Meet Our Authors
Kimberly Adkins
Kimberly Adkins of Tennessee is an avid artist who works with oils, acrylics and water colors. She also spends time song-writing. Says Kimberly of romance, "Fate lines up to reward the faithful who believe that love holds a power beyond our understanding and dreams have a chance to come true."
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Reece Brett
Passions drive Reece Brett. According to her sister, Reece has been writing since she “could hold a crayon” and always had her “nose buried in a books.” These two passions led to a writing career. She shares her love of writing as a guest speaker for area colleges, local schools and writing organizations. Reece enjoys chatting with book clubs or writing groups whether it be a personal appearance or via Skype. She is a member of NJRW, RWA, WFWA and moderates Writing Community at Bogart’s.
Karen Conti
Karen Conti is a lawyer, educator, and media personality from Chicago. Karen has actively practiced law for 36 years, handling a variety of newsworthy cases including an appeal to the United States Supreme Court. She is the host of a popular radio show in Chicago and has been a legal analyst on national and local television for 25 years. As an adjunct law professor, she regularly lectures and speaks on issues including the death penalty, family law, and women in the practice. Along with her husband, Jerry, and her two rescue cats, Karen splits her time between Chicago’s Gold Coast and her home in Delavan, Wisconsin.
Shannon Daupin
Shannon Dauphin is a writer who has been in the publishing industry in one form or another for more than a decade. When she's not writing, she loves to cook, explore antique stores and travel. She and her husband reside with their children in an historic home near Nashville, TN.
Maggie Grey
Born and raised in Rhode Island, Maggie is the youngest of five children. A writer and therapeutic riding instructor, she says the only sport she was "remotely good at" was horseback riding! She currently resides in Georgia with her husband and daughter.
Carly Huss
Carly Huss lives half her life in Lewisville, TX and the other half in Fantasy Land. She's been known for telling stories since she could string sentences together, but it wasn't until she developed a love for fiction that her stories eventually morphed into novels. Carly is the founder of North Texas Writers, a critique group of writers who are passionate about helping each other become authors. In addition to romance, she also writes YA fiction.
Judie Kleng
Judie Kleng was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest. She worked as a 911 dispatcher until she retired and followed her dream of writing romance. She also enjoys songwriting and performs in local area clubs. Judie says she's married to her soulmate - with whom she raised two wonderful sons and raced thoroughbred horses. Judie currently lives in beautiful eastern Oregon and continues to follow her dreams.
Dana Lyons
US Today Best-Selling author Dana Lyons lives in the mountains of western North Carolina. She loves to work out and live healthy, ever-ready to discover new mysteries in life, explore the limitless boundaries of the mind, and find the true power of the heart. Says Lyons, "Love is not just an emotion in your heart - love is a measurable force that travels the universe like the light of a star. Learn the power of love, and you will create a world you can love."
Kerry McQuisten
Kerry is the owner of Black Lyon Publishing, LLC. She is a former GOP candidate for Oregon governor in 2022, and the former mayor of Baker City. She serves as Sr. Advisor for Republicans Overseas. An author and public speaker, she spends her time between her family cattle ranch in eastern Oregon and Salem. She's the mother of two beautiful daughters.
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M. Jean Pike
Abandoned buildings. Restless spirits. Love that lasts forever. These are a few of multi-published author M. Jean Pike's favorite things. A professional writer since 1996, Pike brings readers unforgettable stories of life, love and the inner workings of the human heart.
Angela Steed
Angela is a traveler, romantic, mother, and chauffeur. She finds enlightenment in the most unusual places and summons story ideas with just a simple word. She lived in West Virginia and Ohio before moving back to Oregon where she enjoys the great outdoors.
Elysabeth Williams
Elysabeth Williams has shown from a very early age creative work in writing and a passion for storytelling. In 2006, she was given the opportunity to write music reviews for an online magazine, since music had always been a large part of her life. Still not sated, she dabbled in short stories over bedtime with her daughter.
In spring of 2008, while having coffee with a friend, she was reminded of her love for writing and when she mentioned how she used to write, she was told very profoundly, "You're still a writer ... write!" After the epiphany, Elysabeth sat down, wrote her first novel, and has been writing since.
Victoria Ashe
A poetry fan and philosophy major, Victoria says she didn't get the writing bug until her mid-20s when term papers finally weren't "sapping her creative energy." The oldest of three children, she was raised in the Midwest where she remained into adulthood. From time to time, Victoria has been caught entering baking contests or donating homemade cookies to centers providing free meals to the needy. She currently lives in Alaska.
Elizabeth Brockie
A native of Oklahoma, Elizabeth Brockie graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a bachelor’s degree in English Literature. After graduation, she relocated to Southern California, became a college instructor, and began a career in writing.
When she isn't at her laptop, she works for a grant program at the local high school district, enjoys cooking and trying new foods with her husband, and spending time with their golden retriever, Summer, and cat, Taffy. Her two children, presently residing in California, are her best critics and loyal supporters of her writing.
Margaret P. Cunningham
Margaret P. Cunningham's short stories have won several national contests and appeared in magazines and anthologies including eight Chicken Soup for the Soul books. She grew up on her father's nursery in Mobile, Alabama, where she lives with her husband, Tom. She enjoys writing, reading, gardening and "beaching it" with her friends and family.
Rachel L. Demeter
Rachel L. Demeter lives in the beautiful hills of Anaheim, California with Teddy, her goofy lowland sheepdog, and her high school sweetheart of eleven years. She enjoys writing dark, poignant romances that challenge the reader’s emotions and explore the redeeming power of love.
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Twitter: @RachelLDemeter
www.facebook.com/RLDemeterwww.goodreads.com/RachelLDemeter
Michelle Griep
Minnesota author, Michelle Griep, has been writing since she first discovered Crayolas and blank wall space. She has homeschooled four children over the past twenty years, and teaches both Civics and Creative Writing for area co-ops. She is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers.
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Kayleigh Jamison
A writer and musician at an early age, Kayleigh Jamison wrote her first novella at the age of seven, and first picked up a violin at eight. By 18, she had won several state and regional awards for the performing arts. With a Bachelor's degree in English and Philosophy and a Certification in Legal Studies, Kayleigh went on to study law by day. She enjoys rewriting history, exploring not only what was, but what could have been. Kayleigh is a member of RWA and her local chapter First Coast Romance Writers, the Historical Romance Society, and the Historical Novel Society. She currently lives in Florida.
Gerry Lekas
Gerry Lekas is a longtime Chicago guy. Over his lifetime he has played a variety roles: of teacher, songwriter, playwright, game developer and unfocused dreamer. As a boy from the Northwest Side, his goals were to compose a song that would be featured in a Hollywood movie (✓), write a play that would be performed (✓), create games that made it to the market (✓), one day be able to find a book he had written on a library shelf (✓), and attain enlightenment ( ). He also once briefly envisioned a career as a sponge diver.
Marie-Pierre Maingon
Canadian author Marie-Pierre Maingon is a writer, artist, passionate traveler, sailor and avid romance reader. After working many years as a teacher, she became a writer and comic book artist whose work has been shown at the Wallflower Cafe in Vancouver BC and Spiritworks in Saskatoon SK. She says her greatest accomplishment is that she is the mother of "two fabulous adults."
Naomi Dawn Musch
Multi-published author Naomi Dawn Musch enjoys writing in several genres of fiction. She is also an editor for Port Yonder Press, staff writer for the monthly Christian newspaper Living Stones News, and a feature contributor to Home School Enrichment Magazine. She mentors young writers through tutorials at A Novel Writing Site, and has been publishing the online newsletter Apples of Gold News for home educators for sixteen years. She and husband Jeff enjoy epic adventures with their five young adults around their home in the Wisconsin northwoods.
Phyllis Edgerly Ring
Phyllis Edgerly Ring left part of her heart in her childhood home of Germany, which she visits as often as she can. She loves writing, travel, and the noblest possibilities in the human heart. She has worked as writer, editor, nurse, tour guide, program director at a Baha’i conference center, taught English to kindergartners in China, and served as instructor for the Long Ridge Writer’s Group. She has written for such publications as Christian Science Monitor, Ms., Writer’s Digest, and Yankee, worked as editor for several publications, and published two nonfiction books. She and her husband live in New Hampshire, happy to be near their grown children.
Shari Thayn
Shari Thayn has spent most of her life in a small Utah town nestled at the base of the breathtaking Rocky Mountains. She is the co-owner of Grammar Punk, a company that offers innovative educational materials and promotes literacy. Being is writer is all she's ever wanted to be. She's an active member of Romance Writers of America and its Utah Chapter. Shari is an avid reader, history buff, hiker, biker, traveler, and "world's greatest aunt."
Frances DeleCourt Winters
Frances DeleCourt Winters teaches Victorian literature at a small university in Pennsylvania, and spends the summers in a mountain community in rural northern New Jersey. When not reading the most recent romance novel or writing creative fiction, Frances works on restoring a Victorian farmhouse from its skeletal stone foundation to its original gilded gingerbread trim.
Victoria Bastedo
Victoria Bastedo is an escape artist. From the time she was small in Kansas City, she’s enjoyed vanishing into all forms of fiction, whether it occurs first in her daydreams, a book or a show. She also loves to walk and peruse landscapes and architecture, to socialize with her friends and to dabble with occasional arts and crafts. She’s lived the best romance because she married a good man, and thanks God for her large family. An active member of her writing group, she recommends writers find others who share their dreams to enrich and support them.
Rory Church
Rory Church is a writer of romance and inspirational fiction. He is a long-time Gulf Coast resident and member of Romance Writers of America. Rory is a Naval Academy graduate and military veteran. He lives and travels with his wife and high school sweetheart, who is the romantic soul and critical center of his writing. He continues to write overlooking the emerald waters of the Gulf of Mexico or while pondering the stream outside his cabin in the western North Carolina Mountains.
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Jillian Dagg
Jillian Dagg was born in Surrey, England, and moved to Canada with her parents. She loved reading romance novels so much that she began writing the genre. Her first books were published by Silhouette, Simon & Schuster and a writing career was launched. Jillian lives in Ontario, Canada with her husband and cats.
Steven B. Epstein
Steven B. Epstein, a litigation partner at Poyner Spruill LLP, has been practicing law for nearly 30 years. He has tried many jury and non-jury trials in courtrooms throughout North Carolina and has argued numerous appeals. Since 2015, Epstein’s legal practice has focused primarily on divorce and family law. He lives in Raleigh with his wife and children who, one by one, are leaving the nest.
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Thomma Lyn Grindstaff
Thomma Lyn Grindstaff graduated with honors from East Tennessee State University with a Bachelor's Degree in English and worked at her alma mater for 13 years before becoming a full-time novelist.
A native East Tennessean, Thomma lives with her husband and four spoiled cats in the mountains of Appalachia where she loves to hike. She also has a passion for music, and is a classically trained pianist who has written approximately 50 songs and instrumental pieces.
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Linda Kage
The youngest of eight children, Linda Kage grew up on a dairy farm in the Midwest. She now lives in Kansas with her husband, daughter and nine cuckoo clocks. Linda is a member of Romance Writers of America and its local chapter, Midwest Romance Writers.
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Lisa Lewis
Lisa Lewis lives in upstate New York with her husband, two daughters, and three cats. As a former science teacher she has always escaped reality listening to music and reading romance novels. In her first novel, Lisa has finally brought those two loves together for others to enjoy.
Lauren Marrero
While not traveling the world in search of adventure, Lauren Marrero resides in Glendale, CA.
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Shellie Neumeier
Shellie Neumeier holds a degree in Secondary Education from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, with a minor in Psychology, Sociology and Social Studies. A devoted mother of four, Shellie previously worked on staff with Northbrook Church as the King’s Kids ministry assistant (serving children in grades 2nd through 5th). She is an active member of SCBWI and ACFW as well as a contributing author for various blogs.
Keith Salisbury
Keith Salisbury has been a professional journalist working at weekly newspapers for 24 years. He currently serves as editor/photographer of a 17,000 free circulation weekly. An avid reader, he has also been an aspiring fiction writer since college. He and his wife live in rural mid-Michigan with their five house rabbits.
Kari Thomas
Kari Thomas has been writing for years. An active member of RWA's Desert Rose and Northern Arizona chapters, this multi-published author is a bookaholic with over 3,000 titles in her collection. She loves to research subjects like history, religions and the supernatural. Raised in Florida, Thomas moved to Arizona in her teen years, and still resides there.
Ariana Wolvshire
Her name is Ariana. She is priestess, scribe, and magnet for the ancients. She prefers to remain anonymous.
Maureen Boyle
National award-winning journalist Maureen Boyle specializes in crime and drug issue reporting and her work has appeared in regional and national publications. She has been at the side of narcotics detectives kicking in doors, and witnessed the unrelenting pain of murder victim families. She was named New England journalist of the year three times. She has a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a master’s degree in criminal justice. After decades as a daily journalist, she is now the director of the journalism program at Stonehill College in Easton, Mass.
Christina Britton Conroy
Christina Britton Conroy, M.A., L.C.A.T., C.M.T. is the founder and Executive Director of Music Gives Life,
bringing musical performing into the lives of senior citizens. A former senior center director, nursing home music therapist, and caregiver for two elderly family members, Christina has unique insights into the joys and frustrations shared by geriatric patients and their caregivers. Also a classically trained musician/actor, Christina toured the world performing musical theatre. She lives in Greenwich Village with her husband, an actor and media coach.
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Virginia Dalton
Virginia Dalton is a native Texan who was raised on the music of Mozart and Bach thanks to her father. A fan of opera, forensic science and theater, Virginia resides in North Carolina with her "wonderful, supportive husband and a feisty orange tabby cat."
John Foley
John Foley is a writer and teacher in Vancouver, Washington. His first Black Lyon release, REMEMBERING ERIN, is a story of love, loss, and forgiveness released in our Literary Fiction line. He is also the author of an Alaska memoir and three young adult novels. His articles have appeared in several major newspapers and magazines. He lives with his wife, Julie, and their son, Sean Michael.
Elizabeth Campbell Huntsman
Elizabeth Campbell Huntsman is a wife and mother of over a dozen children - biological, adopted and foster. She and her husband live in eastern Oregon where she's been known to drive a potato truck at harvest... just for fun. Elizabeth is an avid volunteer with a special place in her heart for child advocacy. She holds a seat on the Citizen Review Board for the Oregon Judicial Department, which oversees the care received by her county's foster children. She currently provides grief counseling with groups at the local prison and in the community.
Ryshia Kennie
"In the inevitable search for love, there are many land mines but dodging them is half the fun and that’s the secret of my stories," says Canadian author, Ryshia Kennie. In her travels there have been many unexpected and amazing things, and the memories of those are only the beginning of her fictional adventures. From earthquakes in Hawaii to being chased by enraged water carriers in Morocco to deep sea fishing trip gone slightly askew in Venezuela - it all happened.
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Lisa J. Lickel
Lisa J. Lickel is a Wisconsin writer who lives with her husband in a hundred-and-sixty-year-old house built by a Great Lakes ship captain. Surrounded by books and dragons, she writes inspiring fiction. Her novels include mystery and romance, all with a twist of grace. She has penned dozens of feature newspaper stories, short stories, magazine articles and radio theater. She is the Editor in Chief of Creative Wisconsin Magazine and loves to encourage new authors. Lisa also is an avid book reviewer, blogger, freelance editor, writing mentor, and contest judge.
J. E. McComb
J.E. McComb is a lifelong resident of Salem, Oregon, also known as the “Cherry City,” and drives past the city’s murder scenes daily. While working at the Mental Health Division in Salem and buying snacks from the “guilty but insane,” she was reminded what a unique town Salem was and thought it deserved more respect than just being the government town down the road from Portland. McComb worked for the Oregon Legislature for over 20 years. She's a graduate of University of Oregon, in both psychology and community service/public affairs.
Denise Noe
Denise Noe lives in Bolivar, Missouri. Her interests include true crime, social issues, literature and motion pictures. She is the author of “The Complete Married…with Children Book: TV’s Dysfunctional Family Phenomenon.” Severely disabled, Denise’s fondest wish is hold down a “regular” job.
Jeffrey Smalldon
The son of a Hoover-era G-man, Jeffrey had already moved eight times by the time he hit fourth grade. He developed an early interest in outsiders, and was encouraged by a college professor to reach out to some notorious criminals to answer questions as part of his abnormal psychology course. Jeffrey went on to complete a PhD in Psychology and a Master's in English. The FBI later found those college letters in "Squeaky" Fromme's apartment! He later took an abrupt career turn and now works in health services administration in Ohio.
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Mary Vine
When Mary first started writing at age 36, she was shy about telling anyone. Finally, she gained enough courage to take a few chapters to her neighbor, a retired high school English teacher. With her friend’s encouragement, she went on to have four magazine articles on ghost towns in Northeast Oregon published, and is the fiction author. In Mary’s other life, she teaches speech and language to K-12 students and you can usually find her in Southwest Idaho or NE Oregon.
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C. J. Wynn
True crime author, C.J. Wynn, holds a Master’s Degree in Psychology. She has spent her career working with businesses to analyze workforce behaviors, crafting programs for productivity and success.
As a writer, C.J. has leveraged her knowledge of psychology to delve into the realm of criminal behavior, spending over twenty years and thousands of hours researching and pulling apart various cases, particularly those involving people who once loved one another. She has collaborated with best-selling authors and fine-tuned her writing style to give readers a rich, full story. In her private time, C.J. is an avid golfer who lives in Arizona with her husband and two beautiful children.