Read more about the 70+ authors who will be exhibiting at the festival Exhibiting Authors T.J. O'Connor Caroline Crocker Sandy Hope Stewart George WB Scott Allison Gunn Taylor Hartley Karen Marginot Caterina Novelliere L.E. DeLano Leslie Lautenslager Alicia Swain Heather Brown Barrett Jacqueline T. Johnson Aminta Colón Heather Mullaly Randy Ellefson J.S. Furlong S.K. Ehra Jenn Bouchard Sonny Hudson Michael Gryboski Patsy Asuncion Leslie Eva Tayloe Cindy L. Freeman Loralee Clark Kathryn Louise Wood Bill Ayres Nicole Glover A.D. Stone Larry Walsh Patricia Bradby Moore N.M. Opperman Ginny Brock Michael Eging Laura C.Rader Elizabeth Duncan-Hawker Bradley Harper T.S. Arther Mark Piggott Christy Landers Tallamy John Conlee Luz Schweig William R Hogan Teresa Inge Sally Stiles Robert Archibald D. L. Farrar Ron Peterson, Jr Ellen Butler Tim Holland Melissa Face Thomas Guay Thomas M. Wing Chris Register Peter Stipe Chris Whitlatch Lesley O'Brien S.J. Lee Tommy Kerper Michael Stephens Nan Carlton Catherine Clark Felts Tabitha Mann Sarah Newland Hugh Lessig Patti Gaustad Procopi Cindy Chisholm Juanita P. Graham Heather Buchanan Jess Renae Sherer Jim Meisner Jr. Heidi Hartwiger

< Back T.J. O'Connor Tj O'Connor is an award-winning thriller and mystery author of The Whisper Legacy, The Dead Detective Casefiles, and other thrillers and paranormal mysteries. He’s an anti-terrorism consultant—life experiences that drive his novels. He has lived and worked around the world and now lives with his wife and Labrador companions in Virginia. www.tjoconnor.com Next

< Back Patricia Bradby Moore Patricia Bradby Moore is a proud multi-hyphenate who refuses to be defined by a single label. She is a writer, keynote speaker, connectivity coach, technologist, voiceover artist, community builder, traveler, runner, swimmer, cyclist, scuba diver, and amateur ukulele player. Patricia is passionate about using her experience and expertise to help others embrace every facet of their identity and live their most fulfilling lives. She views her versatility as a superpower—one that fuels innovation and builds a happier, more connected world. Next

< Back Christy Landers Tallamy Christy Landers Tallamy is a writer whose work explores the beauty and complexity of ordinary lives. Her style is often compared to Italian novelist Elena Ferrante. Her poetry and essays appear in several creative writing anthologies, and she has also worked as a ghostwriter, blogger, and essayist, earning small but meaningful accolades for her work. Her debut historical novel, Sugarcane Saint—the first in a planned trilogy—draws on her Southern roots to examine family loyalty, faith, and the legacies that shape who we become. Next

< Back Luz Schweig Luz Schweig is an emerging poet raised in Mexico-Tenochtitlan, whose work participates in reviving Indigenous eco-spirituality. Her contributions have mainly focused on anthologizing marginalized voices, especially those of women. In 2012, Luz founded a women’s spiritual poetry project through which hundreds of contributors shared their stories. Her award winning anthology, Somos Xicanas, sparked a revival of published work by Mexican American women. First penned under a pseudonym, Luz’s first poetry manuscript was selected by Juan Felipe Herrera as first runner-up for the 2024 Andrés Montoya Poetry Prize. Next

< Back Tommy Kerper Once upon a time, a bored lawyer and avid reader searched for a particular book. Tired of his favorite characters becoming background noise to the heroes of the story, he took it upon himself to write something different. A few books later, Tommy has dropped the lawyer gig and decided writing full-time is worth giving a chance. He lives in Virginia with his perfect wife, their dog with endless energy, and two boys that wear even the dog out. You can find Tommy writing, sipping another cup of coffee, or reading anything he can get his hands on. Next

< Back Heather Brown Barrett Heather Brown Barrett is an award-winning poet in southeastern Virginia. She is the Membership Chair of The Poetry Society of Virginia, a member of The Muse Writers Center, and a former board member of Hampton Roads Writers. Her work has appeared in Literary Mama, The Ekphrastic Review, Yellow Arrow Journal, formidable Woman sanctuary, Black Bough Poetry, OyeDrum Magazine, and elsewhere, and has been nominated for Best of the Net. She’s the author of Water in Every Room (Kelsay Books, 2025), a collection of poems embodying the fluctuations of emotion and form in new motherhood. Next

< Back Aminta Colón Aminta Colón wants to give children a message of love, and hope, and let them know that dreams can be accomplished. At the same time, let them know that life is challenging but they can overcome it with positive thinking. She wrote this story to let children and adults know that help comes at the right time. Next

< Back Karen Marginot Karen Marginot is an author, a recovery coach, and an integrative coach with over four decades of literary experience. Her published memoir, The Bad Girls Club: Promises of a Spirituality-Based Recovery, explores transformation and recovery from trauma and addiction. With a background spanning publishing, content development leadership, and senior positions at Salesforce and Dell, Karen brings unique insight to writers at all stages. Her innovative workshops blend classical storytelling techniques with transformative approaches to narrative development, helping writers discover their authentic voice and craft impactful stories. Specializing in guiding those in the wisdom phase of life, Karen creates supportive environments where participants develop both technical skills and narrative gifts. A graduate of Co-Active Training Institute, Karen is currently working on her next two book projects while helping others discover the stories only they can tell. Her teaching philosophy centers on her conviction that a single story can change everything—transforming both author and audience. Next

< Back Larry Walsh Larry Walsh’s writing chronicles epic cross-country cycling journeys and the personal transformation they inspired. A U.S. Army veteran, former pharmaceutical executive, and current Williamsburg, VA resident, Walsh reinvented his life after a career setback by pursuing long-distance bike adventures across the United States. His #1 New Release memoirs, Suit to Saddle and Forty to Finish, explore resilience, purpose, and self-discovery on the open road. Walsh now works in the medical supplies industry and is a motivational speaker, encouraging others to chase bold goals at any stage of life. Next

< Back Thomas M. Wing Thomas M. Wing, a retired thirty-two year Surface Warfare Officer, and Naval Academy and Naval War College graduate served more than ten years at sea in destroyers and frigates. A dedicated sailor for over half a century, he also commanded a tall ship. Tom has two published novels, Against All Enemies and In Harm’s Way, both of which have earned awards. Accurate history and authentic settings are his obsession. The reviews he is most proud of come from Navy veterans, who said of Against All Enemies that they could “smell the stale coffee and cigarette smoke in CIC.” Next

< Back Bradley Harper Bradley Harper MD is a retired US Army pathologist who began writing after retirement at age 63. His debut novel, A Knife in the Fog, placed a young Dr Conan Doyle on the hunt for Jack the Ripper. It was a 2019 Edgar Award Finalist and has been translated into three languages. His fourth and most recent novel, Maiden Voyage, features an art heist by a trio of female thieves... aboard the Titanic. He attended Napier University 2021-22 for a Masters in Creative Wriiing, and this was his thesis project. Next