Mary Montague Sikes grew up near the bloody Civil War battlefields of Central Virginia where thousands died. Those early years in a landscape where tears still flowed sparked her interest in the psychic and the paranormal that carries over into her writing today.

Sikes loves to travel, especially to the Caribbean and Jamaica where she discovered the legend of the White Witch of Rose Hall Great House that inspired her first novel, Hearts Across Forever. More psychic encounters in Sedona, Arizona led to her novel, Eagle Rising. Adventures in Antigua became the book, Secrets by the Sea. Then, an escapade in Trinidad developed into the story of Night Watch. Her love of "Indiana Jones" type quests took her to the Maya Ruins of Palenque and eventually directed her to write Jungle Jeopardy.

She has been told by readers that her novel, Daddy's Christmas Angel, set in a small fictitious American town, is the "best book I've ever read". The romance is a little like "Sleepless in Seattle" and has a happy ending.

Always looking for new writing challenges and adventures, Sikes currently is visiting some of the most picturesque National Parks of the western United States, and she plans to paint and write about them. Her travels and paintings could result in another coffee table book similar to Hotels to Remember which she researched and developed a few years ago.

Bob Sanchez aims for variety in his stories. When Pigs Fly is a crime novel containing adult humor, so please don't buy it for your innocent youngsters. Most readers find it funny, including one who wrote to say she read it aloud to console her recently widowed father. Yet the Friends of the Library in Alamogordo, New Mexico, denied the author a public reading because the story's villain used (gasp!) bad words. One can't please everybody, right? The story is set partly in Massachusetts, mostly in Arizona.

His Getting Lucky is much more a typical P.I. novel, with some sex and violence along with touches of humor. It's set in the mill city of Lowell, Massachusetts after the arrival of thousands of Cambodian refugees to the area. The author used to live nearby and has explored its network of canals and its fascinating ethnic neighborhoods.

The author's family's sponsorship of a Cambodian family in 1980 inspired his most serious novel, Little Mountain. It's a heavily researched detective novel set in Lowell with a cop hero's flashbacks to Cambodia.

Sanchez and his wife now live in sunny New Mexico and hold fond memories of Massachusetts, which figures in all of his novels so far.

Maryann Miller, an award-winning author, has been in love with story-telling since she was a child and used to scare her sister with stories of the monsters in the cellar. Those tales were never written down. They were always whispered in the dark, and when Maryann started writing stories, they were different types entirely.

As a young child, she didn't consider that she would grow up to be a writer. She fancied herself quite the singer and thought she would someday sing in front of crowds of thousands. Alas, that proved to be more dream than reality.

At another point in her childhood, she dreamed of being an actress, but it took many years before she was brave enough to give it a try. For fifteen years she was the Theatre Directer at the Winnsboro Center for the Arts where she directed shows for some time before getting brave enough to step on stage. It appears she was more suited to acting than singing, and she has since starred in several productions at various community theatres in East Texas.

A diverse writer of columns, feature stores, short fiction, novels, screenplays and stage plays, Maryann has won numerous awards including being a semi-finalist at the Sundance Institute for her screenplay, A Question Of Honor. She has also received the Page Edwards Short Story Award and the 2015 Best Mystery award for Doubletake.

Miller lives in a small town in NE Texas with one dog, and four cats. The cats rule! She has been writing all her life and plans to die at her computer.

NOW AVAILABLE!!! FOUND AT THE POUND: A Senior Romance Featuring 2 Dog Lovers.

In a departure from her previous novels, this time Morgan Mandel's main characters are seniors. One's a widower still mourning the loss of his wife, and not looking for a second chance at love. The other's a bestselling author who's never found a man to live up to the heroes in her books. The two of them meet in of all places, an animal shelter, a/k/a a pound. If you enjoy reading sweet, clean romances, you'll like this book. Also, if you love dogs, you'll be able to relate to many of the episodes.

STILL AVAILABLE - AWAKE: A Good Twin, Bad Twin Thriller!!!

This story is about a billionaire's stolen identity - After suffering the devastating loss of her parents, Rina returns home to confront the man who’d broken her heart. Danger awaits her when she plots revenge. She has no idea the man she defies is actually not the same person she once loved. http://a.co/6FFskXD, ASIN: B079H8MQT3

ANOTHER ROMANTIC SUSPENSE: KILLER CAREER - A lovely lawyer's career change could be the death of her.To save herself and the guy she loves, she must face her greatest fear: claustrophobia. http://amzn.com/B002PDOPPG

STILL AVAILABLE: GIRL OF MY DREAMS- Morgan's Most Popular Romantic Comedy - Join in the madcap adventures of a straitlaced assistant whose good intentions go awry when she enters a reality show. http://a.co/4wC79qK

ANOTHER ROMANTIC COMEDY: HER HANDYMAN, 1st in the Perfect Match Series - When you throw a crazy canine, a handyman and a popular artist together, you've got mayhem! When Jake, the handyman, comes to the rescue of Zoe, an artist, little does he know he'll need rescuing himself, thanks to her crazy canine, FuFu, whose toy had landed in the toilet. http://a.co/gisXkMM

ITS SEQUEL: A PERFECT ANGEL, is also a romantic comedy, with a dash of the serious. Through no one's fault, this book's heroine got a raw deal in the first book of the series. That's rectified in this sequel. http://a.co/7F32yag

HAILEY'S CHANCE is a standalone prequel to CHRISTMAS CAROL in the Deerview Series. This one's about how love triumphs over heartbreak and offers a new beginning. http://a.co/dOCKgHm

CHRISTMAS CAROL, also in the Deerview Series - A Christmas or anytime story - A famous author gets stranded in the small town of Deerview, where he meets Chris Carol, an off-key singing waitress who hides her sorrow behind a cheerful facade. http://a.co/d9Vv0Lf

FOR NON-FICTION DOG-LOVERS: See OUR FUR BABIES: The Joy and Pain of Loving Dogs- You'll smile, maybe shed a tear or two, as the book progresses from Morgan and her husband's first adopted dog, a basset hound named Sadie, then Missy, on to one named Morgan (from whom Morgan chose her own pen name), next Rascal, and lastly Buster, their present fur baby. Perhaps you'll relate to some of Morgan's adventures, and be inspired to adopt your own fur baby. http://a.co/ebzvH6p

Want another book with a dog in it? CHECK OUT Morgan's short fiction, FOR THE LOVE OF DOG, about the drastic step an officer takes to keep his K9 - http://a.co/0HHkqWj

TWO WRONGS - Morgan's debut mystery set in Chicago and is at http://amzn.com/B006LSE4FC It's a fast-paced tale of vengeance and the healing power of love. The book includes such Chicago landmarks as Marshall Field's before it was Macy's, the Big Tree in the Walnut Room at Christmastime, along with Morgan's alma mater, DePaul University. A young girl is murdered. Her brother knows who did it, or does he? His testimony sets into motion a tragic series of events.

ABOUT MORGAN MANDEL -

Morgan is a past president of Chicago-North RWA and former Library Liaison for Midwest MWA. Before her novel publications, she freelanced for the Daily Herald newspaper.

Morgan's General Website: http://www.morganmandel.com

Morgan's Sweet Romance Website: http://sweetromancesbymorgan.com

Morgan's Mystery Website: http://morgandoesmystery.com

Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/morgan.mandel

Blogs:

http://morgansbooklinks.blogspot.com

http://morganmandel.blogspot.com

Bodie Parkhurst has been writing and illustrating stories since third grade. She has worked as a reader, a tutor, a ranch hand, a mechanic, a truck driver, a dairy maid, a writer, an editor, a fine artist, an illustrator, and a designer. In addition to writing, illustrating, and designing her own books, she designs books for NewSage Press (http://www.newsagepress.com), apparel and home decorating items for Magic Dog Press (http://www.magicdogpress.com), and just about anything her clients request, from banners and billboards to annual reports to whitepapers to ads.

Her non-fiction writing has been appearing in various newspapers and magazines under the name "Sherry Wachter" for two decades. She is currently working on her second novel, and a memoir about growing up as a member of a conservative fundamentalist sect--and what ultimately prompted her decision to leave.

For as long as I can remember, I've loved telling and soaking up stories. At the age of six, I was told somebody got paid for writing books and movies and television shows; I abandoned my previous ambition (beachcomber), and became a writer.

I've had stories in anthologies, on-line and print publications, including Marion Zimmer Bradley's Sword & Sorceress anthologies, on coffee cans, and the wall of an Indian restaurant in Louisville, Kentucky.

I'm one-third of Per Bastet Publications, a small publishing house based in southern Indiana.

Small town life agrees with me. I like the interconnectedness of everything and everybody. I try to remember, in my books and stories, that no one exists in isolation, but in a web of connections.

Most of my work is fantasy, science fiction and/or mystery, though I write anything else that suits the story and character.

Christine (C.A.) Verstraete is an award-winning author and journalist from Wisconsin who loves writing everything from the odd, to the macabre and stories with touches of humor.

My latest story, "Wildfire," was inspired by that haunting song of the same name for the anthology, (i jUST) DIED IN YOUR ARMS: CRIME FICTION INSPIRE BY ONE-HIT WONDERS (from Misti Media LLC). Pre-order. Releases Jan. 9.

Other recent stories include: "Sweet Dreams," in The Colored Lens and recorded for the 31 Days of Halloween at Creepy Podcast; plus, "The Ghosts of Paris" in Night Terrors Vol.26 from Scare Street.

The latest: A new zombie tale, "Of Life, Death and the Krieg" is in the new anthology, RUN FROM THE DEAD.

BOOKS: LIZZIE BORDEN, ZOMBIE HUNTER 2: The Axe Will Fall!!! - Lizzie is back, swinging her axe again! Sequel to LIZZIE BORDEN, ZOMBIE HUNTER!

* COMPANION NOVELLA: * Was Lizzie Borden's doctor haunted by what he saw that day - and by Fall River? THE HAUNTING OF DR. BOWEN, A Mystery in Lizzie Borden's Fall River

* My story, "Thirteen Horses" is in the anthology, Descent Into Darkness. (#1 Bestseller!)

** Check my website under my name cverstraete and my GirlZombieAuthors blog. Or see my minis blog, Candid Canine (at Blogger.)

When she's not writing (when is that?), Christine also enjoys creating in miniature. Coming Soon: IN MINIATURE STYLE: HALLOWEEN, ebook and print. Other books: DOLLHOUSE DECOR & MORE, Vol. 1 with Joanna Campbell Slan and IN MINIATURE STYLE II. (MSII will be re-published and updated later.)

W.S. Gager has lived in Michigan for most of her life except when she was interviewing race car drivers or professional woman's golfers. She enjoyed the fast past life of a newspaper reporter until deciding to settle down and realizing babies didn't adapt well to running down story details on deadline. Since then she has been honing her skills on other forms of writing before deciding to do what she always wanted with her life and that was to write mystery novels. Her main character is Mitch Malone who is an edgy crime-beat reporter always on the hunt for the next Pulitzer and won't let anyone stop him, supposedly.

Karen Casey Fitzjerrell is the author of THE DIVIDING SEASON which won the EPIC Award for Best Historical Fiction. In October 2014 another novel, FORGIVING EFFIE BECK, not only won the EPIC Award but the Will Rogers Gold Medallion Award as well.

"Small wonder that the book already won the Will Rogers Gold Medallion. Stellar fiction about hard living during the Depression." ⎯ Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Karen grew up on a south-central Texas farm. Around 1990 she "tripped" into journalism and ended up writing features and travel articles for some of the state's largest newspapers and regional magazines. Late evenings while roaming Texas back roads in search of history mysteries and unique-to-Texas characters to include in her newspaper and magazine work, she wrote novels. She now lives in San Antonio, Texas in a high-up quiet place that's perfect for daydreaming. For more detailed information about Fitzjerrell's background, writing credentials and her award winning novels visit her website (link below).

Karen enjoys speaking at various events and book clubs. Recently she's been contacted by out of state book clubs to conduct book talks and Q & A sessions via Skype. If your book club or organization is interested in a Skype Book Talk you can contact her from her website or email directly to:

Email: kcfitzjerrell@gmail.com

Website: www.karencaseyfitzjerrell.com

Blog: https://www.karencaseyfitzjerrell.blogspot.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kcfitzjerrell

Red Tash is a journalist-turned-novelist of cozy mystery, witchy non-fiction, and dark fantasy for readers of all ages. Check out her unputdownable paranormal fiction, thrillers, and more.

Creative evangelist Shonell Bacon has 20+ years of experience as an editor, educator, and writer. Her gifts of word magic, creativity, and teaching motivate her to write engaging mysteries, non-fiction, and children’s books, and to educate other storytellers on the writing craft. Shonell’s editing repertoire includes fiction (short stories, novellas, novels, and graphic novels in genres such as romance, mystery, literary, horror, and paranormal), non-fiction (self-help, faith-based, how-to), and academic projects (research papers, theses, dissertations). Shonell’s creativity continues to flow through her Etsy shop #HUGSlove Studios. There, she creates and sells digital products that help people stay organized and “planned-up” in their lives.

Award winning author Helen Ginger was born in Georgia, but at age ten, her mother moved the family to Texas. Helen's been there ever since, laying down roots and picking up stories. As far back as Helen can remember, she's always written: angst-filled stories in high school; short stories and poetry in college; mysteries, mainstream fiction, even technical books, three of which have been published by TSTC Publishing. She's also an Owner/Partner and WebMistress for Legends In Our Own Minds®. Helen lives in a small town just outside of Austin, Texas. From her office window, she sees birds, deer, squirrels, road runners, foxes, cats, and rabbits.

Helen's book, ANGEL SOMETIMES, won the 2013 USA Best Book Award for Fiction: New Age. Her next book, a Matti McAllister, PI, mystery, DISMEMBERING THE PAST, is due out in Summer 2014.

'Course, what she gets asked about most often are her four years as a mermaid at Aquarena Springs. Swimming with a shimmery tail, picnicking underwater, performing synchronized ballet, blowing air bubbles ... all year round, even in the winter.

Website: http://helenginger.com

Blog: http://straightfromhel.blogspot.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/HelenGinger1

Twitter: http://twitter.com/MermaidHel

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/HelenGinger

Dani Greer grew up in Germany where the arts and natural beauty of the land deeply influenced her view of life. She is a Kindle Vella author, professional blogger, book editor, relentless reader, teacher, gardener, and business owner, who to her horror, almost became a CPA.

Audrey Lintner is a writer and aspiring author who is willing to tackle any subject, given enough coffee and research time. Known to her readers as The Procraftinator, Audrey posts her weekly words of wisdom to http://www.kofo.com. She lives in Kansas with her husband, son, and a shocking amount of yarn.