Nicholas Patler is the author of Jim Crow and the Wilson Administration: Protesting Federal Segration in the Early Twentieth Century, and an upcoming article which deals with a nonviolent option to the Palestinian-Israeli crisis in the Peace Review: A Journal of Social Justice.

A graduate of Harvard University and a dedicated student of Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr., Albert Luthuli, and others, Nicholas is committed to seeking solutions to violent conflict through peaceful means, such as nonviolent direct action. He hopes to be actively involved in teaching people in conflict situations how to use nonviolent direct action, both strategically and morally, to overthrow oppressive regimes, or achieve group status, objectives, and empowerment. 

Marjorie Kiel Persons is dedicated to teaching literacy through classical music. As a retirement mission, she and her husband, Clyde, have published four library quality books with CDs. Marjorie has written lyrics, sometimes humorous and always educational, to the most beautiful themes of classical music. When children read as they sing, both music and words go into long term memory. Children learn to read with fluency and with the rhythm of the language. They build vocabulary and reading skills effortlessly. They build self-esteem. Children are encouraged to read the fairy tales, myths, composer biographies and opera stories in the books.

Marjorie is an experienced teacher with certification in elementary, secondary, and music education in addition to English literature. She has given workshops at many state music education conferences as well as home school conferences. She and her husband have lived in Venezuela, Aruba, Egypt, and Mexico in addition to several regions of the United States. They currently live in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Northwestern North Carolina. 

C.J. Polliard is an English graduate from Virginia Commonwealth University, and has started off her career with the successful published children's book, Too Many Pets, which she will be signing at Book 'Em 2005. She has also published short stories in literary magazines such as Millennium and Penwomanship Magazine.

Currently, Mrs. Polliard lives in Richmond, Virginia, where she takes care of her husband and their "too many pets". She is also working on her next picture book, Too Many Toys.

Too Many Pets is a fun and educational picture book on a reading level for ages seven through nine that addresses a common issue that most parents likely face at one time or another. A fun-loving boy learns that pet ownership requires much more than simply the desire to bring home a new pet. Colorful and whimsical illustrations of the main character and of his animals' antics entertain as well as teach. Responsibility and moderation are key themes in Too Many Pets-an especially helpful book for parents who are tired of the question, "can I keep him?" 

Kimberly Rae is the author of About Her Father's Business, where a brave young widow driving thousands of miles alone shares a variety of gospel truths, as she visits the friends and family of her recently deceased husband.

Remarried now and in her middle years, Kim resides on the east coast. She enjoys the new family God has brought into her life, as well as loving and serving within her local church family.

Noreen Renier is not your run-of-the mill psychic detective. Renier considers herself a born skeptic. But the sudden onset of her psychic abilities changed not only her beliefs but the course of her life and career. Her career as a psychic investigator working with police spans more than two decades and is still going strong. To date she remains the only psychic ever to lecture at the FBI academy.

She will be signing A Mind for Murder: The Real Life Files of a Psychic Investigator.

Georgia Staggers Richardson, better known as “Queen Jaw Jaw, the Queen of Experiences,” resides in North Alabama. Author of A Funny Thing happened on the way to the Throne, the Queen also writes three monthly humor columns: Shoals Woman Magazine, (online and print publication), The Monthly View (print only) and Penwomanship Magazine, (online and print).

In addition to her debut book, Georgia along with five other women, just signed a contract for publication of Pink Jasper, a book containing inspirational essays, poems, and stories about womens' common journeys in life.

She will be signing her debut book, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Throne, at Book 'Em 2005.

Maureen Robb is the former editor of a San Francisco business newspaper and a writer whose articles have appeared in numerous publications.

Patterns in Silicon, her first novel, has been released to rave reviews. It is the first mystery featuring Lea Sherwood, combining Silicon Valley's fascinating computer world with the world of culinary arts.

Ms. Robb divides her time between San Francisco and the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia and is currently at work on the next book in the Lea Sherwood series. 

Coming all the way from Scotland for the second year in a row:

Dirk Robertson is a lecturer in social welfare, professional writer and actor. First thriller Highland T'ing was met with widespread critical and commercial success. His second is Bad Day For A Fat Boy.

He is a former Representative to Parliament for the National Body for Social Work in the United Kingdom, and spent many years working with delinquent adolescents. He is a former Karate international and professional instructor and trained actor, and he taught creative writing and drama in young offenders' institutions.

His screen work includes some of the top stage, film and television productions in the United Kingdom. 

Mrs. R. has been teaching sex education for over a decade. As a youth group minister, high school biology teacher, and college human anatomy and physiology professor, she brings a well-rounded perspective to topics that are important to teens today.

Since graduating from college with a BS in biology, she has served as a Medical Service Corps officer in the U.S. Army, volunteered as youth minister in parishes across Europe and America, taught math and science in middle school through college, earned her MS in biology, and is studying bio-defense. She currently resides in Virginia with her loving husband of twenty-plus years. Her two daughters are in college.

High School Sex Pot: Questions from America's Teens is Mrs. R's first published book. It gives readers the opportunity to get inside the minds of teenagers today. Mrs. R. has compiled sex-related questions that she has anonymously received from teens over the past several years and has answered them scientifically, humorously, and with a frankness that puts adults and teens at ease about today's sexual issues. This book is a must-read for teens, parents, and educators. Everyone is bound to learn something and may come away inspired to more frankly discuss sexuality with those closest to them 

Tony Ruggiero is the award-winning author of Team of Darkness, which received a reviewer's choice award from Scribes World Reviews and was a top ten finisher in the 2002 Readers Poll, and Mind Trap, a 2003 EPPIE finalist in the Science Fiction category and also nominated for best Science Fiction novel by SimeGen Book Reviews.

His science fiction, fantasy, and horror stories have appeared in both print and electronic mediums. In many of his stories, he writes about people and their internal struggle making choices when faced with diverse and moralistic issues. Hoe also analyzes alternative lifestyles such as vampires, aliens, and other creatures. In dealing with these diverse issues, Tony draws on his twenty-three years experience as a United States Naval Officer and his experiences with people of different countries.

Mr. Ruggiero will be signing Get Out of My Mind, Mind Trap, Aliens and Satanic Creatures Wanted: Humans Need Not Apply, Innocence of the Mind, and Team of Darkness at Book 'Em.

Marcia Silvermetz is a children's author and the author of Gertrude the Albino Frog and Her Friend Rupert the Turtle, published by Hiccup Cottage Publications.

The book is about acceptance, fitting in, diversity and tolerance. It has been chosen as a diversity training book in Albemarle County. Ms. Silvermetz has a BA in Psychology/Bio and M.Ed.in Sports Medicine. All profits from this book are donated to worldwide children's charities. The ultimate goal of Hiccup Cottage Publications is to provide challenged children playgrounds across the country.

Ms. Silvermetz will be signing this book and reading from it at Book 'Em. 

Donna Lacy Stanley is a new author who finally has a chance to travel with her special deer mouse friend, "Alfred Oscar Valentine", on his many adventures in Tales from Spoon Creek. Both Ms. Stanley and Alfred love the Blue Ridge Mountains and nature.

Previously, Ms. Stanley was a teacher and school library media specialist who has always enjoyed sharing literature of all genres with children.

Hope Tarr is the author of three historical romance novels, including Tempting, a "My Fair Lady" story with a twist. Described as "a beguiling mixture of historical detail and romantic intrigue" by bestelling women's fiction author, Susan Wiggs, Tempting was a Romantic Times Book Club Reviewers Choice Award nominee for Best Innovative Historical Romance.

Hope is a graduate of The Catholic University of America where she earned a Master's degree in Psychology and a Ph.D. in Education. She lives in historic Fredericksburg, Virginia with her husband and rescued cats and is hard at work on an historical romance trilogy set in 1890s London and a contemporary romance set in Washington, DC and New York. 

Willie is a retired Army NCO who served tours in three foreign countries and spent most of his army career at Fort Bragg, N.C. He received two meritorious service medals and three Army Commendation Medals, and is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University with a degree in Criminal Justice. He is a member of the Criminal Justice Honor Society (Sigma Phi Mu). Currently, Willie is a Consumer Affairs Investigator.

Willie hopes that his book, The Winds of Destiny, which sends messages about his family's sins and domestic violence, will influence other people not to make the same mistakes. Willie is on the board member of Read Aloud Virginia and a member of Virginians Against Domestic & Sexual Violence. Midwest Book Review called the book "a charged, thought provoking, deftly written story." The book has received rave reviews from book clubs, readers and other authors.

p.m.terrell is one of the cofounders of Book 'Em. She is the author of four non-fiction computer books and two suspense/thrillers featuring computer programmers as the lead characters. Her debut suspense/thriller, Kickback, was released to critical acclaim in 2002, followed by The China Conspiracy in 2003. The China Conspiracy was nominated for the 2004 Literary Awards by the Library of Virginia, and was also on the recommended reading list of EntreNet, sponsored by Virginia Commonwealth University and the Greater Richmond Technology Council.

She is currently hard at work completing the sequel to Kickback, entitled Ricochet (Drake Valley Press), and Taking the Mystery out of Book Signings (Palari Publishing), both to be released in 2006.

Ms. Terrell will be signing Kickback and The China Conspiracy at Book 'Em.

Dorothy Thompson is an award-winning author and syndicated relationship columnist from the Eastern Shore of Virginia. She is the author of the highly acclaimed book, Romancing the Soul, an anthology of true soul mate stories from around the world. Her expertise in the soul mate field has prompted her to syndicate her relationship columns throughout many online magazines, as well as print. She also coaches those who wish to learn more about soul mates on a personal basis.

Dorothy is also the author of the childrens book, No More Gooseberry Pie, and co-author of The Writersville Charity Cookbook Recipes with Stories to Benefit Literacy Worldwide.

She has been a guest on many radio talk shows including Lifetime Radio and Artists First Radio Network. She is scheduled to appear on Designing Women Radio Show in March and Romance Authors Radio Show in August. Thompson is well-known throughout the Eastern Shore of Virginia for her featured guest columns in the Eastern Shore News.