Appalachian WordFest Vendor List
Arthur M Bohanan
Arthur Bohanan’sworks include both fiction and non-fiction writings.
Henry Bohanan’s Journey is a series of historical fictional
novels describing his grandfather who fought in the American Revolution.
Bohanan’s non-fiction works chronicle his graveyard forensics efforts where
he determines if human remains are located under unmarked graves.
Josh Brandon
Josh Brandon’s books inspire personal growth, connection, and creativity.
From nurturing relationships to sparking ideas, his works empower readers
to think critically, connect deeply, and pursue their dreams. With a focus
on compassion, influence, and storytelling, Josh's writing reflects his
passion for helping others reach their full potential.
Paulette Buchanan
Paulette J. Buchanan's book is a true crime account told by a victim of stalking,
death threats, and cybercrimes - crimes that were committed by Buchanan's older
brother who runs an online cult. Her book describes a destroyed mental health
system, government corruption, and offers practical solutions.
Mary Jane Capps
Mary Jane Capps writes young adult and new adult novels about witches,
mermaids, and ghosts-or some combination of the three. She likes to keep
things spooky, magical, and reasonably upbeat.
Lynn Cahoon
Lynn Cahoon writes fun, cozy mysteries. Her series are set in locations such as a
central California beach town, a Colorado mountain college town, New Orleans, and
two Idaho-based areas. Her heroines run bookstores, write books, talk to ghosts,
and own a catering company while learning Grans’ kitchen witch ways.
New York Times and USA Today best-selling author.
M.A. Carr writes fantasy novels. His novel The Crystal Chronicles
introduces readers to a brand new world and characters. Book 1,
Convergence, has been on sale for two years. The second installment,
The Stirring, will be available this year.
Bobbi Chapman
Bobbi Phelps Chapman work consists of stories and memoirs from
throughout her life. From her time as an international flight
attendant during the glamour years of aviation where she visited
the Orient and Europe, to her frightening tales of living on a
remote ranch in Idaho and other captivating stories, her memoirs
depict adventures in a past time before the age of smartphones, GPS, and social media.
Erin Chesnut writes sweet, Hallmark-style contemporary romance with
themes of family, endurance and finding your way home. Her books
include character chemistry and banter, swoon-worthy kisses, and
happy endings without explicit content or foul language.
William Clark
William Clark is an active local inspirational/Christian author and
contributing writer to Chicken Soup for the Soul. In the past nine years,
he has published seven books, including a trilogy. His newest release,
A Walk on the Sunny Side, is an entertaining two volume short story collection.
Gayle Curtin
Gayle’s published books are non-fiction.
My Thoughts Exactly!
contains humorous rants about General Liability Insurance underwriting.
Wiser Now is a memoir covering two years with an alcoholic, manic-depressive,
abusive husband. She hopes her reflections will serve as a warning to those
choosing potential partners based on emotion rather than reason.
Ruth Davis
A Portrait of Patriots and Pioneers of Sevier County
recognizes over one hundred patriots who fought for independence during
the Revolutionary War and later called Sevier County Home.
Dennis Deeb II
Deeb has authored two books on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the most recent being
Israel-Palestine, and the Quest for Middle East Peace.
His first book,The Collapse of Middle East Peace was published in 2003.
Deeb authored a third book in 2020 called
State and Local Politics: Essentials, Campaigning, and Lessons Learned.
Sonja DuBois
Sonja’s memoir, Finding Schifrah: The Journey of a Dutch Holocaust Child Survivor,
recounts her journey. After losing touch with her heritage, she rediscovers her
Jewish roots and her family’s tragic story during World War II. Her amazing story
of resilience and love raises ageless and universal questions about overcoming
childhood trauma and finding one's true identity.
Emily Dunn
Emily Dunn split her writing personality into thirds. As M.A. Lee, she hosts
The Write Focus podcast and writes historical mysteries.
As Edie Roones she pens historical fantasy. As Remi Black she crafts noblebright
fantasy. That’s too many eggs in one basket, but she’s having fun. She’s published over 60 titles.
Jesse Hester
Jesse A. Hester writes mystery novels set in East Tennessee.
Most of the stories take place in or around Monroe County,
where he grew up. He finds that rural areas with mountains
and small towns are perfect environments for creating interesting
characters and thrilling stories that entertain the reader.
Stephanie Edwards
Stephanie Edwards writes Southern romantic suspense with
female leads who protect those they love at all costs. Stephanie's
books offer something for everyone. Whether you're looking for a story
of sisterhood and family, romance, suspense, or the unexplainable,
you'll find it between the covers of her twist-filled novels.
Brooke Gilbert
Brooke Gilbert writes travel romances with disability and mental health representation.
These #OwnVoice novels depict characters with chronic illnesses and autoimmune
disorders. Her stories include clean romance, feel-good rom-com, witty banter,
relatable characters, swoony moments, and heartwarming scenes.
Patricia Gilliam
Patricia Gilliam has authored science fiction and superhero/time travel novels.
She’s also contributed to various sci-fi anthologies
and is the creator of the Seriescraft 101 workbooks.
Alex Gordon is a traditionally published author of YA/NA paranormal fantasy.
The Darkest Wishes series is about a teenager who discovers she has the
power of mind control. If she ignores her powers—she goes crazy. If she
uses them for good—she dies. Her solution is vigilante justice.
Mean Girls with a supernatural twist.
Susan Graham
Susan Marie Graham is an author of fiction with Christian themes. Her interest
in vintage movies and World War II inspired her book, There Will Your Heart Be.
She is currently penning a series about a "found family" of friends set in a small
town, and she co-authored a book of short stories celebrating the joy of Christmas.
Kelley Griffin
Kelley Griffin pens Romantic Suspense and YA Suspense stories with rich characters
and nonstop action. Her characters are determined, fierce, loving, kind
(sometimes to a fault) and loyal. Strong heroines with secrets and kind
heroes with pasts of their own are prevalent in her writing, as well as
sarcasm, wit, and fun. Her books are hilarious, intense, and will keep
you guessing! Pick one up and get lost for a while. Look for her current
books: Binding Circumstance, Entangling- Book One of the Kirin Lane Series,
A Mind Unequal- Book One of the Casey King Series, Unraveling- Book
Two of the Kirin Lane Series, and Taken for Granted, a new YA series
made up of four serialized novellas.
Sharon Griffiths
Sharon writes inspirational romantic suspense novels under her own name
as well as the name Kate McKeever. Both names sell books that feature
one or both main characters that are ex-military.
Karen Hall
Karen writes military romantic suspense in which handsome veterans join
forces with determined women to help find and save trafficked and
kidnapped children and teens. She also writes historical and
contemporary Christmas romance with guaranteed happy endings-No mistletoe needed!
Jim Hartsell
Jim’s work falls into two genres: Southern Fiction and Children’s Books.
The Boone Series is a coming-of-age collection set in the East Tennessee area.
The children’s books are written for beginning readers or for adults and children to
read together, and are about things like friendship, generosity, imagination, and thankfulness.
Stanford Johnson
Native East Tennessean Stanford Johnson has written two true crime novels based
on historical figures and events in East Tennessee in the late 19th and early
20th centuries. Through chronicles of extralegal vigilante groups, corrupt
Justices of the Peace, and decades-old murders, readers unravel the cultural
and societal issues that plagued the Great Smoky Mountains region of Tennessee.
Line By Lion Publications - Amanda Lamkin
Amanda Rotach Lamkin is the owner of Line By Lion Publications and
an award-winning author. Amanda’s heart lies with genre of fiction,
particularly of the speculative variety. Under myriad pseudonyms,
she has written picture books, spicy romances, and everything in between.
Danny Lampkin
Danny’s latest book, STRONG ENOUGH FOR A MAN BUT MADE FOR A WOMAN, is a
controversial analysis of great importance that many people ignore - high
conflict coparenting, child custody, and child support. Know upfront that
the author is a parents’ rights advocate, not a father’s rights advocate.
Through real-life experiences, research, and Family Court corruption,
the author examines the correlation between narcissistic parents and the so-called “dead-beat” parent.
Ernest Lancaster
Retired cop Ernest Lancaster writes of real-life exploits and tragedies,
bending the truth in a noir melody of hard-boiled tales, designed to
lead readers down a winding road of dark adventure.
J.L. Lawrence
J.L. Lawrence primarily writes in the world of fantasy fiction.
She enjoys building unique worlds and powerful characters, and they
almost always include mythical creatures. However, she also has a
lighthearted sweet romance Christmas series with a new book coming soon.
She believes that imagination is the key to true adventure.
Ester López
Ester writes sci-fi and paranormal adventure romances as well as children's books.
The Genesis Saga begins on Earth in the Smoky Mountains.
The Angel Chronicles is the paranormal line, dealing with angels. Her children's books, written in a fictional way, are non-fiction stories for second grade readers.
Brian McKnight
Brian M. McKnight’s writing explores the rich history and hidden stories
of East Tennessee, from vintage tourism and forgotten attractions to
notable people and locations that shaped the region. His work, including
Lost Motels of Gatlinburg, captures the unique heritage and
enduring charm of this Smoky Mountain area.
Naomi Miller
Naomi Miller mixes up a batch of intrigue, sprinkled with Amish,
Mennonite, English & Irish characters (so far), then adds a pinch
of mystery and a dash of romance in her wonderfully feel-good stories
of life, love and faith in a small town!
Moon Pie General Store
The Moon Pie General Store has been selling great books at low prices
for over 25 years! Their inventory is growing every day and includes
many new releases and bestsellers sold at their regular price.
JC Morrows
From a futuristic dystopian fairytale retelling to modern urban fantasy
about a single mom who is unwillingly turned into the queen of the seas...
JC Morrows writes fantastical tales about real people thrust into extraordinary
situations! Romance, adventure, conflict, fiery passion and the all too
human struggle against fate fill the pages of JC's books!
Macy Morrows
Macy Morrows is the youngest of three generations of authors. Like her
grandmother and her mother, Macy followed her passion for the written word.
She decided this at a very young age - and has been writing ever since.
Like her mother, JC, Macy prefers to inhabit the fantasy worlds she dreams
up and puts her own spin on beloved fairy tales, writing mainly for a middle
grade audience. When Macy is not writing her fantastical tales or participating
in author events and comic-cons, she can be found on social media
@macymorrows.
Nana & Nina
Nana and Nina, twin sisters from Yabucoa, Puerto Rico, share a passion
for creating bilingual children’s books. Their works include award-winning titles like
Making Waves, My family is from Puerto Rico, and Maximiliano,
You’ll Always Be the Greatest.
Their stories empower children, explore emotional growth, and celebrate Puerto Rican culture.
Fayla Ott
Fayla is an award-winning author who writes in the genres of historical fiction,
historical suspense, and modern historical fiction. Living amidst the scenic
views of the East Tennessee mountains, Fayla creates tales of American history,
mostly set in the south, that capture the heart and challenge the spirit.
Katherine Parr
Katherine Kirby Smith’s works include historical fiction, children’s books,
and informational non-fiction. Her historical novel, Eva of the Nation,
arose from her dissertation. Katherine also published a book on writing,
Grammar and Style: Navigating the Bewildering World of Writing. Recently,
she published a children’s book about her West Highland Terrier, Charlie Bear.
She writes as Katherine Kirby Smith (K.K. Smith).
Elle Andrews Patt
Elle Andrews Patt writes speculative fiction—stories portraying the real
world with an intrusion of fantasy. Her short fiction might have fairies
or zombies showing up. Her novels, the Andrea Kelley Mystery series
(Ghost, Spirit, Wraith, and upcoming Phantom)
and standalone Blind Mice Bite
are murder mysteries with ghosts.
JoAnn Parsley
The Hafling tells the story of a half human, half hillcat who escaped slavery,
and fights ogres, barbarians and other threats to the Kingdom.
In book 2, The Stone Dragon, Harrel, now a King's Ranger, rescues two women
from the Red Lord, which triggers events that entangle him with a Fair Lady,
a Sorceress, a Prince, and a dragon - all to save a young man from the bullies of his world.
Paula Petree
Author Paula Petree has teamed up with talented artist and her dear friend
Karen Trybone to create beautiful picture books for children and families
to share together. As retired teachers, both know the importance of children
experiencing quality literature. Their books focus on relationships of
family and friends. Their latest book, Adventure on the Appalachian Trail,
is a humorous story based on a true account of a couple of hikers
and their encounter with a family of bears.
Jay Reace
Legacy takes place years after Xolani and Raine flee their homeland to find peace.
However, that peace is shattered when they receive a royal command to return home
and answer for what they did so long ago. They must decide to either take their
two children and run or fight for the peace they deserve. Their choice sets off
a series of events for the rest of the book series.
E.L. Reed
E.L. Reed crafts gripping crime thrillers inspired by real-life killers,
delivering chilling and intense narratives. Writing as Emma Leigh Reed,
she transitions to romantic suspense and women’s fiction, skillfully
weaving real-life experiences into heartfelt, relatable tales of love,
resilience, and personal discovery, showcasing her versatility as a storyteller.
John Ryland
John writes dark psychological suspense fiction with a unique southern style and an easy,
unencumbered prose. He also writes Southern Gothic fiction based on true southern
personalities, not stereotypes. His writing has been described as “In the same vein
as M. Night Shyamalan and Alfred Hitchcock.”
Michael Samerdyke
Michael Samerdyke's fiction includes three trilogies that collect stories
of horror and the macabre: the Kino Trilogy, the Tales of Kurgania Trilogy;
and the Dark Universities trilogy. His non-fiction includes books on classic
Hollywood cartoons (Cartoon Carnival, Wascally Wabbit, and Guess Who?) and
books on classic radio drama (Radio's Outstanding Theater of Thrills, and
Those Frightful Shows of Yesteryear.)
Lin & J.L. Stepp
Lin Stepp is a New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, and Amazon
best-selling international author. She has over twenty-four published
novels set around the Smoky Mountains and the South Carolina coast.
Her works include novel series, standalone novels, guidebooks, and
religious devotionals. She and her husband, J.L. Stepp, have jointly
written four best-selling regional guidebooks, including a Smokies
hiking guide and three state park guidebooks for TN, NC, and SC parks.
Story Catcher Publishing
Donna L Martin, KidLit author at Story Catcher Publishing, will be bringing
her award-winning historical fiction chapter book series, HISTORY'S MYSTERIES,
as well as her picture books, martial arts chapter book, young adult fantasy
novel, and her memoir about growing up with the gumbo-loving Cajuns of southern Louisiana.
Brenda Prater Sellers
A lively memoir with humor and adventure, offering insights on balancing life in
the style of a modern-day Erma Bombeck. More than just a travelogue, the journey
includes managing eldercare. As a bonus, cost-saving travel tips and a guide to
creating your own bucket-list are provided.
Mary Ruden
Mary Ruden has authored and illustrated two folding field guides on Native
Orchids of North America for Waterford Press’ A Pocket Naturalist series.
Native Orchids of North America covers 75 species illustrated with
descriptions, and Native Orchids of Florida covers 83 species. She has
also created educational posters on native orchids.
Smokies Life
Since 1957, Smokies Life has maintained a vibrant publications program in service
of its mission to support the perpetual preservation of Great Smoky Mountains
National Park by promoting greater public interest and appreciation through
education, interpretation, and research. Today, Smokies Life functions as a
boutique publishing house producing one or two books a year and maintaining
more than 100 backlist publications in print including books, pamphlets, guides, and maps.
Sisters In Crime East TN
The Smoking Guns is the east Tennessee Chapter of the international writers'
organization, Sisters in Crime. We are a collective of mystery writers (Sisters
and Misters) with several members writing in multiple genres including murder
mysteries, non-fiction, romance, cozy mysteries, Christian suspense, supernatural and psychological thrillers.
Arthur Stewart
Author Art Stewart of Lenoir City, TN, is a well-published scientist and poet.
He has released eight books of science-inspired poems, each focusing on its
own theme. He badgers scientists by getting his science-inspired poems
published in respectable science magazines and has been identified as
“a good-hearted provocateur within the culture of science and an authentic
new voice in the culture of poetry.”
Leanne Tyler
Leanne Tyler writes contemporary romance, romantic comedy, military
romantic suspense – the Brotherhood Protectors World series,
and historical romance - American 1852-1920. She also writes young
adult paranormal books as Lexi Witcher. Readers can find her books on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited.
Joseph Williams
Joseph has novels written in poetry and prose following the adventures and life
of an Appalachian rag man who shares rags from remnants of the garment of
the creator. These rags appear spontaneously in the form of poetry and songs.
These rags depict the many aspects of each of our natures.
Victoria Winifred
Victoria Winifred is a passionate teacher and author who burst onto the
literary scene in 2022 with her award-winning debut, The Princess, the
Knight, and the Lost God. Her family-friendly children's books include
mysteries, illustrated adaptations of renowned stories from the Bible,
and animal adventures.
R. L. Pete Wyatt
R.L. has written a three-volume set of over seventy humorous short stories
that span his decades-long career as a game warden assigned to the
Appalachian Mountains of upper East Tennessee.