BookFest 2026 Authors

USA Today bestselling author Asa Maria Bradley grew up in Sweden surrounded by archaeology and history steeped in Norse mythology, which inspired her sexy paranormal romance and sizzling romantasy series.

Booklist attributes her writing with “nonstop action, satisfying romantic encounters, and intriguing world building” and  Entertainment Weekly says “when it comes to paranormal romance with explosive action scenes, Bradley has that nailed.” She is a Romance Writers of America’s RITA finalist, a Reviewers’ Choice Award finalist, a Holt Medallion winner, and a Booksellers’ Best Award winner.

Asa came to the United States as a high school exchange student and fell in love with ranch dressing and crime TV dramas of all flavors, two addictions she unfortunately still struggles with. Currently, she lives on a lake deep in the forest of the Pacific Northwest with a British husband and a rescue dog of an indeterminate breed. Sadly, neither obeys her commands.

Daniela Romero is a USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of emotionally intense, trope-packed romance novels that break hearts and heal them in equal measure. Known for her angsty enemies-to-lovers stories, possessive heroes, and fierce heroines, she writes steamy new adult and paranormal romance that keeps readers hooked from the first page to the last. She also happens to be the proud owner of Baddies Book Shop

After writing extensively in various fandoms as Thevina, Kristi Lee began trying her hand at original fiction. Her non-fandom stories will always include: a redhead, some knitting, complex sentences, and hopeful endings. Much of her real life can be found in her works with themes of recovery, being human, self-discovery, and living a richly spiritual life that may not easily be described out in the 3-D. A lifelong lover of fantasy and sci fi, she's grateful to have her stories exist as ebooks, in print and in audiobook form!

L. Burton Brender is a central Washington author and Write On The River board member.  His poetry and short fiction has been published with a variety of small presses and is the author of "Cashmere" from Arcadia Press.

Methow Press specializes in working with first-time and local authors to get their books in print and into distribution. We also offer editing and proofreading services, as well as publishing consultation. 

Rachael Lundin believes life is infinitely better when you imagine Sasquatch might be living in the woods right outside your house—which is exactly the magic she brings to her middle-grade adventure series set in Washington State. Her debut novel, Serenade of the Sasquatch, takes readers on a thrilling journey through Leavenworth, WA, where cryptids and courage collide. When she's not writing about the mysterious creatures that might be roaming the Pacific Northwest, Rachael is busy being a maker—whether that's crafting stories, creating art, or tackling her latest quest to find all the Dambo trolls scattered across Washington State. She lives in Wenatchee with her dog Molly, perfectly positioned to keep an eye out for any Sasquatch sightings. Readers won't have to wait long for their next adventure: Music of the Mermaids, the second book in the series, is set to make waves in early summer 2026.

Sarah L. Blum, is a decorated nurse Vietnam veteran who earned the Army Commendation Medal serving as an operating room nurse at the 12th Evacuation Hospital Cu Chi, Vietnam during the height of the fighting in 1967. She received her Bachelor’s Degree from Seattle University and her Master’s from the University of Washington. Sarah retired in 2019, as a nurse psychotherapist after 34 years healing trauma in others. Now, 3/6/25, at age 85, her newest book Warrior Nurse: PTSD and Healing was released. Sarah’s first book was Women Under Fire: Abuse in the Military, (2013) about the culture of abuse toward women in the military. Both books are available on http://womenunderfire.net.

Children’s book author, Sue Christopherson loves to write fictional stories about dogs, frogs and baby dragons! Inspired by her love of animals and the compassion they show us. Living in the beautiful State of Washington, her wild pup, Hazel is her dedicated assistant.

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.

Bainbridge Island Press is an independent poetry publishing house located on Bainbridge Island on the Puget Sound of Washington.  We publish the finest poetry from across the country representing the future of poetry.

I write historical romantic inspirational fiction. Eight books published. Member of Cashmere Writer's Club and Write on the River. First book published with Barbour Books, remaining self-published through Amazon. Speaker for retreats, workshops, conventions, etc. 

Kyle Skalisky is a consultant, coach, keynote speaker and the author of the Amazon #1 Best Seller “A Sky Less Traveled: A Maverick Life of Leadership, Resilience, and the Pursuit of Purpose.” 

He has worked in the Aerospace & Defense industry as a CEO and director. He has flown as a commercial pilot and been a small-business owner. He served in the USAF as a fighter pilot for 23-years. He flew F-15, F-16, and F/A-18 fighters and had assignments at the Pentagon and US Pacific Command. He has traveled on assignments throughout North America, the Asia-Pacific, Europe, and Australia. A graduate of the US Air Force Academy, Skalisky also holds a Master's Degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and a FAA Airline Transport Pilot certificate. Skalisky, a Wenatchee, Washington native, lives in Great Falls, Montana with his wife Kyra and their two young boys, Wylder and Kolt.

Women's Literature author, Lucy H. Delaney, is as opalescent as a pearl and multifaceted as a diamond. 

Though her career life is currently a hot mess (because all she really wants to be is a profitable author & inn keeper) she works full-time by day and writes her heart out on the weekends in her cozy little log-cabin lodge.

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"Nicole Wilkerson is a contemporary romance author who writes emotional, character-driven love stories rooted in real connection, complicated timing, and the things people leave unsaid. Her current series, The Line We Keep, begins with Between the Aisles, a workplace romance about boundaries, longing, and the quiet moments that change everything.

Inspired by real-life emotions and everyday relationships, Nicole creates stories that balance tenderness, tension, and slow-burn chemistry.

When she is not writing, Nicole enjoys hiking, being near the water, spending time at the beach, and creating music. She also writes and releases original songs inspired by the emotional worlds of her books, blending her love of storytelling across both fiction and music.

I have written two non-fiction articles for The Goodlife, a local magazine and have self-published one novel, Two Friends, Too Old. That novel relates a collision between old age and old friendship. It is a real page-turner but you have to have a lot of courage to turn to the last page.

Shaina Krevat is a life-long author who loves to find magic in the mundane. After burning out working in tech, Shaina took a risk and put her creativity front and center. Her short story series "Tales of Mundane Magic" paints a picture of what a technologically advanced world would look like if it had always had magic--smart phones casting spells, airport security checking for poltergeists, and zombies playing hockey! Whether speculating how to solve a murder with magic, or comparing curses to computer code, Shaina's fantastical stories are sure to put you under their spell!

Susan Blair is a published poet, writer and arts event organizer in Wenatchee, WA. Her new children's book, "The Honking Hattables," is a rhyming narrative. She has self-published a series of five poetry activity books, "Perri the Poetry Fairy Presents: Poetry for Kids." In addition, Susan's full-length poetry collection, "A Howling," was published by Press53 as a Tom Lombardo Poetry Selection. Susan founded and is the editor of "The Shrub-Steppe Poetry Journal," an annual anthology highlighting the work of North Central Washington poets. She earned a B.A. in German & Russian from Middlebury College in Vermont.

Victoria Chadderton is a passionate author, speaker, and empowerment advocate dedicated to helping women align their lives with purpose and possibility. She has contributed to six collaborative books, sharing heartfelt stories and practical wisdom. Her most recent work, The Book On Love, explores the transformative power of love in all its forms. With a background in personal development, financial coaching, and travel advising, Victoria weaves together inspiration and strategy to help others create lives they truly love.

Chad Dulac weaves epic stories of incredible power, wondrous fascination, fantastic worlds, impossible creations, and intriguing characters with rich pasts that evolve as toils and conflict arise. From his youth Chad has been a creative talent with a limitless bucket of ideas that have culminated in a saga that will forever change his (and the world's) life.

Chad is a retired U.S. Navy Public Affairs Officer with a long background in comic book art, video game design, and storytelling. He has a Bachelor's of Science in Game Art and Design from the Art Institute of Pittsburg, has been happily married more than 30 years to his lovely wife Della, has two ambitious red-headed children, two pesky dogs, and works relentlessly to make authoring a career.

Keith Madsen retired from church pastoral ministry in 2016 and is now working full-time as a hospital chaplain. He is the author of several works of fiction, including  Searching for Eden, 2nd Edition (Quill Hawk Publishing, Edmond, OK 2021), The Sons and Daughters of Toussaint, (Quill Hawk Publishing, Edmond, OK, 2023),  The Bridles of Armageddon, 2nd Edition (Quill Hawk Publishing, Edmond, OK, 2023) and a book of short stories, Fallen Angels: Stories Inspired by the Urban Homeless (Quill Hawk Publishing, Edmond, OK, 2025). He has also published a nonfiction theological/political work, American Heresies: Reclaiming the Fath of Christ from Donald Trump (keiththewriterguy, Wenatchee, WA, 2025). He is an active member of an author’s marketing cooperative, the Author Event Network, Seattle. Keith lives in East Wenatchee, Washington with his wife Cathy. He is an avid fan of the 2026 Super Bowl Champion Seattle Seahawks. He teaches children and youth chess and enjoys the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest.

Kyona Jiles is an award-winning author from North Central Washington who writes romantic suspense and urban fantasy filled with danger, complicated loyalties, and hard-won love. Her Vampire Shadower novel First Death is a three-time award winner, earning gold honors from the Independent Publisher Book Awards and Readers’ Favorite, as well as the PRISM Award for Urban Fantasy from Romance Writers of America’s Fantasy, Futuristic & Paranormal chapter. Kyona is also the author of Second Chance and the romantic-suspense novels Outrunning the Hunter and Running Out of Time. Her stories feature strong heroines, morally complicated heroes, found family, and characters who keep fighting long after survival would be easier. As a Northwest author, Kyona is proud to be an active part of the region’s writing community and loves meeting readers, talking about books, and connecting with fellow authors. She is currently working on the third novel in each of her two series.

An award-winning journalist, Melissa Slager now turns her twin loves for truth and story to works of fiction. 

She is the author of "Contests of Strength," a historical novel 14 years in the making that’s set at the turn of the 17th century in traditional Makah lands and waters. Kirkus Reviews highlighted the novel in its May 15, 2025, edition as a “historically rigorous and emotionally riveting period piece.” 

She also was commissioned to complete the Quincy Valley Historical Historical Society & Museum's Children of the Quincy Valley Series with "José's Grand Adventures." 

Her current projects are a fantasy novel featuring baseball-mad gods and a picture book about slugs. Slager lives in Everett with her family, savoring "three-volcano days" when the mountains can be seen through wildfire smoke. Learn more at melissaslager.com.

Pat West Turner was raised in North Central Washington in the town of Entiat. Now she lives in East Wenatchee with her husband of forty-six years, Joe. She has been active at her local ski area, Mission Ridge, learning to three-track skin 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, wheelchair dancing, bowling, diamond painting as well as painting kindness rocks. Her travels include New Zealand, Tahiti, Mexico, and Hawaii.

Ron and his wife Marsha spend winters in Malaga WA and summers in Fairbanks AK. He spent his career at the University of Alaska Fairbanks teaching biology and conducting scientific research. His book Interior and Northern Alaska: A Natural History is used in schools across Alaska. His How Not to Die Hunting in Alaska is a humorous "how-not-to" guide to the outdoors. His novel Undeserved Punishment is based on his childhood on the Navajo Reservation in Arizona. He has published short pierces in the Shrub-Steppe Poetry Journal, Cirque, Whitefish Review and Watershed Review.

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.

Thomas Lion is a Pacific Northwest author whose work blends emotional realism, regional history, and character‑driven storytelling. His AMERICAN FUGITIVE memoir was previously optioned by a major film studio, and his writing spans multiple genres. His new contemporary fiction OSPREY GOLD is now out and getting strong reviews from Seattle to LA. He lives on a PNW mountain with his Kiwi wife, Irish Setter Rory and Mr. Frodo, their lynx kit.