In the Lot

DAVE AGANS, corrupted by Mad Magazine, Rocky & Bullwinkle, and Get Smart at an early age, began writing spy spoofs in the sixth grade. He is the author of the musical comedy Hot Buttons, dozens of comic stage monologues, the popular, funny technical book Debugging, and the humorous adventure Urban Legion Trilogy. He wrote the flash fiction noir story The Big Nap, and won the 2018 Bulwer-Lytton Award in the Crime and Detective category.

Susan Campbell Bartoletti has published poetry, short stories, picture books, and novels, but she’s best known for her award-winning nonfiction books. 

Bartoletti has been called a “fearless researcher.” She uses primary sources such as images, photographs, oral histories, interviews, letters, and other archival materials to breathe the past to life. 

Her work has received dozens of awards and honors, including the Newbery Honor, the ALA Sibert Award for Nonfiction, the NCTE Orbis Pictus Award for Nonfiction, the Jane Addams Children’s Book Award, the YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction Honor, the Charlotte Zolotow Honor for picture book writing, the SCBWI Golden Kite Award for Nonfiction, and the Washington Post/ Children’s Book Guild Nonfiction Award for her body of work. Her work has also been named a Junior Library Guild selection multiple times. She's a five-time winner of the Pennsylvania Library Association Carolyn W. Field Award.

L. Bossi is a professional artist and graphic designer. She has 10 years of experience in footwear/fashion design and over 15 in graphic design, as well as being a professional artist/illustrator. She has held an intimate love for both art and writing since early childhood and has used The Enpirion Project to bring both together in a trilogy of fully illustrated fantasy novels.

I am a semi-retired librarian/manager, a long-time blogger, a photographer, a playwright and director, an active volunteer in the Havre de Grace arts community, a friend to the Village of Hope, Zambia, a graduate of the Living School for Action and Contemplation, and an Episcopalian after forty years in the non-denominational church. I am a widow, the mother of three adoptees from Eastern Europe (now grown), and a grandmother of three. Sister Jane was my debut novel while Sister Jane's Lenten Journal is novella that overlaps Sister Jane by 40 days and ends on the same day. Sister Jane's Lenten Journal begins on the first day of Covid in Washington state. And now, I am offering a true short story, The Blue Bicycle, for signing up to my mailing. My new novel, Children in the City of Czars, launched December 3, 2023 and is available at most online stores.

Tim K Brumbaugh has never really had what people call a "hometown." He spent most of his young life moving around the country with his eccentric family, from California to Maine, and a dozen states in between. When he isn’t writing or marketing his books, he enjoys doing a bit of astrophotography, dressing up as Star Wars characters, and collecting fossils. He lives in central Pennsylvania with his wife and kids.

I wrote fiction through my early 20s and returned to it after my sons reached their teen years. One thing I strive for in my writing is to avoid easy answers. I try to carefully construct situations and characters so that at a certain point they place demands on me and I become a conduit for the action that needs to unfold. I raised my family and lived in Harrisburg for the past 30 years.

Ron Chandler is an author of outdoor adventures. His fiction is family oriented and multi-cultural. His latest book, Madcap Dogs: Revealing Their True Glory was a finalist in the National Indie Excellence Awards in the Animals & Pets category.

Before retiring, Rebecca was a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and Penn State Nutritional Sciences professor who conducted research on binge eating and taught classes. She was agnostic most of her life, including her first twelve years at the university. Then, through a series of events that only God could have orchestrated, she became a devout Christian at age fifty-six. Her love of God and personal and professional backgrounds intersect to inspire her writing and talks.

Heather Hambel Curley is a USAToday Bestselling author, runner, and tattoo enthusiast originally from Pittsburgh. She now lives in State College with her husband, two sons, and dog, Ghost. Heather writes paranormal suspense and historical fiction (sometimes a mix of the two!) and chats about the 70s and all things ghoulish on her YouTube channel, Dark Sunshine.

I've had a number of careers in my life: reporter and editor, crisis communications consultant, private detective, insurance fraud investigator. Ten years ago I decided to devote myself to writing. At first it was short stories and I had a number of them published in literary magazines. I also published a collection, Lynerkim's Dance and Other Stories, which is also available on Amazon. The Secret History is my first novel and grew out of my fascination with Mexico, particularly Baja, and an eagerness to look beneath the surface of the intelligence apparatus (the Dark State, if you will.)

L.E. DeLano lives in Amish Country, Pennsylvania where she tries to thwart her cat’s plans for world domination. L.E.’s 2021 novel, BLUE, received six literary awards including the prestigious SPARK Award from The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), and a Gold Medal in Young Adult Fiction in the 2022 Reader Views Reviewer’s Choice Awards. Her debut novel, TRAVELER, was a Keystone State Reading Association (KSRA) Secondary Book Awards Finalist for 2018-2019.

Lori Duffy Foster is a former crime reporter and the award-nominated author of NEVER LET GO, a thriller, and the Lisa Jamison Mystery Series. A DEAD MAN'S EYES, book one in her series, was an Agatha Award nominee and a Shamus Award finalist. NEVER LET GO and NEVER BROKEN, book two in her series, were Silver Falchion Award finalists. Lori is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, The Historical Novel Society, International Thriller Writers, The Finger Lakes Authors & Readers Experience and Pennwriters.

Michel Lee Garrett is a noir author, editor, poet, and recovering journalist. She is the author of Born a Rambin’ Man and Other Stories (April 2025, Shotgun Honey) and the editor of Burning Down The House: Crime Fiction Incited by the Songs of the Talking Heads (April 2024, Shotgun Honey). She has worked as an investigative reporter, a professional speechwriter, and serves as an LGBT+ advocate and community organizer. Find her online at leegarrett.net.

Victoria Grace is an author, social worker, podcast host, and outdoor enthusiast who incorporates themes of nature, mental health, trauma healing, and chronic illness in her poetry. She writes with authenticity and has self-published four poetry collections.

Hilary Hauck writes historical and fantasy fiction. Her novels’ accolades include the HFC Award of Excellence, finalist for the Eric Hoffer Book Award, and nomination for the WCoNA Book of the Year Award. 

 Her short stories and poems have appeared in the Mindful Writers Retreat Series anthologies, Like Sunshine After Rain, and The Ekphrastic Review. She has been featured in Authority Magazine, the Historical Novels Review, and The Writing Cooperative.

Laura Irwin is a Philly girl who now lives in the wilds of central Pennsylvania with her ruggedly handsome husband and their gooey-fingered five-year-old son. She has a bachelor's degree in writing from the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, where she met said ruggedly handsome husband.

When she's not writing magical Romantsy novels (or reading them), she enjoys daydreaming, baking, gaming, traveling to far away lands, and visiting historical places. She loves dogs, baby jowls, spring flowers, and her Roomba.

Gayle C. Krause is a PAL SCBWI member, and her writing was selected as the 2022 MG first place winner of the Kid’s Choice KIDLIT Writing Contest. She’s a member of Mighty Kidlit Media and CIAO Kidlit and a past member The Poets’ Garage. She teaches writing seminars to Kidlit creatives and prospective writers and has taught Children’s Literature at the secondary and post-secondary levels. Ms. Krause’s hobbies include dollmaking (characters from her stories), and gourmet cooking.

Susan writes fast action reads filled with cowboys, heroes, and hope. She writes both western historical and contemporary romances and romantic suspense and has been itching to one day write a mystery or thriller. Christmas is her favorite holiday, and she loves to write resilient characters struggling to overcome the complications of life while holding their values and strengthening their faith.

Shawn McLain is the author of two zombie novels, "Respect the Dead" and "Nothing is Certain." Recently he signed with Hellbender books for his fantasy novel, "Thorn". He lives in Pennsylvania with his wife and their cats.

Jacqueline Materia Nardone attended Penn State University and enjoyed spending all four of her years there as a member of the Blue Band. There she met friends and formed relationships that would stand the test of both distance and time. As a piccolo player, Jacqueline became a squad leader, and eventually served as the Blue Band Historian. She lives with her husband, Thomas, daughter, Penelope, and dog, Daisy. They frequently make time to find the Blue Band, during practices, regular season games, the Blue White game, and more!

Author Carrie Anne Noble writes fantasy infused with folklore and fairy tales. Her debut novel, The Mermaid’s Sister, won the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award for Young Adult Fiction and the 2016 Realm Award for Book of the Year. School Library Journal has described her writing as “lyrical and enchanting.” Carrie lives in the Pennsylvania mountains, where she enjoys wandering in the woods, frolicking with her half-Corgi, and drinking endless cups of tea.

My name is Enid López Reed, but my students know me as Maestra or Profesora Reed. I am a

Latin American author born and raised in the beautiful island of Puerto Rico. I am also a Spanish

Professor at a public university in the state of Virginia, a V oice Artist for Garbanzo LLC., a

conference presenter, a content creator for the world language classroom, and a Ph.D. student

with a focus on second language research and acquisition. I write in an effort to document the

life experiences of the people from Latin America as well as traditions from other

Spanish-speaking countries. I write to provide #nuestrasvoces a place in the world. I write

historical fiction, fiction, memoirs, and bilingual books for children and young adults. I am a

member of PEN Internacional de Puerto Rico, part of the directive of the non-profit organization

Festival del Libro 100x35, and participate in art and book festivals in Puerto Rico as well as in

the United States.

Myah is an up-and-coming author located in State College, PA who enjoys creating visions of the world through unusual voices and images in poetry and fiction. They have awards through the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards and Saint Andrew's Episodical Church. Their published poetry collection can be found on the Amazon and Barnes & Noble websites, among others. Myah is currently working on a fantasy novel exploring themes of found family and discrimination.

Creator and illustrator Joe and lifelong friend Ralph decided to turn their passion for books and literacy into reality.  

Berrie Torgan-Randall is an author/illustrator working from her home studio in Media, PA. In addition to being an author and illustrator, she is the Illustrator Coordinator for the Eastern Pennsylvania SCBWI. Berrie’s illustrations have appeared in Ladybug Magazine, and her debut early reader graphic novel, Bella & Blue: Bella Meets Blue was published by The Little Press Publishing in 2022. Berrie recently signed a contract with The Little Press for the second book in the Bella & Blue series to launch in October 2026 titled Bella & Blue: Times Two. In addition, Berrie’s debut picture book, Just Ducky: A Friendship Takes Flight, was recently acquired by Cardinal Rule Press to be released October 2025..

Melissa Trempe has swum with sharks and hiked a volcano, but her greatest adventure has been writing for children. She’s the author of The Girl Who Dreamed of Space (Sourcebooks eXplore, 2027) and co-author of Ladybug Launch: Inspired by a True Story of Chinitas in Space (Simon & Schuster, 2024). As a former educator, she loves connecting with readers at school visits and hopes to make the world a better place one book at a time. Please visit her at www.melissatrempe.com to learn more.

Laura L. Zimmerman lives in south-central Pennsylvania with her family and furbabies. She loves writing YA fantasy, drinking coffee, and doing yoga. She is the author of the YA fantasy Banshee Song Series, and middle-grade mystery books R.A.D. Detectives: The Case of the Missing Robot and The Curse of Ozpa Springs! Find her on Instagram @lauralzimmauthor and her website lauralzimmerman.org.