Meet the LWR Community of Writers

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 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/

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 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 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

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 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

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 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.

Working on an Appalachian-infused fantasy novel with mountains, gifts, and uncanny powers. And horses. She lives in rural Central Kentucky, where she and her husband develop board games and try to keep everything from eating the chickens. Twitter: @Rachel_Dockal

Pam, a native Hoosier, has live with her husband in Lexington since 2016. She’s the author of several short stories and is currently working on her first young adult novel. Pam has served on several boards, including for Burris Foundation, Camptown, and the LWR.

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 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.

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 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 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.

Z is a speculative fiction writer and fan of all things horror. She works in development at the Carnegie Center for Literacy & Learning, where she also teaches writing classes and mentors other writers. She is perpetually writing a ghost story.

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 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 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

Claudia is the coordinator of the Black Writers Collaborative at the Carnegie Center for Literacy & Learning. She’s a novelist in multiple genres and a creative nonfiction writer. Claudia holds an MFA in writing from Spalding University in Louisville.

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.

Jay is a writer, editor, and visual artist with deep roots in Eastern Kentucky. His poetry and essays have appeared in several journals and anthologies. He earned his MFA from the Bluegrass Writers Studio. Instagram: @yoccmyaj Twitter: @yoccmyaj

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.

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.

Venecia enjoys reading/writing stories that analyze or reenvision society. From fall to spring, she teaches creative writing to young writers in the Fayette County School District. She is currently working on a novel that explores Black girl/ womanhood.

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

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 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

Jessica is an English teacher working on a memoir. She's enrolled in the Author Academy at the Carnegie Center. Jessica enjoys reading, exercising, and spending time with her Malti-Tzu and volunteering at CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) of Lexington.

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.

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.

Kelly's stories have been published in print and online. She was born and raised in eastern Kentucky with a passion for the strange and unknown. She once wrote an op-ed about a UFO sighting that was so convincing, it was published in a local newspaper.

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