Coal Country! written by Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen
Featuring original music written and performed by Grammy Award winner Steve Earle
Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen, the creative minds behind the award-winning docudrama The Exonerated, bring their signature style to this strikingly innovative New York Times Critic’s Pick that delves into the aftermath of the West Virginia mine explosion of 2010, highlighting the indomitable resilience of an American community on a quest for justice in this "profound and intensely human story told in an incredibly powerful 90 minutes." (Daily Beast)
Featuring the musical talents of three-time Grammy Award® winner Steve Earle, COAL COUNTRY combines the country and folk legend's "soaring emotional heft and superbly evocative string-picking" (The Hollywood Reporter) with actual first-person accounts from survivors and family members, immortalizing their stories of survival.
For more information, or to request interviews with the performers including Steve Earle, show creators Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen, or Theatre West Virginia Executive Director Scott Hill, contact:
Burke Allen (703) 589-8960 burke@allenmediastrategies.com
Ry Levey (647) 781-0818 ryan@allenmediastrategies.com
Shaili Priya (703) 622-3882 shaili@allenmediastrategies.com
Burke Allen/ Shaili Priya Allen Media Strategies +1 703-589-8960
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Susan Chapman
Award Winning Children's Book Author
Grumpy the Iguana is fourth in Susan Chapman’s award-winning children’s book series. It recently won a Next Generation Indie Book Award for Best Series Fiction.
Susan was born and lived most of her life in Pennsylvania. Her great-grandfather built most of the city of Philadelphia (over 40,000 homes). Her mother was born in Ireland and came to the United States after she married Susan’s dad. Susan grew up on a farm in southern Pennsylvania. It was not a “working” -- they had a few pigs, about a hundred chickens, two geese, one turkey and a lot of dogs and cats. They had a huge vegetable garden which covered much of two acres of land and they planted each seed by hand and hoed up the land without using machinery.
They had over one hundred tomato plants, ten rows of corn, squash, lettuce, pole limas, string beans, watermelon, cantaloupe, potatoes, and many other vegetables and fruit trees. That was her childhood and she was the eldest of eight children.
Susan was educated in Pennsylvania and paid for her education herself. She worked three jobs to put herself through school. She has an associate’s degree in Business from Widener University, a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Wilkes College and a Certificate in Interior Decorating from Philadelphia College.
Married for twenty years and divorced, she has two children, Michael age 33 and Avery 31. She moved to Miami Beach in 2013 and started writing children’s stories in 2017. She lives with her two Pomeranian dogs, Sugar and Cookie. She has three granddaughters. She loves writing books and it is her passion.
For more information visit susanmariechapman.com
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/susanmariechapman
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Amazon Author Central page https://amzn.to/3613EC9
Grumpy the Iguana https://amzn.to/2Tnyhim
Kelsey Clark
Headline Kids, Fiction
Kelsey N. Clark resides in small town West Virginia with her family on their farm. Kelsey is a registered and licensed Occupational Therapist but enjoys mostly the blessings of being a mom. She enjoys keeping diaries of her experiences with her children, and the phases and phrases that they share with her throughout their daily life. Through their interaction and adventure, Kelsey offers a glimpse into the mind of her children and their child-like perceptions of life and lessons-learned.
Meet the Author Here! FB Live Video
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Ken Conklin
Award-Winning Author - NonFiction
Ken Conklin, a native of Los Angeles, lives in southwestern Virginia. His essays have been published in the Roanoke Times and other publications such as the Victoria Advocate, Easy Reader, and Microwave Journal. NORVEL is his first book.
Although always a writer, he made his living in the technology industry as a business development and general management executive. In those roles he had the opportunity to travel throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. The experiences from those travels inform his writing.
Aside from working on his next book, Ken and his wife enjoy spending time with their family and friends, going to live music events, golfing, and hiking the beautiful trails of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. Ken continues, however, to root for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
For More Information and to contact the author visit: https://www.kennethfconklin.com/
Amazon Author Page https://amzn.to/3drxfZC
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Thomas Conway
Author
Thomas Conway has taken on many interests since graduating Cornell with a degree in Economics. In the 1990’s he ran a startup computer firm. He followed that success by working his way up to Chief Information Officer before switching direction again to run contact centers across the country.
Thomas has more recently pulled back from the business world to pursue his passions across various fields. He is the Chair of his Borough’s Environmental Commission, an active ocean racer, a photographer and, most of all, an author.
His first book, The Naughty List, won the broad E-Book: Fiction category in the 2020 Next Generation Indie Book Awards, the world’s largest book awards program for independent publishers and self-published authors.
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Eileen Cooley
Headline Kids, Education, Fiction
Eileen L. Cooley Ph.D. earned her degree in Clinical Psychology from Emory University. She has been a Professor of Psychology at Agnes Scott College and a licensed psychologist in Georgia for over 20 years. Based on her clinical and parenting experiences, she developed these scenarios to help children understand and solve their dilemmas of everyday life.
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beverly Kievman copen
Author, Entrepreneur, Photographer
Beverly Kievman Copen has worn many hats during her life. Even in her early 20’s with her first business, a model and talent agency in Atlanta, Georgia USA, she had a strong desire to help or coach women and men to become better in many of their roles in life. That “theme” has continued throughout her career. She calls it “giving back”. Beverly asks a lot of questions and listens to the answers. She loves helping people find solutions, clarify their values, set goals and develop plans to make things happen. She has been invited to speak in many countries and understands the importance of learning their culture. Early in her career she became Georgia’s first Film Representative, working with Jimmy Carter, then Governor of Georgia. Along the way she has had 5 non-fiction books published and has become an award-winning professional photographer. Her “new” book, IT’S YOUR LIFE, ISN’T IT?, began in 2000, when it was published in Japan, in Japanese. It now is published as an eBook in Spanish, as a beautiful print book in English, available from www.lulu.com, and now as an eBook in English. To learn more about her background, visit her website: http://beverlycopen.com This book is now available in English as a print book (www.lulu.com) and as an eBook, and as an eBook in Spanish, in Ecuador.
Heike Elisabeth Daldrup-Link (pen name: Elisabeth Link)
Mystery
Zoom Into Books Author
Dr. Elisabeth Link, a Professor of Radiology at Stanford University in California, is an accomplished and highly regarded physician-scientist with memberships in prestigious organizations such as the American Society for Clinical Investigation (ASCI, honor society for physician-scientists) and the American Institute for Medical and Biomedical Engineering (AIMBE, the top 2% of medical and biomedical engineers in the United States).
Dr. Link is also a member of the Pegasus Physician Writers at Stanford University, a group of physicians who write creatively. Her novels feature women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics/medicine (STEM) who use their skills to solve complex medical mysteries in collaboration with the FBI. Dr. Link's novels have been praised by critics for their suspenseful plots, realistic characters, and accurate medical details. She has been called "a rising star in the mystery genre" and "a gifted writer who knows how to keep readers guessing until the end."
Dr. Link is also the founder of Monasteria Press LLC, an independent publishing company that showcases the stories of remarkable women in STEM. Through her work, Dr. Link is committed to sharing the inspiring and often overlooked contributions of women in these fields. Her passion for highlighting women in STEM adds an important dimension to her work as an author and a publisher.
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Pat DiCesare
Biographies / Memoirs
Zoom Into Books Author
Pat DiCesare is widely considered to be one the fathers of the rock and roll concert business, not only in Pittsburgh but nationwide. After an illustrious career spanning five decades, he retired in 1999 to his home in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, with his wife, Kathy, and they have three sons. Pat now makes numerous public speaking engagements and writes for various music and business publications. Hard Days Hard Nights is his first book.
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bernard Dillard
Fiction
Zoom Into Books Author
Bernard Dillard is a native of Durham, NC, where he graduated as valedictorian of Hillside High School. He attended Morehouse College, where he obtained a B.A. in English literature. He has also earned graduate degrees in educational studies and applied mathematics. He is the author of Two ‘Til Midnight: A Novel, which was declared the 2020 Winner of the Next Generation Indie Book Awards in the African-American category. He is also the author of Lemonade: Inspired by Actual Events, a memoir, which won first place in Dan Poynter’s Global Ebook Awards in 2013. Further, he is the author of two math textbooks, which are widely used in colleges across the country. An associate professor, Bernard teaches Statistical Analysis and The Mathematics of Personal Finance at Fashion Institute of Technology. He is an avid runner and loves watching old school karate flicks. He currently resides in Brooklyn.
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Eleanor Dixon
Author, Teacher, Coach
Eleanor Dixon spent her school life in a girls’ boarding school training to be a ballet dancer, she is more than qualified to write her Amberwood Hall Ballet School Series, a middle-grade series that starts with The Graceful Ghost.
She loves fantasy and didn’t want to write a run-of-the-mill story about a ballet boarding school. But a story that shares its POV with a ghost sounded far more exciting. And bringing boys to the school in the second book gave so much scope for antics in both spheres while dealing with teenage angst and a hint of romance, delicately handled.
She has traveled extensively with her career and husband. She lived in Greece for twenty years, where she ran a ballet school. So, setting her second middle-grade series, Tally and the Angel, in a different country for each book is a fabulous way to share her experiences. Readers have described feeling as though they are in the country she is describing. Tally has amazing adventures with a twist and keeps the reader guessing.
Eleanor is passionate about writing, which she started in 1990 while still in Greece. At that time,she completed a Creative Writing Course with the Writers’ Bureau. In 1995, she won an annual competition in the Writing Magazine for an adult Fairy Story.
She left Greece in 1997 and settled back in England with her husband, dogs, cats, hens, and abundant wildlife in their garden. When she is not writing, she volunteers as a coach with Riding for the Disabled and as a mentor at the local secondary (High) school.
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Website: https://www.eleanordixon.com
Amazon author page: http://tinyurl.com/eleanordixonBOOKS
Jared Dixon
Award Winning Author
Jared Dixon is a conversion therapy survivor who resides in Baltimore County with his fiance. He received his Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and is the finance manager for CT Survivors, a nonprofit organization that promotes and facilitates healing for individuals who have undergone conversion therapy. Jared's debut novel, Corrupted: The Truth Shall Be The Nail In Your Coffin, is the winner of the National Indie Excellence Award in the sexuality category and was nominated for the Next Generation Indie Book Awards in the LGBTQ fiction category. Jared is an accomplished pianist who enjoys running and yoga in his spare time
For more information visit https://jareddixon.com/
Meet the Author - Zoom Into Books YouTube Video
Link to Facebook Page: Jared Dixon - novelist | Facebook
Link to Instagram: www.instagram.com/dijared13
Link to Twitter: Jared Dixon, M.S. (@pianoguy_11) / Twitter
Kaitlyn dorroh
Author
Kaitlyn Dorroh is a high school student who makes her home in North Carolina. She likes to hang out with friends, listen to music, and skateboard in her free time. She also has a YouTube channel, CK Vlogs, which she shares with her brother. Kaitlyn is involved in athletics and enjoys playing softball and cheering. Her favorite place to vacation is the beach. She loves writing and is passionate about helping Adam’s Cape, Inc. a non-profit established in honor of her cousin Adam who passed away at six years old. Through Adam’s Cape, Inc. she dedicates her time and talents helping children struggling with significant medical needs.
She currently lives at home with her parents, her brother, Caleb, her Westie named Trooper, and her bunny named Raindrop. You can follow Adam’s Cape on Instagram @adams.cape
For more information visit https://adamscape.org/
Lee Doty
West Virginia Authors/Illustrators, Books, Fiction, Contemporary, Drama, Mysteries
Lee Doty, retired from the practice of law, received her MFA in Creative Writing from the Rosemont School of Graduate Studies. Ms. Doty received her undergraduate degree from Duke University and law degree from Georgetown University. She divides her time between West Dennis, MA and Kearneysville, WV. She teaches Creative Writing in the Shepherd University Lifelong Learning Program and is a staff writer for the Shepherdstown Good News Paper.
Discussion with Lee Doty, Karl Stewart, and Kevin Miller - Watch YouTube Video Here
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Colleen Driscoll
Audio Books, Headline Kids, Education, Fiction, West Virginia Authors/Illustrators
Award-winning author Colleen Driscoll is a graduate of Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Her books, Piper the Elf Trains Santa, Piper the Elf and Santa’s Rockin’ Band, and Piper the Elf’s Big Surprise are Mom’s Choice Award recipients. The Driscoll family recorded the companion Piper the Elf audio books with original music. Colleen especially enjoys meeting her fans and inspiring others to write. She is part of the Headline Kids School Show Program and visits schools regularly.
For more information visit www.PiperTheElf.com.
Meet the Author - Piper the Elf Trains Santa - FB Live
Meet the Author - Santa's Rockin' Band - Fb Live
Meet the Author - Piper's Big Surprise - FB Live
Meet the Author - Piper the Elf Rides A Reindeer - YouTube Video
Children's Book Discussion with Colleen Driscoll - YouTube Video
Heather Dugan
Non-Fiction, Self Help
Author and speaker Heather Dugan is the founder/director of Cabernet Coaches®, an “all ages, all stages” access group for women that fosters self-betterment through face-to-face friendships and social connection. The Friendship Upgrade: Trade Clickable Connections for Friendships that Matter pinpoints the causes of isolation and offers life-changing solution steps for the socially side-lined as well as those seeking deeper, more meaningful friend connections. Date Like a Grownup: Anecdotes, Admissions of Guilt & Advice Between Friends (self-help/relationships finalist in the USA Book Awards and the Next Generation Indie Book Awards) is “a witty and insightful look at dating the second time around, a refreshing peek into the challenges of building midlife relationships, and a toolkit for moving past the loneliness toward a relationship built for the future.” She has also worked as a professional voice talent for more than twenty-five years and recently completed The Friendship Upgrade audiobook.
Heather’s ongoing study of the challenges and opportunities in relationship- and community-building, as well as the success of her 260+ member group, has made her a popular speaker with corporate organizations and community groups. Topics include the impact of transitions, technology, and over-efficiency on relationships, building stronger communities, and bridges to connection and friendship. A responsive and engaging communicator, her talks generate the meaningful discussions that can generate pathways to personal growth and community change.
An Indiana University alumna, Heather resides in Columbus, Ohio, but is an avid traveler and outdoor enthusiast who keeps hiking poles and her passport within easy reach. The proud mom of three adult children, she blogs about relationships, transitions, and better living at Tips from the Tightrope on her author website. Find her on Facebook, Instagram, at Cabernet Coaches, or visit www.heatherduganauthor.com.
Click here to watch YouTube video - Writing, Relationships, and Covid-19
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Steven DuPin
Biographies / Memoirs, Humor
Steven DuPin (a.k.a. Stevie D.) is a Kentucky-born comedian, writer and producer. After spending years performing in some of the best-known comedy clubs in Hollywood, he executive produced and starred in Rockstars of Comedy, a live concert DVD featuring some of the most recognizable comics in the industry, including Whitney Cummings of NBC’s Whitney and Steve Burns, star of TBS’ Sullivan & Son. Stevie is president of his own production company, Blue Moon Media, which develops reality television series and other projects. He resides in Los Angeles with his wife and two children.
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Bill Dutcher
Memoir, Humor
Bill Dutcher is a fun-loving, risk-taking entrepreneur, seeking to balance his family life as a husband, father, and grandfather with his love of basketball, business, and writing. After growing up in the oil company town of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, he graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a degree in journalism. He served as a Navy officer for four years during the Vietnam War era, with assignments in the Philippines and the Pentagon. After a brief career as a newspaper reporter, he entered the oil and gas business as a public relations consultant, speechwriter, and lobbyist.
His adventures as an entrepreneur began when he founded a natural gas consulting firm in Oklahoma City and continued as he built Anadarko Minerals, an oil and gas producing company, into a family-owned, multi-million-dollar enterprise. Although semi-retired, he remains active as the founder and chairman of Anadarko Minerals and as the managing partner of Dutcher Investment Properties, a Norman, Oklahoma real estate company. He and his wife Terry recently celebrated their 57th wedding anniversary. They live in Norman with their daughters, Anne and Emily.
For more information or to contact the author visit https://wildcatpress.partners/
Leonard Eckhaus
Headline Kids, Fiction
LEONARD ECKHAUS is the founder of AFCOM, the leading organization in the world for data center managers. His comments and opinions have appeared in such publications as The New York Times, The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal. He also co-founded the record label LL MUSIC LLC and received two Grammy nominations in 2018.
Leonard’s first book, My Journey: Lessons I’ve Learned Along the Way, The Memoirs of Leonard I. Eckhaus, was published in 2018 and more recently Grinza’s Orchard – An Enchanted Tale, the story of a gypsy girl born in Romania in 1890, a Mom’s Choice Award Recipient.
Meet the Author Here - YouTube Video