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Jan & Avery Porter
Malaina Purdon
Malaina Mote graduated from Florida Gulf Coast University in 2015 with her bachelor’s degree in communications, concentration public relations. Since graduating, Malaina has held various roles within the nonprofit sector, including positions in community outreach, relationship building, education, program management, strategy, fundraising, and development. Currently, she is the Director of Development at Lee Health Foundation. She deeply believes in giving back to the community and inspiring others. In her spare time, she volunteers as a board member for the Florida Gulf Coast University Alumni Association and Our Mother’s Home, and she is vice chair of the City of Bonita Springs Outreach Committee. Recently, she concluded her term as a community board member of the Newspress-SWFL/Naples Daily News and a branch member of the Resilient Lee Housing Branch. She is a published author of a children’s book, Lavender, What Are You?, that sold copies in Italy, the UK, Canada, and the USA. She has been recognized by Gulfshore Business 40 Under 40 2021 and was awarded FGCU’s Soaring Eagle Award. When she is not busy in any of her positions, Malaina enjoys writing, doing anything creative, reading, spending time with her husband and watching her son make goals on the soccer field or plays on the football field.
Amie Raterman
Virginia Read
Margaret Roche
While the product of a Midwest upbringing, M.E. has lived and worked on both coasts as well as in Ireland. As a registered nurse, she has had the opportunity to work in many facets of nursing from pediatrics to geriatrics, from labor representation to administration, including the implementation of hospital information systems for nursing. While officially retired, she continues to volunteer at a neighborhood clinic where she lives in southwest Florida. When M.E. discovered that nothing had been written about nursing for young readers, since the 1950s and 60s, her first novels were written to address this deficit—to show young readers something of what nursing was like today. As she got to know her characters and their involvement with law enforcement, M.E. decided she needed more direct experience. She connected with her local sheriff’s department and began volunteering with the coroner’s division. Her adult novels have been a product of that experience, giving Nora Brady the somewhat enviable opportunity to merge her talents for that of nursing with those of law enforcement.
Sam Sancho
Sam Sancho has been a dedicated professional in library services for over 14 years. She has gained extensive experience managing library resources, organizing events and programs, and providing excellent customer service to patrons. Currently, Sam resides with her husband and two adorable dogs in the beautiful state of Florida. She is passionate about her work and takes pride in helping children discover the joy of reading and learning.
Catherine Sheehan
Robin Slider
Brian Sluga
Brian Sluga is an award-winning writer, an author, a cancer survivor and a customer experience consultant. He has written two books and his poems have been honored and published in a variety of books and magazines. Brian has a background in public relations and change management, and these disciplines bring fresh perspectives to his writing, which has been influenced heavily by music and dreams. When he’s not daydreaming about his next book, poem or article, you can find Brian reading biographies, watching soccer, laughing at Progressive Insurance commercials, or listening to '80s music.
Irene Smith
Sheryl Stillman
I am the proud mom of two young adults and a Mini-Bernedoodle. I've lived in Southwest Florida since September 2022, hailing from Minneapolis, MN. By day, I am an Executive & Life Coach and consultant focusing on communications strategy and change management. At night, I write. I cover topics related to parenting, aging, self-care, healthcare, business, travel, and anything else that sparks my curiosity. I've been fortunate to be published at Insider, WIRED, and PBS's Next Avenue. I'm working on a memoir and a self-help book (in my head). I joined GCWA in spring 2024 and was elected to be part of the Executive Team as Vice President, Communications.
Lori Joan Swick
Lori Joan Swick writes novels about women whose contributions to religious history have been neglected and misrepresented. She also edits historical fiction, nonfiction, or academic/dissertation work in the humanities. Her published written works include the historical fiction novel, Comfort and Mirth (TCU Press, 2009), and a nonfiction book entitled Dreaming~ The Sacred Art (Skylight Paths Publishing, 2014). She is an award-winning poet and essayist. She is a Doctor of Philosophy in the Humanities with concentrations in religion and women’s studies. She instructs English, religion, and philosophy as a university professor, and resides in Southwest Florida.
Lori Joan Swick
Chris Underwood
I started seriously writing back in 2012 when my concerns of a power grid failure began to creep into my mind. My concerns festered into a storyline that continued to bug me until I got it on paper. I’ve heard that good writing is like sharing a good secret. It took five years of honing my craft to get the first book out, but it has been fun sharing this secret. I have always loved to write, even as a kid in elementary school. I still have my first book about a three-headed snake, complete with a Crayola cover stapled together. Several short stories were written in high school and college, but no attempts to be published. College courses in creative writing were taken at Ohio State, but again, another path was chosen. A business degree in Computer Science and Accounting was selected as a more promising road to success. My original career path was in accounting and included the CPA exam, of which I passed two of the four parts. However, I soon found that I was too creative to be an accountant, and I moved to computer programming. My rationale was that creative accountants usually ended up in prison. My computer consulting career has allowed me to be creative, but I have more passion for my artistic pursuits. During the housing boom leading up to 2008, I did a lot of woodworking and restoring antique furniture. The quiet times of working on the pieces were great; I enjoy my solitude. But the initial interaction with the customer to make the sale was a fun process as well. This is why I do so many book signings in person. I enjoy the conversations and the feedback I receive from these events. I am certainly not an introvert who wants to stay locked away in my writing laboratory weaving my tales! My other passion is sailing. I have worked on a sailing charter boat in Key West and taken some sailing classes to develop my skills. I have a sailboat in Ohio, and I spend more time aboard each season. A blue water sailboat in the Gulf of Mexico is my next goal, and it feels to be not far away. I pine for the day that writing and sailing consume my life, and hopefully I can take a few readers along in my stories!
Charley Valera
Charley Valera, a renowned author, has penned best-sellers My Father's War: Memories from Our Honored WWII Soldiers and A Military Mustang: The Extraordinary Life of Captain John W. Arens. His interviews with WWII veterans, originally part of a cable TV miniseries, are being adapted into a feature film. Valera's writings span across aviation, real estate, and WWII publications. Valera's also a commercial-rated pilot and former flight school owner and Realtor. For book signings or presentations, visit www.charleyvalera.com. He resides in southwest Florida with his wife, Cheryl.
