Current Location

El Paso County, CO

Author's Website

Occupation(s)

Retired El Paso County sheriff - Historian and writer

Biography

John Wesley Anderson, MBA, is a published author, storyteller, and TEDx speaker. He enjoyed a 30-year law enforcement career, retiring at the rank of sergeant after 22 years with the Colorado Springs Police Department, followed by 8 years serving as the elected sheriff for El Paso County, Colorado. After being term-limited as Sheriff, John retired from public safety and was employed in homeland and corporate security for ten years in the private sector. He retired from the Lockheed Martin Corporation in 2012 to launch a consulting business allowing him the freedom to pursue his love of history, writing and the arts. In 2022 John was honored to receive the Golden Quill Award from the Friends of the Pikes Peak Library District. Although John has traveled around the world, including several adventures on a catamaran sailing the Caribbean, three corporate security assignments into a combat zone on the Horn of Africa and landing on an aircraft carrier at sea in the Pacific Ocean, he remains most fascinated by the rich history and art discovered in his own backyard in the American Southwest.

Awards/Honors

Local Authors Genres

Published Works

Published Works Book Jackets

Speaker Availability

Yes

Speaker Topics

John is available to give presentations on his books or short talks for book clubs (either virtually or in-person).

Current Location

Colorado Springs, CO

Author's Website

Biography

John Dwaine McKenna is the author of four fiction novels, three of which have been awarded EVVYS for excellence in fiction by the Colorado Independent Publisher’s Association, or CIPA. He writes a weekly newspaper column called the Mysterious Book Report for the Tri-Valley Townsman in Sullivan County, New York where he was born and raised in the beautiful southern Catskill Mountains. During his career, he was a salesman, serial business owner, an investment advisor, and a compliance officer for a nationwide investment firm headquartered in Boulder, Colorado. He retired in 2000 and revisited his writing talents, which had lain dormant since his college days.

He and his wife June have lived in Southern Colorado for nearly five decades.

Awards/Honors

Local Authors Genres

Published Works

Published Works Book Jackets

Speaker Availability

No

Pseudonym

P.R. Morris

Biography

Patricia Coleman, aka P. R. Morris, is a critically acclaimed author of historical, amateur sleuth, and alternative history short stories and novels. She has received two Reviewers' Choice awards and spoken at national writers conferences. One critic wrote "Ms. Coleman writes with elegance and pizzaz." (Romantic Times). Her latest historical romantic mystery, Tea and Treachery is now on sale. Pat lives in Colorado where she works with Special Needs teenagers and volunteers at the local zoo.

Local Authors Genres

Published Works

Published Works Book Jackets

Speaker Availability

Yes

Current Location

Colorado Springs, CO

Author's Website

Biography

Andria Williams is the author of The Longest Night (Random House, January 2016), a novel set among Army families in Idaho in the late 1950s. The Longest Night has received starred review from Kirkus and Booklist. It was chosen as Amazon's "Debut Novel of the Month" for Jan. 2016. Williams is a Winter 2016 Barnes & Noble "Discover Great New Authors" pick. She and her family recently moved to beautiful Colorado Springs, where her active-duty husband is stationed, and they are enjoying Colorado very much.

Local Authors Genres

Published Works

Published Works Book Jackets

Speaker Availability

No

Pseudonym

Christine Goff

Author's Website

Biography

Chris Goff is an award-winning author of six novels based on environmental themes and two international thrillers. Her most recent book, Red Sky, was a 2018 Colorado Book Award Finalist. Set in Ukraine and Asia, Agent Raisa Jordan must test the boundaries of diplomacy as she races to prevent the start of a new Cold War. Catherine Coulter had this to say: "Breathtaking suspense, do not miss Red Sky." Goff's series debut, Dark Waters, was dubbed “a sure bet for fans of international thrillers" by Booklist. Dark Waters was a finalist for the 2016 Colorado Book Award, a finalist for the 2016 Colorado Authors' League Genre Award, and a finalist for the 2016 Anthony Award for Best Crime Fiction Audiobook.

Awards/Honors

Local Authors Genres

Published Works

Published Works Book Jackets

Interviews

Organizations

Mystery Writers of America

Speaker Availability

Yes

Birth Year (-Died Year)

1958

Birth City

San Jose

Birth State

CA

Current Location

Kingston, WA

Occupation(s)

Author

Biography

I spent most of my life in Colorado, beginning in 1962, and only moving away in 2014. My book Miramont's Ghost is set at Miramont Castle in Manitou Springs, and though fiction, it includes local history and places. I spent several months researching the book, in both Colorado and New Mexico, and included much of the material that I found.

Education/Training

Master of Arts in Education, Adams State University, Alamosa, CO

Local Authors Genres

Published Works

Published Works Book Jackets

Speaker Availability

Yes

Birth City

Lake Success

Birth State

NY

Current Location

Silver Cliff, CO

Email (Public)

Author's Website

Occupation(s)

Professor, Artist

Biography

Twenty years I have lived in this part of the world, including 2014-2018 in Monument, when my son went to Lewis-Palmer High School. I also have been playing tennis in Colorado Springs every year for the last 10 years.

Awards/Honors

Education/Training

Bachelor of Arts, Journalism, San Francisco State University, 1982
Master of Arts, Creative Writing, San Francisco State University, 1986
Ph.D., English, University of Denver, 1989

Local Authors Genres

Published Works

Published Works Book Jackets

Interviews

Organizations

Associated Writing Programs, University College Creative Writing Program, University of Denver

Speaker Availability

Yes

Speaker Topics

Jonestown, cults, writing historical fiction

Birth State

KS

Current Location

Colorado Springs, CO

Email (Public)

Author's Website

Biography

I’ve always had a passion for writing. Early on, I polished my writing skills by passing notes to my friends instead of paying attention in math class. The resulting time in detention gave me lots of time to write more notes. As a young child, I wouldn’t leave home without a pad and pencil just in case my novel hit me, and I had to scribble it down quickly. Sadly, I eventually lost this naiveté. However, as a result of my love of writing, I have an unusual variety of books published. The list includes books for the construction industry and grammar textbooks. (If writing about drywall or gerunds is better than not writing at all, it says something about what drives me.) Fortunately, I also write novels for adults, as well as early chapter books for young readers. This is the writing that feeds my soul. These days, I’m having a ball creating the Australian, Austria, and Mexico books for Pack-n-Go Girls travel and adventure series. The Amazon best selling series is targeted for early readers ages six to nine. In whatever spare time I have, one of my favorite things to do is to connect with my readers. Whether you’re in a classroom, book club, or other group, I’d love to visit in person—time and geography permitting—or on Skype. Contact me at janelle@packngogirls.com.

Awards/Honors

Education/Training

Master of Arts Degree in Curriculum and Instruction, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs - Bachelor of Arts Degree in History/English, Goshen College

Local Authors Genres

Published Works

Published Works Book Jackets

Speaker Availability

Yes

Speaker Topics

Writing - Children's books - Mennonites - Personal privacy issues

Birth Year (-Died Year)

1979

Birth City

Abington

Birth State

PA

Current Location

Cascade, CO

Occupation(s)

Author

Biography

Jessica Grey is an author, fairy tale believer, baseball lover, and recovering Star Wars fangirl. A life-long Californian, she now lives with her two children near Colorado Springs, where she spends her time writing, complaining about snow in April, and drinking way too much caffeine. Jessica writes witty, modern Jane Austen adaptations and Young Adult fairy tales featuring strong girls and magic.

Education/Training

2005 - Bachelor of Arts Degree in English (minor in History), Vanguard University, Costa Mesa, CA

Local Authors Genres

Published Works

Published Works Book Jackets

Speaker Availability

Yes

Speaker Topics

* Young adult fiction
* Fairy tale adaptation
* Jane Austen
* Austen-esque fiction
* Social media for writers
* Indie publishing

Birth Year (-Died Year)

1948

Birth City

Rochelle

Birth State

CO

Current Location

Colorado Springs, CO

Author's Website

Occupation(s)

Freelance writer, author, and photographer

Biography

Bert moved from Illinois to Colorado Springs in 1974 with his wife Nancy and sons Jeremy and Chad. He now has nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild. He started as a freelance photojournalist covering action sports and started writing as well as photographing nearly twenty years ago. He has worked as a photographer and writer for rodeo/bull riding, and a track photographer for Pikes Peak International Raceway. As a freelance writer and photographer, he has sold hundreds of articles to dozens of magazines and sold thousands of photographs. He has covered the rodeo, bull riding, and performance horse world for many years and has written on subjects as diverse as the meat packing industry, water rights, and family ranching.

Awards/Honors

Local Authors Genres

Published Works

Published Works Book Jackets

Organizations

Owner/Publisher of Black Mule Press

Speaker Availability

Yes

Speaker Topics

* Most subjects related to journalism, photojournalism, and fiction writing
* Using the internet for research
* Writing your first novel
* Breaking into print
* Small press publishing