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Catherine Sheehan
John Siko
Robin Slider
Brian Sluga
Irene Smith
Diane aka D.J. Stech aka Kristoff
Alina Steele
Alina writes non-fiction based on her life experiences and expertise including business, engineering, science and food. She earned a BS in Chemical Engineering from Michigan State University and is a licensed Professional Engineer. She earned an MBA (Finance and Business Economics) from Wayne State University and a Certificate in Nutrition and Healthy Living from Cornell. After a 30-year corporate career in the Energy Industry, Alina now focuses on food and the related processes we employ in our everyday lives. She created the Re-Engineering the KitchenTM program to provide practical methods to improve one’s nutrition by translating vague goals into actionable plans. You can find more information at www.reengineeringthekitchen.com. Alina lives in Minnesota with her husband, Harvey, and their Amazing Golden Retriever, Smoky. She enjoys every adventure with her children and grandchildren, and loves to visit friends in Florida or wherever they may be.
Larry Stiles
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 like "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, and he'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 Floridian from South Florida, 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, featuring adventurous, red-headed twins, to a diverse writing career. She has contributed to a BBC documentary on Tourette’s Syndrome, appeared in the movie “Marcus,” and written across various mediums, including product descriptions, web content, and magazine articles. Her nonfiction book has reached its third printing in both English and Spanish, boasting over 6,000 copies. 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. She is currently finalizing her first novel, Trust No One, Promise Nothing which should be launched by the end of the summer 2024.
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.