Meet Our Authors
Ralph Baldwin
Bucky
Ralph E. Baldwin, a longtime reporter and editor, was raised in Little Rock, Ark., and studied journalism at State College of Arkansas (now the University of Central Arkansas), where he earned a bachelor’s degree before embarking on a career in newspapers. He worked at the North Little Rock Times, Arkansas Democrat, Arkansas Gazette, Houston Post and The Clarion-Ledger in Jackson, MS. Ralph is married and has three children, one stepdaughter, four grandchildren and three dogs.
D. Thomas Jerlo
Dark Prisoner: The Kruthos Key
D. Thomas Jerlo’s novels inexplicably draws readers deep into mystical worlds where mage’ic rules and battles between good and evil are forever constant. Blending reality and illusion that leave indelible impacts on her readers, they are riveted to the spellbinding plots and unforgettable characters until that last page is read.
Simon Parker
Tales of the Mysterious and Macabre
At the tender age of just ten, Simon bought a couple of horror comics from a jumble sale and these began his lifelong love of all things dark, stories, art and movies. He began his writing long before that but with his new love came new stories and he found they were a great way to deal with the night terrors and channel that into darker tales. He attempted to get published at nineteen but a couple of rejections was all it took to break his confidence at that age. It would be many years later and many short stories later that Simon would eventually decide that other people may like his particular brand of darkness and Tales, in its first incarnation, was born.
His writing and his art have been a lifelong passion and although he likes a little gore, tends to focus more on the psychological aspects of horror, the truest roots of our deepest fears that stay with you and haunt your mind long after you put the book down. His art is many layered too, the more you look at it the more you see. He works in many mediums and often links his works with his writing, seeing the two as intertwined not separate entities.
Robin Leigh Anderson
Accept the Broken Heart
Suncatcher
Robin Leigh Anderson was born in the Montana Rockies and escaped to California in the early 1970s. She attended school in Montana, Washington State, and California, eventually settling in beautiful Santa Barbara with child and cats where she lived for 38 years before escaping sans grown child and late cats to Northern California. An advocate of reinventing oneself, Ms. Anderson dabbled in many of the major disciplines of life, providing fodder for the writing she pursued since she was eight.
She has won numerous awards at writing conferences over the years, and was staff of the prestigious Santa Barbara Writer Conference for ten years. She has published numerous articles and short stories in her lifetime. She taught “crash-and-burn” intensive writing seminars in Santa Barbara and was the moderator of a writers’ critique group. She still conducts occasional seminars and enjoys editing others’ works, words being her all-consuming passion, as she writes in several genres.
Jolyse Barnett
One More Sunset
One More Touch
Contemporary romance author Jolyse Barnett was raised in upstate New York on the shores of Lake Champlain, where she spent endless summers chasing fireflies, riding her ten-speed bike on winding country roads, and playing with cousins at family picnics. Winter was another kind of adventure for an active kid, with skiing in the Adirondack Mountains, trips to the library to feed a voracious reading appetite, and skating on a frozen pond near her home.
She discovered the thrill of storytelling at a young age, filling spiral notebooks with narrative poetry and diary entries. After high school, she earned a Writing degree, fell in love with her best friend, and is now living her own happily-ever-after in Long Island suburbia. Other titles by Ms. Barnett include smalltown romances such as Christmas Light and The Rebel’s Redemption, and the romantic comedy, Text Me, Maybe.
Keep up with all Jolyse Barnett news at http://www.jolysebarnett.com
Des Birch
Beyond Dark Waters
Above and Beyond Dark Waters
Des Birch lives in Norfolk UK with his wife, Julie. He is a self-professed writing nut, shark nut, wild about the natural world and is motivated to empower young people. Des admits to being frightened of heights, bears, and hagfish; an odd combination he will admit, but reality is often stranger than fiction.
He has raised his two children on his own, been in shark cages, stroked big cats, jumped off a mountain, SCUBA dived the Red Sea and lived in other European countries. If asked why, Des will smile and say, "I enjoy living life to the fullest."
Des does not write about super heroes or people with special powers. He would much rather take ordinary people and place them in extraordinary situations, and record how they react.
Des has always written in one form or another but in 2006 while living in Spain, he wrote his first novel, The Diary of an Innocent. A couple of years later he moved back to England and married Julie, with whose help and support he continues to write.
Allix Booth
The Temperament Scepter
Allix Booth is the creative mind behind The Aldoras Chronicles, a fantasy trilogy. His writing developed when he attended the Art Institute of Atlanta to study Audio Production. An English professor opened Allix’s mind deeper into the imaginative realm, where he discovered his true passion for words.
Music and film had always been two artistic forms that Allix used to crack the creative shell to discover his fantasy worlds. At a young age, there was always a spark that continuously flickered within Allix to create. Distant worlds across space and time were always his motivation to entertain.
His music led him in the direction of performing with the Georgia Ambassadors of Music Tour, where he traveled across seven countries to discover new cultures and art. These different locations led to multiple kingdoms in The Aldoras Chronicles.
Visit him on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/AllixBooth
Thomas Conner
Goodbye, Saturday Night
Thomas Conner, also known as Tom, Tommy, and TC by friends and family, was born in Florida two miles from the Alabama state line. He spent most of his early years living on the Alabama side. He graduated from the University of West Florida in Pensacola with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Humanities. Conner wrote his first novel when he was 12, which burned in a house fire, and has been writing ever since. He published a family history book in 2000 entitled The Conners of Conecuh County, Alabama, and has published several articles.
Since 1980 he has resided in Central California’s Big Valley, where he has worked in higher education at a prestigious private university in Student Life. When not writing or working his daytime job, Conner is involved with classic movies, serving on a classic cinema committee and promoting a summer classic movie series.
A. S. Crowder
Evin
A.S. Crowder has been writing stories ever since she first learned how to write. She’s got about a million stories left to tell; hopefully she’ll finish one or two of them. When she’s not writing, she teaches sociology at local universities. A.S. Crowder lives in the Deep South with her husband and her cats. She probably watches too much T.V.
For more information, visit her blog here.
Laura Ranger
Royalty
Deception
Laura Ranger is a natural storyteller. She has been turning all of life into stories since she was young. This mother of one, grandmother of three began writing her fictitious stories down to the delight of her family and friends. She’s been writing her tales for over twenty years. She became a published author when she put one of her short stories in a Christmas anthology in support of feeding children around the world. Once she saw one of her stories in print, she will tell you she can’t stop.
In addition to Deception, she co-authored Rogue. Laura’s currently working on a novel called Lessons, which she envisions parents reading with their children. She discovered while writing the book, the lessons addressed throughout the story speak to both children and adults. Additionally, she has numerous ideas for additional novels and adding more all the time, it’s just a matter of completing each in turn.
In February of 2016 she began a publishing company with her fiancé, Steve Soderquist. Her goal is to help other authors dreams to see their work in print, come true.
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.”
Simon French
The Aryan Secret
I was born in Wallingford, England May 29, 1961 to Joan and Peter Michael French. I am the oldest of three boys, my brothers are Christopher and Timothy French. We came over on the ship called the Queen Elizabeth to the United States when I was six years old.
I grew up in Oakmont PA where I lived until I married my wife Valerie. We moved to St. Petersburg, Florida one year after we were married and I am still living. We have two children, Steven and Danielle. I love sports but soccer is my favorite. Even though I have lived in St. Petersburg, Florida for thirty years, the teams I root for are the Pittsburgh teams that I grew up with.
I am currently working for Publix Supermarket, Inc. as a meat associate. I have been with Publix fourteen years as of July. I have worked in retail my whole life and even though I like it, my passion has always been to write.
I have always loved reading and writing and have always wanted to write novels, but something always held me back. One day my son asked me what it was I truly wanted to do and I told him it was to write. He said then do it there is nothing stopping you except yourself. So I sat down one day and started to write my first novel, and I am so excited it is being published.
Alissa B. Gregory
Easy Peasey, Learning is Easy
School's Not So Bad
Alissa B. Gregory was born and raised in Brandon, Mississippi where she lived with her parents, Randi and Al Bullock and two sisters, Brittany and Tori. Alissa has a handsome nephew, Jayden, and a beautiful niece, Claire that she loves like her own. She now resides in the small town of Morton in Mississippi with her husband 'Bubba", her son, Carson, and her stepson, Hayden.
She currently works as a customer service representative where she sells poultry product, but has always dreamed of writing books for children. She has always enjoyed writing since she was a young girl, and she has always had a creative mind. She has always tried to be an encourager, so most of her books are to teach or have morals to each story. "Believe you can, and you are halfway there." – Theodore Roosevelt
Elizabeth Guider
Milk and Honey on the Other Side
Elizabeth Guider is 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, she holds a doctorate in Renaissance Studies from New York University. During the late 1970’s, she was based in Rome where she taught English and American literature and where much of the action of her first novel, The Passionate Palazzo, takes place.
While in Europe, she worked as an entertainment reporter for the showbiz newspaper Variety, focusing on the film business, television and theater. She also 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 , she specialized on the burgeoning TV industry and eventually held top editor positions at Variety and latterly at The Hollywood Reporter. Most recently she has freelanced for World Screen News as senior contributing editor.
She mostly divides her time between Los Angeles and Vicksburg, MS where she grew up and which is the setting for Milk and Honey on the Other Side.
Steve Soderquist
Farm House
Practical Tips for Every Author
The Littlest Princess
Steve Soderquist is the co-owner of Foundations, LLC, having written and published five novels, one novella and a children's short story of his own. He has edited, formatted, and worked with some of the best-selling authors of today and still insists he has the best job in the world—helping others reach their dream of being a published author.
He will freely admit to his rather unorthodox style of teaching 'All-Things-English,' but the results from those he has taught in seminars, webinars, and workshops speaks for itself. He lives in Brandon, Mississippi with his beautiful fiancé, fellow author and editor/illustrator and co-owner of Foundations, LLC, Laura Ranger.
Creighton Halbert
Pity's Prelude
Creighton Halbert grew up pouring over the adventures of the Pevensies and the fantastic imagery from Dr. Seuss’s imagination. Interested in beauty wherever it can be built, these days he spends his free time writing, gardening, and living life with his lovely wife.
J. D. R. Hawkins
A Rebel Among Us
A Beautiful Glittering Lie
J.D.R. Hawkins is an award-winning author who has written for newspapers, magazines, newsletters, e-zines, and blogs. She is a member of the International Women’s Writing Guild, the Mississippi Writers Guild, Rocky Mountain Writers, and Pikes Peak Writers. She is also an artist and a singer/songwriter. Her two previous novels, A Beautiful Glittering Lie and A Beckoning Hellfire, have received numerous honors and awards.
Ms. Hawkins is currently working on a nonfiction book about the Civil War, as well as another novel in the Renegade Series.
Learn more about her here.
R. M. James
Firefly - Kayla's Gift
R.M. James is also known as Reina R. Gonzalez, graduated from the University of Phoenix with a Masters Degree in Health Administration/Education, Armstrong Atlantic State University with a Bachelors Degree in Spanish, and South University with a Certificate in Accounting.
Love to quilt, paint-by-numbers, practice yoga, meditate, drink lots of coffee, and hang out with my cat, Bailey. And oh, before I forget love that fried chicken and biscuits!
T. K. Lawyer
Jasper: Book One - The Guardian League
Centurion: Book Two - The Guardian League
Apollo: Book Three - The Guardian League
Welcome to my world-
I have always had an interest in the strange and unusual and I’m a romantic by heart. So how did I come into writing, you ask? Well, I stumbled into it. Yeah, that’s pretty much what happened. I never pictured myself as a writer but sometime in 2011, craving some kind of excitement and adventure in my life; I jotted down a few notes for a book idea and never looked back. Funny part is, the notes I wrote never became a book, instead I took on subjects as wolf-shifters and angels and created their worlds and I have loved every minute of it.
I write passion-filled paranormal romance- weaving tales of alpha males willing to do anything for the one feisty, curvaceous, strong-willed woman who has won their heart. They will go to any length to please their mate, in and out of the bed.
I invite you, lovely readers, to enter my world, relax in an easy-chair, sip a soothing beverage, stay and be entertained. I write for you.
Teresa Ochs
Aholibamah - In the Beginning
Teresa Ochs lives in Tacoma, WA with her husband and four girls. After a major car accident that left her disabled, she had to learn new skills to read and write again. Never again will she take for granted the written word. She took the opportunity to accomplish her dream and write this trilogy. Now, she works from home where she is living her dream of being an author.
To find out more about her, visit her webpage at teresaochs.com
S. J. Pierce
Captivate Me: Book One - The Captivated Series
Iris: A Novella: The Captivated Series - Book 1.5
Fight For Me: Book Two - The Captivated Series
Lilliana: A Novella to the Captivated Series - Book 2.5
Shine With Me: Book Three - The Captivated Series
Vengeance Marked: The Alyx Rayer Trilogy - Book 1
Susan James Pierce has a degree in Marketing Management, works for a Fortune 500 company in Atlanta, Georgia, and devotes her precious, spare time to writing Fantasy, Paranormal and Sci-fi novels.
Piken Sander
Life, Liberty, Pursuit
Life, Liberty, Pursued
Life, Liberty, Pursuant To
Life, Liberty, Pursuance
Board Games
Piken Sander lives among sprawling oak and aspen in Northern California to where she escaped from colder climes many years hence. Her randy Auntie asked her to ‘tell her a story’, demanding that there be strong women and steamy passion, and this began the writings of Piken as she crafted stories of girl meets boy, girl and boy go through the torture of life and beyond, with at the very least hopeful endings.
When her Auntie passed, she left her niece a one sentence note in her will: “Now publish the damn things.” Piken’s day consists of writing and social media, and such difficult decisions as which of her dizzying array of wildly colorful pajamas she should wear on a given day. She loves s perfectly steeped cup of good tea. She has few she calls friends, but those in this cadre are cherished and fostered.
A political liberal since preteens, she tolerates no racism or bigotry or inequality of any kind, especially in her stories.
Katherine Smits
Water Dreams
Katherine Eddinger Smits grew up in Tarpon Springs, Florida. Although not from a Greek background, she fell in love with the Greek culture of the town and its close-knit community. She moved away years ago, but she still visits Tarpon Springs frequently to see old friends and classmates, walk the beaches or shop and eat at the Sponge Docks.
Katherine was devastated to learn her first career choice—mermaid, was not realistic, so she started writing stories in grade school, and planned to write novels someday. She put off writing fiction while she raised her family and worked as a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker at four different Veterans Affairs Medical Centers around the country. She found helping veterans and their families fulfilling, and managed to squeeze writing into her life. Whether recording clinical assessments, producing brochures for social programs or putting together newsletters for clubs and organizations, she always had some kind of creative project in the works.
Katherine lives with her husband in Homosassa, Florida and Falling Waters, West Virginia. They have a daughter who resides in Alexandria, Virginia and a son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter in Chesapeake, Virginia.
Water Dreams, Katherine's debut novel, is a paranormal romance set in Tarpon Springs, Florida and is the first book in the Love's Siren Song series.
Connie Colòn
Principal Kidd
Principal Kidd (Full Color!)
A graduate of Syracuse University and former advertising executive, Connie has a degree in art but now also paints with her words.
She had the unique opportunity to work one-on-one with award winning author, Jerry Spinelli at the Highlights Workshop in Chautauqua. An active member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, Connie had served as a Committee Member for the NJ Chapter. She has sold over 60 articles and over 100 photos to publications including Highlights, Fun For Kidz, AppleSeeds, and Faces. Her ongoing feature “Dear Tommy” had run in Faces magazine for over seven years. Connie occasionally teaches magazine writing workshops at SCBWI events and loves to visit schools.
She is working on several manuscripts for humorous chapter book series based on her television animation concepts.
Stephanie Baruffi
Clarence - English!
Clarence - Italian!
Stephanie Baruffi is an Early Literacy Specialist who lives in New Jersey with her husband Art and their three sons. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Rowan University with a Masters in Reading Education in 2014. Her grandfather Clarence, who passed away in 2012, inspired this book.
He loved his big family too and truly did have a big, beautiful set of ears!