Meet Our Authors

D.L. “Larry” Fowler, known as “The Lincoln Guy,” is an award-winning historical fiction author whose work explores Abraham Lincoln and 19th-century America. His books include Lincoln Raw, Lincoln’s Diary, and Lincoln’s Angel: The Rebecca Pomroy Story. A Pacific Northwest resident, Larry brings history to life through extensive research and character-driven storytelling.

D.L. Gardner is an award winning author, artist, filmmaker, and screenwriter with over 27 published works to her credit. Writing and painting are her passions and fantasy her forte. When she's not pounding keys on the computer, she's canning salsa, picking apples, listening to the voices of critters in the woods, or watching flowers grow. She loves visiting far off lands through books by both reading and writing.

A lifelong wanderer and passionate advocate for emergency preparedness, she brings decades of firsthand experience to her writing. Having lived through earthquakes, major floods, and a volcanic eruption, she has served as a first responder, CERT volunteer, and instructor in the Tacoma–Gig Harbor area. A freelance writer and public speaker, she also enjoys reading, genealogy, sea kayaking, and adventures throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Carrie Mellem is an indie romance and romantasy author living in the Pacific Northwest. She writes stories filled with adventure, magic, complicated characters, and plenty of swoony romance. When she isn’t writing or reading, she’s usually traveling with her husband and two kids, exploring the PNW, or hanging out with her very spoiled Bernedoodle—with a decaf coconut milk latte never far away.

Andy Becker is an award-winning writer, speaker, gardener, and former attorney who spent more than three decades practicing law in Port Orchard, Washington, just across the water from Seattle. Amid the quiet churn of cases and consequences, he began writing cautionary stories drawn from his legal experience. He lives in Gig Harbor with his wife and their two dogs: Splash, an unapologetic escape artist, and Nova, a committed opportunist with a talent for pilfering food off the kitchen counter. 

​Susanne was a professional journalist and editor in Germany before she dedicated herself to creative writing in her second language, English. She has been known for her cozy novels since 2015 and also appears as a public speaker. Outside her writing nook, she loves cooking, photography, the fine arts, and music. Exploring places and history with her husband keeps her constantly inspired for more books to come.

I’ve taught school, sold life insurance, worked in research, and owned and managed Gig Harbor marina and boatyard. I live in Gig Harbor and have for most of my life and currently live on the same property where I lived as a child. You can go home again. You can learn about all the stuff you may not have learned the first time.

David Martyn lives in Gig Harbor, Washington with his wife, Karen. Retired from a career in the Maritime Industry, he can keep watch over the ships passing to and from Tacoma and the Vashon Island Ferry. He still loves the sea, the ships and the men and women who sail and service them.

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John Shoemaker is a Gig Harbor-based educator, author, and project management consultant with more than 20 years of professional experience. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of Kentucky and has taught at universities in the U.S., Mexico, and China. Throughout his career, John has conducted more than 200 professional training seminars internationally and worked with numerous Fortune 500 companies. He is also a retired member of the Kansas Air National Guard.

J.A. Nielsen is an award-winning author of the YA fantasy series Fractured Kingdoms and a passionate advocate for the creative, performing, and literary arts. With a background in education, she supports aspiring artists and writers throughout the Puget Sound region. Her writing has earned multiple honors, including awards from the Pacific Northwest Writers Association and the Dante Rossetti and Ozma literary competitions. When not writing or creating art, she enjoys exploring the Pacific Northwest with her family.

Dennis “DJ” Quinn is a Gig Harbor author and Greater Gig Harbor Literary Society Board member. He is the author of Stick Figures: A Big Brother Remembers and Raft Island Treasure Hunters. With a background in writing and editing for magazines, labor unions, and advertising, DJ brings honesty and humor to his storytelling. A three-time Big Brothers Big Sisters volunteer, he also supports youth mentoring programs through the Pierce County Juvenile Court system.

C.J. Booth is an award-winning author of mystery, thriller, and young adult fiction. Following a career in broadcasting and film production, he published Olive Park, which earned multiple literary awards. His works include The Park Trilogy, The Diamond & Stone Mysteries, the YA Laura McGonogle series, and the short story collection The Silver Moon and the Evening Tide, featuring his Pushcart-nominated story “Relentless.” C.J. has studied creative writing and screenwriting with several acclaimed authors and industry professionals.

Jolene is a seasoned graphic designer turned contemporary painter with degrees in graphic design and fine art, living in quaint and quirky Port Townsend, WA. While being entertained by the birds in her backyard, she began drawing with acrylic markers and birds appeared. They make her laugh with their individual personalities. These birds eventually became a greeting card line, then turned into larger paintings on paper. Now, she’s expanding those words and new illustrations into children’s books as she shares Ozzie’s friends and family stories!