Mary Kay Andrews
Mary Kay Andrews will be the featured author for the W. T. Bland Public Library luncheon on Wednesday, April 5th. Ms. Andrews is the author of the New York Times bestselling Hissy Fit (HarperCollins), as well as Little Bitty Lies and Savannah Blues (HarperPerennial). Her latest, Savannah Breeze will be available in April.

Meet Mary Kay Andrews be our special guest at the Author Luncheon hosted by the W.T. Bland Public Library, Wednesday, April 5, 2005 at Lake Receptions.

Tickets will be available at the W.T. Bland Public Library soon, space is limited so get them while they last!

Nanette L. Avery
Sixty Jars in a Pioneer Town

"Books for young adults are often hard to choose but there is one new book which I found on Amazon.com. It is titled Sixty Jars in a Pioneer Town. It is historical fiction and the author, Nanette Avery has done a superb job. "
         ~ Book Blog, The Reporter.com

Meet Nanette Avery on Wednesday, April 5 at W.T. Bland Public Library.

Mary Anna Evans
Artifacts

Mary Anna Evans has degrees in physics and engineering, but her heart is in the past.  Her series character, Faye Longchamp, lives the exciting life of an archaeologist, and Mary Anna envies her a little.  The first Faye Longchamp novel, Artifacts , won the Benjamin Franklin award for the best mystery novel published by a small press in 2003.  It also won the Florida Historical Society's Patrick D. Smith Florida Literature Award, and it was recognized by the Voice of Young America as an "Adult Mystery with Young Adult Appeal."  Mary Anna lives in Gainesville with her husband, three children, and a cat.

www.maryannaevans.com

Meet Mary Anna Evans for A Deadly Tea with the Mystery Writers of America authors on Monday, April 3 at 2:00 p.m. in the WT Bland Public Library.

Marshall Frank
Call Me Mommy

Marshall Frank, 66, is a retired captain from the Metro-Dade Police Department in Miami, Florida, where he spent the majority of his thirty years investigating murders or commanding those who did. His first novel, Beyond The Call, addresses the perennial issue of police abuse of power. Dire Straits: A Miami Novel, is a high-tension story is about a mass murder in a posh Miami subdivision and a stressed out homicide detective who finds himself with a double dose of troubles. On My Fathers Grave, a Mafia mystery, and Call Me Mommy a heart wrenching story of family dysfunction, drug addiction and murder, are his latest.

www.marshallfrank.com

Robert Gandt
Flying and writing...these have been the dual passions of Bob Gandt's life. He published his first story at age sixteen - the same year he first soloed an airplane (an 85 hp. Aeronca Champ). Since then he has logged something over 25,000 hours, written nine books and published countless articles.

www.gandt.com

Meet Robert Gandt at the Paisley County Library on Tuesday, April 4 at 6:30 pm.

William H. Good
By the Light of the Lighter Pine

Mr. Good is the author of By the Light of the Lighter Pine, subtitled A Cracker Collection of Short Stories about Natural Florida. His works promote environmental education and responsible and sustainable development and growth that extoll the beauty and majesty of Florida's heritage and Natural environment.

Meet William Good at the Festival Opening Event on Saturday, April 1st in Wooton Park, Downtown Tavares.

>Bob Grenier
Florida's Forgotten Pioneer: The Gallant Captain Melton Haynes

Bob is actively involved in the historical community, and belongs to several societies, including the North Lake County Civil War Roundtable, the 17th Connecticut Reenactors, the Sons of Confederate Veterans and the Pejepscot Historical Society in Brunswick, Maine, home of Civil War hero General Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain. His book  Florida's Forgotten Pioneer: The Gallant Captain Melton Haynes tells the story of a man who was beloved and respected by all those who knew him.

Terry Lewis
Priviledged Information

Terry Lewis , a native of North Florida and a trial judge since 1988, knows his legal and geographical territory, and his taut courtroom procedurals ring with authenticity. Both Conflict of Interest (1997) and Priviledged Information (2003) are set in Tallahassee and feature unlikely law partners, Paul Morganstein and Ted Stevens. He is hard at work on his third novel. Terry lives in Tallahassee with his wife Fran and their cat, Buffy.

Meet Terry Lewis for A Deadly Tea on Monday, April 3 at 2:00 p.m. in the WT Bland Public Library.

Michael Lister
The Body and the Blood

After a seven-year stint in the Florida State Prison System as a chaplin, Michael Lister was paroled and began to put pen to paper. The result was gun lit set in the Sunshine State—Florida Noir (www.FloridaNoir.com.)

His first two noir stories are featured in the anthology North Florida Noir, which he edited. His first noir novel, The Big Goodbye features PI Jimmy “Soldier” Riley, a young knight errant who walks the wartime streets of Panama City, Florida, wounded and woman-haunted.

Michael Lister is also the author of a series of mysteries featuring ex-cop turned prison chaplain, John Jordan, Power in the Blood, Blood of the Lamb, The Body and the Blood, and writes a monthly crime fiction column titled Sunshine and Crime (www.SunshineandCrime.com).

The Body and the Blood is "A realistic drama and surprising character depth. The spiritual dimension of John's inner life adds a depth that's often absent in the mystery genre. A realistically portrayed prison setting and a cast of characters depicted with complexity and nuance together form a quietly effective character-study/whodunit."
            ~ Kirkus Reviews

www.michaellister.com

Meet Michael Lister at the Festival Opening Event on Saturday, April 1st in Wooton Park, Downtown Tavares and for A Deadly Tea with the other Mystery Writers of America authors on Monday, April 3 at 2:00 p.m. in the WT Bland Public Library and Book Discussion and Signing, April 4 at 7:00 pm in the Citrus Ridge County Library.

Nancy Martin
Her first mystery, How to Murder a Millionaire was published in October 2002 and launched the Blackbird Sisters Mystery Series. Cross Your Heart and Hope to Die, the 4th and most recent book, was published in hardcover in March, 2005.

"I’ve read mysteries all my life," she says. "My mother and her sisters have all been avid mystery readers, so I had a never-ending supply of great books. But my husband and I had two children to put through college, and romance novels generate a nice income. Now that we’re nearing graduation, I can write what I truly enjoy—character-driven murder mysteries."

www.nancymartinmysteries.com

Susan McBride
Susan McBride is the author of the Debutante Dropout Mysteries from HarperCollins/Avon, which feature Andrea "Andy" Kendricks--a 30-year-old Dallas web designer, reluctant heiress and deb ball refugee--and her dyed-in-the-wool Chanel-wearing socialite mother Cissy. The third and latest in the series, THE LONE STAR LONELY HEARTS CLUB.

www.susanmcbride.com

Paul McElroy
Treasure Coast Mystery series

Author Paul McElroy is a member of the Mystery Writers of America and the National Association of Maritime Educators. He is the popular author of the Treasure Coast Mystery series including the latest Treasure Coast Archipelago and Spirit Chaser.

www.treasurecoastmysteries.com

Paul McElroy will be at the Cooper Memorial Library presenting Self Publishing Success on Tuesday, April 4 at 7:00 pm.

Wendy Howell Mills

Critically-acclaimed author Wendy Howell Mills enjoys writing unique mysteries set in an eclectic, island locale. She lives on a tropical island off the southwest coast of Florida, where she spends her time writing, enjoying her young son and dodging hurricanes. ISLAND INTRIGUE, Mills’ third book, debuts a new series set on an offbeat seacoast island. Booklist calls ISLAND INTRIGUE a “fun, smartly written adventure” and Publishers Weekly says “…entertaining…will leave readers eagerly anticipating another…”

Mills is also the author of Callie and the Dealer and a Dog Named Jake and Death of a Mermaid.

Ms. Mills was born in Virginia, where she met her future husband and graduated cumme laude from Old DominionUniversity in Norfolk. She and her husband moved to the Outer Banks of North Carolina where she spent almost ten years writing and managing Peppercorns Restaurant in Kill Devil Hills before she followed the warm weather to a tropical island off the coast of Florida.

 www.wendyhowellmills.com

Meet Wedny Howell Mills for A Deadly Tea with the other Mystery Writers of America authors on Monday, April 3 at 2:00 p.m. in the WT Bland Public Library.

Joe Moore
Dire Straits
The Grail Conspiracy (co- authored with Lynn Sholes)

Joe Moore is a marketing executive with 25 years experience in the television postproduction industry. As a senior audio engineer, he received two regional Emmy awards for individual achievement in audio mixing for ABC and PBS television specials. He has written articles for national and international trade magazines and has reviewed fiction for the Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel, the Florida Times Union, and the Tampa Tribune. Joe's first novel, Dire Straits, is published by SynergEbooks Publishing.  He and Lynn Sholes are currently working on their next thriller, The Last Secret.

"From a newly unearthed crusader's tomb in Iraq to the guarded treasure vaults of the Vatican to a secret genetics lab on the banks of the Mississippi, The Grail Conspiracy uncovers a sinister plot of ultimate revenge".
www.grailconspiracy.com

Joe Moore and Lynn Sholes will be appearing at the An Evening of Mystery dinner co-sponsored by the Leesburg Friends of the Library and the Leesburg Public Library on April 8, 2006 at the Leesburg Community Center.

Tickets will be available at the Leesburg Public Library soon, space is limited so get them while they last!

Bob Morris
Jamaica Me Dead
Bermuda Schwartz (2006)

Bob worked at a number of Florida newspapers, including the Florida Keys Free Press, the Fort Myers News-Press and the Orlando Sentinel. He created and launched AQUA, a California based international travel magazine for watersports enthusiasts and upon returning to Florida served as editor in chief of Caribbean Travel & Life magazine and Gulfshore Life magazine.

Now a freelance writer and editor, Morris continues to travel widely and contributes to a number of publications, including National Geographic Traveler, Bon Appetit, Islands, Robb Report, Latitudes and Men's Fitness. These travels have inspired his recent series of mystery novels from St. Martin's Press, each of which takes place on a different Caribbean island. The third book in the series, Bermuda Schwartz, is scheduled for release in 2006.

www.bobmorris.net


Bob Morris will be the featured author at W. T. Bland Public Library's Brown Bag Book Talk Thursday, April 6 at 12:00 p.m.

Mark Newhouse
The Rockhound Science Mysteries

For our young readers, The Rockhound Science Mysteries by Mark H. Newhouse have been selected for our Lake County Reads. Mr. Newhouse is the author of numerous other stories, articles and educational materials. Have fun with Rockhound the dog detective who solves mysteries using his knowledge of science.

Four Chances to Meet Mark and get signed copies of his books!
Saturday, April 1, Festival Opening Event at Wooton Park, Downtown Tavares
Wednesday, April 5. 2:30 pm, Paisley County Library, 2:30 pm
Monday, April 10, 4:00 pm at W. T. Bland Public Library
Thursday, April 13, 2:00 pm at Leesburg Public Library

Kristin Renner
Quest of the Century

Our teens will be reading Quest of the Century by local author Kristen Renner. In her book, Ogras is a world which has come under an evil influence by a power hungry mage with one thing on his mind: domination. One girl with a powerful gift stands in his way. With the help of two newly made friends, she finds out what is truly important and learns a little about herself on the way.

Meet Kristin Renner at the Festival Opening Event on Saturday, April 1st in Wooton Park, Downtown Tavares.

Other Festival appearances:

Monday, April 3 at 4:00 p.m., Paisley County Library for book discussion and signing.
Tuesday, April 4 at 7:00 p.m., East Lake County Library for book discussion and signing.
Wednesday, April 5 at 4:30 p.m., Lady Lake Public Library for a Dragon Drawing Contest, Q&A, book discussion and signing.
Thursday, April 6 at 11:30 a.m., Oak Park Middle School for Brown Bag book talk.

Sandra Wallace Sammons
John and William Bartram: Travelers in Early America

Sandra Wallus Sammons is an award-winning author of historical biographies, each of which has a Florida relationship. Her books about Henry Flagler, Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, Jacqueline Cochran, and Marjory Stoneman Douglas provided her with the skills and experience to write her newest work, John and William Bartram: Travelers in Early America.

Sandra Wallace Sammons will be at the Lake County Historical Museum at 317 W. Main Street in Tavares on Wednesday, April 5 at 2:00 pm for discussion on Florida'a history and for you to have a chance to mingle with the author at the reception to follow.

Hosted by the Lake County Historical Museum.

Lynn Sholes
The Grail Conspiracy (co- authored with Joe Moore)
This year Lake County Reads will feature The Grail Conspiracy.

As a native Floridian, Lynn Sholes was intrigued by the prehistoric people of South Florida. She worked with the Broward County Archaeological Society helping salvage ancient Indian sites before their destruction and petitioning for preservation of sites. These activities birthed the seed ideas of her first six novels, writing as Lynn Armistead McKee. Lynn has a B.S. in education from East Carolina University. Currently, she is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Florida Writers Association, the International Thriller Writers, and The Authors Guild.

www.lynnsholes.com

"From a newly unearthed crusader's tomb in Iraq to the guarded treasure vaults of the Vatican to a secret genetics lab on the banks of the Mississippi, The Grail Conspiracy uncovers a sinister plot of ultimate revenge".
www.grailconspiracy.com

Lynn Sholes and Joe Moore will be appearing at the An Evening of Mystery dinner co-sponsored by the Leesburg Friends of the Library and the Leesburg Public Library on April 8, 2006 at the Leesburg Community Center.

Tickets will be available at the Leesburg Public Library soon, space is limited so get them while they last!

Sarah Strohmeyer
Bubbles Betrothed

Bubbles Betrothed has been nominated for Best Amateur Sleuth Award to be awarded at the Romantic Times' Annual Booklovers Convention in May!

"This is wicked, frothy fun... Life may be steamy in the metropolis, but it's just as bawdy in the burbs."
            ~ Publisher's Weekly

The Secret Lives of Fortunate Wives her latest is a "frothy tale of love, lust and lies in Hunting Hills, Ohio."
             ~ Kirkus

"The mordantly observant Strohmeyer skewers the lifestyles of the rich and fatuous with spot-on irony, painting her pretentious socialites with broad, sarcastic strokes in an uproarious, upscale, tongue-in-cheek tour de force."
              ~ Booklist

"Strohmeyer has a keen eye when it comes to class distinctions, social posturing, status symbols, and the minutiae of self-maintenance at the top of the consumer chain. She uses her observations to sharp comic effect."
             ~ The Boston Globe

www.sarahstrohmeyer.com

Lynn Wallace

Lynn Wallace received an MA in English-Fiction Writing from the Pennsylvania State University and was awarded a Fulbright to Costa Rica. Excerpts from a memoir were translated into Spanish and published in the literary supplement of La Nación. Most recently, some of his poems have appeared in the Atlanta Review. The novel Los Caminantes, received an award at the Florida First Coast Writers' Festival. He has served on and been reappointed to he fellowship grant review panel for the Division of Cultural Affairs of Florida.

Meet Lynn Wallace for A Deadly Tea on Monday, April 3 at 2:00 p.m. in the WT Bland Public Library.