These are the more than 25 authors attending Chester Authors Day on November 5 from 10-3 at Chester Library, 250 W Main St, Chester, NJ:
Adult Authors
Liz Alterman
Liz Alterman is the author of the memoir, Sad Sacked, the young adult thriller, He’ll Be Waiting, and the adult suspense novel, The Perfect Neighborhood. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, McSweeney’s, and other outlets. She lives in New Jersey with her husband and three sons. Liz will take part in the author panel, Books that Keep You Up at Night: Mystery and Suspense Writers.
Andrew Anselmi
Trial attorney turned novelist, Andrew Anselmi seeks to navigate the undiscovered terrain of a long-gone American Dream, and the untold costs that past and even future generations continue to pay due to having embarked on this otherwise glorified voyage. His Mezzogiorno Trilogy tracks a fictional Italian-American family, the Bennetts, through the cultural conflicts and hedonism of the 1980s and 90s. Andrew will take part in the author panel, Books that Visit the Past: Historical Writers Share their Secrets.
Mally Becker
Mally Becker combines her love of history and crime fiction in mysteries featuring strong women. Her novel, The Turncoat’s Widow, was nominated for an Agatha Award earlier this year, and book two in the series, The Counterfeit Wife, is out now. She and her husband live in Warren Township. Mally will be moderating the author panel, Books that Keep You Up at Night: Mystery and Suspense Writers and holding the workshop on What Is NaNoWriMo and Can I Really Write a Novel in a Month?
Linda Broder
Linda Broder is the author of And Still the Bird Sings, a memoir of love and loss and the healing magic of music. She is a story coach who spends her days writing, teaching and playing stories on her harp. Her work has appeared in The Washington Post and others. Linda will take part in the author panel, Writing the World: Bringing Our Lives into Story.
Michelle Cameron
Michelle Cameron is the award-winning author of the historical novel, Beyond the Ghetto Gates, about Napoleon’s demolishing of Italian ghetto gates in 1796-7. Previous work includes The Fruit of Her Hands about her 13th century rabbi ancestor, and In the Shadow of the Globe, a verse novel about William Shakespeare. Forthcoming are two additional historical novels: Babylon: a novel of Jewish exile and return, and the sequel to Beyond the Ghetto Gates, Napoleon’s Mirage. A co-director of The Writers Circle, Michelle will take part in the author panel, Books that Visit the Past: Historical Writers Share their Secrets, and lead the workshop, Sparking Your Creativity.
Meryl Carmel
Meryl Carmel is a writer and historian. She spent ten years pursuing the unknown story of New Jersey philanthropist Kate Macy Ladd. Carmel is a former teacher, curriculum specialist, and museum director with degrees from Beloit and Edgewood Colleges in Wisconsin and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Her graduate studies emphasized the role of women in our nation’s past. She currently serves as the President of the Willowwood Arboretum Foundation. Meryl will take part in the author panel, Books that Visit the Past: Historical Writers Share their Secrets.
Cher Gatto
Cher Gatto is an award-winning author of YA and adult fiction. She is married with five adult children and has an MA in psychology. Her family founded a kids’ ranch in Mexico, where she discovered her passion for writing redemptive stories out of brokenness, and a recovery farm based in NJ. Cher will take part in the author panel, Writing the World: Bringing Our Lives Into Story.
Debra Green
Kim Harwanko
Kim grew up in New Jersey where she’s a freelance writer. After years of noticing a profound lack of “women of a certain age” in novels, she talked members of her book club into writing a trilogy on middle-aged women in a book club. Hence, Novel Women and Novel Women 2. Novel Women 3 is expected in 2023. Kim will take part of the author panel, Writing the World: Bringing Our Lives Into Story as well as leading the workshop, How to Run a Book Club.
Carlotta G. Holton
Carlotta Holton is the award- winning author of four fiction psychological horror books and two nonfiction women’s books. Her writing has been featured in the NY Times, Star Ledger, and the Bergen Record. She speaks on genre- related topics, on radio talk shows in the USA, the United Kingdom and Canada, and has taught at two New Jersey colleges. Carlotta will take part in the author panel, Books that Keep You Up at Night: Mystery and Suspense Writers.
Charles Levin
Charlie is an author who has written four thriller novels, Not So Dead, Not So Gone, Not So Done, and Still Not Dead. and a collection of 30 short stories called The Last Appointment. Charlie will take part in the author panel, Books that Keep You Up at Night: Mystery and Suspense Writers.
Judith Lindbergh
Judith Lindbergh’s new novel, Akmaral, about a nomad woman warrior on the Central Asian steppes in the 5th c. BCE, is forthcoming from Regal House Publishing in spring 2024. Her debut novel, The Thrall’s Tale, about women in Viking Age Greenland, was a Booksense (IndieBound) Pick, and a Borders Original Voices Selection. Judith contributed to the Smithsonian Institution’s exhibition Vikings: The Norse Atlantic Saga and was an expert commentator on the History Channel’s documentary series MANKIND: The Story of All of Us. Founder/Director of The Writers Circle, Judith will moderate the author panel, Books that Visit the Past: Historical Writers Share Their Secrets.
Suzanne Moyers
Suzanne Moyers, a former education writer and editor, spends her free time metal detecting, mudlarking, and volunteering for archeological digs. She is also the proud mom to two amazing young adults, Sara and Jassi. Suzanne lives in Montclair with her husband, Edward, and their spoiled fur baby, Tuxi. Suzanne’s debut novel, Til All These Things Be Done, is a historical saga set in rural east Texas a century ago. She will take part in the author panel, Books that Visit the Past: Historical Writers Share Their Secrets.
Lori Robbins
Lori Robbins is the author of the On Pointe and Master Class mystery series. Her work has garnered multiple awards, including the Indie Award for Best Mystery and the Silver Falchion. As a dancer, English teacher, and mother of six, she’s an expert in the homicidal impulses everyday life inspires. Lori will take part in the author panel, Books that Keep You Up at Night: Mystery and Suspense Writers.
Lisa Romeo
Lisa Romeo, of Cedar Grove, NJ, is author of the memoir Starting with Goodbye (University of Nevada Press). Work is listed in Best American Essays 2016 & 2018, and has appeared in New York Times, Oprah Magazine, literary journals, and anthologies. She works as an MFA professor, editor, and writing coach. Lisa will take part in our author panel, Writing the World: Bringing Our Lives into Story.
Eileen Harrison Sanchez
Eileen Harrison Sanchez is retired after a forty-year career in education. Her novel Freedom Lessons won the 2020 Sarton Award, Historical Fiction, 2020 Pulpwood Queens Book Club pick, 2019 Best Book Awards and was a 2022 Finalist Canadian Book Club for Fiction. She presents in person and virtually, to readers and educators at conferences, book clubs and in libraries. Eileen will host the workshop, Raising Readers Hooked on Books and take part in the author panel, Writing the World: Bringing Our Lives into Story.
Andrea J. Stein
Andrea J. Stein is a lifetime lover of books. Born in Brooklyn, she was raised in New Jersey before attending a small, quirky liberal arts college and a large, preppy university, both in New York State. A book publicist by profession, she lives with her husband and sons in suburban New Jersey. She spends an inordinate amount of time taking pretty photos of books. Things that make her happy include strong tea, turtles, sunshine, sheep, and the ocean. Typecast is her first novel. Andrea will moderate the author panel, Writing the World: Bring Our Lives Into Story.
Kris Waldherr
Kris Waldherr is the author of Bad Princess, Doomed Queens, The Book of Goddesses, The Lost History of Dreams and other acclaimed books for children and adults. She is also the creator of the bestselling Goddess Tarot. Her latest novel, Unnatural Creatures: A Novel of the Frankenstein Women, launched in October 2022. Kris will take part in our author panel, Books that Keep You Up at Night: Mystery and Suspense Writers and will hold a Tarot for Creativity session.
Authors for Children and Teens
Anne Appert
Anne Appert is the author/illustrator of the picture book Blob, published by HarperCollins in Fall 2021. Their second picture book, What If You Wish? publishes with HarperCollins in Summer 2023. They volunteer as a moderator for the #KidLitArt twitter chat and as the Illustrator Coordinator for NJ SCBWI. Anne will read from their picture book during Story Time.
Susan Scarince Jones
Susan Scarince Jones is a fine artist, art instructor and photographer. She created a series of books called Skippy ChipMunk. They are the adventures of a real chipmunk who lives in her garden. Skippy loves having his photo taken and has become quite a ham and local celebrity! Susan will read from her picture books during Story Time.
Nancy B. Kennedy
Nancy B. Kennedy is the author of eight books, including Women Win the Vote! 19 for the 19th Amendment (Norton Young Readers, 2020). She holds a degree in journalism and worked in newspapers and magazines for many years. Fittingly, she hails from Susan B. Anthony’s hometown of Rochester, New York! Nancy will read from her book and share a fun activity with middle grade readers.
Rosanne L. Kurstedt
Rosanne Kurstedt, Ph.D. has been an educator for 20+ years, supporting learners of all ages. She feels blessed to be a published author writing books for teachers and children. She’s also proud to serve as the Assistant Regional Advisor of the New Jersey Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. Rosanne will read from her picture books during Story Time.
Rebecca Gardyn Levington
Rebecca Gardyn Levington is a picture book author and poet from Summit, NJ. Her debut Brainstorm! (Sleeping Bear, 2022) released this summer and she has five more rhyming picture books coming soon, including Whatever Comes Tomorrow (Barefoot Books, 2023), Afikoman, Where’d You Go? (Penguin/Rocky Pond, 2024), and I Will Always Be… (HarperCollins, 2024). Rebecca will read from her picture books during Story Time.
Abigail Rayner
Abigail Rayner was born in England where they have lots of history and rain. When she grew up, she became a reporter and moved to New York, where she was encouraged to write stories, but not the made-up kind. These days she lives in New Jersey with her husband, brilliant kids, ridiculous dogs, and a neurotic cat. Abigail will read from her picture books during Story Time.
Karen Rostoker-Gruber
Karen Rostoker-Gruber is a multi-award-winning author and a ventriloquist. Her books have become National Jewish Book Award Finalists, International Reading Association Children’s Book Council Children’s Choices Award recipients; been nominated for the Missouri Show Me Award; and the South Carolina Book Award; Dollywood Foundation selections, and PJ Library selections. Karen will read from her picture books during Story Time.
Laura Sassi
Laura Sassi spends her time spinning tales in prose and rhyme. She is the author of multiple books for children including the best-selling Goodnight Ark, Love Is Kind, Little Ewe and her newest Happy Birthday, Christmas Child. She lives in New Jersey with her family and a cockapoo named Sophie. Laura will read from her picture books during Story Time.
Colby Cedar Smith
Colby Cedar Smith is an award-winning poet, novelist, and educator. Her debut novel, Call Me Athena: Girl from Detroit (Andrews McMeel, 2021) is a Junior Library Guild Gold Selection Standard Selection; an American Booksellers Association Indie Next Pick; a Cybils Award Poetry Finalist; a Goodreads Choice Best Poetry Nominee, an Independent Publisher Book Awards Silver Medalist; a Silver Nautilus Award Winner; and a Kids’ Book Choice Award Finalist for Stellar Storytelling. Colby will lead a teen poetry workshop and take part in the author panel, Books that Visit the Past: Historical Writers Share their Secrets.
