< Back A.D. Stone A.D. Stone is an author, chandler, and vintage toy shop owner. A lifelong lover of books, art, Arthurian legend, poetry, Disney, and all things whimsical and nostalgic, she takes pride in her creative ability, always looking for the next magical thing to conjure up or be a part of. She was born and raised within the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. She resides in Waynesboro with her significant other and beloved pets. Next

< Back Ellen Butler Ellen Butler is the international bestselling author of the Karina Cardinal mystery series, hailed by Publishers Weekly as “intelligent escapism.” Drawing on her firsthand experience working on Capitol Hill and with a national medical association in Washington, D.C., Butler delivers high-stakes, fast-paced thrillers rich with authenticity, intrigue, and insider detail. Beyond contemporary suspense, Butler is also the acclaimed author of the Ariadne Winter historical mystery series and multiple award-winning works of historical spy fiction. Her novel The Brass Compass earned widespread recognition, including the IndieReader Discovery Award and a Readers’ Favorite Silver Medal for Historical Fiction. The sequel, Operation Blackbird: A Cold War Spy Novel—inspired by true events—captured the prestigious Next Generation Indie Book Award Gold Medal for Historical Fiction, cementing Butler’s reputation as a master storyteller across genres. Next

< Back Melissa Face Melissa Face is the author of the award-winning collection I Love You More Than Coffee: Essays on Parenthood, published September 1, 2020 and I Love You More Than Coffee: A Guided Journal for Moms (September 13, 2022). Her writing has appeared in numerous local and national publications, including Richmond Family Magazine, Charlottesville Family Magazine, Tidewater Family Magazine, Scary Mommy, Motherscope, The Myrtle Beach Herald, Guideposts, Country Woman, Farm & Ranch Living, Prairie Times, Boomer Magazine, Sasee Magazine, Nine Lives: A Life in Ten Minutes Anthology, Parhelion Literary Magazine, and twenty-six volumes of Chicken Soup for the Soul. Next

< Back Thomas Guay Thomas Guay is the author of Chesapeake Bound, a work of historical fiction set in the uneasy years just before the American Revolution. A former Capitol Hill reporter, Guay turned from modern politics to the eighteenth century, tracing why ordinary Londoners—pressed by poverty, prejudice, and a rigid class system—risked everything on a passage to colonial America. Set between 1763 and 1765, the novel follows indentured servants and sailors whose Atlantic voyage reveals hopes and dreams tested by deadly storms, hardship, and budding romance. Drawing on years as a historical guide at the Charles Carroll House in Annapolis, Guay brings daily colonial life vividly to the page. Next

< Back Randy Ellefson Author and world building strategist Randy Ellefson has been world building since the 1980s, having worked on a single world (Llurien) for decades, while also building separate worlds for other projects. Rand has won honorable mention three times in the prestigious Writers of the Future contest and publishes fantasy novels, novellas, and short stories. His series, The Art of World Building, has reached the Top 10 on Amazon's Bestseller lists. He's also host of the Fantasy & Sci-Fi Author Summit. Between selling at conventions, he also appears on podcasts for writers. He holds a Bachelors of Music, Magna cum Laude, in classical guitar, and runs his own record label, which has released five of his albums (three instrumental rock, one instrumental acoustic, and one classical guitar album). His metal band, Black Halo, is releasing its debut album in 2026, with Rand as guitarist, main songwriter/lyricist, and band manager. Rand works as a professional software architect/project manager in the Washington, D.C. area and has worked for the State Department, White House, and NASA among others. When not creating, he's playing with his son and daughter, golfing, skiing, or swimming. 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 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 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 Plot Twists and Persistence: A Thriller Author’s Journey and Lessons Learned From Northern Virginia roots to an optioned debut, Yasmin Angoe shares a road‑to‑publication story with the momentum of a thriller. She maps the rejections, rewrites, and lucky breaks behind the Nena Knight series, then shows how her process evolved—protecting voice, building discipline, and balancing ambition with life. Energizing, candid, and packed with actionable advice for aspiring and published writers. About Yasmin: Yasmin Angoe is an Anthony Award–nominated author of the Nena Knight action‑thriller series, which begins with Her Name Is Knight, and the domestic psychological suspense novel Not What She Seems. Her work has been optioned for film and television and featured in the New York Times, Oprah Daily, the Guardian, and PopSugar. A finalist for the Library of Virginia People’s Choice Award and a 2024 Goodreads Choice Awards nominee, she serves on the Sisters in Crime board. Born and raised in Northern Virginia, she lives in South Carolina. Previous Next

< Back George WB Scott George WB Scott is an East Tennessee book author and video producer, with a life-long interest in European and American history. Scott was born in Stuart, Florida, and graduated from Martin County High School. Scott's previous books include "I Jonathan, A Charleston Tale of the Rebellion," and "Growing Up In Eden," a childhood memoir. Website: SouthernRocket.net Next

< Back Taylor Hartley Taylor Hartley graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature and a minor in Creative Writing. Inspired largely by Tamora Pierce and Madeline L’Engle, Taylor started writing stories when they were nine years old and never looked back. Next

< Back Laura C.Rader Laura C. Rader graduated from San Diego State University with a degree in psychology and a minor emphasis in history and art. She taught English and history for many years. Now living in North Carolina, she is a full time author of historical fiction. Hatfield 1677, based on the true story of her 9th great grandparents in Massachusetts during King Philip’s War, is her debut award-winning novel. Next