Meet the LWR Community of Writers
Our members are experienced writers actively working on writing projects intended for publication or other distribution. With passion and grit. Your support enables these writers to produce more work and engage with readers. Whether you've donated because you're a big fan of one of our members, or committed to helping a diverse group of writers (or both!), thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
David Arnold
Young Adult Fiction
NYT bestselling author of THE ELECTRIC KINGDOM, Mosquitoland, MOSQUITOLAND, and THE STRANGE FASCINATIONS OF NOAH HYPNOTIK and winner of several book prizes. He lives in Lexington, KY, with his wife and son. Instagram: @iamdavidarnold
Elizabeth Beck
Fiction, Poetry
Elizabeth Beck is the author of the SUMMER TOUR TRILOGY as well as three collections of poetry. When not writing, Elizabeth likes to make art, cook, and walk her dogs. FB: facebook.com/phishwriter, IG: instagram.com/elizabeth__beck/
Gwenda Bond
Fiction
New York Times bestselling author of STRANGER THINGS: SUSPICIOUS MINDS, and other works for all ages. Coming up next are two romantic comedies: NOT YOUR AVERAGE HOT GUY and THE DATE FROM HELL. Twitter: @Gwenda
Cassie E. Brown
Fantasy, Speculative Fiction
Cassie E. Brown has written a fantasy novel and short stories. Her work explores what is ugly, beautiful, and true about rural places and fairy tales. Apart from writing, she is a clinical social worker and a tea aficionado. Cassie is currently working on her second novel.
Nell Campbell
Contemporary Fantasy, Short Fiction
Nell is working on her third manuscript and eleventyish short story. Everything she writes ends up with at least one magical element and a dog, even if it didn't start out that way. She's paid to be a marketing specialist for a giant A/E company. Twitter: @NellKTC
Teri Carter
Essay, Memoir
Political opinion columnist. You can find Teri's work at the Lexington Herald-Leader, the Washington Post, and in dozens of other newspapers and magazines. She is currently working on a memoir about stepfamilies. Twitter: @teri_atthepaper
Katie Cervenec
Speculative Fiction, Short Stories
Katie is editing a YA Fantasy manuscript and writes short stories. Her first published story can be found at The Common Tongue. She loves sushi, trees, reading and being a mom to teenage triplets. By day, she’s a commercial interior designer. Twitter: @ReadKaCerv
Mike Coblenz
Nonfiction
Michael is a lawyer and writer. He has published numerous legal articles. His political writing has appeared in The Hill, CounterPunch, and The Lexington Herald Leader, among other places. He is currently at work on a book about American Politics.
Bobi Conn
Memoir, Fiction
Bobi has a published memoir and a forthcoming novel, both of which explore and pay tribute to life in her beloved Appalachia. She writes essays exploring themes related to this region and class in America. She is currently working on her third book.
Morgan Eads
Fiction, Nonfiction
Morgan Eads writes true stories as a reporter by day, but also also loves fiction. She’s been part of a local writing group for six years and is closing in on finishing her first novel. Morgan earned a BS degree in Journalism and Political Science from the University of Kentucky
Jason Falls
Non-fiction, Humor, Business
Jason has authored three marketing books and is working on his first work outside the business genre. A newspaper humor columnist-turned-blogger, he once authored AdAge’s top marketing blog worldwide. Find Jason on most social platforms @JasonFalls.
R.D. Hall
Films, Comics, Music Videos
Guest speaker for universities including UCLA’s comic writing workshop. Created characters for Image comics and Arcana and worked for NBC, E-One Media and wrote the Shooter Jenning’s The Other Life screenplay. Currently developing two television pilots. Twitter: @rdhall
Lisa Haneberg
Mystery, Humor, Nonfiction
Lisa Haneberg is the author of the Spy Shop Mysteries and over a dozen nonfiction self-help and business books. She's currently working on her fifth mystery, BLOODY HOUND and a short story collection, FAR FROM ORDINARY. Twitter: @lisahaneberg
Jeff Hoagland
Absurdist Humor, Speculative Fiction
Jeff is a documentary filmmaker whose work has appeared on the National Geographic Channel and other platforms. His most recent film premiered on KET in 2020. At present, he has abandoned nonfiction for those sweet, sweet short story paychecks.
Eugenia Johnson-Smith
Nonfiction, Poetry, Fiction
Eugenia’s nonfiction stories can be found in “Blessings In Disguise,” in the Presbyterian Today Magazine and the Kentucky Monthly Magazine featuring “A View From A Virus” told from the Virus' point of view. She is currently working on a Devotional.
Alison Kerr
Creative Nonfiction, Fiction
Alison is working on an epistolary novel. She's had deep roots in Lexington’s literary community since 2009 and is a lifelong reader and writer and sometime editor and educator. Blog: https://medium.com/@alithinks and Twitter: @inkyali.
Elizabeth Kilcoyne
Young Adult Horror
Elizabeth Kilcoyne is an author, playwright and poet, born and raised in Kentucky. She currently lives in Lexington. Her first novel is WAKE THE BONES, a YA Southern Gothic (Summer 2022, Wednesday Books). Twitter: @eakilcoyne
Lee Mandelo
Fiction
Lee Mandelo is a writer, critic, and occasional editor. Their debut novel, SUMMER SONS, is forthcoming from Tordotcom in September 2021; their short work has been published in magazines such as Tor.com, Uncanny Magazine, Clarkesworld, and Nightmare.
Frank Messina
Murder Mysteries
f j messina is the author of the murder/mystery series, The Bluegrass Files, set in Lexington, Kentucky and surrounding communities. He is currently working on the sixth book in that series, and a stand-alone novel called IMAGINE.
Robyn Peterman
Comedic Paranormal Romance
A NYT and USA Today Bestselling author of several paranormal and contemporary romance series, Robyn Peterman writes because the people inside her head won’t leave her alone until she gives them life on paper. She also enjoys wearing sweatpants to work.
Shawn Pryor
Middle Reader, YA, Graphic Novels
Shawn's work includes the middle-grade OGN series CASH AND CARRIE, FORCE, Capstone’s JAKE MADDOX series, KIDS SPORTS STORIES, and THE DEADLIEST RACE. He's currently writing FAST BREAK, a graphic novel with artist Courtney Hahn. Twitter:@shawnrpryor
Tiffany Reisz
Romance, Suspense
USA Today bestselling author of the Kentucky-set gothic romance The Bourbon Thief and dozens of other books. She teaches and mentors writers at the Carnegie Center for Literacy & Learning in Lexington's and lives in Louisville.
Christopher Rowe
Science Fiction, Fantasy
Christopher Rowe is an educator, elected official, and writer whose stories have been reprinted and translated around the world. He has an MFA from the Bluegrass Writers Workshop and lives in Lexington, Kentucky. Twitter: @ChristopherRowe
Andrew Shaffer
Humor, Mystery
New York Times bestselling author of Hope Never Dies: An Obama Biden Mystery and over a dozen other humorous works of fiction. He teaches and mentors at the Carnegie Center for Literacy & Learning in Lexington's and at Louisville Literary Arts.
Jason Sizemore
Editor, Short Stories
Editor/publisher of the award-winning Apex Magazine and Apex Book Company (dark fiction). Stoker Award and three-time Hugo Award nominee as editor. Jason's short fiction has appeared in over a dozen genre zines and anthologies. Twitter: @apexmag.
Fiona Young-Brown
Nonfiction
Fiona has authored more than a dozen nonfiction books, including three Kentucky histories and several middle grade readers. She has written articles and profile pieces for the BBC, Culture, and other outlets. Twitter: @fionayoungbrown