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R.L. Stine is one of the best-selling children’s authors in history, selling more than 400 million books around the globe. Now in its 30th year, the Goosebumps series made R.L. Stine a worldwide publishing celebrity (and Jeopardy answer). His other popular children’s book series include Fear Street, (recently revived as a feature film trilogy), The Garbage Pail Kids, Mostly Ghostly, The Nightmare Room, and Rotten School. Other titles include: It’s The First Day of School Forever, A Midsummer Night’s Scream, Young Scrooge, Stinetinglers, and two picture books, with Marc Brown—The Little Shop of Monsters and Mary McScary. An adult horror comic series, Stuff of Nightmares, will be published in September 2022.
The Goosebumps TV series was the number-one children’s show in America for three years. The episodes can still be seen on Netflix. More recently, R.L.’s anthology TV series, R.L. Stine’s The Haunting Hour, won the Emmy Award three years in a row as Best Children’s Show. His newest Disney+ TV series is Just Beyond, based on his graphic novels for BOOM! Studios. Zombie Town, a feature film starring Chevy Chase and Dan Akroid and based on a book of the same name, will debut in December 2022. Two Goosebumps feature films starring Jack Black as R.L. Stine were released in 2015 and 2018. The first film became the #1 film in America. The Fear Street movies all reached #1 on Netflix.
RL. Stine lives in New York City with his wife Jane, an editor and publisher.
10:00AM to 10:45AM – Fireside Chat with R.L. Stine
11:00AM to 12:00PM – R.L. Stine Signing*
*limit 2 books brought from home to be signed.
Kendare Blake is the #1 NYT Bestselling author of the Three Dark Crowns series, the Anna Dressed in Blood duet, the Buffy: The Next Generation trilogy, All These Bodies and more. Her books are generally dark, kind of violent, yet never lose their sense of humor. They’ve been NPR top 5s, named to Best Of Year lists, were Bram Stoker Award Finalists, and have been translated into more than twenty languages. You can usually find her in Gig Harbor, Washington, writing from the bottom of a pile of dogs and cats. CHAMPION OF FATE is her most recent novel.
11:30AM to 12:15PM – Shine on Social – Fueling compelling content.
12:30PM to 1:15PM – Creating Imaginary Worlds – How to make the extraordinary feel real.
2:30PM to 3:15PM – Keynote Conversation – Point of View
Jumata Emill is a journalist who has covered crime and local politics in Mississippi and parts of Louisiana. He earned his BA in mass communications from Southern University and A&M University. He’s a Pitch Wars alum and a member of the Crime Writers of Color. When he’s not writing about murderous teens, he’s watching and obsessively tweeting about every franchise of the Real Housewives. Jumata lives in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
11:30AM to 12:15PM – Guilty Pleasures – Reading, writing and watching what you love.
2:30PM to 3:15PM – Keynote Conversation – Point of View
Gilly Segal grew up in Florida and now calls Georgia home. Gilly is co-author of the New York Times bestseller I’m Not Dying with You Tonight, as well as the Sydney Taylor Notable Book Why We Fly. Her forthcoming novel, Captain Marvel: Shadow Code, is due out in 2023. In her other life, she is Chief Legal Officer for an advertising agency. When not writing, Gilly enjoys cheering on the Tampa Bay Lightning, exploring Decatur with her three kids, and sampling flavors of French macarons.
11:30AM to 12:15PM – So You Wanna Write a Book – How to get started and keep going.
12:30PM to 1:15PM – Hooks for Your Books – Make marketing magic.
2:30PM to 3:15PM – Keynote Conversation – Point of View
L. B. Anne is the award-wining author of the Amazon best-selling Sheena Meyer series. She is also the author of over 40 diverse books for middle grade and young adult readers. She is a mental health advocate and the founder of I Am Aria, Inc. non-profit. L. B. Anne resides on the Gulf Coast of Florida with her husband. When she is not inventing new obstacles for her characters to overcome, you can find her mastering Vietnamese, grooving on the bass guitar, running along the beach, or sipping a mocha iced coffee at her favorite local café while dreaming of being your favorite author.
11:30AM to 12:15PM – So You Wanna Write a Book – How to get started and keep going.
Shahd Alasaly’s innate drive to assist others and foster love through community endeavors has been a hallmark of her character. This deep devotion encouraged her to delve into a PhD and an ensuing career spanning sociology and humanitarian efforts. Here, she channels her energies to research methodologies that uplift and better the lives of many. Amidst her commitments, Shahd never sidelines her personal well-being, conscious of the vitality of mental and physical self-care. Immersing herself in an intriguing novel serves as her sanctuary, a perfect way to destress and rejuvenate. As she juggles academic pursuits, humanitarian missions, and family life, moments shared with her spouse and kids—whether amid nature, during volunteer efforts, or simply relaxing at home—are ones she holds dear.
12:30PM to 1:30PM – Writing For Children – Spinning ageless wonder.
1:30PM to 2:15PM – Beginning, Middle, End – Using story structure to launch your life.
Vanessa Autrey is passionate about teaching others how to live well. She is a Yogacharya, wellness advocate, mentor, philanthropist and the best-selling author of The Art of Balancing Burnout. She has worked in the health and wellness industry for 11 years, teaching yoga globally, working with women in recovery and spearheading philanthropic campaigns with the Outlier Foundation. She has been featured on Fox News, Voyage Magazine, and various podcasts, including Health™ with Maria and Talkin’ St. Pete™. She teaches Wellness Workshops nationwide, and has most recently begun hosting Wellness Retreats to help individuals rest, restore and rejuvenate their lives.
12:30PM to 1:15PM – Find Your Fairy Tale – Pivot with the plot to reach your dreams.
Sorboni Banerjee is a Bengali-American author and Emmy Award-winning television news anchor who now runs her own media training company, Bronzite Media Group, and coaches journalists nationwide with Talent Dynamics. She is a cofounder of the nonprofit teen reading and leadership festival, YA by the Bay, dedicated to inspiring teens to “be the author of your own life.” Novels by Sorboni include: Borderline, Red as Blood, A Stolen Voice, A Deadly Sleep, and The Clock Strikes. With a dad from a small Indian village and a mom from Maine, Sorboni’s multicultural experiences shape her stories. Fueled by coffee and conversation, she loves the beach, boating, and traveling the world with her husband and son.
10:00AM to 10:45AM – Moderator for Fireside Chat with R.L. Stine
12:30PM to 1:15PM – Moderator for Find Your Fairy Tale – Pivot with the plot to reach your dreams.
Moriah Chavis is the author of the young adult fantasy Heart of the Sea and various short stories. She is a two-time graduate from the University of South Carolina with a Bachelor’s in Liberal Arts and a Master’s in Library and Information Science. It’s been said you can find perusing bookstores, attempting to persuade strangers to read her favorite books, oscillating between watching the Lord of the Rings trilogy (her husband’s favorite) or Harry Potter (hers), and keeping her books from the clutches of her two feisty cats.
11:30AM to 12:15PM – Shine on Social – Fueling compelling content.
Master’s degree educator Kelly Coon is the author of the young adult novels Gravemaidens and Warmaidens, as well as ACT test prep books and thousands of nonfiction articles. When she’s not writing or editing, she’s either at a baseball game or swim meet for one of her three sons or on a boat reading while her husband catches grouper. She lives outside of Tampa, FL with her family and a rescue dog named Roxy who refuses to be leash trained.
1:30PM to 2:15PM – Beginning, Middle, End – Using story structure to launch your life.
Lucienne Diver is the author of the Vamped young adult series—think Clueless meets Buffy—and the Latter-Day Olympians urban fantasy series, which Long and Short Reviews calls “a clever mix of Janet Evanovich and Rick Riordan”. Her favorite pull quote ever!
Bella Rosa Books released her first two young adult suspense novels, FAULTLINES and THE COUNTDOWN CLUB, and WordFire Press released her latest YA suspense, DISAPPEARED, wherein two teens struggle with the story their father tells about the night their mother disappeared and decide that they have to investigate to discover the truth for themselves…whatever it may be.
She’s been a literary agent for over thirty years, her first fifteen with Spectrum Literary Agency in New York before moving to her forever-home at The Knight Agency. She specializes in commercial fiction, young adult through adult, and has built a diverse and dynamic list of award-winning and bestselling authors such as N.K. Jemisin, Vaishnavi Patel, Alyssa Cole, Kelley Armstrong, Genevieve Cogman, Emma Lord, Chloe Neill and more!
On a personal note, Lucienne now lives in Florida with her husband, the two cutest dogs in the world, and enough books to some day collapse the second floor of her home into the first. She likes living dangerously.
11:30AM to 12:15PM – So You Wanna Write a Book – How to get started and keep going.
Rebecca Donovan is the USA Today and Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author of the highly-acclaimed Young Adult trilogy, The Breathing Series, along with her stand alone novel, What If and YA Suspense, The Cursed Series.
Rebecca is currently traveling the country in search of excitement and inspiration. Excited by all that makes life possible, she’s a music addict, concert junkie, impulsive traveler, and is willing to try just about anything once.
1:30PM to 2:15PM – Beginning, Middle, End – Using story structure to launch your life.
Christina Farley is the author of the bestselling Gilded series, THE PRINCESS AND THE PAGE, and THE DREAM HEIST. Her work has been nominated for Korea’s Morning Calm award, Ohio’s Buckeye award, and Tome’s It List. Her books have been hailed in Epic Read’s anticipated reads, PriceStyle’s recommended summer reads, Book Riot’s favorite myth-inspired reads and fantasy recommendations, and BuzzFeed’s 21 amazing series they’ll miss.
12:30PM to 1:15PM – Creating Imaginary Worlds – How to make the extraordinary feel real.
T.R. Hendricks is a former United States Army Captain who served as a tank platoon leader, and then as a military intelligence officer, where he was an advisor to the Iraqi Ministry of Interior’s National Information and Intelligence Agency. When not working or writing in his home in upstate New York, Hendricks is most likely reading, woodworking, or watching his beloved San Francisco 49ers. The Instructor is his first novel.
1:30PM to 2:15PM – Beginning, Middle, End – Using story structure to launch your life.
Lorie Langdon is the author of the international Disney Villain series, Happily Never After, featuring legendary villains such as; Ursula/Vanessa, Gaston, Yzma, Captain Hook, and the Evil Queen. Each book is a glimpse into the villain’s origins and their experiences of first love. Her short story ANNA and THE KING releases this November in the Frozen anthology, All is Found.
Lorie is also an Amazon best-selling author of YA novels; the Doon Series, Gilt Hollow, and Olivia Twist, which was picked up by Target Stores across the nation and is contracted for film by Lonetree Entertainment. She is an international speaker who has been featured on such media outlets as; USAToday.com, NPR Radio, EntertainmentWeekly.com, RedbookMagazine.com, and Girl’s Life Magazine.
Writing for Disney is a dream come true for a girl who grew up in the Midwest dreaming of romantic adventures for her favorite movie characters. When she’s not writing, Lorie is an avid bookstore explorer and enjoys traveling with her husband and two sons.
11:30AM to 12:15PM – Guilty Pleasures – Reading, writing and watching what you love.
Kristin (K.A. Leigh) has a gift of connecting with people through storytelling, in a way that meets each person exactly where they’re at. Her background and expertise in HR & Talent Development has centered upon building emotional intelligence in young and aspiring professionals so they can transform into the best versions of themselves. But the key to developing emotional intelligence, Kristin says, really starts in early childhood. Kristin co-created the Brudders® book series to help parents and teachers guide their children’s social emotional journeys, building a bridge from behaviors to academic and life success.
Kristin lives in Land O Lakes, Florida where she enjoys hiking and biking through nature and saying hi to the alligators that, thankfully, pass her by. You can learn more about the series at www.BruddersBooks.com, or contact her at hellobrudders@
12:30 PM to 1:15 PM – Writing For Children – Spinning Ageless Wonder
Erika Lewis grew up in Alexandria, Virginia. After graduating from Vanderbilt University, she moved across the country to Los Angeles, California to work in television. A creator of magical worlds and addictive characters, she finds many of her inspirations while traveling to new places. When she’s not at her laptop, she can generally be found scribbling down notes while wandering through abandoned buildings, all kinds of museums, and graveyards.
Erika Lewis’s credits include the Kelcie Murphy Series from Starscape/Tor Teen, The Color of Dragons from HarperTeen, Game of Shadows from Tor Books, Firebrand and Acursian from Legendary Comics, #Guardian from Awesome Media & Entertainment, and The 49th Key from Heavy Metal Publishing.
12:30PM to 1:15PM – Creating Imaginary Worlds – How to make the extraordinary feel real.
Leslie Lutz is the author of Fractured Tide, a young adult thriller about an ill-fated scuba trip that strands the protagonist on a time-bending island. Her debut was voted “Best of 2020” by Suspense Magazine and became a Junior Library Guild Pick. Leslie’s poetry and short fiction have appeared in various journals, including Typishly, The Lyric, Raintown Review, and Orca Literary Journal. She has been a speaker at DFWCon, TomeCon, and Roanoke Writers Convention, and Thrillerfest. Her next young adult novel, Sweetest Darkness—the story of a teenage psychic who unleashes unspeakable horror on a small Texas town—will hit the shelves in the fall of 2024. She lives in Fort Worth, and when she’s not writing, you can find her watching B-horror movies, scuba diving, or taking care of chickens.
1:30PM to 2:15PM – Getting Published – Traditional and self-publishing secrets.
Lizzy Mason is a YA author, book publicist, and cat enthusiast. She’s worked in publishing for twenty years and is the author of The Art of Losing, Between the Bliss and Me, and Remind Me to Hate You Later. Lizzy lives in northern Virginia with her two cats, Big Edie and Little Edie. When not reading, writing, or forcing the cats to snuggle, Lizzy loves to travel. She has visited forty-five states and eleven countries (so far). The cats have only visited two states.
11:30AM to 12:15PM – Shine on Social – Fueling compelling content.
12:30PM to 1:15PM – Hooks for Your Books – Make marketing magic.
Nova McBee is the award-winning and bestselling author of the Calculated series, which is currently in development to become a major motion franchise. Emmy-Award winning screenwriter Ann Peacock (The Chronicles of Narnia: the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe), will adapt Calculated for screen. Nova, a Seattle native, has lived nearly half her life in the Middle East, Europe, and Asia. When she is not writing, she thrives on deep conversation and ends of the earth adventures with her family and friends. She currently lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and three children.
Giselle McNab has illustrated overcoming childhood trauma and domestic abuse by publishing a memoir, “Find Beauty Within Darkness” an Inspirational story of hope, strength, and perseverance. As a motivational speaker, she uses the triumph over the trauma of her past to inspire others to overcome their obstacles.
With the launch of this memoir, Giselle founded The SIS Project.Org, a community driven non-profit organization dedicated to the wellness of Women and Teen Girls by overcoming trauma and generational cycles with drive, passion, and motivation that compels them to succeed and live healthy whole lives. Her hobbies include writing, cooking, DIY home improvement, and fitness. Giselle and her Husband reside in Pasco County, FL and share a happy blended family of six children and fur babies.
1:30PM to 2:15PM – Write What You Know – Weaving your experience into a narrative.
Maria Ingrande Mora (they/she) is a content designer and Florida native. Their queer YA debut, Fragile Remedy, was selected as Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection. Their contemporary debut, The Immeasurable Depth of You, received starred reviews from Kirkus Reviews, School Library Journal and Booklist. Their middle grade Power Rangers comic book series, Ranger Academy, releases this fall with BOOM! Studios. A graduate of the University of Florida, Maria lives near a wetlands preserve with three cats, two teenagers, and a billion mosquitoes.
Amy Nielsen spent nearly twenty years sharing her love of books with young readers on the other side of the writing aisle as a youth librarian. Daily immersion in story took root, and she started penning her 2024 YA debut, Worth It, behind her checkout desk.
She left the library after her youngest son was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder and began writing full-time. She also began working with other authors helping them elevate their craft and pursue publication deals. She is currently an associate literary agent at the Purcell Agency and developmental editor at Wild Ink Publishing.
Amy also runs Mayflower Media, which produces book trailers for authors and is co-host of the Author(ish) podcast, bringing publishing advice to emerging authors.
In addition to her debut, Amy is the author of the picture book, Goldilocks and the Three Bears: Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorder, and It Takes a Village: How to Build a Support System For Your Exceptional Needs Family. She is also the lead anthologist on the upcoming anthology, Uncensored Ink: A Banned Book-Inspired Anthology.
1:30PM to 2:15PM – Write What You Know – Weaving your experience into a narrative.
Megan O’Russell’s wanderlust has led her all over the globe. When she’s not planning her next escapade, she’s diving into fantasy worlds where she doesn’t have to worry about what rules she’s supposed to follow or how many pairs of socks she can fit in her suitcase. Megan has a weakness for road trips. Having vampires, werewolves, mermaids, and hackers involved just adds to the excitement.
Her love of storytelling has helped Megan weave her real-life exploits into eight different book series. From the epic fantasy world of Ilbrea to the paranormal dystopian romance of Girl of Glass, there is always a new way to escape into adventure.
1:30PM to 2:15PM – Write What You Know – Weaving your experience into a narrative.
Amy Christine Parker is the author of the critically acclaimed Gated, Astray, Smash and Grab, and most recently, Flight 171. While she spends much of her time dreaming up new stories, she also likes to travel, go to the movies, and read scary stories late into the night—preferably under the covers with a flashlight. She writes full-time from her home near Tampa, Florida, where she lives with her husband, their two daughters, and two very mischievous cats.
1:30PM to 2:15PM – Getting Published – Traditional and self-publishing secrets.
Steph Post is the author of the novels Miraculum, Lightwood, Walk in the Fire, Holding Smoke and A Tree Born Crooked. She graduated from Davidson College as a recipient of the Patricia Cornwell Scholarship and holds a Master’s degree in Graduate Liberal Studies from UNCW. Her work has most recently appeared in Garden & Gun, Saw Palm, and Stephen King’s Contemporary Classics. She has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize, a Rhysling Award and was a semi-finalist for The Big Moose Prize. She lives in Florida.
1:30PM to 2:15PM – Be the Superhero – Using books to beat the “bad guy.”
Justin A. Reynolds has always wanted to be a writer. Opposite of Always, his debut YA novel, was an Indies Introduce Top Ten Debut Title and a School Library Journal Best Book of the Year, was translated into nineteen languages, is being developed for film by Paramount Players, and was recently adapted into a popular Webtoon. His second YA novel, Early Departures, published to critical acclaim and was a Kirkus Reviews Best Teen Book of the Year. His Marvel graphic novel debut, Miles Morales: Shock Waves, featuring Brooklyn’s Spider-Man, was an ABA Indie Bestseller. Justin is also the cofounder of the CLE Reads Book Festival, a Cleveland Book Festival for middle-grade and young adult writers.
Dominique Richardson is the coauthor of The Everbeach Series—a young adult, romantic suspense series full of forbidden romance, deadly twists, and scandalous secrets that will keep you turning pages into the night. She spends her free time passing on her love of unicorns to her twin boys, running in the Florida heat, and drinking all the coffee. Raised between Jamaica and the United States, her biracial heritage finds a home in her books. She now lives in Tampa, Florida with her family.
Passionate about all things books and giving back to the community, she is also the Executive Director and cofounder of YA by the Bay, a nonprofit young adult reading and leadership festival, dedicated to inspiring teens to “be the author of your own life.” Join her email list at www.authordominique.com.
10:00AM to 10:45AM – Moderator for Fireside Chat with R.L. Stine
Derek Roberts is the award-winning illustrator of the Brudders® book series and a California-born, nature lover who loves painting imaginative worlds for kids. He has a unique ability to connect with children through visual storytelling, helping them to comprehend words and build their confidence in reading. Derek’s career started in graphic design before moving into storyboarding, animation, and ultimately illustration. He hopes his illustrations will inspire children’s minds to go into creative, happy places like picture books and comic books do for him.
Derek lives in Land O Lakes, Florida where he enjoys hiking and biking through nature and saying hi to the alligators that, thankfully, pass him by. You can learn more about the series at www.BruddersBooks.com, or contact him at hellobrudders@
12:30PM to 1:15PM – Writing For Children – Spinning ageless wonder.
Liani Kotcher (writing as Rektok Ross) is a trial attorney turned award-winning and bestselling author, screenwriter, and producer. An avid reader since childhood, Liani writes exactly the kind of books she loves to escape into herself: exciting thrillers with strong female leads, swoonworthy love interests, and life-changing moments. She graduated from the University of Florida School of Journalism and obtained her juris doctorate at the University of Miami School of Law. Originally from South Florida, she currently splits her time between San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Las Vegas with her husband, step kids, and her dogs. She is the recipient of several awards, including the American Fiction Awards, IAN Book of the Year Awards, Readers’ Favorite Book Awards, the Chanticleer Dante Rossetti Book Awards, and Women Writing the West. Her debut young adult thriller Ski Weekend was named a “best book” of 2021 by Cosmopolitan, Entertainment Weekly, Parade, BookRiot, Yahoo!Life, Brit + Co., BookTrib, J-14, and more and is currently in development for a major motion picture. You can find her online just about anywhere at @RektokRoss, as well as on her website, www.RektokRoss.com, where she blogs about books and writing.
Yaffa S. Santos was born and raised in New Jersey. She is the author of A Touch of Moonlight, finalist for the 2023 International Latino Book Award in its category, and A Taste of Sage, which won the 2022 International Latino Book Award gold medal in its category and was named an Indie Next List Pick. Her novels blend cooking, romance and magic realism with messages of self- acceptance and empowerment. Yaffa lives in Central Florida with her family.
1:30PM to 2:15PM – Write What You Know – Weaving your experience into a narrative.
Alec Shane majored in English at Brown University, a degree he put to immediate use by moving to Los Angeles after graduation to become a professional stunt man. Realizing that he prefers books to breakaway glass, he moved to New York City in 2008 to pursue a career in publishing. Alec quickly found a home at Writers House Literary Agency, where he has been building his own list since 2012. He represents a wide range of books, including MG and YA mystery, thriller, suspense, horror, historical fiction, literary fiction, and sports. He’s particularly passionate about fostering a love of reading in young men, as he strongly believes that there’s nothing cooler than a dude who loves books.
12:30PM to 1:15PM – Find Your Fairy Tale – Pivot with the plot to reach your dreams.
1:30PM to 2:15PM – Getting Published – Traditional and Self-Publishing Secrets
Dana Swift started making up fantasy worlds when she was eleven years old and hasn’t stopped since. She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin, where she earned degrees in English and Advertising. Dana currently lives in Miami, Florida where she works as the children’s book buyer for Books & Books, the beloved local indie bookstore. Her debut, CAST IN FIRELIGHT and its sequel, BOUND BY FIRELIGHT, were published with Delacorte Press. You can learn more about Dana at www.danaswiftbooks.com.
12:30PM to 1:15PM – Creating Imaginary Worlds – How to make the extraordinary feel real.
Kayla Tirrell has loved to read as long as she can remember. While she started out reading spooky stories that had her hiding under her covers, she now prefers stories with a bit more kissing.
When she gets a chance to watch TV, she enjoys cheesy sci-fi and superhero shows. Most days, you’ll catch her burning dinner in an attempt to cook while reading just one more chapter. Kayla lives in the sunshine state with her husband and three boys.
1:30PM to 2:15PM – Getting Published – Traditional and self-publishing secrets.
