His first novel, Even Trolls Love Pasties, is set in Ann Arbor during the 1970s and focuses on the narrator’s friendship with Jack Goode as they move through a world of young loves, new friendships, music, politics, Wolverine football and the occasional ghost. His second novel, I Brake for Humans, recounts the story of another member of the Goode family, Chris, as he decides that enough is enough and takes on his former employers who have elevated profits over people. Jim’s third novel, Huckleberry Finishes, finds Howard, a cousin to the Goodes, fifty years after his life-changing encounter with his first great love, Maude, on a mission to save young Madeleine from both her own depression and from a serial killer. Jim’s most recent novel, Far, Far Away In An Irish Pub is a tale involving yet another member of the Goode family, Devin, a young Detroit reporter to whom it has just been revealed that leprechauns and faeries are actually aliens who have been stranded on Earth.

T. Ariyanna is a newcomer to publishing, but a veteran at story crafting. After being enchanted by the worlds within books during middle school, she spent her high school years creating her first novel-length story. A few years later she hit the scene with a magical debut, The Mage’s Son.

Ariyanna’s specializations run from realistic fantasy to dystopian steampunk. She juggles writing with being a stay-at-home mother to a daughter just as adventurous as any heroine. Her hobbies include reading, crafting, and playing video games.

Gerald Cliff, Ph.D. was the commanding officer of the Violent Crime Section that investigated the Armstrong case in Detroit. He has degrees in criminal justice from Michigan State University and the University of Detroit, and advanced degrees in public administration and urban politics from Wayne State University. He began his law enforcement career as an officer on the Detroit Police force in the 1970s, became a sergeant, then a lieutenant, then was appointed commanding officer of the Headquarters Surveillance Unit of the Violent Crimes Section.

As his career continued to advance, he commanded the Special Services Section and the Compliance and Training Section of the Civil Rights Integrity Bureau, among other roles. Retiring from the Detroit force, he then served as the chief of police in Saginaw, Michigan, then joined the National White-Collar Crime Center as research director. He has taught administrative and labor law at Saginaw Valley State University, and has been an adjunct instructor at Fairmont State University and Pierpont Community and Technical College in West Virginia. Cliff and his wife recently returned to Michigan after several years away.

You can catch interviews with both Bates and Cliff on the Oxygen Network’s “Twisted Killers,” S1E2, focusing on the Armstrong case, as well as S8E3 of “The World’s Most Evil Killers.” They have discussed the Armstrong and Atkins cases on an array of podcasts, such as True Crime Talk with Nic Edwards, Dan Zupansky’s True Murder, True Crime Conversations with Gemma Bath, and more. Find links on Bates’ social media, on her “From the Keyboard of B.R. Bates” blog, and on the interviews / media page of her website, BRBates.

From the Author:

I am currently retired after 34 years of working in the auto insurance industry claims world with the majority of that time being spent as a field trainer. I have lived in the state of Michigan my entire life, mainly in Livingston County. I was born in Flint, Michigan and graduated from Fenton High School. I also have a BME degree from Eastern Michigan University.

I have been writing since high school when I used to keep spiral notebooks of ideas and novels I was working on. It has been now in retirement that I have been able to spend the time to put all of my ideas and notes together to create my books in final form and be published.

I call my genre “fictionalized memoir’ because the ideas are based on my time in high school and participating in band and sports in my home town of Fenton, Michigan, but there have been adaptions. Most of my titles in some way reflect the theme of high school band and my area of great pride, trumpet playing!

One of my side projects has been the book entitled “The Chicago Pool Tournament”. It is based on the idea of having a reunion in heaven with all of my most favorite dogs during a life time on earth.

I currently reside in Brighton and West Branch, Michigan with my wife, Terese Fitzpatrick, and our prized possessions, Molly and Sully, our golden retrievers.

Mary is a local author who loves to write about her faith. Her first two books, Underneath Mercy’s Tree and Crossing the Jordan, are autobiographical tales of the faithfulness and nearness of God.

Cheraee C. is a passionate storyteller, editor, and ghostwriter whose repertoire is full of books and experiences. Since 2014 she has cultivated herself from being an author to being a publisher and continues to achieve many accolades in the book industry.

From the Author:

I was born and raised in New England. I received a B.A. and M.A. in Psychology from San Diego State University and a Ph.D. from Wayne State University in Experimental Social Psychology. I taught Psychology for 25 years at Adrian College. I wrote my book during retirement. I have a spouse, three adult children, and two grandchildren. I now live in Northville MI.

Clint Chico is a YA author and high school teacher living in the metro Detroit area. He’s a devoted husband and the father of multiple LGBTQ kids. All of his books feature a diverse cast with female protagonists and LGBTQ themes.

Michigan-based debut author with a love of creating cozy escapes for readers.

From the Author:

My name is Adam El Fadl, a 12-year-old author of four books and a dedicated piano composer. I discovered my passion for reading and writing at an early age, beginning my journey as an author when I was just 9 years old. Simultaneously, I ventured into the world of music, starting my piano lessons at the age of 4.

My literary endeavors commenced with the publication of my first book, Earth’s Resources, at the age of 9. This book delves into the fascinating realm of earth minerals, plants, fossils, and rocks. My musical education blossomed at Forte Music School in Toledo, Ohio, under the guidance of Mrs. Melanie Zeinteck. The allure of music, particularly the works of Romantic period composers, has fueled my curiosity to explore their compositions, challenges, and life stories.

At the age of 10, I penned my second book, Trip Through Time: The Great Composers of Piano, delving deeper into the captivating world of music history. Subsequently, at the age of 11, I published my debut novel, The Wind That Blows Back, a poignant tale inspired by the tragic events of Hurricane Katrina. This powerful narrative portrays the themes of fear, loss, hope, family resilience, and the indomitable human spirit.

Continuing the saga, Storms of the Past unfolds as a serios extension of The Wind That Blows Back, offering readers and enthralling experience of survival and perseverance. My objective as an author is to provide readers with compelling and emotionally engaging stories, propelling them on unforgettable journeys alongside intriguing characters.
I am passionate about crafting entertaining, thought-provoking narratives that leave a lasting impact and evoke powerful emotions within readers. I strive to create a vivid and immersive storytelling experience that resonates with audiences across various age groups.

The non-profit organization was formed in July of 1977, and is active with an annual seminar, monthly meetings, weekly access to their archives, ongoing research projects and publication of that research. Their research has produced over 200 publications that included transcribed census, birth, death, and marriage records, indexes of early maps, deeds, wills, cemeteries, and newspaper notices. Information about the society and publications can be found on their website, gsmcmi.org and Facebook page.

From the Author:

My name is Arrow and I am an 18 year old trans and queer author. I have been writing for six years and I would like to make my hobby into something more eventually. I love writing horrific and disturbing things, but I will also settle down and write happy endings from time to time!

Cassie Higgins is an author and the founder of Discovery Loft—a living creative studio and publishing house where children’s literature, fiction, self-discovery guides, and experimental storytelling converge into one world.

Her 2025 season features The Adventures of Zuki & The Mystery Forest, a family-created graphic novel that blends wonder and humor with a thought-provoking invitation to self-awareness, alongside You’re Worth It, the first in the Tiny but Mighty series for Loft Kids—a simple yet profound story about intrinsic worth and the responsibility that comes with it.

Discovery Loft also opens into a Vault of short stories, self-discovery tools, and experimental works, highlighted by The Last Stop, a forthcoming episodic series of fictionalized truth layered with psychological insight. Cassie’s approach is unconventional by design—equal parts family project, narrative laboratory, and publishing platform for stories that explore imagination, psychology, and the art of making.

Inspired by pulp fiction, epic fantasy, Dungeons & Dragons, the Bible, and even the occasional scary movie, Herman P. Hunter seeks to blend these influences into everything he writes. Compared to notable authors like Joe Abercrombie, Robert E. Howard, and Edgar R. Burroughs, Herman blends classic fantasy with biblical themes and hints of cosmic horror into his writings.

Drawing from nearly a decade of personal involvement as a CASA volunteer, Julius creates intense stories that pull readers into an emotional landscape of hopes, fears, and brutal realities.

Growing up in a large family, raising two sons of his own, and having participated in the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program for over ten years, Julius has always found a compassion for children. Realizing not everyone has the stability he’s been able to create for his own family, it has become his mission to provide a voice for the children in our society who need it the most. This led Julius to discover the CASA program. Founded in 1977, the program enlists volunteers to represent children in cases of child abuse and child neglect. CASA volunteers work closely with families, sometimes for over two years on a single case, to assure the children in these traumatic situations are placed properly and well cared for.

In 2015, Julius released his first novel, the suspense thriller REMORSE BY DEGREE. This was followed by his latest series, The CASA Chronicles, which currently stands at four volumes and includes CATCH A FALLING STAR, BORN FOR ADVERSITY, THE ROBBER OF YOUTH, and the 2023 release, A DECADE ABORNING. Every book focuses on a different family, each struggling with some of society’s most challenging issues, including addiction, suicide, abuse, and childhood mental illness and trauma.

Julius brings a realism and compassion to his stories that can only come from personal experience. These realistic portrayals allow the reader to join with mothers and fathers, and of course the children involved, as they face life’s adversities. He invites you to share in their triumphs, and sorrow in their failures, as they confront their struggles with dignity, determination, and the promise of a better future for their children.

A. Kidd lives in the US but has travelled to Japan many times to visit family and for sightseeing. Japan feels like her second home.

Her new picture book, Yasuko and the Dream Eater, is inspired by a Japanese legend and will help kids at bedtime. Although she dreams often, she hasn’t needed to call the baku yet. A. Kidd is also the author of the middle grade fantasy, The Healing Star. Find out more about her at www.akiddwrites.com

D.S. Lang started making up stories to entertain herself as an only child, and she is still making them up. Now, she puts them in writing! Her historical mysteries are set in small-town America during the 1920s and 1930s. They feature amateur women sleuths who work with a team of colorful characters, including a handsome lawman or two. Each book is a standalone whodunit with dashes of humor, drama, and romance.

F.P. LaRue is the award-winning author of the Scary Shivers Mystery series, a collection of spooky and thrilling stories that captivate young readers. There are currently three books in the Scary Shivers Mystery series. The Weeping House won First Place Awards for Juvenile Mysteries and Juvenile Fantasy & Magic in the Spring 2024 BookFest Awards. The Curse of Shadow Park won a First Place Award for Juvenile Action & Adventure in the Fall 2024 BookFest Awards. The Legend of the Serpent Witch won a Second Place Award in the Mystery category in the 2025 Purple Dragonfly Awards. The fourth book of the Scary Shivers Mystery series, The Pet Shop Nightmare, will be released on September 9, 2025.

F.P. is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.

Before writing children’s books, F.P.’s career had been in education, where she progressed from a teacher to the Dean of Academic Affairs for a small Michigan college. She also authored an article titled Ten Tips to Get Children Reading More, filled with practical advice to foster a love for reading in children. For more information, visit FPLaRue.com.

Kimberly Meyer, the author of Adventures on Artery Alley, has led an adventurous life of her own. From playing tennis at USC and studying sports medicine and psychology, to dancing in Tony award-winning musicals and traveling with famous dancer Juliet Prowse, Kimberly has seen many dreams come true. She even won 43,000 dollars and a car on a TV game show. Filling out her resume were appearances in commercials, TV, and film, and when she retired from dance, she opened a talent agency and discovered her love for writing. This book, originally meant to be an adult sitcom, became a children’s story thanks to a friend’s suggestion. Kimberly loves playing the drums, riding her bike, cheering for Michigan Football, and dedicating her work to her daughter, Lucy.

Hidden Rooms is a mystery about a woman fighting bewildering health issues since moving back to her Midwestern hometown. When her brother’s fiancée is killed—and he becomes the prime suspect—she must prove his innocence, despite the toll on her health. Kate lives with her husband in Toledo, where she enjoys hiking, reading, and anything that takes her outdoors.

Meghan Monarch (she/her) is an indie romance author writing flutter-worthy love stories in various romance sub-genres. She loves athleisure wear, movie theaters, dancing, obsessing over her favorite fandoms, loud music, and even louder laughter.

She writes from her Michigan home, where she lives with her dog, Finnick—a super cool standard poodle with a colored mohawk.

When she’s not writing, she’s reading, working out, relaxing, or going out on solo dates and spending time with her favorite people.

William Murphy is a self-confessed travel and history nerd. He is also an avid reader and consumer of knowledge. After a career in natural resource management and environmental protection duties, Murphy took his talents to writing and is now the author of ten books. He has sold more than 25,000 of them on various topics, mainly travel and history.

Murphy has also written numerous articles published in a variety of journals and magazines including the FBI Bulletin, Michigan history journals, travel magazines, and environmental journals. He was inducted into the Michigan Environmental Hall of Fame in 2018 following his career and years of volunteerism in the realm of natural resource and environmental protection activities.

A former Marine, Murphy is a decorated combat veteran of the Vietnam War. His recent award-winning book, Not For God and Country, details the complex history and stark reality of that war. His latest book is Jacob’s Journey, published earlier in 2025. It is a Michigan-based historical fiction set in the 1830 – 1860 time period. He lives in his native state of Michigan. His travels have allowed him to explore all fifty states, much of Canada, his ancestral home of Ireland, and several other countries.

Susan Nicole is an industrial engineer with a distinguished career in the automotive industry, specializing in production planning and supply chain management. Recognized for her positive leadership, she has earned recognition for solving complex challenges and fostering teamwork.

Beyond her corporate achievements, Susan is a passionate storyteller. In her debut as a children’s book author, she blends her analytical expertise with creativity, crafting stories that inspire, educate, and ignite young imaginations. As a bilingual writer, she is dedicated to strengthening cultural identity and promoting universal values, connecting with readers from diverse backgrounds.

Her strong academic foundation includes a master’s degree in business administration and multiple international certifications, enriching her literary projects with a unique perspective.
Based in Michigan, USA, Susan balances her professional career, family life, and writing, committed to creating engaging tales that nurture curiosity and imagination in future generations.

Social media @susannicoleauthor

She is an Assistant Professor of Writing at Michigan State University. She has sixteen years of teaching excellence in higher education. Sarah has served as the summer interdisciplinary creative writing instructor at the world-renowned Interlochen Center for the Arts for the past ten years.

She received her MFA in Creative Writing from Florida International University. She is the former food columnist for Around Wellington Magazine. She had been published in Sliver of Stone Literary Magazine, Tampa Bay Parenting, Macaroni Kids, and John Dufresne.

Sarah enjoys cooking and traveling the world with her two sons when not teaching or writing. Although she grew up on the beaches of Southeast Florida, she now lives in the deep northern woods of Michigan, where she gardens and raises various farm animals with her husband and extended family.

Ashley Pierce lives in Southeast Michigan, where she was born and raised. A lifelong fan of psychological thrillers and romances, she brings real-life Michigan moments into her fiction, blending hometown charm with emotional depth and suspense.

She writes a wide range of stories—some gripping and intense, others heartfelt and romantic—giving readers something fresh and unexpected with every book. She prefers handwriting her stories—with a pen dripped in experience, emotion, and hometown pride.

Ashley spends her non-writing time reading and spending time with her husband, kids, and dogs, usually outdoors or at the lake.

Amy Piper is a Michigan-based freelance travel writer, blogger, photographer, and author specializing in luxury and multi-generational travel. She is a native Michigander who travels through the lens of a food lover.

As a former program project manager with more than 35 years of experience in the Information Technology field, she’s traveled the world. Along with her personal travel, she’s been to 47 countries and 46 states.

From getting chased by bomb-sniffing dogs in the middle of the night in Bogotá to being refused boarding her plane from Buenos Aires to Paraguay due to the wrong visa to being surrounded by 21 lions in Tanzania on a photo safari, Amy always has an exciting adventure to tell her readers and community of travel enthusiasts.

In 2022, Amy was recognized as the Greater Lansing Certified Tourism Ambassador Star of the Year. She is a published author of two books, Secret Michigan: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure and 100 Things to Do in Lansing Before You Die. She is also the co-author of a collaborative work with 11 other authors called Midwest Road Trip Adventures.

She is a Monroe resident.

Dani Resh is the author of the captivating Magic Shoe fantasy trilogy. This unique series was sparked by an unlikely combination: the classic nursery rhyme, “The Old Lady Who Lived in a Shoe,” and the rich world of Norse mythology. The trilogy follows three teens whose lives are intertwined by magic shoes, exploring themes of friendship and adventure across vivid worlds and facing challenges you won’t see coming. Born on Friday the 13th, Resh is drawn to the mysterious elements of life and loves crafting stories that explore the supernatural and tug at the heartstrings.

Sharon, spent much of her life in the Toledo area, where she taught high school literature while raising her two children. Currently settled in Monroe, she enjoys reading, writing, traveling. She is a member of Stronger Together Huddle, and is a frequent writer for that group’s columns – now to be found on Substack. How We Argue is her second published book of poetry, and she has recently created the Substack, Palimpsest, as a venue for her current writing.

JM Samland writes stories where the undead have heart, awkwardness is a superpower, and magic doesn’t always make life easier. His work blends humor, queer romance, and just enough necromantic chaos to keep things lively. When not writing, JM is probably overthinking a character’s emotional arc, befriending the neighborhood wildlife, practicing martial arts, or perfecting that balance of “how much whiskey is okay to drink on a work night?”

His work includes The Chonicler’s Awakening Trilogy, Arcanym, Grave Mistakes, and the Ooo Shiny! short story collections. He lives in Canton, MI, with his husband and their loving furbabies.

From the Author:

I started my police career as a Auxiliary Police Officer in Ann Arbor, a Reserve patrolman in Belleville and Part time Patrolman in South Lyon, MI. Concurrently, I worked at the University of Michigan Department of Public Safety and was one of the original police officers working 29.5 years as a mid level supervisor. I spent 18 years conducting criminal investigations and was a designated hostage negotiator and officiated three department funerals.

In addition, I taught Police Ethics and Tactical Communication at the Washtenaw Police Academy for 10 years and was a debriefer for the Washtenaw County Critical Incident Stress Management Team (CISM) for approximately 20 years. At the University Police, I acquired the yoke of Sergeant and was one of three in the Detective Bureau. We supervised other cops but had a case load of 40-50 crimes to investigate including assaults, car thefts, frauds, embezzlements, rapes, robberies, and the rare homicides among a population of 70,000.

I retired and worked as a private investigator for 2 years prior to entering the mental health profession where I currently works part time as a state licensed mental health therapist in my own practice.
Along the way I acquired my Associates Degree in Criminal Justice, Bachelors Degree in Human Resource and Masters Degree in Pastoral Counseling.

Laura Stewart lives by a river in rural Michigan with her family, a sweet (if slightly confused) golden retriever, and a flock of chickens. Her backyard birds often inspire her stories, including Puddle Jumper and Building the Bridge School (August 2024). Learn more at laurastewartstories.com

Abelia Sumpter holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and discovered her love of writing while preparing for her national licensure exam. Her passion for storytelling began much earlier. As a child, she wrote screenplays and created short films with her friends. She currently lives in Ohio with her husband and owns a vision board the size of a novel.

Sonja is the researcher and creator behind Transformative Mindset Instructional Design (TMID), a framework that blends innovation with emotional intelligence to improve teaching and learning. Her work bridges research, storytelling, and practical strategies to support families, educators, and communities. In addition to her writing, Sonja serves as an instructional designer and developer at Jackson College, where she leads innovative projects in teaching and learning.

P. A. White was born and raised in Michigan and still points to her hand to show you where she’s from. She left the mitten to join the US Army—but don’t ask what she did or she’ll have to kill you. She is a recovering policy wonk, having spent the last twenty-five years as a professional tree hugger in Washington, DC.

Today she is blissfully retired, living in a one-room schoolhouse built in the 1800s with a fat cat named Kevin. Now that she’s checked writing “the great American novel” off her bucket list, she spends her days stalking ’80s bands she missed when she was a kid.

And if she tells you she’s an author, don’t believe her. She’s lying. She’s just a chick who had a story stuck in her head and had to get it out.

Mother & Wife, Life-long learner, Educator, and Author. Ashley was born and raised in Holland, MI. Over the last 15 years, she has utilized her passion for education and learning. Ashley has obtained two Master’s degrees—one from Baker College in Business, and the other from Grand Valley State University in Education. Ashley works from home, providing excellent customer service, research, and data entry. She enjoys her freedom to write while working from home.

Ashley enjoys reading, crafting/journal making, and love her animals. Ashley has a German Shepherd (Ace). She spends much of her day with Ace, while writing. Ashley is a summer girl; she loves being outside in the sun, out on her boat, and off-roading with her Jeep Wrangler.

Ashley’s mission is to empower women to take chances, fulfill their dreams, and understand that there is so much more to life than we could have ever imagined. She is determined to succeed in whatever she does and takes pride in her hard work.