multi-genre authors
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Lisa Dodson
Suspense/Thriller/Action | Romance | Clean Reads Website Lisa Dodson is an award-winning, national, and Amazon #1 bestselling author of more than nineteen books across clean romance, romantic suspense, inspirational, Christian fiction, and nonfiction. A proud Washington, DC native now based in Raleigh, NC, Lisa writes emotionally rich stories that explore love, faith, family, and second chances—with a signature blend of heart, hope, and honesty. Known for compelling multicultural characters and vivid storytelling, her books celebrate unshakable family bonds, meaningful connection, and the kind of love that leaves a lasting imprint. Whether crafting small-town romance or high-stakes suspense, Lisa’s stories keep the bedroom door closed and the emotional stakes wide open—delivering on her promise of Clean Romances with Heart, Hope, and Happily-Ever-Afters. A hybrid author and passionate storyteller, Lisa also serves as Director of Business Development at a technology consulting firm. When she’s not writing, she enjoys travel, time with family and friends, and gathering inspiration from everyday life. She is currently at work on new projects across multiple genres—each rooted in clean, character-driven romance that resonates with readers. 
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LORILYN WHITE Traditional Mystery/Detective | Romance | Women's Fiction Website Lorilyn White, a retired corporate finance manager and public school teacher, currently calls the charming coastal city of Virginia Beach her home. Her life’s journey has been a unique blend of number crunching in the halls of corporate America and the nurturing of young minds in the classroom, but it is her love for the written word that truly defines her. Raised in the suburbs of New York City, Lorilyn discovered her passion for creative expression through poetry and short stories as a young student. Her early works often graced the pages of school publications, captivating her peers and teachers with her imaginative storytelling and profound insights. These early experiences sowed the seed of her literary aspirations, and it was clear that writing was not just a pastime but a calling she couldn’t ignore. As the years passed, Lorilyn continued to explore her love for the written word, honing her craft and perfecting her storytelling abilities. Her experiences in the world of corporate finance, where precision and analytical thinking were paramount, provided a unique backdrop for her creative pursuits. It was during this time that she realized the therapeutic power of writing, using it as a form of personal expression and a means of connecting with others on a deeper level. With her retirement from the corporate world and her teaching career, Lorilyn White finally had the opportunity to fully indulge in her lifelong passion for writing. Her first novel, She Wouldn’t Wait, published in October 2023, quickly hit the Top 20 on Amazon’s Best-Selling List for Black and African American Mysteries, Thrillers, and Suspense Fiction. She published her second novel, No Big Easy Love, the sequel to She Wouldn’t Wait, in February 2024, and she released her latest novel, The Devine Case, in February 2025. Lorilyn writes stories featuring African-American characters and complex, dynamic family relationships, with a dash of mystery and romance. She is currently working on her fourth novel. |
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Lynda Allen
Cozy Mystery | Traditional Mystery/Detective Website Lynda Allen writes the Liv Wilde Mysteries in which menopause is a superpower! Since she had to put up with hot flashes daily, she figured she might as well make them useful. Flashes of Insight and Flashes of a Dying Hour are the first two books in the series. She is also the author of four poetry collections and a nonfiction book. Before focusing her knack for storytelling on writing, Lynda began her career in video post-production and documentary filmmaking. Lynda proudly infuses her writing with her Jersey Girl sensibilities and aims to create stories imbued with heart and humor. She lives in Fredericksburg, VA, where her mysteries are set, with her husband, their cat, and the many incredible eagle friends who pay them frequent visits. She serves on the Board of Sisters In Crime Worldwide as a member of the Marketing and Communications Committee. 
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Mark Piggott
Fantasy | Steampunk | Historical Fiction Website Mark Piggott, a native of Phillipsburg, N.J., enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1982, beginning a 23-year career. He served on four aircraft carriers and various duty stations as a Navy Journalist before he attained the rank of Chief Petty Officer. He retired from active duty in 2006. Mark worked for the U.S. Navy as a civilian before joining the Department of Housing and Urban Development as a writer-editor. Mark and his wife, Georgiene, live in Alexandria, Virginia. They have three children. He self-published several fantasy and steampunk novels since 2009, including the first three books of the FOREVER AVALON fantasy book series – FOREVER AVALON, THE DARK TIDES, and THE OUTLANDER WAR – and a new dystopian fantasy series, THE LAST MAGUS: A CLOCKWORK HEART, and THE MOONLIGHT BLACK CAT TAVERN, a collection of short stories. In 2021, Mark signed with Curious Corvid Publishing of Geneva, Ohio, and has published several more novels, including THE RIVER OF SOULS, CORSAIR AND THE SKY PIRATES, THE LAST MAGUS: DRAGONFIRE AND STEEL, and THE PROMETHEUS ENGINE. In November 2025, his 11th book, A DANCE OF DARKLINGS AND DEMONS will be published as he continues his journey as an independent author. Mark has won several prestigious book awards, including the Firebird Book Awards, the BookFest Book Awards (1st, 2nd, and 3rd place awards), 2022 AMG Indie Book Awards Grand Prize for Fiction, 2023 AMG Book Award for Steampunk, a finalist in the Golden Wizard Children Book Prize 2024 Book of the Year, the Canadian Book Club 2024 Book Awards, 2024 BBNYA Book of the Year, and the 2024 Book Excellence Book Awards. |
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Mary Kendall
Suspense/Thriller/Action | Historical Fiction | Folk Horror Website Mary Kendall is first a reader of books across genres and, second, a writer of fiction. She brings her background in history-related fields mixed with Celtic story-telling genes to her writing. Fueled by black coffee and a possible sprinkling of fairy dust, she finds inspiration in odd places, sometimes while kneading bread dough. Her published novels include The Spinster's Fortune, Campbell's Boy, Bottled Secrets of Rosewood and The Accidental Heiress. Additionally, she has short stories published in dark fiction magazines. 
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Megan Michelle
Suspense/Thriller/Action | Romance Website Megan Michelle writes dark romance for the fearless women who are ready to reclaim their power and confront the shadows of their past. Her stories blend the raw emotions of military life, the strength of feminism, and the passion of forbidden love, all while guiding readers on a journey of self-discovery and healing. Through dark romance, she explores the complexity of love, power, and identity. Her stories invite you to dive deep into the hearts of women who don’t just survive—they thrive, reclaiming their power and rewriting their stories on their own terms. 
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Mollie Ann Cox
Cozy Mystery | Historical Fiction Website Mollie Ann Cox is the author of several popular mystery series, also writing under the pen name Maggie Blackburn and Mollie Cox Bryan. Her books have been selected as finalists for an Agatha Award and a Daphne du Maurier Award and as a Top 10 Beach Reads by Woman's World. The Eliza Hamilton Mysteries is the first time she’s combined her passion for history and mystery. She lives in Charlottesville, Va. 
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Nan O'Berry
Romance | Historical Fiction Website Nan O'Berry loves good books. She spends her free time writing historical romantic adventures with Texas Rangers, pony express riders, and heroic cowboys or writing sweet contemporary romances set in small towns. She wants her heroes to be bigger than life and a heroine to match. When not writing as Nan, she slips into her pen name, Tessa Berkley for something with a bit more spice and sometimes casting a paranormal twist. Whatever your choice is be aware her stories are a bit smexy with a lot of cannoodling. 
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Nicole Glover
Cozy Mystery| Fantasy | Historical Fiction Website Nicole Glover is the author of the acclaimed historical fantasy series, Murder and Magic, which includes The Conductors (2021), The Undertakers (2021) and The Improvisers (2024)and The Starseekers (2026). Her books have received rave starred reviews for their unique blend of mystery, history, and fantasy and have been featured in NPR and local media, En Forme and the Virginian-Pilot. She's been a Library Reads pick, made the Locus bestseller list, and most recently won The Webster Award. She lives and works in Virginia plotting her next fictional murder. 
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Nicole E. Kelleher
Fantasy | Romance | Paranormal/Supernatural Website Author of the epic fantasy romance Heart & Hand Series, Nicole E. Kelleher's books have won a Golden Quill Award for Best Fantasy Romance and a National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award. Nicole resides in Virginia with her family and their new puppy, Lucy. When she is not writing or working at her day job at a local university, she volunteers at a local organization helping the less fortunate. She encourages her friends and readers to do the same. Nicole recently released Thrice Bound, a Romantic Paranormal Suspense, and is now working on book five in her Heart & Hand series—an epic medieval romantasy. 
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Nikki Davenport
Multi-Cultural | Romance | Suspense/Thriller/Action | Women's Fiction Website Nikki Davenport is an award-nominated contemporary romance author and the creator of the Crown & Heart series-where Wakanda meets Bridgerton in a lush, Black-on-Black world of swoony romance and unapologetic joy. At the heart of her stories is royal romance reimagined, blending high-stakes emotion, deep friendships, and characters who fight for love and legacy. Her bestselling debut, International Incident, was selected as a 2023 finalist for the Audio in Color Award and launched a universe readers can't wait to return to. A proud graduate of Oscar Smith High School in Chesapeake, Nikki holds a BA in History and a Master's in Social Work. She works in the education field by day and paddles with a dragon boat racing team of fellow breast cancer survivors in her off time. Now based in Northern Virginia, she lives with her husband, a snarky teen, and a pair of spoiled feline overlords. A lifelong lover of love stories, she's almost always listening to an audiobook or podcast. Nikki is head-over-heels in love with showing Black love in a positive light-and isn't stopping anytime soon. 
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Olivia Blacke
Paranormal/Supernatural | Cozy Mystery Website Olivia Blacke (she/her) is the Anthony Award-winning author of the Ruby and Cordelia Mysteries, as well as the cozy Record Shop Mysteries and the Brooklyn Murder Mysteries. She had her first ghost encounter when she was five, but wasn’t involved with an active crime scene until much later, when she accidentally stepped into a chalk outline on a Manhattan sidewalk. Armed with a Criminology degree, she channels her love of the supernatural and passion for writing into darkly humorous supernatural mysteries. She wants to be a unicorn when she grows up. Recent books include: Death at the Door (Minotaur 10/2025), A New Lease on Death ((Minotaur 10/2024) (won the Anthony Award for Best Paranormal 2025), Rhythm and Clues (St Martins 2024), A Fatal Groove (St Martins 2023), Vinyl Resting Place (St Martins 2022). 
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Pamela K. Kinney
Sci-Fi | Non-Fiction | Horror | Fantasy Website Pamela K. Kinney gave up long ago ignoring the voices in her head and has written horror, fantasy. science fiction, a children’s fantasy picture book, poetry, nonfiction ghost books, and a nonfiction shapeshifters/indigenous mythology book (2nd place in Book Fest Award 2025.) ever since. Her horror short story, “Bottled Spirits,” was runner-up for the 2013 WSFA Small Press Award and considered one of the seven best genre short fiction for that year. Her poem, “Dementia,” in the HWA Poetry Showcase Vol VII, got her a mention in Best Horror of the Year, Vol 13. Her faerie children’s picture book, Christmas Magic, took second place in the Children’s-Holidays category of the Book Fest Awards, Spring 2024, and her new YA dark fantasy novel, Demon Memories, first in the Moon Ridge, Virginia trilogy, took second place in YA Fantasy for the Book Fest Awards 2025. in 2026. She also has various short stories and poetry published. Her newest release is Nowhere Land, a horror novel, plus, her urban fantasy novel, How the Vortex Changed My Life, is now published by Dreampunk Press and no longer self-published. 
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P.B. Obeng
Sci-Fi | Political Thriller Website Paa-Kofi Obeng goes by the pen name P.B. Obeng, He is the author of the sci fi political thriller Vigil. His inspiration for writing the novel came from his love of politics and comics. Growing up he yearned for stories that touched on themes of power, family and responsibility. He writes for readers who long for layered storylines featuring diverse characters that you can care about. His aim is to provide an exciting cinematic reading experience. 
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Patti Gaustad Procopi
Women's Fiction | Cozy Mystery Website Patti Gaustad Procopi is a former army brat who lived all over the world including many years in Germany. She and her husband, Greg settled in Gloucester, Virginia where they raised three daughters and numerous cats and dogs in their home on Cedar Bush Creek. Patti worked at two area history museums for thirty-two years. After retiring she finally had the time to do the things she always wanted to do – write! She always loved reading and at each army post, the library was one of the first place she’d discover. Over the years Patti took writing classes but it was a bit of a learning curve to write a novel. She joined a local writing organization and a critique group and she finally figured it out. Patti’s writing is about emotional connections, friendship and family. She was thrilled when Blue Fortune Enterprises published her first novel, Please…Tell Me More in 2020. Her second novel, I’ll Get By came out in 2022 and her third, Stop Talking came out in 2023. Her first mystery, The Murderer You Know was just released. She’s also written stories for a Christmas and Halloween anthology. Patti has had stories printed in literary journals and one produced on a podcast and has won several awards. She has been featured on Launchpad and Writers over 50. She writes articles for Next Door Neighbors Magazine and has presented talks on writing at area libraries as well as the Virginia Writer’s Club symposium. In her spare time she likes to garden, do yoga and enjoys nature photography. In her spare time, she does research on Ancestry – there are many untold stories to be found in the past. She and her husband, Greg, also love to travel and spend time with their children. 
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R.F. Whong
Historical Fiction | Cozy Mystery | Multi-Cultural | Romance Website From a young age, I cultivated a profound love for reading and writing. I would spend hours at the library, devouring every book on a single shelf before moving on to the next. It seems I have a longing that can't be satisfied by reality. Immersing myself in literature allows me to escape into worlds where I could become someone graceful, witty, and popular. Currently, I work for a small biotech company and have published 120+ scientific books and papers. As a latecomer to the world of creative writing, I've released several books under different pen names. Fiction titles were published under R. F. Whong, while non-fiction books were published under Ruth Wuwong. I'm delighted to share that I've been named a 2025 Featured Author by the Minnesota Anoka County Library, and my book, Echoes over Stormy Sea, won several awards, including being chosen by readers as a winner in the 2025 HOLT Medallion Contest. I'm married to my wonderful husband, a retired pastor who encourages me to pursue my dreams. We served together at three different churches from 1987 to 2020. Our adult son works in a nearby city. 
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Ravynn K. Stringfield
Romance | Young-Adult Fiction Website Ravynn K. Stringfield is a former academic and young adult author originally from Suffolk, Virginia. Her titles include Love Requires Chocolate (2024) and the recent digital epistolary novel, Love in 280 Characters or Less (2025). Ravynn holds a PhD in American Studies from William & Mary and her creative nonfiction has appeared in publications such as Shondaland, ZORA, and Catapult Magazine. She can often be found haunting coffee shops in search of the perfect hazelnut latte, knee deep in art supplies, or telling anyone who will listen about her Lois Lane obsession. Connect with Ravynn on Instagram (@RavynnKaMia) or via her website, www.ravynnkstringfield.com. 
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Sarah Newland
Fantasy | Sci-Fi | Young-Adult Fiction | Suspense/Thriller/Action Website Sarah Newland is a licensed veterinary technician and award-winning young adult fiction author based in Virginia. Her debut series Extant is an edge-of-your-seat scifi/fantasy thriller that features several Virginia landmarks, including the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel and Eastern Shore. As a vet tech, her books will always feature an animal sidekick and, as an avid reader, more than one plot-bending twist. 
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Scarlett M. Honey
Fantasy | Romance Website Scarlett M. Honey is a romantic fantasy author based in Northern Virginia. Scarlett has cultivated a passionate worldwide readership through her engaging presence on social media and successful local author events. When not writing about fierce heroines and enchanting realms, she enjoys cheering on her four kiddos at their numerous sporting events, reading anything she can get her hands on, running the W&OD trail, and attempting to perfect the illusive yoga handstand. 
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Stacie Murphy
Paranormal/Supernatural | Historical Fiction | Traditional Mystery/Detective Website Stacie Murphy grew up near Nashville, TN and began writing her first novel, A DEADLY FORTUNE as a way to keep herself off Twitter in the evenings. It was published by Pegasus Crime in 2021, and its sequel, THE UNQUIET DEAD, followed in 2022. Both novels received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, which called her "a historical writer to watch." Her most recent book, THE WITCH'S SECRET, was published in 2024. Murphy lives in Northern Virginia with her husband, daughter, and a very demanding grey cat. 
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Suzanne Snowden
Romance | Paranormal/Supernatural Website Suzanne Snowden is a former FM radio DJ, Radio Communications teacher and current Library Specialist for the Chesapeake Public Library. She loves her current job because it allows her to conduct several book clubs for the community including one for incarcerated individuals and one that reads the top 100 classic books of all time. But her favorite books are romances and that's what she writes now, paranormal women's fiction full of witches, magic and heroines over forty! 
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T.B. Bond
Paranormal/Supernatural | Sci-Fi | Romance | Fantasy Website T.B. Bond has been writing, drawing, and web designing for years. When she is not doing one of those things, she’s reading and watching anime. Nerdtastic to the core she’s a Whovian, Trekie, Otaku, and probably a whole host of other things. Currently, she lives with her husband, a fellow nerd, in Virginia. 
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Thomas Kies
Suspense/Thriller/Action | Traditional Mystery/Detective Website Thomas Kies is the Edgar-nominated author of five Geneva Chase mystery novels. He has a long history of working for newspapers and magazines in New York, New England, and North Carolina. In addition to journalism and writing mysteries, he’s a college creative writing teacher, playwright, actor and environmentalist who lives with his wife, Cindy, on a barrier island on the coast of North Carolina. He’s the father of three grown children, four grandchildren, and the dog dad to a Shih-tzu named Annie. 
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Tim Holland
Traditional Mystery/Detective | Cozy Mystery Website Tim Holland is the author of four Sidney Lake Lowcountry Mystery Novels, including The Rising Tide, The Murder of Amos Dunn, Deception, and December Rain. His new series Matt Donovan Investigates is being launched in the fourth quarter of 2025 with An Impulse for Murder. What the Mirror Doesn't See is a stand-alone mystery featuring Tony Carenza. He is a past director of the Williamsburg Book Festival, and Chesapeake Bay Writers, a member of Mystery Writers of America, and Sisters in Crime. He has received Keating and Golden Nib awards for his short fiction. Over the years, his freelance articles have appeared in a wide variety of newspapers and magazines, as well as having written book reviews and literary criticism for Recorder Publishing's eight newspapers in New Jersey. 
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TJ O'Connor
Suspense/Thriller/Action | Paranormal/Supernatural | Cozy Mystery Website Tj O’Connor is the award-winning author of The Whisper Legacy, The Dead Detective Casefiles, and other thrillers and mysteries. The Whisper Legacy is the first in a new thriller series and Dying With A Secret is Book IV of The Dead Detective Casefiles. Tj is an international security consultant specializing in anti-terrorism, investigations, and threat analysis—life experiences that drive his novels. With his former life as a government agent and years as a consultant, he has lived and worked around the world in places like Greece, Turkey, Italy, Germany, the United Kingdom, and throughout the Americas—among others. He is a Harley pilot, a man-about-dogs (and now cats), and a lover of adventure and cooking. Tj’s work has been recognized with: The American Legacy Award for Political Thrillers; the American Fiction Awards for Political Thrillers & Mystery/Suspense; Gold Medal from the Independent Publishers Book Awards (IPPY) for mysteries; Gold Medal Winner—Military Writer’s Society of America; Gold Medal Winner—Readers Favorite Book Awards; Bronze Medal Winner from the Reader’s Favorite Book Awards; and a finalist for The Silver Falchion Award Finalist for Mysteries and Thrillers; Foreword Reviews’ INDIEFAB Mystery Book of the Year; and the Deadly Ink’s David Award Finalist for Best Mystery/Thriller. He was raised in New York's Hudson Valley and lives with his wife in Virginia where they raised five children who are providing a growing brood of grands. 
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WJ Brendle
Paranormal/Supernatural | Non-Fiction Website Dr. W.J. (Bill) Brendle has spent a lifetime pursuing the mysteries that refuse ordinary explanations. A paranormal scholar and historian of the unseen, his fascination with cryptids, witchcraft, and what he calls “realms of high strangeness” began in childhood after personal encounters that defied rational understanding. That spark grew into a lifelong drive to seek answers, test experiences, and study the forces that shape human belief. Brendle holds a Ph.D. in Metaphysical Humanistic Science with a specialization in parapsychology. He is a cryptozoologist, paranormal investigator, and practicing folk-magick witch. His path has also made him an accomplished outdoorsman — a perspective that deepens his research into cryptids and the landscapes where such legends are said to roam. As a member of the Ancient Free & Accepted Masons and a long-time student of occult traditions, he has studied and practiced disciplines ranging from Tarot and scrying to esoteric Masonry and ceremonial magick. This breadth of experience allows him to approach the unexplained with both lived practice and historical research, offering readers a unique perspective on folklore, witchcraft, UFO phenomena, and other intersections of culture and mystery. He is the author of "The Cryptids & Monsters of North Carolina" and "Heretics of the Harvest Moon: The True Story of the Witch Trials." He is also the writer, producer, and co-host of the 4 Ever Paranormal podcast, where stories of the strange are brought to life with atmosphere, scholarship, and an eye toward truth. 
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