2nd Annual Authors Fair

Razia Ahmad

Roberta Basham

Evil Once Begun takes place on historic and picturesque Mackinac Island, Michigan. It combines the tourist lure of rugged scenery, history, and lovely lakes with mystery woven around missing antique jewels, murder, and romance. Roberta Basham has been writing all her life, working on newspapers and doing publicity for city events and various functions. She has a number of novelettes, short stories and articles to her credit. An award winning-author, she was born in Chicago, traveled to most of the states, sixteen countries and several islands of the world.  She currently lives in Elgin, IL.

Kathryn Bonney

Negative childhood emotions can keep you from receiving ‘good’ in your life. I Am Worthy, I Am Healed was written so you can discover ways of personal growth. The books was written for those looking for answers, to complete the puzzle of life. A positive attitude towards yourself and others along with following Bible scriptures and meditation can help you heal. It’s important to repeatedly read the book after the first reading. I predict positive change in your life when the directions in my book are followed.  My husband Charles and I live in Elgin, IL.

Beckie Butcher

Beckie was born and raised in Elgin, Il and worked as a lab technician until she was stricken with the serious autoimmune disease chronic fatigue syndrome. In her book, My Battle with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, she shares her struggles with the disease as well as relief she found through an alternative pathway. She hopes to inspire others to seek help so they may have a better quality of life as well. Because of her book, she is the recipient of the Top Tier of Excellence Award through Oxford Who’s Who as well as several other accolades.

Scott Casper

Amy Chally

Making Independence Happen, One Paw at a Time is a two-part memoir, written from two perspectives. Part One is Amy’s service dog Yazzen’s adventurous tale. Part Two is Amy’s life story. Heartwarming and inspirational, this book’s a testament to overcoming obstacles and the bond between [wo]man and dog.

Kay Clark

Dennis Depcik

Lisa Diven

Lisa Diven is a writer, facilitator and volunteer living in the Fox Valley. She facilitates GBPL’s Writers on the Fox program and Anderson Animal Shelter’s (AAS) Animal Crackers Writing Workshops. Lisa’s stories are featured in the Writers on the Fox Anthology, Fox Valley Writers anthologies: Foxtales, Foxtales 2 and Foxtales 3, and “Faith” on the website fewerthan500.com. Pet-related AAS articles have been featured in Kane County Magazine, Kane County Daily Herald, and newsletters/websites. Ms. Diven’s much anticipated mystery novel, Scrap Bones, will be published in 2017.

Janice Dinverno

Janice began writing Crawling Out of the Darkness: A Walk Through the Heartache after the tragic loss of her husband in 2011.

 Having been widowed twice, and a nasty divorce behind her, Janice is no stranger to darkness. At age 46, she found her soulmate. Her happiness was cut short one fateful day; while on vacation. What followed were countless days of profound pain, anger and guilt. These feelings poured out, as Janice began to heal, and her book was born.

 Crawling out of the Darkness lends insight to others with the healing and recovery of losing a loved one

Randall Allen Dunn

Randall Allen Dunn was raised on a steady diet of James Bond, Batman, Star Trek and Indiana Jones. He writes stories of action, adventure, and infinite possibility, as well as instructional books about writing.

You can follow him on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Goodreads and YouTube, and follow his Packing Action blog at www.RandallAllenDunn.com.Please send comments or feedback to: Randall@RandallAllenDunn.com

A.J. Entile

A.J. Entile is the author of the Manadom fantasy adventure romance series. He published his first book in 2013 and has since authored four books in the series. All are available through amazon with the fifth installment in the series due for release this fall. A.J. has been read in six countries and a featured author in The Voice publication.  After writing, his other favorite activities include grilling, biking, home improvement, and using his green thumb. A.J. enjoys hearing from readers, so feel free to reach out and be sure to stop by the booth today. Like him at facebook.com/aje.author.   

Deanna Frances

Deanna Frances grew up in a small town in northern Illinois. She currently attends Northern Illinois University and is a member of the Chicago Writers Association. Besides writing, she enjoys singing, acting, photography, scrapbooking and spending time with friends and family. She is a member of the Chicago Writers Association and Teen Writers and Artists Project. More information about Deanna Frances can be found at her website, www.deannafrances.webs.com.  

James Gordon

Pauline Gruber

John Halber

Patty Hall

Jennie Hallberg

I’m an author residing in Roselle, IL. I write ‘mighty’ little books that invite reality, by planting seeds for thought, to empower an open mind. I’m an Herb Specialist, a past Yoga teacher, and a seeker of life’s mysteries. My books are philosophically written, but simplicity is the power behind the message. To understand life, you have to embrace every part of it, but the ego must be left behind! My book titles are, Herbal Remedies For Tattoos & Body Piercing, Invoking the Spirit, The Warrior’s Way, Timber Wolf (is in the final stage of completion.)

Edward J. Herdrich 

Edward J. Herdrich is a licensed Private Detective with over 20 years of experience, which includes investigations ranging from criminal defense to bank fraud to adoption searches. He is the author of a non-fiction book for entry-level investigators which is used by three local community colleges in their private investigation courses, as well as the author of several non-fiction short stories and articles.

Lou Holly

Lou Holly grew up in the blue-collar town of Burbank, Illinois. His writing career began as a reporter for a local newspaper in the 1980s. Self-employed most of his adult life, Lou owned a very successful band booking agency in the 1980s, a limousine business in the 1990s, and published Keep Rockin’, a 1950s and 60s nostalgia magazine, in the new millennium. Lou is now a full-time novelist. His latest crime novel, Southside Hustle, centers around the deadly drug trade in the Chicago area in 1985.

Patricia Kamradt

I was born in 1958 during the closed adoption period. With very little info about my own beginnings I sought out my biological parents as an adult. I had a strong desire to learn about my roots which had been denied me. I was fortunate to meet my biological father within a month of his death. It was a most joyous experience for us both and I felt compelled to write this book about our meeting. In reading memoirs of fellow adoptees it is amazing the similarities we all share. Yet each story is unique and lessons are learned. We are all survivors in our own right.

Ginger Kolbaba

Ginger Kolbaba is an accomplished, award-winning author, editor, and speaker. She has written or contributed to more than 30 books, including Your Best Happily Ever After and the upcoming The Impossible, as well as more than 400 magazine and online articles. In the publishing industry for more than two decades (she started very young), Ginger is the former editor of Today’s Christian Woman magazine, Marriage Partnership magazine, and the founding editor of Kyria.com, all award-winning resources of Christianity Today. You can visit her at www.gingerkolbaba.com, Facebook.com/GingerKolbabaAuthor, or Twitter @gingerkolbaba. 

Joyce Kocinski

Joyce Kocinski , an author-  teacher from Elgin, Illinois, wrote her memoir, Letters from Mom - a Daughter’s Journal of Healing for anyone who has lost a loved one to help them in their grief journey.  She co-authored the book, More Than a Coincidence- True Stories of Divine Inspiration, to share her faith and inspire others to share theirs. Her books are found at Amazon.com., or email her at jkocinski@wowway.com.

Margie Mack

I am the author of Through The Woods and My Ship Has Sail, 2 books in a series of 4. My stories have been in Chicken Soup for the Soul and both books are part of the "Oprah Winfrey's Leadership School for girls program" in South Africa. I have been featured on radio show "Wordslingers" and also on the WCIU television show "You & Me." I have been married 46 years, have a huge family of 13 which includes sons, daughters-in-law and 4 grandkids. Writing is what I love most of all because words are the path to the heart! 

Hugo Negron

Forging of a Knight - the epic fantasy series! A battle against the forces of Those That Stand in Shadow brings an end to an old hero and a beginning for a new one. Good and evil are not always what they seem, close friends can become deadly enemies, and loyalty can sometimes be rewarded with treachery.

 Hugo Valentin Negron is an avid fan of myths, legends, and folktales. His background includes an M.A. in clinical psychology from Roosevelt University.  He enjoys reading, biking, and walking winding trails through darksome forests, searching out the mystical beings that reside therein.

Callie Norse

I’m married and live in Rock Falls. I have 3 adult sons, and 7 grandchildren. I have written a series of 4 books, and 1 other. My series is Romance with much mystery and some paranormal in the spirit form. Readers loved the 1st book, For the Love of Lisa. With each book they asked for more until the series became 4.  All can stand alone even though they are continuous of the same family as the years go by.

Kristin Oakley

Kristin A. Oakley’s debut novel, Carpe Diem, Illinois, won the 2014 Chicago Writers Association Book of the Year Award for non-traditionally published fiction, was a finalist in the Independent Author Network 2015 Book of the Year, and a runner-up in the 2016 Shelf Unbound Best Indie Book Competition. Its sequel, God on Mayhem Street, was recently released. Kristin is past president and co-founder of In Print Professional Writers’ Organization, a Chicago Writers Association board member, the managing editor of The Write City Magazine, and a UW-Madison Division of Continuing Studies writing instructor. kristinoakley.net. 

Georgann Prochaska

After retiring from teaching, Georgann Prochaska became a caregiver for her mother, an experience she wrote about in a memoir, On Little Cat Feet.  Revisiting memories of family led to writing mysteries.  The Case of the Girl Who Didn't Smile, the first in the Snoopypuss series, was named one of ten finalists of the 2015 Lascaux Prize. The second mystery involves slobber with Audrey the bloodhound: The Case of the Hound Who Didn't Stay.  The third mystery continues the amateur sleuth skills of Alice and Lena. The Case of the Ex Who Wanted Revenge  is expected in June, 2017.

Anita Renaghan

Anita Renaghan resides in Elgin and is an author of adult and young adult fiction. Anita’s current work includes the twenty-something road trip “Jackpot”, and the first two novels in the Avalon Hall “Prince S” trilogy. Anita loves to weave a fiction story with a good character study and is currently working on the final book in the trilogy. 

Janet Roberts

Janet Roberts lives in Schaumburg, but she’s originally from Western Pennsylvania. She writes women’s contemporary fiction set partially in Western PA. Her novels, The Narrow Gate and The Leaf Queen, received positive reviews from Windy City Reviews. Seven Thin Dimes is her collection of essays and memories about McDonald, PA., where her novel, The Narrow Gate takes place.

 Janet loves musical theater, rock and roll, yoga, ice cream and she’s never met a book store she could resist exploring. She holds a B.A. in Journalism from Temple University and an M.A. in Communications from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania.

James H. Roby

James H. Roby was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. He earned a bachelor's degree from Michigan State University and a master's degree from Central Michigan University. During his 10 + years as an Air Force officer, he served primarily in Air Force Space Command where he controlled intercontinental missiles and satellites. James has written the novels, Pale Horse, Caribbean Knights and Sins of the Father in the UrbanKnights series. James lives in the Chicago area with his wife. An unabashed supporter of the Motor City, even when James is not in Detroit, Detroit is in him.

Brent Runzel

Looking for a fun time with your wine-loving group? The Wine Games is your instructional guide to creating an entertaining evening for family and friends playing easy-to-stage games that all have some connection to WINE. Spitting grapes, bouncing corks, balancing glasses and, of course, drinking wine are all part of more than 30 games in this 114-page book. Created and written by Brent Runzel of Elgin, The Wine Games was initially released in December 2015.

Nickie Nalley Seidler

Born and raised in the Chicago-land area, Nickie Nalley Seidler is a young romantic suspense author. Nickie is married to her wonderful husband  and has a 2 year old who everyone knows as Molly for those who have followed her on her journey as a parent. When not writing, she enjoys cooking new recipes for them to try, water aerobics, car racing and spending quality time with family and friends. She chases her dreams of writing that make you expect the unexpected.

Gareth Sitz

A prolific songwriter, Gareth has written over 200 songs, several of them incorporated into scripts for her acting company, Femmeprov.  Two of her musicals have been produced in Elgin, and her plays have been produced in Elgin, Dekalb, Chicago, and New York.  Gareth facilitates a monthly poetry writers group at Gail Borden as well as a memoir writing group for the American Association of University Women. She is currently working on a memoir as well as a new script for the 2017 Elgin Fringe Festival. A grant from the Elgin Cultural Arts Commission supported the chapbook of poetry available today. 

Kevin and Latoya Stallworth

Waves of Wonder is a book authored by Kevin and Latoya Stallworth. The purpose of the book is to encourage people of all ages and backgrounds to explore enjoyment and relaxation in a way that they may not have previously considered.  After reading the book, the reader will be inspired to pursue a new type of adventure.  Kevin and Latoya live in Elgin, Illinois with their 5-year-old daughter Journey.  Kevin is a civil engineer and Latoya is a behavioral health therapist. They are both active in their church, Faithwalk Harvest Center, in Carpentersville, Illinois.

Steve Stroud

Wayne Turmel

Wayne Turmel lives and writes in Lisle Il. He's a former stand up comic, car salesman and corporate drone who writes historical fiction to save what's left of his sanity. His first novel, The Count of the Sahara, won Honorable Mention at the 2015 Great Midwest Book Festival, and his second novel, Acre's Bastard is fresh off the presses. His motto is "those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it. The rest of us are doomed, too, but get to  stand by smugly and say 'told you so.'"

L. Virelli

L. Virelli takes the reader on a deeply emotional journey in her debut novel, Whit’s End. Two women, Ava and Meg, marry into the dysfunctional Whitaker family and struggle to hold together troubled marriages. What happens when other men come into the picture and tempt their fidelity? Virelli has been published in the magazine Angels on Earth and the book, Dogs and the Women Who Love Them. In her memoir anthology, Home Avenue, she infuses humor and inspiration into stories about growing up in the Chicago suburbs with her slightly off-kilter family.

Jeffrey Westhoff

Jeffrey Westhoff is a film critic turned author who lives in the northwest suburbs. His first novel is the YA spy thriller, The Boy Who Knew Too Much.  A little bit Alfred Hitchcock, a little bit Alex Rider, "The Boy Who Knew Too Much" spins the tale of a 15-year-old spy buff from Milwaukee who stumbles into an actual espionage plot during a school-sponsored trip to Europe.

Kathleen York

I’m a history geek with a passion for historical fashions who has loved researching and sewing historical clothing. This interest resulted in writing and illustrating five books on Civil War era clothing. A personal collection of vintage wedding photos became the historical wedding fashions book, Bridal Fashion 1900 – 1950, The American Wedding Dress, and a growing collection of vintage clothing, mostly wedding dresses.

Melissa Zaroski

John Zurn 

For many years, the author has found solace and fulfillment in writing stories and poems that reflect his deepest sentiments and beliefs. These books include individual stories and inspirational poems that attempt to portray his ideas about humanity and the Spirit. Ultimately, the author’s works are optimistic in tone and are meant to be uplifting.  Currently, the author is finishing his latest book, Passing Through the Dream which is a book of original sayings.