2020-05

Jane Alvey Harris has a Humanities degree from Brigham Young University with emphases in Art History, Italian Language, and Studio Art. She’s CRAZY about the visual and performing arts! She enjoys playing classical piano, painting & sketching, singing & acting, and especially writing poetry & prose.
But, her real passion is PEOPLE. She loves to watch and study what makes us tick as human beings. Definitely a dreamer, her favorite thing to do is to weave together sublime settings and stories for characters to live and learn in…herself included.
Jane currently lives in an enchanted fairy-princess castle in Dallas, Texas, with her three often-adorable children and their three seldom-adorable cats.
To learn more about Jane Alvey Harris and her books visit her website.
Topics of conversation:
Being a movie junkie
Books and reading
Travel and trying new things
Musical motivation
Being in love with her cat!

Sandy Marriott Cook lives in Texas with her husband, Richard, and their furry and feathered “children.” She has been an animal lover ever since her pet turtle was her best friend and confidante. As an artist, Sandy hopes to convey the special places pets hold in our hearts. To see some of her portraits of pets and wildlife, visit www.smarriottcook.com.
Topics of conversation:
Rescuing waterfowl
Painting
Being a big classic movie fan
How A Home for Abigail was a family project
Her new dog, Peaches

“Beyond the Last Horizon” is Mary DeGroat‘s debut as an author. A second book of fiction for women is progressing with plans for publishing early 2017. A concept for her third book is under wraps for the time being though the outline has been completed and the first chapter written.
Mary is an executive-level professional with more than twenty years’ marketing and communications experience within non-profit, marketing/pr agency, corporate and commodity board environments.  She seeks moderate adventure that has taken her to Base Camp on Mt. Everest and on a wild-wide with her son through the jungles from the border of Tibet to Katmandu, Nepal. Those and many more travel experiences in addition to the diversity of industries in which she has worked —professional liability insurance to California strawberries, art and tourism —have fed her desire for expanded horizons.
Mary has studied metaphysics for nearly thirty-five years and met her meditation master from Indian in 1985. That meeting, Mary says, changed her life by opening her heart and steadying her mind.
Most recently, Mary left her position in tourism marketing to accept a part-time position working on behalf of underserved children with no literacy experiences. “It’s the most meaningful work I’ve ever done,” she says. “Week after week, we hear about the differences we’re making by bringing books into young children’s lives as we help prepare the little ones for kindergarten, which sets them on course to succeed in school and in life.”
“Beyond the Last Horizon” was published in December 2015 and has garnered three awards: Feathered Quill Gold for Inspiration and Silver for Best Women’s Fiction and the Reader Views Literary Award. Her second work of fiction, set New York City, tells the story of a wealthy woman who falls in love with a homeless man.  Mary lives on California’s gorgeous Central Coast with her husband, two dogs, and two cats.  She visits her son, who lives in Taipei with his wife and baby boy, as often as possible.
To learn more about Mary DeGroat and her book, visit her website.
Topics of conversation:
The Power of Decision
Writing and Writer’s Block
Writing from the Heart and Emotion
Advice for Others on any Creative Path
The Next Chapter

Roe DePinto grew up in the Bronx and Yonkers, and is mostly Italian, of American descent. From an early age, she was taught the importance of family. and raised her two children with the same values instilling in them the message that love is more important than anything else in this world.
When her children were young Roe decided to take a 3-year course in children’s literature. She also got her Realtor’s license in New York and California and was certified as a notary and a travel agent. She also established her family business office, administrating their fast growing electrical business with her husband. After finishing her literature course, Roe shelved the idea for a children’s book series involving a baby seal pup and a baby orca, since she was so busy with daily living, putting the needs of her family first, hoping that one day she would pick it all up again and bring her characters to life.
Thirty years later, Roe is making her dreams a reality. The first book in the series: The Adventures of Zealy and Whubba: A New Life Begins,  was published in 2015 and Books 2 and 3 are now also in print, with 9 more stories to come. Her retirement project is now a dream come true and Roe is thrilled to have accomplished what she has thus far as a legacy to her husband, children,  grandchildren and all of her family.
Topics of conversation:
Her children and grandchildren
Writing children’s books, poetry, and an autobiography
Gaming
Animations and cartoons

Eben Mishkin is a gentleman and a scholar who has devoted his life to the study of the story and the accumulation of trivia.
He holds many degrees but is most proud of his Masters in the teaching and practice of creative writing from the University of Wales, Cardiff. He enjoys role-playing games and casually wielding forbidden knowledge.
Mishkin is married to a very talented artist who was kind enough to do all the artwork for his debut novel.
Topics of conversation:
Creative Writing
Research
Bending Reality
Role Playing Games

Holly Moulder is a former elementary school teacher who left the classroom in order to write historical fiction for middle-grade students. Her fascination with history has helped her create four award-winning novels: Eyes of the Calusa, A Cord of Three Strands, Crystal City Lights, and A Time To Be Brave.
Moulder has two adult daughters and one granddaughter, Macie. She and her husband, Don, live in Sharpsburg, Georgia.
For more information about Holly Moulder and her books, visit her website.Topics of conversation:
Her favorite authors and books
The decision to write historical novels
Strong Female Characters
The hardest thing about writing a book
 

Cheryl Williams, a registered nurse with a doctor of health education degree, published her doctoral dissertation in ProQuest. She believes that God has entrusted her with spreading the word about His Son’s return in 2017, which birthed her book, “God’s Indemnity.”
For more information about Cheryl Williams and her book, visit her website.
Topics of conversation:
Her Message
Her Passions
The Most Influential Person in her Life

Julius Bailey, Ph.D., Christian Existentialist, teaches in the Department of Philosophy at Wittenberg University. He is a philosopher, cultural critic, social theorist, and diversity lecturer. As a socially conscious academic, Dr. Bailey has been interviewed on CNN, Fox, B.E.T, and ABC Nightline. A guest on numerous radio shows as a social critic and education advisor, he is often sought to speak at colleges, prisons, and community organizations across America.
Publications include “The Cultural Impact of Kanye West” (ed. Palgrave-McMillan, March 2014), “Philosophy and Hip-hop: Ruminations on Hip-Hop as Postmodern Cultural Form” (Palgrave,-McMillan, July 2014) and “Jay-Z: Essays on Hip Hop’s Philosopher King” (McFarland, 2011). He has also authored a host of articles on Hip-Hop Pedagogy and Social Justice issues. He holds Masters Degrees from Howard and Harvard Universities and a Doctorate from the University of Illinois.
For more information about Julius Bailey and his book, visit his website.
Topics of conversation:
Christian Existentialism
Hip Hop and Philosophy
American Politics and Racial Issues
Today’s Culture and Diversity
Is Cultural Harmony Achievable?