales for over twenty-five years.

Currently, Laura's writing a follow up to Royalty at the request of her fans, entitled Heirs. She's also ghost writing a novel about being careful what you wish for called, Made for Me. She has numerous ideas for additional novels, including one she's been working on since the late '90s, called Lessons. Laura will tell you, "God blessed me with a natural gift of storytelling; it is up to me to use that gift to the best of my ability."

PAUL BLAKE SMITH

President Eisenhower's Close Encounters.

I'm the author of 5 books from one publishing company, and I now have a new nonfiction book coming out from another publisher. I still live in still live in southern Missouri, long after my four years at SE Missouri State University. I enjoy biographies, sports, and history.

KATHERINE EDDINGER SMITS

Water Dreams, Water Desires, The Cassadaga Collection:Witch Trial Legacy.

With a fascination for the occult, a master’s degree in social work, and over 20 years clinical experience, Katherine Eddinger Smits writes paranormal romance that addresses real-life issues of self-acceptance, body image, relationship dynamics, fears, and phobias, through stories filled with fantasy and romance. Her books often include mages, mermaids, and magical creatures. Mystery, suspense, and a little sex add spice to her novels.

STEVE SODERQUIST

Farmhouse, The Mor, Practical Tips for Every Author, Hot Chocolate, The Littlest Princess, Rogue.

Steve Soderquist has written and published several novels, novella’s and short stories. He has also edited, formatted many more for author’s all around the world. Steve has taught seminars, webinars, and workshops on his favorite topic—'All-Things-English'.

AL SUMMA

Courage, For the First Day of School.

Alan Jude Summa was born on a cold, snowy, December day in Scranton Pennsylvania and according to his Mom started drawing at the age of 2 and was never smart enough to stop. His subject of choice and love of monsters was influenced and shaped by the TV and movies of his childhood, Batman, Jonny Quest, The Universal Monsters, Planet of the Apes and all those crazy B horror movies. Entering art school and pursuing an illustration career he discovered and began to be impacted by artists such as Frank Frazetta, Boris Vallejo, Bernie Wrightson, Vincent Van Gogh, Edvard Munch and others.

His early career focused on the Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and Horror genres. His award winning illustrations and cover art have been published internationally in over 100 magazines, comic books, as greeting cards and other products, for RP games including Star Wars, Torg, EasyRider, and Bela Lugosi Enterprises. His original oil paintings and ink drawings have been exhibited throughout the US and England.

As time went on he wanted better stories to illustrate so he started writing his own, and eventually began writing, drawing , and publishing his own comic books. He started Leadbelly Productions with his wife, Laura and good friend, Glenn Boyd. As Leadbelly they created the comic book series Interplanetary Lizards of the Texas Plains. After partnering with an agent they began licensing products such as video games, animation, toys, apparel, model kits, watches, trading cards, costumes, and more based on the Lizards. As he got older his subject matter softened and Alan began focusing his energy on concepts for children. Soon Leadbelly branched off into designing toys, plush, candy concepts, games, as well as developing other animation concepts for children.

In addition to the Interplanetary Lizards represented by KKM Brands, Alan has several new projects he is working on. The first is a collaboration with Barbi Sargent, creator of Strawberry Shortcake called Katz about Towne represented by C3 Entertainment, another is titled F.R.I.D.G.E. (Food Residents in Deliciously Good Entertainment) an animated children's concept created by his son, Joshua and represented by Immersion Marketing. His newest project, and a tremendous joy and honor, is illustrating a children's book written by his son, called Courage for the First Day of School. He plans on continuing in the children's market with more books on the horizon. All of this with little or no adult supervision.

His hobbies include restoring muscle cars and vintage motorcycles, watching old B&W horror movies with his daughter, Bethany, and riding dirt bikes with his son-in-law Brian. Alan lives in a century old farmhouse in the mountains of Pennsylvania with his wife, Laura, Son Josh,(same Josh), two Shelties, Ian Mac Danger and Zoey McDoughey, one cat, Buster McTrouble, and a lizard named Doc. He still wears Batman pajamas.

JOSH SUMMA

Courage, For the First Day of School.

Josh Summa studied Graphic arts in High school and Communication arts at Lackawanna College. He has a major interest in storytelling in a wide variety of mediums including; Graphic novels, animation, television, as well as gaming. He currently is working in the Automotive industry. 

Josh’s interests include, but are not limited to; politics, music, retro gaming, and drawing. He also enjoys the outdoors and spending time with friends and family. He is currently exploring several possibilities to develop for his next children’s book project based on experiences from his childhood. “Courage for the first day of School” is his first book and was illustrated by his Father, Alan Summa. Josh currently lives in Covington Township, Pennsylvania with his family and cat “Trouble Baker.”

LAURA FLEMING SUMMA

Pablo The Pig.

Laura moved to Pennsylvania from Delaware at the age of twelve, and now lives in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania. Her love of illustration inspired her to enroll in the Commercial Arts program at the Career Technology Center, during high school, to hone her skills. She then went on to pursue an Associate’s Degree at Kutztown University, and studied under several renowned artists in a variety of mediums.       

Laura’s Career began in Commercial Art and advertising and transitioned to illustrating small press publications. On Christmas Day in 1984, her birthday, she married her husband, Alan Jude Summa, who is also an artist. Together they raised two wonderful children, Joshua Jude Summa, and published writer, and Bethany Summa Shaffer, an artist who lives nearby with her husband, Brian.      

Laura currently works as the Creative Director at Leadbelly Productions, a creative think tank that, over a 30-year span, has produced a variety of products geared toward children. She has worked as an Art instructor at ArtWorks art gallery in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and served on the local Advisory Committee for the Arts. She continues to teach art on a part time basis.       

Laura enjoys many hobbies, especially home improvement projects. She has a passion for working with clay and when she’s not drawing or painting, she can be found at the Moscow ClayWorks in Moscow, Pennsylvania working alongside the “clay ladies”. Laura lives in a 100-year-old farmhouse with her husband and son. She also has two dogs, Ian McDanger and Kiki, two cats, Buster McTrouble and Beau, and a bearded dragon, named Doc.

PHIL THOMAS

The Poe Predicament.

Phil Thomas is an author and screenwriter from the suburbs of Philadelphia. He is a member of the “International Association of Professional Writers & Editors” and is the co-host of “What Are You Afraid Of?” a weekly horror and paranormal show that airs on Para-X radio on Friday evenings at 9:00 pm. He is featured in Monsterthology 2 collection, released in October 2019 by Zombie Works Publications with his story, Tinfoil Bullet. His short story, Teddy Bear Kill! Kill! is featured in the anthology, Nightside: Tales of Outré Noir, released by Close to the Bone Publishing on October 30, 2020. His short story collection, Dinner, Drinks, and Ectoplasm is available now for FREE through various outlets, including his website at www.philthomas.net. 

His debut novel, The Poe Predicament was published by Foundations Books in 2021.

LOUISE JANE WATSON

The Lost and Found Series.

Born and raised in the UK, Louise Jane Watson is an artist and writer now based in the Portland, Oregon. 

Louise's artwork has been shown in museums and galleries throughout the Pacific Northwest and her satirical writing has been featured in The Haven, Daily Drunk Magazine, Jane Austen’s Wastebasket, and The Weekly Humorist. 

A perfect weekend for Louise would include hanging out with friends, family by the river, then coming home to read survival stories and have a extensive cat-petting session.