Leigh BaleLEIGH BALE: Leigh is an award-winning author of Inspirational Romance, and in 2006, she won the prestigious Golden Heart Contest. A member of Romance Writers of America (RWA), the Golden Key National Honor Society, and the American Christian Fiction Writers, Leigh also belongs to various chapters of RWA, including the Sacramento Valley Rose, the Faith, Hope and Love Chapter, the Hearts Through History Romance Writers, and the Golden Network. Visit her website at www.LeighBale.com.

 

Ron BenreyRON BENREY: Ron (and his wife Janet) live in Maryland, sail together on the Chesapeake Bay, and co-author three romantic suspense series: The Pippa Hunnechurch Mysteries for Broadman & Holman, the Royal Tunbridge Wells Mysteries for Barbour Publishing, and the upcoming Glory Mysteries for Harlequin Steeple Hill. Ron frequently speaks at writers' conferences on topics ranging from plotting to copyright law.

 

IRENE B. BRAND: Irene is a native of West Virginia. She has been publishing inspirational literature since the 1970's.  Her first books were published in 1984, one a non-fiction book, and her first romance, A Change of Heart, published by Thomas Nelson in their Cherish Romance series. In 1998 Irene started publishing with Steeple Hill, and she has published, or is under contract for fourteen Love Inspired books.

 

Nancy BrandtNANCY BRANDT: Nancy lives in Louisiana. She is a member of the Faith, Hope and Love Chapter, NJRW and HeartLA Chapters of Romance Writers of America, and the Catholic Writers Association. She is a stay-at-home mom to two wonderful children, one biological daughter and one beloved adopted son, and two guinea pigs. She also writes under the name Honor Cummings.

 

Shirley ConnollySHIRLEY KIGER CONNOLLY: Shirley and her husband, Tom, live on the southern coastal tip of Oregon.  She has stayed busy publishing articles for years, but did not publish her first inspirational romance until 2005, then her first full-length devotional the year following.   Although her creative imagination and love for make-believe keep her most active as an Historical Romance writer, as wife of a pastor-teacher, Shirley also enjoys writing devotionals and speaking at women’s retreats.  "I use all my writing, teaching, and speaking to share God’s love in the lives of his people, and to bring encouragement to others; the true passion of my heart." A member of various chapters of RWA, readers can visit either Shirley’s personal Web site at http://shirleykoinonia.tripod.com or write her at shirley@heartsforchrist.org.

 

Jacquelyn CookJACQUELYN COOK: Jacquelyn Cook's 10th book, Magnolias, continues to have sellout booksignings a year after its release by Barbour Books. Four romances in one volume, Magnolias, makes a complete family saga of the Old South into the New. Cook was first published in Homelife in 1963. She continually finds inspiration in her rural church where she teaches adults in Sunday School and is Church Secretary.She enjoys life on the family farm. Her hobby is gardening.

 

Lyn CoteLYN COTE: Lyn Cote's first novel was published in 1998 for Love Inspired. She's written several articles on the inspirational market and does an update every year. Winner of the HOLT Medallion in 2001, Lyn writes for Broadman & Holman, Steeple Hill (Love Inspired), Tyndale and Warner Faith—both historical and contemporary romances and mainstream with romantic elements. Her "Women of Ivy Manor" series continues in 2006 with Leigh (January) and Carly (April).  Visit her at www.booksbylyncote.com or www.LynCote.net.

 

BRENDA COULTER: A contented homemaker for almost two decades, Brenda read her first inspirational romance at the end of the year 2000 and impulsively decided to try her hand at writing one. When her first completed manuscript was purchased by Steeple Hill she announced to her husband and two teenage boys that she was making a mid-life career change: she's now a fulltime writer.

 

Margaret DaleyMARGARET DALEY: When she went away to college, Margaret met her husband, Mike, whom she has been married to for over thirty years. Besides writing, she teaches students with special needs and participates in Special Olympics with her students. She has one son, Shaun.

 

Janet DeanJANET DEAN: A 2005 and 2006 Golden Heart finalist and 2006 Genesis finalist, Janet writes inspirational historical romances for Steeple Hill. A wife, mother and proud grandmother, she writes stories of maintaining faith in trying circumstances that show the power of God to strengthen families. Fascinated by history and the role of strong women in our nation's past, Janet brings both together in her faith-based love stories. Visit her Web site at www.janetdean.net.

 

Kristy DykesKRISTY DYKES: An award-winning author, speaker, and former newspaper columnist, Kristy has written almost 600 published articles for many publications, including two New York Times subsidiaries. She's proud to be a Christian fiction author. Through her writing, Kristy desires to "put a smile on your face, a tear in your eye, and a glow in your heart." Through her speaking, she desires to see women experience the powerful presence of Jesus. Contact her at kristydykes@aol.com.

 

Anna DynowskiANNA DYNOWSKI: Anna lives in Toronto, Canada with her own real life hero/husband, Henry and their cat, Misha, who thinks she's human. In 2000, Anna responded to the tug on her heart to write Christian Romance Fiction which encouraged and entertained, and has since learned God is her business Manager and in charge of her writing. Her first completed manuscript, Full Circle, is published by Write Words Inc. She invites you to visit her Web site.

 

Laurie Alice EakesLAURIE ALICE EAKES: Living outside Washington, D.C., where her husband is a law student at Georgetown University, Laurie Alice Eakes has been writing seriously since completing her MA degree in Writing Popular Fiction in 2003. Her first hardcover, Family Guardian, a Regency novel for Avalon Books, has been nominated for two awards. She also writes for Heartsong Presents, and has several nonfiction publications to her credit. When not writing, she reads a great deal, hangs out at coffee shops, where she gets most of her plotting done, and tries to knit. You can learn more about her and her work by visiting her Web site.

 

LINDA FORD: Linda lives on a farm near Olds, Alberta, Canada. She shares her home with her husband of over 30 years, a shifting number of adult children, and her client-a paraplegic man for whom she provides care, also a yappie parrot, and on occasion, dogs she reluctantly babysits for her children. Linda and her husband raised a family of fifteen-a combination of adopted and homemade children, which has given her much fodder for her books. Before she moved to Olds with her family, she lived on a ranch in eastern dryland Alberta where she gained invaluable experience with farming, prairies, cowboys, and kids-themes that are repeated often in her books.

 

TERRY FOWLER: Terry, a native Tarheel from coastal North Carolina, sold her first inspirational romance in 1998. A born again Christian, Terry serves as youth Sunday school teacher, church treasurer, choir member, and anything else her small church requires. Terry is in awe of the gift God gave her and feels doubly blessed by the wonderful experience of publishing her first books. "It's truly a privilege to witness for God in this manner."

 

Debby GiustiDEBBY GIUSTI: Army brat, Army wife and Army mom, Debby Giusti is a nomadic traveler who calls the world her home. Currently, she and her family have put down roots in Atlanta, Georgia, where she pens Love Inspired Suspense for Steeple Hill. Debby has been published in numerous magazines, including Southern Lady and Woman's World, and heartwarming stories about her family's outreach appear in Chicken Soup for the Christian Soul 2 and Chicken Soup for the Volunteer. Visit her online at www.debbygiusti.com and email her at debby@debbygiusti.com.

 

Linda GoodnightLINDA GOODNIGHT: A 1999 Golden Heart finalist, Linda has always balanced dual careers. After working as both a teacher and a nurse for many years, she's put aside her nursing career to concentrate on her writing. Through her stories she hopes to bring both blessing and entertainment to her readers. She and her husband of 30 years reside on a farm in the Oklahoma hills. They have three young adult children. Write to Linda at linda@lindagoodnight.com.

 

LOUISE M. GOUGE: Louise Writes Nineteenth-Century historical fiction and contemporary romance. Mother of four and grandmother of three, she teaches composition and humanities at Valencia Community College in Kissimmee , Florida , and enjoys public speaking. To learn more about Louise, visit her website at louisemgouge.com, or write to her at louise@louisemgouge.com.

 

Linda HallLINDA HALL: Linda Hall is the author of ten novels, seven nonfiction books and numerous articles and short stories. Her novel, SADIE'S SONG, was a Christy Award finalist, and she has won the God Uses Ink award for Canadian Christian fiction three times. Currently, she teaches a popular fiction writing course at the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton, NB. When she's not writing she reads and runs, and she and her husband enjoy sailing the St. John River system and the Bay of Fundy in their 28 foot sailboat, Gypsy Rover II. They have two grown children.

 

Robin Lee HatcherROBIN LEE HATCHER: Winner of both the Christy Award for Excellence in Christian Fiction and RITA Award for Best Inspirational Romance, Robin is the best-selling author of over fifty novels and novellas, a past president of Romance Writers of America®, and the namesake for the "Robin Award," presented by Laubach Literacy International. Her heart's desire is that God will use her writing to make a difference in the lives of readers, to ease a burden, to touch a heart, to bring a smile, to give hope and encouragement. Write to Robin via the contact form on her website.

 

Sunni JeffersSUNNI JEFFERS: A 1998 Golden Heart winner, Sunni pursues her love of writing on a small ranch in NE Washington near the Idaho and Canadian borders, where she lives with her husband, two dogs, two cats, and a herd of Scottish Highland cattle. In a county with no stop lights, she enjoys the breathtaking beauty of the mountains, forests, abundant wildlife and the Pend Oreille River. In this inspiring setting, besides writing, she reads, keeps busy with church activities and as treasurer of the local Habitat for Humanity affiliate, and entertains her girls - four young granddaughters and their moms - with fancy tea parties. Contact Sunni at sunnijeffers @ povn.com.

 

MAUREEN LANG: Maureen Lang has always had a passion for writing, handwriting her first "novel" around the age of ten. Eventually Maureen became the recipient of a Golden Heart Award from RWA, followed by the publication of three secular romances. Life took some turns after that and she gave up writing for fifteen years, until her faith sent her in a new artistic direction. Soon she won a Noble Theme Award from American Christian Fiction Writers, and a contract followed a year or so later for her Inspirational historical fiction Pieces of Silver, (nominated for a Christy in 2007). She lives in the Midwest with her husband and sons and has a grown daughter in Chicago.

 

Gail Gaymer MartinGAIL GAYMER MARTIN: An award-winning, multi-published author, Gail writes inspirational women's fiction and romance  for Steeple Hill and Barbour Publishing. Besides novels, Gail has produced numerous worship resource books and hundreds of articles in a variety of Christian publications. Gail' s novels have received two Holt Medallion in 2001 and 2003, a Winter Rose Award, an ACRW 2002 Book of the Year, and 2002 Romantic Times Reviewers Choice. Gail lives with her husband Bob in a northwest Detroit suburb and is active in their home church.

 

P:enelope MarzecPENELOPE MARZEC: Winner of two EPPIE awards for her inspirational novels, Penelope grew up at the New Jersey shore and found her hero in a  transplanted New Yorker. An early childhood educator, Penelope writes when she isn't teaching and between invasions by her three daughters. Write to Penelope at <penelope@skyweb.net>.

 

LENORA NAZWORTH (writing as Lenora Worth): Lenora wanted to be a writer from the fourth grade. She published her first sweet romance with Avalon Books and went on to publish two more books with Avalon, then published two more secular romances before publishing with Steeple Hill's Love Inspired. This, says Lenora, has given her the best of both worlds— religion and romance.

 

Tricia PerryTRISH PERRY: Trish lives in Northern Virginia with her hilarious teenaged son. She discovered her love of writing while earning a degree in Psychology. She switched career paths in 1997 and never looked back. Her debut novel, The Guy I’m Not Dating, is a finalist in the 2007 FHL Inspirational Readers’ Choice Award. To learn more about Trish and her novels, visit her web site: www.trishperrybooks.com.

 

Judy Leigh PetersJUDY LEIGH PETERS: Judy lives in Live Oak, Florida near the Suwannee River with her own hero husband, David. In May they will celebrate forty happy years of marriage. God has blessed them with 3 grown children and nine grandchildren whom they love dearly. Judy writes old fashion, sweet romances and praises God for her talent. Write to Judy at petersj@alltel.net .

 

Cynthia RutledgeCYNTHIA RUTLEDGE: Cynthia wrote her first novel at fourteen and relegated it to the trash at fifteen. Although decades would pass before she wrote again, her dream never died. She began to write again in 1995 and in 1998 her novel, UNFORGETTABLE FAITH, took first place in the Faith, Hope & Love Chapter's annual Touched by Love Contest. It was bought by Steeple Hill in 1999. Cynthia invites readers to visit her web site  www.cynthiarutledge.com

 

Mary Montague SikesMARY MONTAGUE SIKES: An award-winning author and artist, Monti took all the photographs, created all the paintings and wrote all the text in her 220-page coffee table book, HOTELS TO REMEMBER. She teaches elementary school art and has paintings in Shockoe Bottom Arts Center and in Crossroads Art Center in Richmond, VA. Her first novel, HEARTS ACROSS FOREVER, was a 2002 PRISM award finalist and won first place in the National Federation of Press Women 2002 Communications Contest. She and her high school sweetheart husband, Olen, have three grown daughters.

 

Elizabeth WhiteELIZABETH WHITE: A resident of the beautiful Alabama Gulf Coast, Beth is the author of two Zondervan romances and a three-book miniseries for Steeple Hill's Love Inspired Suspense line. Her Tyndale novella "Reforming Seneca Jones" was a 2001 Inspirational Reader's Choice Award winner, and UNDER COVER OF DARKNESS was nominated for a 2005 RT Bookclub Reviewers Choice award as well as American Christian Fiction Writers' 2006 Book of the Year. She is married to a minister, mother of two young adults, and is owned by a Boston terrier named Angel. Readers can visit Beth's website at www.elizabethwhite.net or write to her at bethsquill@aol.com.

 

LINDA WINDSOR: Linda lives in a "painfully" restored late 18th century home with her husband, James, and post-college children, not to mention their friends and assorted cats. Having played professionally in a local country/old R&R band for ten years, both she and James now share a music and lay ministry. She wrote 16 historical and contemporary romances for Kensington and Meteor before selling last year to Multnomah's Alabaster and Palisades lines.

 

Merrillee WhrenMERRILLEE WHREN: Merrillee is the winner of the 2003 Golden Heart Award for best inspirational romance manuscript presented by Romance Writers of America®. In 2004, she made her first sale to Steeple Hill. She is married to her own personal hero, her husband of twenty-eight years, and has two grown daughters. She has lived in Atlanta, Boston, Dallas and Chicago but now makes her home on one of God's most beautiful creations, an island off the east coast of Florida. When she's not writing or working for her husband's recruiting firm, she spends her free time playing tennis or walking the beach, where she does the plotting for her novels.

 

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