The book signing will take place on Saturday, April 11, 2026
4-6 PM
Hilton Garden Inn
Hamilton, NJ
Keynote Presenter
Jane Porter
NY Times and USA Today Bestselling Author
Founder Tule Publishing
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Jane Porter holds an MA in Writing from the University of San Francisco and has written 75 novels since getting her first sale to Harlequin Presents in 2000. Jane’s runaway bestseller, Flirting with Forty, became a Lifetime movie starring Heather Locklear in 2008, and in 2021 Jane had two of her Tule Publishing romances adapted for GAC TV movies. A six time RITA finalist, and RITA winner in July 2014 for Take Me, Cowboy, Jane founded Tule Publishing in 2013 and is known for her passionate, powerful stories and relatable heroines. You can find more about Jane at www.janeporter.com.
Additional Book Fair Participants
| Name | Bio |
|---|---|
| Miriam Allenson | Award-winning author Miriam Allenson writes about smart-mouthed women who don’t ask for permission—and definitely don’t take any nonsense. They talk back, stand up, and get things done, whether they’re solving crimes or falling in love, always on their own terms, of course. In the Tootsie Goldberg Humorous Mysteries, Miriam brings you a no-nonsense, later-in-life sleuth with chutzpah to spare who goes head-to-head with the bad guys—and usually leaves them wondering what happened and how come they’ve ended up holding the short stick. Her stand-alone romances? They feature gutsy women who already know who they are and what they want. When she’s not writing (which is rare), Miriam can be found stress-baking in her kitchen, loving black licorice (yes, really), turning her nose up at chocolate (no yelling), and relishing a good polenta over a pizza. Baseball? Yes. Football? Meh. Visit Miriam at www.miriamallenson.com or on Facebook at facebook.com/msallenson. |
| Maurice X. Alvarez | Maurice X. Alvarez swears he's from outer space, but he was really born and raised in New York City. He began writing fiction at an early age, taking events in his daily life and altering them to fill the pages. But his fascination with science and technology shifted his reading and writing into the realms of science fiction and fantasy. He writes exciting character-driven adventures that span time and space and question the boundaries of sci-fi and fantasy. Sometimes there is even a little romance to keep things spicy. When Maurice isn't writing he can be found cruising around on his bicycle or experimenting with DIY projects around the house. Follow Maurice on social media at any of the below. * Twitter: twitter.com/mauricexalvarez * Amazon: amazon.com/author/maurice-x-alvarez * BookBub: bookbub.com/profile/maurice-x-alvarez * GoodReads: goodreads.com/author/show/4709660.Maurice_Alvarez |
| Julia Amante | Julia Amante is a Women's Fiction author of multiple novels, the latest being Let Us Begin and Christmas Without You which was a 2024 Book Life Prize semi-finalist in romance fiction. Julia Amante writes emotionally rich stories about family, love, and the passion of chasing and achieving one’s goals. In 2022, Julia won the Book Buyers Best 1st place award for Mainstream Fiction for her novel, This is Now. Julia is a frequent speaker at writer’s conferences and non-profit organizations, including Southern California Writer’s Conference, Romance Writers of America, Inlandia Institute, and California State University’s Latina Rising Conference. Julia is also highly involved in giving back to her community. She is most proud of being nominated for the Dream Lifter Award – The Dream Girl Foundation – in 2018. And most recently in 2024, she was presented the Hispanic Lifestyle 2024 “Latina of Influence” Award. In 2020, Julia started Wise Writer Publishing, an author services company that support writers and helps them build their writing careers. |
| Samantha Ann | Born, raised, and still living in New Jersey, Samantha Ann started writing in the fifth grade out of boredom. At first, it was your run-of-the-mill journal entries but soon became stories of things she wished she had said or done, and soon simply stories about other characters and creatures. Samantha thanks her mother forever for the creative writing gene as her mother is a New York Times Best-Selling author. Samantha is half Cuban (mother) and half Italian (father) but speaks more Korean than either of the languages her parents desperately tried to teach her growing up. Samantha created the Korean from Context website and the Seoul Searching novel that were featured on the Forbes magazine blog as being a fun new way to learn Korean. Samantha has amassed over 20k TikTok followers in just over a year using fun creative ways to promote herself and her books Seoul Searching, Matching Set, and Her Ult. When not writing, editing, photographing, creating TikToks, Instagram posts, and Tweets, Samantha is an EDI Specialist for a kids’ clothing company. You can find Samantha at www.koreanfromcontext.com. |
| Kimberley Ash | Award-winning author Kimberley Ash is a British expat who has lived in and loved New Jersey for more than 30 years. She writes fish-out-of-water stories about people who find home where they least expect it. When not writing contemporary romance or romantic women’s fiction, she can usually be found cleaning up after her two big white furry dogs and slightly less furry children. |
| Laurie Batzel | Laurie Batzel lives in the Poconos with her husband, four two-legged children, and two four-legged children, Stuart the corgi and Midge the Rescue Pup. Her Crystal Hill Romance series with Harlequin is available wherever books are sold! |
| Maria Rodriguez Bross | Maria Rodriguez Bross is an author delving into the fictional world of all things related to bodegas, botánicas and creative tales of the supernatural, the unexpected and the phenomenal. Maria is of Puerto Rican and Colombian descent, whose work draws on the bilingual, multicultural world that shaped her. She is the author of the Bodega Botanica Tales series, which are all stand alone novellas. Books 1 & 2 are available and Books 3-6 will be launched by 2027. Stay tuned Brujas! |
| Paula Chaffee Scardamalia | Paula Chaffee Scardamalia is a book coach, dream and tarot intuitive and the author of the recently released mythic contemporary romance, The Tempting Voice, and a romantasy, In the Land of the Vultures. She also has written three nonfiction books on writing and the creative life, Enchanting Creativity, Tarot for the Fiction Writer, and the award-winning Weaving a Woman’s Life: Spiritual Lessons from the Loom. She publishes Divine Muse-ings, a weekly e-newsletter on writing, creativity, myths, fairy tales, dreams, and tarot. |
| Anna Denisch | Anna Denisch was born and raised just outside of Baltimore City, but she has never called it home. When not traveling around the world or daydreaming about dragons, she spends her time looking at books she wants to read without actually touching them. She received her M.F.A in Creative and Professional Writing from Western Connecticut State University and considers daily if she is just insane enough to take her family’s sometime suggestion of getting a PhD. |
| Mickey Flagg | Mickey Flagg is a multiple award-winning paranormal fiction author whose imaginative world building is attuned to the uncanny and echoes with the promise of destiny. Adventure, suspense, and romance are woven through plots brimming with supernatural tension. In each tapestry of passion and peril, fate will always have one last card to play. Also published in the field of music education, she is a life-long New Jersey resident, a member of Liberty States Fiction Writers, NJ Author’s Network, and NJRW. Find out more about her novels at www.mflagg-author.com |
| Teel Glenn | Teel James Glenn has killed hundreds and been killed more times—on stage and screen, as forty-plus years as a stuntman, then he decided to do something risky: become an author. He has dozens of published books in multiple genres, and his poetry and stories have been printed in over two hundred magazines, including Weird Tales, Mystery, Pulp Adventures, Mad, Black Cat Weekly, Cirsova, and Sherlock Holmes Mystery. He is a Shamus, Silver Falchion and Derringer finalist and won Best Novel 2021 in the Pulp Factory Award and winner of the 2012 Pulp Ark Award for Best Author. |
| Catherine Greenfeder | Catherine Greenfeder While teaching language arts at a middle school in New Jersey, I decided to write young adult fiction. I published two YA paranormal novels, A Kiss Out of Time and its sequel A Dance Out of Time, about a teenage ghost hunter in Ocean Grove, New Jersey. Previous to that, I published Wildflowers, a western romance set along the Oregon Trail, Sacred Fires, a reincarnation and art theft story set in Mexico, and Angels Among Us, a paranormal romance featuring a psychic artist and her guardian angel who protects and helps her solve a murder mystery. Fully retired from teaching, I have been devoting more time to writing. I am working on two young adult novels and a memoir. |
| Carol Gyzander | Carol Gyzander is a Bram Stoker Award® winner, World Fantasy Award finalist, and Rhysling Award finalist who writes and edits horror, weird fiction, science fiction, and suspense—with strong women in twisted tales that touch your heart. She has stories in Weird Tales 367, Weird House Magazine, Under Twin Suns, and numerous other publications. Carol co-edited and contributed to the stabby feminist horror anthology Discontinue If Death Ensues: Tales from the Tipping Point (Flame Tree Press). She lives in the New Jersey suburbs of New York City, and is Co-Chair of the HWA NY Chapter and co-host of their online reading series, Galactic Terrors. HWA, MWA, SinC. Visit http://www.CarolGyzander.com or @CarolGyzander on Instagram |
| Nancy Herkness | Nancy Herkness is the award-winning, best-selling author of twenty-one romance novels and has sold over 1 million books. She graduated from Princeton University with a degree in English literature and creative writing. A native of West Virginia, Nancy now lives twelve miles west of the Lincoln Tunnel with two tabby cats. |
| Elaine Insinnia | Elaine taught middle school Language Arts in Berkeley Heights for over thirty years, co-authored The Great Debate Project and Educators Take Charge. Her plays won the Tennessee Williams Literary Festival and the Premiere Stages New Play contest. Her most recent book is You Go, Girl. She’s a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, the Dramatists Guild, NEA and NJEA, and is an avid tennis player. |
| James Irwin | James Irwin is the author of the suspense thrillers "Nina's Friends" and "Lucky Guy." His short stories, creative nonfiction, and cultural essays have been widely published. He is associate editor of the Atlantic Journal of Communication and co-founder of the film journal Cinematograph. He lives in northern New Jersey. |
| Jean Joachim | After her youngest went off to college, Jean took up writing romance to quiet the characters in her head. It quickly became her calling. A native New Yorker, she splits her time between the city and country. She writes contemporary romance, historical, sports romance, and romantic suspense in a quiet place with a secret stash of black licorice. |
| Elizabeth John | Elizabeth John is the award-winning author of tender romances with a touch of intrigue. Her stories deliver sweet, small-town romantic suspense filled with heartfelt emotion and just the right hint of mystery. Her love of reading and writing began in early childhood and blossomed throughout her teenage years. Her first real job was working in a library, where the cover of a Gothic romance caught her eye. She read it—and has been hooked on romance novels ever since. Elizabeth has published many newspaper and magazine articles, as well as several short stories. For a few years, she also enjoyed writing ceremonial resolutions for state senators and assembly members. After retiring from a rewarding career as an elementary school teacher, Elizabeth now lives her dream of writing full time. A lifelong animal lover, she shares her New Jersey home with three rescue dogs—each with a quirky personality—and one very tolerant cat. When she’s not writing, Elizabeth enjoys knitting, gardening, researching family ancestry, or relaxing at the beach with a good book. She is a proud member of Liberty States Fiction Writers, New Jersey Romance Writers, and Sisters in Crime. Elizabeth loves connecting with readers. Learn more or sign up for her newsletter at www.elizabethjohn.com. |
| JJ Lair | JJ first got attention writing when he had a column in his college newspaper. He participated in the forming of a student run paper as well. He lives near sites where the stories of music and art history thrive. He writes about pop culture and history at his blog and website. |
| Roz Lee | USA Today Best-Selling author Roz Lee is the author of over thirty romances. The first, The Lust Boat, was born of an idea acquired while on a Caribbean cruise with her family, and soon blossomed into a five-book series originally published by Red Sage. Following her love of baseball, Roz turned her attention to sexy athletes in tight pants, writing the critically acclaimed Mustangs Baseball series. Roz has been married to her best friend and high school sweetheart for over four decades. They have two daughters and are the proud grandparents of three adorable grandkids. Roz and her husband live in Virginia. |
| Ande Li | Ande spent her childhood in Hong Kong, China, and the various boroughs of NYC, and has settled in the NJ suburbs with her husband and co-conspirator Maurice X. Alvarez and their children. She will not stop writing until all her imaginary friends have had a chance to tell their stories. |
| Ted M Delgrosso | Ted Delgrosso is a local New Jersey author of fiction and science fiction short stories. His Ted's Tales series currently has three books. Additionally, the author is offering Ted's Tales Short Timers- a a 6 story sampler pamphlet. |
| Pamela Martorana | Pamela Martorana is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Life Coach and writer. Owner of Live Your Best Life NJ, Life Coaching & Therapy Services, www.LiveYourBestLifeNJ.com. With 25 years of experience supporting individuals and couples through life transitions, trauma, grief and personal growth. Pamela is passionate about helping clients discover strength, resilience, build healthy relationships, and connect with their authentic selves. Blending evidence-based practices with practical strategies for growth, she empowers her clients to heal, set meaningful goals, and create lives rooted in purpose. She is passionate about helping others rediscover their voice, embrace self-compassion, and move beyond limiting beliefs. Her journey as an aspiring writer is part of her mission: sharing stories of resilience, faith, and transformation to remind people they are never alone. Pamela is Executive Director and Founder of the Bergen County Writer’s Guild. Through counseling, coaching, or writing, Pamela seeks to inspire others to honor their own journey and step into their fullest potential. Pamela is featured monthly on Change Your Attitude Change Your Life (CYACYL) Podcast, Conversations with Joan. In her monthly segment she covers various mental health issues. |
| Michael McLaughlin | Michael J. McLaughlin, MD, is the award-winning author of several thrillers, including EXTINCTION, FUGUE, and WOODS. His next psychological thriller, NO HARM INTENDED, will begin transporting readers to the Amazon rainforest on April 14th, 2026. Following earlier careers as a surgeon and the owner of a medical writing business, he now writes novels in New Jersey, where he lives with his family. Learn more at mclaughlinbooks.com. Follow on social media @mclaughlinbooks. |
| Michelle Miles | MICHELLE MILES writes fantasy, paranormal, and young adult adventures filled with magic, danger, and swoon-worthy romance. Her stories feature fierce heroines, unforgettable heroes, and epic quests—whether battling demons, taming dragons, or traveling through time. When she’s not weaving new worlds, she narrates audiobooks and hosts Miles Beyond the Page, a podcast for book lovers and writers. A proud Texan, she enjoys hiking, movie marathons, and a good glass of wine. |
| L.G. O'Connor | L.G. O’Connor spends her free time spinning romantasy, contemporary, and mystery stories that touch the heart with themes of family, redemption, forgiveness, and most of all, hope. She’s the author of the award-winning romantic women’s fiction trilogy: Caught Up in Raine, Shelter My Heart, and Surrender My Heart, which follows a family of three women who must confront ghosts of the past to find redemption and second chances. A native ‘Jersey Girl,’ L.G. is passionate about health & wellness, interior design, and really good coffee. Find her books on Amazon and all things L.G. at https://www.lgoconnor.com |
| Linda J. Parisi | Linda J. Parisi enjoys creating unforgettable characters and putting them in untenable situations, much to their dismay. She is the winner of many awards for her paranormal romances, including the NJRW Golden Leaf Award and the HOLT Medallion for Speculative Fiction. She has fulfilled a lifelong dream and released her debut novel with Harlequin Heartwarming. She is the current President of Liberty States Fiction Writers, has served on the boards of other writing organizations, and is currently a Mentor for RWA. She loves to travel, tries to bake, and lives in New Jersey with her son Chris, daughter-in-law Sara, and Audi and Archer, a pair of pooches who had her at woof! |
| Jodi Payne | Everyone deserves a happy ending! Jodi Payne takes herself way too seriously and has been known to randomly break out in song. Her queer MCs are imperfect but genuine, stubborn but likable, often kinky, and frequently their own worst enemies. They are characters you can’t help but fall in love with while they stumble along the path to their happily ever after. For those looking to get on her good side, Jodi’s addictions include nonfat lattes, Malbec and tequila any way you pour it. |
| Caridad Pineiro | Caridad Pineiro is a transplanted Long Island girl who has fallen in love with the Jersey Shore. When Caridad isn’t taking long strolls along the boardwalk, she’s also a NY Times and USA Today bestselling author with over a million romance novels sold worldwide. Caridad is passionate about writing and helping others explore and develop their skills as writers. She is a founding member of the Liberty States Fiction Writers and has presented workshops at the RT Book Club Convention, Romance Writers of America National Conference as well as various writing organizations throughout the country. You can connect with Caridad at www.caridad.com. |
| Linda Rawlins | Linda Rawlins is an American writer of mystery fiction best known for her Misty Point Mystery Series. She is also known for her Rocky Meadow Mystery Series and two independent novels, Midnight Shift and Mystery of Heather House. Linda loved to read as a child and started writing her first mystery novel in fifth grade. She then went on to study science, medicine, and literature, eventually graduating from medical school and establishing her career in medicine. Linda Rawlins lives in New Jersey with her husband, her family, and her spoiled dog. She loves spending time at the beach and visiting Vermont. She is an active member of Mystery Writers of America. As a member of Sisters in Crime, Linda was the President of the Central Jersey Chapter for 2022, 2020, 2019, and the VP in 2018, 2025 You can visit Linda at her website at www.lindarawlins.com Other links to connect with Linda - www.Facebook.com/lindarawlinsauthor www.twitter.com/LRL8 www.Instagram.com/lindarawlins www.tiktok.com/lindarawlinsauthor www.goodreads.com/lindarawlins www.facebook.com/lindar.liotti www.threads.net/lindarawlins |
| Sandra Schwartz | Sandra L. Barone spent years as a columnist for the Pascack Press newspaper while raising her family. Following a heartbreaking personal loss, she set aside journalism to pursue a new creative path—crafting gripping domestic thrillers. Her debut novel, When Revenge Calls, the first in a thrilling new trilogy, is available now. |
| Brianna Shaffery | Brianna R. Shaffery is New Jersey based a speculative fiction author known for her award-winning young adult fantasy trilogy, the Heirs of Tenebris, and new adult romantasy novel, To Sway a Flame. Always looking toward her next project, Brianna has also written several novellas that can be read on her website, BRSwrites.com. |
| Jennifer Shirk | Jennifer Shirk is a USA Today bestselling author of sweet, funny, closed-door rom-coms. If you love witty banter, swoony heroes, and happily-ever-afters that feel like Hallmark movies with a playful twist, her books are for you. Her award-winning romances have topped Amazon charts in both holiday and series romance, making her stories a go-to escape for readers who want all the laughs and feels—without the steam. Jennifer lives at the Jersey Shore with her husband, daughter, and two grateful rescue dogs. She’s also president of her local library board—proof that she’s happiest surrounded by stories. |
| Misty Simon | Misty Simon always wanted to be a storyteller…preferably behind a Muppet. Animal was number one, followed closely by Sherlock Hemlock… Since that dream didn’t come true, she began writing stories to share her world with readers, one laugh at a time. |
| Paulette Stout | Paulette Stout is the multi-award-winning author of stories with determined heroines, romance, and a fearless social pulse. Read in 43 countries, Paulette crafts vibrant settings and authentic characters you can reach out and touch. Her 23 book award recognitions span her four novels, What We Give Away, What Eyes Can’t See, What We Never Say, and Love, Only Better, adding to her three advertising industry awards, including a MediaWeek All-Star. By day, Paulette leads content marketing for a Nasdaq-listed, global software company, honing the marketing skills you hear on each episode she co-hosts on The Best of Book Marketing Podcast. Connect with Paulette on her website at paulettestout.com, on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok @paulettestoutauthor. |
| Suzanne Trauth | Suzanne Trauth is the author of the suspense novel The First to Die, the Dodie O’Dell mystery series—Show Time, Time Out, Running out of Time, Just in Time, No More Time, and Killing Time—and What Remains of Love, an historical romance (Firebird, American Book Fest, Chanticleer book awards), as well as plays and non-fiction books. In her previous career, she spent many years as a university professor of theatre. When she is not writing, she coaches actors. She lives in Woodland Park, New Jersey. Visit her website: www.suzannetrauth.com or connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SuzanneTrauth |
| Yvonne Ventresca | Yvonne writes suspenseful novels and short stories for tweens, teens, and adults. Her young adult thriller, BLACK FLOWERS, WHITE LIES (Sky Pony Press) won a National IPPY Gold Medal for YA fiction. Her debut novel, PANDEMIC, won a Crystal Kite Award from the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators and was reissued in 2022. Ventresca's other works include two nonfiction books and several short stories selected for anthologies such as THE SECOND BLACK BEACON BOOK OF MYSTERY, VOYAGERS: THE THIRD GHOST, 30 SHADES OF DEAD, and HERO LOST: MYSTERIES OF DEATH AND LIFE. You can find her on most platforms @YvonneVentresca, or visit her website, YvonneVentresca.com where she blogs about writing productivity and features writing resources. |
| Eileen Watkins | Eileen Watkins came to fiction from a long background in journalism, writing and editing articles on visual art, architecture, interior design and home improvement for two major daily newspapers. During that time, she interviewed artisans, designers and collectors, and acquired a taste for the type of quirky décor Vivian Joyce offers her customers. Early in her fiction career, Eileen published eight stand-alone mystery and suspense novels with Amber Quill Press, several of which won EPIC and Indie book awards. With Kensington Publishing, she then put out the Cat Groomer Mystery series; all six novels received Certificates of Excellence from the national Cat Writers’ Association, and two won the CWA’s MUSE Medallion, its top award for Mystery Fiction. Eileen belongs to Mystery Writers of America and national Sisters in Crime, and serves as publicity officer for Sisters in Crime/Central Jersey, a.k.a The Jersey Sleuths. Her website is www.efwatkins.com. |
| Lydia Weltmann | Lydia is a young adult fantasy writer from Hamilton, NJ. She’s the author of the Epoch of Dragons series and The Street Rat’s Guide to Spells and Royalty. Some of her biggest inspirations include Eragon, Howl’s Moving Castle, and Harry Potter. She worked as a Barnes and Noble bookseller for a few years and currently works as an admin assistant for the Mercer County Library System. When she’s not writing, she can usually be found playing with a dog somewhere. |
| Jennifer Wilck | Jennifer Wilck is an award-winning contemporary romance author for readers who are passionate about love, laughter, and happily ever after. Known for writing both Jewish and non-Jewish romances, her books feature damaged heroes, sassy and independent heroines, witty banter and hot chemistry. Jennifer’s ability to transport the reader into the scene, create characters the reader will fall in love with, and evoke a roller coaster of emotions, will hook you from the first page. You can find her books at all major online retailers in a variety of formats. Jennifer started telling herself stories as a little girl when she couldn’t fall asleep at night. Pretty soon, her head was filled with these stories and the characters that populated them. Even as an adult, she thinks about the characters and stories at night before she falls asleep or walking the dog. Eventually, she started writing them down. Her favorite stories to write are those with smart, sassy, independent heroines; handsome, strong and slightly vulnerable heroes; and her stories always end with happily ever after. In the real world, she’s the mother of two amazing daughters and wife of one of the smartest men she knows. She believes humor is the only way to get through the day and does not believe in sharing her chocolate. |
| Stacey Wilk | From an early age, I told tales as a way to escape. At six I wrote short stories in composition notebooks, at twelve I wrote a novel on a typewriter, in high school biology I wrote rock star romances in my binder instead of paying attention. But it wasn’t until many years later, inspired by my children and a looming birthday, that I finally took my story-telling seriously. And published my first novel in 2013. Since then, I've gone on to publish thirty-one more so women everywhere could fall in love and find an escape of their own. When I'm not writing books, I'm standing in front of groups large and small to educate, entertain, and motivate. My love of speaking began earlier than my love of writing. I even earned a degree in Speech, Theater, Communications. Let's face it. I have a lot to say. Wanna chat? |
| J.J Winters | J.J is a writer of fantasy, romance, and all things magical. She loves writing soft and cozy stories about characters finding themselves and those who understand them, but also loves some good, brutal power structures and court politics that those characters have to fight against. She has been known to speak about her characters as though they’re real people. |
More book fair participants coming soon!