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.

Claudia Volkman

Ginger Wakem

Ginger Wakem is a fourth-generation south Floridian, a region known for its intense hurricanes, incessant mosquitoes, and dramatic sunsets. From a young age, Ginger was enchanted by books, developing a passion for mystery novels and, later, historical romance and spy tales. Her storytelling evolved from weaving stories for her young children to a diverse business writing career. She contributed to a BBC documentary on Tourette’s Syndrome, appeared in the movie “Marcus,” and written across various mediums. Her nonfiction book, in its third printing with over 6,000 copies in circulation is in both English and Spanish. Additionally, Ginger’s love for capturing the world and telling its story through photography has culminated in a portfolio displayed on her website, ggwakem.com. Her first novel, Trust No One, Promise Nothing launched in October of 2024 and reached Amazon's #1 in the Mafia Romance category for ebooks. Since then she has participated in a podcast, was named #1 on the Munn Avenue Press Mystery Suspense books for 2024 and is involved in a nationwide bookclub featuring her book. She is currently writing a sequel to her novel.

Patricia Walsh

A storyteller since her first fib and an explorer since her first runaway, Patti M. Walsh is an award-winning author of short stories, novels, memoirs, and travelogues. Her debut novel and first book in the Companion Moon series, GHOST GIRL was named Best Children’s Fiction of 2023 by American Book Fest. HOUNDED, the second novel in the series, was published in October 2024 as the #1 New Release on Amazon Teen & Young Adult Martial Arts Fiction. ALL THAT REMAINS is a collection of short fiction about ordinary folks who face adversity. Fascinated with science, prehistory, and mythology, Patti offers presentations on Celtic holidays; Celtic gods and goddesses; faeries, myths, and monsters; historically significant landmarks in Ireland; and the Aurora Borealis. She also conducts hands-on workshops that engage middle-school students and their parents. As an avid photographer and adventure seeker, she offers presentations and workshops on a wide range of topics, including Celtic culture, mythologically significant landmarks in Ireland, and the Aurora Borealis. She also conducts hands-on workshops related to these topics that engage middle-school students and their parents. To arrange a presentation, contact her at www. PattiMWalsh.com. Subscribe to her blog, What the Cats Are Reading; sign up for her newsletter, Come to Think of It; and learn more at www.PattiMWalsh.com.

Melissa Waters