Great-Valley-Bookfestlogonoback

2017 Great Valley Bookfest

Author List

(List subject to change)

 

Great Valley Bookfest 2017 Featured Authors

LIST IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE

 

B. Lynn Goodwin

B. Lynn Goodwin owns Writer Advice, www.writeradvice.com. She’s written You Want Me to Do WHAT? Journaling for Caregivers (Tate Publishing) and Talent (Eternal Press). Talent was short-listed for a Literary Lightbox Award and won a bronze medal in the Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards. Talent is also 2017 finalist for a Sarton Women’s Book Award.

Goodwin’s work has appeared in Voices of Caregivers, Hip Mama, Small Press Review, Dramatics Magazine, Inspire Me Today, Caregiver Village, The Sun, Good Housekeeping.com, Purple Clover.com and elsewhere. She is a reviewer and teacher at Story Circle Network, and she is a manuscript coach at Writer Advice. She is shoppng a memoir about getting married for the first time at 62, but she always has time to write guest blog posts and answer questions.  www.writeradvice.com  and  http://blynngoodwin.com

 

 

 

Christina McKnight

USA TODAY Bestselling Author Christina McKnight writes emotional and intricate Regency Romance novels with strong women and maverick heroes.Her books combine romance and mystery, exploring themes of redemption and forgiveness. When not writing she enjoys trying new coffeehouses, visiting wine bars, traveling the world, and watching television. www.christinamcknight.com

 

 

 

 Britt Nunes

Britt Nunes is a dork with an overactive imagination. She is addicted to rich words, adventurous sci-fi, sweet romances, and massive amounts of coffee. She is the author of The Etched Tales. Britt writes for young adults. www.brittnunes.com

 

 

 

Allie Kat

Allie Kat loves cats. This is her first book. She is a young author, within her target audience young. Her love for adventures has drawn her to make Matzu come to life, with an adventurous life just like hers. Please stay tuned with what happens with Matzu in the next book in this Series.

 

 

 

Cindy Sample

Cindy Sample is a former corporate CEO who decided plotting murder was more entertaining than plodding through paperwork. Her national bestselling mystery series, described as Erma Bombeck meets Agatha Christie, features single soccer mom, Laurel McKay. The series, set in the California Gold Country, includes Dying for a Date, Dying for a Dance, Dying for a Daiquiri, Dying for a Dude, Dying for a Donut and Dying for a Diamond. Cindy is a four-time nominee for the LEFTY Award for Best Humorous Mystery and winner of the NCPA Best Fiction Award. Cindy loves her research! Check out www.cindysamplebooks.com, www.facebook.com/cindysampleauthor and www.twitter.com/cindysample1.

 

 

 

Claudia Hagen

Claudia Hagen is a retired critical care nurse and former commercially rated hot air balloon pilot living in California’s Central Valley. She has published seven non-fiction books, two of which are geared for children. Several of her books have received multiple 5 Star Reviews from a variety of sources while her autobiography “The Mystic High Adventures of Fannie Flame & Crew” won a 2015 Reader’s Choice Favorite writers contest Honorable Mention. Her most recent work, “Tonight We Fly! The Soviet Night Witches of WWII” follows an “American Women During WWII;” both feature interesting facts and stories of amazing women during wartime. When not researching or writing, she enjoys reading, gardening, and visiting aviation museums. For more info about Claudia and a list of all her books, visit: www.claudiahagen.com

 

 

 

Dr Danna Knight

Dr Danna Knight is a local author and illustrator specializing in the Atlantic settlement of the Vikings. She is originally from the Central Valley and attended community college before earning her Bachelor’s in Anthropology at UC Berkeley. Her first book, Viking Nations- based on her doctoral research conducted at the University of Nottingham- released in the US in 2016 is widely available. Dr Knight is also the creator of the Viking Coloring Book Project, which successfully made it funding goal in January 2016 on Kickstarter. When she is not working on early medieval research, she makes jam and has tea with her guinea pigs.

 

 

 

Gini Grossenbacher

California author GINI GROSSENBACHER was a successful high school English teacher until she abandoned grades and term papers, choosing to write historical novels instead. Since 2011, she has led small writing groups and coaches other writers in their craft. She loves researching the history behind her novels, and enjoys traveling to the exotic settings where they take place. She lives in the Sacramento Valley where she grew up. MADAM OF MY HEART is her debut novel, the first in the series called THE AMERICAN MADAMS. She is vice president, membership, of the California Writers Club, Sacramento branch. http://www.ginigrossenbacher.com

 

 

 

Godfrey Coppinger

Godfrey Coppinger is a five-year-old cleverly disguised as a little old lady. She is a life-long doodler, scribbler, and storyteller. She loves to sing songs, make music, and dance. Godfrey looks funny when she dances, but she doesn’t care. She lives on an ant hill in Tarpey Village, near Fresno, California with a leprechaun, an auntie, three dogs (one of whom is a retired pirate) and two cats. She likes to spend time in the mountains. Alone. She has never ridden a horse or an elephant, but both are on her bucket list. She is variously known as The Frog Queen of the San Joaquin, Woman-Who-Runs-With-Lizards, and Teacher Goofball. Godfrey is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, The National Storytelling Network, and the Fresno Folklore Society. godfreycoppinger.com

 

 

 

Heather Haven

Heather Haven’s first novel, Murder is a Family Business, began the Silicon Valley based Alvarez Family Murder Mystery Series, winning the Single Titles Reviewers’ Choice Award 2011. The second, A Wedding to Die For, was both a 2012 Global and EPIC finalist for Best eBook Mystery of the Year. Death Runs in the Family won the Global Gold for Best Mystery Novel, 2013. DEAD….If Only won the Global Silver for Best Mystery Novel, 2015. The CEO Came DOA is a LEFTY finalist for Best Humorous Mystery 2017.
The Persephone Cole Vintage Mystery Series, is set in Manhattan circa 1942, our country’s entrance into WWII. The Dagger Before Me, Book One, was voted best historical mystery novel by Amazon readers in October, 2013. It was followed by Iced Diamonds. Book Three, The Chocolate Kiss-Off, was a 2016 LEFTY Finalist Best Historical Mystery.
Her proudest award is the Silver IPPY for Best Mystery/thriller 2014 for Death of a Clown. She’s the daughter of real-life Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus folk, her mother a trapeze artist/performer and father, an elephant trainer. Heather brings the daily existence of the Big Top to life, embellished by her own murderous imagination. http://heatherhavenstories.com/

 

 

 

Indigo Moor

Current Poet Laureate of Sacramento, CA, Indigo Moor is also a playwright and author. His second book of poetry, Through the Stonecutter’s Window, won Northwestern University Press’s Cave Canem prize. His first book, Tap-Root, was published as part of Main Street Rag’s Editor’s Select Poetry Series. His third book, In the Room of Thirsts & Hungers, is due for publication in July of 2017.

Three of his short plays, Harvest, Shuffling, and The Red and Yellow Quartet debuted at the 60 Million Plus Theatre’s Spring Playwright’s festival. His stageplay, Live! at the Excelsior, was a finalist for the Images Theatre Playwright Award and is being made into a full length film.

A graduate of the Stonecoast MFA Program—where he studied poetry, fiction, and scriptwriting–Indigo is also a graduate member of the Artist’s Residency Institute for Teaching Artists and former Vice President of the Sacramento Poetry Center. Center.Winner of the 2005 Vesle Fenstermaker Prize for Emerging Writers, a 2009 Pushcart Prize nominee, and 2008 Jack Kerouac Poetry contest, Indigo’s other honors include: finalist finishes for the T.S. Eliot Prize, Crab Orchard First Book Prize, Saturnalia First Book Award, Naomi Long Madgett Book Award, and WordWorks Prize.  indigomoor.org

 

 

 

Jennie Chadwick

Jennie Chadwick lives and writes in the Central Valley of California, which is the backdrop for The Peach Tree Kids. She is currently at work on the next book in the series. http://sbpra.com/jenniechadwick/

 

 

 

 

Juliana Presto

Juliana Presto is a young adult fiction author who loves creating compelling novels that combine relatable characters with elements of fantasy. At sixteen years old, she has published Fire and Ice: The Awakening, Fire and Ice: The Turning, and will soon publish the third installment of the Fire and Ice Trilogy. The author was thrilled to achieve her goal of publishing her work at age 13, but when she’s not writing or reading she enjoys swimming, dancing, and traveling. Juliana has multiple writing projects set aside to pursue once she had completed her first trilogy. She hopes to inspire other teenage writers to follow their dreams. julianapresto.com

 

 

 

Kristin Miller

New York Times and USA Today best-selling author Kristin Miller writes sweet and sassy contemporary romance, romantic suspense, and paranormal romance of all varieties. Kristin has degrees in psychology, English, and education, and taught high school and middle school English before crossing over to a career in writing. She lives in Northern California with her alpha male husband and their two children. You can usually find her in the corner of a coffee shop, laptop in front of her and mocha in hand, using the guests around her as fuel for her next book. www.kristinmiller.net

 

 

 

Linda Joy Singleton

Linda Joy Singleton is the author of over 40 children’s books including the midgrade series CURIOUS CAT SPY CLUB (Albert Whitman), picture books A CAT IS BETTER (Little Bee), SNOW DOG SAND DOG (Albert Whitman), CASH KAT (Arbordale) and YA mystery MEMORY GIRL (CBAY). A longtime member of SCBWI and Sisters in Crime, Linda is also a frequent speaker at conferences, schools and libraries. She grew up in Sacramento and currently lives near Valley Springs. She completed her first novel at age 11 and submitted stories with the help of her father at 14. Her goal was to be a series author and she has achieved trhis goal with seven juvenile series. www.LindaJoySingleton.com

 

 

 

Linda Whalen

Linda Whalen is celebrating the release of her Debut Picture Book, Little Red Rolls Away, published by Sleeping Bear Press, April 2017. Raised in Southern California, she has traveled and lived in many states throughout the United States finally settling in Northern Calif. A city girl who found she loves country life with her husband, family and the creatures playing in the fields around her home, she devotes her life to children and she has been a 4-H leader, volunteer teacher at her church, and owner/operator of Whalen’s Country Childcare a licensed facility. She is an active member of SCBWI, a polished speaker and radio show guest. When she’s not writing Linda loves to sneak away to her art studio. www.lindaslines.com

 

 

 

Marcia Rosen

Marcia Rosen has developed a Marketing Workbook for Authors. For over fifteen years she has helped numerous authors develop and market their books, and presented writing programs in Manhattan, The Hamptons, New Mexico and Carmel, California, on “Encouraging and Supporting the Writer Within You!” The founder and owner of a successful marketing and public relations agency for twenty-five years, Marcia is author of, “Dying To Be Beautiful” Mystery Series, Books 1 and 2 published. Books 3 &4 with publisher. The Woman’s Business Therapist: Eliminate the MindBlocks and RoadBlocks to Success,” and her award-winning My Memoir Workbook. www.creativebookconcepts.com and www.dyingtobebeautiful.com

 

 

 

Marie Sutro

Marie Sutro is a native of the San Francisco Bay Area and a member of Sisters in Crime. A proponent of adult literacy, she volunteers with California Library Literacy Services, helping adults improve their reading and writing skills.

Her great-grandfather, grandfather and father all served in the San Francisco Police Department, the collective inspiration for her debut novel. She resides in Northern California and is currently at work on the next Kate Barnes story. www.mariesutro.com

 

 

 

Marietta Harris

If you asked Marietta Harris when growing up what  she wanted to be, “an author” would never have been her answer.  But life changes will alter your dreams and journey.  When her mother was diagnosed with Alzheimers, her destiny changed. Becoming a caregiver and going through that experience altered her view of what her future should be.  It forced her to become a new person, a writer.   mariettaharris.com

 

 

 

Patricia Newman

Patricia Newman has written several books that connect young readers to scientific concepts, including the new fall 2017 release, Zoo Scientists to the Rescue; and previous award-winning titles, such as Sea Otter Heroes: The Predators That Saved an Ecosystem, a Junior Library Guild Selection and recipient of a starred Kirkus review; Plastic, Ahoy! Investigating the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, a Green Earth Book Award winner; and Ebola: Fears and Facts, a Booklist Editors’ Choice selection. Visit her at www.patriciamnewman.com.

 

 

 

Penny Warner

Penny Warner has published over 60 books for both adults and children. Her middle-grade mystery, THE CODE BUSTERS CLUB #1: SECRET OF THE SKELETON KEY, was nominated for an Agatha Award for Best Children’s Mystery. It features four kids who solve a mystery by cracking codes in each chapter. The second book in the series, THE CODE BUSTERS #2: THE HAUNTED LIGHTHOUSE, is set on Alcatraz and won the Agatha Award for Best Children’s Mystery. THE CODE BUSTERS CLUB #3: MYSTERY OF THE PIRATE’S TREASURE features the California Missions and the state’s lone pirate, and was nominated for an Agatha Award and an Anthony Award. THE CODE BUSTERS CLUB #4: THE MUMMY’S CURSE, is set at an Egyptian Museum and offers puzzles about artifacts and mummies and was nominated for an Agatha. THE CODE BUSTERS CLUB #5: HUNT FOR THE MISSING SPY is set at the International Spy Museum in Washington DC, and won the Agatha Award. THE CODE BUSTRS CLUB #6: SECRET OF THE PUZZLE BOX, set on Angel Island, and is again nominated for an Agatha. You can join the Code Busters Club at www.codebustersclub.com.

 

 

 

R.M. Gilmore

R.M. Gilmore is a paranormal and mystery/suspense writer and creator of the occult bestselling series Dylan Hart Odyssey of the Occult.
R.M. resides in California with her family and a ton of pets. With an awkward humor, it is likely she will die laughing.
​R.M. prefers to think and live outside the box, without the constraints of social stigma or the ideals of literary rules. That being said, she truly is not your mother’s author. www.rmgilmoreauthor.com/

 

 

 

Sarah Armstrong-Garner

Sarah Armstrong-Garner lives in Northern California with her husband and three children, and get this. Not only is she an author, screenwriter, and photographer, she also shoots indie films with her husband. Sinking is her debut novel. www.SarahArmstrongGarner.com

 

 

 

Shelley Muniz

Shelley has short stories in these journals: Wild Edges, and Wisdom Has a Voice: Every daughter’s memories of mother. Her books, in order of publication, are: Eagle Feathers and Angel Wings: Micah’s Story (2013), Tunneling (2017), and One Great Tribe (2017). She has been a teacher’s aide, elementary school librarian, and a library specialist for thirty years, and lives in Sonora, CA.  shelleymuniz.com

 

 

 

Stacey Cotter

Stacey Cotter has a degree in psychology and business administration, which led her to a career path in long-term care. With a passion for literature, several stories had been in her mind for years, but weren’t ready to come out until now. Harris Estate was worth the wait, as it is her first published novel. The sequel, Harris Estate, The Aftermath, will be forthcoming in late 2016. Closure, a new fictional mystery, will follow in 2017. Stacey lives with her husband and two children. Visit Stacey at: Facebook.com/Harris.Estate.by.Cotter and on
Twitter @StaceyCotter5

 

 

 

Sarah Jamila Stevenson

Sarah Jamila Stevenson is a writer, artist, editor and graphic designer in Northern California. She is the author of three YA novels: THE LATTE REBELLION (Flux, 2011), UNDERNEATH (Flux, 2013) and THE TRUTH AGAINST THE WORLD (Flux, 2014). Her first novel for young adults, THE LATTE REBELLION, was a Scholastic Book Club pick as well as an IPPY Bronze Medalist in Multicultural Children’s Fiction. Her work has been featured on Capital Public Radio’s Insight and NPR’s Tell Me More with Michel Martin. She is also an active blogger: since 2005 she has been posting children’s literature reviews and information at Finding Wonderland (writingya.blogspot.com), a blog she shares with fellow young adult author Tanita S. Davis, and she is a regular participant in the Cybils (Children’s and Young Adult Bloggers’ Literary Awards). http://www.sarahjamilastevenson.com

 

 

 

T. E. Watson

T. E. Watson is an award winning children’s author, columnist in the US and Canada, speaker, and philanthropist. His career has spanned the many aspects of the publishing industry.
Having started by accident from the efforts of some 35 6th graders (he was a teacher), his writings have taken readers to worlds they can revisit again and again. From his most recent travels back to Scotland in The Man Who Spoke With Cats and his best selling Glen Robbie: A Scottish Fairy Tale, to the popular educational and historical pioneer series Going West, his readers keep coming back for more, wondering to which magical land he is going to take them next. He has been awarded with The Best Author of 2009 and his book entitled The Man Who Spoke With Cats was Awarded BEst Children’s Book of 2009. He is the author of some 130 stories and now 3 new audio book productions and 12 new books being completed for children… and he says he has slowed a bit!
With over 40 years in the writing world doing everything from reporting to writing for magazines, to political essays for national, as well as environmental issues. He has also penned many guides and teaching curriculums for schools throughout the country. He has written adult works, and even horror, but his first love will always be the Children’s genre. His research and studies in Literature of the U.K, with a focus on Children’s Writers, with a more focused study of Robert Louis Stevenson earned T.E. the very prestigious FSA Fellowship from the Royal National Museum in Edinburgh, Scotland in 2003. tewatsononline.com

 

 

 

Paula Treick DeBoard

Paula Treick DeBoard holds an MFA from the University of Southern Maine and divides her time between writing and teaching. Her novels include the forthcoming Here We Lie (January 2018), The Drowning Girls (2016), which was selected by Target as part of its Emerging Authors program, The Fragile World, and The Mourning Hours. She teaches in the Merritt Writing Program at UC Merced, and is a fiction faculty member at Go Deep, a yoga and writing retreat in the Sierra Nevadas. Professionally, she belongs to PEN America, AWP and WFWA. Paula considers all of life to be material for writing, and spends her spare time with her husband Will, two small dogs with surprisingly vicious barks, and the world’s least patient cat. More information is available on her website, www.paulatreickdeboard.com.

 

 

 

Daniel Babka

Daniel grew up in a small town in the middle of America like the one he describes in Lightning Strikes, his coming-of-age novella set in 1959He served in VISTA (the domestic Peace Corps), attended law school, a theological seminary, and worked as a community organizer in some of New York City’s toughest neighborhoods. More recently, Daniel ran two small start-up companies. He’s an avid hiker who, like Dylan Blake, the detective he writes about in No More Illusionshis contemporary California noir literary-mystery, needs time in the woods. He has two grown children and lives in the Northern California foothills where he is presently at work on two new Dylan Blake mysteries and several short stories. No More Illusions received a rave review from Kirkus Reviews Magazine, the country’s 2nd largest and oldest book reviewer. The mystery was also named to Indie Reader’s “Best Of 2014” List.

 

 

 

Silvia Minnick

Born in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Sylvia grew up in San Francisco and has lived in Stockton 56 years. With a Masters in History I wrote and lectured in Chinese American, Asian American and local history, they are the following:  SAMFOW: The San Joaquin Chinese Legacy; CHINESE COMMUNITY OF STOCKTON; STOCKTON’S CROWN JEWEL: The Bob Hope/Fox California; and NEVER A BURNT BRIDGE. She created a publishing house, HERITAGE WEST BOOKS, in Stockton and operated it for 12 years until her retirement. Her community activism include having served on Stockton City Council, president of the Chinese Benevolent Association and, through tax credit, renovated and created a housing apartment for low-income seniors. Writing and lecturing inspire her well being.

 

 

 

Marilyn Meredith

Marilyn Meredith is the author of many published novels, including the award winning Deputy Tempe Crabtree mystery series, the latest Seldom Traveled from Mundania Press. Writing as F. M. Meredith, her latest Rocky Bluff P.D. crime novel is A Crushing Death, from Oak Tree Press. She taught writing for Writers Digest Schools for 10 years, and was an instructor at the prestigious Maui Writers Retreat, and has taught at many writers’ conferences. Marilyn is a member of three chapters of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and on the board of the Public Safety Writers of America. She lives in the foothills of the Sierra. Visit her at http://fictionforyou.comand her blog at http://marilymeredith.blogspot.com/

 

 

 

Gary Dei Rossi

An original member of the first Great Valley Bookfest commitee, Gary presented his book “The ABC Book of San Joaquin County”.  In 2014 he was awarded the 2014 Hero of Literacy. He began his educational career in Manteca USD and served as a teacher, vice-principal and principal. He joined the San Joaquin County Office of Education in 1991 and retired as the Deputy Superintendent of Curriculum. During his time at the county he was involved with many state-wide curriculum issues. He served as the co-chair of the CA history-social science framework committee, was the chair of the CA Pre-school network, and was part of many statewide literacy initiatives. Locally he is on the executive committee of UOP’s Beyond the Gate program (which promotes literacy), on the Ex. Board of San Joaquin A+ which is a joint business and educational group that promoted literacy, and he currently serve on the First 5 Commission which promotes pre-school and literacy efforts throughout the county. His most recent book is a story of a family coming to America and the personality traits it takes to make a journey of that kind. The book is dedicated to all the immigrants that came to America to create a better life for themselves and their families.

 

 

 

Sandy Lee

Sandy Lee has enjoyed reading and writing most of her life. However, raising a lot of different children, for a lot of different reasons, seldom found her the time to do either one. When Sandy Lee’s grown son Darvis Lee Jr. mysteriously disappeared in October of 2010, she took pen to paper and a story that had to be written, begun. “No Unturned Stone” – A Mother’s Quest is that book. Sandy Lee resides with her husband of thirty seven years, in the small town of Sonora, California where she was born and raised. Sandy Lee has a children’s book coming out this summer entitled, “Hermie the Bug”. This book will capture your heart. A book of 40 poems that Sandy Lee has written, will be coming out entitled “Life, Love, & Loss” later this fall. “Remembering Grandma” will be the fourth book for Sandy Lee. Coming out also this fall, she has written another children’s book from the perspective of her younger son and his experience with his grandma who sadly had Alzheimer’s. You will see a big part of Sandy Lee’s heart in each of her books.

 

 

 

Tom Conner

Thomas Conner, also known as Tom, Tommy, and TC by friends and family, was born in Florida two miles from the Alabama state line. He spent most of his early years living on the Alabama side. He graduated from the University of West Florida in Pensacola with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Humanities. Conner wrote his first novel when he was 12, which burned in a house fire, and has been writing ever since. He published a family history book in 2000 entitled The Conners of Conecuh County, Alabama, and has published several articles. Since 1980 he has resided in Central California’s Big Valley, where he has worked in higher education at a prestigious private university in Student Life. When not writing or working his daytime job, Conner is involved with classic movies, serving on a classic cinema committee and promoting a summer classic movie series.

 

 

 

Jose Lucio

Jose Lucio is an Author and Illustrator living in beautiful Savannah, GA. His first book, Heave Ho!, was awarded Best New Local Book in 2015 and he received Best Local Author in 2016 from the Readers of Connect Savannah. His second book, Free Rain, is about a group of chickens making the exciting journey from life in a cage to the open fields of the free range. Free Rain is written by Daniel Wentzel and has been brought to life by José with his quirky and fun illustrative style. You can catch him in his personal studio working on projects, or just down the street at the Scribble Art Studio, where he works as an instructor. www.JoseLucio.com

 

 

 

Frank Browning Clark

Frank lives in Oakdale with his wife of 56 years Marilyn. He has been a proud member of the community for 75 years. In 2005 he was named Oakdale’s citizen of the year and in 2012 was presented the Oakdale Chamber of Commerce “Lifetime Achievement Award”.  Frank was also the recipient of the Stanislaus County Bar Association’s Liberty Bell Award. He spent 11 years with the Modesto Police Department attaining the rank of Patrol Division Commander and third in command of the department. Three years as a Foreign Service Officer with the U. S. State Department assigned to Vietnam supervising thirteen other officers. Then it was on to E & J. Gallo Winery for the next 23 years. During that time he was promoted to Vice President of Special Services and was responsible for seven different departments. Frank retired from Gallo in 1995 and he & Marilyn raised three young grandchildren to adulthood. Frank has spent the last 20 years involved in community organizations.  Serving as president of the Oakdale Educational Foundation, Oakdale Rotary Club, Senior Citizen Foundation, Oakdale Dinner Club, Oakdale High School Board of Trustees and President of the Oakdale Irrigation District and Board member for 14 years.

 

 

 

Daniel Wentzel

Daniel Wentzel is an author and artist residing in Seattle, Washington. Born and raised in Michigan, he left the state in 2006 to attend the Savannah College of Art and Design, where he received a degree in design for motion media, as well as completing the requirements for a minor degree in creative writing. Free Rain is Daniel’s first foray into the world of children’s book authorship. Over the past 6 years since moving to Seattle, he’s produced projection art and animation displayed at local art shows, providing background visuals for performers in the local experimental music scene.

 

 

 

S. L. Dearing

S. L. Dearing was raised in Westlake Village, California and grew up in Phoenix, Arizona. Shannon attended Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, then spent several years studying at Los Angeles City College’s renowned Television/ Film program. She has worked on several film projects in many capacities: directing, writing, 1st Asst. Director, Etc. Shannon has been writing since grade school. Over the years she has written several screenplays, poems, plays and short stories. She is currently working on her Lia Fail Series, The Gathering: Book One of the Lia Fail Chronicles and From The Gathering to The Bridging (A collection of short stories that provide back story and a bridge to the next novel) are available now. She is working on the next novel, The Bridging: Book Two of The Lia Fail Chronicles, due out soon. In addition, she has several short stories out. And is a contributing member of the Blog, Rising Indies United – a group of Indie artists that try to promote and uplift Indie Authors. She currently lives in the San Fernando Valley of Southern California. Her website is www.sldearing.com

 

 

 

Randy Halford

Randy lived in Idaho for 20 years before returning to his home state of California. He has been creating “Left Field’ cartoons since 1994, and has found the task of creating these humor/satire cartoons both challenging and rewarding. He has self-published six books since 2009, with more coming.

 

 

 

Joseph Crockett

Author J. Crockett was born in Miami, Fl, and now lives in California. He started Nostalgic Blood twenty years ago. It started as a poem, after someone told him that it would make a great story. The journey, his military experience, and world travel not only brought back memories, but help deliver a plausible adventure that the average person would enjoy. Nostalgic Blood on Amazon

 

 

 

 

List is subject to change

 

Also Available for Book Signing in Authors’ Alley

LIST IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE

 

Rose Albano-Risso
Getty Ambau
Alba Arango
Indigo Moor
Adrianna Bamber
Richard Bastear
Hans Berger
Noah Bertolero
Anne Biggs
Joy Boucher
Michael Brosio
Kirby Brown
Shannon Brown
Ruth Callick
Elena Carpenter
Yvonne Carder
Lynn Case
Julia Cline
Tina Curiel allen
Sharon Darrow
John Daulton
Gayle Taylor Davis
Kristin Fulton
Steven Hammond
Victoria Heckman
Loy Holder
Sherri Leigh James
Rayford Johnson
Sherri Lewis
Willey Joiner
Jennifer Kuhns
Susan Lowe
Sue McGinty
Antionette Melendez
Major Mitchell
Britt Nunes
Elizabeth Ferry Parata
Anna Renault
Bonnie Phelps
Nina Perez Reed
Amy Rodgers
Linda Scheller
Julia Shankey
Timothy Souza
Maya Tongren
Victor Torres
Mony Singh
Mishell Wolff

 

Comic Authors

List is Subject to Change

Steam House Entertainment Presents – Author Angelique S. Anderson

 

 

 

 

Award Winning Author Angelique S. Anderson will be joining the Bookfest as the Featured Author in the Comic Con tent! Angelique loves adventure and fully believes in chasing her dreams. She is a singer and songwriter by avocation, an animal foster mom, and mother to four precocious little ones. Formerly a psychology student at Liberty University, she hopes to encourage others with her journey and passion for life. She is the writer of the Redemptions Series, the Little Lost Girl series, and has several more books in the making. She is currently off adventuring in Stockton, California with her high school sweetheart. authorangeliqueanderson.com

 

Author Angelique S. Anderson will also be attending the Modesto Classic Con – find more info here: Modesto Classic Comic Con

Modesto’s Classic Comic Con 2017

A third year all-genre pop-culture convention!  Comics, anime, science fiction, fantasy, steampunk and cosplay are all welcome and encouraged! 

Charity of Choice:

​Little Free Library is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established in 2012.
Our mission is to inspire readers, build community, and spark creativity by fostering neighborhood book exchanges around the world.
Through Little Free Libraries, millions of books are exchanged year, profoundly increasing access to books for readers of all ages and backgrounds.

 

 

 

 

 

Great Valley Bookfest 2017 Poets

List is Subject to Change –

 

 

Indigo Moor

Current Poet Laureate of Sacramento, CA, Indigo Moor is also a playwright and author. His second book of poetry, Through the Stonecutter’s Window, won Northwestern University Press’s Cave Canem prize. His first book, Tap-Root, was published as part of Main Street Rag’s Editor’s Select Poetry Series. His third book, In the Room of Thirsts & Hungers, is due for publication in July of 2017.

Three of his short plays, Harvest, Shuffling, and The Red and Yellow Quartet debuted at the 60 Million Plus Theatre’s Spring Playwright’s festival. His stageplay, Live! at the Excelsior, was a finalist for the Images Theatre Playwright Award and is being made into a full length film.

A graduate of the Stonecoast MFA Program—where he studied poetry, fiction, and scriptwriting–Indigo is also a graduate member of the Artist’s Residency Institute for Teaching Artists and former Vice President of the Sacramento Poetry Center. Center.Winner of the 2005 Vesle Fenstermaker Prize for Emerging Writers, a 2009 Pushcart Prize nominee, and 2008 Jack Kerouac Poetry contest, Indigo’s other honors include: finalist finishes for the T.S. Eliot Prize, Crab Orchard First Book Prize, Saturnalia First Book Award, Naomi Long Madgett Book Award, and WordWorks Prize.  indigomoor.org

 

 

 

Erin Rodoni

Erin Rodoni is the author of Body, in Good Light (Sixteen Rivers Press, 2017) and A Landscape for Loss (NFSPS Press, 2017), which won the 2016 Stevens Award sponsored by the National Federation of State Poetry Societies. Her poems have been published in such journals as Colorado Review, Cimarron, Review, and Verse Daily; included in Best New Poets 2014; nominated for Pushcart Prizes; and honored with awards from AWP and Ninth Letter. She lives in the San Rafael, CA, with her husband and two young daughters.

 

 

 

Tina Curiel-Allen

Tina Curiel-Allen is an almost native Central Valley Xicana and Boricua poet living in Modesto with her husband and three cats. She is the co-founder of Beyond the Stats at UC Davis, a collective of formerly incarcerated and system impacted students, and the creator and editor of the Beyond the Stats zine. She is also the co-editor of exist(ir), the first zine to document the experiences of the Xicanx and Latinx community in the Central Valley. Her work is influenced by her experiences with incarceration, generational trauma, and addiction, as well as a lifelong love affair with confessional poetry. She considers de-colonization, experiential knowledge, compassion, and advocacy to be her guiding posts in life and writing. She is currently working on a chapbook of poetry, to be printed early 2018. In her spare time she enjoys thrifting, cooking, musical theater, and anything involving cats.

 

 

 

Stella Beratlis

Stella Beratlis, author of Alkali Sink (2015, Sixteen Rivers Press), is the poet laureate of Modesto. Her work has been published in California Quarterly, In Posse Review, hardpan, Song of the San Joaquin, Penumbra, and Quercus Review as well as the anthology The Place That Inhabits Us: Poems of the San Francisco Bay Watershed. She is co-editor of the anthology More Than Soil, More Than Sky: The Modesto Poets (2011, Quercus Review Press). Stella is a librarian at Modesto Junior College.

 

 

 

Dana Koster

Dana Koster has earned degrees from UC Berkeley and Cornell University. From 2011-2013, she was a Wallace Stegner Fellow. Koster’s poems have appeared in EPOCH, Indiana Review, Southern Humanities Review, The Cincinnati Review, MUZZLE Magazine, PN Review, The Collagist and many others. Her first book, Binary Stars, is forthcoming with Carolina Wren Press in 2017. She lives in Modesto, California with her husband and two sons.

 

Also appearing at the Great Valley Bookfest

David Gollub

Dee-Lotus Bee Allen

Darien Lenci

Julia Cline”

Dana Koster

Ashley Pinkerton

Erin Rodoni

Stella Beratlis

Tama Brisbane

Bryan Medina

Linda Scheller

Slam/Youth Poetry – WOW

 

2017 Children’s Authors Featured

List is Subject to Change

 

Jennie Chadwick

Jennie Chadwick lives and writes in the Central Valley of California, which is the backdrop for The Peach Tree Kids. She is currently at work on the next book in the series. http://sbpra.com/jenniechadwick/

 

 

 

Godfrey Coppinger

Godfrey Coppinger is a five-year-old cleverly disguised as a little old lady. She is a life-long doodler, scribbler, and storyteller. She loves to sing songs, make music, and dance. Godfrey looks funny when she dances, but she doesn’t care. She lives on an ant hill in Tarpey Village, near Fresno, California with a leprechaun, an auntie, three dogs (one of whom is a retired pirate) and two cats. She likes to spend time in the mountains. Alone. She has never ridden a horse or an elephant, but both are on her bucket list. She is variously known as The Frog Queen of the San Joaquin, Woman-Who-Runs-With-Lizards, and Teacher Goofball. Godfrey is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, The National Storytelling Network, and the Fresno Folklore Society. godfreycoppinger.com

 

 

Gary Dei Rossi

I served on the initial planning committee of the first Great Valley Bookfest, presented my book “The ABC Book of San Joaquin County”, and was awarded the 2014 Hero of Literacy. I began my educational career in Manteca USD and served as a teacher, vice-principal and principal. I joined the San Joaquin County Office of Education in 1991 and ended my career as the Deputy Superintendent of Curriculum. During my time at the county I was involved with many state-wide curriculum issues. I served as the co-chair of the CA history-social science framework committee, was the chair of the CA Pre-school network, and was part of many statewide literacy initiatives. Locally I am on the executive committee of UOP’s Beyond the Gate program (which promotes literacy in our county), on the Ex. Board of San Joaquin A+ which was a joint business and educational group that promoted literacy in our county, and I currently serve on the First 5 Commission which promotes pre-school and literacy efforts throughout the county. My book is a story of a family coming to America and the personality traits it takes to make a journey of that kind. The book is dedicated to all the immigrants that came to America to create a better life for themselves and their families.

 

 

Jose Lucio

Jose Lucio is an Author and Illustrator living in beautiful Savannah, GA. His first book, Heave Ho!, was awarded Best New Local Book in 2015 and he received Best Local Author in 2016 from the Readers of Connect Savannah. His second book, Free Rain, is about a group of chickens making the exciting journey from life in a cage to the open fields of the free range. Free Rain is written by Daniel Wentzel and has been brought to life by José with his quirky and fun illustrative style. You can catch him in his personal studio working on projects, or just down the street at the Scribble Art Studio, where he works as an instructor. www.JoseLucio.com

 

 

Patricia Newman

Patricia Newman has written several books that connect young readers to scientific concepts, including the new fall 2017 release, Zoo Scientists to the Rescue; and previous award-winning titles, such as Sea Otter Heroes: The Predators That Saved an Ecosystem, a Junior Library Guild Selection and recipient of a starred Kirkus review; Plastic, Ahoy! Investigating the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, a Green Earth Book Award winner; and Ebola: Fears and Facts, a Booklist Editors’ Choice selection. Visit her at www.patriciamnewman.com.

 

 

Penny Warner

Penny Warner has published over 60 books for both adults and children. Her middle-grade mystery, THE CODE BUSTERS CLUB #1: SECRET OF THE SKELETON KEY, was nominated for an Agatha Award for Best Children’s Mystery. It features four kids who solve a mystery by cracking codes in each chapter. The second book in the series, THE CODE BUSTERS #2: THE HAUNTED LIGHTHOUSE, is set on Alcatraz and won the Agatha Award for Best Children’s Mystery. THE CODE BUSTERS CLUB #3: MYSTERY OF THE PIRATE’S TREASURE features the California Missions and the state’s lone pirate, and was nominated for an Agatha Award and an Anthony Award. THE CODE BUSTERS CLUB #4: THE MUMMY’S CURSE, is set at an Egyptian Museum and offers puzzles about artifacts and mummies and was nominated for an Agatha. THE CODE BUSTERS CLUB #5: HUNT FOR THE MISSING SPY is set at the International Spy Museum in Washington DC, and won the Agatha Award. THE CODE BUSTRS CLUB #6: SECRET OF THE PUZZLE BOX, set on Angel Island, and is again nominated for an Agatha. You can join the Code Busters Club at www.codebustersclub.com.

 

 

Linda Joy Singleton

Linda Joy Singleton is the author of over 40 children’s books including the midgrade series CURIOUS CAT SPY CLUB (Albert Whitman), picture books A CAT IS BETTER (Little Bee), SNOW DOG SAND DOG (Albert Whitman), CASH KAT (Arbordale) and YA mystery MEMORY GIRL (CBAY). A longtime member of SCBWI and Sisters in Crime, Linda is also a frequent speaker at conferences, schools and libraries. She grew up in Sacramento and currently lives near Valley Springs. She completed her first novel at age 11 and submitted stories with the help of her father at 14. Her goal was to be a series author and she has achieved trhis goal with seven juvenile series. www.LindaJoySingleton.com

 

 

Linda Whalen

Linda Whalen is celebrating the release of her Debut Picture Book, Little Red Rolls Away, published by Sleeping Bear Press, April 2017. Raised in Southern California, she has traveled and lived in many states throughout the United States finally settling in Northern Calif. A city girl who found she loves country life with her husband, family and the creatures playing in the fields around her home, she devotes her life to children and she has been a 4-H leader, volunteer teacher at her church, and owner/operator of Whalen’s Country Childcare a licensed facility. She is an active member of SCBWI, a polished speaker and radio show guest. When she’s not writing Linda loves to sneak away to her art studio. www.lindaslines.com

 

 

Daniel Wentzel

Daniel Wentzel is an author and artist residing in Seattle, Washington. Born and raised in Michigan, he left the state in 2006 to attend the Savannah College of Art and Design, where he received a degree in design for motion media, as well as completing the requirements for a minor degree in creative writing. Free Rain is Daniel’s first foray into the world of children’s book authorship. Over the past 6 years since moving to Seattle, he’s produced projection art and animation displayed at local art shows, providing background visuals for performers in the local experimental music scene.

 

 

T. E. Watson

T. E. Watson is an award winning children’s author, columnist in the US and Canada, speaker, and philanthropist. His career has spanned the many aspects of the publishing industry.
Having started by accident from the efforts of some 35 6th graders (he was a teacher), his writings have taken readers to worlds they can revisit again and again. From his most recent travels back to Scotland in The Man Who Spoke With Cats and his best selling Glen Robbie: A Scottish Fairy Tale, to the popular educational and historical pioneer series Going West, his readers keep coming back for more, wondering to which magical land he is going to take them next. He has been awarded with The Best Author of 2009 and his book entitled The Man Who Spoke With Cats was Awarded BEst Children’s Book of 2009. He is the author of some 130 stories and now 3 new audio book productions and 12 new books being completed for children… and he says he has slowed a bit!
With over 40 years in the writing world doing everything from reporting to writing for magazines, to political essays for national, as well as environmental issues. He has also penned many guides and teaching curriculums for schools throughout the country. He has written adult works, and even horror, but his first love will always be the Children’s genre. His research and studies in Literature of the U.K, with a focus on Children’s Writers, with a more focused study of Robert Louis Stevenson earned T.E. the very prestigious FSA Fellowship from the Royal National Museum in Edinburgh, Scotland in 2003. tewatsononline.com

 

 

Bulla, LyndaLynda Bulla

Lynda Bulla grew up in southern California and has resided in a small farming community of Fresno County for over 50 years.  She lives with her husband and many dogs on a ranch where the open fields have inspired her stories.  Lynda worked for Fresno County Library at the Tranquillity Branch for over 10 years, she was a substitute teacher and is now a real estate broker and owner of Kerman Land Co., Inc.  She has a B.A. in liberal studies from University of California, Fresno.  It was during her return to college in 1980 that she discovered her love for writing.  Lynda and her husband have 3 children and 7 grandchildren.  Each of Lynda’s 7 books is dedicated to a grandchild.  She calls her stories “dialog starters” as she hopes that adults and children will read them together and talk about the special message that the story holds.

 

Authors also available at the Children’s Pavilion

Linda Bulk

T.J. Dampier

Linda Champion

Shawnie Clark

Yvette Franklin

Kathleen Gorman

Jillian Gonzalez

Kathy Howell

Kare Moore

John Paul Padilla

John Rallios

Joe Ozier

 

 

 

 

Great Valley Bookfest 2017 Writers Nook

List is Subject to Change –