NON-FICTION

List is subject to change

Sharon Darrow

Sharon Darrow is an entrepreneur, business owner, award winning author, public speaker, and an
expert in caring for neonatal orphan kittens. Two of her books are about about animal rescue,
Bottlekatz, A Complete Care Guide for Orphan Kittens and Faces of Rescue, Cats, Kittens and Great
Danes. Two are inspirational, a memoir titled Hindsight to Insight, A Traditional to Metaphysical Memoir and Tom Flynn, Medium & Healer. Her fifth non-fiction is a training manual about publishing, Navigating the Publishing Maze, Self-Publishing 101. She also writes historical fiction. She Survives, is the first in a four book series, inspired by her maternal grandmother. The second book of the series, Strive and Protect, is scheduled for production June 1, 2019. Sharon firmly believes that life just gets better and
richer, the longer you live. Her personal motto is “Find harmony within, then all things are possible.”  sharonsdarrow.com

Julie W. Hubbs, MS

Julie W. Hubbs holds a Master of Science degree in Counselor Education from California State University, Sacramento. She delivers motivational speeches, conducts workshops to inspire others to be the best version of themselves, and provides individual coaching. Julie lives in Carmichael, CA with her husband Tom. In the year 2016, Julie was elected as the Honorary Mayor of Carmichael, and is known in her community as Carmichael’s liveliest life coach.

Fred Fruehan

Having been abandoned by my father,abused and suffering from congenital medical conditions,I left
home at age 16 and hitch hiked from San Bernardino to the Central Valley of California looking for a new life.Homeless and hungry I was taken off the streets by a poor and generous Mexican family who gave me food,shelter,and a job working in the fields of Merced picking tomatoes,figs ,and harvesting
almonds.I used this experience to start my own business as a food distributor and have been in business for over 45 years. Self educated,l learned to speak spanish,use sign language for the deaf.I am a private pilot ,businessman,investor of real estate and have a real estate license.I have 5 children ,one who was born 3 months premature with several handicapping conditions and has passed away at age 9.One who was kidnapped at age 14 and has also died.Although I have lived a life of chronic adversity,my life story is inspirational and one I like to share in hopes of helping others through life’s traumas and tragedies. fredfruehan.com

Dorothy Rice

Dorothy Rice is the author The Reluctant Artist, an art book/memoir published by Shanti Arts in October 2015. Gray Is the New Black, a memoir of ageism, sexism and self-acceptance, is forthcoming from Otis Books in Spring 2019. After raising five children and retiring from a career in environmental protection, Rice earned an MFA in Creative Writing from UC Riverside, Palm Desert, at 60. Her essays and stories have been widely published in journals and magazines. A San Francisco native, Dorothy is a long-time Sacramento resident. Learn more at www.dorothyriceauthor.com and follow Dorothy on twitter @dorothyrowena.

Sandy Lee

Sandy Lee lives in Sonora, California with her husband of 40 years.
She started writing in January of 2013, after her 36 year old son suddenly went missing, a few years earlier. The events that happened while she and her family searched for him were so unbelievable, she just couldn’t keep them to herself any longer. “No Unturned Stone” – A Mother’s Quest is the result of that incredible journey.

Writing another book was something this author didn’t plan at first. However, a conversation with another children’s author sparked a new desire. A book that will capture your heart is “Hermie the Bug”, Sandy’s first children’s book. A cute, delightful way, teaching children to respect all living creatures. After writing poetry for years, another book eventually surfaced. “Life, Love, & Loss” – A collection of poems that will touch your heart. And after losing her mom to Alzheimer’s a few years ago, Sandy decided to write another children’s book. “Remembering Grandma.” “My Heart Remembers” is her latest book. It is a vignette journal, capturing a six year span of precious moments this author had with her mom. You will see a big part of Sandy’s heart in each and every book. www.amothersquest.com

Susan Lowe

Susan Lowe was born in Fresno, California, a first generation American on her mother’s side. She is a licensed marriage and family therapist with an MS in counseling from CSUF and has over twenty-seven years’ experience working with clients, many suffering from trauma. Lowe has taught psychology related courses at the Junior College, bachelors, and master’s levels. In addition, she served as county behavioral health compliance officer for several years. Realizing that her mother had lived through an often-untold portion of history, she wanted to honor both the living and dead of those horrific events, by sharing their true story. JOSIE: A Story of Faith and Survival, ages 10 – adult is her first book. Her second book, Josie Dreams of Freedom, ages 8 -10, is under contract. Lowe is married and currently lives in Central California.

Claudia Hagen

Claudia Hagen is a retired critical care nurse and former commercially rated hot air balloon pilot living in the California Central Valley. She has published ten 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 Reader’s Choice Favorite, Honorable Mention award. She enjoys the research it takes for her non-fiction books and is currently working on her eleventh book. Her works focus on history, especially WWII history and the part women have played during that time. When not researching or writing, she enjoys reading, gardening, traveling, and aviation related fun.claudiahagen.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. Wild Edges by Manzanita Press
Wisdom Has a Voice: Every Daughter’s Memories of Mother by First Edition Paperback
Tunneling by Word Project Press; Eagle Feathers and Angel Wings: Micah’s story by Word Project Press; One Great Tribe by Word Project Press; When the Creator Moves Me by Word Project Press. shelleymuniz.com

YOUNG ADULT

Sarah Armstrong-Garner 

Sarah Armstrong-Garner lives in Northern California with her husband and four children, and get this: not only is she an author, screenwriter, and photographer, she also shoots indie films with her husband.
SarahArmstrongGarner.com

Angelica R. Jackson

Angelica R. Jackson is a writer, artist, and avid naturalist living in the Sierra foothills of California. She is currently owned by a reformed-feral tabby cat and two adorable rescued dogs. In 2012, she started Pens for Paws Auction, which features critiques and swag from agents and authors to raise money for a no-kill, cage-free cat sanctuary called Fat Kitty City. She is an active volunteer in the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators’ CA North/Central region, where she served most
recently as the Illustrator Coordinator. She is the author of the Faerie Crossed young adult urban fantasy series, and her photos are collected in Capturing The Castle: Images of Preston Castle (2006-2016) angelicarjackson.com

Jessica Moore

Originally hailing from the Midwest, you can always expect an “ope” from Jess or one of her characters. She moved to historic gold-country California ages ago and only looks back east when the leaves are wild with color. (Well, and also, for Cincinnati chili. Let’s keep it real.) She spent years building careers in both teaching and social work, but now, she works as an editor for a small press, Fillies Vertes Publishing, and writes young adult novels in the very early morning while her family sometimes sleeps.itwasjess.wordpress.com

Allie Kat

Allie Kat is a very young author who is enjoying the adventure of finding her voice. She enjoys writing fiction and sci-fi with a touch of fantasy. Among her favorite authors are Britt Nunes, James Hart, Taylor King and Jack London. Her first book The Adventures of Matzu was released in 2017.

Brittney Nunes

Britt Nunes is a dork with an overactive imagination. She is addicted to rich words, adventurous sci-fi & dieselpunk, sweet romances, clean fiction, and massive amounts of coffee. She is the author of The
Etched Tales, Idiosyncratic, The Waiting Room Anthologies, and GOOD air. Britt writes for young adults. brittnunes.com

James Hart

James Hart grew up in the Garden State, New Jersey, on a diet that included cheesesteaks, calzones, pizza, tastykakes, and pork roll. There were plenty of diners to choose from. His favorite spot on the Jersey shore was Seaside Heights. For many years now he has lived in the Golden State, California, where there is more focus on tacos, burritos, clam chowder in a bread bowl, something called posole, and yes, he still prefers Dunkin Donuts over Starbucks any day, though only mentioning Dutch Bros. in his books (so far). He began working as a map checker in the County Surveyor’s office over 20 years ago and is now the County Surveyor. He started writing in the last few years with the idea of giving others what he would enjoy reading: stories that make you laugh and keep your attention. He sticks to the values he was raised with by writing clean wholesome reading while not missing an opportunity to make fun of those things that don’t quite add up in our world. Friends say his books sound just like him. We wonder why. He hopes you find his stories engaging and fun. Amazon: James Hart

Lena Mahmoud

Lena Mahmoud, an author of Palestinian and European descent from California’s Central Valley, recently published her debut novel Amreekiya. Library Journal’s starred review describes Amreekiya as “relevant for people worldwide,” and Foreword named it as one of 2018’s “Four Phenomenal Debut Novels.” Mahmoud has previously published her work in Fifth Wednesday, Sukoon, and A Gathering Together, among others.

lenamahmoud.com

List is subject to change

CHILDREN

List is subject to change

Alba Arango

Alba Arango is the author of the Decoders series as well as the JJ Bennett: Junior Spy series. She lives in Las Vegas, Nevada, where she is a retired high school teacher turned full-time author. She loves coffee and chocolate (especially together … white chocolate mocha is the best!). To learn more about Alba, visit her website at AlbaArango.com.

Jennie Chadwick

I grew up in a small neighborhood, with lots of kids. Our playgrounds was peach orchards and grapes vineyards. Dry creek was our adventure and make believe place. I’ve always love to speak and read to kids. Kids are our future and our memories. I’m working on the next “The Peach Tree Kids” book, but
there will always be a next TPTK book, because I love to keep kids reading and making kids laugh and giggle.

Sierra Jean

I am a married mom of 3, a follower of Jesus. A lover of nature and all things colorful. I am an artist before a writer, however I equally enjoy both. I love crafts, DIV, naps and cookies. I believe laughter is the best medicine along with forgiveness. I’m not a hoarder but a collector of sorts. I love painting, hiking and eating.
Before I became a self proclaimed author I collected a lot of student loans being a motorcycle technician. That’s probably a future book;). Amazon: Sierra Jean

Connie McLennan

Connie McLennan is an illustrator, author, painter, mom, and was briefly a paralegal. She produced advertising illustration for many years before venturing into the world of children’s picture books. Connie illustrated 13 books for other authors, then in 2018 finally wrote and illustrated her own book, “The Forest in the Trees.” A fine artist as well, Connie now juggles painting with writing, illustrating, and talking about redwood trees. She is married with one grown son and lives in Rocklin, California. ConnieMclennan.com

Orlando Molina

Orlando Molina was born and raised in Brooklyn growing up on 90’s Hip-Hop and learning the art of
writing rhymes. His daughter Sultana was born there, but they moved to Stockton in 2018 to be closer to family (Avoiding NYC winters was a bonus). Being a new dad, he wanted to use his rhyme skills for the youth and make something that parents would enjoy to make family reading fun again. https://www.instagram.com/rhymosaurs/ 

Donna Sager Cowan

As the youngest child in a large family, Donna felt lost in the crowd. She entertained herself by making up stories and friends to play with. By age 5, Donna had taught herself to read, and that began her imaginative journey to dreamy castles with princes and fairy godmothers. Donna is a grandmother, random fact-finder, and encourager. And, yes, she believes she is a superhero. She lives in California with her family and four cats. (Sadly, no mice like Simon.) Follow The Superhero School series at DonnaSagerCowan.com

Maxine Rose Schur

I am an award-winning children’s book author and travel essayist. My most recent book is the picture book, Marielle in Paris, published in 2017, and tells the adventurous story of a dress-designing mouse who must overcome her greatest fear to rescue her dresses which have been scattered all over Paris. This year I have 2 other children’s books coming out. The first one, Brave with Beauty, is the remarkable story of Queen Gohar Shad of Afghanistan, whom many historians believe was the most powerful woman in world history. As an architect and poet, she ushered in a golden age of arts and culture in Herat that rivaled Florence. My middle grade novel, The Word Dancer will be published as well. It is the story of a girl who believes herself fearful yet courageously saves the kingdom from traitors by using the magical power of words. I love to do author readings for both children and adults! I’ve spoken at numerous venues both in the SF Bay Area and in Paris. I also teach writing for children at the San Francisco Writing Salon and was the Baker-Nord Guest Speaker on Writing to the Humanities faculty at Case Western Reserve University. maxineroseschur.com

Linda Joy Singleton

Linda Joy Singleton is the author of over 45 books for kids, including YALSA honored THE SEER series and DEAD GIRL WALKING trilogy. She submitted short stories to magazines when she was 14 and finished her first book during a 2-week holiday. She kept stories she wrote as a kid and loves to share them when in her school presentations. Her childhood 100-book collection of girl series books like Nancy Drew, Judy Bolton and Trixie Belden grew to an adult passion and now thousands of juvenile series books fill her home library. A fan letter at age 13 led to her friendship with author Margaret Sutton and later a co-written Judy Bolton mystery. When she was 14 she wrote a goal of wanting to write a series of her own–and it happened. She encourages kids, “Follow your dreams no matter how impossible they seem. With hard work and determination, dreams come true.” lindajoysingleton.com

Danna Smith

SCBWI member and award-winning author of 14 picture books including ARCTIC WHITE, SWALLOW THE LEADER, MOTHER GOOSE’S PAJAMA PARTY and four Little Golden Books. Danna’s non-fiction picture book, THE HAWK OF THE CASTLE: A Story of Medieval Falconry, received two starred reviews and is a Junior Library Guild Selection. Danna is currently living in Northern California where she is hard at work on her next book. dannasmithbooks.com

Connie Tate

Connie Tate, Ed.D. also known as Dr. Tate, Mrs. Tate, Mom and Omie is a teacher turned author from Turlock, California. During her 40 years in education she taught preschool-sixth grade, reading
intervention programs and adult reading classes. After retirement she turned her attention to writing stories of pets, mischief, and everyday experiences of young children. Connie receives daily inspiration from her ten grandchildren and five granddogs. rollonreading.com

Linda Whalen

Born in Texas, while still a toddler Linda Whalen was whisked away to San Diego, CA where she grew up near the Pacific Ocean and ultimately met her husband. Even though she now lives inland the smell and sounds of waves crashing draw her to the coast every now and then. Following her husband’s career she and their five children have lived in many states and finally settled in Northern CA. Linda’s devotion to children shows in her experiences as a 4-H leader, religious education teacher, classroom aide, PTO VP, involvement in a co-op pre-school, and owner of Whalen’s Country Child Care. She draws on these
experiences for her passion of writing for children. She holds dear the wonder seen in the eyes of a child and hopes she will forever be inspired by the sight. Linda has appeared in newspapers, magazines, and television. When she is not writing, presenting at schools and libraries, or doing book signings Linda likes to sneak away to her art studio. lindawhalenauthor.com

Sandra Young

Sandra Young was raised on an almond orchard in the central valley of California, She loved working as an elementary school teacher and administrator. She has published two children’s books and enjoys traveling, community service projects, and spending time with her grandchildren.

Diane Rose Duffy

Diane Rose Duffy is a California native with a passion for books and a constant craving for coffee and chocolate. After relocating from Silicon Valley’s pandemonium, Diane now savors a peaceful lifestyle in Northern California’s Sierra Foothills. This author has completed three contemporary romance novels and two funny children’s chapter books with the support of her husband/soulmate of nearly twenty years. Amazon: Diane-Rose-Duffy

List is subject to change.

Carolyn Federman

Carolyn has worked in food education for more than a decade. Before founding the Charlie Cart Project in 2014, Carolyn led Alice Waters’ Edible Schoolyard Project, developed programming with the Jamie Oliver Foundation, co-founded the Berkeley Food Institute, and co-produced UC Berkeley’s Edible Education course with Michael Pollan. She is a proud member of the Board of Directors of the Berkeley Public Library Foundation. Carolyn is also the author of a cookbook for kids 8 and up, New Favorites for New Cooks, 50 Delicious Recipes for Kids to Make, (TenSpeed Press, 2018), based on children’s favorites from the Charlie Cart Project curriculum.

The Charlie Cart was designed by Brian Dougherty, Principal Creative Director at Celery Design Collaborative, in Berkeley, CA. Brian is the author of Green Graphic Design and a frequent lecturer on sustainable design. charliecart.org

POETS

Stella Beratlis

Stella Beratlis is Modesto’s current poet laureate. Her work has appeared in In Posse Review, California Quarterly, Song of the San Joaquin, Quercus Review Press, and in the anthology The Place That Inhabits Us: Poems of the San Francisco Bay Watershed. Her collection Alkali Sink was a 2016 Northern California Book Award nominee. Stella works as a librarian at Modesto Junior College.

Aqueila M. Lewis-Ross

Aqueila M. Lewis-Ross is a multi-talented, award-winning Bay Area Native well-versed in singing, poetry/spoken word, and journalism. Aqueila is a graduate of Napa Valley College, University of California, Berkeley, has studied and performed throughout the United States, Europe, and Japan. Her work has been published in numerous magazines, newspapers, and anthologies including: Reflections: A Collaboration Between Painting and Literature, Women in the Feminine: Stepping into Our Shoes, Our Stories Will Never Die: Ancestors, Place, and Memory, and Standing Strong: Japantown and Fillmore. Her book of poetry, Stop Hurting and Dance, published by Pochino Press, is a collection of stories overcoming fear, oppression, gentrification, and police brutality; she honors what it means to live with resilience, love and prosperity. She is a radio news producer on Peralta Community Radio 96.9 FM KGPC, holds the titles of Ms. Oakland Plus America 2014, SF Raw Performing Artist of the Year 2015, and was an Oakland Voices-KALW Community Journalist awardee in 2016 and Greater Bay Area Journalism Awardee in 2017.

Clay Hunt

Clay Hunt is an English major at Modesto Junior College. He has works published in the literary journal, Penumbra and in the literary zine Words as Sanctuary. He won second place in poetry at Modesto Junior College’s Celebration of Humanities. He graduates from MJC this semester and plans to transfer to Long Beach State to study creative writing.

Evan Wright

Evan Wright is a young poet, currently a senior at Turlock High School. Evan also enjoys playing music with his school band.

Pos Moua

Pos Moua published his first collection of poetry, the chapbook Where the Torches are Burning (Swan Scythe Press) in 2001. His second collection of poetry was recently released, a full length book entitled Karst Mountains Will Bloom (Blue Oak Press, 2019). His poetry explores the depths of love and grief, the natural and spiritual worlds, the body and the soul. Karst Mountains Will Bloom has been described as “a landmark achievement: ascendant, transcendent, visionary” by Fresno Poet Laureate Lee Herrick. Poet Mai Der Vang, author of Afterland and winner of the 2016 Walt Whitman Award, says that Pos Moua has given readers “radiant language and natural eloquence… the dark and light of his heartscape.” A poet of great grace and honesty, Pos Moua is a pioneer of Hmong American literature and a true visionary.

Sara Coito

Sara Coito is a queer – identified poet and Central Valley native. She seeks to explore ugly emotions, the struggle and ease of intimacy, and the plurality of devotion in her poetry. You can find some of her non-fiction work in Sigma Tau Delta’s Rectangle and University of Portland’s Writers magazine.

Nia de Jesus

Nia de Jesus is a poet who is currently going to college but still finding a way to use poetry to express her feelings and cope with situations in her life. She has been writing here and there for the past few years. Her poems appear in the 2019 Lee Nicholson-George Rogers Young Poets chapbook published by the Modesto-Stanislaus Poetry Center.

Camille Norton

Camille Norton’s second poetry collection, A Folio for the Dark, was published by Sixteen Rivers Press in April 2019. She teaches at University of the Pacific in Stockton. Her first book of poems, Corruption, was a National Poetry Series winner, published by Harper Perennial. Her work has appeared in Field, The Colorado Review, The Georgia Review, and in American Poet: The Journal of the Academy of American Poets. Her poem,“The Prison Diary of Bartlett Yancey Malone,” was published in The Best American Poetry of 2010. Camille grew up near Philadelphia and lived for many years in Boston. She has worked collaboratively with artists and composers since the early 1990s.

Rhony Bhopla

Rhony Bhopla is a British Indo-American poet and visual artist.  She is the founder of the Sacramento Poetry Center’s Thursday Night Poetry Workshop at the Valley Hi – North Laguna Library.  Rhony recently led the workshop: Feminist Ekphrasis, perception, projection, and power dynamic at the Our Life Stories Writers Conference, at Cosumnes River College. Her poems have appeared in: Cosumnes River Journal, Brevities, Sacramento Voices, Medusa’s Kitchen, Flumes, Tiger’s Eye, Bay Area Tea Party Magazine, and Tule Review.  Her current focus is ekphrasis, as well as code-switching Punjabi, Hindi, and English.

Olivia De Leon

Olivia De Leon is a 22-year-old poet with a bachelor’s in Literature and Writing.  She hails from Modesto, CA, and attended college at UC San Diego.  She is a cat mom, coffee devotee, and country music fan, and like most grads, is figuring out what to do in life.  She beat depression, had many a bad romance, found new love in the most surprising ways; and despite the uncertainty of it all, poetry is what remains sure.  It is Olivia’s vow to write about everything…until something makes sense.

Melchor Sahagun

Melchor Sahagun III is a Latino poet from Stockton, CA. He hosts poetry events and performs regularly around California, as well as works with nonprofits in the local community to advocate for the Arts.

Ash Young

Ash currently lives in Modesto with her husband, two sons, and two Pomeranians. She writes
poetry about her life, and hopes to never be famous.

Nena Larieze

Nena Larieze is a mother, educator, yogi, and writer of trauma informed
poetry and prose. Selections of her poetry have been featured on
trampset.org, Poetry to Feed the Spirit, Love and other Passions, as well as
university publications within the University of Central Florida and Valencia
College. Featured performances include Queen Bean Coffee in Modesto; Lit
Hop in Fresno; and Bad Ass Coffee in Orlando. She has a collection of poetry
and nonfiction prose entitled Activistic, available on www.amazon.com. In
between chasing after toddlers, she is drafting and neurotically editing a novel
in progress and chapbook entitled The Sea Also Rises and Chronicles of a Broken Childhood.

Also Appearing: 

Gillian Wegener

Tama Brisbane & With Our Words

List is subject to change.

2019 Writers’ Nook

Session 1 — 10:30-11:15 —WORD PLAY!

Writing for children is a unique challenge.  Three children’s authors will be discussing how they choose vocabulary, themes, and characters. 

Presenters:  Connie Tate, Alba Arango, Danna Smith 

Session 2 — 11:30-12:15 — Why are Critic Groups Important?

Why are critic groups important and useful in the process of writing? This session will consist of a sharing of the why and how of using and finding critic groups.

Presenters: Gail Porter and Kathy Harvey. 

Session 3 — 1:00-1:45 — SUSPENSE!

What comes first the villain or the plot?  These authors will share us their secrets (if they dare) about creating good antagonists, atmosphere, and anticipation. 

Authors: L.D. Markham, Marilyn Meredith, Stacey Cotter

Session 4 — 2:00-2:45 — Reading Well

Because writers do not write in a vacuum so in this session you will find bookfest authors discussing the authors and genres they read personally and how this affects their own writing. 

Authors: Maxine Rose Schur, Marie Sutro, Margaret Duarte

Session 5 — 3:00-2:45 — Publish or Perish

Some of our featured authors sharing their own tips for navigating the path to publication. 

Authors: Bonnie Hearn Hill, Dorothy Rice, June Gillam, Rana Banankhah

Schedule is subject to change

Also Appearing in Autors Alley

Ambau, Getty

Biggs, Anne

Brown, Shannon

Brown, T Wells

Burrell, Erin

Callick, Ruth

Candina, Ann

Catalano, Joshua

Charles, Scott

Davis, Gayle Taylor

Dearing S L

Ellwood C E R

Escobedo, P.J.

Fern, June

Frank, Richard

Giolli, Veronica

Gorman, Kathleen

Hanson, N J 

Harmon G C 

Howell, Kathy

Hunt, Jennifer

Irelan, Bob

Knaak, Jerry

Latham, Jon

L’Etoile, James

Lowe, Susan

Mathai, Tejas

Melendez, Iris

Mitchell, Major

Moore, Karen

Niemeier, Kim

Ozier, Joe

Parra, Tita

Patrick, Melinda

Polli, Anne

Rallios J.L 

Rankin, Rae

Richards, Dwight

Risso, Rose Albano

Roach-Carter, TreVaughn

Schwalm, Claudia

Towne, Russ

Ulmer, Sylvia

Villalpardo, Elizabeth

Weisfeld, Brian

Young, Cathleen

List is subject to change.