Meet the Authors
We are thrilled to be hosting all of this talent at the BookFest!
Come join us on October 5, 2024, in the LocalTel Event Center at Pybus from 9am-5pm to meet these authors, get books signed, chat with other writers, and win door prizes!
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John Blade
John Blade has expert knowledge and experience dealing with the science of bodybuilding, physique transformation, strength training, fall prevention, and powerlifting. He has an MBA in Health Services Administration and is a board-certified and Washington state-licensed Occupational Therapist (OTRL), an ISSA Certified Personal Trainer (CFT), a cardiopulmonary rehab specialist, has Advanced Cardiac Life Support and Basic Life Support certifications (ACLS & BLS). John is a Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS) and has over 23 years of acute care hospital work.
With over 23 years of experience, competing in 17 bodybuilding competitions, he walks the talk. John is well known for his ability to achieve ultra-shredded body composition. His bold, straight to the punch, and honest approach to personal transformation clears up the clouded and confusing arena of self-help.
John is on a mission to put a stop to the exponential rising and worldwide prevalence of obesity, sarcopenia, poor posture, and early death.
John wants to help you maximize your health, wellness, longevity, posture, and quality of life.
Susan F. Blair
Susan Blair is a poet, writer, arts event organizer and award-winning speaker. Her full-length poetry collection, A Howling, was published in the fall of 2023 by Press 53 in Winston-Salem, N.C. Her poetry chapbook, What Remains of a Life, was published by Finishing Line Press in 2018; her work has also appeared in numerous print and online publications. Susan founded and is the editor of The Shrub-Steppe Poetry Journal, an annual anthology representing the poets of Central Washington. She hosts the monthly “Third Thursday Poets” open mic event. She has also written five poetry-activity books for children and presents them in costume as “Perri the Poetry Fairy” to elementary school kids. Susan graduated from Middlebury College in Vermont with a B.A. in German and Russian and lives in Wenatchee, WA.
Christina Braver
Christina Braver writes steamy, small-town, contemporary romance usually set in the Pacific Northwest. Her stories are character driven and feature strong heroes with softer sides, independent heroines with a bit of sass, and the guaranteed happily-ever-after we all need.
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“A little bit nerdy and a little bit dirty”, her books address deeper issues such as women’s sexual health and sex positivity for all.
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When she isn’t writing, Christina can be found laughing too loudly with friends, sipping wine, or reading. She lives outside Seattle with her husband who shares his bourbon, and two teenagers who don’t tell their friends what Mom writes.
Sue Christopherson
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Children’s book author, Sue Christopherson loves to write imagined filled stories about animals. The hilarious antics of her two real life pugs, Nelson and Spanky, inspired her to begin writing many years ago.
Reading has been her passion since childhood, along with her love of writing. She loved reading to her grandchildren when they were young. Now her goal is to share these written stories full of comedy, love and never-ending fun with kids of all ages.
As an Indie author, her newest releases are Myrtle the Spunky Little Frog – NO School Today and Misty and Clara – Baby Dragon Magic.
Sue lives in the beautiful Kittitas Valley in Washington State with her wild-child pup, Hazel, as her dedicated assistant.
Corrin DaCosta
Corrin DaCosta is a rising voice in contemporary fiction, known for her raw and tragic stories that mirror the emotional complexities of real life. Raised in the picturesque town of Chelan, Washington, DaCosta now calls Seattle home.
Her debut novel, "Dead Daddy Issues," released in July 2024, tells the story of Tarot reader Leia Sparks who, haunted by a secret guilt at her father’s funeral, confesses the truth about her father’s death to a Catholic priest. Exploring fate, forgiveness and the lingering impact of our relationship with our parents, “Dead Daddy issues” showcases DaCosta’s fresh storytelling voice and challenges the reader to contemplate the moral ambiguities of personal freedom.
This October, readers can expect her novelette, "One Week of Good Deeds," written in the style of Dirty Realism made famous by such authors as Carver & Bukowski, further cementing her reputation for crafting poignant, slice-of-life tales.
DaCosta's unique perspective is informed by her eclectic background, including years as a massage therapist and Tarot reader. These experiences infuse her writing with a deep understanding of human nature and the unseen forces that shape our lives.
Tami Rene' Demers
Tami has lived in the North Central Washington area for 55+ years. She Is married to Jim. They have raised their children and now have 8 grandchildren. She is an Author, Artist and Professional Christian Life Coach who desires to empower people through workshops, mentoring, equipping and coaching so their God-given destinies can flourish to grow to be a blessing to others through diversity rather than conformity. A passion to see people walking in wholeness and freedom spiritually, in their hearts, minds and practically in everyday life. Her books have sold in 5 countries and have been donated to various organizations for use in small groups and jail ministries.
Teri Fink
Teri Fink grew up living among the apple orchards in Wenatchee, Washington. After graduating from Central Washington University she was a librarian, a corporate writer and web manager for a regional medical center, then went on to manage communications, news, and social media for a large school district. She has written articles for national magazines, both academic and popular. Invisible by Day, her first novel, was published in 2016, The Clovis Dig in 2020, and The Restless Lake in 2024. Teri’s writing has won multiple awards for both fiction and nonfiction, articles, short stories and novels. She’s a member of the Pacific Northwest Writers Association and the Write on the River organization. Teri and her husband Don live on the shores of beautiful Lake Chelan in Washington State.
Eileen Finn
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"Eileen Finn is an ESL teacher, researcher, webmaster, painter, and author of “Calaca’s Best Friend” based in East Wenatchee, Washington. Having lived abroad for 10 years and having learned several languages, her passion for other cultures and her love for languages have heavily influenced her writings. With several years of experience in acrylic painting, Ms. Finn got into writing when her canine companion passed away."
John Gallanis
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John Gallanis practiced internal medicine in Seattle, Washington for over three decades. When he retired in 2015, he considered writing as a new goal. In 2016 he submitted his first attempt at writing and earned 3rd place in a Write on the River competition. His stories entertain members of four writing groups in north-central Washington with true to life exploits of patients he encountered as a physician.
He now describes himself as “a writer who used to be a doctor.”
Lara Hovda
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Lara Hovda’s passion is guiding clients towards their core desires through BodyTalk and Intuitive coaching. With diverse certifications like massage, Reiki, BodyTalk, and Matrix Energetics, Lara helps creative seekers transcend self-imposed limits. Her devotion to holistic well-being, paired with a love for art, travel, and astrology, fuels her drive to inspire and assist others in realizing their fullest potential.
Dawn Klinge
Dawn Klinge is an author from central Washington. She is married to her high school sweetheart and has two grown kids. Travel and history inspire her writing. She's currently studying creative writing at Oxford University. Her Historic Hotels Collection includes Sorrento Girl, Palmer Girl, and Biltmore Girl. She enjoys writing contemporary and historical romance novels that feature strong women. She is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers. She loves to read, play golf, ski, or hike when she's not writing. She also loves eating good food but would prefer to leave the cooking to others.
Judith Barrett Lawson
Judith Barrett Lawson is a writer, screenwriter, playwright, and lyricist with over thirty-five song cuts to her credit. Prior to devoting herself to writing, she worked in TV casting and feature film development. She is a godmother, auntie, or friend to a passel of kids, each of whom she adores. "They're my heart," Lawson said proudly. "They're who I wrote this for -- them, and the kids I haven't met yet," she smiled. Soon after she lost her home to the Malibu, California Woosley Fires in 2018, she attended a dinner party to get her mind off the loss. And it's a good ting she did - at the table beside her was Sequoia Schmidt, founder of DiAngelo Publications. The rest, as they say, is history. She has since moved back to her hometown of East Wenatchee, WA to be closer to her mother.
Rachael Lundin
Rachael Lundin lives in Wenatchee, WA with her sweet dog, Molly. When she is not writing, she might be found biking the riverfront trail or working on a random DYI project. While her niece and nephew used to be convinced she was a pirate, her actual day job is eLearning Developer. She has a lifelong fascination with cryptozoology and mystery. Rachael will say she hasn’t done enough traveling yet, but so far she has biked through southern France, dug ditches in Brazil, built a goat milking station in Tanzania, and rode 450 miles on horseback across Mongolia. Still, more than anything else, her favorite thing to do is take a nap!
Keith Madsen
Keith Madsen retired from pastoral ministry in 2016. Currently he serves as a hospital chaplain here in Wenatchee. He has taken five mission trips to Haiti, and this exposure led to the writing of his novel, The Sons and Daughters of Toussaint (Quill Hawk Publishing, 2023). He is also the author of Searching for Eden, 2nd Edition (Quill Hawk Publishing, 2021), and The Bridles of Armageddon, 2nd Edition (Quill Hawk Publishing, 2023), as well as a short story in the anthology, Distant Flickers: Stories of Identity and Loss (Paul Stream Press, 2022). Keith also operates a local company that teaches chess to children, Wenatchee Valley Chess4kidz. Keith lives in East Wenatchee with his wife Cathy.
E.G. Moore
E.G. Moore is an award-winning author and poet who loves to weave subtle, fable-like lessons into her stories for middle graders and teens. She also writes freelance articles on health and wellness, creative personal essays, and curriculum to accompany her books. When she's not writing or helping other authors market their books, she can be found sipping something hot with her husband, playing with her three children, laughing at her dogs and chickens, or on a soul-refreshing hike in the North Idaho woods where she lives with them all. Connect with her on social media and her website www.emilygmoore.com.
Alena Orrison
Alena holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English, with an emphasis in Creative Writing. She has several articles and stories published online and in anthologies, and independently published her first novel Natural Disaster in the fall of 2023. She has been editing professionally since 2015. Before that, She dabbled in editing for newsletters and local publications. Now, Alena has a partnership with another author who is magic with marketing. They provide authors with a collaborative support system to edit, publish, and market their books. She currently lives in North Idaho with her family and a variety of pets. When Alena is not reading and writing, she is spending time with family and friends, gardening, boating, hiking, or at the gym.
Lynne Hancock Pearson
Lynne Hancock Pearson writes fun, flirty feel-good fiction that simmers at a low heat.
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She grew up in a family of book nerds, wooed her husband with her library card, and her children never leave home without a book.
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She lives near Seattle with three finicky felines, two towering offspring, and one long-suffering husband. She is a left-handed middle child who grew up in the Great White North and is a proud member of the Métis Nation of Canada.
Becca Ryden
Becca Ryden writes Romantasy packed with swords, magic and the occasional mooing cow. Her characters are real, usually have a dark background, and are always looking for love, even if they don’t know it yet. Whether it be a high stakes chase or a fight for the last cookie, action lives in every scene. Becca has been writing since she was old enough to type, but with years of military service to temper her skills, her stories are more than fiction—they’re a possible reality. When not writing books, you’ll find Becca playing with her fur babies, running from a spider, or saving the universe, one NPC at a time.
Susan Rae Sampson
Susan Rae Sampson is the author of A Yard Long, a Natural and Cultural History of One Small Yard. Her essays appear regularly in The Good Life magazine serving North Central Washington. Her chapbook of poetry, Book of Birds, won the first chapbook prize from the Wild Leek Press. A retired courtoom lawyer, she brings science, nature, culture, and humor to her essays.
T. W. Small
T. W. “Chip” Small was born in Mineola, New York, grew up in Mt. Prospect, Illinois, attended Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois, and the University of Washington School of Law. Married in 1974 to Mary McLaughlin, they have three children and nine grandchildren. Chip practiced law in Wenatchee, Washington, until he was appointed to the bench in 1991. During his legal career, Chip received awards from the Access to Justice Board, the Washington Judges Foundation, and the Washington State Bar Association. He retired in 2018 after serving on the Chelan County Superior Court longer than anyone in the history of the county.
His first book, You Are Not a Lawyer Anymore: A Primer for Those Who Want to Be a Good Judge, is available on Amazon, Audible, and Kindle. His second book, Stark Justice is the first book of his Justice Trilogy, inspired by cases he handled as a lawyer and a judge.
Chip and his wife enjoy their grandchildren and horseback riding. Chip is also an avid golfer, cigar aficionado, and now author who looks forward to taking the reader on more legal adventures with Arnie Adams.
Steve Stroud
Dr. Steve Stroud has been a physician and teacher of Integrative Medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and Energy Medicine, for over 30 years. Dr. Stroud holds a Doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine and a Masters of Acupuncture. He has advanced training in Cranio-sacral therapy, and Matrix Energetics. In practice since 1988, Dr. Stroud has helped guide countless many through physical and emotional times of turmoil. His work is heartfelt, compassionate, grounded in science, steeped in the healing arts, and tempered by experience.
V.R. Tapscott
V.R. Tapscott lives in the desert wastes of Eastern Washington, out among the spiders, snakes and sagebrush. In a house, of course. With a cat, a spousal unit, a mortgage and thirteen computers. The cat makes most of the decisions.
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V.R. would love to hear from you at vrtapscott@electrikink.com, and is also on FaceBook at https://www.facebook.com/VRTapscott.
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If you get desperate, you can always visit V.R.’s website at www.electrikink.com.
Pat Turner
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Pat West Turner was raised in North Central Washington in the town of Entiat. Now she lives in East Wenatchee, Washington with her husband of forty-five years, Joe. She has been active at her local ski area, Mission Ridge, learning to three-track ski in 1966. She received her B.A. in education from Central Washington University and Fifth Year from the University of California Sacramento. Placerville, CA was her first teaching assignment then finished her career in the Wenatchee area. She enjoys working out at the gym as well as wheelchair dancing, and bowling. Her travels include New Zealand, Tahiti, Mexico, and Hawaii. Pat also enjoys writing, and hand crafts.
Stella Williams
Stella Williams is a USA Today Bestselling Paranormal Romance Author living in Washington State. She has a degree in Anthropology from The University of California, Santa Cruz. Stella prides herself in using her studies to create diverse worlds and characters for her novels. You can find more about Stella on her website www.stellawilliamsauthor.com.
We are also thrilled to announce that A Book For All Seasons will be at our BookFest!