Carter Taylor Seaton
Author
Carter Taylor Seaton is the author of two novels, Father’s Troubles, and amo, amas, amat…an unconventional love story, numerous magazine articles, and several essays, short stories, and the non-fiction, Hippie Homesteaders. Her biography of the late Ken Hechler, The Rebel in the Red Jeep, was released by West Virginia University Press in 2017. Her latest book, Me and MaryAnn is a compilation of stories of her renegade childhood and youth. In her earlier life, she directed a rural craft cooperative, was nominated for the Ladies Home Journal’s “Women of the Year 1975” Award, and ran three marathons—Atlanta, New York City, and Marine Corps—after she was fifty.
The Rebel in the Red Jeep was named a 2017 category finalist for Biography by ForeWord Reviews. Hippie Homesteaders received an Honorable Mention in the 2014 Eric Hoffer Book Awards – Culture Category and was a finalist in the Regional Adult Non-fiction category of ForeWord Magazine’s 2015 INDIEFAB Book of the Year Awards. Both Hippie Homesteaders and The Rebel in the Red Jeep were non-fiction Weatherford Award finalists, as well. ForeWord Magazine also named her debut novel, Father’s Troubles, as a Book of the Year category finalist in 2003. Her second novel, amo, amas, amat…an unconventional love storywas designated “Indie Approved” by IndieReader.com and they named her one of nine authors nationally who break boundries with Indie Lit.
In 2020 she had two books published: the novel, The Other Morgans (Koehler Publishing) and the memoir We Were Legends in our own Minds(Mountain State Press) written with her husband about his career managing civic centers where he hosted the rock legends of the 1970s and 1980s.
She holds a Tamarack Foundation Fellowship Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Arts and the West Virginia Library Association honored her with the 2014 WVLA Literary Merit Award. In 2015, Marshall University’s College of Liberal Arts honored her with an Award of Distinction. In 2016, Seaton received the Governors’ Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Arts.
She graduated from Marshall University in 1982 with a Regent's BA degree in English and Business and worked as a marketing professional in West Virginia and Georgia for over thirty years. Now, also a practicing ceramic sculptor, she lives in Huntington, West Virginia with her husband Richard Cobb.
Click here to watch Video The 'Other' Morgans
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Grant Maloy Smith
Headline Kids, Holiday
Grant Maloy Smith is a Billboard Top 10 Country/Roots musician who has performed all over the world—from Nashville to London, and even including New York City’s famous Carnegie Hall.
He was inspired to write a song about possums saving Christmas after appearing on the “Tim White Bluegrass Show” in eastern Tennessee. The song led to the book you are holding in your hands right now. An avid artist before he turned to music, Grant enjoyed doing the illustrations, and took great care to bring personality and humor to the characters in the book.
You can download the song for free on Grant’s website at this link:
www.grant-maloy-smith.com/possum
Click Here to Watch "Possum-mania"
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Roger Smith
Author, CEO
For the first time ever, Roger Smith, the former President and CEO of American Income Life Insurance and Liberty National, takes readers on an unflinching journey through his remarkable life; a life that includes astronomical business success alongside family struggles and a life-threatening battle with addiction.
Written in a fast-paced, no-holds-barred style, The Most Unlikely Leader is a tour-de-force. Why ‘unlikely’? By the time Smith was a teenager he was living on the streets of Santa Monica and addicted to drugs. He dropped out of high school, ran into trouble with the law, had his best friend shot right next to him while running away from a failed robbery attempt and, at one point, was so down and out and desperate for a fix in his early thirties that he walked into the Pacific Ocean expecting never to come back.
While the first third of Smith’s story deals with his life as a functional addict, The Most Unlikely Leader reveals how he got clean, got his mind right, got his career back and ascended to the highest role in a massive corporation. From Smith’s first foray into entrepreneurship as a young boy selling comic books on the streets of New York City, to his first sales job in Compton, California, to his taking over American Income Life, this book shares the philosophy, the decisions (both good and bad) and the grit that resulted in a man without a high school diploma being put in charge of one of the largest life insurance companies in the world.
Oklahoma City. Arkansas. Baltimore. Chicago. Dallas. Washington, D.C. These are just a few of the stops we’ll visit as Smith rose through the ranks of American Income relying on nothing but his wit, work ethic and his evolving understanding of what it takes to build teams and lead national organizations.
Part leadership manual, part business manifesto and part memoir, The Most Unlikely Leader is the rare leadership book you won’t be able to put down.
Amazon Author Page https://amzn.to/3xgpW0a
Millie Snyder
Books, Non-Fiction, Cookbooks
Millie Snyder is an award-winning author, inspirational speaker, and entrepreneur. She has been positively impacting people’s lives for nearly fifty years with her message of healthy living. With her message, she provides the tools for living a longer, healthier life, which produces growth along the way to become the best you possible. To Millie, preparation is the key to success and celebration of life acts as the motivation to live in a health conscious manner.
From September 23, 1969 to July 15, 2013, Millie was the president and CEO of Weight Watchers in West Virginia. In addition to Weight Watchers, she also owns and operates the Shape Shop, a deli-style restaurant, serving healthy, fresh, never-processed foods and treats, catering to all those in pursuit of nutritious fare.
Millie is the mother of two grown children, Craig and Jennifer, and the proud grandmother of five grandchildren, Allison, Jack, Holden, Aubrey and Hunter.
Click Here to watch Video - Lean & Luscious Meetless - FB Live
Click Here to watch video - Lean & Luscious Mediterranean - FB Live
Click Here to watch Video - Lean & Luscious
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kelly speck
Author
Kelly Speck once thought she would spend her life as a working mom and wife, hustling in Corporate America while volunteering for the PTA. Life’s numerous curveballs, however, have prompted an evolution; she now considers herself a recovering type-A planner.
For more than twenty years now, she has performed accounting in an array of industries while maintaining a strong marriage to her college sweetheart, Travis. Kelly and Travis have three children who have, along with her deep faith, humbled her profoundly. When her high school friends voted her "Most Likely to Drive a Minivan," she scoffed and declared that would never happen. Ironically, the Specks currently own not one but two minivans. Kelly's favorite of the two has a ramp for her oldest son, Bennett, a quadriplegic, and she considers it the world’s greatest honor to serve as chauffeur for him and his two younger siblings. As she faces work’s daily challenges while remaining a proud wife, mom, and caregiver for Bennett.
Kelly's mantra is: life is not always easy, but it is always beautiful. She lives in Kensington, MD.
For more information visit https://hopeintheheartache.com/
Purchase Hope in the Heartache: The Journey of Grace and Growth with a Special Needs Child
Joan Spilman
Headline Kids, Fiction
Joan Spilman has an MFA in Creative Writing from Wichita State University where she was awarded the fellowship. She has published in literary journals such as “The Laurel Review,” “Short Story International,” “Willow Springs” and many others. Her awards include the John Maier Award from Marshall University, the George Garrett Prize for Best Prose from West Washington University, and a PEN Syndicated Fiction Award. She is also the author of a YA novel entitled Sansablatt Head which received a five star review from Kirkus and was called “. . . a masterfully weird adventure, likely to leave fantasy lovers in awe.” Joan has owned one duck, Digger, who now resides at the Blenko Glass Factory Pond for retired or ill-tempered ducks.
Click here to watch The Waddling Dead
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Don Stansberry
Fiction, Mysteries, Spiritual, Thrillers, Education, Fiction, Middle Grade
International Award winning author, Don Stansberry, is a native West Virginian and an elementary school teacher. His new book, Vulture Bend, will be released in Boston at NEA, the National Education Association national conference. Don is the author Secret Blood, a multi award winning book that took top honors for best spiritual fiction at the London Book Festival. It was named a Winner at the Indie Book Awards at a reception at The Plaza in New York City during Book Expo America. He also authored two middle school books, Inky & the Missing Gold and Inky, Oglebee, & the Witches, and his children’s book–which he also illustrated, Crusty, was named a Finalist in the USA News Best Book Awards. Don has been a public school teacher since 1984 and always had an interest in writing. He was the head coach for the Parkersburg High Girls’ Basketball team for 16 years and retired from this position with four state championships.
Click Here to Watch - Inky the Wizard Series
Click Here to Watch - Secret Blood and Vulture Bend
Click Here to Watch - Crusty
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Karl L. Stewart
Books, Fiction, Historical, Military
Award winning author, KARL STEWART, was raised in the hills of post-WWII West Virginia, and moved to Wisconsin in his teen years, attending a Catholic seminary. Upon leaving the seminary, he enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1966, serving as a communications sergeant in the elite Green Beret Special Forces until 1969. He enrolled in the University of Wisconsin, earning a double-major degree in political science and history. In 2005 Stewart retired from teaching high school Social Studies and English to devote himself to his two passions, family and writing. His first novel, The Legend of See Bird: The Last Long Drive, (a Western) was followed by a sequel, Devil’s Backbone (dealing with the feud between the Hatfields and McCoys), which received an Honorable Mention at the Southern California Book Festival. Both books are loosely based on the life of Stewart’s great-grandfather, See Bird Carpenter, a Choctaw Indian. He and his wife live in rural Wisconsin on a pine-lined ridge with a stunning view to the south, echoing his West Virginia childhood playgrounds.
The Legend of See Bird Series Trailer
Click Here to Watch Video - The Green Light
Click Here to Watch Video - The 7th Cruise
Click Here to Watch Video - The Last Long Drive - FB Live
Click here to Watch Video - Devil's Backbone - YouTube
Click Here to Watch Video - Kiamichi - YouTube
Click Here to Watch Video - Good Night Sweet Dreams - YouTube
Click Here to Watch Video - Up Harvey's Creek - FB Live
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Stephanie Storey
Author
Stephanie Storey is the author of "Raphael, Painter in Rome" and "Oil and Marble: a Novel of Leonardo and Michelangelo," which The New York Times called 'tremendously entertaining,' has been translated into six languages, and is now in development as a feature film by Pioneer Pictures. Storey is also a national television producer of shows like "The Alec Baldwin Show" on ABC, "The Arsenio Hall Show" on CBS, and Emmy-nominated "The Writers' Room" for the Sundance Channel. When not writing fiction or producing television, Storey can usually be found traveling the world with husband Mike Gandolfi--an actor and Emmy-winning comedy writer--in search of their next stories (except during the pandemic when they are sheltering-in-place by a lake). Learn more at StephanieStorey.com
Bella lynn Thompson
Nonfiction
Bella Lynn Thompson is an author, licensed clinical psychologist, senior adjunct professor, and mother of two. She has presented numerous educational lectures and cared for clients for well over a decade. In Sudden Widow, A True Story of Love, Grief, Recovery, and How Badly It Can Suck! Bella recounts her happiest and most trying times, and through her book manages to evoke emotions of heartbreak, humor, and hope.
Watch Zoom Into Books Interview Here
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Sandy Tritt
Author/Editor
Sandy Tritt is a writer, ghostwriter, editor and speaker. The founder and CEO of Inspiration for Writers, Inc., an international editing and critiquing service for aspiring writers, she has edited hundreds of manuscripts (fiction, nonfiction, and plays), and ghostwritten dozens more. The author of several books, including From Laundry to Love and The PLAIN ENGLISH Writer’s Workbook, her short stories have received many awards and have appeared in various literary magazines. She is a past president of West Virginia Writers, Inc., the state’s largest writing organization, and past president of the Ohio Valley Literary Group. She was the recipient of the 2002 Artsbridge Arts Award for Writing and the West Virginia Writers’ 2008 J.U.G. (Just Uncommonly Good) Award for mentoring writers. Sandy taught creative writing for the Jackson County Board of Education and has given workshops at the Connecticut Fiction Fest (Meriden, Connecticut), West Virginia Writers Conference (Cedar Lakes, West Virginia), the Alabama Writers Conclave (Auburn, Alabama), the Appalachian Writers Association (Bristol, Tennessee), the Writer’s Project Runway (Leesburg, Virginia), the Lewisburg Literary Festival, and for the West Virginia Division of Culture and History (Charleston, West Virginia)—among many local and regional workshops. Invite her to speak at your conference or workshop.
WWW.InspirationForWriters.com provides encouragement, writing craft tips, and inspiring success stories. Additionally, Inspiration for Writers, Inc., publishes a weekly blog article at http://inspiration4writers.blogspot.com/ and a somewhat-monthly e-newsletter. IFW will provide a free sample edit (500 words) of a completed fiction or nonfiction manuscript over 20,000 words or a 30-minute complimentary consultation. See the website for more information or contact Sandy at IFWeditors@gmail.com.
Sandy loves giving workshops. Invite her to speak at your conference or workshop.
Click here to watch video!
The Twenty Year War Authors
Non-fiction, Photo Journalist, Army Rangers
Dan Blakeley served in 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, deploying six times in support of the Global War on Terror. He graduated from Appalachian State University with his bachelor’s degree and two master’s degrees. He started the school’s solar-powered racing team that designed and built two solar-powered race cars, competing in five international races. Dan’s transition from military to civilian was not easy. Over the years he has seen firsthand a trend in the veteran community which paralleled his own experiences. “It’s a lack of understanding the skills veterans bring to the table, our proven leadership, our commitment to teammates, our unwavering desire to increase potential and be our best,” Dan said recently. Dan’s passion for veteran success and telling their stories was the inspiration for his first book, The Twenty-Year War. Dan is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of United Valor, a company focused on telling the untold stories of war through all media formats.
Tom Amenta was born in Chicago, IL, and grew up in the area before enlisting, against his family’s wishes, into the United States Army on his 18th birthday. Following his five years as a member of the 75th Ranger Regiment, including two combat tours in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Tom earned his degree in political science from the University of Illinois. Tom spent the next eight years as the COO of the veteran lifestyle apparel company Ranger Up. He pioneered the veteran lifestyle apparel category and helped grow Ranger Up into the premier company in the space. At Ranger Up, he passionately advocated for veterans’ causes in many spaces, including lobbying Senate service committees. Later, he helped produce and starred in the only fully veteran-produced Hollywood movie, Range 15. He is a passionate advocate for veteran entrepreneurship and assisting veterans in transition, which led him to author his first book, The Twenty-Year War. Tom is the Chief Development Officer of United Valor.
Beau Simmons has been a professional photographer since 2009. He grew up just outside Joshua Tree National Park. An adventurer, Beau grew up working on and racing motorcycles as a child. He made a name for himself at 21 on the fashion photography scene working with clients including Marc Jacobs, 7 For All Mankind, Guess Jeans, and Converse. He was a go-to photographer for such agencies as Elite Models, IMG, and Ford Models. Beau captures his work exclusively on film using the lost art of medium format film photography, feeling it gives a classic look and feel to his work. The fashion scene began to grind on Beau. Being a cowboy is in his blood. In this spirit, he decided to pursue his passion for capturing classic Americana and the wonder of the American landscape. Through this cross-country journey, he was introduced to the veteran non-profit Heroes and Horses, a group that uses equine therapy to help veterans cope with PTSD and traumatic brain injuries. His commitment to telling an authentic story about American veterans is on full display in his first feature photo book, The Twenty-Year War, which he created with two former Army Rangers, one of whom is his childhood friend, Dan Blakeley. Beau is the Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer of United Valor.
For More Information https://twentyyearwar.com/
Purchase on Amazon https://amzn.to/3G7EPEc
Watch Video Here https://youtu.be/ZrRCKCbjtpw
Simon Van der Velde
Thriller Writer
Simon Van der Velde was born and educated in Newcastle upon Tyne where he trained and practiced as a lawyer. Writing, however, was always the real passion, and Simon has now left the legal profession in order to concentrate on his writing.
Since completing a creative writing M.A. (with distinction) at University of Northumbria in 2011, his work has won and been short-listed for numerous awards including; The Yeovil Literary Prize, (twice), The Readers’ Favorite Gold Medal, The Wasafiri New Writing Prize, The Luke Bitmead Bursary, The Frome Short Story Prize, The Writers’ and Artists’ Short Story Prize, The Harry Bowling Prize, The Henshaw Press Short Story Competition and The National Association of Writers’ Groups Open Competition.
Simon is the founder and chair of Gosforth Writers Group and author of the widely acclaimed, Amazon bestseller, Backstories, ‘the stand-out most original book of the year’ in 2021. His literary crime novel, The Silent Brother(Northodox Press, 2022), has recently been longlisted for the UK’s premier crime-writing prize, the Crime Writers’ Association GOLD Dagger, 2023. Simon is currently working on both Backstories II, due for publication this summer, and his follow-up crime novel, Dogwood.
Having traveled throughout Europe and South America, Simon now lives in Newcastle upon Tyne with his wife, labradoodle, and two tyrannical children.
For more information or to contact the author visit https://www.simonvandervelde.com/
Kindle https://amzn.to/3AV76Oa
Amazon https://amzn.to/3HInzco
Diana Pishner Walker
Family Histories, History, Headline Kids, Non-Fiction, West Virginia Authors/Illustrators
Diana Pishner Walker was born in Clarksburg, WV and is the daughter of the late Louis and Anna Allessio Pishner. She attended Notre Dame High School in Clarksburg, WV and graduated in 1977. She attended Fairmont State College, Fairmont WV and was a “Fast ForWord” computer aide at East Dale Elementary School. Currently, Diana is part of the Headline Kids School Show program and visits schools, libraries, and speaks to groups across the United States.
Diana resides in Fairmont, WV with her husband Mark and their three children Curt, Courtney, Chris and his wife Ashley. They have two grandsons Ashton Louis and Austin Maddox.
Diana’s Italian roots run deep. Her maternal grandparents were from San Giovani in Fiore, Province of Cosenza, Italy. Her paternal grandparents were from Caulonia, Reggio Calabria Italy.
Click Here to watch The Hopping to America Series
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J. Warren weaver
Author, Screenplay Writer
Born into the beauty of the Colorado mountains, J. Warren has always had a love for nature's beauty and the solitude of the middle of nowhere. Inspired to write at a young age, J. has committed his life to the pursuit of telling immersive and compelling stories in a number of mediums.
After attending film school in Denver, Colorado, J. threw the dice and made his way to Los Angeles where he learned the hard truths of rejection and the silver lining of criticism. After years spent writing spec scripts for movies and television, J. heard the calling of the great outdoors and returned to his roots, the place that had given birth to his dream of writing.
Re-inspired to create, J. went back to his original love, the novel, and is proud to present his debut novel, To Kill A Ghost. If you'd like to join J. along his journey please subscribe to his newsletter via jwarrenweaver.com
For more information or to contact the author visit https://www.jwarrenweaver.com
Mary Theresa (Terry) Webb
Author of Middle grade historical fiction and adult non-fiction
Writing under the brand name Historical Fiction 4 US Terry’smiddle-gradee historical fiction books, the Louie Lighthouse 5 volume series, Costly Freedom, and Thaddeus Stevens, an Inconvenient Hero make historical events and persons come alive through fast-moving adventures of male protagonists. Dr. Webb combines her background as a secondary school teacher with a master’s degree in education and her expertise as a marriage and family counselor to develop characters kids can relate to. She often gives programs dressed in period costume.
Dr. Webb pens her non-fiction books based on thirty years in her profession as a pastoral/addiction counselor and prevention specialist, peace activist, and seed planter. Never one to shy away from controversial topics, her books and blogs challenge both culture and complacency, During her life, she has led missionary training teams in Eastern Europe and African countries. Her passion about issues of peace, justice, addiction recovery, and Christian values infuse her books, newspapers, and magazine articles. Some notable titles are: Imagine Pittsburgh When, Memories and Miracles, Who’s Calling? Ministry Discernment, Disasters and Restoration, Tree of Life, and Healing Hope for Bruised Souls.
Watch Zoom Into Books Interview Here
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Sandra Warren
Author
Sandra Warren is a writer with publications in multiple genres including children's, gifted education, military biography, screenplay, nonfiction and historical fiction. She grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan and attended South High School, the subject of a nonfiction book, We Bought A WWII Bomber: The Untold Story Of A Michigan High School, a B-17 Bomber & The Blue Ridge Parkway, which was awarded the 2017 Outstanding Michigan History Publication in the Private Printing category, from the Historical Society of Michigan, and declared a Finalist in the 2016 Next Generation Indie Book Awards. She Started It All is a companion middle-grade historical fiction based on the We Bought A WWII Bomber book.
Obsessed By A Promise, her latest historical fiction was declared a Finalist in the Ebook category in the 2021 Next Generation Indie Book Awards. Sandra is married, the mother of three daughters who have blessed her with six grandchildren. She lives and writes from a log cabin in the North Carolina Mountains.
Watch Zoom Into Books Interview Here
OBSESSED BY A PROMISE available here https://amzn.to/3n6hc7u
She Started It All - MG historical fiction of We Bought A WWII Bomber https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cOkam-SV0o&t=6s
We Bought a WWII Bomber: The Untold Story of a Michigan High School, a B-17 Bomber & The
Blue Ridge Parkway! Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUmxqhIpadI
Spivey's Christmas Web! Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWxu-vSpuRI
