Featured Authors

Andra Watkins, New York Times Bestselling Author

New York Times Bestselling author Andra Watkins has five published books. Her acclaimed debut novel To Live Forever: An Afterlife Journey of Meriwether Lewis was published by Word Hermit Press in 2014, and inspired her walk of the ancient Natchez Trace, an adventure that inspired her best-selling memoir Not Without My Father: One Woman’s 444-Mile Walk of the Natchez Trace.

I Am Number 13 is Andra’s latest novel, the thrilling next installment in the Nowhere trilogy. Packed with immigrants, refugees, Honduran jungles, spying, and intrigue, all at the hands of the Biggest Scoundrel America Ever Produced! For more information visit AndraWatkins.com.

Jim Stewart, Author

Jim was born in Chicago and has memories of living in Buffalo, New York, New England, and southern California. Finally, he grew up in Oregon where he has lived and worked for the last four decades. His working life has been eclectic, with time spent as a musician, truck driver, laborer, mechanic (of both vehicles and musical instruments), house painter, business owner, salesman, and, through it all, a writer and poet. as a songwriter and performer, Jim has been featured in the films Dancing on the Edge and Pacific Vibrations. with his longtime musical partner Craig Abrahamson, he formed Bivalve, a lively collaboration that has produced two CDs: “Unhinged” and “Middle Ground.” With bassist Jaimie Keller, the group has morphed into a band called Tuna Reuben and can be heard sporadically around Portland and Oregon’s north coast.

As J.R. Stewart, Jim has published poetry and/or short fiction in the following journals: The Alembic, The Licking River Review, Mostly Maine, Orange Willow Review, Orion Magazine, Progenitor, Rattapallax, The Blue Hour, and Tulane Review. he’s also published short pieces in the North-Coast Times-Eagle and the Portland Guitar Society Quarterly. Jim’s short story “White Ravens” was a finalist in a Glimmer Train open fiction contest.

Jim is hard at work seeking representation for his novel Ochoco Reach and writing the sequel, Dead Me. There are more novels and a poetry collection in the queue awaiting their turn to shine. To find more information visit his website jamesrichardstewart.com.

Lisa A. Kramer, Author

Lisa A. Kramer has spent her life learning, creating, and exploring the world through theatre, writing, traveling, and collaborating as an educator. She has lived in nine states and two countries (including Japan). She holds a PhD in theatre for youth, an MFA in theatre directing, and a BA in English Language & Literature and Theatre. Lisa has published non-fiction articles in journals specializing in theatre for young audiences, as well articles aimed at young people for Listen Magazine. In addition to young adult novels, Lisa has ventured into the world of short stories and has stories for adults in several of the theme-thology series published by hdwpbooks.com and available on Kindle, Nook, and Kobo. When not writing, Lisa shares her love of the arts and the power of story as co-founder of Heartful Theatre Company and as adjunct faculty at various colleges and universities. She also spends time enjoying New England with her husband, daughter, and two dogs from her home base in central Massachusetts. To learn more visit her at Lisa A. Kramer: Woman Wielding Words or email her at

Liz Duren, Author

At fifteen, Liz learned a long-held secret about her life.

She was adopted.

This news led Liz on a 29-year journey to find the mother who gave her away.