Calling all book lovers! Troy Book Fest is coming to the Troy-Miami County Public Library on Saturday, October 24, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Meet more than 50 participating authors representing a wide variety of genres and discover your next great read! Learn more about their books, and celebrate the literary community.
We will have some scheduled panel discussions - more information coming soon.
Meet the Authors - We’re excited to welcome more than 50 authors to the first-ever Troy Book Fest! Explore the participating authors below and discover new books, new voices, and new favorites.
Adam Smith
Born and raised in Miami County and a graduate of Miami East, Adam Smith writes military thrillers.
Aimee Noel
Transplanted from Buffalo, New York, Aimee Noel now lives with her wife in Dayton, Ohio, where she is First Vice President of the Ohio Poetry Association. She retired in 2026 after 32 years of teaching, most recently at Tipp City High School. She has twice received the Ohio Arts Council’s Individual Excellence Award for poetry and is the author of the poetry collection Slag (Sheila-Na-Gig Editions, 2025).
Amanda Rush
Amanda Rush is the author of The Gathering Girl, a Gen-X coming-of-age memoir reflecting on a childhood impacted by parental mental illness and benign neglect. Her essays, short stories, and poetry have appeared in Vanderbilt Press’ 2008 anthology The Way We Work, The Bellevue Literary Review, Brevity’s Nonfiction Blog, The Saturday Evening Post online magazine, Peatsmoke, Black Fork Review, Cutleaf, and New Ohio Review.
Angela Henry
Angela Henry is an internationally bestselling and award-winning hybrid author of twisty mysteries, thrillers, and urban fantasy. A retired library reference specialist, she wrote the Kendra Clayton mystery series and the Xavier Knight series, as well as several thrillers. Angela lives in the Miami Valley with her husband and their spoiled Chiweenie rescue, Gidget.
Beth Kerber
Miami County resident Beth Kerber is a professional writer who has worked in newspaper, public relations, and marketing. She co-wrote Think Like a Sheepdog Trainer: An Introduction to Raising and Training a Herding Dog, published by Dogwise Publishing in 2022 and winner of the Dog Writers Association of America Best Sport or Training Book.
Britt Nichole
Britt Nichole is a writer, photographer, and disability advocate residing in the Dayton, Ohio, area. Growing up, she never had much disability representation or disabled characters written by disabled voices, and she seeks to change that with her work. Gracie is her first published novel, with more works in progress.
C.M. Wyckoff
C.M. Wyckoff made his authorial debut with Spectral Echoes: Ghostly Tales and Haunting Verses, a chilling collection of ghost stories and poems. Before venturing into writing, Wyckoff worked as an actor in New York City, where he honed his craft in film and television. His creative journey also includes years of writing short stories, scripts, and screenplays, which paved the way for his second book and first full-length novel, The House of Ravenswood Hollow.
Carisa Peters
Carisa Peters is a transformation coach who helps overwhelmed women break free from the weight of inherited programming and coping patterns. With more than 30 years of professional and leadership experience—including entrepreneurship and personal development—she brings a deep understanding of the unique challenges women face.
Cayley Seitz
Cayley Seitz is an indie author local to Miami County, Ohio. Her debut book launched in May 2025. When she's not lost in the pages of a book, she is a busy mother of four navigating life's chaos. Dark romance and romantasy are her two favorite genres to read and write. Her hope and dream are to positively impact those who cross her path and perhaps restore at least one person’s faith in humanity.
CherAnn Wright
CherAnn Wright is a member of International Thriller Writers and the Alliance of Independent Authors. She recently served on author panels at the Bouchercon World Mystery Convention in New Orleans and has participated in panels at other literary events. When she isn’t writing, she can usually be found curled up with a good book or spending time with her husband, two dogs, and noisy rescue cat.
Christopher Joseph
Christopher Joseph’s writing inspiration is sprawling novels that sweep readers away in atmospheric murder mysteries, thrilling adventures, political corruption, fraud, and love lost. Leaping Into the Abyss is comparable to Stieg Larsson’s Millennium series or James Patterson’s Alex Cross series, with a touch of magical realism and cultural elements, including his hometown hero Virginia Hamilton’s The House of Dies Drear.
Debra Gaskill
Debra Gaskill is the author of the Jubilant Falls series and the award-winning Fracktown Gumshoe series featuring detective Niccolo Fitzhugh. She is currently working on the next Fracktown Gumshoe novel, Million Dollar Fitz. Writing as Anne Hunter Nash, she also wrote My Mother’s Ashes. She has also written two standalone novels, Counterfeit Life (2019) and Safe (2026).
Holly Bargo
Holly Bargo is a pen name inspired by a temperamental Appaloosa mare who has long since crossed the Rainbow Bridge. The author still has horses and other animals on the southwestern hobby farm where she lives with her husband. She works full-time as a freelance writer, editor, and book designer through Hen House Publishing, the imprint under which she publishes her own work. Holly Bargo writes romance, fantasy, and westerns.
Jalynn Venis
Jalynn Venis is a fiction and nonfiction author who grew up near Dallas, Texas, equally at home on horseback and in city streets. Jalynn is also an optioned screenwriter, former writer/producer of national nonfiction television and broadcast news, and a metaphysical explorer who has led seminars in intuitive development and heart-to-heart communication.
Jaye Pool
Jaye Pool is a literary and contemporary fiction author who writes character-driven stories about people confronting the lives they inherited and deciding what they want to build instead. Her work explores faith and deconstruction, family, identity, love, regret, grief, and self-discovery, often placing deeply personal struggles against a broader cultural and social backdrop. She is the author of Make Me Free and To Die Is Gain, as well as short fiction and poetry. When she wants to give romance the whole stage, she writes as Stevie Alison, author of the Luscious Ladies of Clairborn series.
Jem Spears
Jem Spears (she/they/he) is a queer, neurodivergent romance writer who was raised in New England, educated in Los Angeles, and embraced by Ohio. Jem also writes poetry and nonfiction as Jacquelyn Merrill Ruiz. Their contemporary queer romance series, International Love and Misadventure, follows three friends finding love in unexpected places, such as a quarantine hotel, a cursed Scottish road trip, or the middle of a panic attack.
Jennifer Vice
Jennifer Vice is a writer and organist who loves a good cup of tea. When not writing, she enjoys gardening, reading, and spending time with her family. She is the author of The Immortal Sonata and Memory’s Lament and is currently working on the third book in The Immortal Sonata series.
Jennifer Wills
Jennifer Wills was born and raised in Troy, Ohio, and spends her free time hiking, camping, and binge-watching her favorite shows with her daughter. She also writes, and Secrets of Raccoon Ridge is the first book in her new series, The Six Sisters of Summer. Jennifer was inspired to write the series loosely around her daughters’ friend group. Their strength, closeness, goofiness, and love of adventure inspired the story. Her daughter drew the cover art.
JL Cordonnier
JL Cordonnier is a young adult mystery writer who loves everything related to Sherlock Holmes. She’d probably be just what Sir Arthur Conan Doyle would have hated—but he’s to blame for her crusade to write stories like his, about spectacular and peculiar people who fight to take down crime.
Juliette Hyland
Juliette Hyland has written more than 25 books for Harlequin/Mills & Boon, imprints of HarperCollins. She has given writing-craft workshops around the country, both in person and via Zoom. Her favorite topic of all time is writing tropes—she always finds ways to sneak them into conversations. Her favorite question for authors: Why?
Kate Koenig
Kate Koenig is a queer and neurodiverse writer, photographer, and cat mom originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She studied history and children’s literature at the University of Pittsburgh before earning her MFA at The New School. Kate writes across genres and mediums, but her heart belongs to YA fantasy. She likes flawed, messy women who make the wrong choices, love big, and sometimes hate harder. Her ultimate goal is to write stories for all lost girls looking for a place to call home.
Keilah Jude
Keilah Jude graduated from the University of Cincinnati with a degree in English literature and a minor in creative writing. She received a master’s degree in her favorite book, the Bible, from Wheaton College. She is an actress, and her films are available on Amazon Prime. She has also appeared in commercials for brands including ALDI and Harvest Snaps Snacks. Keilah enjoys creating book content online, where she rants—and sometimes cries—over books.
KJB Alan
KJB Alan is the author of the Uncharted Horizons series, a collection of contemporary romance novels set against the backdrop of ocean cruising and international travel. Drawing on years of firsthand cruising experience, KJB brings an authentic sense of place to every port, ship, and destination featured in the series, blending heartfelt storytelling with the atmosphere of life at sea. Before turning to fiction, KJB spent a career in the automotive and consulting industries, retiring from Honda to pursue writing full time.
Lee Barber (Velma)
(Velma) Lee Barber grew up in Sidney and currently lives in the Dayton, Ohio, area. A lifelong interest in the lives and stories of older adults led to a career in social work, with a focus on geriatric mental health. Velma writes as Lee Barber. TouchPoint Press published Getting to Grace in 2020. Roan & Weatherford published Peace of Pie and Picture This in 2024 and 2026, respectively. Roan & Weatherford will also publish a revised version of Getting to Grace in 2027. Velma also helps others build community by sharing life stories through Guided Autobiography.
Lee Barber
As a former English teacher and school librarian, Lee Barber writes for her students, hoping readers will find themselves on the page while recognizing others' experiences. She is the author of The Fullington Road Monster, which she presented at the Grand Lake Area Literature Festival, where she spoke on a panel with Margaret Peterson Haddix. This traditionally published young adult novel was one of the Ohio Educational Library Media Association’s Favorite Books of 2025. Her middle-grade contemporary novel, Revenge Baking, will be published in spring 2027 by Wild Ink Publishing.
Mark Thomas
Mark Thomas lives in Troy, Ohio, with his girlfriend, two dogs, and four cats. He has loved games of all kinds since childhood, starting with the Intellivision. He spends most of his time as a computer programmer and database administrator but has also designed board games and programmed video games in his spare time. He co-designed SEAL Team Flix in 2018 and has another co-design coming in 2026, Phantom Division. For years, he thought about writing a book—and finally did.
Michael Bowers
Michael Bowers is a part-time writer, part-time program manager, and 30-year veteran of the United States Air Force. Not every story has a picture-book ending; not every love lasts forever; not every paradise is nirvana. Michael’s books explore life’s challenges, its ups and downs, the unexpected that creeps in from nowhere, and the humor only soulmates understand. Every story has a true element. He enhances romance, family, and even life's darker sides with detailed character development and picturesque scene descriptions.
Millie Weems McDaniel
Millie Weems McDaniel has spent more than 20 years in hospitality sales and event production. She writes about what that work taught her: that great service is a system, not a personality, and that an industry that cares for its guests brilliantly has never quite learned to care for its own. A portion of her book earnings goes to crisis funds for hospitality workers. She founded The Rising Table Hospitality Collective and wrote Serving the Moment: The Art of Selling Catering and Events Profitably and its companion workbook, Mastering the Moment.
Mindy McGinnis
Mindy McGinnis is an Edgar Award-winning novelist who writes across multiple genres, including post-apocalyptic, historical, thriller, contemporary, mystery, and fantasy. While her settings may change, you can always count on Mindy’s books to deliver grit, truth, and an unflinching look at humanity and the world around us.
Nancy Flinchbaugh
Nancy Flinchbaugh writes as a spiritual practice, speaking for peace, justice, and the Earth from a Christian contemplative heart space. She wrote her most recent book, Revelation on the Sea Island, out of her hope for beloved community and as a way to grapple with racism and tangled roots in our divided country. Nancy retired from Community Development for the City of Springfield in 2021 and enjoys empty nesting with her husband, Steve, in Springfield, Ohio. She is active at First Baptist Church Springfield and enjoys playing the fiddle and hammered dulcimer in local groups.
Naykishia Darby
Poet, literary scholar, Mississippi native, Jackson State University graduate, and Central State University English professor, Naykishia Darby advocates for diversity and equity. Her research interests include the LGBTQ student experience at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), performance and the Black woman exotic dancer, Black women’s literature, and gender identity and expression in Black women performing artists. She published her first solo work, Reflective Expressions: Selected Poems.
Nicole Loy
Nicole Loy is an author, educator, and learning experience designer. She lives in rural Ohio, where she enjoys biking, hiking, and adventuring with her husband and daughter. Learn more about Nicole and her books at hurrybackbooks.com.
Ovni Michaels
Ovni Michaels is a professional ghostwriter and self-published author of more than 20 books. With 10 million words written and more than 190 novels in her career, you'll be sure to find something you like. She writes romance, reads thrillers, and loves sandy beaches, long walks, and her 15-year-old Chihuahua, Buddy. You may find her in her garden, at an easel painting, or crocheting cute tchotchkes—or at a book signing event, where she’ll happily sign a copy of your favorite book.
Randy Overbeck
Dr. Randy Overbeck is an award-winning educator, bestselling author, popular podcaster, and in-demand speaker. His novels have earned more than a dozen national awards, including Thriller of the Year, Best Book Award, Gold Award, and Mystery of the Year. His newest novel, Abigail Trench, is a historical suspense novel about the Revolutionary War, released in June 2026 by Diversion Books and distributed by Simon & Schuster.
S.C. McMurray
S.C. McMurray grew up on the mean rural roads of southwestern Ohio, where he honed his storytelling skills on anyone willing to listen. Now he does it professionally as an author, teacher, and screenwriter. Sean still lives in rural Ohio with the love of his life and his favorite audience: their three children.
Sara Kaushal
Sara Kaushal was born and raised in Kettering and now lives in Beavercreek with her husband, Ravi, and their son, Yuvi. She’s a Dayton historian and the primary author of the blog Dayton Unknown. Sara has written three published books, with a fourth coming in 2027. When she’s not writing, Sara is working on an endless reading list.
Sara Wolfe-Hines
Sara Wolfe-Hines is a graduate of the University of Dayton and a former middle school teacher who taught for 31 years. She has resided in rural Miami County, Ohio, her entire life. Currently, Sara tutors English as a Second Language for Japanese students at Troy City Schools. Sara is an avid reader who enjoys baking and spending time with her daughter, Lexie. She and her husband, Rob, reside on a grain and Simmental cattle farm. Sara has written two books, The Big Red Barn and Lexie and the Little Tree, and is currently writing her third book.
Shyla Colt
USA Today bestselling author Shyla Colt is a chaos wrangler, chronic crafter, and imaginary-friend collector. A mom of two and wife, she road-trips with her weird brood when she’s not taking on a new hobby or bingeing spooky podcasts and documentaries. She writes strong women with sass and plenty of nerdy tendencies, along with intriguing, intense males who love them.
Sonny Begley
Sonny Begley was born and raised in Troy, Ohio, and graduated from Troy Christian High School. A poet and former football player, he is currently working toward a bachelor’s degree in secondary English education. He hopes to move into the inner city to become a stronger resource for future students.
Stephani Duff
Stephani Duff is a writer and storyteller residing in Dayton, Ohio. In her writing, Stephani explores becoming, embodiment, belonging, and the lifelong journey of coming home to yourself. Her essays and poems are rooted in the belief that healing often arrives quietly—in ordinary moments, honest conversations, unexpected laughter, and the gentle decision to keep showing up for your own life. She is a daughter, sister, aunt, and friend who believes there is always magic worth chasing, joy worth noticing, and a reason to string up twinkle lights whenever possible. This is her first book.
Steven M. Wuebker
Life as a culinary professional, corporate executive, retail associate, and lover of all things creative has given Steven M. Wuebker a perspective one reader described as having “lived 100 lives.” Steven is the author of two books of poetry: Pages Torn From A Plague... (2022) and Relentless Liminality (a few collections) (2023), both released through Balboa Press, a division of Hay House. His multimedia poem “Art” was officially granted U.S. copyright in 2021.
Tanela Hicks
Tanela Hicks is a former IT professional turned library professional who has added successful author to her credentials. A lifelong lover of books, she believes they can encourage, inspire, and transform. When she’s not working or spending time with her wonderful husband and three children, Tanela is busy writing her next story. Residing in Ohio, she hopes her books will remind readers of the love in their lives and its power to heal emotional wounds.
Tasha Sheipline
Tasha Sheipline is an author from northwest Ohio who specializes in historical mystery. With four published titles, her work blends history, mystery, and romance, often with a subtle paranormal twist. Inspired by historical cold cases, she brings forgotten stories to life through rich research and suspenseful storytelling. Sheipline holds a master’s degree in educational leadership, which informs her thoughtful, detail-driven approach to writing.
Teri Davis
Teri Davis is both a memoirist and novelist, born and raised in the suburbs of west central Ohio, but she has also lived for short periods in other interesting places, including the Oregon coast and Stuttgart, Germany. She has been married to Scott for 33 years and has two grown sons, Sean and Andrew. Besides writing, she enjoys reading, travel, theater, music, cooking, and spending time with friends and family. She strives to live by her mantra: “Life begins where your comfort zone ends.”
Terry Pellman
Terry Pellman is a 1972 graduate of Urbana College. He served for 27 years as director of the Shelby County Department of Job and Family Services, eight years on Sidney City Council, and in the Ohio Air National Guard. He has written eight self-published novels, four novellas, and a collection of short stories. He tied for third-place winner in the Dayton Daily News Short Story Contest for his entry “The Look on Her Face.” He has coordinated twice-yearly group author book signings and spoken to numerous civic organizations and writing groups at Edison College in Piqua.
Terry W. Ervin II
As an author, Terry W. Ervin II enjoys writing fantasy and science fiction. His science fiction works include Relic Tech, Relic Hunted, and Relic Shield from the Crax War Chronicles, as well as Thunder Wells, a post-apocalyptic alien invasion novel. His post-apocalyptic fantasy series, First Civilization’s Legacy, includes Flank Hawk, Blood Sword, and Soul Forge. His newest series, Monsters, Maces and Magic, is a fantasy/LitRPG series that includes Outpost, Betrayal, Guild, Fairyed, Pawn, Date, Revived, and Revealed (forthcoming).
Vara Firestar
Vara Firestar is a romance author who writes dark and black/gray romance novels. When she is not writing, she enjoys tending to her plants, gaming, and spending time with her family. She is an avid reader, spouse, and mother of four.