single-genre authors
Cozy mystery
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Abigail Keam
Cozy Mystery Website Abigail Keam is an award-winning and Amazon best-selling author who writes the Josiah Reynolds Mystery Series about a Southern female beekeeper turned amateur sleuth living in the glamorous world of oak-cured bourbon, antebellum mansions, and Thoroughbred farms. Besides loving history, Kentucky bourbon and chocolate, Abigail loves honeybees and for many years made her living by selling honey at a farmers’ market like her protagonist, Josiah Reynolds. She is an award-winning beekeeper who has won many honey awards at the Kentucky State Fair including the Barbara Horn Award, which is given to beekeepers who rate a perfect 100 in a honey competition. Miss Abigail has taken her knowledge of beekeeping to create a fictional beekeeping protagonist, Josiah Reynolds, who solves murder mysteries in the Bluegrass. While Miss Abigail’s novels are for enjoyment, she discusses the importance of a local sustainable food economy and land management for honeybees and other creatures. She currently lives on the Kentucky River in a metal house with her husband and various critters. She still has honeybees. 
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Carrie Ann Knox
Cozy Mystery Website Carrie Ann Knox is the author of the Sonic Sleuths series, a modern cozy mystery series about a bookish audiologist, Quinn, who gets enticed into the quiet little hobby of private investigating by her fiery new friend, PI Sloan McKenzie. Fun and adventure–along with their hunky sidekicks–follow them wherever they go. As an audiologist by day and fantasy amateur sleuth by night, Dr. Knox inevitably realized writing was an excellent way to combine her two passions. The adventures of Quinn and Sloan are the vicarious pursuit of a long-time mystery lover. She lives in southeast Virginia with her husband, daughter, and their two Boston Terriers, Gizmo and Zelda. 
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Jackie Layton
Cozy Mystery Website Jackie Layton is the author of cozy mysteries with Spunky Southern Sleuths. Her stories are set in Texas, Georgia, and South Carolina. She lives on the coast of South Carolina, where she enjoys walks on the beach and golf cart rides around the marsh. Reading, gardening, and traveling are some of her favorite hobbies. Jackie always keeps a notebook handy to write down ideas for future stories. Many of her ideas come from people watching and watching Dateline and American Greed. 
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Teresa Inge
Cozy Mystery Website Teresa Inge is an award-winning mystery author whose work appears in First Comes Love, Then Comes Murder, Coastal Crimes, Virginia is for Mysteries, Mutt Mysteries and Murder by the Glass. She belongs to Sisters in Crime, Short Mystery Fiction Society, and Virginia Writer’s Club, and contributes regularly to blogs Sand in our Shorts and Writers Who Kill. Influenced by Nancy Drew, Teresa writes crime fiction and works for a global financial firm in roles including administrative assistant, corporate reporter, and notary administrator. In addition to writing, she participates in car shows with her 1955 Torch Red Thunderbird and resides in Southeastern Virginia with her husband A.J. and their shepherd dog Luke. 
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traditional mystery/detective
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Amy Patricia Meade
Traditional Mystery/Detective Website Author of the critically acclaimed Marjorie McClelland Mysteries, Vermont Country Living Mysteries, and Tish Tarragon Mysteries, Amy Patricia Meade is a native of Long Island, NY, where she cut her teeth on classic films and books featuring Nancy Drew and Encyclopedia Brown. After serving as a technical writer for a management coaching firm and composing catalog copy for the Vermont Country Store, Amy relocated to southwest England, where she was a featured author at Agatha Christie's Annual Greenway Literary Festival. Amy now resides in Upstate New York with her musician husband and her two cats and serves as Vice President of the Upper Hudson Chapter of Sisters in Crime. 
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Eleanor Kuhns
Traditional Mystery/Detective Website Eleanor Kuhns is the 2011 Minotaur/Mystery Writers of America winner for first mystery novel, for A Simple Murder. Since then, she has gone on to write eleven more Will Rees/Shaker mysteries and two Bronze Age Crete mysteries. An avid hiker, she has a strong connection to Maine. Eleanor lives in New York with her husband and her dog. 
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Sara E. Johnson
Traditional Mystery/Detective Website Sara E. Johnson is a NYT's Readers' Pick author of the Alexa Glock Forensic Mysteries set in New Zealand. The sixth book in the series, Bone Chilling, was published in October, 2025. Sara lives in Durham, North Carolina. She is a graduate of Durham Citizen Police Academy, is past president of Triangle Sisters in Crime, and belongs to the North Carolina Writers' Network. She teaches mystery classes for NC State and Duke OLLI. Her work-in-progress, Cold Shores, was a 2025 Killer Nashville Claymore Award finalist for Best Unpublished Mystery. 
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Non-fiction
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Mary Bush Shipko
Non Fiction Mary Bush was born into an aviation family in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in 1949. From the time she was a toddler, she hung around the airport; and she started her formal flight training just before her 16th birthday. She flew a variety of aircraft out of both Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International and Miami International Airports, in the Northwest corner infa- mously known as both “Cockroach Corner” and “Corrosion Corner.” Mary flew World War II transport planes, as well as the Constellation and DC-6, to many exotic destinations. She was hired in 1976 as Hughes Airwest’s first woman pilot. She flew the Fairchild F-27, the DC-9, and B-727 at the airline. In 1981, Mary took a leave of absence due to post-traumatic stress symptoms caused by sexual harassment. With courage and support from family members, she has been able to rebuild her life and find joy and happiness. Her story of courage and overcoming setbacks is sure to inspire. 
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true crime
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Ron Peterson Jr.
True Crime Website Ron Peterson, Jr is a Virginia-based true crime author who has written five books covering compelling true-life mysteries, unsolved murders, and missing person cases. His 2019 book, 'Under the Trestle,' was selected as one of the top 100 true crime books of all-time and is in development as a documentary movie with Mactavish Pictures. The television and film rights to his 2020 book, 'Chasing the Squirrel,' was optioned to Los-Angeles based Urban Legends Film Company, with a pilot TV episode produced and screened, currently in negotiations with major television streaming services for airing. Peterson's 2024 book, 'In the Wind,' was acquired by OXYGEN television network, and a one-hour episode on OXYGEN debuted in August 2025, based on the book and featuring Peterson's narration. His new book, 'Runaway Groom,' released on November 4, 2025. Ron earned a bachelor of journalism degree from Radford University and lectures at colleges and universities throughout the country. 
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Paranormal/supernatural
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Alanea Alder
Paranormal/Supernatural Website USA Today and Wall Street Journal BestSelling Author, Alanea Alder loves reading almost as much as she loves writing and can be found at any given moment either in front of the computer lost in her own world or on the couch with her iPad reading some of her favorite authors. She believes that love truly conquers all and that everyone no matter what, deserves a chance at that love and a place they can call home. 
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poetry
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Pamela Brothers Denyes
Poetry Website Pamela Brothers Denyes’ award-winning poems are published in many Virginia journals, The Galway Review, Barstow & Grand V, in collections by Wingless Dreamer and The Poet Magazine, MindFull Magazine, Vallum Poetry, Black Moon Magazine, Tangled Locks Journal and others. Pamela’s books, The Right Mistakes and The Widow’s Lovers (2022, Kelsay Books). She published a chapbook that year, too, As I Lay Dreaming. All are available from your favorite bookseller. Pamela's career-based writing has included contract nonfiction, instructional design and manuals, developmental and copy editing, and writing for her regional newspaper and internet gateway. She is also a musician and singer, and has worked professionally in that arena, too. A mother and grandmother, Pamela resides in eastern Virginia but travels all she can. 
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sci-fi
Drema Deòraich
Sci-Fi
Website
Drema Deòraich is an award-winning author of speculative fiction that sometimes asks big questions. Her flash fiction, short stories, and
novelettes have been published in numerous online journals, as well as a few semi-professional zines. Her debut novel Entheóphage is a medical sci-fi/climate fiction novel that explores the question, “What would it take to make us stop destroying our ecosystems?” “Phagey” (as it is affectionately known by its fans) has become a subject of book club discussions in many places. Her trilogy, The Founder’s Seed (Fallen, Book 1; Broken, Book 2; and Driven, Book 3), is a science fantasy trilogy exploring what it means to be a misfit, and the challenges involved in finding one’s niche. Her novelette "Deer in Headlights" follows researcher Cait as she faces unexpected consequences of her ecosystem-damning actions and is faced with a life-altering choice. Her novelette "Jane Doe #7" follows Dr. Kyle Wicks, who's built his career on the comatose--until one patient fights back. Two short-story collections and a science fantasy trilogy follow-up to The Founder's Seed are in the works.
Sci-Fi
Website
Drema Deòraich is an award-winning author of speculative fiction that sometimes asks big questions. Her flash fiction, short stories, and
novelettes have been published in numerous online journals, as well as a few semi-professional zines. Her debut novel Entheóphage is a medical sci-fi/climate fiction novel that explores the question, “What would it take to make us stop destroying our ecosystems?” “Phagey” (as it is affectionately known by its fans) has become a subject of book club discussions in many places. Her trilogy, The Founder’s Seed (Fallen, Book 1; Broken, Book 2; and Driven, Book 3), is a science fantasy trilogy exploring what it means to be a misfit, and the challenges involved in finding one’s niche. Her novelette "Deer in Headlights" follows researcher Cait as she faces unexpected consequences of her ecosystem-damning actions and is faced with a life-altering choice. Her novelette "Jane Doe #7" follows Dr. Kyle Wicks, who's built his career on the comatose--until one patient fights back. Two short-story collections and a science fantasy trilogy follow-up to The Founder's Seed are in the works.
ROMANCE
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Moni Boyce
Romance Website Moni Boyce is a USA Today Bestselling author of contemporary and paranormal romance, a filmmaker and a poet. After working in the film industry for fifteen years, helping others bring their visions to life, she now creates worlds of her own, full of diverse characters with heat, heart and happily ever afters. She considers herself a bookworm, film buff, foodie, music lover and an avid world traveler having visited 36 countries and counting. She currently lives in Virginia but considers Los Angeles her hometown. 
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women's fiction
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Anne Bennett
Women's Fiction Website Anne Bennett is a passionate scuba diver who has explored the Galápagos, Costa Rica, Socorro Islands, and the Caribbean. She often dives her beloved Bonaire, where all her books are set, and brings the underwater world to life through her heartfelt women’s fiction. Her stories blend adventure, friendship, and hope, inviting readers to laugh, dream, and explore as they journey to Bonaire through the lives of her characters—no passport required. 
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Suspense/thriller/action
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Bre Coleman
Suspense/Thriller/Action Website Bre Coleman is originally from Alabama and moved to Virginia in 2018 while serving in the military. When she transitioned out in 2021, she decided to remain and start her next chapter. A lifelong fan of books and storytelling, Bre finally gave in to her passion and hasn't looked back. Her writing lives at the edge of thrill and temptation, blending gripping suspense with seductive intensity. In 2025 she debuted as an independent author with two psychological thrillers, Deception and The Sixth Couple, that pull readers in dark secrets, twisted minds and dangerous desires. Welcome to the worlds of Bre where nothing is as it seems... and no one gets out untouched. 
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Jeffrey James Higgins
Suspense/Thriller/Action Website Jeffrey James Higgins is a retired supervisory special agent who writes thrillers, short stories, creative nonfiction, and essays. He has wrestled a suicide bomber, fought the Taliban in combat, and chased terrorists across five continents. Jeffrey received the Attorney General’s Award for Exceptional Heroism and the DEA Award of Valor. CNN, Fox News, and The New York Times have interviewed him, and he’s appeared on CNN Declassified, National Geographic’s Narco Wars, and ABC News. He has a BS in Journalism and an MS in Criminal Justice. He’s a #1 Amazon bestselling author who’s won the Claymore Award, PenCraft’s Best Fiction Book of the Year, and a Reader’s Favorite Gold Medal. His debut novel, Furious, is Black Rose Writing’s bestselling thriller, and The Forever Game was selected as one of the best medical thrillers of the 21st century. In 2025, Severn River Publishing launched The Havana Syndrome and The Khorasan Retribution, the first two books in the Nathan Burke international-espionage thriller series. Jeffrey owns Elaine’s Literary Salon in Alexandria, VA, where he counsels writers, interviews authors, and hosts a podcast. He’s an Authors Guild ambassador for the DC area and a frequent panelist at conferences and book festivals. Jeffrey’s an active member of International Thriller Writers, Sisters in Crime, The Northern Virginia Writers Club, and the Royal Writers Secret Society. 
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