East Texas Book Fest 2011

Kathy Herman quickly rose to the rank of bestselling author when her first novel, TESTED BY FIRE, became a Christian Books Association bestseller shortly after its release. Since then, five more of her novels have claimed the title of bestseller: ALL THINGS HIDDEN, THE REAL ENEMY, THE LAST WORD, THE RIGHT CALL, and FALSE PRETENSES. Herman writes inspirational suspense novels and says that she thrives on weaving inspiration and suspense into modern-day stories that are exciting and relevant. Although her books feature riveting plots that will keep readers guessing till the end, it’s the characters that tug at your heartstrings and give you something to think about long after the cover is closed. Novels are exciting and hard to put down. But it’s when a heart is changed by something I've written that I’m humbled beyond words. Herman writes books that appeal to a broad spectrum of readers of both genders, and with a message she believes to be contemporary, gripping, and relevant. Her latest work in progress continues the series set in South Louisiana called SECRETS of ROUX RIVER BAYOU. Herman’s contemporary, fast-paced novels weave that inspirational messages into the storyline so effectively that a college professor in Houston utilized her books as required reading to educate students on the value of teaching through fiction. Her books also have been widely used in book club discussion and Bible study groups. Kathy and husband Paul live in East Texas and have three grown children, five "nearly perfect" grandchildren, and an adorable cat named Samantha. Her hobbies include world travel, deep sea fishing, and bird watching--and an ongoing fascination with hummingbirds. Her website is kathyherman.com

Doug Hiser quips that his life is a cartoon—funny, extravagant, creative, exciting and many of those "Coyote falls off the cliff and lands with a puff of dust at the bottom." A retired mail carrier, Hiser also has coached football, track, and soccer in public schools. An avid sportsman, athlete, and competitive bodybuilder, Hiser was on the American Gladiators television show in 1992. He is author of twelve books, a poetry slam winner and producer, a professional artist, and frequently is a public speaker at conferences and schools. Hiser has published many short stories and written more two hundred. Some of his stories, such as "Alligator Salesman," 'Montana Mist," 'Beetle," “Last Kiss of the Cardboard Sign Man," have won awards at writers' conferences. His poetry and art have won numerous awards also. nd I also have a DVD of my artwork containing over one hundred pieces in six categories. Hiser has produced many book and CD covers, along with murals, illustrations, and logos. After years of writing creatively, hundreds of short stories with titles like Crow Canyon, Wink-Eye Creek, The Bloodnight, Bite of the Mailman, The Woodville Monster, Friday Boys, Floating in the Sky, Shrike, Carnival of the Goatman and the Minotaur, Beetle, Abe the Lincoln, Dead Stinking Fishheads, The Beach Garden of the Royal Terns, Big Lake Brent, Rites of Hunter Status. Doug Hiser combined the best of these sparkly magical stories into the book TROPICAL CALYPSO. At least ten awards have come from the stories within those pages. Since 2007 he has written more and published the Amazon bestselling novel, MONTANA MIST. See his website Art-Escape.com for a small gallery of his art work.

Sterling Ken Johnson is a retired professor and aquatic animal disease specialist from Texas A&M University. Nathan Kurt Johnson currently works in Austin, Texas as the Director of Operations for BooksOnBoard. Ken resides with his wife Mary Lou in College Station and Kurt with his wife Becky in the San Marcos area. Both enjoy being outdoors, close to nature, and of course, talkin' crawdad. Their book, TEXAS CRAWDADS, is written for mentors of young people interested in aquatic life, youngsters with interest in crawfishing, for naturalists, biologists, and for anyone with an interest in nature. It is available from the publisher, Crawdad Club Designs, Texas nature centers, and independent book sellers. 

The website is texascrawdads.com

Famous tales from behind the East Texas Pine Curtain. Author of more than 30 novels and four hundred short pieces, fiction and non-fiction, Joe Lansdale has received the Edgar Award, Seven Bram Stokers, the British Fantasy Award, the Grinzani Cavour Prize for Literature, two New York Times Notable Book recognitions, the Herodotus Award for Historical Fiction, the Inkpot Award for lifetime achievement in fantasy and science fiction, and many others. Two of his stories have been filmed, the best known being Bubba Hotep. No one quite portrays East Texas and its residents as capably as Joe Lansdale—whether for its natural beauty, down-home dialog, and friendly people or for the bigotry, corruption, and ignorance that exist “behind the pine curtain.” Current books are SANCTIFIED AND CHICKEN FRIED, THE PORTABLE LANSDALE and DEVIL RED, a Hap Collins and Leonard Pine novel. Read more at his site joerlansdale.com

Country singer and song writer Kasey Lansdale returns to the ET Book Fest. The Nacogdoches native and daughter of author Joe Lansdale, recently completed her 3rd EP tentatively titled NEVER SAY NEVER. She is as focused as she is excited, no small feat considering how many irons this ambitious 24 year old has in the fire. Whether juggling international tour dates, recording in Nashville, or writing songs as the newest staff writer for Music Row publishing house, Spoon’s Tunes, Lansdale approaches all of her ventures with a determination and comfort  that belies her years. Lansdale recently agreed to appear as a book cover model and character in the RANCHO DIABLO book series written by Mel Odem and Texans Bill Crider and James Reasoner.  While many young performers might become overwhelmed and lose focus, Lansdale is very clear: “My true passion is singing. The stage is where I feel most at home. That is where I want to be.” Check out kaseylansdale.com

Grace Lundmark resides in Whitehouse, Texas, where she and her husband have raised a family of four children and have eight grandchildren. She is a retired church secretary. Although CHLOE MAY is her first book she has written numerous small articles for church papers, and is in the process of writing a second "true-life" novel. Grace was invited to speak on the campus of Mary Hardin Baylor on the subject of “Combining Fact with Fiction to Preserve Family History.” Her first novel,CHLOE MAY: DAUGHTER OF THE DUST BOWL, was selected by READ magazine as an example of historical fiction of the Great Depression, Dust Bowl era.Laced with historical facts of the time, Chloe May: Daughter of the Dust Bowl is a must read for younger readers wishing for a glimpse into one of America's most difficult eras, and older readers who will identify with one family's modes of survival. 

Melinda Richarz Lyons earned a B.A. from the University of North Texas and has been a free lance writer for over forty years. Her articles have appeared in many publications, including Cats Magazine, True West, Nashville Parent, Frontier Times, Kids, Etc., Reminisce, Chicken Soup for the Soul: True Love, The North Texan, Cincinnati Family Magazine The Tennessean, The Fort Worth Star-Telegram and CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE  SOUL: GRANDMOTHERS. In 2004 Ms. Lyons was the co-recipient of the Academy of Western Artists Will Rogers Award for Best Song of the Year.She is the author of several books, including WOMEN ONLY OVER FIFTY, MURDER AT THE OAKLANDS MANSION and CROSSING THE MINEFIELD.Her website is www.melindalyons.com

Pat Mallory, a native Texan is the Minister of Ministries and Missrons at First Baptist Church, Tyler. She is the widow of Tom Mallory and mother of three children and six grand children. .Mallory has authored six books to help others as they deal with some issues of life and death. The include NOT ON MY PORCH, INTO EACH LIFE SOME RAIN MUST FALL…BUT GOD!, A GODLY MAN: WHO CAN FIND ONE?, and ONE OF USE HAS ALZHEIMERS. Pat is a Board Emeritus for Bethesda Health Clinic, serves on the Heath Foundation Board, The Advisory Committee for the Smith Baptist Association, the Mission Funding Committee for the BGCT, the Texas Council for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, and is the Executive Director for the proposed Gateway to Hope Gate, phase one Day Room. Pat is available for counseling and motivational speaking engagements. Read more at patmallory.com

Retired from an extended career in banking, bank regulation, and financial management, Marvin Mayer now writes books for children. SAMMY SQUIRREL AND THE SUNFLOWER SEEDS, his first published book for children 7-12, was released in 2007. His newest release, FERDINAND-FROG’S FLIGHT, is a picture book for Pre-K through 2nd grade. It was published by 4RV Publishing, LLC in 2011. Marvin and his wife, Iris, now live in Tyler, TX. In addition to his writing, Marvin is active in a number of volunteer activities, mostly involving services for children. Read more at kidsbooksbymarvin.com

Scott Meador grew up in the small town of Guin, Alabama and attended the University of Alabama where he majored in history and literature. Scott has worked for the University of Alabama Police Department, the Guin Volunteer Fire Department, and served as an EOD Tech in the US Army. Scott’s first writing experience came as a sports writer for the Journal Record in Hamilton, Alabama, covering high school football games. Scott is the Author of REDEMPTION: THE ANGEL of DEATH BOOK 1, and the upcoming novel, THE LOTT EFFECT.  He is currently working on TEMPTATION: THE ANGEL of DEATH BOOK 2, set for release at the end of 2012. Scott currently lives in Texas with his wife Belinda and their two daughters. See his site at scottmeador.weebly.com

A diverse writer of columns, feature stores, short fiction, novels, screenplays and stage plays, Maryann Miller has won numerous awards including being a semi-finalist at the Sundance Institute for her screenplay, "A Question Of Honor." She also has received the Page Edwards Short Story Award for "Maybe Someday," which is one of the stories in her new short story collection THE WISDOM OF AGES, just released from Books We Love Publishing Partners. Her work has appeared in regional and national publications, and the Rosen Publishing Group in New York published her non-fiction books for teens, including the award-winning COPING WITH WEAPONS AND VIOLENCE IN SCHOOL AND ON YOUR STREETS. Her suspense novel ONE SMALL VICTORY is available as an e-book and in trade paperback, as is her book for tweens, FRIENDS FOREVER, also from Books We Love Publishing Partners. "Open Season", the first book in a new mystery series is available in hardback, and the second in the series will release in 2012. PLAY IT AGAIN, SAM is a romance from Uncial Press and is available as an e-book. Miller lives on some acreage in the beautiful Piney Woods of East Texas with her husband, one horse, two goats, two dogs, and four cats. She has been writing all her life and plans to die at her computer. Read more at maryannwrites.com

Gale Minchew is a licensed psychologist who resides in East Texas with her husband and two children. In her professional practice, Dr. Minchew specializes in issues related to children and families. However, over the past couple of years, she has consulted with adults and children who have experienced a broad range of paranormal phenomena, as well. Her newest book SHADOWS OF THE PAST is a short story sequel to 
Shadows of Destiny that follows the main character as she recalls 
disturbing events throughout her past and the special gifts she 
uncovered along the way. 
 SHADOW OF DESTINY focuses on paranormal activity from the viewpoint of a teenager. Minchew is a member of East Texas Writers Association and has participated in several book festivals throughout the South. Her website is galeminchew.com

Barbara Newton is a humorist, public speaker, and writer who has been married to a Baptist minister for fifty-five years. She has three children and is "Mo" to seven grandchildren and one great grandson. She and Jack live on a farm with a donkey, two goats, twelve cats, a grandson and his wife and baby, a daughter and son-in-law in the back yard, a Border collie and a little black pup. Barbara's latest book is a psychological thriller, DEATH FOR THE HOLIDAYS, the second book in the detective Brandel series.The first mystery was SAMMIE. She co­authored with her daughter Ellen Newton Driscoll WHEN CHRISTIANS DIVORCE a self-help guide for victims of divorce. She enjoys writing a monthly humor column for a local nursing home, teaching Sunday school and making people laugh, when she is not plotting murders. Read more at her web site: www.bnewton.com

After 13 years of research, interviews and writing that covered more than 450,000 documents, selecting an author's name for IF THE DEVIL HAD A WIFE was simple for Rebecca Stark Nugent: use Frank Mills, the name her father was given at birth before he was adopted. After all, this was his story, not hers. This marks the first book for Nugent, a 64-year old grandmother who loves chocolate, cheers for the Texas Aggies, and admires those who tell the truth. She began her career as a newspaper reporter in Big Spring and taught high school journalism in Orange before serving more than 30 years as a public relations director in Texas. She received the 1998 Professional Achievement Award from the Texas School Public Relations Association and the 2009 Distinguished Service Award from the Highland Park High School Alumni Association. More than 300 programs and publications under her direction have won state, regional, and national awards. A graduate of Lutcher Stark High School in Orange, she earned a journalism degree from Texas Woman's University and master's in Interdisciplinary Studies at the University of North Texas.The book reflects the true story of Nugent’s grandfather—H. J. Lutcher Stark—and his fate after marrying a third time. Considered one of the richest men in the South, he was credited with naming the Texas Longhorns, building Memorial Stadium, and serving on the UT Board of Regents longer than anyone before or since.

James Pylant, a former contest judge for the International Society of Family History Writers and Editors, served on the advisory board of Tarleton State University's Historic Images Project and as a consultant for The Bottom Line. A true-crime writer, he is the author of BLOOD LEGACY: THE TRUE STORY OF THE SNOWAXE MURDERS(2008), SINS OF THE PIONEERS: CRIMES & SCANDALS IN A SMALL TEXAS TOWN (2009), and THE OLDEST PROFESSION IN TEXAS: WACO'S LEGAL RED LIGHT DISTRICT(2011; coauthored with Sherri Knight). His interest in writing historical true-crime began while researching the secret life of a bigamist and identity thief named R. W. Callahan, founding father of Sonora, Texas.  

Robert E. Reed Jr., a lifelong Tyler resident, is a graduate of Tyler Junior College, University of Texas at Tyler, and Leadership Tyler.  A member and past officer of several historical organizations, his interest in local history has led to his large Tyler memorabilia collection and numerous speaking engagements.  He has written two books for Arcadia Publishing:  Images of America: Tyler and Postcard History: Tyler, and is currently working on two additional ones.

Jory Sherman has published more than 400 books, 1000 articles, and 500 short stories. He has won numerous awards and is a noted teacher and mentor His work has won many awards, including nomination for a Pulitzer Prize. He is in wide demand as a speaker at writers’ conferences, seminars, and workshops.He has been writing for more than 50 years and has had books published with most of the major publishers in New York. He recently published his memoir BUKOWSKI AND ME: THE BEAST AND THE BASTARD, A MEMOIR. 

When Marc Sherman isn't enjoying riding his mountain bike, fishing, hunting, or anything else outdoors, he is writing about Zombies. Having been in the recent film Zombex, due out by Halloween 2011, playing both Zombie and victim, Marc knows about Zombies all too well. That coupled with writing three books and a screenplay about Zombies, one set in the Steampunk genre, has made him an expert on Zombies, so to speak. He is certainly ready for a Zombie uprising. His book FIELD COMBAT MANUAL FOR ZOMBIE SLAYERS he refers to as a self-help book. Marc, who is son of Jory Sherman, is currently trying to open doors regarding the Zombie movement. He lives and breathes that sort of thing, and has hopes of directing his own Zombie film some day.