2025 Attending Authors

McKenzie Kooima

Thriller

McKenzie Kooima brings the old art form of letter writing back with a mind-bending twist in her latest book Letters From Him. This long-lost form of communication becomes the driving force that her characters navigate the dangerous letters from him. When she’s not distracted to find new ideas for her book, you can find McKenzie wandering the shelves of Barnes & Nobles for her next distraction and/or inspiration.

D.E. Carlson

Christian YA Fantasy Romance

Dorothy Emeline Carlson grew up wild and free on the Dakota plains. True to her heritage, she now homesteads with her husband and homeschools her two girls-when she isn't writing, which admittedly isn't often. You can visit her on her website for more Empire of Ash and Song awesomeness (including a free novella with newsletter sign ups!), or you can reach out to her on social media. She loves hearing from her fans!

Jessica Berg

Contemporary Romance
Cozy Mystery

Jessica Berg, a child of the Dakotas and the prairie, grew up amongst hard-working men and women and learned at an early age to “put some effort into it.” Following that wise adage, she has put effort into teaching high school English for two decades, being a mother to four children (she finds herself surprised at this number, too), basking in the love of her husband of more than twenty years and losing herself in the imaginary worlds she creates.

J.E. Ribbey

Young American Adventures
Christian Post-Apocalyptic thrillers

J.E. Ribbey, a husband & wife team,  combine action thriller with character immersion, giving readers an edge of your seat adventure. A combat veteran, outdoorsman, and survival enthusiast, Joel mingles his unique expertise with his passion for homesteading. A homeschooling mom, homesteader, and digital designer, Esther brings the her own skills to the author team. Together with their kids they manage a small farmstead in Minnesota with event venue and small campground. 

Charity A. Land

Clean Historical Speculative Fiction
YA Fiction

Charity A. Land is an adventurous and enthusiastic author, who enjoys singing, playing instruments, art, historical costuming, and captivating youth with her storytelling. Once a world traveler in a family band, she found the love of her life and now lives in North Dakota with her husband and two boys. Charity writes historical fiction books she hopes will install a love for history, and inspire a deeper relationship with God.

James Best

Fantasy

James Best is a local, self-published author. From a young age, he was inspired to write by the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and Brian Jacques. In 2022, he began self-publishing a series of fantasy novels. He now has four titles in his bibliography (Astral Paladins, Dead Men Tell No Tales, Chrysandra & Starroc, and Jackstone), all of which he personally illustrated, as well as various short stories and poems.

Kendra Paulton

Children's Fiction

Kendra Paulton is a freelance writer and editor, published author. Together with her husband, they're raising their seven children as the fourth generation on the Paulton family ranch in the Black Hills of South Dakota. From their working cattle ranch, Kendra ships home-raised Angus beef, fresh roasted coffee, and other goods nationwide. When she's not busy on the ranch with her family, you can find her writing, gardening, or baking...usually with a latte in hand.

Millie Paulton

Children's Fiction

Millie Paulton is a fourth generation ranch kid from the Black Hills of South Dakota. Animals are her favorite, especially cows and horses, and she loves taking her animals to the county fair. When Millie isn't in the barn or out in the corrals, she can usually be found writing or painting. Millie is a South Dakota Junior Beef Ambassador for 2024-2025 and loves sharing her way of life with her community.

Kari Trumbo

Christian Romantic Suspense

Kari Trumbo is an international bestselling author of historical and contemporary Christian romance and romantic suspense. She loves reading, listening to contemporary Christian music, singing when no one's listening, and curling up near the wood stove when winter hits. She makes her home in central Minnesota—where the trees and lakes are plentiful—with her husband of over twenty years, two daughters, two sons, a few cats, and a bunny who’s the star of one of her books.

Emily Watson

YA Fantasy

Emily G Watson is an author of young adult fantasy, urban fantasy, and historical fiction. Since there are no new continents to discover, and buried treasure is pretty scarce these days, she seeks new adventures as a park ranger in the Great Outdoors and as an author, creating her own worlds to explore.

Kathy Yoder

Children's Fiction

Kathy Yoder started writing in the third grade and hasn't stopped. Her stories have been published in various magazines over the years. She’s been writing a weekly Faith column for the Sioux City Journal since 2004. She writes Christian children’s books with special stories she says come directly from the Lord. Her goal: “To write stories that honor God and also spread the love and knowledge of our Lord.”

C.S. Kjar

Romance & Mysteries

C.S. Kjar is an award-winning author who lives out west where the antelope, deer, and bison play. Her wholesome books are about small-town people who face big decisions they wish they didn't have to make, but in the end, they are stronger for it. The stories are sweet and wholesome, fun and light-hearted, with touches of humor and wisdom. Her last name is pronounced "care" which she loves. It's what we should all do: care for each other.

Lainey Ross

Small Town Romantic Comedy

Lainey Ross is a small town romance author. After her family was hit by a rain-wrapped tornado in 2022, she found herself plagued by weather anxiety. She wrote Tornado Ally the very next tornado season while waiting out storms. Lainey loves her family, animals, and good food.

Joyce Wheeler

Christian Fiction: Historical, Western, Romance, &  Juvenile

Joyce Wheeler is the author of romantic and historical fictions books, plus a children's fiction. She and her husband Justin enjoy their family ranch in western South Dakota and her novels reflect the uniqueness of prairie communities and the people who live there. Mystery, humor, romance, and Christian values are usually portrayed in her fast-action stories.

M.N. Stroh

Christian Historical Fiction

M.N. Stroh is fueled by her love for storytelling and history. She writes Christian Historical Fiction, to inspire the downtrodden and outcasts through adventure-laden escapes leading them back to their First Love, as showcased in her debut series, Tale of the Clans. M.N. serves as Co-host and Director of Communications for Writers Chat, and she is a member of ACFW and Historical Novel Society’s Interviews Admin Team. Connect with her at mnstroh.com and social media.

Morgan Sauer

YA Fiction

Morgan Sauer calls the rolling prairie of the Midwest home though you can find her anywhere she can get a full view of the sky. When she isn’t fighting off the next story idea, she’s usually petting cats, messing around on a woodworking project, reading fourteen books at a time (no lie), out running or hiking, or adventuring with family and friends. She has a bachelor’s degree in history.

Lynette Wermager

Christian Adventure

Lynette has enjoyed writing short stories, memoirs, and creative prose for years. Her love of writing is evident in her published works, since retiring from teaching. She has been an advocate for women’s emotional health, has a deep faith in God, and believes she has the most wonderful grandchildren on earth. Native Minnesotans, she and her husband have raised three sons. They make their home in South Dakota enjoying the outdoors.

Akaysha Mynes

Christian Romance

Akaysha Mynes loves bringing joy to people’s lives by sharing the stories in her head with anyone who will read! Her books are filled with kind men and strong women as well as cute animals and moments of suspense!

Izzy James

Christian Historical,
Contemporary Romance

Izzy James grew up on the shores of Virginia’s Chesapeake Bay. Inspired by stories of the well-worn traces of the place she still calls home, Izzy writes historical romance filled with strong, faith-filled women and the men who come to love them. Izzy loves to travel the country with her husband of over thirty years visiting their grown children and grandchildren, checking out historic sites, and sampling new yarn shops as she goes.

Candice Sue Patterson

Modern-Vintage Romance

Candice lives in Indiana with her husband, three sons, and her first grandchild. She studied at the Institute of Children’s Literature at age sixteen. Her novels have been recognized by Midwest Book Review and Publishers Weekly. When she’s not tending to her chickens, snuggling with her Great Pyrenees, drinking coffee, or dreaming of Maine, she’s working on a new story. Candice writes Modern-Vintage Romance--where the past and present collide with faith. 

Lillian Joubert

Clean RomComs

Lillian Joubert is a passionate storyteller, who writes RomComs for those who love clean romance stories anchored in hope, heart, and humor---to bring light into her readers lives. Her creative sanctuary is nestled on the prairies of North Dakota—where she shares her life with her husband and a charming entourage of furry companions. Lillian loves to transport her readers into enchanting tales of happily ever after and true love lasts.

J.E. Joubert

Fantasy, Clean RomComs

After growing up in South Africa, then a decade long stretch in Australia, J.E. Joubert has finally (for now) settled in the plains of North Dakota. Johan likes to read and write everything from the quirks of everyday life to the majesty of worlds yet to be imagined.

Esther Wallace

Fantasy

Esther Wallace lives in Connecticut. When she's not writing, she’s working at Barnes and Noble or illustrating. Her award-winning series, The Black Phantom Chronicles, carries such themes as she is passionate about, themes of heroism, strong females, healing, and true love. In her leisure time, she might be found at a Renaissance Faire, hiking the East Coast’s green mountains, or, when she’s able, with a horse. You can find out at her website below.

Carrie Brownell

Middle Grade Fiction

Carrie Brownell lives in the rolling hills of northern Idaho with her husband Jonathan and their five children. She loves to travel (mostly to England), drinks copious amounts of tea, and knows more about the British monarchy than she would like to confess. Dabbling in words is one of her favorite activities. Island of Stars is her debut Middle Grade Fiction. A Light at the End of the Woods will be released Fall 2025.

Chaney Hobson

Christian Fantasy

Chaney Hobson is a passionate and gifted author who crafts Christian fantasy books. Her love for writing books can be traced back to her childhood. She has always enjoyed epic stories of love, hatred, revenge, forgiveness, and spirituality. Apart from books, she is a loving wife and a mother to two amazing boys. When she is not busy working on her next story, you’ll find her baking, reading, crafting, and spending time with her family. 

Jeffrey Dale Cole

Christian Sci-Fi

Jeffery Dale Cole is an author and entrepreneur who helps people understand the ancient longing within—unveiling one’s own unique purpose—while offering practical tools and guidance for amplifying the effect and reach of that calling in alignment with one’s own potential. Jeffery’s near-future fiction novel, Emergent Vision: The Babel Resurgence – Book 1 won the 2018 Author Academy Award for Science Fiction. Jeffery resides near Nashville, TN with his wife, Melissa and their daughter, Isabel.

Rachel Newhouse

Christian MG/YA
Sci-fi/Dystopian

Rachel Newhouse is an author, secretary, and Sunday school teacher from Kansas City, Missouri. Her Christian dystopian series, RED RAIN, combines snarky mad scientists, world-ending superweapons, and an unabashed chosen one/accidental heroine/let’s overthrow the government plot. She’s a strong advocate of representing Christ in the sci-fi space and has a whole soapbox speech about it, if you dare to ask. She also really likes glitter. You’ve been warned.

Kendy Pearson

Christian Historical Fiction

Kendy Pearson’s passion for music and history often sends her traipsing around a Civil War reenactment site or tuning her fiddle for a bluegrass jam. A former high school teacher, she now authors award-winning historical fiction that is infused with the Fire of Faith, Fury of War, and Fervor of Love. Between the pages, Kendy enjoys teaching writing workshops across the U.S. for libraries and writers’ conferences and tending to her two mini-doxies, Lily and Chester.

Claudia LeBoeuf

Sci-fi Adventure

Claudia LeBoeuf is a former NASA aerospace engineer turned wife and homeschooling mom to five wonderful children. She began writing stories while teaching her children creative writing, during their five-year residence in Chile, South America. After returning to the States, she won the science fiction category of the 2020 Mountain Brook Fire “Fire Awards.” Claudia and her family now reside in central Kentucky, where she enjoys helping with her daughters’ wool business.

Bruce Blumer

Non-Fiction

Bruce L. Blumer held careers in education and nonprofits and is Co-Founder of Haiti Alive, a nonprofit serving on the island of LaGonave, Haiti. Blumer is the author of It’s Not My Problem…Or Is It?: From Nudge to Nonprofit, Mighty Winds and Gentle Whispers: The Purpose and Power of the Holy Spirit, Simply Grace: Everyday Glimpses of God, along with two children’s books. All profits from books are given to support the projects of Haiti Alive. (www.HaitiAlive.org).

Jessica J. Richardson

Sci-fi, Western

Jessica has been honing her writing skills for twenty years. Her discovery of creative writing gave her an outlet to live out the stories filling her mind during play. After a few years in a spiritual wilderness, battling addiction, she returned to her faith in Jesus Christ and joined a loving, supportive church community. Her relationship with God is at the center of her life and especially her writing. She's a dedicated clean author who strives to write deeply impactful, descriptive, evocative, and fun stories for anyone to read and enjoy.

Jackie Killelea

Regency Romance

Jackie Killelea is a born and raised small-town girl from Connecticut with a degree in English and Creative Writing. She started off her writing journey with poetry, soon shifting into novels and becoming hooked. On days when she's not busy with her nose in a book, she can be found typing away with a cup of tea at her side.

Heidi Herman

Cookbooks, Folklore, Children's Fiction, Romance

Heidi Herman is an Indie published author of six books in four genres, including children's, women’s fiction, and non-fiction, under the imprint name of Hekla Publishing. She is inspired by her Icelandic heritage and her many hobbies like traveling, cooking, and volunteerism. Heidi is a member of the Non-Fiction Authors Association, Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers, Arizona Author’s Association, and the Women's Fiction Writers Association, spending her time divided between South Dakota and Arizona.

Katelyn Pfeiffer

YA Dystopian

Katelyn Pfeiffer followed in her mother's footsteps and married a pastor in 2019. She and her husband are parents to two beautiful children, three cats, and Aunt and Uncle to multiple nieces and nephews. They help pastor a small church in Manassas, Virginia. Not only following in her mother's footsteps by marrying a pastor; she also took after her mother's love of literature. She has released two novels in a series of five books.

Sharon D. Tweet

Contemporary Christian Romance

Mom. Homeschooling veteran. Widow. Author. Amateur photographer. Child of God. From the shores of California to the rolling hills of Missouri, Sharon has traveled many roads through theatre, archery, and even her husband’s cancer. She resides in the KC metropolitan area, writing, editing, and helping others bring order from chaos. Sharon writes contemporary Christian romance; desiring to encourage others and share a love of God’s word through written fiction. Her hope: discover #LoveOnPurpose and #LiveYourFaithBoldly!

Doris Guggisberg

Christian Romance & Mystery

Doris Guggisberg writes intense stories sharing the love of Jesus in life situations that are not so neat and tidy. A former musician and songwriter, she has moved on from writing personalized baby lullabies and Bible musicals to her first two novels, Detours and Landslides. Doris lives in Minnesota with her husband Jim. Her favorite things are her Noah's ark collection, her Baldwin piano, and pictures of her fifteen grandchildren - in reverse order, of course.

Justin Hart Crary

YA Christian Fantasy, Supernatural, Sci-Fi

Justin Hart Crary is a Christian author born and raised in West Virginia where he developed a passion for his faith and writing at a young age. Due to a lack of contemporary Christian literature appealing to young adults, his goal became to create fast-paced narratives that demonstrate how the genre can be more than what people have come to expect. He tells tales with a unique, action-oriented writing style that resonates with today’s readers.

Christine Lynne

Supernatural Drama, Children's Fiction

Christina Lynne writes Supernatural Drama and Children's Fiction. She lives in South Dakota with her husband and a variety of animals. Aside from writing, she enjoys camping, gardening, and Martial Arts.

Elora Maxwell

Historical Fiction, Historical Romance, Contemporary Romance

Elora Maxwell is an independent author who writes historical things, romantic things, fantastical things, and sometimes devastatingly sad things. When she's not traveling through time, she likes visiting amusement parks, watching movies, and forcing everyone around me to listen to Taylor Swift.

Jared Michaud

Sci-Fi, Fantasy

Jared N. Michaud is a devoted fiction writer driven by a passion for writing that began before age seven. Influenced by literary giants like C.S. Lewis and Orson Scott Card, he discovered the power of storytelling, and at twelve he began crafting his first novel. As a Christian with a deep love for the truth and appreciation for the values that underlie Western civilization, he endeavors to create myths that will inspire future generations.

Chantel Burnham

YA Fantasy

Lifelong bibliophile Chantel Burnham began writing books as a teenager. Hailing from the mountains of northern Utah, she is an author of Sci-Fi and Fantasy who published her first book, Magic Feared and Furious, in October 2023. She believes wholesome fantasy can connect and inspire us when reality sometimes falls short. When she is not typing furiously away at the keyboard, you can find her buried in crafting supplies.

Elizabeth Lowham

YA Fantasy

Elizabeth Lowham dreams of a future house that is seventy-percent library, with three lavish window seats fit for a princess. For now, she enjoys five bookshelves and a rocking chair, which isn’t so bad. Liz has a BA in English and is the author of Beauty Reborn, Astra Remade, Casters and Crowns, and Sonnets and Serpents. Her books have been finalists for both the AML and Whitney awards.