< 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 Catherine Clark Felts Catherine Clark Felts lives in Yorktown, Virginia, with her three mischievous cats, two amazing daughters, and one loving and supportive husband. An avid runner, she finds the best time to mull over a book concept is during an early morning jog. Formerly a technical support team Director and degreed Bioprocess Engineer, she felt the call to write and continue the legacy that her grandmother (Catherine Clark the 4th) and mother (Catherine Clark the 5th) passed down to her. She hopes to make a positive impact on children and families as they immerse themselves in her stories. Next

< Back Teresa Inge Teresa Inge is an award-winning mystery author whose work appears in First Comes Love, Then Comes Murder, Coastal Crimes, Virginia is for Mysteries, Mutt Mysteries and Murder by the Glass. She belongs to Sisters in Crime, Short Mystery Fiction Society, and Virginia Writer’s Club, and contributes to Sand in our Shorts and Writers Who Kill blogs. Teresa works for a financial firm as an administrative assistant, corporate reporter, and notary coordinator. In addition to writing, she participates in car shows with her 1955 Torch Red Thunderbird and resides in Southeastern Virginia with her husband A.J. and their shepherd dog Luke. Next

Information regarding our 2025 Festival. Find out what to expect and look forward to. What Can I Expect at the Event? Book Fair 70+ Nationally & regionally renowned authors Thriller, Poetry, Self-Help, Children's Books, Romance, Fantasy, Horror, Sci-fi, Mystery & more! Publishers' Alley Virginia publishing companies display their books and host their authors and editors. For the aspiring author, submission guidelines will be available for each publishing house. Poets Laureate of Virginia A special presentation from the Poetry Society of Virginia. Workshops & Presentations Workshops, panels, and presentations take place throughout the day. Focused on both readers and writers, the workshops and presentations illuminate library resources for book clubs, the craft of writing, the music of poetry, and the mechanics of the book industry.

< 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 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 Loralee Clark Loralee Clark has a fourth chapbook forthcoming: Neolithic Imaginings: Mythical Explorations of the Unknown (Kelsay Press, 2026). Clark has been nominated for three 2026 Pushcart Prizes. She resides in Virginia. You can find her website at sites.google.com/view/loraleeclark and her Substack, which focuses on the process of creativity at nosuchthingasfailure.substack.com. Next

< Back Leslie Eva Tayloe Leslie Eva Tayloe is an award-winning children’s picture book author of Save the Trees, a 2024 Moonbeam Bronze Medalist, and 2025 Long listed for the Green Earth Award, The Attic Door a 2024 Story Monster’s Approved Award, and 2025 Literary Titan Gold Book Award, and I’m Fishing with Pop-Pop Today. She also wrote an article, titled Marketing Group Helps Writers (Children’s Book Insider, April 2023). She’s a former analyst, worked as a substitute teacher and holds a Master’s degree from the University of Maryland. 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 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 Leslie Lautenslager With over 30 years of experience, Leslie Lautenslager is a recognized leader in international protocol and diplomacy as a speaker, trainer, and published author. She served beside General Colin Powell from 1996 until his death, managing his professional speaking career on the international speaking circuit and serving as the Assistant Chief of Protocol for Ceremonials during his tenure as the nation’s top diplomat. In her book, “My Time with General Colin Powell: Stories of Kindness, Diplomacy, & Protocol,” she provides readers the opportunity to learn what an extraordinary person he was behind the scenes and behind the headlines. Next

< 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