Visting Authors
The Lake County Library System and all member and branch libraries will present the 5th annual Festival of Reading March 29 - April 5, 2008 and welcomes the following authors.
| Showcase Authors |
|
Lyn Armstrong , The Last Celtic Witch
Nancy J. Cohen, Bad Hair Day Mysteries
Jo Dereske, Catalogue of Death
Dara Edmondson , The Kitten Club
Caridad Ferrer, Adios to My Old Life (YA author)
Louise M. Gouge, Hannah Rose
Leigh Greenwood, Cowboy Series
Angela Hunt, Elevator
Julie Leto, Stripped
Pam Labud, The Hanging Bride
Sandra Madden , Kiss Me at Christmas
Lisa Manuel, Fortune's Kiss
|
Connie Mason, Highland Warrior
Aleka Nakis, Eyes of the Dead
Terry Odell, Finding Sarah
Katherine Hall Page, The Body in the Gallery
Janice Sims, A Bittersweet Love
Roxanne St. Claire, First You Run
Elizabeth Sinclair, Touched by Fire
Linnea Sinclair, Shades of Dark
Cynthia Thomason, Unlikely Family
Heather Waters, Destiny's Warrior
C.L. Wilson, Tairen Soul books |
| |
| Guest Authors |
Youth Authors |
Colleen Avelli
Elizabeth Becka
Nancy Butler-Ross
Ron Cooper
Bob Grenier
Everett Kelly
Helene Scanlon
Michael Suib
Elise Van Cise
Liz Hamlin |
Sheri Hood
Jeffery Lamb
Mark Newhouse
Iris Pearson and Mike Merrill
Eric Reinhold
Susan E. Snyder
Edward Bloor
|
Showcase Authors
Lyn Armstrong
The Last Celtic Witch
Resplendence Publishing
Born in Australia, author Lyn Armstrong has a passion for writing
historical romances with a sensual touch. Along with touring the countries she writes about, Lynn volunteers as a cast member for the Renaissance Festival. This self-confessed romantic wrote her first novel in the early1990s and has been writing ever since. She currently serves on the Board of Florida Romance Writers and is an active member of the Romance Writers of America. The Last Celtic Witch is the first erotic book from the Celtic Series published by Resplendence Publishing. It follows the life of a hunted witch who is the last of her kind. If she does not find the chosen one, she will perish and the world will plunge into darkness. New York Times best-selling author Heather Graham quotes: "As charming and magical as Celtic legend itself, a truly enjoyable read and wonderful debut!"
www.lynarmstrong.com
Festival Appearances
Saturday, March 29 from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Festival Opening Event Lake-Sumter Community College, Leesburg
The Road to Publishing Your Novel - Literary Workshop at 1 p.m.
Monday, March 31 at 4 p.m.
Romaning the World Paisley County Library, 24954 County Road 42, Paisley
Tuesday, April 1 at 7 p.m.
Author Appearances PJ's Wine & Coffee Bar, 2910 David Walker Drive, Eustis
Wednesday, April 2 at 7 p.m.
Writer's Cafe East Lake County Library, 31340 County Road 437, Sorrento
Nancy J. Cohen
Bad Hair Day Mysteries
Kensington Press
Nancy J. Cohen made her debut onto the publishing scene with futuristic romance novels written as Nancy Cane. Her first book, Circle of Light, won the Holt Medallion Award. The Bad Hair Day series features South Florida beauty salon owner and hairstylist Marla Shore, who untangles murder clues with sass and style under the sultry Florida sun. Nancy’s books have been nominated by the RT Book Club for a Reviewer’s Choice Award and have made the Independent Mystery Booksellers Association Bestseller List. Killer Knots and Perish by Pedicure are the latest titles in this series that Publisher’s Weekly calls “fast-paced and jaunty”. She is an active member of the Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, Romance Writers of America, Novelists, Inc., and The Author’s Guild.
www.nancyjcohen.com
Festival Appearances
Friday, April 4 at 7 p.m.
Writing the Historical, Contemporary and Futuristic Romance Leesburg Public Library, 100 E. Main St., Leesburg
Saturday, April 5 at 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Fiction Writing Seminar Clermont Woman’s Club, 655 Broome St., Clermont
Jo Dereske
Catalogue of Death
Avon/HarperCollins
Jo Dereske is the author of sixteen published books, including two mystery series. Catalogue of Death is the tenth Miss Zukas mystery, set in the fictional town of Bellehaven, Washington. In Catalogue of Death, a blinding blizzard brings Bellehaven to its knees and an explosion rips apart the plans for Bellehaven’s new library, as well as the library’s benefactor. Index to Murder will be released this April by Avon/HarperCollins. The New York Times called the Miss Zukas series “a loving sendup of the stereotype of the prim and proper librarian” and the Toronto Sun said “You’re in for a good time.” Her books have been on numerous bestseller lists, including BookSense and Amazon. Bookmarked to Die spent two months as the Number One Paperback on the nationwide Independent Mystery Booksellers Association’s Bestseller List.
www.jodereske.com
Festival Appearances
Monday, March 31 at 7 p.m.
Women of Mystery - Authors Panel Leesburg Public Library, 100 E. Main St., Leesburg
Tuesday, April 1 at 2 p.m.
Tea at the Scene of the Crime W.T. Bland Public Library, 1995 N. Donnelly St., Mount Dora
Tuesday, April 1 at 7 p.m.
A Party to Die For Cagan Crossings Community Library, 16729 Cagan Oaks. Clermont
Dara Edmondson
The Kitten Club
The Wild Rose Press
Dara Edmondson began making up stories as soon as she learned to speak. After careers in the salon industry and the real estate field, she has realized a life-long dream of becoming a writer of fiction. She lives in Orlando, FL with her very supportive husband, son and daughter and two very spoiled cats. Originally from New York City, she grew tired of the harsh winters of the Northeast and opted to attend college in Florida. In 2004 she joined the Central Florida Romance Writers of America. She now serves as the organization’s President. Dara’s first contemporary romance novel, The Kitten Club, has garnered the praise of reviewers and fans alike. Her next contemporary romances, Compromising Positions and Falling Star will be released this year from The Wild Rose Press.
www.daraedmondson.com
Festival Appearances
Wednesday, April 2 from 6 to 8 p.m.
Pillow Talk: Author Panel Clermont Woman's Club, 655 Broome St., Clermont
Caridad Ferrer
Adiós to My Old Life
Caridad (Barbara) is a first generation, bilingual, Cuban-American raised in Miami. She won the 2007 RITA for Best Contemporary Single Title Romance for Adiós to My Old Life. Reviews have been stellar including: “What shines through in Cuban American writer Ferrer's first novel is the rich diversity of Latino culture, and the celebration of music and its universal connections."
~ Hazel Rochman, Booklist .
Her second MTV Books novel, It's Not About the Accent has just been released and she has contributed to the anthology, Fifteen Candles: 15 Tales of Taffeta, Hairspray, Drunk Uncles, and Other Quinceañera Stories (Harper Collins/Rayo).
www.caridadferrer.com
Festival Appearances
Wednesday, April 2 at 2 p.m.
Meet the Author Event Leesburg Public Library, 100 E. Main St., Leesburg
Thursday, April 3 at 2 p.m.
Meet the Author Cagan Crossings Community Library, 16729 Cagan Oaks, Clermont
Thursday, April 3 at 7 p.m.
Romantic English Tea Marion Baysinger Memorial County Library, 756 W. Broad St., Groveland
Louise M. Gouge
Hannah Rose
Award-winning Florida author Louise M. Gouge writes historical fiction and historical romance. She also teaches English and Humanities at Valencia Community College in Kissimmee FL. Among her seven published titles is the multi-award winning Hannah Rose, Book Two of Ahab’s Legacy. Her latest “Then Came” series is set in the post-Civil War period: Then Came Faith, Then Came Hope, and Then Came Love. With her great love of history and research, Louise has traveled to several of her locations to ensure the accuracy of her stories’ settings. When she isn’t writing, she and her husband love to visit historical sites and museums.
www.louisemgouge.com
Festival Appearances
Monday, March 31 at 2 p.m.
A Timeless Tea Fruitland Park Public Library
Leigh Greenwood
The Cowboy Series
Romance author Leigh Greenwood has been steaming up the pages of historical romances for years, and the future is looking just as hot! Leigh is the author of both the popular Seven Brides series and The Cowboys series. His first book Wyoming Wildfire was published by Zebra in 1987. Since then he’s written 40 more books and four novellas. Leigh calls writing his mid-life crisis career. He has a BA in Voice and an MA in Musicology from the University of North Carolina and has taught music for thirty-two years before retiring to write full-time. Leigh has won Bookrak’s Bestselling Award three times, the Maggie Award twice, Carolina Romance Writers Author of the Year Award twice, and Romantic Times Career Achievement Award. In addition, he’s been a finalist three times in the National Reader’s Choice Awards, and once each for the Holt Medallion and Romance Writers of America’s RITA. In addition to appearing regularly on the Waldenbooks bestseller list and Ingram’s Most Requested Books list, Leigh regularly appears on the USAToday bestseller list.
www.leigh-greenwood.com
Festival Appearances
Friday, April 4 at 2 p.m.
Ice Cream Social with Leigh Greenwood Cagan Crossings Community Library, 16729 Cagan Oaks, Clermont
Saturday, April 5 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Annual Bluegrass Festival East Lake County Library, Sorrento
Angela Hunt
Elevator
Angela Hunt is the best-selling author of The Tale of Three Trees, The Debt, The Note, and The Nativity Story. She has sold over three million copies worldwide. She began her writing career in 1983 and after five years of honing her craft and writing for magazines, she published her first book in 1988. Since then, she has written over one hundred books for children and adults. Eight of her novels have won Angel Awards from Excellence in Media. Angela has also won four silver medals from ForeWord Magazine’s 2007 Book of the Year Award for The Justice, The Canopy, Magdalene, and Unspoken, a Christy Award for By Dawn’s Early Light, and The Novelist won her the gold medal in ForeWord Magazine’s 2007 Book of the Year Award. Three of her novels have been optioned for film, The Note by Journey Productions, Uncharted by Namesake, and The Elevator by Beth Grossbard Productions. Romantic Times Book Club presented her with a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006.
www.angelahuntbooks.com
Festival Appearances
Thursday, March 3 at 12 p.m.
Annual Literary Luncheon Lake Receptions, 4425 N. Highway 19A, Mount Dora
Tickets: $20 advance; $25 at the door
Tickets available at W.T. Bland Public Library, Mount Dora Chamber of Commerce, Raintree Books stores or purchase tickets online at www.mountdoralibrary.com.
Pam Labud
The Hanging Bride
Pam is a twenty-four year nursing field veteran. Working mostly in critical care, her long and varied time includes working in the cardiac catheterization lab, post surgical recovery room, intensive care unit, and home health. For Pam, it’s all about giving people the best possible care and providing emotional support to her patients and their families during what is a most critical time. “I am many things, but family always comes first, doing the best job I can as a nurse, and then my heart—which is writing romance novels. I’m the prime example of having the full life!” Her titles include The Hanging Bride, If You Could Read My Mind, Spirited Away, Strong Arms to Hold Me, and The Mad Earl. Pam is a member of the Romance Writers of America and the Central Florida Romance Writers. Pam Labud is currently working on several different projects
including a series of Regency set paranormal books and an urban fantasy novel.
www.pamlabud.com
Festival Appearances
Wednesday, April 2 from 6 to 8 p.m.
Pillow Talk: Author Panel Clermont Woman's Club, 655 Broome St., Clermont
Julie Leto
Stripped
Born and raised in Florida to a close-knit family of Italian and Cuban descent, Julie learned never to give up or give in—especially when in pursuit of a life-long dream. She worked over eight years before Harlequin Temptation bought her first book. A romance reader from age 16, Julie knew what kind of stories she wanted to write and started her first romance novel in 1988 while in graduate school. The “call” from Harlequin came in March of 1997 with an offer to publish Seducing Sullivan, her fourth completed novel. Her desire to “push the envelope” worked well when Harlequin launched its new Blaze series, longer books that gave her the freedom to explore sensual stories with a more intricate plot. Her works include Dirty Little Secrets, Making Waves, More Than Words, Seducing Sullivan, New Orleans Nights, A Fare to Remember, Boys of Summer, and The Domino Effect.
www.julieleto.com
Festival Appearances
Wednesday, April 2 at 7 p.m.
Coffeehouse Romance Tavares Civic Center, 100 E. Caroline St., Tavares
Sandra Madden
Kiss Me at Christmas
Sandra Madden is a former writer/producer/host for a Miami PBS television station where she wrote and produced documentaries, public affairs programs and how‑to‑series.
Previously, she enjoyed a twenty-five year career in commercial broadcasting in both Miami and Los Angeles. Sandra wrote radio copy and promotion as well as serving as voice-over talent. She is a published poet and the author of thirteen romance novels published by Kensington and Dorchester. Her historical and contemporary books have been published in many languages including French, Italian, German and Dutch.
Men of Annapolis, her last historical series for Kensington includes, The Admiral's Daughter, The Lieutenant's Woman, and Kiss Me at Christmas. Sandra’s new January 2008 release is a memoir entitled Reuben On Wry, which she wrote in collaboration with her husband, comedian and actor, Dave Madden. Ms. Madden belongs to Romance Writers of America, the Orange County Chapter of RWA and is the 2008 co-president of First Coast Romance Writers. Other books written under the magical spell of romance and imagination include A Prince’s Heart, A Princess Born, Heaven Sent, Comfort and Joy, and Since You’ve Been Gone.
www.sandramadden.com
Festival Appearances
Thursday, April 3 at 6:30 p.m.
Romantic Secrets Tea Fruitland Park Library, 205 W. Berckman St., Fruitland Park
Lisa Manuel
Fortune's Kiss
Lisa Manuel entered the publishing world as an assistant editor for a reference book publisher and later, as a writer of biographies. It was in romance fiction, however, and particularly historical romance, that she discovered her passion. Lisa is the author of the historical romances Mostly Married, Mostly Mayhem, and Mostly a Lady. In 2005, Mostly Married was nominated for the prestigious Holt Medallion Award by the Virginia Romance Writers. In March 2008 her fourth English-set historical romance, Fortune’s Kiss, will be released. Also writing under the pen name Allison Chase, Lisa’s first two paranormal historical novels will be released in May 2008 and November 2008. These days, Lisa makes her home in South Florida with her husband and two teenage daughters. They love to travel, especially to the places that have inspired her writing. Lisa is currently serving as vice-president of the Florida Romance Writers.
www.lisamanuel.com
Festival Appearances
Friday, April 4 at 7 p.m.
Writing the Historical, Contemporary and Futuristic Romance Leesburg Public Library, 100 E. Main St., Leesburg
Saturday, April 5 at 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Fiction Writing Seminar Clermont Woman’s Club, 655 Broome St., Clermont
Connie Mason
Highland Warrior
Connie Mason is the best-selling author of more than fifty historical romances and novellas. Her tales of passion and adventure are set in exotic as well as American locales. Prior to her first published work in 1984, Connie was a full-time homemaker. Always an avid reader, writing was one of Connie’s dreams. Connie was named Story Teller of the Year in 1990 by Romantic Times in 1994. Connie was featured on a segment of the CBS news show 48 Hours, a production that devoted an entire program to the romance novel industry.
www.conniemason.com
Festival Appearances
Monday, March 31 at 2 p.m.
A Timeless Tea Fruitland Park Library, 205 W. Berckman St., Fruitland Park
Wednesday, April 2 from 6 to 8 p.m.
Pillow Talk: Author Panel Clermont Woman's Club, 655 Broome St., Clermont
Aleka Nakis
Eyes of the Dead
Born in Athens, Greece and raised in the states, Aleka has straddled the Atlantic and has had a foot on each continent for many years. High school and college proved to be a battle between journalism and graduation. However, the need to finish her degrees kept her writing private until her desire to write was no longer containable. she ended her management career to write full-time. Blending her life passions of story telling, travel, and exotic cultures, Aleka aims to transport her readers into the magical world of romance. Her books include Eyes of the Dead and The Greek Rule. The Summer Deal will be released this spring. Her novella, Sempre, was published in the Holiday in the Heart Romance Anthology.
www.alekanakis.com
Festival Appearances
Saturday, March 29 from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Festival Opening Event Lake-Sumter Community College, Leesburg
The Road to Publishing Your Novel - Literary Workshop at 1 p.m.
Monday, March 31 at 4 p.m.
Romancing the World Paisley County Library, 24954 County Road 42, Paisley
Tuesday, April 1 at 7 p.m.
Author Appearances PJ's Wine & Coffee Bar, 2910 David Walker Drive, Eustis
Wednesday, April 2 at 7 p.m.
Writer's Cafe East Lake County Library, 31340 County Road 437, Sorrento
Terry Odell
Starting Over
Terry Odell was born in Los Angeles and now makes her home in Orlando FL. An avid reader, she always wanted to “fix” stories so the characters did what she wanted. Once she began writing, she found that this wasn’t always possible, as evidenced when the mystery she intended to write rapidly became a romance. With her degree in Psychology from UCLA, she loves getting into the minds of her characters, turning them loose in tight spots and seeing what they do, and too often, they surprise her. Terry has numerous short stories published by The Wild Rose Press. Cerridwen Press has published three of her romantic suspense novels: Finding Sarah, What’s in a Name? and Starting Over. A fourth book is pending with Five Star in its Expressions line. She is an active member of the Central Florida Romance Writers of America chapter, the Spacecoast Authors of Romance, and the Kiss of Death chapter of RWA.
www.terryodell.com
Festival Appearances
Thursday, April 3 at 6:30 p.m.
Romantic Secrets Tea Fruitland Park Library, 205 W. Berckman St., Fruitland Park
Katherine Hall Page
The Body in the Gallery
Katherine Hall Page is the only author ever to be awarded an Agatha Award in the three different categories: Best First Novel, Best Short Story, and Best Novel.
Katherine was born and grew up in NJ, received her BA from Wellesley College majoring in English, and went on to Masters in Secondary Education from Tufts and a Doctorate in Administration, Public Planning, and Social Policy from Harvard. After the birth of her son, Katherine wrote her first mystery, The Body in the Belfry, 1991 Agatha Award winner for Best First Mystery Novel. The fifteenth in the series, The Body in the Snowdrift, won the 2006 Agatha Award for Best Mystery Novel. Katherine was also awarded the 2001 Agatha Award for Best Short Story for “The Would-Be Widower” in the Malice Domestic X Collection (Avon Books). She was an Edgar nominee for her juvenile mystery, Christie & Company Down East. The Body in the Bonfire was an Agatha nominee in 2003. Her short story “The Two Mary’s” was an Agatha nominee in 2004. The seventeenth in the series, The Body in the Gallery, will be published by William Morrow in 2008.
www.katherine-hall-page.org
Festival Appearances
Monday, March 31 at 7 p.m.
Women of Mystery - Authors Panel Leesburg Public Library, 100 E. Main St., Leesburg
Tuesday, April 1 at 2 p.m.
Tea at the Scene of the Crime W.T. Bland Public Library, 1995 N. Donnelly St., Mount Dora
Tuesday, April 1 at 7 p.m.
A Party to Die For Cagan Crossings Community Library, 16729 Cagan Oaks. Clermont
Janice Sims
A Bittersweet Love
Janice Sims once wanted to become a nurse until she witnessed the results of an autopsy while participating in a student career day program at her high school. Totally grossed out, from that point on she knew nursing was not the field for her. Luckily, from the age of seven, she had been hooked on writing. She decided to major in journalism instead. She’s glad she did, because today, she’s the author of thirteen novels and has contributed to six anthologies. Janice is known for writing stories that are humorous, touching, and that explore the dynamics of close family ties. Putting African-American characters in unusual settings is her forte. In her novel, A Bittersweet Love, the hero and heroine met in Ireland of all places! And in For Keeps, the setting was Montana.
Even more than unusual settings, Janice enjoys exploring occupations that appeal to her. In Out of the Blue, her heroine, Gaea Maxwell, was a marine biologist who happened to be half-alien. Out of the Blue was the first African-American sci-fi romance. Years later, she wrote a second African-American sci-fi romance, Desert Heat. It went on to win the prestigious Emma Award for Best Heroine in 2004.
www.janicesims.com
Festival Appearances
Saturday, March 29 from 4 to 6 p.m.
Champagne & Truffles Reception Bacchus Vino, Etc., Clermont
Thursday, April 3 at 7 p.m.
Romantic English Tea Marion Baysinger Memorial County Library, 756 W. Broad St., Groveland
Roxanne St. Claire
First You Run
With two nominations for the romance publishing industry’s highest award of distinction, Roxanne is overwhelmed and overjoyed to be a 2007 RITA Award winner. The award named Tis The Silly Season in the anthology A NASCAR Holiday the Best Romantic Novella. Roxanne St. Claire is the bestselling author of a dozen books, including romantic suspense, short contemporary romance, and chick-lit novels. Her books have won numerous industry awards, including the Booksellers Best Award for Best Romantic Suspense of 2005, the Maggie Award for Best Single Title Romance, the Aspen Gold for Best Mainstream with Romantic Elements, the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence for Short Contemporary, and the Colorado Award of Excellence. Her novels have been selected for the Doubleday and Rhapsody Book Club, and have been translated into dozens of languages and routinely spend time on the Walden Books Bestseller List.
Roxanne holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Mass Market Communications from UCLA and has completed several post-graduate courses in Marketing Management at Harvard University. Prior to launching a full-time career as a novelist, Roxanne worked as a television actress and news reporter, appearing in Bosom Buddies and Laverne & Shirley, and hosting a regional news program in Southern California.
www.roxannestclaire.com
Festival Appearances
Wednesday, April 2 from 2 p.m.
Tea & Bullets W.T. Bland Public Library,1995 N. Donnelly St., Mount Dora
Wednesday, April 2 at 7 p.m.
Coffeehouse Romance Tavares Civic Center, 100 E. Caroline St., Tavares
Elizabeth Sinclair
Touched by Fire
Being a romantic at heart and having devoured romances like Hershey Kisses, it was inevitable that Elizabeth Sinclair would one day write them. Following her dreams, in 1993 she sold her first romance, Jenny’s Castle, to Silhouette Intimate Moments and surprised her by reaching #2 on the Walden Bestseller List and winning a Georgia Romance Writers’ Maggie Award of Excellence. Since then, this multi-published author’s books have sold in eighteen foreign countries and have been translated into seven different languages. Elizabeth is a member of the Romance Writers of America and The Author’s Guild. She co-founded the Ancient City Romance Authors of St. Augustine, FL and the First Coast Romance Writers of Jacksonville, FL, and is an honorary member of the Indiana Romance Writers. In addition to having authored the widely-acclaimed instructional books The Dreaded Synopsis and First Chapters, she has published over eighteen romances with Silhouette, Harlequin, Kensington, and Medallion Press.
Elizabeth’s latest Silhouette Romantic Suspense is Touched by Fire, the sequel to Baptism by Fire, the 2006 National Reader’s Choice Award winner. The third book in the Silhouette F.I.S.T. series, Bound by Fire, will be released in 2008. Into the Mist, the sequel to her Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice Award winner Miracle in the Mist, will be released in March 2008 and in December 2008, her Christmas book, Angel Unaware, will hit the shelves, both from Medallion Press.
www.elizabethsinclair.com
Festival Appearances
Saturday, March 29 from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Festival Opening Event Lake-Sumter Community College, Leesburg
Writing the Synopsis - Literary Workshop at 10 a..m.
Sunday, March 30 at 2 p.m.
Out of This World Tea W.T. Bland Public Library, 1995 N. Donnelly St., Mount Dora
Linnea Sinclair
Shades of Dark
(2008 sequel to Gabriel's Ghost)
Linnea is a former news reporter and retired private detective who yearns for more adventure than 'Hold the presses!' and stacks of case files can provide. The role of starship captain was her dream long before James T ever uttered "Beam me up!" and writing stories is her way of living that dream.
She lives in South Florida living with her husband, Robert Bernadino, two thoroughly spoiled cats and one equally spoiled Muscovy duckling named O.E. Her popular novels are considered Science Fiction Romance and include: Games of Command, Accidental Goddess, Finders Keepers and Gabriels Ghost (2006 RITA Award winner), coming soon The Down Home Zombie Blues and Shades of Dark.
www.linneasinclair.com
Festival Appearances
Saturday, March 29 from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Festival Opening Event Lake-Sumter Community College, Leesburg
The Road to Publishing Your Novel - Literary Workshop at 1 p.m.
Sunday, March 30 at 2 p.m.
Out of This World Tea W.T. Bland Public Library, 1995 N. Donnelly St., Mount Dora
Cynthia Thomason
Unlikely Family
Romance and mystery author Cynthia Thomasons’ first book, River Song, was published in 1998, and since then she has published five historical romances, one time travel anthology, seven contemporary romances and two historical mysteries.
The historical mystery series is The Jubilee Showboat Mysteries with amateur sleuth Gwen Barlow and a colorful cast of showboat actors. Book One, Stagestruck, has been released in hardcover and large print editions, and is now available in trade paperback. Book Two, Grave Review, was released in September 2005.
Cynthia has received the National Reader’s Choice Award, nominations for a Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice Award, and the Golden Quill. She and her husband own an auction company in Davie, Fla. where she is a licensed auctioneer.
www.cynthiathomason.com
Festival Appearances
Friday, April 4 at 7 p.m.
Writing the Historical, Contemporary and Futuristic Romance Leesburg Public Library, 100 E. Main St., Leesburg
Saturday, April 5 at 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Fiction Writing Seminar Clermont Woman’s Club, 655 Broome St., Clermont
Heather Waters
Destiny’s Warrior
Heather grew up as an Air Force brat, which means by the time she was thirteen, she’d lived in four states and two countries. Six years spent in Turkey led to a fascination in history and foreign cultures that still feed her dreams today. She owes her love of books, romances in particular, to her mother who handed her The Princess by Jude Deveraux in the sixth grade. The passion developed from there into a love of writing. She can’t wait for the day when an editor tells her that it’s okay to write a sprawling historical revolving around a Turkish sultan. Now the mother of two, Heather resides in Florida with her husband, their children, and a lazy golden retriever called Sadie. Her book, The Devil’s Possession, received 4 ½ stars (Top Pick!) from Romantic Times Book Review and Destiny’s Warrior from Berkley Sensation will be released in December.
www.heatherwaters.net
Festival Appearances
Saturday, March 29 from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Festival Opening Event Lake-Sumter Community College, Leesburg
"No" is not a 4-Letter Word - Literary Workshop at 12 p.m.
Sunday, March 30 at 2 p.m.
Out of This World Tea W.T. Bland Public Library, 1995 N. Donnelly St., Mount Dora
C.L. Wilson
Tairen Soul Books
“I was born in Houston, TX, while my parents worked at NASA to help put a man on the moon, and raised on a heady combination of space food and the fairy tales I insisted my mother read to me, is it any wonder I grew up to write stories about other worlds? Being more inclined toward artistic rather than engineering or hard-science endeavors, my stories naturally migrated into the realm of fantasy where imagination is king and anything is possible. Combine that with a love for historical romances, and a cradle-born fascination with myths, legends, and lore, and—voila!—you have a fantasy romance /romantic fantasy novelist.”
Award-winning author C.L. Wilson combines sweeping sword and sorcery fantasy with the simmering passion of romance in her two-book publishing debut, Tairen Soul: Lord of the Fading Lands and Tairen Soul: Lady of Light and Shadows. The Tairen Soul books are the first in a series of novels that tell the story of the fierce, magical Fey shapeshifter, Rain Tairen Soul, and the young mortal woman whose dangerous secrets and inexplicable, blossoming power hold the key to saving or destroying his immortal race.
www.clwilson.com
Festival Appearances
Wednesday, April 2 at 7 p.m.
Brunch with the Lady of Light and Shadows Leesburg Public Library, 100 E. Main St., Leesburg (Tickets: $15)
Wednesday, April 2 at 7 p.m.
Coffeehouse Romance Tavares Civic Center, 100 E. Caroline St., Tavares
Special Guest Authors
Colleen Avelli
In Mother's Hand
Colleen Avelli, was born and raised on Long Island, New York. Graduating from the State University of New York at Stony Brook with a B.A. in English and a minor in Art History, Avelli went on to teach Middle School English, incorporating artistic element and theory into her classroom. In more recent years, Avelli has followed her dreams to become a writer, publishingIn Mother’s Hands, a romantic transcendance across the folds of time, From the Well an ethereal poetry collection and A Spell Too Far, a collaborative poetry collection melding the surreal and the mystical. Today Avelli lives in Florida with her family where she continues to write and paint of the Celtic and the mystical. Currently she is working on The Pendragon, a tale of Arthurian Legend and Who Will Come For Me? a romance of enduring ties.
For more information, visit Colleen's web site.
Festival Appearances
Saturday, March 29 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Festival Opening Event Lake-Sumter Community College, Leesburg
Monday, March 31 at 7 p.m.
Poetry Night East Lake County Library, 31340 County Road 437, Sorrento
Tuesday, April 1 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Local Authors' Day Umatilla Public Library, 412 Hatfield Drive, Umatilla
Elizabeth Becka
Unknown Means
Elizabeth Becka has published three short non-fiction articles and taught an online workshop titled “Forensic Science for the Mystery Writer.” She’s a member of Sisters In Crime and Mystery Writers of America and in her life as a forensic specialist, a member of the American Academy of Forensic Scientists, the Florida Division of the International Association for Identification, and is certified by the American Board of Criminalistics.
Her novel, Trace Evidence, is the first in a series from Hyperion Press, where Forensic Scientist Evelyn James deals with a set of bizarre deaths in the Cuyahoga River, a rookie homicide detective, the mayor of Cleveland, a local mobster and her own teenage daughter. She is returning to the Festival this year with her newest release, Unknown Means.
www.elizabethbecka.com
Festival Appearances
Wednesday, April 2 at 1 p.m.
Brown Bag Lunch with Elizabeth Becka Fruitland Park Library, 205 W. Berckman St., Fruitland Park
Edward Bloor
Taken
A former high school English teacher, Edward Bloor has managed to find time while working as a book editor at a major publishing house and helping to raise his two children to pen four well-received novels for teen readers: Crusader, Story Time, London Calling, and the award-winning debut novel Tangerine. Tangerine was in the American Library Association Top Ten Best Books for Young Adults, 1998; received an Edgar Allan Poe Award nomination for Best Young Adult Novel, 1998; and was the American Booksellers Association Pick of the List, 1997. His new book Taken will be released this year.
www.edwardbloor.net
Festival Appearances
Wednesday, April 2 at 1 p.m.
Youth Author Edward Bloor Cooper Memorial Library, 821 W. Minneola Ave., Clermont
Nancy Butler-Ross
Meditation Express: Stress Relief in 60 Seconds Flat
McGraw-Hill
Nancy Butler-Ross is a published author, freelance writer and editor, and former Miami Herald columnist who lives in Mount Dora and Woodstock, NY. She co-authored "Meditation Express: Stress Relief in 60 Seconds Flat" (McGraw-Hill), which was chosen as a selection of both the Book of the Month and One Spirit Book Clubs, and recently featured on the Care2.com network. Nancy is also the creator of the DeStressXpress, a weekly online wellness service for corporations and universities. She is a member of PEN and the International Women’s Writers Guild.
Festival Appearances
Tuesday, April 1 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Local Authors' Day Umatilla Public Library, 412 Hatfield Drive, Umatilla
Ron Cooper
Hume's Fork
Ron Cooper was born in the South Carolina Low Country where he grew up traipsing through the swamp. He received a BA in Philosophy from the College of Charleston, an MA from the University of South Carolina, and a PhD from Rutgers University. He moved to Florida in 1988 and since 1995 he has taught at Central Florida Community College in Ocala FL. Ron is a past president of the Florida Philosophical Association, has published philosophical essays, and is the author of Heidegger and Whitehead: A Phenomenological Examination into the Intelligibility of Experience. His fiction has appeared in publications such as Yalobusha Review, Apostrophe, Timber Creek Review, and The Blotter. His novel Hume’s Fork is available from Bancroft Press “Books that Enlighten”.
www.roncooper.org
Festival Appearances
Saturday, March 29 from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Festival Opening Event Lake-Sumter Community College, Leesburg
Novel Do's and Don'ts - Literary Workshop at 2 p.m.
Thursday, April 3 at 12 p.m.
Cooper @ Cooper Cooper Memorial Library, 821 W. Minneola Ave., Clermont
Friday, April 4 at 3 p.m.
Hume's Fork Lady Lake Public Library, 225 W. Guava St., Lady Lake
Bob Grenier
The Gallant Captain Melton Haynes and Woodlea
Bob is actively involved in the historical community, and belongs to several organizations including the North Lake County Civil War Roundtable, Vice President of the Lake County Historical Society, President of the Historical Society of Tavares, the 17th Connecticut Reenactors, and the Sons of Confederate Veterans, where he was the first recipient of the "Distinguished Legionnaires Award" in 2005. He is involved in many historical preservation and restoration projects which include the saving of the Capt. Haynes Woodlea house and is the author of The Gallant Captain Melton Haynes and Woodlea: Life on the Lake of the Dancing Sunbeams.
nlcfcwrtonline.tripod.com
Festival Appearances
Saturday, April 5 at 11 a.m.
The Woodlea House: Author Bob Grenier Astor County Library, 54905 Alco Road, Astor
Sheri Hood
The Fearful Fairy
Sheri Hood is a local picture book author. Her newest book, The Fearful Fairy is about a
fairy who is afraid to fly but learns to overcome her fears.
www.thefearfulfairy.com
Festival Appearances
Wednesday, April 2 at 11 a.m.
Storytime with Author Sheri Hood Astor County Library, 54905 Alco Road, Astor
Friday, April 4 at 10:30 a.m.
Storytime with Author Sheri Hood Astor County Library, 54905 Alco Road, Astor
Everett Kelly
The Atatl
Everett Kelly was born in Alabama, but left his native state at the age of three to move to and be raised in Florida. He served in the United States Navy in world war two. After his military service, He earned a degree in Zoology from Florida State University and a degree in Pharmacy from the University of Florida. He was elected to The Florida House of Representatives in 1978 and served as the Speaker Pro- Tem for two of the twenty-two years he served in that body. After his distinguished service to Florida, he retired to his central Florida home in Lady Lake. Mr. Kelly wrote a weekly out door column for a New York Times paper for eleven years and hosted an outdoor television show. He is the author of 2 Florida historical novels, The Atatl and Ida’s Caleb.
Festival Appearances
Tuesday, April 1 at 10 a.m.
Meet the Author Lady Lake Public Library, 225 W. Guava St., Lady Lake
Jeffery Lamb
Save the Gator Queen
Jeffery Lamb is a local author from Lady Lake. His book, Save the Gator Queen subtitled: A Teenage Adventure is set in the Ocala National Forest.
About the book: It's usually quiet in the Ocala National Forest, but when a big developer wants to destroy a small community to build a golf course, things get comically out of hand. It looks like nothing can stop them until two unlikely teens team up against the bad guys. A fun book for the whole family to enjoy.
Festival Appearances
Saturday, March 29 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Festival Opening Event Lake-Sumter Community College, Leesburg
Tuesday, April 1 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Local Authors' Day Umatilla Public Library, 412 Hatfield Drive, Umatilla
Mark Newhouse
The Rockhound Science Mysteries
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.
Festival Appearances
Saturday, March 29 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Festival Opening Event Lake-Sumter Community College - Leesburg
Iris Pearson and Mike Merrill
The Adventures of Lady
This married couple, who live in Orlando, worked with Project Firefly Animation Studios to create a picture book based on their rescue of a squirrel during Hurricane Charley in 2004. You can learn more about their book at www.theadventuresoflady.com Iris and Mike are both accountants by profession, but love to talk to young readers about their book.
www.theadventuresoflady.com
Festival Appearances
Wednesday, April 2 at 10:15 a.m.
Preschool Storytime Marion Baysinger Memorial County Library, 756 W. Broad St., Groveland
Wednesday, April 2 at 3 p.m.
Storytime with Iris Pearson and Mike Merrill Paisley County Library, 24954 County Road 42, Paisley
Eric Reinhold
Ryann Watters and the King's Sword
Eric Reinhold is a local youth author who's first book, Ryann Watters and the King's Sword is a fantasy set in Mount Dora, Fla.! Reinhold is the founder of Character 4 Kids which is dedicated to getting good books with moral character and values, to children that have experienced hardships either financially or physically. Reinhold believes that those who read...succeed, an that reading fosters creativity.
www.ryannwatters.com
Festival Appearances
Saturday, March 29 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Festival Opening Event Lake-Sumter Community College - Leesburg
Helene Scanlon
Helene is a dynamic writer that grounds her dramatic works. Whether she is penning her latest masterpiece or providing other writers with character profiles, she goes the distance to ensure that her passion and knowledge imbue each word with profound meaning. Helene lives to create short stories that come to life and captivate the reader. Additionally, she works with publishers and writers to provide research services. Helene received a Bachelor’s Degree in Mass Media Radio & Television before completing her senior thesis on Romance. While researching her thesis, she fell in love with the genre and now brings that passion to the page. With more than eight years of informal experience, Helene recently established her exciting new career as a freelance writer and is currently a member of the National Organization of The Romance Writers of America and its Chapter in the Central Florida Romance Writers in Winter Park, Fla.
www.helenescanlon.com
Photo bySusan Winfree
Susan E. Snyder
There's a Frog Trapped in the Bathroom
Susan E. Snyder is a licensed occupational therapy assistant in the Florida school system. She is the author of three picture books: There's a Frog Trapped in the Bathroom, The Very Stubborn Centipede, and Shivers and Shakes. She is also the coauthor of the phonics program Singing for reading meaning.
www.susanesnyder.com
Festival Appearances
Saturday, March 29 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Festival Opening Event Lake-Sumter Community College - Leesburg
Wednesday, April 2 at 10:30 a.m.
Preschool Storytime with Susan Snyder, Rhyming Writer 205 W. Berkman St., Fruitland Park
Thursday, April 3 at 10:30 a.m.
Storytime with Susan Snyder, Rhyming Writer Leesburg Public Library, 100 E. Main St., Leesburg
Friday, April 4 at 10:30 a.m.
Storytime with Susan Snyde, Rhyming Writer W.T. Bland Public Library, 1995 N. Donnelly St., Mount Dora
Michael Suib
Confessions of a Key West Cabby
Seastory Press
Michael Suib is the "Dateline: Paradise" columnist for the Miami Herald. He is a poet and author, a former New York City businessman turned Florida columnist who lives on a houseboat in Key West, where he sometimes drives a pink taxi to help stay afloat. His latest book is Confessions of a Key West Cabby.
Michael was a featured poet at the Hemingway Days Festival in Key West, in 1999 and his poetry has been published in numerous publications, newspapers and web locations.
Present projects include a chap book The River of Duval; a weekly column appearing in a local newspaper, "The Key West Citizen"; and a book of unique meditations, The Meditation Express, which he co-authored with Nancy Butler-Ross.
Festival Appearances
Tuesday, April 1 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Local Authors' Day Umatilla Public Library, 412 Hatfield Drive, Umatilla
Elise Van Cise
Elise is a Native Floridian, born and raised in the Sunshine state. Her love of words and home base her books somewhere in the state and her love of history and the supernatural usually play a part as well. National Novel Writing Month, started her dream of becoming published on the route to coming true. The first draft for her first book was written in 28 days during the month long event. Honors include NaNoWriMo 2006, Script Frenzy 2007, and Who's Who Among Professional Women in Writing and Publishing.
www.freewebs.com/elisevancise
Festival Appearances
Thursday, April 3 at 6:30 p.m.
Sweets and Romance in the Dark Astor County Library, 54905 Alco Road, Astor