Tell us your name and then a bit about yourself.

My name is Julie Navickas, and I write contemporary romance. I started my author journey writing the Trading Heartbeats trilogy and am just about ready to wrap up the Clumsy Little Hearts trilogy (the final book, Chasing Love, releases this November!). I am a mom of three, work at COUNTRY Financial in corporate communications, and teach writing coursework in the School of Communication at Illinois State University and at Heartland Community College.

How did you hear about this event?

I was an attending author for the first time this past year!

How many years have you attended?

1 year

What genres do you write?

Contemporary Romance

What is a book of yours you wish more people read?

I Loved You Yesterday, book one in the Trading Heartbeats trilogy

What is one fun fact about you?

I’m ambidextrous and can do most things either righty or lefty without difficulty

What are your social links?

Instagram, X & TikTok: @julienavickas

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJulieNavickas

What are you buy links?

Writersonriver.com

Tell us your name and then a bit about yourself.

Jackie Lawson. I was born and raised in Davenport, Iowa. I moved to Peoria, Illinois, in 2008, live in Bartonville, Illinois, with my husband, son, and two dogs, Bailey and Ember. I graduated from Western Illinois University with a Master’s in English Literature. Originally, I wanted to teach postsecondary English, but fell into a workforce development position for a local youth-based non-profit organization and absolutely love it. Book one in The Amulets Trilogy was my debut novel. I enjoys reading almost every kind of fiction out there, but fantasy is my favorite. I also have a craft business where my partner and I take donations of damaged books and turn their pages into flowers in arrangements, wreathes, bouquets, etc.

How did you hear about this event?

This will be my third year participating! I heard about it long ago through other book enthusiasts and never felt confident I could cut it in such a large, established event. I’m so glad I eventually took the chance to apply as I absolutely love everyone I’ve met through the process from organizers, to other authors, and especially the readers!

How many years have you attended?

This will be my third year!

What genres do you write?

Modern and paranormal fantasy, LGBTQ+, and humor memoir

What is a book of yours you wish more people read?

Peculiar Lessons: Semester One

What is one fun fact about you?

I can say the alphabet backwards just as fast as I can forward

What are your social links?

Website: www.authorjlawson.com

Facebook:AuthorJ.Lawson

Instagram: authorjlawson

What are you buy links?

https://www.amazon.com/author/j.lawson

Writersonriver.com

Tell us your name and then a bit about yourself.

Deanna L. Rowley I started writing in 2014 but didn’t know what to do, so I would copy the book, put it in an envelope, then put it on a shelf. By the time I started publishing in 2020, I had 68 books written. In the last 4 years, I’ve published roughly 40 of those 68 books. I am a widow, and have 1 adult child, and 2 grandchildren.

How did you hear about this event?

I was at an event and Rochelle Bradley told me about this event and how to apply.

How many years have you attended?

2025 will be by 4th year in attendance.

What genres do you write?

Contemporary, Military, MC, Paranormal, Romantic Suspense

What is a book of yours you wish more people read?

The Love Found Trilogy. Book 1 is Love Doesn’t Exist. It’s the first book I ever wrote, and I broke it into a trilogy.

What is one fun fact about you?

I rode my own motorcycle for a few years.

What are your social links?

E-mail: deannalrowley@yahoo.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Author-Deanna-L-Rowley-106623544172360
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/search?q=Deanna+L.+Rowley&qid=1KYE0zxcp5
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/deanna-l-rowley

What are you buy links?

amazon.com/author/deannal.rowley

Writersonriver.com

Tell us your name and then a bit about yourself.

I’m Molly McLain, and I write steamy small-town romance with those sexy blue collar heroes we love so much. I live in northern Wisconsin with my husband of 23 years, and as of this fall, we are officially empty nesters! Aside from the fur-babies, that is. 🙂

How did you hear about this event?

Oh gosh… I don’t remember! I heard about it years ago!

How many years have you attended?

2023 & 2024, 2025 to come!

What genres do you write?

Contemporary romance, mostly small town

What is a book of yours you wish more people read?

Oh boy, this is hard! I think We’re Made of Moments is my best book, so let’s go with that!

What is one fun fact about you?

Thursdays, November, 4 pm, and the color brown are the same to me. Saturdays, the number 7, and summer are also the same. Tuesday are blue, Wednesdays are orange, and Mondays are red. I said what I said. 🙂

What are your social links?

FB Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/mollymclainbooks;

IG: @mollymclainbooks

What are you buy links?

Writersonriver.com

Tell us your name and then a bit about yourself.

I’m Mary Warren. I started in the book world running fat girls in fiction. Then I started writing my own books and I focus on love stories with plus size bodies. 

How did you hear about this event?

It’s a local event I’ve done for a couple years and I love it!

How many years have you attended?

2 times as author 1 as an sponsor

What genres do you write?

Romance

What is a book of yours you wish more people read?

Reclaiming Kate

What is one fun fact about you?

I love to read tarot, I do a card pull every time I sit down to write.

What are your social links?

Fat Girls in Fiction

What are you buy links?

Writersonriver.com

Tell us your name and then a bit about yourself.

C.A. Harms – I’ve found my love for books and writing in grade school when an amazing teacher I had at the time introduced me to the world of imagination. She assigned a summer reading list and when I returned the following year I read everything on the list, plus several more. from t hat summer on writing and reading have always been my favorite escape.

How did you hear about this event?

Local event, fellow authors and the wonderful event leaders.

How many years have you attended?

9

What genres do you write?

Romance, Romantic suspense, RomCom

What is a book of yours you wish more people read?

Before We Were Us

What is one fun fact about you?

I am terrified of snakes or lizards.

What are your social links?

https://www.instagram.com/authorcaharms/

https://authorcaharms.wixsite.com/authorcaharms
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/c-a-harms
https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheCharmedGirls
https://linktr.ee/caharmsauthor

What are you buy links?

Writersonriver.com

Tell us your name and then a bit about yourself.

I’m Shannyn Schroeder write romances based on family. I write the type of families that I always wanted, the kind I hope I’ve built. My characters get drunk, say fuck, and eat a ton of pizza as they try to navigate life and love. Whether it’s a big family of siblings unable to mind their own business or a group of friends who are thicker than thieves or a crew of criminals learning how to work together as a team, readers can relate to my characters and cheer for them.

How did you hear about this event?

This will be my 5th time attending and I’m not sure where I first heard about it. What I do remember is hearing people rave about how good it is, so I knew I wanted to be part of it.

How many years have you attended?

5

What genres do you write?

steamy contemporary romance

What is a book of yours you wish more people read?

If you’ve ever seen me at a signing, you’ve seen my. “Fuckin’ Jimmy” shirt (and stickers). Jimmy O’Malley is my favorite hero (so far) and his book is Catch Your Breath. But I also wish more people read In Too Deep (where Jimmy does get a cameo). It’s the start of a new series with a different family in the same Chicago neighborhood.

What is one fun fact about you?

I was once thrown out of a Little Caesar’s for saying “fuck”

What are your social links?

web site https://shannynschroeder.com
FB https://www.facebook.com/shannyn.schroeder
twitter https://twitter.com/SSchroeder_
TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@shannynschroeder
IG https://www.instagram.com/Sschroeder_
newsletter https://www.subscribepage.com/w5c7u4

What are you buy links?

https://www.amazon.com/Shannyn-Schroeder/e/B00A2B0APW

Writersonriver.com

Tell us your name and then a bit about yourself.

Elle Boon
Hi, I’m Elle Boon. I’m a reader first and foremost…and of course if you know me you might know me as the crazy lady with purple hair. I live in Middle-Merica with my hubby Mr B and Kally Kay my 13 year old black lab who also thinks she’s my writing partner. (She happens to sit next to me begging for treats and takes a lot of credit). I have two amazing kids, Jazz and Goob, and am blessed to be a MiMi to one adorable little nugget named Romy or RomyGirl who is 6 years old, and a equally adorable nugget named Rio Mac who was born in 2024. Being a Mimi is seriously the best job EVER.
I love writing, reading, and driving my big ole’ jacked up red Jeep Ruby 3.0 with my hubby. I am known for saying “Bless Your Heart” and dropping lots of F-bombs (I mean lots of F-BOMBS, but who is keeping track?). Seriously, I think if there was ever a cross between a trucker and a sailor with a construction worker dialect I would be that poster child 💜

I write what I love to read, and that’s romance, whether it’s about Navy SEALs, HOT as F**K MC heroes, or paranormal alphas. #dontlookdown is a thing you will need to google. “Wink” With all my stories, you’re guaranteed a happily ever after, no matter what twisted thing my mind has come up with. My biggest hope is that after readers have read one of my stories, they fall in love with my characters as much as I have. I truly love creating new worlds and sometimes even words IYKYK. I have many more stories just waiting to be written and promise they’re coming. P.S. I can totally turn just about anything dirty, including simple words, lol. It’s an art 💜

I believe in happily ever after and can guarantee you will always get one within the pages of my books.

XOXO,
Elle Boon

How did you hear about this event?

Jenna Jacob

How many years have you attended?

I believe I did 2020

What genres do you write?

MC Romance, Navy SEALs, Paranormal Romance, Ménage, and Contemporary Romance

What is a book of yours you wish more people read?

SEAL Salvation Book 1 SEAL Teal Phantom

What is one fun fact about you?

I’m 51 and still have the blanket from when I was a baby. It’s called “Softy” and I take it with me everywhere. Mind you, it’s now a version of the original, but I still have one just like the original. It’s pink with purple silky edges that I rub lol.

What are your social links?

https://www.facebook.com/Elle-Boon-Author-1429718517289545/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/1405756769719931/ https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8120085.Elle_Boon

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/elle-boon

https://www.instagram.com/elleboon/

What are you buy links?

Writersonriver.com