BooksNJ - Authors

2011

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Thank you to our 100+ authors!
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Authors

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	*Ellen Jensen Abbott* grew up in the White Mountains of New Hampshire building forts, pretending, and reading in the forests around her house. When she is not writing, she teaches English at the Westtown School in Pennsylvania. Her debut novel is a YA fantasy, *Watersmeet* (Marshall Cavendish, 2009). The sequel, *The Centaur's Daughter*,is due on September 1, 2011. www.ellenjensenabbott.com
	*Joel Allegretti* is the author of two full-length volumes of poetry from The Poet's Press: *The Plague Psalms, which appeared in 2000 and is now in its third edition, and Father Silicon* selected by the Kansas City Star as one of 100 Noteworthy Books of 2006, a list that included novels by Cormac McCarthy and Thomas Pynchon. In March 2010 Poets Wear Prada released his third collection, *Thrum, a chapbook of poems, prose poems and poetic essays about musical instruments. Allegretti's work has appeared in The New York Quarterly, Margie, Rattapallax, The Laurel Review, Art/Life Limited Editions, Slipstream, Confrontation, Xcp Cross-Cultural Poetics and many other national journals. Twice nominated for a Pushcart Prize, he is represented in the anthology Chance of a Ghost* (Helicon Nine Editions, 2005), along with Billy Collins, Rita Dove and Charles Simic. His poem in that collection received an Honorable Mention in the 2006 edition of The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror, published by St. Martin's Press. His work is forthcoming in six anthologies. In April 2009 Kean University in New Jersey presented the world premiere of a song cycle based on Allegretti's poetry: "A Cycle by the Sea," composed by Frank Ezra Levy. A second Allegretti-Levy song cycle, *Night Keeps Its Promise, had its first performance in March 2011. Allegretti's Aqua: a Play in One Repeated Act* was a semifinalist in the 2010 KNOCK International Play Contest. www.joelallegretti.com
	*Lorraine Ash* is the author of two spiritual memoirs *Life Touches Life: A Mother's Story of Stillbirth and Healing* (NewSage Press) and the forthcoming *A Sudden End to Seeking: Finding Peace and Purpose Within* (Cape House Books). In addition to writing memoirs and teaching workshops, she is a full-time journalist who enjoys working on stories about other people and the issues and forces that shape their lives. Lorraine holds a master's degree in Communications from Fordham University. She belongs to the Association of Writers and Writing Programs and The International Women's Writing Guild. www.lorraineash.com

	*Raphael Badagliacca* has written two books: *Father's Day: Encounters with Everyday Life* and *The Yogi Poems and Other Celebrations of Local Baseball. He appeared at the Soho Playhouse in a one-man show based on his first book. His second book inspired a workshop performance, The Baseball Stories. Readings of his stories have been heard on NPR. His very short play, GPS* ran as part of Eclectic Shorts from March 23 - April 3, 2011 at Theater 54 in NYC.
	*Tracey Baptiste* is the author of *Angel's Grace* which was named one of the 100 best books for reading and sharing by New York City librarians. She is also the author of seven non-fiction books including biographies of Stephenie Meyer and Jerry Spinelli. Tracey blogs weekdays at traceybaptiste.wordpress.com. She also maintains a website at www.traceybaptiste.com, and you can find her on Twitter @TraceyBaptiste, as well as on Facebook at Tracey Baptiste's Author Page. www.traceybaptiste.com
	A chance statement about Lone Star Dietz made at a program about the Carlisle Indian School launched *Tom Benjey* on what has become a decade-long career researching and writing the biographies of Carlisle Indian School football players. Dr. Benjey's first book, *Keep A-goin': the life of Lone Star Dietz*, won some minor awards and piqued his interest in the other people who attended Carlisle Indian School. That led to his second book, Doctors, Lawyers, Indian Chiefs: Jim Thorpe & Pop Warner's Carlisle Indian School football immortals tackle socialites, bootleggers, students, moguls, prejudice, the government, ghouls, tooth decay and rum, which is currently being used as a text in a 400-level history course at the University of Nebraska. Although these books are about athletes, they are not sports books, although sports enthusiasts often enjoy them; they are history. Tidbits he uncovers that don't neatly fit into his books form the basis for articles he frequently submits to football historical publications. Tom's latest project is researching the lives of the Craighead naturalists (Jean Craighead George, author of My Side of the Mountain and Julie of the Wolves, is perhaps the best known member of that high-achieving family at this time. Tom and his research partner and wife, Ann, spend most of the year in the Pennsylvania German limestone farmhouse they restored but do find time to relax in their cottage near the beach in Avalon, New Jersey.
	*Charlotte Bennardo* is the co-author of *Sirenz*, the first in a YA contemporary fantasy series published by Flux. When not contemplating embarrassing situations for the characters in the sequels, she works on her own YA, MG and adult level novels. She has been published in magazines, newspapers, e-zines and anthologies. She is held captive in New Jersey by three sons, husband, cat and friends.
	*Artie Bennett* is the executive copy editor for a childrens book publisher and he writes a little on the side (but not the backside!). He wrote a couple things when he was a much younger man, but *The Butt Book* is his first mature work. He and his wife, Leah, live deep in the bowels of Brooklyn. He is pleased to share the visionary promise of *The Butt Book* with a wider audience.
	*Mary Blehl* has been a school librarian for many years. She started teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) in 2008, and wrote *A Spy is Not a Spy* for ESL readers and for middle school students. She has also published non-fiction stories, newspaper articles, a science reader, and chapters of textbooks. Ms. Blehl earned a B.A. from Fordham University and an M.A. in Instructional Technology from San Jose State in CA, and reads her poems periodically at the Englewood Public Library as part of the Travelling Ark Poetry Showcase.
	*Linda Bozzo* enjoys writing fiction as well as nonfiction for children. Her work has been published in children's magazines and she is the author of over 30 children's books for the school and library market. Linda enjoys speaking to children at schools and libraries. www.lindabozzo.com
	*Ed Breslin* is a former editor and publisher who spent two decades in the book business. He left his job as publisher and senior vice president of HarperCollins in order to write and edit full-time. During his career he edited and published such best-selling authors as Jeffrey Archer, Len Deighton, Clive Barker, Stuart Woods, W.E.B. Griffin, Tom Clancy, TV talk show host Sonya Friedman and business maven Harvey Mackay. He also wrote two espionage thrillers and the parody of Spy magazine called *Sty, published by Random House in 1989 and a national bestseller on the B. Dalton and Waldenbooks lists. Sty* netsold 50, 000 copies. Most recently he collaborated with Senator Mel Martinez on the senator’s autobiographical memoir, *A Sense of Belonging, published by Crown Books in 2008. In 2010 Thomas Nelson published Patton: Pursuit of Destiny, co-written by Ed with Agostino Von Hassell. For two years, 1999 and 2000, Ed wrote an Internet column for Seekbooks.com called BookShopTalk* and had an audio show of the same name on the Seekbooks Website that was syndicated as well to over a hundred radio stations nationwide. He has also ghostwritten novels, celebrity bios, nonfiction business books and nationally syndicated newspaper columns that must remain confidential. His memoir titled *Drinking With Miss Dutchie* will be published as a Thomas Dunne Book for St. Martin's Press in March, 2011. In October 2011 Penguin will publish the coffee table book, *America's Great Railroad Stations, photographs by Roger Straus III, text by Ed Breslin and Hugh Van Dusen. Also in October 2011 Thomas A. Nelson will publish Sherman: The Ruthless Victor*, co-written by Ed with Agostino Von Hassell. Ed lives in Manhattan and in the Hudson River Valley with his wife.
	*Elijah Brown* was born in Newark, NJ and began his experience with poetry at Vailsburg Middle School with his 7th grade teacher Ms. Brenda Burwell, his mentor and friend. Little did he know, this would be a life changing experience. He realized the gift that rested inside of him and began to write with a purpose. Elijah Brown is a youth advocate believing and understanding that all children need love, attention and exposure to positivity, which prompted his enrollment in school to become a teacher. He is presently a Teacher Assistant and he instructs poetry workshops at colleges, churches and youth prisons. His four year pause from school gave him the break he needed to pursue his passion for poetry and publish his first book, *Missing Pages, Out of My Life*, which has become a best seller. Elijah is also producing poetry events, keeping the “open mic” alive and well at the East Orange Library. For the past 5 years his project has been the Let It Flow Poetry Show, keeping the community involved with verbal, creative literature inviting local and nationally known poets to showcase their passion. He has also been involved in Planet Hip Hop at NJPAC under Baraka Sele. Although no stranger to accomplishments, Elijah Brown wears his heart on his sleeve ... sharing, caring and dedicating himself to promote change through the genre of poetry.

	*Marian Calabro* is the author of 14 nonfiction history books, including the award-winning *Perilous Journey of the Donner Party*. She has written for young readers, adults, and business clients. Currently she is president of CorporateHistory.net, a custom publishing firm that she founded in 2004. She also leads workshops in creative writing and business writing. Marian is a lifelong resident of area code 201 and a graduate of Rutgers College. www.mariancalabro.com www.corporatehistory.net
	*Charles P. Caldes* was born in Jersey City at mid-century to Greek-American parents, both long-time residents. He spent his first six years on Linden Avenue before moving to Ridgefield. The visits to Jersey City would be numerous as many relatives chose to remain in the old neighborhoods. A sense of belonging was established. After high school he attended Jersey City State College for two years, then transferred to Ramapo College. He would eventually move to South Jersey. Over the years he was involved in many businesses and wrote books about the railroads of South Jersey in his free time. In 2001 he returned to North Jersey, taking a position with the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office. His writing moved north with him and he published half dozen books on North Jersey railroading. *Jersey City's Journal Square* is his first non-railroad book.
	*Michelle Cameron's The Fruit of Her Hands: the story of Shira of Ashkenaz, relating the life of the author's 13th Century ancestor, Rabbi Meir of Rothenberg, was published by Pocket Books (a division of Simon & Schuster) in September 2009. Publisher's Weekly praised the novel's "powerful immediacy" and Library Journal its "rich details." Jewish Woman Magazine said that it is "a meticulously researched and immensely readable saga," while The San Diego Jewish World called it rich with wonderful characters, vivid settings, and an absolutely lush and wonderful depiction of the strengths of the medieval Jewish home and community. Historical Novel Review said: "Finely written, The Fruit of Her Hands* imparts an impressive amount of historical information." And Jewish Book World called it "a compelling first novel" that "gives readers a unique and personal view of Jewish life in the Middle Ages." Michelle's first full-length novel in verse, *In the Shadow of the Globe*, was published by Lit Pot Press, Inc., in late 2003. It received excellent critical reviews, was named the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey's 2003-4 Winter Book Selection, and was performed as a dramatic reading in several venues, including the Stella Adler School of the Arts.
	*Anne Canadeo* began her writing career as the Denver correspondent for Environment Reporter, published by The Bureau of National Affairs and later, as a reporter for The Sun News chain in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Entering New York publishing soon after, she was a Senior Editor at Dell Publishing from 1980 to 1985 where she acquired and edited originals and reprints, discovering several authors who later became New York Times best sellers, such as Jayne Ann Krentz (a.k.a. Amanda Quick) and Heather Graham Pozzessere. She also held editorial posts at Pocket Books, a division of Simon & Schuster, Golden Books and Harleqin - Silhouette Books. The author of over forty books, Anne has written fiction and nonfiction for both children and adults. Her publishers include Bantam, Random House, Dell Publishing, Harlequin/Silhouette, Walker & Company, The Berkley Publishing Group -- publishers of the nationally best-selling series, *Cape Light* and *Angel Island* -- and Simon & Schuster, publishers of the acclaimed *Black Sheep Knitting Mysteries. Anne created the Cape Light* series for the artist Thomas Kinkade and, under the pseudonym Katherine Spencer, has ghost written all twelve titles. Published by Berkley in hardcover, trade paperback and mass market editions, the twelfth book, *Christmas Treasures* will be published October 2011. She also created and writes the spin off series, *Angel Island* and is now working on the third title which will be published in the spring of 2012. A great fan of mysteries, particularly in the cozy category, a long held ambition to create her own mystery series was fulfilled with the publication of the *While My Pretty One Knits, the first "Black S heep Knitting Mysteries" title. The third book featuring the intrepid knitters, A Stitch Before Dying*, was published in January 2011 with titles four through six already in the works. Anne lives in Northport, NY with a husband, teenage daughter and two canine editorial assistants. Outside of her office, she's active in many community projects - aiding the homeless, preparing food for those in need and a literacy outreach that promotes reading and provides free books. She has a B.A. in Literature from SUNY at Stony Brook and an M.A. in Literature from Columbia University.
	*Teresa Carson* grew up in Jersey City, New Jersey, as the youngest of ten in a blue-collar, Irish-Catholic family. She holds an MFA in Poetry and an MFA in Theatre, both from Sarah Lawrence College. CavanKerry Press published her first book of poems, *Elegy for the Floater, in 2008. She is currently circulating her second book of poems, The Congress of Human Oddities*, about a sideshow traveling through Ohio during the Civil War. Teresa, who is the Development Director for CavanKerry Press, lives in Union City with her husband, John.
	*Carol Higgins Clark* is the New York Times Bestselling Author of the Regan Reilly mystery series. She has also co-authored five holiday suspense novels with her mother, Mary Higgins Clark. Carol's first book, *Decked, was nominated for both the Agatha and Anthony Awards. Carol grew up in Washington Township, NJ and graduated from Immaculate Heart Academy. Her latest book, Mobbed*, is set at the Jersey Shore where she has vacationed since childhood.
	*Mary Higgins Clark's books are world-wide bestsellers. In the U.S. alone, her books have sold over 100 million copies. Her latest suspense novel, I'll Walk Alone*, was published by Simon & Schuster in April 2011. She is the author of twenty-nine previous suspense novels, three collections of short stories, an historical novel, a memoir and a children's book. She is co-author, with her daughter Carol Higgins Clark, of five suspense novels. Two of her novels were made into feature films and many of her other works into television films. Active in Catholic affairs, Mary Higgins Clark was made a Dame of the Order of St. Gregory the Great, a papal honor. She is also a Dame of Malta and a Lady of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem. She received the Catholic Big Sisters Distinguished Service Award in 1998 and the Graymoor Award from the Franciscan Friars in 1999. Honors she has received include the Gold Medal of Honor from the American-Irish Historical Society (1993), the Spirit of Achievement Award from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University (1994), the National Arts Club's first Gold Medal in Education (1994), the Horatio Alger Award (1997), the Outstanding Mother of the Year Award (1998), the Bronx Legend Award (1999), the 2001 Ellis Island Medal of Honor, the Passionists' Ethics in Literature Award (2002), the first Reader's Digest Author of the Year Award 2002, the Christopher Life Achievement Award in 2003, the Ellis Island Family Heritage Award (2008) and the International Mystery Writers' "First Lady of Mystery" Award (2008). She is an active advocate and participant in literacy programs. Mary Higgins Clark is married to John Conheeney, the retired Chairman and CEO of Merrill-Lynch Futures. They live in Saddle River, New Jersey.
	*Mary Jane Clark's media thrillers have appeared on the New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly and other national bestseller lists. Her books have been published in 23 languages. The Associated Press calls Mary Jane "A literary magician ... Her novels are like Agatha Christie's whodunits, but they have a hard, contemporary edge that enhances the fear factor...She is one of the most talented story tellers around." Her first books came from her experience at CBS News, where she worked for three decades. She developed KEY News, a fictional television new world where the characters go out into the world to cover their stories and get involved in mystery and suspense. Those twelve novels, include Do You Want to Know a Secret? Do You Promise Not to Tell? Let Me Whisper in Your Ear, Close to You, Nobody Knows, Nowhere to Run, Hide Yourself Away, Dancing in the Dark, Lights Out Tonight, When Day Breaks, It Only Takes a Moment and Dying for Mercy. To Have and to Kill* is the first book in The Wedding Cake Mystery series. Corpus Christi Caller Times says *To Have and To Kill* is "As sweet as buttercream icing, but also as suspenseful as waiting to see if the cake is going to rise...A flawless mystery that keeps readers on the edge of their seats."---Corpus Christi Caller Times Mary Jane serves on the Board of Directors of the Mystery Writers of America. She is mother of two grown children and lives in Hillsdale.
	*Meredith Cole* started her career as a screenwriter and filmmaker. She was the winner of the St. Martin’s Press/Malice Domestic competition. *Posed For Murder* (2009) was nominated for an Agatha Award for Best First Mystery Novel. *Dead In The Water* (2010) continues the adventures of photographer Lydia McKenzie in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. She teaches writing at the University of Virginia, and her website is www.culturecurrent.com/cole www.culturecurrent.com/cole
	*Virginia Cornue, PhD* is the author of *The Dragon's Daughters Return* and *Draw on Culture: China* (www.thimbleberrypress.com 2007 and 2009 respectively). For Thimbleberry, she is working on several projects. She is currently writing two middle school culture readers Past and Present Meet in *My Country: China* and *My Country: Haiti*. She is researching an elementary school biography on Sharron Miller, retired Alvin Ailey dancer and founder of Sharron Miller Academy for the Performing Arts. And she is co-editing with William R. Trotter a civil war book based on a collection of authentic Confederate soldier letters. Dr. Cornue is a founding partner of Thimbleberry Press. She conducted her cultural anthropology research in post-Mao China. She lives in Montclair with her daughter, Mei Ming who is a sophomore in high school. For fun she is an organic gardener.

	*Lisa Dale* writes romantic stories for the head and heart. Translations of her books are forthcoming in Norway, Sweden, and Germany, and her third novel *Slow Dancing on Price’s Pier* is a top pick at both Barnes & Noble and BookPage magazine. A nominee for Best New American Voices and The Pushcart Prize, Lisa worked briefly at a Manhattan literary agency before earning her MFA in creative writing. Her work has appeared in many literary journals and magazines, including Fourth Genre, Flyway, Southeast Review, The Writer Magazine, and more. www.LisaDaleBooks.com
	With seven novels to their credit, *Virginia DeBerry* and *Donna Grant, best friends for nearly 30 years, have turned a friendship into one of the most successful and enduring writing collaborations in contemporary fiction. Before becoming novelists, Donna was dared by co-workers at the New York Daily News to attend a model agency open call, which led to more than a decade as a plus size model, represented by the 12+ division of Ford Models. During that career, Donna was featured in catalogs and national ads, on the pages of such magazines as Essence, McCalls, Family Circle and Woman's Day, and made appearances on "Today," "Good Morning America," and "Live with Regis and Kathie Lee." Virginia, a former high school English teacher from Buffalo, NY moved to New York City, after almost 10 years in the classroom, at the urging of a friend in the fashion business and started a successful career as a plus size model. She was frequently featured in catalogs, advertising, magazines and appeared on several television programs including "The Today Show." She retired from modeling after two years and became Vice President of BB/LW, an agency for plus size and petite models, as well as a spokeswoman for Hanes hosiery. The duo's modeling careers led to the opportunity to launch Maxima, a fashion and lifestyle magazine for plus size women, where Virginia was editor-in-chief and Donna the managing editor. When publication of Maxima ceased, Virginia and Donna decided to try writing a book together. Their efforts led to Tryin' to Sleep in the Bed You Made* (St. Martin's Press/MacMillan 1997), which was a critical success, an Essence magazine bestseller, and won the Merit Award for Fiction from the Black Caucus of the American Library Association, as well as the 1998 Book of the Year Award from the Blackboard Bestseller List/African American Booksellers Conference-Book Expo America. More than that, *Tryin'* hit an emotional nerve with readers from all over the world who continue to write to Donna and Virginia more than a dozen years later. *Far From the Tree* (St. Martin's Press/MacMillan 2000) became a New York Times bestseller, and *Better Than I Know Myself* (St. Martin's Press/MacMillan 2004) received two Open Book Awards, and was included on the Best African American Fiction of 2004 lists of both Borders and WaldenBooks. *Gotta Keep on Tryin'* (Touchstone/Simon & Schuster January 2008) was the long awaited sequel to their first novel *Tryin' to Sleep in the Bed You Made. In January 2009, DeBerry and Grant's What Doesn't Kill You* (Touchstone/Simon & Schuster January 2009) was released to glowing reviews and their lastest novel is *Uptown* (Touchstone/Simon & Schuster March 2010). Donna attended Barnard College and is a graduate of New York University. A Brooklyn native, she currently lives in the borough with her husband. Virginia attended Fisk University and is a graduate of SUNY at Buffalo. Virginia now lives in New Jersey. Please visit Virginia DeBerry and Donna Grant at www.deberryandgrant.com twitter.com/deberryandgrant myspace.com/twomindsfull twomindsfull.blogspot.com

	*Peggy Ehrhart* is a former English professor who lives in Leonia, New Jersey, where she writes mysteries and plays blues guitar. She holds a doctorate in Medieval Literature, and her publications include a prize-winning nonfiction book. Her short fiction has appeared in FMAM, Crime and Suspense, Flashing in the Gutters, Spinetingler, Crime Scene: New Jersey 2, Murder New York Style, and several other venues. As a guitar player, she performs regularly with the Still Standing Band. Her blues mystery, *Sweet Man Is Gone, featuring blues-singer/sleuth Elizabeth "Maxx" Maxwell, was published in hardcover by Five Star/Gale/Cengage in 2008 and is now available in various ebook formats. The sequel, Got No Friend Anyhow*, appeared in February 2011.

	*Allison Fishman* is a cooking teacher, food writer, and personal coach. She is the author of *You Can Trust A Skinny Cook*, and a contributor and the TV spokesperson for Cooking Light magazine. She was a co-host of Lifetime’s Cook Yourself Thin and TLC’s Home Made Simple. A passionate home cook, Allison has worked for Martha Stewart, Food Network, and Atkins as a food stylist, recipe developer, and cookbook editor. Her writing and recipes have appeared in Saveur, Fine Cooking, Glamour, Real Simple, and Everyday Food. Allison is the founder of The Wooden Spoon, a private cooking school designed to give modern food lovers the skills to prepare delicious meals at home, and a graduate of Cornell University and The Institute for Culinary Education. She has a Masters degree in Food Studies from New York University and recently moved from Brooklyn, NY to Montclair, NJ. www.allisonfishman.com
	Named a Distinguished Music Educator by Yale University in 2009, *Mickey Flagg* is involved in educational leadership and remains an advocate for the arts. She has authored a chapter in a text for urban music educators and is currently published in the genre of paranormal romance with *The Wild Rose Press. His Soul To Keep*, releasing this year, is the final novel in The Champion Chronicles Trilogy. Mickey didn't set out to write three books, but the process became a thrilling journey to nourish her creativity and explore a somewhat vivid imagination. She is a member of RWA, NJRW and LSFW as well as ASCD. The mother of two grown children, she lives in northern New Jersey. www.mflagg-author.com
	*Alison Ashley Formento* is the author of the picture books *This Tree Counts!, This Tree, 1, 2, 3* and *These Bees Count!* (2012) She has written several plays, short stories and poetry and was a co-writer of the romance/thriller, *Pandora*. Alison has written for several national publications including The New York Times, The Writer and Parenting. She visits schools and libraries across the country, sharing her writing and books with kids and donates a portion of her book sales to AmericanForests.org to help plant more trees. www.www.alisonashleyformento.com
	*Betsy Franco Feeney* is an award-winning illustrator working in commercial art for over twenty-five years. Her work has been described as "meticulously detailed with rare humor and imagination" (Kirkus Reviews). With her Yorkie puppy by her side (or at her feet, or on her lap), Betsy enjoys working in her home studio just outside of New York City. As one of Christine Lavin's biggest fans, she is now living a dream come true with their collaboration in the picture book, *Amoeba Hop. Her daughter, Kathryn, was the model for the little girl while Betsy's first dog, Fred, is the little girl’s curious canine companion. Kathryn appears in the appendix of the book peering through a microscope. Betsy's earlier books were illustrated using watercolors. Her more recent titles were painted in Photoshop with a Macintosh computer. Amoeba Hop* marks her first book where she combines computer skills with water mixable oil paintings. The results have been striking; rich in color with 'first sketch' liveliness. Her great love of children's book art is brought vividly to life in front of the appreciative eyes of students in numerous elementary schools. Visiting schools is one of the most rewarding parts of her career. Graduating from the Fashion Institute of Technology with honors, Betsy continued her studies at the School of Visual Arts. Clients include: Charles Scribners Sons, IBM, Harcourt Brace, McGraw Hill, Berkley Publishing Group, General Foods, Ballantine Books (a division of Random House), Orange and Rockland Utilities, Women's Day Magazine, Robin & Adler Books, Joshua Morris Publishing, Longmeadow Press, Hudson Valley Children's Museum, Historical Society of Rockland, and ReMAx Realtors. To contact Betsy about her school programs or for any other information, email her atbetsfeeney@optonline.net
	*Shirley George Frazier* is recognized as the world's authority on gift baskets and as one of the foremost experts on how-to-start strategies for new entrepreneurs. In business since 1990, Shirley is president and CEO of Sweet Survival LLC, a firm that assists creative people and budding business owners to create a great life for themselves and their families by turning their passion into a fun and rewarding pastime or business. Shirley's books include: *How to Start a Home-Based Gift Basket Business* (currently in its fifth edition), *The Gift Basket Design Book* (currently in its second edition), and *Marketing Strategies for the Home-Based Business: Solutions You Can use Today*. As a professional speaker, Shirley conducts seminars at conferences and trade shows; provides small business advice on CNBC, New York's Fox Channel 5, and The Food Network; publishes articles in Gifts & Decorative Accessories, Spare Time Magazine, and Opportunities Magazine; and is quoted in CNN Money, Black Enterprise, Entrepreneur Magazine, Gift Shop Magazine, The Orange County Register (CA), New York Newsday (NY), The Record (NJ), and worldwide publications. Shirley’s insightful tips and advice are featured at : www.GiftBasketBusiness.com and its companion blog www.SoloBusinessMarketing.com. For more information or to invite Shirley George Frazier to your next event, contact her at 973-279-2799 or Email Shirley@ShirleySpeaks.com.
	*Shelley Freydont* is the author of the Katie McDonald and Lindy Haggerty mystery series, and the upcoming Liv Montgomery, Celebration Bay Festival Mysteries (Berkeley Prime Crime). She has written several romance novels under the pseudonym Gemma Bruce. Her novella *Bah Humbug, Baby* appeared in a USA Today bestselling anthology. Her books have been translated into seven languages and have finaled in The Holt Medallion, Golden Leaf, Booksellers Best awards and won second place in More than Magic. Her first women’s fiction novel, *Beach Colors*, will be published by William Morrow in 2012. A former professional dancer and choreographer, she most recently worked on the films, Mona Lisa Smile and The Game Plan. Shelley is a member of Sisters-in-Crime, Mystery Writers of America, Romance Writers of America, and Liberty States Fiction Writers. www.shelleyfreydont.com

	*Renee Gatz* was born and raised in New Jersey, the oldest of three girls and had always been taken by the strength of character and conviction that her parents displayed. They seemed to navigate through life by holding true to their core beliefs. Those beliefs were most often exhibited by their example but were also exhibited in the expressions they used to keep life in perspective, to remind them of what was important and to laugh at foolishness so as not to take life too seriously. In her early growing years, Gatz did not appreciate the power of the expressions her parents spoke but as she grew was amazed at how these expressions would come back to her to provide clarity, understanding or a laugh at just the right moment. Many of the expressions she learned growing up were passed on to her through her mother who learned them from her mother, Gatz’s grandmother. Gatz's grandmother was a woman of strength and good humor who immigrated alone at the age of 18 to the United States from Ireland in the steerage section of a ship that landed in Ellis Island. Gatz's late father was a man of few words who relied more on the power of his actions to express himself but nonetheless is credited with teaching Gatz some important life lessons through the use of expression and some sarcastic repartee as well. Gatz has been reviewed by Irish America magazine, been recommended summer reading by Irish Echo, writes a column called "The Power of Irish Wisdom" for the Irish American Cultural Institute's monthly newsletter, has been a guest speaker.
	*Margie Gelbwasser* is a freelance writer and children's novelist. She has written for a variety of magazines including SELF, Ladies' Home Journal, The Parent Paper, and NJ Monthly. Her first YA novel, *Inconvenient* (Flux, Nov. 2010), the story of Russian-Jewish teen Alyssa Bondar coping with an alcoholic mother, tuned-out father, first boyfriend and end of a long friendship, was named a 2011 Sydney Taylor Notable Book for Teens. Her second YA novel, *Pieces of Us*, is told in multiple points of view and will be published by Flux inMarch 2012. Margie lives in Fair Lawn and based Alyssa's fictional town of Glenfair on Fair Lawn and Glen Rock. www.margiewrites.com
	*Julie Bond Genovese* is the author of Amazon bestselling memoir, *Nothing Short of Joy*, which was recently named an Award-Winning Finalist of the "Best Books 2010" Awards, sponsored by USA Book News. Julie has been featured on TV shows NBC LX, My Fox Boston, Strategy Room and CT Now, as well as radio shows across the country including Oprah.com with Gayle King. Julie has also had the honor of appearing on stage with internationally renowned author and speaker, Dr. Wayne Dyer. Julie's writing appears online at her Huffington Post blog at: www.huffingtonpost.com/julie-genovese. Julie is a member of the International Women's Writing Guild, Women Reading Aloud, Little People of America and Skyland Homeschool Community. www.nothingshortofjoy.com
	*Kathleen Gerard's writing has been awarded The Perillo Prize, The Eric Hoffer Prose Award and nominated for Best New American Voices, all national prizes in literature. Gerard writes across genres. Her short prose and poetry have been widely published in literary journals, magazines and anthologies, as well as broadcast on National Public Radio (NPR). Several of her plays have been staged and performed regionally and off-Broadway in NYC. Kathleen's first novel, In Transit*, a genre novel of romantic suspense set in and around NYC, is scheduled for release on May 6, 2011 from Five Star (an imprint of Gale-Cengage-Thorndike Press). www.kathleengerard.blogspot.com
	*Allison Gilbert* is the author of the just-released book *Parentless Parents: How the Loss of Our Mothers and Fathers Impacts the Way We Raise Our Children(Hyperion: February 15, 2011). Allison is also founder of Parentless Parents, a new and growing network of parents who have experienced the loss of their own mothers and fathers. Gilbert's other books include Always Too Soon* and *Covering Catastrophe*. Her work has been featured in the New York Times, and on The Early Show, Extra!, CNN, and ABC News. Gilbert lectures regularly on parenting and loss. www.allisongilbert.com
	*Barbara J. Gooding* was born and raised in Hackensack, New Jersey. She is a graduate of Kent State University in Ohio and ... yes ... was attending classes during those tragic days in May 1970. After graduating college she was very much a part of the corporate sector working for international companies and traveling world-wide. After taking a volunteer package in 2001 following 9/11, she opted to pursue the path she had always like ... writing. Her writing experience has included composing historical and biographical articles for a local newspaper, grant writing, website text, creating corporate informational sheets and user manuals as well some years ago composing the monthly newsletter for the president of an international company. The result of compiling and consolidating news and many life histories was what she not only enjoyed preparing, but what families seem to need and wish for today more than ever. Be it a portion of someone's life or their whole life's history, a collection of love letters or family recipes, a remarkable experience, maybe a childhood or war time experience or even ones opinions and thoughts on life ... Lore to Legacy can capture it. Barbara J. Gooding is the co-author of *Hackensack, A Pictorial History* and most recently *Images of America -- Hackensack* which is available at Barnes and Noble, Amazon.com and other such retail outlets. www.loretolegacy.com
	*Chris Grabenstein* did improvisational comedy in New York City with Bruce Willis before James Patterson hired him to write advertising copy. His first John Ceepak/Jersey Shore mystery *Tilt a Whirl* won the Anthony Award for Best First Mystery in 2006 and was followed by the critically acclaimed *Mad Mouse, Whack-a-Mole, Hell Hole, Mind Scrambler, Rolling Thunder, which is nominated for The Watson Award for best sidekick. A Ceepak short story Ring Toss* appeared in the June 2010 issue of Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine. Chris has also published two holiday thrillers: *Slay Ride* and *Hell for the Holiday* and became a New York Times Best Selling author thanks to his short story *The Demon In The Dunes, which appeared in the anthology Death's Excellent Vacation, edited by Charlaine Harris and Toni L.P. Kelner. His fist book for middle grades readers, The Crossroads, won both the 2008 Agatha and Anthony Awards as Best Children's/YA novel, appeared on several "Best" lists, and has been optioned to become a movie. The second book in the series, The Hanging Hill, also won the Agatha Award. The third Haunted Mystery, The Smoky Corridor, all about a zombie who lives in the basement of a middle school, was published by Random House in August. The fourth book in the series, The Black Heart Crypt, will be published in 2011. Chris wrote Curiosity Cat, the play within the book from The Hanging Hill, for friends at the Children's Theater of Knoxville. The script is now available for production everywhere through world renowned play publisher Samuel French. Chris's new middle grades caper series, Riley Mack and the other Known Troublemakers* (an Ocean's Eleven starring eleven-year-olds) will be published by HarperCollins in January 2012 with the sequel slated for 2013. Chris has also written for Jim Henson's Muppets and co-wrote *The Christmas Gift*, starring John Denver, a made-for-TV movie that first aired on CBS in 1986 and still shows up somewhere on cable very early in the morning every holiday season. Chris's dog Fred, however, has the best credits in the family: Fred starred on Broadway in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. www.chrisgrabenstein.com
	With seven novels to their credit, *Virginia DeBerry* and *Donna Grant, best friends for nearly 30 years, have turned a friendship into one of the most successful and enduring writing collaborations in contemporary fiction. Before becoming novelists, Donna was dared by co-workers at the New York Daily News to attend a model agency open call, which led to more than a decade as a plus size model, represented by the 12+ division of Ford Models. During that career, Donna was featured in catalogs and national ads, on the pages of such magazines as Essence, McCalls, Family Circle and Woman's Day, and made appearances on "Today," "Good Morning America," and "Live with Regis and Kathie Lee." Virginia, a former high school English teacher from Buffalo, NY moved to New York City, after almost 10 years in the classroom, at the urging of a friend in the fashion business and started a successful career as a plus size model. She was frequently featured in catalogs, advertising, magazines and appeared on several television programs including "The Today Show." She retired from modeling after two years and became Vice President of BB/LW, an agency for plus size and petite models, as well as a spokeswoman for Hanes hosiery. The duo's modeling careers led to the opportunity to launch Maxima, a fashion and lifestyle magazine for plus size women, where Virginia was editor-in-chief and Donna the managing editor. When publication of Maxima ceased, Virginia and Donna decided to try writing a book together. Their efforts led to Tryin' to Sleep in the Bed You Made* (St. Martin's Press/MacMillan 1997), which was a critical success, an Essence magazine bestseller, and won the Merit Award for Fiction from the Black Caucus of the American Library Association, as well as the 1998 Book of the Year Award from the Blackboard Bestseller List/African American Booksellers Conference-Book Expo America. More than that, *Tryin'* hit an emotional nerve with readers from all over the world who continue to write to Donna and Virginia more than a dozen years later. *Far From the Tree* (St. Martin's Press/MacMillan 2000) became a New York Times bestseller, and *Better Than I Know Myself* (St. Martin's Press/MacMillan 2004) received two Open Book Awards, and was included on the Best African American Fiction of 2004 lists of both Borders and WaldenBooks. *Gotta Keep on Tryin'* (Touchstone/Simon & Schuster January 2008) was the long awaited sequel to their first novel *Tryin' to Sleep in the Bed You Made. In January 2009, DeBerry and Grant's What Doesn't Kill You* (Touchstone/Simon & Schuster January 2009) was released to glowing reviews and their lastest novel is *Uptown* (Touchstone/Simon & Schuster March 2010). Donna attended Barnard College and is a graduate of New York University. A Brooklyn native, she currently lives in the borough with her husband. Virginia attended Fisk University and is a graduate of SUNY at Buffalo. Virginia now lives in New Jersey. Please visit Virginia DeBerry and Donna Grant at www.deberryandgrant.com twitter.com/deberryandgrant myspace.com/twomindsfull twomindsfull.blogspot.com
	*Mindy Greenstein* is the author of *The House on Cash Corner and Other Unavoidable Calamities* (Greenpoint Press). She is a clinical psychologist, psycho-oncologist and writer whose essays have appeared in the New York Times, Washington Post, SELF Magazine, among others.
	*Alissa Grosso's first novel, Popular*, will be published in May 2011 by Flux. At various points in her working life she has been a tavern wench, a term paper writer, a newspaper editor and a children's librarian. She owns very few garments that aren’t covered with cat or dog hair. She lives in New Jersey. She belongs to The Class of 2K11, The KidLit Authors Club, The Elevensies and The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators.

	*Janice Harayda* is a novelist and award-winning journalist who has been the book columnist for Glamour, the book critic for the Plain Dealer in Cleveland, and a vice-president of the National Book Critics Circle. She writes the One-Minute Book Reviews blog , named one of New Jersey's best blogs in the April 2011 issue of New Jersey Monthly. Her novels include the comedy of manners, *The Accidental Bride* (St. Martin's, 1999).
	*Rosemary Harris* writes the Dirty Business mystery series featuring amateur sleuth Paula Holliday. Her debut novel *Pushing Up Daisies* was nominated for both the Anthony and Agatha Awards for Best First Mystery 2008. She's the president of Mystery Writers of America's NY Chapter (inc. PA, NJ and CT) past president of Sisters in Crime New England, and a master gardener in Connecticut. She is a frequent volunteer at the Philadelphia International Flower Show. Her new paperback, *Dead Head* has been called "a perfect summer read" by NPR (CT) and given 4 Stars by Romantic Times Magazine and Slugfest (April 2011) has been called "Hilarious" Kirkus Reviews and "lively....refreshing..." Publishers Weekly. www.rosemaryharris.com www.jungleredwriters.com
	*Teresa Harris* is the author of *Summer Jackson: Grown-Up, which was published by HarperCollins/Katherine Tegen Books on May, 17, 2011. Her middle-grade novel, Love, Treasure*, which will be published by Clarion Books, will follow. Teresa was born in New York City and raised in the wild (not really) suburbs of Teaneck, New Jersey. She received her undergraduate degree in English and Comparative Literature from Columbia University, and an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts.
	*John Hilferty* made a successful transition from journalism to fiction writing soon after he retired from The Philadelphia Inquirer as a writer, editor and columnist. His first novel, *Moonlight in Vermont* was judged by the National IndieExcellence Awards to be the best independently-published Romance of 2007. His most recent novel combines true crime — what happened to Jimmy Hoffa? — with fictional characters based on true-life figures, set in New Jersey, Philadelphia and the Detroit area. As a reporter of organized crime, Hilferty wrote about the New Jersey connection to Hoffa's disappearance, particularly an unsecured $85,000 loan of Teamsters health & welfare funds to a waste disposal company in Michigan where the FBI suspected Hoffa's body was to have been incinerated. Hilferty, in 1980, shared a Pulitzer Prize for General Local Reporting for The Inquirer's coverage of the Three Mile Island nuclear accident. He shared an AP Managing Editors' Award for an investigation into the murder of Philadelphia Mafia boss Angelo Bruno the same year.
	*Carol Hoenig* is a fulltime freelance writer and publishing consultant. Her novel, *Without Grace, has been awarded the Silver Medal for Book of the Year 2005 by ForeWord Magazine and given First Place for Fiction by the DIY Book Festival. Jada Press and the New York Book Festival also gave her novel honorable mention. Her book The Author's Guide to Planning Book Events* was named finalist by USA Book and Reader Views and given the Gold medal by ForeWord Magazine for Book of the Year in the category of writing. Carol’s essays, articles, book reviews and short stories appear in a wide number of publications. Carol blogs for The Huffington Post at www.huffingtonpost.com/carol-hoenig covering politics, culture, the publishing industry and the writing life. Carol also contributed to *Putting Your Passion into Print, written by Arielle Eckstudt & David Henry Sterry. (Workman, July 2005) Arianna Huffington invited Carol to contribute to On Becoming Fearless, (Little, Brown) released in the fall of 2006. Tory Johnson, ABC's Good Morning America's workplace contributor, also invited Carol to submit an essay for her New York Times Bestseller, Will WOrk from Home* (Penguin). Stephanie Gunning invited Carol to submit an essay on creativity for her anthology *Audacious Creativity. Carol's short story, Snow Angels and Somersaults, was a finalist for the 2007 Spring/Summer Glass Woman Prize, a bi-annual prize for women prose writers. Her essay, Wild Horses and Young Stallions* was selected for the forthcoming anthology *Lost Lessons from Life on a Farm* (Action Publishing) with an introduction by Jane Smiley. Carol is on the advisory council for Author Solutions and was on The New York Center for Independent Publishing advisory council and writer's conference committee for five years before it disbanded. She was the Director and Writer-in-Residence for Old Forge Library Adirondack Summer Writing Workshop for 2008. She is Editorial Director for Worthy Shorts and is a member of the Women's Media Group. She was tapped to write a monthly column for Digital Americana, the first literary magazine for the Apple iPad and also covers stories for Patch.com. www.carolhoenig.com
	*Roxanne Hoffman* worked on Wall Street, now answers a patient hotline for a New York home healthcare provider. Her words can be found on and off the net in such journals as Amaze: The Cinquain Journal, Clockwise Cat, Danse Macabre, The Fib Review, Hospital Drive, Lips Magazine, Lucid Rhythms, Mobius: The Poetry Magazine, The New Verse News, The Pedestal Magazing and Shaking Like a Mountain; the indie flick Love and the Vampire; and several anthologies including *The Banana Republic: A Literary Anthology by Gang Members and Their Affiliates* (Soft Skill Press), *Love After 70* (Wising Up Press), and *It All Changed in an Instant: More Six-Word Memoirs by Writers Famous & Obscure* (Harper Perennial). She runs the small press, Poets Wear Prada, since 2006. pwpbooks.blogspot.com

	*Sheila Isenberg's most recent book is Muriel's War: An American Heiress in the Nazi Resistance* (Palgrave). Isenberg is also author of *A Hero of Our Own: The Story of Varian Fry* (Random House) - named a notable book by The St. Louis Post-Dispatch and featured on the web site of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum - and the groundbreaking *Women Who Love Men Who Kill* (Simon & Schuster). She is co-author with the late William M. Kunstler of *My Life as a Radical Lawyer* (Carol Publishing) and collaborator with Tracey Brown on *The Life and Times of Ron Brown* (William Morrow). Isenberg's books have been translated into other languages and she has appeared in documentaries and on multiple media platforms, including NPR, CNN, "20/20," "The Today Show," and "Good Morning America." Born in New York City, Sheila Isenberg earned a B.A. in English from Brooklyn College and studied in the graduate English Department of Hunter College. A former award-winning reporter, she is now adjunct professor of English at Marist College and lives with her husband in New York's Hudson Valley. www.sheilaisenberg.com
	*Marcia Ivans* is the author of two books of poetry, *Yesterday, a Collection of Thoughts* and *Over Easy*. She has worked with students at College of Saint Elizabeth, Essex Community College and most recently Caldwell College. She is a member of Women Who Write where she has served on the Board for five years. Marcia has facilitated Poetry and Pastries, an open poetry reading in Chatham for seven years. Her work has been published in several newspapers , Goldfinch, Compassionate Friends, among others. She has appeared at The Millbrook Book Fair, and Centenary College's Write Women Back Into History. She also runs a Writers Circle at Watchung Booksellers. www.mivans.com
	*Melissa Iwai* was born and raised in a small town on the central coast of California called Lompoc (pronounced Lompoke). She always knew she wanted to write and illustrate children's books from the time she was a young child, because her favorite pastime was either reading or drawing. She still has a copy of the first book she wrote and illustrated called, *The Dog Around the Corner, and is ever grateful to her 5th grade teacher, Ms. H, for making it a real book by laminating the pages and binding it. Melissa lives in Brooklyn with her husband, Denis Markell, and their son, Jamie. She has illustrated numerous award winning books for children, including Good Night Engines, Snuggle Mountain* and *Toolbox Twins. Soup Day* is the first book that she both wrote and illustrated. The story was inspired by her love of cooking for her family and the joy of creating new dishes together with her son, including (but not limited to!) Chocolate Honey Peanut Butter Yogurt, Cheddar Cheese and Jelly Bites, and Veggie Chips (Sauteed Broccoli Stems). Recipes available on request! www.melissaiwai.com

	*Marjorie G. Jones* is a graduate of Wheaton College, Norton, Massachusetts, and the Rutgers School of Law. In the 1990s, after twenty-five years in banking and executive recruitment, she returned to school and earned an M.A. in Historical Studies at the Graduate Faculty of the New School in New York City, where she wrote her thesis about early unpublished writings of Frances Yates. Since then, she has taught history at The New School and Mercy College, Dobbs Ferry, NY and currently teaches at Sing Sing prison. A member of the Writing Women's Lives seminar, she lives with her husband in Bronxville, NY. *Francis Yates and the Hermetic Tradition* is the author's first book. Translated into Japanese, *Frances Yates & the Hermetic Tradition* was published in Japan in early 2010. Currently Marjorie is working on her next biography of Mary Vaux Walcott (1860-1940), a Quaker known as the Audubon of Botany. www.marjoriegjones.com
	*Sanford Josephson* is the author of *Jazz Notes: Interviews Across the Generations* (Praeger/ABC-Clio). He has written extensively about jazz musicians in a variety of publications ranging from the New York Daily News to American Way Magazine. He currently writes the *Big Band in the Sky* column for Jersey Jazz Magazine. Josephson is also director of marketing and public relations for the Matheny Medical and Educational Center, a special hospital and educational facility in Peapack, NJ, for children and adults with medically complex developmental disabilities. He is a member of the New Jersey Jazz Society and the Jazz Journalists Association and is on the Board of Directors of the Healthcare Planning & Marketing Society of New Jersey and the New Jersey Advertising Club. He holds a Bachelor of Journalism degree from the University of Missouri in Columbia, MO, and lives in West Orange, NJ, with his wife, Linda, and dog, Onyx.

	*Carol Karels, a native of Chicago, is the Leonia borough historian. In addition to publishing four books on Leonia history, she edited The Revolutionary War in Bergen County: The Times that Tried Men's Souls, (History Press), which received a Bergen County historic preservation award in 2007. A registered nurse, she's the author of Cooked: An Inner City Nursing Memoir* which won an American Journal of Nursing Book of the Year Award in 2005. She has also self-published travel essays on Greece, Bulgaria, and Turkey.
	*Dan Karlan* earned a B.S. in biology at MIT, and a Master’s Degree in Computer Science at Fairleigh Dickinson University. He has written software and instructional materials for Beckman Instrument Company. Mr. Karlan has used his writing skills to render complicated technical subjects understandable.
	*Christina Baker Kline* is the author of four novels, including, most recently, *Bird in Hand* and *The Way Life Should Be. She is co-editor, with Anne Burt, of About Face: Women Write about What They See When They Look in the Mirror* and co-author, with Christina L. Baker, of *The Conversation Begins: Mothers and Daughters Talk about Living Feminism. She has edited two other anthologies: Child of Mine* and *Room to Grow*. She is Writer-in-Residence at Fordham University and an editor on staff at the social networking site SheWrites, and lives in Montclair, NJ. Her blog is Writing/Life: Notes on Craft & the Creative Process. www.christinabakerkline.com christinabakerkline.com/blog
	*Robert Krech* is the author of over 25 books for Scholastic Professional Books, mostly on teaching math as well as two fiction books for children; *Rebound* (An ALA Best Book for Young Adults) and *Love Puppies and Corner Kicks*, which Kirkus called "a sure pick for the tween crowd." Born in Trenton, lived and taught in Scotland and Saudi Arabia. Now teaching, writing, and residing back in New Jersey.

	*Michael Laser's books for young readers include The Watermelon, Cheater, 6-321* and *The Rain. He has also published two novels for adults: Old Buddy Old Pal* and *Dark & Light*. He recently launched News-Basics.com, a website that offers brief reports on current events, to help teens and adults understand major news stories. He lives in Montclair with his wife and two children. www.MichaelLaser.com
	*Judith Lindbergh*'s published work, ranging from travel and cultural pieces to short fiction and poetry, has appeared in numerous magazines and journals, including Archaeology Magazine, The World & I, Scandinavian Review, and the Canadian literary journal, Other Voices. Also an accomplished photographer, Ms. Lindbergh's images of Greenland and Iceland have been exhibited at venues including The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine and The Edward Hopper House. Several are included in Vikings: The North Atlantic Saga, published in conjunction with the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History's two-year traveling exhibition of the same name. Ms. Lindbergh also presented an excerpt from The Thrall's Tale (then called Bibrau's Saga) as a special event at the Smithsonian. Her writing finds inspiration in history, archaeology and myth. She is currently working on a new novel from her home in New Jersey where she lives with her husband and two sons.
	*Diane Lockward* is the author of three poetry books, most recently, *Temptation by Water. Her previous books are What Feeds Us, which received the 2006 Quentin R. Howard Poetry Prize, and Eve's Red Dress. Her poems have been included in such anthologies as Poetry Daily: 360 Poems from the World's Most Popular Poetry Website* and Garrison Keillor's *Good Poems for Hard Times*, and have been published in such journals as Harvard Review, Spoon River Poetry Review, and Prairie Schooner. Her work has also been featured on Poetry Daily, Verse Daily, and The Writer's Almanac.
	*Stuart Lutz* has always been fascinated by the stories told by older people. Perhaps it started when he was a boy and heard his great-grandparents recount their immigrant voyage to America, their first airplane sighting, and the first time his great-grandmother could legally vote (even though she had been married four years). Also, when he was young, he was intrigued during a family trip to Charleston, South Carolina, when the tour guide pointed out the building that still housed some Confederate widows, even though the Civil War had been over for 125 years. He could not understand how that could be, until the guide explained that some young ladies married much older men who had fought in the Civil War. Lutz'ss interests in history and writing come together in *The Last Leaf, an oral history book featuring the stories of almost forty survivors and eyewitnesses to historically important events. Lutz is the only person to have interviewed the last three Civil War widows (the last one died in 2008), but The Last Leaf* also features the last American World War I soldier, the final living person to have flown with Amelia Earhart, the final pitcher to give up a home run to Babe Ruth in his historic 1927 season (when Ruth hit sixty home runs), the last suffragette, the final Medal of Honor winner for heroism on Pearl Harbor Day, the last person to have made design contributions to the ENIAC (the first electronic, programmable computer), the final Iwo Jima flag raiser, the last survivor of the sunken Lusitania, the final Harry Houdini stage hand, and the last employees of Thomas Edison and F. Scott Fitzgerald. Each chapter blends the narrative of the Last Leaves with historical background so readers can understand what occurred and the long-term importance of each event. Lutz owns Stuart Lutz Historic Documents, Inc., a firm that sells rare letters and manuscripts (www.HistoryDocs.com). He has written for American Heritage and Civil War Times Illustrated, and appeared on National Public Radio. He has a B.A. in American History from Johns Hopkins.

	Ridgewood, NJ resident *Ann Malaspina* is the award-winning author of multicultural picture books and nonfiction books for teens. A former newspaper reporter, she writes on topics from civil rights to child labor. Her picture book *Finding Lincoln* (Albert Whitman, 2009) received the 2010 Paterson Prize for Books for Young People, 2010 IRA Teacher's Choice, 2010 Skipping Stones Honor Book, 2010 Horace Man Upstanders Children's Literature Honor, 2009 Gold Award National Parenting Publications, 2010 Notable Social Studies Trade Book for Young People. *Yasmin's Hammer* (Lee & Low, 2010) is listed on the 2010 Smithsonian's Notable Books for Children and 2010 Asian Pacific American Booklist. Her latest book is *Phillis Sings Out Freedom: The Story of George Washington and Phillis Wheatley* (Albert Whitman, 2010). www.annmalaspina.com
	*Josh Margolin* is co-author of *The Jersey Sting*, the inside story of the biggest federal corruption investigation in New Jersey history. Margolin, a graduate of Long Island University, was New Jersey's top political writer for nearly a decade, and exposed the scandals and corruption that came to the governor's office. Margolin was named one of the state's 101 most influential people in New Jersey by New Jersey Monthly and the most powerful journalist in the state by PolitickerNJ.com. Margolin is a regular contributor to television and radio news programs and his appearances have included segments on The Today Show and National Public Radio. Margolin has won a number of additional awards and has served as a story and plot consultant for the hit CBS series "The Good Wife." He is now a senior reporter, covering law enforcement and national security at the New York Post. www.thejerseysting.com
	A former First Assistant United States Attorney and urban trial judge, *Gordon A. Martin, Jr., is adjunct professor of law at New England Law Boston. His work has been published in Boston's newspapers, the Globe and the Herald, the Jackson Clarion-Ledger, the Encyclopedia of African-American Culture and History, various law reviews, and other periodicals. he is the author of Count Them One By One*, a memoir about the 60s civil rights case that changed voting rights for African Americans.
	*Alfred Martino* is the author of the young adult novels, *Pinned, Over The End Line, and the November 2011 release, Perfected By Girls*. He is a proud graduate of Duke University and The Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California, and the co-founder/president of Listen & Live Audio, Inc., the premier independent audiobook publishing company in the US. With over 600 titles, Listen & Live Audio has won 3 consecutive Odyssey Honor Awards, 10 Audie Awards, and dozens of AudioFile 'Earphones' and Publishers Weekly 'Listen Up' Awards.
	*Mark McKenna* is a 25 year veteran of the comic book industry. In that time he has worked on Batman, Wolverine, Wonder Woman and The Incredible Hulk, counting over 450 comics in all. Mark is currently working for Dark Horse Comics on a new Star wars comic book, *Star Wars - The Old Republic: The Lost Suns. Mark created the children's book property called Banana Tail, along with his dearly departed father back in the late 90's and his new book Banana Tail's Colorful Adventure* was published by Image Comic's "all ages" book line, called Silverline Books. It is a gorgeous 3D computer-generated product which is being categorized as a "Young Reader's Graphic Novel." For more Banana Tail info please visit: www.bananatail.com - for more comic-related info, please visit: www.markmckennaart.com www.bananatail.com www.markmckennaart.com
	*Jack McLean* served as an infantry corporal with the United States Marine Corps in Vietnam in 1967-1968. He subsequently became the first Vietnam veteran admitted to Harvard University, entering during the tempestuous fall of 1968 days after his return from combat. McLean has since been a successful marketing executive, notable as the Founding Managing Partner of the Greater Washington Initiative. His favorite early job was that of Assistant Ticket Manager of the New York Mets Baseball Team. A native of Summit, New Jersey, McLean's career has taken him to New York, Boston, Portland, Charlotte, and Washington, DC. He is the father of three daughters (Sarah, Martha, and Sylvia), and one granddaughter (Margaret – born on the 223rd birthday of the United States Marine Corps. He is currently writing and living in Fort Lee, NJ.
	*Gioya McRae* is Founder of Mocha Mind Communications, a literary firm. She is a professional writer and speaker, whose experience ranges from writing books, magazine articles and web content to creating theater reviews. McRae's Self-Publishing and Creative Writing Seminars guide aspiring authors to reach their publishing dreams. Her mystery collection, *Mostly Murder: A Medley of Mayhem & Mystery* received accolades. Her literary blog, "Write Outta My Mind!" located at www.mochamind.com/blog provides information, resources, and writing assistance to the literary community. www.mochamind.com
	*Ellen Meister* is the author of three novels. Her most recent book, *The Other Life* (Putnam, 2011), was chosen by the American Booksellers Association as a Great Reads/Indie Next List selection, and was featured on NPR. Her other published works include *The Smart One* (HarperCollins, 2008) and *Secret Confessions of the Applewood PTA* (HarperCollins, 2006), as well as numerous short stories. She currently curates for DimeStories, a literary podcast program, and runs an online group for women authors. Ellen lives on Long Island with her husband and three children and is at work on her fourth novel, *Farewell, Dorothy Parker*. www.ellenmeister.com
	*Jennifer J. Merz* is a children's book writer/illustrator from Allendale, NJ. Her first book, *That Dancin' Dolly, was published by Dutton Children's Books and received the IRA/CBC Children's Choice Award. Playground Day* followed, published by Clarion Books. Jennifer's picture books are inspired by the joyful enthusiasm of children at play. Her creative process begins with sketches torn from brown paper and ends with energetic, handcrafted, full-color collage illustrations. Jennifer earned a BA in Studio Art from Marymount College and an MA in Art Education from the College of New Rochelle. She has also studied children's illustration at the School of Visual Arts and in independent workshops. She is a member of SCBWI, the Author's Guild, Graphic Artists Guild, and C-BIG. Besides her literary pursuits, Jennifer is employed by the Waldwick Public Library and volunteers as an ESL teacher for the Ridgewood Library. Jennifer also enjoys oil painting, ballet, traveling, music, and spending time with her family. She is delighted to be participating in BooksNJ for the second time. www.jennifermerz.com
	*Jon Michaud* is the head librarian at The New Yorker magazine and a regular contributor to newyorker.com. He lives in Maplewood, New Jersey with his wife and their two sons.
	*Lisa Mullarkey, a former teacher and media specialist, is the author of the chapter book series, Katharine the Almost Great* (2009) and has six more books coming out in the series in 2012. Her *Ready, Set, Cheer* series was published by Enslow Publishers in 2010. She has adapted 17 classics for ABDO Publishers which make them accessible to readers of all ages. Lisa loves visiting schools to talk to students about writing and reading and has presented her workshop, The Reluctant Reader: Squash the Resistance to dozens of libraries and schools throughout NJ. www.lisamullarkey.com

	The first thing *William "Billy" Neumann* will tell you is he's a life long resident of Rutherford. The author of the popular book *Rutherford: A Brief History, Neumann is dedicated to preserving and exemplifying the history of his town. Specifically he is a leading source for all things concerning Edgar I Williams. For five years he was chairman of Rutherford's Historic Preservation Commission. He is a member of the Bergen County Historic Preservation Advisory Board and a graduate of Drew University Historic Preservation Certification Program. He is working on two additional history books and is contributor to the forthcoming Revolutionary War in Bergen County*. Billy is a requested speaker on many topics regarding historic preservation and local history throughout Bergen County. Billy Neumann is a commercial photographer with 25 years of competitive experience in the NYC market. He is an instructor in School of Visual Arts but still finds time to photograph the beauty and history of the Borough of Rutherford. As such he maintains one of the largest collections of images of the town. Neumann is the third generation to live in a quirky old farmhouse that once anchored the large Beard Farm. For more than half the year he sleeps outside on his porch under swaying Hemlocks. He gardens on land that has produced a continual harvest for over 130 years. www.neumannphoto.com

	*Anna Olswanger* is the author of *Shlemiel Crooks, a Sydney Taylor Honor Book, Koret International Jewish Book Award Finalist, and PJ Library Book. Based on a true story about Anna's great-grandfather Elias Olschwanger, Shlemiel Crooks is a modern folk tale about a town of Jewish immigrants who play tug-of-war with Pharaoh over wine made from grapes left over from the Exodus from Egypt. Anna lives in Fair Lawn and is a literary agent with Liza Dawson Associates in New York. A native of Memphis, Tennessee, she has made "The Home of the Blues" the backdrop to many of her stories, including Chicken Bone Man*, which the Kaufman Center in New York adapted into a musical for children. www.olswanger.com

	*Steven J. Paley* is an inventor, entrepreneur, and teacher with over 25 years experience in business and technology. He served as CEO and chief technical officer of the Texwipe Company, a manufacturer of specialized contamination control products. Paley holds numerous US and international patents and is a graduate of Stanford University's Product Design program. Most recently, he founded Arise Technologies, which teaches robotics and engineering to special needs and gifted children.
	*Brad Parks' debut novel, Faces of the Gone, became the first book in history to win both the Shamus and Nero Awards, two of crime fiction's most prestigious prizes. The follow-up, Eyes of the Innocent*, was deemed "as good if not better" by Library Journal. A native of New Jersey, Brad was a reporter with The Star-Ledger for 10 years and has also worked for The Washington Post. The Dartmouth College graduate is now a full-time novelist with a wife and two young children.


	*Ed Rand--writing as E. J. Rand--began writing in 2004, at the age of 66, and had the first novel in his Reluctant Sleuth* series published by Deadly Ink Press in 2008. During summer 2011, his fifth series novel will become his fifth book with that publisher. Ed has garnered five awards: the publisher's Best Unpublished Thriller of 2006 (for *Say Goodbye), two Next Generation Indie Book Awards (for Say Goodbye* in 2008 and *Perfect Cover* in 2009), and as a winner (for *Dark Sea) in the Mystery Writers of America's 2009 Mentor Program. Ed's sixth novel, Labyrinth*, was named a finalist in the 2010 Killer Nashville Claymore Awards. He is presently reading his completed eighth novel before his critique group and is deep into writing a ninth. Ed has spoken before dozens of different groups--from seniors to church to the New York Public Library to street fairs, farmer's markets, and on board a cruise ship--and had signing events at Barnes & Noble, Borders, and independent bookstores. He lives with his wife in Teaneck. www.ejrand.com
	*Cindy Mauro Reisenauer* is an author/illustrator and educator whose recent book, *Line by Line: Everyone Can Draw Dinosaurs, was the USA Book News Best Books Award Winner in the Instructional/How-To Catagory. It is based on 14 years in the classroom teaching thousands of students about drawing. Her book Emerita* received 2nd place in DIY 2008 Childrens Picture Book Catagory along with Honorable Mentions from the International Latino Book Festival, the New York, Hollywood and San Francisco Book Festivals.
	*Todd Ritter* was born and raised in rural Pennsylvania. An editor and journalist for more than 15 years, Todd began his career as a film critic while attending Penn State University. Currently, he works for The Star-Ledger, New Jersey's largest daily newspaper. *Death Notice* is his debut novel. He lives outside of Princeton, where he is hard at work on his next mystery. www.toddritteronline.com
	*Kate Rockland* is a frequent contributor to the New York Times Style section and has also written for Playboy, Rolling Stone, Us Weekly, Time Out New York, Spin and the Newark Star-Ledger. She worked for two years at Rolling Stone, where she followed around freakishly beautiful celebrities with a microphone and was also an assistant editor at Wenner Books. After a stint in the East Village, she now lives in Hoboken, NJ, with a ridiculously large CD collection. www.katerockland.com
	*Alexis Romay* received a Master of Arts in Spanish Language and Literature from the City University of New York. His novel *Salidas de Emergencia* was published in Spain (Baile del Sol, 2007) and in Italy (NonSoloParole, 2007); his book of poetry *Los culpables* was published in Spain (Linkgua ediciones, 2008). He is a contributor to Encuentro en la red, Letralia, Tierra de Letras and Penúltimos días, as well as to the quarterlies Encuentro de la Cultura Cubana, Caleta, Replicante and Letras Libres. He has translated into Spanish the novel *Flight to Freedom, by Ana Veciana-Suarez, as well as the Newbery Award winning book of poetry The Surrender Tree, by Margarita Engle and, into English, the novel Al Norte del Infierno, by Miguel Correa Mujica. With Enrique Del Risco, he has written lyrics for Paquito D'Rivera's operetta Cecilio Valdes, Rey de La Habana*. He lives in New Jersey with his wife, his son, his dogs and a few books, and writes about Cuba, literature and other tropical diseases in his blogs: Belascoain y Neptuno & Mixing Memory and Desire. belascoainyneptuno www.mixingmemoryanddesir.com
	*Saralee Rosenberg* began her writing career co-authoring books on personal finance and relocation with her husband, Lee Rosenberg, a Certified Financial Planner. Their collaboration produced among others, *50 Fabulous Places to Retire in America* and *50 Fabulous Places to Raise a Family. On her own, Saralee has written the following novels: A Little Help from Above, Claire Voyant* and *Fate and Ms. Fortune* (all published by AvonBooks). Her latest novel, *Dear Neighbor, Drop Dead* , released in July 2008, is a hilarious, heart stopping romp over fences and defenses that takes on hormones and hunger, family feuds and fidelity, and a harrowing journey that spills the truth about an unplanned pregnancy and a miracle during the Holocaust that altered the fates of next door neighbors forever. It begs the question, what did you do to deserve living next to a crazy woman? Sometimes it's worth finding out. Saralee is a graduate of Indiana University and . lives on Long Island with her husband and three children. www.saraleerosenberg.com
	*Joydeep Roy-Bhattacharya* was born in Jamshedpur, India, and educated in philosophy and politics in India and the USA. Since leaving India he has lived in London, Amsterdam, Budapest, Prague, Berlin, Philadelphia, and New York City. He is presently based in Rhinebeck, in the Hudson Valley. His first novel, *The Gabriel Club, was published in eight languages in sixteen countries. His second novel, the 2400-page manuscript, Homeland, set in interwar Germany, is being whittled down to a more manageable size. He makes his US debut with The Storyteller of Marrakesh, the first of a cycle of three novels set in the Muslim world and scheduled to be published over the next three years by W. W. Norton. They are The Storyteller of Marrakesh, The Book of Baghdad, and Like a Perfect Circle Drawn on Water* (set in Isfahan). His next novel, *Antigone in Kandahar*, will be published in March 2012 by Random House simultaneously in the UK, USA, Canada, and Australia.

	*Jeremy Salter* earned a B.S. in Chemistry at Monmouth University. He is a pharmaceutical chemist and has written and reviewed standard operating procedures for analytical instruments at Parke-Davis Company. Mr. Salter has used his writing skills to render complicated technical subjects understandable.
	*Buddy Scalera* is a comic book writer, editor and photographer. He is the author of the popular *Comic Artist's Photo Reference* book series for IMPACT Books, and he is also known for his best-selling series of photography CD-ROMs, Visual Reference for Comic Artists. His latest release is *Creating Comics from Start to Finish, an educational book that details the complete continuum of comic book publishing. It includes detailed interviews and features about top comic creators who produce mainstream comic titles. Buddy has written for many mainstream comics, including Marvel Comics' Deadpool, Agent X* and *X-Men Unlimited, and he also contributed to Marvel's all-ages series Lockjaw* and *The Pet Avengers. On the indie side, he has written many comics including Richie Rich, Elvira, and Comiculture*. Buddy's written over 100 articles on the topic of comics for Wizard, Comics Buyer’s Guide and Spin Online, among others, and he was the creator and editor of Wizard Entertainment's WizardWorld and WizardSchool websites. As a comic book educator, Buddy has hosted and organized workshops and panels at major conventions in locations including New York City, New Jersey, Chicago, Long Beach, and Philadelphia. He is a proud member of the Nomination Committee for the Inkwell Awards. Their mission is "to promote and educate about the craft of comic book inking and to show recognition for ink artists." www.buddyscalera.com
	*Robert Damon Schneck, America's Historian of the Strange, is a Paramus native currently writing a new collection of amazing-but-true stories for Penguin. He is author of The President's Vampire: Strange-but-True Tales of the United States of America* (Anomalist Books, 2005, Barnes & Noble, 2007), as well as several books for young readers, including *Detective Notebooks: Are You Psychic?*, and articles for Fate the Fortean Times, Mysteries and other magazines. Robert has carried out parapsychology experiments, participated in ghost hunts, and visits odd places in search of material. He sleeps all day and works all night in an apartment full of books, Ouija boards, and Bigfoot tracks.
	*Stuart Schneider, who lives and works in Bergen County, is the author of 20 books that range from Antiques and Collectibles* to *Mineral Collecting* to illustrated books of *Ghosts in Cemeteries* throughout the US and Worldwide. The books have from 75 to 1,000 crisp, color photographs and most are "coffee table" books. Most are published by Schiffer Publishing. The books are available at your favorite bookstore, online bookseller, or from the author at www.wordcraft.net. During Autumn, Stuart gives informative talks about his books and displays his photographs at area libraries, historical societies, and other venues. Stuart is an attorney that represents authors, entertainers, and concentrates on law involving the written word (contracts, wills, & estates).
	*Ted Sherman* is co-author of *The Jersey Sting*, the inside story of the biggest federal corruption investigation in New Jersey history. Sherman is a senior investigative reporter for The Star-Ledger. He has won a Deadline Club award for investigative reporting in connection with stories on unchecked political patronage and shared the Edward Willis Scripps Award with colleague Josh Margolin for a series on the hidden costs of big time football at Rutgers University. Recently, his stories about widespread abuse by the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commissioners led to the firing of six members of the authority's board by the governor. A graduate of Hofstra University, he has an advanced degree in economics from Rutgers University. www.thejerseysting.com
	After inadvertently rescuing the artist's scrapbooks from an incinerator, *Barbara Lehman Smith* first wrote about Elizabeth Sparhawk-Jones for Pennsylvania Heritage magazine in 1995. As a feature writer who specializes in health, history, and the arts, she continued on to other projects but kept coming back to the Sparhawk-Jones story. "It seemed every few weeks I learned new information from range of sources—one day an email from a relative in Russia, another day from an art curator in Michigan—and began following one thread to the next. Those who care about Sparhawk-Jones's work and life and influences are deeply passionate, and that motivated me to weave those threads back together as best I could with this biography," says Ms. Smith of *Elizabeth Sparhawk-Jones: The Artist Who Lived Twice*. Currently a contributing writer for Avalon, a new lifestyle women's magazine based in Massachusetts, Barbara Lehman Smith has written professionally for more than twenty years. For eight years, she taught a writing and graphic design class geared for publications at Goucher College in Towson, Maryland, in the Graduate and Professional Studies program. A member of American Independent Writers, Inc., based in Washington, D.C., and the Biographers International Organization, she also belongs to the F. Scott Fitzgerald Society. Ms. Smith lives in Baltimore, Maryland with her husband, Chris, and their three children. www.elizabethsparhawkjones.com
	*Don Smith* is a native of Bergen County. He grew up in Bergenfield where he realized his love of writing and story telling. Since 2004, he has written for "Main Street", "Renaissance" "Mysteries Magazine," "InnerVoice," "NJ Cops" and other local publications. His first book *Hawthorne* (Arcadia Publishing) came out in 2006 and his second book *The Goffle Road Murders* about the first murder in Passaic County (in 1850) is due out from History Press in late 2011. He has expanded into comic books and has written *Political Power: Ronald Reagan, Political Power: Rush Limbaugh, Jesus Christ: Faith Series* and adapted S.E. Hinton's *The Puppy Sister* into a comic book a graphic novel for Bluewater Comics. He has also written comic books for Heske Horror and other anthology series. Don also writes for several of the Patch.com sites as well as Parcbench.com, InvestComics.com and CosmicBookNews.com. Don has also been a guest on internet radio programs like Shadows in the Dark, Jeremiah Greer Live, The Liberty Belle Hour, Freedom's Wings and The Alexandrea Merrell Show. Don currently lives in Hawthorne, with his wife Laura and their three cats. www.onsmith74.wordpress.com
	A media savvy social satirist, *Alix Strauss* has been a featured lifestyle & travel trend writer on national morning and talk shows including ABC, CBS, CNN, and the Today show. Her articles, which have appeared in the New York Times, NewYork Post, Time Magazine, Marie Claire, Entertainment Weekly and Self, among others, cover a range of topics from trends in beauty, travel, and food to celebrity interviews. She is the author of the award winning short story collection *The Joy of Funerals, Death Becomes Them: Unearthing the Suicides of the Brilliant, the Famous, and the Notorious, and Based Upon Availability. She is also the editor of Have I Got a Guy for You*, an anthology of mother coordinated dating horror stories. She is the recipient of several awards and f ellowships including the David Dornstein Creative Writing Award, which she won for her short story "Shrinking Away". A true Manhattanite, Alix lectures extensively and has spoken at over 100 events and symposiums. For more information on upcoming projects, recent articles, past events, and book reviews or to view clips of her television appearances please visit her website www.alixstrauss.com. www.alixstrauss.com
	*Wallace Stroby* is an award-winning journalist and the author of the novels *Cold Shot to the Heart, Gone 'Til November, The Heartbreak Loung* and *The Barbed-Wire Kiss*, which was a finalist for the 2004 Barry Award for Best First Novel. A New Jersey native, he's a lifelong resident of the Jersey Shore. For 13 years, he was an editor at The Newark Star-Ledger, Tony Soprano's hometown newspaper. Visit him at www.wallacestroby.com and on Facebook. www.wallacestroby.com

	*Jayanti Tamm* is a writer in multiple genres. She received her MFA in Creative Writing at American University in Washington, DC, where she studied fiction and playwriting. Following graduation, she had a number of stories published in literary journals in North America. In 2000, she was nominated for a Pushcart Prize. In 2005, her one-act play, The Suicide Bomber won the New England Academy of Theatre One Act Play Award. In 2009, her book, *Cartwheels in a Sari: A Memoir of Growing Up Cult* (Random House) was published and received glowing reviews from the New York Times, a four-out-of-four star review from People Magazine, and from many national and international publications. In 2010, the book was released in paperback (Three Rivers Press), and is currently a part of Target Stores' Recommended Reading program nationwide. She is professor at Ocean County College in Toms River, New Jersey, and this year, she is currently a Visiting Professor in the Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing Program at Queens College of the City University of New York. She lives in New Jersey with her husband, two daughters, and two cats where she is working on a novel. www.jayantitamm.com


	*Crystal Velasquez* is the author of four books in the Maya & Miguel series, based on the PBS show - *My Twin Brother/My Twin Sister, Neighborhood Friends, The Valentine Machine, and Paint the Town* - as well as the Your Life, but... series: *Your Life, but Better; Your Life, but Cooler; and Your Life, but Sweeter*, her first books for older readers. She holds a bachelor's degree in creative writing from Pennsylvania State University and is a graduate of the New York University Summer Publishing Institute. Currently a production editor and a freelance proofreader, she lives in Flushing, Queens, in New York City, and is working on her next book for tweens. www.crystalvelasquez.com

	*E. F. Watkins* is the author of *Dance With The Dragon* (2004 EPPIE Winner, Best Horror Novel), *Ride a Dancing Horse, Black Flowers* (2006 EPPIE Finalist, Action/Thriller and 2007 Indie Excellence Award Finalist, Mystery/Thriller), *Paragon* and *Danu's Children. Just out--One Blood!* www.efwatkins.com
	*Dave White* was born in 1979. He is a winner and multiple-time nominee for the Derringer Award for best short story and was shortlisted for the 2005 StorySouth Million Writers Award. He has contributed to many anthologies and collections, including *The Adventure of the Missing Detective* and *Damn Nead Dead. His debut novel, When One Man Dies, was published in 2007 and is shortlisted for the Strand Magazine Critics' Award (Best First Novel) and the Shamus Award (Best First Novel). His second novel The Evil That Men Do* is out now. He lives in New Jersey. www.jacksondonne.4t.com
	*Scott Wilson* is a film critic and writer living in Phillipsburg, New Jersey. He is the editor and coauthor of *Monster Rally, and co-host of the film review podcast MovieSucktastic. He has contributed to numerous film anthologies and magazines, and currently has a screenplay in preproduction. His latest book is Performed by Lugosi*. www.smichaelwilson.com
	*Gerald Arthur Winter* has been Member of the Authors Guild, Inc. since 1975. Originally from Queens, he grew up in Oakland, Jersey. A Rutgers University Journalism graduate in 1966, he has served as a member of the Rutgers Alumni Advisory Board to SCILS (School of Communications, Information, and Library Studies.) Winter's Tom Larkin detective series began with *Letters in Blood* in 2007 followed by *Hemingway's Trunk* in 2008. His next Larkin entry, *Dead on Arrival* is in progress. His short story, *The Grand* appeared in Hardboiled Magazine Issue #42 in 2010. His short story *The Poker Face* will appear at www.connotationpress.com June 15. His completed novel, *The Switcheroo*, was successfully pitched at the NY Writer's Workshop last November--a Young Adult contemporary story about the first woman to pitch in a World Series with spiritual help from her twin brother--from the grave. www.geraldarthurwinter.com
	*George Witte's* two collection of poems, *The Apparitioners* (2005) and *Deniability* (2009) are available from Orchises Press. His work has been published in Antioch Review, The Atlantic, Boulevard, Gettysburg Review, Kenyon Review, Poetry, Southwest Review, Virginia Quarterly Review, Yale Review, and elsewhere. He was awarded Poetry's Frederick Bock Prize for a group of poems, anthologized in *The Best American Poetry 2007* and *Vocabula Bound 2*, and received a fellowship from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State. For twenty six years he has worked at St. Martin's Press, as an editor, as the publisher of Picador USA, and now as editor in chief. A native of Madison, NJ, he lives with his wife and their two daughters in Ridgewood. www.redroom.com/author/george-witte
	*Sung J. Woo's* short stories and essays have appeared in The New York Times, McSweeney's, and KoreAm Journal. His debut novel, *Everything Asian* (2009), has received praises from The Christian Science Monitor, Kirkus Reviews (starred review), the Chicago Sun-Times, and won the 2010 Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature (Youth category). He lives in Washington, New Jersey. www.sungjwoo.com
	*Kevin Woyce* is a lifelong resident of the Garden State, raised in East Rutherford and now living in Lyndhurst with his wife, Carin, and their miniature schnauzer. He has written two books of regional history, *Jersey Shore History & Facts* and *Hudson River Lighthouses & History*. He has several more in progress. He also presents digital slide shows throughout New Jersey and southern New York about a variety of topics, including the Jersey Shore, Hudson River Lighthouses, the Statue of Liberty, and New Jersey State Parks. www.kevinwoyce.com


	*Karen Romano Young* is an author, illustrator, and deep-sea diver, with 25 children's books to her credit. Her most recent children's book, *Doodlebug: A Novel in Doodles*, is a Mother-Daughter book club recommendation and a Kirkus Reviews Best Book of 2010. Karen creates Humanimal Doodles, hand-drawn science articles that appear in such magazines as Muse and such websites as Animal Planet. Her science writing has taken her to the top of the world (the Arctic Circle) and the bottom of the sea (in the submarine Alvin). www.karenromanoyoung.com

	*Natalie Zaman* is the co-author of *Sirenz, the first in a YA contemporary fantasy series published by Flux. Her work has appeared in various magazines, newspapers, e-zines and anthologies for adults and children. She's currently plotting disasters for the characters of Sirenz* and working on a Victorian steampunk fantasy for teens. Natalie lives in central New Jersey with her family and several fine looking chickens. nataliezaman.blogspot.com/
	*John Zeaman* writes an arts column for Design NJ and reviews art for The (Bergen) Record and The Star-Ledger. He was the art critic and design writer at The Record for more than twenty years and has won numerous journalism awards. He was thrice honored by the Society of Silurians, America's oldest press club, for his newspaper column on design in the everyday world. He is also the author of a series of children's books called *Before They Were Pets, and the young adult book, Overpopulation*. He lives in Leonia, New Jersey.

*Funded in part by the NJ State Library which is responsible for the coordination, promotion and funding of the NJ Library Network.