Darrell Bartell, actor/playwright/short story writer and a cancer survivor is a U.S. Army veteran and a former private investigator with over 13 years of law enforcement experience. He switched careers and completed an M.A. in Drama at Texas Woman’s University in 2003. His first play, No Secrets, earned him an award from the Texas Educational Theatre Association. Darrell completed his undergraduate studies at Texas Wesleyan University and wrote a ten minute one man play about the school shootings entitled Bragging Rights, which was performed by Theatre Wesleyan. The play also earned him a trip to the 8th Annual Last Frontier Theatre Conference in Valdez, Alaska where he met Pulitzer prize winning playwrights Edward Albee and the late Horton Foote. Other playwriting credits, which have been read by the Texas Woman’s Drama Department are a rewritten version of No Secrets, Donovan’s Apparition, an adaptation of Fred and Edsel by Doris Lakey and The Date-Line. His short story Non-Negotiable, can be found in the anthology 121 North. Darrell has been featured in several articles in the Fort Worth Star Telegram. He completed his studies in radio broadcasting with the American  Broadcasting School in Arlington, Texas and has been a volunteer with "The Porchlight For The Missing and Unidentified," a missing person's organization that assists law enforcement and medical examiners with trying to provide leads for their John Doe and Jane Doe cases. He has provided several leads that are being investigated.

Carolee Joy Bertrand, writing as CAROLEE JOY, balances her passion for writing with her position as a vice-president in the tax services department of one of the largest banks in the U.S. A member of Romance Writers of America, she is the author of six published novels and three short story anthologies. Her short fiction has also appeared in 121 North. Writing awards include: Golden Quill, winner, best romantic suspense for SECRET LEGACY and Bookseller’s Best, finalist, for WILD ANGEL. Her novels and anthologies are available at Amazon.com and www.dreamstreetprose.com     

Doris Booth, Editor-in-chief, Authorlink.com Honorary Member

Charlotte Schreck Burns lives in Lancaster, Texas in a Victorian farm house. A writer of short stories and novels, Charlotte grew up in Oklahoma, has raised four children, helped in their schools, and worked in a military clinic as a Red Cross volunteer. She also draws on experiences of living in Toronto, New Orleans, Baltimore, the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, the Texas-Mexico border, and of travels in Asia where she visited refugee camps in Hong Kong, WWII military bunkers of Saipan and Guam, and the DMZ between North and South Korea. Second Thursday Circle is the name of her novel published by Dream Street Prose. It is filled with voices of a small town in Oklahoma, and the angst of a widow who must deal with betrayal by her late husband. Charlotte is currently working on a mystery about a child stolen by a vengeful husband.

Sherri Gardner

Wanda Horton loves romance, rock and roll, and reading. She has woven all of these things into her Young Adult novels now available from Amber Quill Press.

Janet Jacobs

Betty Kurecka has had several short stories and humorous non-fiction published and currently writes book reviews for Authorlink. Her shy demeanor cloaks Lilly, her alter ego, who is the main character in a not-yet published novel, IN SPITE OF IT ALL, where she (Lilly, not Betty) charges through early retirement and marriage to the same man for 35 years with self-effacing humor, tears and a quick wit.

Doris Lakey You've heard the phrase "Missed it by that much"? Or "Always a bridesmaid, never a bride"? How about "Close, but no cigar"? Doris has definitely found her niche in the literary world.

Two of her short stories have been sold to THEMA, two were included in 121 NORTH. A couple of poems were published in anthologies. First chapter of her novel SMALL TOWN, SMALL CRIMES took second place in Arkansas Writers' contest; her poem MONUMENTAL DIFFERENCES won second prize in TEX! Contest, and she has a collection of "honorable mentions" and a stack of rejections. Obviously she has a love for words, so far largely unrequited love. If she can't join them, she'll beat on them by writing book reviews.

Elaine Lanmon (aka Elaine Moore, aka Madi Ryan Lee), freelance public relations/advertising professional, photographer and graphic artist, is the author of horror/dark fantasy and paranormal romance novels. Her award-winning short stories and poetry have appeared in print and online. www.itsjustink.com Honorary member.

T. D. McKinney, author of paranormal romance and historical fiction. Her novels are available from Amber Quill Press Honorary member.

LaNelle R. Pierce has won numerous awards in Texas, Arkansas, and Tennessee for her short stories, poetry, and meditations. She is in the process of writing her first novel. Her work has appeared in two anthologies and a number of journals, magazines, and newsletters.

Sharon Wood