Tamara Anderson is a pediatric speech language pathologist, education specialist, and consultant with a passion for language and literacy. From an early age, she was captivated by stories, especially those that were set in various places around the world. She is originally from Saint Andrew, Jamaica and lived in Miami, Florida for many years. She now resides in the metro Atlanta, Georgia area.
Historial Inspiration: An Interview with Barbara de la Cuesta, author of Adam’s Chair
Barbara de la Cuesta taught and worked as a journalist in South America. Out of this experience came her two prize winning novels, The Spanish Teacher, winner of the Gival Press Award in 2007, and Rosa, winner of the Driftless Novella Prize from Brain Mill Press in 2017. Fellowships in fiction from the Massachusetts Artists’ Foundation, and the New Jersey Council on the Arts, as well as residencies at the Ragdale Foundation, The Virginia Center, and the Millay Colony, have allowed her to complete these novels. Her story collection, The Place Where Judas Lost His Boots, has recently won the Brighthorse Prize.
Imagining and Envisioning: An Interview with Diane Lowman, author of The Undiscovered Country
Diane is an award-winning essayist, memoirist, and poet. She served as Westport, CT’s inaugural Poet Laureate from 2019-2022. Her essays have appeared in many publications, including O, The Oprah Magazine, Brain, Child and Brevity Blog, and she writes a regular column, Everything’s an Essay. Her first memoir, Nothing But Blue, was published in 2018, and her latest, The Undiscovered Country: Seeing Myself Through Shakespeare’s Eyes, was published in September 2023.
An Interview with Shanita Liu, author of Dear Durga
Shanita Liu, MPA, CPC, is a mom of three warriors, veteran spouse, salsa dancer, TEDx speaker, and Fulbright Scholar. She created Coach Shanita, Inc. so that she could use her skills as a transformational coach, reiki master, mystic, and speaker to help folks live victorious lives.
Mark Steven Porro, a New Jersey native (Exit 163), earned an Industrial Design degree from the Ohio State University. After years of agency work, his love of acting led him to Hollywood, where he appeared in dozens of television, film, and stage productions. Mark also spent his twenty-eight years in Tinseltown, entrepreneuring. He started five non-profit companies. But hold the applause, none were intended to be. He now lives in the South of France. But hold your pity. He of sound mind and body chose to suffer in the heart of wine country where the locals insist his French isn’t so bad—at least that’s what he thinks they’re saying.
An Interview with Anttimatti Pennanen, author of Black Table
Anttimatti lives in Finland and Spain. He is a writer who keeps his readers hooked with humor, cliffhangers, and thrills without unnecessary bloodshed, leaving an enjoyable experience for all. While drinking an excessive amount of coffee, he is writing stories from his experience, imagination and with thorough research. The Black Table series is his first science fiction trilogy, with a second series already on its way.
An Interview with Mikki Shepard, author of In a Heartbeat
A USAF Veteran, Mikki’s career includes speaking, real estate, and marketing. She is the author of IN A HEARTBEAT – The Miracle of a Family That Was Meant To Be, a true story spanning several generations of families born out of love. She now hosts Adoption as a Choice radio show & podcast.
Chicago native Michelle Elder and her family now call North Carolina home, enjoying life between the mountains and the sea. Her days are filled with the company of her favorite people: two curious and very strong-willed daughters, a coffee-snob husband, and one very hairy dog. An avid reader with a passion for fantasy, she also loves to travel to new places, wander through bookstores, and firmly believes dessert is a non-negotiable daily treat.
An Interview with Anne Lacourrege, author of The Greatest Treasure
Three-time award winning author, Anne Lacourrege, was raised in New Orleans. There has always been the desire to do creative writing and The Greatest Treasure was Anne’s first attempt. The story was written and forgotten until Hurricane Katrina ravaged New Orleans. For all that New Orleans means to the author, this story was written.
An Interview with Deborah King, author of Glory Bishop
Though Deborah L. King has been a writer and storyteller her whole life, publishing her first short story at seven years old, she took 32 years to complete her first novel. Deborah loves storms, champagne, Old Time Radio, and 70s Blues and Soul. As a fiction writer, she loves the work of Octavia Butler, classic Stephen King, Peter David, and the illustrations of Dan DeCarlo. Thanks to an interesting childhood, she’s afraid of escalators, bill collectors, and sometimes fresh produce.