Our next Readers & Writers Jubilee will be
Saturday, June 8th
12pm – 5pm
Our next Readers & Writers Jubilee will be
Saturday, June 8th
12pm – 5pm
with featured author
Miranda James
author of the Cat in the Stacks series
Dean (Miranda) James is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Cat in the Stacks and the Southern Ladies mystery series. Dean resides near Jackson, MS, with four cats and thousands of books. He grew up on the family farm in north central Mississippi, an only child whose favorite pastime was reading. Recently retired, he was a medical librarian in Houston, Texas, and in Jackson. He also worked for three decades at Murder by the Book in Houston, one of the oldest and largest mystery bookstores in the country.
with featured author
Miranda James
author of the Cat in the Stacks series
Dean (Miranda) James is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Cat in the Stacks and the Southern Ladies mystery series. Dean resides near Jackson, MS, with four cats and thousands of books. He grew up on the family farm in north central Mississippi, an only child whose favorite pastime was reading. Recently retired, he was a medical librarian in Houston, Texas, and in Jackson. He also worked for three decades at Murder by the Book in Houston, one of the oldest and largest mystery bookstores in the country.
Learn more about Dean (Miranda) at:
Available on
June 25, 2024
Authors & Presenters for the
Readers & Writers Jubilee:
Betty Bolté
Betty Bolté is an award-winning author and editor of fiction and nonfiction. She earned a Master’s Degree in English, emphasizing the study of literature. She’s authored 30+ books, including the Fury Falls Inn historical fantasy series, historical fiction novel Becoming Lady Washington, and Notes of Love and War, a novel set during WWII in Baltimore. A Maryland native, she lives in Alabama with her husband.
Learn more about Betty at:
Bonnie Gardner
Bonnie Gardner is a former army brat and air force wife. She is a Master Gardener and loves growing her own mostly-organic vegetables. She lives in northern Alabama where she can visit with her grandchildren as much as possible. She is the author of more than 35 books.
Most are available at Amazon and many e-book venues.
Learn more about Bonnie at:
Linda Winstead Jones
Linda Winstead Jones is the bestselling author of more than eighty romance novels and novellas across several sub-genres. She’s easily distracted by new characters and ideas and writes the stories that speak to her in the moment. Paranormal. Romantic Suspense. Twisted Fairy Tales. Cowboys. Her books are for readers who want to escape from reality for a while, who don’t mind the occasional trip into another world for a laugh, a chill, the occasional heartwarming tear. Where will we go next?
Learn more about Linda at:
J. D. Linton
J.D. Linton is the debut author of The Last Storm. She’s married to her high school sweetheart and a mother of one. She enjoys reading and writing spicy fantasy romance, and as with most writing mamas, she’s also a midnight writer—up all day with her real baby and up all night with her fictional babies. When not writing, you can find her reading, making a million TikToks, or at the park with her son. She’s currently working on her debut series and is so excited to see where it leads. Writing has truly changed her life, and she’s even more thankful for the incredible community it brought with it.
Learn more about J.D. at:
Heather C. Morris
I write books full of imagination, wonder, and a smattering of science for kids of all ages. I am an active member of the Society of Children’s Book Writer’s and Illustrators (SCBWI), and the grateful creator of six books for kids, including Trunk Goes Thunk! (Gnome Road Publishing, 2024), and a ghost story in the Haunted States of America Anthology (Godwin Books/Macmillan, 2024). My stories for older readers have been published in multiple anthologies and arts journals. When I’m not reading, typing, or doodling, you’ll find me hiking the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains with my husband, our three kids, and our rescued border collie.
Learn more about Heather at:
Ella Sheridan
Born and raised in the Deep South, Ella Sheridan spent years telling herself stories before finally writing her own. Romantic suspense, paranormal romance, sexy contemporaries—she can’t seem to stick to just one. Her goal in life is to finish every series she begins (if only she’d stop adding new series so that would be possible!). Now Ella calls North Alabama home.
Learn more about Ella at:
Tiktok: @AuthorESheridan https://www.tiktok.com/@authorellasheridan
Carla Swafford
Carla Swafford loves romance novels, action/adventure movies, and men, and her books reflect that. And on top of it all, she’s crazy about hockey, and thankfully, no one has made her turn in her Southern Belle card. So, it’s no surprise she writes spicy romantic suspense filled with mercenaries, motorcycle one-percenters, and southern criminals. And in the last few years, she’s included sexy hockey players in books without suspense, except for the kind that asks, how will they ever find their happily ever after?
Learn more about Carla at:
Angela Broyles
Angela founded Bluewater Publications after owning an independent bookstore, which provided her with the initial knowledge needed for marketing independent authors. She has worked with many award-winning writers, including Laura Hunter, M. E. Hubbs, and the most recent Pulitzer nominee, Dr. Randy Cross.
Angela’s newest publishing brand, Gritty South, is seeking to publish collections of gritty, Southern stories that are unafraid to tell it like it is and display the less attractive, less discussed aspects of life.
Angela enjoys the challenge of marketing publications and is always willing to consult and coach if you need a mentor.
Learn more about Angela at:
Ed Higdon
Ed Higdon was born and educated in the Falkville area. He developed a passion for reading at a young age and always wanted to write. He spent 3 years of active duty in the United States Marines and 3 years in reserves.
His family and he owned Decatur Engravers for 50 years. At age 79 Ed wrote his first book, No Place to Hide, followed by Shadows of the Past, and finally the last in the series The Lost Years. His last book, Lacon Mountain Chronicles, was inspired by his stories that were recorded as he and his wife traveled and talked about things that happened earlier in life. A friend encouraged him to put those stories in print, which they did.
Currently, he is working on another book, From The Corn Road to Lacon, Alabama, which will be another look back at hard times and funny stories of friends and family. Hopefully, it will give someone a chuckle and raise a memory.
Learn more about Ed at:
Lillie Land-Watson
Lillie Land-Watson is an artist that loves to create. She plays guitar, sings, writes songs and is the author of 4 children’s books. She is the mother of 5 children, and they are her greatest inspiration. She has written several songs, 3 of which are children’s songs. Lillie Land has been creating since the age of 5, when she started singing in churches. At 10, she took her first guitar lessons. Creating has and will always be her passion. Lillie Land-Watson has worked in transporting students to and from school for 20 years and is now transporting students for Decatur City School since August 2020. Lillie Land-Watson loves being in the presence of children and is inspired to be a teacher one day soon. Lillie Land-Watson will continue writing books. A suspense book is in the making at this time.
Bonita Y. McCoy
Bonita Y. McCoy hails from the Great State of Alabama where she lives on a five-acre farm with two dogs, two cows, one cat, and one husband who she’s had since 1989. She is a mother to three grown sons and a beautiful daughter-in-law, who joined the family from Japan. She loves God, and she loves to write. Her blogs, devotions, and novels are an expression of both these passions. Her desire is that her writing reflects the hope and love that is found in Christ alone. Her award nominated and winning books include her Amy Kate Mystery series, several sweet romances, and devotions in the Coffee with God series, Divine Moments Christmas Spirit, and Chicken Soup for the Soul Thanks Dad edition. Her blog, Beautiful Pieces of Grace, can be found on her website.
On any given day, you can find her playing with her dogs, reading a good book, or chilling with her hubby on the front porch swing. She is an active member of both American Christian Fiction Writers and Word Weavers International as well as the Cowboy Church of Limestone County.
Learn more about Bonita at:
Alicia Hunter Pace (Jean Hovey)
USA TODAY bestseller Jean Hovey writes with Stephanie Jones as Alicia Hunter Pace. Jean, a former public librarian, is a graduate of the University of North Alabama. She lives in Decatur, Alabama with her husband in a hundred-year-old house that always wants something from her. She likes to cook and has too many cats. She writes contemporary romantic comedy—though, like in real life—sometimes a little paranormal element drifts through.
Learn more about Jean (and Stephanie) at:
X (formerly Twitter)
Bradley Sides
Bradley Sides is the author of two short story collections, Those Fantastic Lives and Crocodile Tears Didn’t Cause the Flood. His writing appears in Chicago Review of Books, Electric Literature, Los Angeles Review of Books, The Millions, The Rumpus, and elsewhere. His fiction has been nominated for Year’s Best Weird Fiction and featured on LeVar Burton Reads. He holds an MFA from Queens University of Charlotte, where he served as Fiction Editor of Qu. Currently, he lives in Huntsville, Alabama, with his wife. On most days, he can be found teaching writing at Calhoun Community College.
Learn more about Bradley at:
Keith Thomson
Keith Thomson played semi-pro baseball in France and drew editorial cartoons for New York Newsday before becoming a writer. His novels include the New York Times Best-Selling Once a Spy and 7 Grams of Lead. His nonfiction chronicle of Sir Walter Raleigh’s search for El Dorado, Paradise of the Damned, will be published by Little, Brown on May 21, 2024. He and his family live in Alabama and recently got a new chair.
Learn more about Keith at:
X (formerly Twitter)
Hallie Christensen
Hallie Christensen is a children’s author who loves to write books full of adventure and hope. She grew up in a small town in Alabama surrounded by professional storytellers – her family. Her middle grade fantasy Enchanted Misadventures with Great-Aunt Poppy was published in 2021. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys hiking, attending rock concerts from musicians her parents’ age, and of course, reading. Hallie resides in northern Alabama with her husband and a couple of cats. Visit her website to learn more about Hallie’s future works and sign up for her e-newsletter.
Learn more about Hallie at:
Teresa Howard
Teresa Howard makes her home in Hoover, Alabama, where she shares her abode with Gracie Jane, her furry dachshund friend. She is a life-long fan of science fiction and fantasy and her dream since childhood has been to see her books in libraries and bookstores. In 2000 Teresa participated in a Writers’ Workshop taught by the late Ann Crispin and has been a regular at DragonCon’s Writers Track led by Nancy Knight for many years. Though she was employed for many years as a technology coordinator and computer lab instructor in the Birmingham School System, Teresa’s passions remained writing science fiction and fantasy and researching genealogy. Many of her stories have elements of both. Her work covers a wide range of speculative fiction and has been published in magazines, anthologies, webzines, and on IPhone aps in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K.
Learn more about Teresa at:
Jessica Lewis
Jessica Lewis has a degree in English Literature and Animal Science (the veterinarian plan did not work out). She began her publishing career in horror (Bad Witch Burning, a Bram Stoker Nominee for Superior Achievement in a Young Adult Novel, and Monstrous) and also writes middle grade contemporaries under the pseudonym Jazz Taylor (Meow or Never and Starting From Scratch). She has a forthcoming middle grade in September 2024 (Cool Cat) and a rom-com in 2025 (Nav’s Foolproof Guide to Falling in Love). Jessica is from Alabama, where she writes full time and lives with her way-funnier-than-her grandmother.
Learn more about Jessica at:
Heather L. Montgomery
Heather L. Montgomery writes books for kids who are wild about animals. An award-winning author and educator, Heather uses yuck appeal to engage young minds. She has published 18 nonfiction books, including: Something Rotten: A Fresh Look at Roadkill; a picturebook entitled What’s in Your Pocket? Collecting Nature’s Treasures; and Sick! The Twists and Turns Behind Animal Germs. When she’s not writing or researching, she’s likely to be leading kids up a mountain trail or interviewing a scientist while standing knee-deep in a creek.
Learn more about Heater at:
X (formerly twitter)
Toya Poplar
Toya Poplar is a best-selling author known for her way with words and her unique ability to both notice and nurture others. She is a certified Enneagram coach, who inspires people to embrace grace for themselves and extend empathy towards others. Toya is also an earring artist, whose self-care line of earrings were showcased during New York Fashion Week. “FLY Earrings by Toya encourages women to make a bold statement while leading a soft life. Of her many passions, poetry was her first form of creative expression. With a big family and even bigger aspirations, Toya has a calm confidence, which allows her to face life’s challenges with grace and poise. She and her husband Melvin live in Hazel Green with their 6 children.
Learn more about Toya at:
Jannette Spann
A native of northwest Alabama, Jannette is no stranger to heartache but knows God is in control. Her Contemporary Inspirational Romance novels give readers a chance to forget their problems and visit the small southern towns, where her quirky sense of humor comes alive with unforgettable characters.
Learn more about Jannette at:
Authors & Presenters for the
Readers & Writers Jubilee:
Betty Bolté
Betty Bolté is an award-winning author and editor of fiction and nonfiction. She earned a Master’s Degree in English, emphasizing the study of literature. She’s authored 30+ books, including the Fury Falls Inn historical fantasy series, historical fiction novel Becoming Lady Washington, and Notes of Love and War, a novel set during WWII in Baltimore. A Maryland native, she lives in Alabama with her husband.
Learn more about Betty at:
Angela Broyles
Angela founded Bluewater Publications after owning an independent bookstore, which provided her with the initial knowledge needed for marketing independent authors. She has worked with many award-winning writers, including Laura Hunter, M. E. Hubbs, and the most recent Pulitzer nominee, Dr. Randy Cross.
Angela’s newest publishing brand, Gritty South, is seeking to publish collections of gritty, Southern stories that are unafraid to tell it like it is and display the less attractive, less discussed aspects of life.
Angela enjoys the challenge of marketing publications and is always willing to consult and coach if you need a mentor.
Learn more about Angela at:
Hallie Christensen
Hallie Christensen is a children’s author who loves to write books full of adventure and hope. She grew up in a small town in Alabama surrounded by professional storytellers – her family. Her middle grade fantasy Enchanted Misadventures with Great-Aunt Poppy was published in 2021. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys hiking, attending rock concerts from musicians her parents’ age, and of course, reading. Hallie resides in northern Alabama with her husband and a couple of cats. Visit her website to learn more about Hallie’s future works and sign up for her e-newsletter.
Learn more about Hallie at:
Bonnie Gardner
Bonnie Gardner is a former army brat and air force wife. She is a Master Gardener and loves growing her own mostly-organic vegetables. She lives in northern Alabama where she can visit with her grandchildren as much as possible. She is the author of more than 35 books.
Most are available at Amazon and many e-book venues.
Learn more about Bonnie at:
Ed Higdon
Ed Higdon was born and educated in the Falkville area. He developed a passion for reading at a young age and always wanted to write. He spent 3 years of active duty in the United States Marines and 3 years in reserves.
His family and he owned Decatur Engravers for 50 years. At age 79 Ed wrote his first book, No Place to Hide, followed by Shadows of the Past, and finally the last in the series The Lost Years. His last book, Lacon Mountain Chronicles, was inspired by his stories that were recorded as he and his wife traveled and talked about things that happened earlier in life. A friend encouraged him to put those stories in print, which they did.
Currently, he is working on another book, From The Corn Road to Lacon, Alabama, which will be another look back at hard times and funny stories of friends and family. Hopefully, it will give someone a chuckle and raise a memory.
Learn more about Ed at:
Teresa Howard
Teresa Howard makes her home in Hoover, Alabama, where she shares her abode with Gracie Jane, her furry dachshund friend. She is a life-long fan of science fiction and fantasy and her dream since childhood has been to see her books in libraries and bookstores. In 2000 Teresa participated in a Writers’ Workshop taught by the late Ann Crispin and has been a regular at DragonCon’s Writers Track led by Nancy Knight for many years. Though she was employed for many years as a technology coordinator and computer lab instructor in the Birmingham School System, Teresa’s passions remained writing science fiction and fantasy and researching genealogy. Many of her stories have elements of both. Her work covers a wide range of speculative fiction and has been published in magazines, anthologies, webzines, and on IPhone aps in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K.
Learn more about Teresa at:
Linda Winstead Jones
Linda Winstead Jones is the bestselling author of more than eighty romance novels and novellas across several sub-genres. She’s easily distracted by new characters and ideas and writes the stories that speak to her in the moment. Paranormal. Romantic Suspense. Twisted Fairy Tales. Cowboys. Her books are for readers who want to escape from reality for a while, who don’t mind the occasional trip into another world for a laugh, a chill, the occasional heartwarming tear. Where will we go next?
Learn more about Linda at:
Lillie Land-Watson
Lillie Land-Watson is an artist that loves to create. She plays guitar, sings, writes songs and is the author of 4 children’s books. She is the mother of 5 children, and they are her greatest inspiration. She has written several songs and 3 of them being children’s songs. Lillie Land has been creating since the age of 5 singing in churches and has been playing the guitar starting at the age of 10, when she took her first guitar lessons. Creating has and will always been her passion. Lillie Land Watson has worked in transporting students to and from school for 20 years and is now transporting students for Decatur City School since August 2020. Lillie Land-Watson loves being in the presence of children and is inspired to be a teacher one day soon. Lillie Land-Watson will continue writing books. A suspense book is in the making at this time.
Jessica Lewis
Jessica Lewis has a degree in English Literature and Animal Science (the veterinarian plan did not work out). She began her publishing career in horror (Bad Witch Burning, a Bram Stoker Nominee for Superior Achievement in a Young Adult Novel, and Monstrous) and also writes middle grade contemporaries under the pseudonym Jazz Taylor (Meow or Never and Starting From Scratch). She has a forthcoming middle grade in September 2024 (Cool Cat) and a rom-com in 2025 (Nav’s Foolproof Guide to Falling in Love). Jessica is from Alabama, where she writes full time and lives with her way-funnier-than-her grandmother.
Learn more about Jessica at:
J. D. Linton
J.D. Linton is the debut author of The Last Storm. She’s married to her high school sweetheart and a mother of one. She enjoys reading and writing spicy fantasy romance, and as with most writing mamas, she’s also a midnight writer—up all day with her real baby and up all night with her fictional babies. When not writing, you can find her reading, making a million TikToks, or at the park with her son. She’s currently working on her debut series and is so excited to see where it leads. Writing has truly changed her life, and she’s even more thankful for the incredible community it brought with it.
Learn more about J.D. at:
Bonita Y. McCoy
Bonita Y. McCoy hails from the Great State of Alabama where she lives on a five-acre farm with two dogs, two cows, one cat, and one husband who she’s had since 1989. She is a mother to three grown sons and a beautiful daughter-in-law, who joined the family from Japan. She loves God, and she loves to write. Her blogs, devotions, and novels are an expression of both these passions. Her desire is that her writing reflects the hope and love that is found in Christ alone. Her award nominated and winning books include her Amy Kate Mystery series, several sweet romances, and devotions in the Coffee with God series, Divine Moments Christmas Spirit, and Chicken Soup for the Soul Thanks Dad edition. Her blog, Beautiful Pieces of Grace, can be found on her website.
On any given day, you can find her playing with her dogs, reading a good book, or chilling with her hubby on the front porch swing. She is an active member of both American Christian Fiction Writers and Word Weavers International as well as the Cowboy Church of Limestone County.
Learn more about Bonita at:
Heather L. Montgomery
Heather L. Montgomery writes books for kids who are wild about animals. An award-winning author and educator, Heather uses yuck appeal to engage young minds. She has published 18 nonfiction books, including: Something Rotten: A Fresh Look at Roadkill; a picturebook entitled What’s in Your Pocket? Collecting Nature’s Treasures; and Sick! The Twists and Turns Behind Animal Germs. When she’s not writing or researching, she’s likely to be leading kids up a mountain trail or interviewing a scientist while standing knee-deep in a creek.
Learn more about Heater at:
X (formerly twitter)
Heather C. Morris
I write books full of imagination, wonder, and a smattering of science for kids of all ages. I am an active member of the Society of Children’s Book Writer’s and Illustrators (SCBWI), and the grateful creator of six books for kids, including Trunk Goes Thunk! (Gnome Road Publishing, 2024), and a ghost story in the Haunted States of America Anthology (Godwin Books/Macmillan, 2024). My stories for older readers have been published in multiple anthologies and arts journals. When I’m not reading, typing, or doodling, you’ll find me hiking the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains with my husband, our three kids, and our rescued border collie.
Learn more about Heather at:
Alicia Hunter Pace (Jean Hovey)
USA TODAY bestseller Jean Hovey writes with Stephanie Jones as Alicia Hunter Pace. Jean, a former public librarian, is a graduate of the University of North Alabama. She lives in Decatur, Alabama with her husband in a hundred-year-old house that always wants something from her. She likes to cook and has too many cats. She writes contemporary romantic comedy—though, like in real life—sometimes a little paranormal element drifts through.
Learn more about Jean (and Stephanie) at:
X (formerly Twitter)
Toya Poplar
Toya Poplar is a best-selling author known for her way with words and her unique ability to both notice and nurture others. She is a certified Enneagram coach, who inspires people to embrace grace for themselves and extend empathy towards others. Toya is also an earring artist, whose self-care line of earrings were showcased during New York Fashion Week. “FLY Earrings by Toya encourages women to make a bold statement while leading a soft life. Of her many passions, poetry was her first form of creative expression. With a big family and even bigger aspirations, Toya has a calm confidence, which allows her to face life’s challenges with grace and poise. She and her husband Melvin live in Hazel Green with their 6 children.
Learn more about Toya at:
Ella Sheridan
Born and raised in the Deep South, Ella Sheridan spent years telling herself stories before finally writing her own. Romantic suspense, paranormal romance, sexy contemporaries—she can’t seem to stick to just one. Her goal in life is to finish every series she begins (if only she’d stop adding new series so that would be possible!). Now Ella calls North Alabama home.
Learn more about Ella at:
Tiktok: @AuthorESheridan https://www.tiktok.com/@authorellasheridan
Bradley Sides
Bradley Sides is the author of two short story collections, Those Fantastic Lives and Crocodile Tears Didn’t Cause the Flood. His writing appears in Chicago Review of Books, Electric Literature, Los Angeles Review of Books, The Millions, The Rumpus, and elsewhere. His fiction has been nominated for Year’s Best Weird Fiction and featured on LeVar Burton Reads. He holds an MFA from Queens University of Charlotte, where he served as Fiction Editor of Qu. Currently, he lives in Huntsville, Alabama, with his wife. On most days, he can be found teaching writing at Calhoun Community College.
Learn more about Bradley at:
Jannette Spann
A native of northwest Alabama, Jannette is no stranger to heartache but knows God is in control. Her Contemporary Inspirational Romance novels give readers a chance to forget their problems and visit the small southern towns, where her quirky sense of humor comes alive with unforgettable characters.
Learn more about Jannette at:
Carla Swafford
Carla Swafford loves romance novels, action/adventure movies, and men, and her books reflect that. And on top of it all, she’s crazy about hockey, and thankfully, no one has made her turn in her Southern Belle card. So, it’s no surprise she writes spicy romantic suspense filled with mercenaries, motorcycle one-percenters, and southern criminals. And in the last few years, she’s included sexy hockey players in books without suspense, except for the kind that asks, how will they ever find their happily ever after?
Learn more about Carla at:
Keith Thomson
Keith Thomson played semi-pro baseball in France and drew editorial cartoons for New York Newsday before becoming a writer. His novels include the New York Times Best-Selling Once a Spy and 7 Grams of Lead. His nonfiction chronicle of Sir Walter Raleigh’s search for El Dorado, Paradise of the Damned, will be published by Little, Brown on May 21, 2024. He and his family live in Alabama and recently got a new chair.
Learn more about Keith at:
X (formerly Twitter)
The 2024 Readers & Writers Jubilee roster is full.
If you are a published author interested in participating, we will begin taking submissions for the 2025 Readers & Writers Jubilee on Monday, June 10, 2024.
Check back here for more updates!
Left to right: Linda Winstead Jones, Beverly Jenkins, Linda Howard
Thank you to the inimitable BEVERLY JENKINS,
ALL the authors,
and everyone who helped make our 2023 Jubilee possible.
We are looking forward to next year!
