BOOK FEST SHOP 2021

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Aressa V. Williams
The Write Women Book Fest
Poet Laureate

Aressa Verdell Williams, a retired DC Public School teacher and a retired Assistant Professor of English at Anne Arundel Community College, is also a teacher consultant, creative writing presenter, and poet. Professor Aressa is an active member of Pen in Hand, Poetry X Hunger, and Poetry Nation. Equally important, the poet accepted the new role as a Literary Leader for the Prince Georges County Arts and Humanities Council.
 
In the sixth grade, the aspiring message-maker wrote her first book of poems to earn a Girl Scout badge for Creative Writing.  Today, Aressa has three self-published books, entitled Soft Shadows, The Penny Finder, and the most recent Pancakes & Chocolate Milk.  Her inspiring poems strike universal notes about family, friends, resilience, and hope.  Aressa believes that poems are word snapshots of our experiences. Moreover, she defines poetry as word music.
 
The word-weaver enjoys walking at School House Pond, journaling, and interpreting dreams.  Other interests are reading short stories, posing poll questions, and sky-watching.  A good day for Aressa includes morning meditation, afternoon tea, and if possible, a nap.  The poetess is the proud mother of Aaron Coley and grateful grandmother of Aressa Coley.

Karen Janowsky - Guest Panelist

KarenJanowsky.com
Instagram @authorkarenjanowsky
Twitter

Karen Janowsky has loved superheroes and ancient mythology since the first time she saw the Super Friends on television in 1970's. Because flying an invisible jet was never a viable career option, and because running around in a cape, swimsuit, and bright red boots is not socially acceptable for adults, she teaches yoga and writing at the College of Southern Maryland. Her stories and poems have been featured in several anthologies and literary magazines since 1991. She received her master's degree in English from Florida State University.​

L.C. Son

lcsonbooks.com
Instagram @author_l.c.son
Facebook
Known for her Amazon Best Selling Short Story, With Hearts Like Fire and the series starter, Beautiful Nightmare (Book One), L.C. Son is happy wife of more than twenty years and loving mom of three. Lover of paranormal romance and all things sci-fi!

When she’s not writing, L.C. can be found either snuggled up with a book or binge watching a comedy or Sci-fi thriller.

Presently, she’s working on the next installment in the Beautiful Nightmare series.

Mary E. Jung

Facebook: The Etrucian Royals
The Philadelphians
Instagram @etrucianroyals
Mary E. Jung lives with her two sons and husband in Pennsylvania. She has a degree in Arts Studies with an emphasis in Arts Management and Opera. During her college studies she was a part of the literary magazine team that dedicated to poetry and contemporary works. Mary was a presenter for the Write Women Book Fest in 2020 for tea time readings and talk on toxic masculinity.  She reads voraciously and has passed that trait to her children. When she isn't exploring the adventures of space and dinosaurs, Mary is writing her series "The Etrucian Royals" and navigating an online writing group. Her writing partner inspires her to reach new levels and grow with each new story they weave. She always has time for tea and enjoys traveling. Her adventurous life bleeds into her work and warms the hearts of readers.

Alyshia Bradley

Instagram @honestly_mochagoddess

Alyshia Bradley is a 30 year old poet and spoken word artist from Southern Maryland. She graduated top of the Urban Arts College at Coppin University where she studied acting, fell in love with writing and bumped into what would be her life's work and joy, capturing, easing the human condition via poetry. She has 2 published works thus far Thank You Resiliency But I Am Tired and I See You Mocha Mocha.

A. L. Kaplan

ALKaplanAuthor.com
Twitter @alkaplanauthor
Instagram @alkaplanauthor
Facebook
A. L. Kaplan’s love of books started as a child and sparked a creative imagination. Born on a cold winter morning in scenic northern New Jersey, her stories and poems have been included in several anthologies and magazines. Her most recent publications are her debut novel, Star Touched, and Hummingbird, a short story. She is the Maryland Writers’ Association’s President and holds an MFA in sculpture from the Maryland Institute College of Art. When not writing or indulging in her fascination with wolves, this proud mother of two lives in Maryland with her husband and dog.

Natalina Reis

natalinareis.com
FB: https://www.facebook.com/authornatalinareis 
Twitter   @tichab
Good Reads Amazon BookBub
Instagram  @reisnatalilna
Facebook Reader Group  Pinterest
Natalina Reis is an international bestseller who wrote her first romance at the age of thirteen. Since then she has published fourteen romances that defy the boundaries of her genre. She enjoys writing all kinds of rebels and outcasts into her stories and she always roots for the underdog.
 
Natalina doesn’t believe you can have too many books or too much coffee. Art and dance make her happy and she is pretty sure she could survive on lobster and bananas alone. When she is not writing or stressing over lesson plans, she shares her life with her husband and two adult sons.

K.M. Bishop

shellvillepress.com

K.M. Bishop is an author from Southern Maryland who thrives on coffee, early morning workouts, books, scary movies, and podcasts on true crime. She has completed NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) every year since 2012 and keeps it interesting by changing the genre she writes in, which include murder mystery, thriller, horror, satire, period dramas, and murder-mystery period dramas.​

Danielle M. Orsino

Birthofthefae.com

Danielle M. Orsino was working as a nurse and treating a patient who needed some distraction during long I.V. treatment sessions. So, Orsino reached back to a forgotten skill, a childhood dream of writing. Danielle said she to be wanted to be a writer in second grade and so she decided to tell a story. Little did she know the seed would grow into a fantastically epic adventure of heartbreak, hope and rebirth — Birth of Fae: Locked Out of Heaven.

Book and Wine Lovers Marketing

booksandwineloversmarketing.com
Linktree
My name is Stephanie Rabell and I love supporting authors and that is what led me to providing Book Tours for Authors. My experiences with running a book club, connecting with authors, publishers, podcasters, and bloggers have helped me shape my business for what it is today. I received my Bachelor's in Human Relations,  have worked as a Customer Service Manager/Sales Trainer for  two Catalog companies  for over 13 years.  I love books and wine, is there really anything else?

S Courtney

scourtneybooks.yolasite.com
Linktree
S Courtney is new to the published writing community but has been a lifelong writer and began creatively writing in junior high. She is the author of the paranormal romances, the Bound Series, which includes Bound to You, Bound by Destiny, and Unapologetically Nessa and newly published The Sandman. She is also the author of her contemporary romance, the Black Aces MC, a motorcycle club romance, all which are available on Amazon and B&N. Be on the look out for more from her!

Pamela D. Beverly

pameladbeverly.com
Pamela D. Beverly resides in Southern Maryland and has been writing for almost as long as she has been living. She enjoys reading, working out, traveling and verbally sparring with her mother when discussing current issues. She is currently attempting to learn a foreign language during the pandemic. Her newest book, A Type of Hunger, A Novella is her first novella.

"little pi" Patti Ross

littlepisuniverse.com
Instagram @littlepisuniverse
Patti Ross graduated from Washington, DC's Duke Ellington School for the Performing Arts and The American University. After graduation several of her journalist pieces were published in the Washington Times and the Rural America newspapers. Retiring from a career in technology Patti has rediscovered her love of writing and shares her voice as the spoken word artist "little pi." Her poems are published in the Pen In Hand Journal, PoetryXHunger website and Oyster River Pages: Composite Dreams Issue. Her debut chapbook, St. Paul Street Provocations, will be released in July 2021 by Yellow Arrow Publishing.

Keianna Johnson

chi-chi-sophistication.com
Instagram & Facebook @comingofagebook
​Keianna Johnson is most recognized in her community as an award-winning children's textured hair care professional and owner of Chi Chi Sophistication Kids Natural Hair Studio, specializing in chemical-free, quality hair braiding services. Keianna host Healthy Hair & Style Workshops for Teens in the Washington D.C. Area. To support the youth by providing guidance and understanding of how to maintain their textured hair properly on their own, Keianna wrote a book entitled Coming of Age: The Easy Guide to Healthy Hair Care for Teens. When not hairstyling, Keianna writes about unapologetic living and encourages people to take back their power to be themselves on her blog www.keiannajohnson.com. Her passion for hair care has allowed her to travel, meet new people, and support her beloved family.

Eileen McIntire

secretpanels.net
Eileen Haavik McIntire is the author of the 90s Club cozy mystery series and novels of history and suspense. She is also immediate past president of the Maryland Writers’ Association.  She travels for research and has ridden a camel in the Moroccan Sahara, fished for piranhas on the Amazon, sailed in a felucca on the Nile, spent the night in an Ethiopian hut, and lived for three years on a boat. She lives with her husband Roger and corgi José in Columbia, MD. Her website at SecretPanels.net includes writing tips and book reviews.

Christine Merriman Davis

christinedavismerrimanauthor.com
Facebook
Twitter @farendofnowhere
Instagram @merrimanchristine
CHRISTINE DAVIS MERRIMAN completed her MFA in Imaginative Writing–Fiction at UMass Amherst in 1977. As an undergrad, she won Towson State University’s John S. Lewis Fiction Award for a collection of short stories, and was eager to pursue a career in fiction. Then “life” intervened, with marriage, a son, divorce, a second marriage, and a thirty-year career at Johns Hopkins. In 2017, she retired, put down her technical writer’s pen, and completed her debut novel, At the Far End of Nowhere. Christine and her husband live in a 1929 farmhouse in northern Baltimore County, Maryland.

Terri Simon

terricsimon.com
Facebook
Terri Simon’s chapbook, “Ghosts of My Own Choosing,” was published by Flutter Press (2017). Her chapbook, “Ringing the Bell” is forthcoming from Clare Songbirds Publishing House. Her work appears in “The Avenue,” “Third Wednesday,” “Poetry Quarterly,” “Slant,” “Grand Little Things,” “Ariel Chart,” and other print and online journals. She lives in Laurel, Maryland.

Persephone Jayne

halepatton.com

Instagram @persephonejayne
Twitter @persephonejayne
Facebook @halepattonpublishing
TikTok @Book.Sage

Persephone Jayne has been writing in various forms for about 7 years (earnestly anyway). In 2019 she published her first kids book set, Base Brats Break A Leg and Base Brats Spelling Bee. This past April she launched the next 2 books in the same series. Last year she became a certified Wild Woman Project Circle Leader. Now she combines her Circle leading skills and her love of books to guide writers and readers through their own meditations to help them find peace within the stories they read and tell. She calls it a Wild Literary circle. Be sure to check the event schedule for The Write Women Book Fest for her 2021 workshop.

A.J. Cullen

ajcullenpens.com

A.J. Cullen is an avid reader, hopeful writer, usual introvert, sometimes crafter, and history devotee. When not scribbling yet another novel idea on whatever loose paper she can find, A.J. spends her time pursuing a master’s degree in history while also growing her progressive teaching philosophy inside early childhood and secondary education classrooms. Currently, she resides in Massachusetts with her loving mother and the leaning tower of books by her bedside. Stacked with classic literature, the history books you’d only find on your grandfather’s shelves, and plenty of YA, you can bet that her “to be read” list keeps her light on and the neighbors awake well into the night.

Cindi Handley Goodeaux

writecute.com
Instagram @wrtiecute73
Cindi Handley Goodeaux lives in Florida with her husband and muse. She is a proud mom, graphic designer wannabe, and sometime poet.

As a lifelong disability advocate, she serves on the board of her employer's disability affinity group, advocating for rights for people with disabilities (PWD) in the workplace and statewide.

She is a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) and a professional member of the Cat Writers Association (CWA).

Carrie Humphrey

carriehumphrey.com

Living in a small town in North Carolina, Carrie enjoys writing, reading, traveling, and hanging out with her three kids, husband, spoiled dog and cranky cat. Her paranormal and contemporary romance books are internationally read and when she’s not knee deep in those words, she enjoys writing short stories of every romantic flavor.

F.M. Deemyad

Candleandquill.com
F.M. Deemyad was born in Kermanshah, Iran. She grew up in the capital, Tehran, attending bilingual schools run by Christian and Jewish minorities. Her father, born and raised in India, had come to Iran when he was in his late twenties. Being the son of a linguist who had taught English Literature in India for a number of years, he exposed the author in her preschool years to the English language, and she learned to love classic literature under her father’s instructions. She received her Master’s degree in Writing from Johns Hopkins University in 2016. She currently resides with her husband in Maryland.

Cheryl Woodruff-Brooks

CHERYLWBROOKSAUTHOR.COM
Cheryl Woodruff-Brooks, MBA/MA completed her first book, Chicken Bone Beach: A Pictorial History of Atlantic City’s Missouri Avenue Beach (Sunbury Press) in 2017, which was nominated for a 2017 Literary Award with the Schomburg Center in New York City, used in classrooms at Purdue University and referenced in The Oxford Handbook of American Folklore and Folklife Studies. Cheryl has been involved in speaking engagements on the sands of historical Chicken Bone Beach, Rowan University, and the Atlantic City Historical Museum. Cheryl has been interviewed by several newspapers such as the Philadelphia Tribune, celebrity strategist and on-air radio personality Dyana Williams of Philadelphia’s Radio One, IHeart Radio, podcasts, and online radio stations. Cheryl's second book, Golden Beauty Boss: The Story of Madame Sara Spencer Washington & the Apex Empire is the first biography written about this self-made millionaire from the early 1900s. Cheryl is also a professional singer/songwriter, writing songs for her own music projects and for other artists.

Cardyn Brooks

BlerdyBingeReader.blogspot.com
TWITTER & INSTAGRAM  @CardynBpresents
Cardyn Brooks on Amazon, Facebook, Goodreads, SheWrites, Smashwords, Tumblr 

 Cardyn Brooks, outreach coordinator for The Write Women Book Fest, is a reading fiend, compulsive writer, swim enthusiast, and inventor. She created the "Trope Spin" and "Literary Canon Fodder" book review columns for MediaDiversified.org, and riffs on bookish topics on BlerdyBingeReader.blogspot.com. She's reviewed books for InDtale.com and currently reviews books for RomanceDailyNews.com. She writes edgier erotic fiction as C. X Brooks (in which the X honors her enslaved ancestors who were forbidden by law to learn to read and write). Her most recent title is When She's on Top by C. X Brooks, published by BlackOpalBooks.com.

Lucinda Marshall

LucindaMarshall.com
Facebook
Twitter @medusamusings
Instagram @stitches_and_stanzas
 Lucinda Marshall is the author of Inheritance Of Aging Self (Finishing Line Press). Her poetry has appeared in Global Poemics, Broadkill Review, Foliate Oak, The Rising Phoenix Review, and Poetica, among others, as well as in the anthologies "Poems in the Aftermath" (Indolent Books), "You Can Hear The Ocean" (Brighten Press), "Is It Hot In Here Or Is It Just Me?" (Beautiful Cadaver Project), and "We Will Not Be Silenced" (Indie Blu(e) Publishing). She is the recipient of awards from Waterline Writers, Third Wednesday, and Montgomery Magazine.
 
Marshall lives in Maryland and is the Founder of the DiVerse Gaithersburg (MD) Poetry Reading and of the Gaithersburg (MD) Poetry Workshop, She has also served as a volunteer mentor for the Gaithersburg Teen Writing Workshop, part of a program run by the Maryland Writers' Association. 

Tia Fanning

Facebook Author Page
Digital Tea Time Facebook Group
​
Tia Fanning always writes a little of herself into every story, and in that vulnerability, is committed to writing the best stories she can, challenging herself and her readers to experience the full range of emotions in every adventure presented. Be it love, lust, humor, grief, or even pushing cultural boundaries that may be deemed shocking by mainstream readers, Tia believes that it is her responsibility to tell the story as honestly as possible without letting her fears, societal pressure, or the possibility of censorship shackle her creativity. Life is a spontaneous, thrilling journey filled with highs and lows and unexpected twists and turns, and Tia wants her stories to reflect that awesome reality.

Christine Johnson
JayMedia Publishing

publishing.jaymediagroup.net
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 301-613-3478
 
JayMedia Publishing (JMP) is the publishing division of a family-owned media company, JayMedia Group. 
JMP provides full hybrid publishing services and self-publishing consulting services with prices to fit the needs of every budget. Our services include copy editing, interior formatting, cover design, ebook setup, illustrations, distribution and basic marketing products. Our customer service is top-notch where we keep communication lines open and provide consistent updates on the progress of your book. 

For more details about our packages and services, visit HERE.

If you would like to schedule a 30 minute appointment to discuss the services that we provide, CLICK HERE to see the dates and times available.

Creatively Summer

creativelysummer.com
Facebook
Instagram @creativelysummer
Summer is an eight year old girl who enjoys reading, writing, and anything that uses her creative talents. This year, Summer wrote and published her first book called "Who is My Best Friend?". This book discusses how to communicate your true feelings and to know and understand that it is okay to have more than one friend.
 
Summer has decided to start her journey on not only becoming an author but to also learn how to use her creative talents for her businesses. She also feels that it very important to show children her age that they can do anything that they put their mind to.

Summer's book is available online at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Walmart, Target, and Books-A-Million.

Mary DeMarco-Logue

 thefolkhaus.com 
Linktree for Facebook, Ko-fi, TikTok, YouTube

Mary is a creative homeschooling mama & book aficionado living & making things in Charles County, MD.

Paula Murrain

Instagram @pmwrites_2010

My name is Paula Murrain. I’m an upcoming author creating books for children who are curious about the world around them.

Pat Valdata

patvaldata.com

Pat Valdata is a poet and novelist. Her novel Eve’s Daughters won first prize for novels from the Delaware Press Association and Honorable Mention from the National Federation of Press Women. Her poetry book about women aviation pioneers, Where No Man Can Touch, won the 2016 Donald Justice Poetry Prize.

Crystal Williams

theyoubrandacademy.com

Instagram @theyoubrandacademy
Facebook
Crystal Williams is a serial entrepreneur and philanthropist that operates in excellence! With over 10 years of exposure and experience in Corporate America, she became the FoundHER of The ‘YOU’ Brand Academy, LLC in 2017 which is a strategy, coaching, and consulting firm that assist individuals in authentically excelling in their career. Crystal is also the Co-FoundHER of Praise Fit, LLC which is a dance fitness company. Crystal is on a mission to reach individuals that God has assigned to her voice; therefore, she started her podcast, Peculiar Career Chit Chat. Crystal is also one of the Founders and the President of The First Suit Project, Inc. a 501c3 non-profit.  Crystal is a graduate of two prestigious HBCUs receiving her B.S. in Accounting from North Carolina A&T State University and her M.B.A. from Morgan State University. Crystal resides Maryland with her husband and daughter.

Alexandria Dean

Facebook - Reading With The Lights Off Podcast
Instagram @readingwiththelightsoff
Facebook - Trading Pages Podcast
Instagram - Trading Pages Podcast
Tik Tok @tradingpagespod

Host of Rewww.facebook.com/ReadingWithTheLightsOff
Audiobook Narrator

Alexandria lives with her family in the DC area on a micro mini farm and her own personal petting zoo. She is a lover of all things geek, especially Star Wars, Marvel, and anything starring Nathan Fillion. She is also a huge musical theater nerd and loves to sing musicals in the car. She is co-host of the Trading Pages Podcast with her sibling and host of Reading With the Lights Off Podcast. She is a debut YA/NA audiobook narrator of The Sacrifice of Ava Black by AG Porter and A Clan of Wolves by Emma Steinbrecher releasing this Fall. When she is not reading or listening to whatever books she can get her hands on she can be found drinking far too much coffee and staring at a computer screen trying to get her characters to cooperate with her.

Jaimie Nelson

Etsy Shop

Instagram @notlikeothergoods
I am a healthcare worker by day and jewelry maker by night! I like to use as many organic elements as possible in my jewelry including beautiful scrap woods that are donated from a local wood worker. I also use dried flowers, mini mushrooms and other bits of nature and encase them eco friendly high quality resin. My favorite part of making jewelry is getting to use power tools to turn a large chunk of material into something beautiful. Each piece takes several hours as it is all made by hand and of course with love!

Golden Angel

www.goldenangelromance.com

BookBub
Facebook
Goodreads
Instagram

Golden Angel is a USA Today best-selling author and self-described bibliophile with a "kinky" bent who loves to write stories for the characters in her head. If she didn't get them out, she's pretty sure she'd go just a little crazy. She is happily married, old enough to know better but still too young to care, and a big fan of happily-ever-afters, strong heroes and heroines, and sizzling chemistry. She believes the world is a better place when there's a little magic in it.

A. G. Porter

Website

A.G. Porter is an author of YA Paranormal Thrillers. She loves writing about diverse characters in the deep south who are constantly at odds with the supernatural. When she isn't working on her next YA Paranormal book, she is pouring her heart into her poetry collection. Mrs. Porter lives in Alabama with her husband and three sons.

Mikayla Meyers

authormmeyers.com
Instagram @m.meyers_writing
M. Meyers, author of the debut novel "Cold Spots", graduated from Susquehanna University with a bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing, Publishing and Editing, and English Literature. Their works varying from poetry to comics have been published in Catfish Creek, The Oakland Arts Review, Brave Voices Magazine, The Sanctuary Magazine, and Lotus-eater Magazine. Outside their writing, M. Meyers is a Special Education English teacher who emphasizes the healthy emotional release of storytelling.

Shelly Connor
Shellville Press

shellvillepress.com

Shelly Connor is the owner of Shellville Press, a hybrid publishing company advocating for authors without agents, based in Chesapeake Beach, MD. She has always harbored a love of reading, writing, and graphic design. Melding the three, she started a small business publishing her favorite author friend (and plans to add more authors in 2021)! Her focus so far is on fiction with strong female characters, and she’s always looking for more captivating stories. 

When she isn't publishing books or working on graphic design, she enjoys time with her family and friends outdoors, and lots of coffee and wine—though not mixed together! 

Let's lift each other up in these times and help get others' stories heard.

Lynn Thorne

lynnthorne.com

Lynn Thorne is the award-winning author of the book, “Who Am I If You’re Not You?” She owns Lollipop Copy, a freelance boutique copywriting firm, where she specializes in marketing writing and consulting. Lynn lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with her two dogs, Gypsy and Vader.

Erica Dyer

www.ericareads.com
Instagram @ericareads_
Born and raised in East Baltimore, MD. I'm a graduate of Coppin State University with a BS degree in Criminal Justice, and 4 classes away from obtaining a Master's degree in the same subject. I grew up on Greenmount Ave with my mother and brother. Having a brother heavy in the streets I learned how to survive and make a way out of no way.

Tamika Brown

TamikaBrownBooks

I'm from a small town, but we have big dreams. I was born in the 70's but am truly the epitome of an 80's baby! I am an educator, but first and foremost, I am a wife and a mother of three. I am an avid reader and naturally my love for reading spilled out into writing. Then came the challenge from my students to write a short story when we were studying pirates in North Carolina history. I took up the challenge and discovered that I could write!!! Whenever I get the chance, I put pen to paper and let all of the characters and plots that tumble around in my head come on out!!

Michelle Tucker

michelletucker.bigcartel.com

I began writing in 2018 . English had always been my favorite subject in school. I started writing in hopes of helping others cope with Anxiety and Depression after my own traumatic experience . I’m a Mother, Wife and country girl at heart.  I love the beach ,going on nature walks and spending time with loved ones .  I enjoy helping others and  believe we can all help each-other heal with our testimonies. 

Christyn West

TikTok: @christynwest 
Instagram @christynwest
Email: [email protected]

Christyn is a professional Beta Reader. A firm believer that everyone has a story worth telling and being heard, Christyn has found a deep passion for helping writers make their work the best version of itself it can possibly be. Her love of stories is so strong that she graduated college with a degree in Creative Writing, which flamed her love for critical reading and helped her grow an appreciation for stories in all stages whether it be the first unpolished draft or published with a dust jacket. Outside of books, Christyn finds great pleasure in musicals, traveling, calligraphy, and TV shows.

Don't miss her BETA READING WORKSHOP that will be listed on the events page!

Selena Michaels

Selenamichaels.com

Selena Michaels writes romance novels with adult aged characters (and lots of twists you'll never see coming). Her novels often stem from her own experiences growing up in the small town of Pennsylvania, along with other people’s experiences she has met along her life journey.
Selena is a devoted (obsessed) fan of anime and has an extensive collection of manga that graces her office as she writes. She currently lives in Virginia with her amazingly supportive husband, her adorable son, and her spoiled yet precious dog. 

Aidy Award - Guest Panelist

AidyAward.com
Facebook
TikTok @aidyaward
Amazon
Bookbub
Goodreads
Patreaon
Aidy Award is a USA Today bestselling curvy girl author who kind of has a thing for stormtroopers.

She writes curvy girl romance, about real love, and dirty fun, with happy ever afters, because every woman deserves great sex and even better romance, no matter her size, shape, or what the scale says.

Connect with Aidy on her website www.AidyAward.com  and her Curvy Connection newsletter! Find her on all kinds of social media @aidyaward

Molly O'Hare - Guest Panelist

www.mollyohareauthor.com

Socials: http://www.mollyohareauthor.com/social-page/

Has anyone told you, you’re beautiful and amazing lately? Just in case they haven’t, I am!

So you want to know a little more about me? Well, okay then. Much like any author out there, sleeping doesn’t come easily to me. As it turns out, I’ve got horrible insomnia. Like, scary horrible. Anyway, when I was younger, to help myself fall asleep, I’d tell myself stories. Each night I’d pick up where the story left off previously until it was complete. Then I started writing them down. A few months later, here I am, sharing my lack of sleep with all of you. Who said the stories in our heads couldn’t be fun for others?
Why I Write:  http://www.mollyohareauthor.com/why/

Leora Gonzales - Guest Panelist

leoragonzales.com

Facebook
Etsy
Leora is a former snake milker that now enjoys the okayest job of balancing motherhood and writing contemporary romance. *Some with a sci fi twist*

A sucker for dirty talk, both the sexy kind and the type that leads to the discovery of new curse words, Leora catches all the craziness in her head on the cracked screen of her laptop. Squeezed into a small workspace in her Florida garage, this author uses her imagination *and cannabis* to explore the worlds she has created.

Her work has been praised extensively by her mother—who pinky promised to read the sexy parts with her eyes closed—and ignored by the rest of her family. Some critics have made compelling statements about her work such as “foul mouthed woman” and “nothing more than porn”. When asked for a comment regarding those reviews, the author’s answer was, “f$&% yeah!” with an enthusiastic nod and accompanying finger guns shooting in the air.

Check her out at LeoraGonzales.com or on social media for updates, new releases and random little weirds she overshares when she’s bored.​

Kim C. Lee

www.kimcleewrites.com
Instagram @kimcleewrites
Facebook
Kim C. Lee is a children's book author and literacy advocate. As a mother, she can attest to the importance of diverse representation in literature and the impacts that its absence and presence can have on children. Inspired to bring the distinct perspectives and experiences of African American children to books, Kim released The Night Owl in July 2020 and Meet Frankie Jordan in January 2021.

Anita

anitanahal.wixsite.com

Anita Nahal is an Indian American poet, flash fictionist, children’s writer, columnist, and professor. Anita has two books of poetry, one of flash fictions, four for children and three edited anthologies to her credit. Her third book of poetry, What’s wrong with us Kali women, is due for release by Kelsay Books in August 2021. And a fourth edited anthology of poems is set for release in Spring 2022. Anita’s poems and flash fictions are found in journals in the US, UK, Asia and Australia and her poems are also housed at Stanford University’s Digital Humanities Initiative. She is also a columnist with Aaduna, a New York based journal. Two of Anita’s books are prescribed in a course on multiculturalism and immigration at the University of the Utrecht, The Netherlands. Anita teaches at the University of the District of Columbia, Washington DC. Anita is the daughter of Sahitya Akademi award winning Indian novelist, Chaman Nahal and educationist, Sudarshna Nahal. Anita resides in the US with her son, daughter in law and golden doodle.

Selina Goodman

Instagram @_apeaceofmind

My name is Selina Goodman, I live in Laurel MD.  I am a first time author.  Through my book I share the pain of loving a police officer, pimp, prisoner and preacher.  My hope is to reach the masses as I don’t want other women to have to endure what I did for the past twenty-four years.  Also, my hope is to able to help women recognize when therapy is needed, and not to be afraid to seek therapy because society, family and friends say we are strong black women and strong black women don’t need therapy.

Through my book myself and my son have an online business name A Peace of Mind, where we sell products with our brand and logo; “A peace of mind is not for sale.”

Marie A. Wishert

mariesworldofwriting.com
Instagram @maries_world_of_writing 
Facebook
Marie is a reformed Midwesterner who has almost completely made the transition to "real San Diegan" (She's been told it takes ten years before one can own the title . . . to date, she has four more to go). Most days she can be found practicing dentistry. When not preoccupied with teeth, she enjoys training in two out of the three triathlon disciplines while attempting to raise two obstreperous teenage boys plus please a husband. Basically, she's barely managing a household. And then, for some illogical reason, she writes novels and strives to uphold a social media presence, in an effort to promote and connect with like-minded individuals.  

Incapable of maintaining a serious level of anything, Marie's writing is basically sarcasm wrapped in poetry, which she uses to craft stories allowing the palatable exploration of deeply personal and controversial subject matter. With "Ignite", her debut novel, she kicks off The Terrible Love Memoirs, a trilogy chronicling her protagonist Ruby’s path to, and ultimately through, a premature existential crisis. Raw, real, and packed with emotions, Ruby’s memoir journey will resonate for readers of all walks of life.

As a side passion project stemming from her struggles to find promotional outlets, Marie also hosts author interviews on Instagram, to assist others in need of optimizing the reach for their creative endeavors. 

If you've made it to the end of this bio, kudos! By now, I'm sure you've discovered that chasing passions and experiencing life while inspiring others to seek the same is Marie's ultimate goal. If you hadn't concluded that, well, then . . . there ya go! 

Porscha Lewis

porschaafterdark.com
Instagram @porscha_after_dark
Porscha is an author of erotic mystery stories. Her novels Scorned and Scorned the Final Episode also Love and Lust Erotic Tales, were written to make men and women aware that they don't have to hold back on who they are, and they don't have to be ashamed. If you aren't harming anyone, be free to do what you feel.

Porscha is from Pittsburgh, PA and has seen a lot. From a young age she would read everything she could get her hands on she started writing at the age of thirteen. She stood out among her classmates in school as a person who could think outside of the box. She knew she was different because of the way her mind would process seemed different than those of her peers. When teachers would ask her how she thought of things on her own she would always reply, "My mind speaks for itself and I just follow what it tells me to do and say." She creates this work for readers of all cultures to captivate them through her words. Y'all know what she loves to say. 

Let's Not Be Taboo 

Mary Warren

Mary Warren Writes
www.tiktok.com/@marywarrenwrites
https://twitter.com/FatGirlsinFic
https://www.pinterest.com/fatgirlsinfiction
https://www.instagram.com/fatgirlsinfiction/

Fat Girls in Fiction
Fatgirlsinfiction.com
www.tiktok.com/@marywarrenwrites
https://twitter.com/FatGirlsinFic
https://www.pinterest.com/fatgirlsinfiction
https://www.instagram.com/fatgirlsinfiction/

Mary Warren's journey to seek out and encourage fat representation began after reading a book that had the fat representation she didn’t even know she needed. This spark inspired her to read as many fat main characters as she could. After a while, she became an activist for representation on tiktok under #fatgirlsinfiction and then founded fatgirlsinfiction.com a website dedicated to the books and authors featuring positive portrayals of fat characters. Since then, she has kept reading and talking about fat girls. She is now also writing about fat girls. In March of 2022 she will be contributing to the anthology Curves and Magic. She is also working on a fat girl rom com all her own. Mary lives in central Illinois with her husband and 3 children.

Rachelle Jones Smith

rjonessmith.online
Rachelle never got her fill of high school, so she goes back daily to teach creative writing, English & composition, and journalism. After class, she’s usually found writing, photographing, or pursuing adventures. Rachelle enjoys writing Young Adult fiction with strong, diverse characters. She wants her YA work to inspire, to comfort, and to relate to people on all walks of life. Her children's books likewise feature diverse characters and are focused on inclusion, self affirmation, empathy, and humanity. Rachelle studied education, comic book art, journalism, criminal justice and creative writing in school.

E.S. McMillan

Amazon     BookBub     Booksprout     Eden Books
Discord @ES_McMil#8600
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E.S. McMillan is a self-proclaimed Superhero. She is a mom to 4 amazing boys. Married to one of her best friends and has plans to take the world by storm. E.S. was born in California, raised in New York, and now resides in Connecticut. E.S. is a lover of the written word and cannot remember a time when there was not a book in her hand or an open notebook close by, waiting to be filled with her stories.

C.M. Newell

authorcmnewell.com
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BarnesandNoble Link to Buy Magick

Social Media:
Instagram @AuthorSassyCassie
Goodreads Author C. M. Newell
Tik Tok @sassywritingcoach
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C. M. Newell has been a lover of all things fairytale and fantasy, especially the twisted ones for as long as she can remember. She loves writing strong female characters who don't fall victim to circumstance but rise above it or lead it; in her world, a princess can save herself with perseverance and wit! C. M.'s novels have an underlying sense that there is always expectations of you or labels that everyone must overcome by finding their own terms (or die trying).

C. M. Newell, is  an author of young adult fantasy novels with the awarding winning debut novel Magick (Book 1 in The Unwanted Series). She is currently living with her family outside Tampa Bay, Florida where she spends most days writing or dipping her toes in sand while devouring a new book.

Calla Claire

Linktree
callaclaire.com

Calla Claire, a new adult romance author, is a native of Northern Virginia. Her earliest memories involve getting lost on the Metro and having school canceled for a single flurry, but she wouldn’t have it any other way. She and her husband spend their free-time trying to keep masks on the faces of their wild little boys— and hoping for a return to precedented times! 

Calla has been self-publishing since 2012 under a variety of pen names, but she’s starting fresh in 2022 with Rogues to Riches, a new adult college bully romance series. She’d be honored if you checked her out on TikTok @Calla.Claire.author for self-publishing tips, beta reading opportunities, and more! 

Now for pre-order!

Eden Appiah-Kubi

Instagram

Eden Appiah-Kubi fell in love with classic novels in fourth grade when her mom read her Jane Eyre, chapter by chapter, as a bedtime story. After serving in the Peace Corps, Eden developed her fiction writing through years in a small Washington, DC, critique group. Today she works as a librarian and lives in the DC suburbs with her husband and hilarious daughter.

Saeida Rouass - Guest Panelist

Website
Saeida Rouass is of Moroccan heritage, born and raised in London. She is the author of Eighteen Days of Spring in Winter and Assembly of the Dead. She is currently working on the sequel to Assembly of the Dead, set in 1912 Fes, when Morocco became a French Protectorate and the sequel to Assembly of the Dead. She has also contributed to anthologies "We Wrote in Symbols, Love and Lust by Arab Women," published by Saqi Books in 2021, 'Our Morocco,' and 'The Ordinary Chaos of Being Human,' published by Penguin. She is a 2019 Churchill and has been published by Skin Deep Magazine, Wasafari Literary Magazine, The Independent, and Newsweek. 

Cecilia Tan - Guest Panelist

Website
Cecilia Tan writes about her many passions, from erotic fantasy to baseball, from her home in the Boston area. She is the author of many books, including the award-winning books Slow Surrender, Daron’s Guitar Chronicles, and The Prince’s Boy. She has edited over 50 anthologies of erotica for Red Silk Editions, Thunder’s Mouth Press, Blue Moon Books, Masquerade Books, Ravenous Romance, and for the publishing house she founded, Circlet Press. Her short fiction has appeared in Ms. Magazine, Asimov’s Science Fiction magazine, Best American Erotica, and many other places. She has served as publications director for SABR (Society for American Baseball Research) since 2011. Follow her blog at https://blog.ceciliatan.com.

LP Kersey - Guest Panelist

Obsidian Pen Publishing
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Boutique publishing for the free spirited writer with a story to tell! Editing, writing, and publishing services available!

Obsidian Pen also has a monthly reading event, The Literary Cypher, featuring writers from every genre, from every stage of writing, from everywhere. It gives them a safe space to share their work, enjoy the talent of others, and low key network. If you're a writer or know writers with something to share, message us or email [email protected]!

Patricia A Crews

thewritesynergyrocks.com
Facebook - The Write Woman

Patricia A. Crews is a Poet, Author, Playwright, Digital Storyteller and Screenwriter. Her works have been produced and performed throughout the United States. She is a native of Inkster, Michigan, situated a stones throw from Detroit. She currently resides in Prince George's County, Maryland.

Sword & Silk Books

swordandsilkbooks.com
Sword and Silk Books is a small traditional publishing company, celebrating womxn of all walks of life. 

​The publishing business can be a lonely place where everyone feels like they are competing against each other. S&S seeks to be a place of support, learning, and growth.
At Sword and Silk, we work with our authors every step of the way on their literary journey, helping to bring out the most from their work. From editing, to marketing and publication, Sword and Silk helps our authors produce high quality, interesting and entertaining books.

​At Sword and Silk, we believe that every author has a story to tell, and that every story deserves to be told.

Galia Gichon

www.galiagichonauthor.com

Galia Gichon is the author of “The Accidental Suffragist.” Widely quoted in The New York Times and more, Galia spent nearly ten years writing financial research for top investment banks before launching Down-to-Earth Finance, a top personal financial advising firm in New York. She is passionate about empowering women through feminist stories and financial independence.

Heather Frimmer

heatherfrimmer.com
Facebook @heatherfrimmerauthor
Twitter @heatherfrimmer
Instagram @heatherfrimmer

Heather Frimmer is a radiologist specializing in breast and emergency room imaging. Her first novel, Bedside Manners, was published in 2018 and has received several awards including National Indie Excellence, Readers’ Favorite and Independent Press awards. She completed her medical training at Weill-Cornell Medical College, New York Presbyterian-Cornell and Yale New Haven Hospital. She lives with her husband and two children in suburban Connecticut. Her second novel, Better to Trust, releases in September 2021.

Keesha Caldwell

Keesha Caldwell is a poet. Her books can be purchased through her directly or through Amazon in paperback and hardcover. Purchase through CashApp.

CashApp:  $KeeshaGCaldwell
Hard copy or Paperback @$15
Postage & Handling:  Free

Carlena Davis

welcome2mayasworld.com

Carlena Davis is a cookbook author who lives in the Washington, DC area with her husband and daughter. She started her Food Blog, Spilling the Sweet Tea in July of 2017. As a Southern girl and a busy mom, she wanted to “Spill the Sweet Tea” on how to make great southern dishes but also share some quick 30 minute meals for busy working moms. As a food blogger, her debut children’s book was born out of her passion to educate and empowers kids in the kitchen and introduce them to the joys of cooking. A Sales Executive by day, children’s book author by night, she received her Bachelor of Arts in Communicative Sciences and Disorders from Hampton University and her MBA from Keller Graduate School of Management. A North Carolina native, she also traveling and advocating for Alzheimer’s Awareness.

Robin McCormick
Quill & Company

quillandcompany.com

Instagram @QuillandCompany_

Robin McCormick, who uses the pen name Amesia McCormick, is the author of two spicy religious fiction novels entitled Jar of Hearts and KAKISTOCRACY. She is born and raised in Maryland and just recently launched her own writing and publishing company called Quill & Company (Quill & CO.). Quill & CO.'s writing services assist any prospective author from the novice writer to the more experienced. Writing workshops and writing retreats are just a few of the offerings Quill & CO. has to guide you along your journey to be published!

Alexandra Neznamy

www.alexneznamy.com
Alexandra Neznamy is a former cast member with Disney, and is also a Disney film historian and theorist. She is also a trained chef and home-schools her little one.

Donna Earl

Facebook - The Urban Soap Opera Diva 

Twitter @EarlJuicyFruit
Author Donna Earl self-published two novels, When I Close My Eyes and Eyes Wide Open.

Donna wrote her first book on a dare and has enjoyed the journey ever since.

Books are an adventure without leaving the room and she hopes that when someone reads her stories, they laugh, cry and with luck ignite interest in creating their own fabulous characters and stories.

Nerdy Book Box

nerdybookbox.com 

Instagram @nerdybookbox
Twitter @nerdybookbox
Facebook
Youtube

​Nerdy Book Box was founded on the idea of supporting small, lesser-known authors. While most other book box companies cater to bigger, well-known and already established writers; we are here for the smaller niche of folks that may still be growing their book and brand. Your support allows us to bring you beautiful worlds, characters and stories from the minds of brilliant authors. We are here to support them and support our fellow small businesses.

J. Nell

Facebook
Author J. Nell  has her Bachelor's Degree in African American Studies and English Literature from SUNY Brockport, and is the mother of four children. She is an avid reader and is pleased to offer her books for readers to enjoy.

Camille Baker

camillebaker.com
Twitter @camilliemill
Instagram @camilleuntil

Camille Baker writes in several genres, but all roads lead to themes of love and loss. She earned a Bachelor's degree in Finance from The Ohio State University. There, she took sign language classes for fun and wrote stories during business classes that didn’t hold her interest. After graduating, she completed the Interpreter Training Program at San Antonio College. Camille now resides, interprets, and writes in South Chicago. Have We Met? is her debut novel.

Maan Gabriel

maangabriel.com
Twitter @MaanGabriel
Instagram @maan_gabriel
Facebook @MaanGabrielAuthor
"I dream of a world full of hope, where believing is as important as life itself, and where love can move mountains. This is in the very core of my stories, and I wish in more ways than one that I can inspire you to see the world as I see it... a fairy tale."
- Maan

Maan Gabriel is a mom, wife, dreamer, writer, and advocate for women’s stories in literature. She earned her BA in communications from St. Scholastica’s College in Manila and MPS in public relations and corporate communications from Georgetown University. She has lived in Manila, Brussels, Dakar, and Mexico City. During the day, she works in strategic communications. Gabriel, along with her husband and son, currently calls suburban Washington DC home. After Perfect is her first novel.

Thien-Kim Lam

thienkimlam.com
Twitter @msthienkim
Insta @msthienkim

Thien-Kim Lam writes stories about Vietnamese characters who smash stereotypes and find their happy endings. A recovering Type-Asian, she guzzles cà phê sữa đá, makes art, and bakes her feelings to stay sane.
 
Thien-Kim is also the founder of Bawdy Bookworms, a subscription box that pairs sexy romances with erotic toys. She’s been featured on Jezebel, NPR, BBC America, and Glamour. Her debut novel Happy Endings is now available, and her forthcoming book will be released in 2022.

Karissa Carson

Facebook @freeyourvoice93
Instagram @freeyourvoice93
Karissa Carson is the founder of Free Your Voice. Free your voice is an organization that is dedicated to helping women find their voices, by offering empowerment services such as empowerment brunches , workshop and mentorship. Karissa  is a Coppin State alumna, who majored in business management . Karissa is originally from Brooklyn, Ny.

It is her personal goal to bring hope, inspiration and empowerment to all that crosses her path.Since Karissa has started her empowerment journey she has hosted multiple brunches, conducted informative workshops for PNC bank and has been featured in the Baltimore twice. Karissa is now embarking on her new journey as a self help author. When it comes to motivating others, she’s like no other.

Jayne Allen

jayneallenwrites.com
Instagram ​@jayneallenwrites

Suzanne Williams

giftunveiled.com

Suzanne Williams is an IT Analyst and author, answering the call to share her testimony

Ellen Levonne Butler

thememorykeepers.net
Facebook
Ellen LeVonne Butler is an award-winning author and a native of Edgefield, South Carolina, where she spent her early childhood years. She was raised by her grandparents, who shared many family stories with her. She developed a keen interest in her family, and has become the family historian and coordinator of the many family reunions. She is researching ancestors from Edgefield, Saluda, Greenwood, and McCormick counties, South Carolina. Ellen is a member of the Old Edgefield District Genealogy Society (OEDGS), and the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society, Inc. She has published articles in Homeplace, the official publication of the OEDAAGS, and the Carolina Herald and Newsletter, the official publication of the South Carolina Genealogical Society. She has conducted extensive research at the National Archives, the Daughters of American Revolution Research Library, and the Library of Congress. She published a chapter in Our Ancestors, Our Stories which won the 2018 International AAHGS Book award for Non-Fiction Short Stories.

Bernice Alexander Bennett

geniebroots.com
Video
Bernice Alexander Bennett is an award-winning author, genealogist, nationally recognized guest speaker, storyteller, and producer-host of the popular Research at the National Archives and Beyond BlogTalkRadio program. She is also the first recipient of the Ida B. Wells Service Award given by the Sons and Daughters of the United States Middle Passage for her dedication to broadcast stories about enslaved and indentured ancestors of African descent. She also received the Elizabeth Clark-Lewis Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society (AAHGS) Genealogy Award in 2019 for original research in support of African American Genealogy. Bennett is on the Board of Directors for the National Genealogical Society. Her South Carolina journey is chronicled in Our Ancestors, Our Stories, which won the 2018 International AAHGS Book award for Non-Fiction Short Stories. Her second book Tracing Their Steps - A Memoir received the Phillis Wheatley Literary Award from the Sons and Daughters of the United States Middle Passage in 2019, the International AAHGS Book Award in 2020 for Non-Fiction Short Story and, the Next Generations Indie Award in 2021 for African American Non-Fiction book category and a semi-finalist in 2021 for the Winning Writer’s Book award.
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H.L. Brooks

hlbrooks.com
Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest @hlbrookswrites

H.L. Brooks, the pen name for Heather Brooks, is the author of contemporary  fairy tale re-tellings with dashes of  sex and  romance.  She is also working on a cozy non-spicy witchy mystery.
She places an emphasis on strong female characters of various ages and body types, often featuring body positivity and plus size women.  She's feminist, sex-positive, body-positive, chatty, and curious about  oh just all sorts of things.
She's been called a natural-born cheerleader and is happiest when she's writing, helping, or cuddling with her husband (who is also a writer) William in their almost 200 year old home.
You can read her sensual observations and micro-fiction in the Sensual Sunday series at her blog.
She is the founder of  The Write Women Book Festival,  and The Write Women Network Facebook group and salons. She is a member of the city arts council.
H.L. is a self-declared sensualist, a fan of cats, autumn,  soft slouchy socks, love letters, chocolate, and tequila. 

Cecelia Dowdy

ceceliadowdy.com
Facebook
Twitter @cdnovelist  
Instagram @dowdycecelia
  
BIO (at least 100 words no  more than 200):
 Cecelia Dowdy is a bestselling author who lives near Washington DC. She enjoys listening to old tunes with her husband and chauffeuring her teenaged son to school sports events. Baking is one of her favorite passions. She loves experimenting with bread recipes using her sourdough starter. Serving homemade desserts to friends brings her joy. Her love of baking shines in her romance novels. When she’s not in the kitchen, or spending time with her family, she’s cooking up delicious faith-filled plots. Fans say that reading her tasty novels makes them hungry. Join her newsletter for updates about future book releases.

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