Rosemount Area Arts Council
Literary and Art Events

Connie Anderson  edits both non-fiction and general fiction books, and considers herself an important part of the author’s team to create the best book possible. She is also an author: In My Next Life, I Want to Be My Dog; When Polio Came Home:  How Ordinary People Overcame Extraordinary Challenges; and The Eye of a Woman.  connieanderson.com

Maureen Aitken



Calumet Editions  Since 2012, Calumet Editions has been introducing exciting new authors, riveting stories, and insightful non-fiction to the market as quality paperbacks and E-books. Our offerings include bestsellers and debut fiction, literary works from highly reviewed writers, and authoritative fact-based writing under our Wisdom Editions imprint. How does a young, upstart publisher attract such a great list of authors and books in such a short time? By offering authors the respect, support and improved financial arrangements they deserve. The result is great books from top authors. If you’re an author, check us out. If you’re a reader, you can’t do better than to choose any of our hand-picked books to spend a few hours with. calumeteditions.com


 
HRB Collotzi. Born in Berlin, Germany, Heidi began her writing career in 2010. Her first book, The Secret of Avonoa, came out in 2014 and Book 2 in the series, The Shadow of Avonoa, in 2015. Book 3 in the Avonoa series took some time, but The Heart of Avonoa was released in 2017. Summer 2019 anticipates the arrival of Book 4, The Traitor of Avonoa, and possibly a sci-fi novel as well. Learn more at hrbcollotzi.com


Michael Dardis  is a lifelong storyteller and traveler who specializes in twentieth-century European, American, and military history. He has degrees in history, geography, and business from the University of Minnesota. Michael is a Vietnam War combat veteran and has been awarded the Purple Heart and the U.S. Army Commendation medal for valor. His first historical fiction novel is The Dark Side of The Sun.  Michael and his wife Nancy reside in Bloomington, Minnesota. 
michaeldardis.com

T. S. Dismas joined the U.S. Army Military Police Corps straight out of high school, served his country all over the world and was disabled due to injuries sustained during service. He went on to obtain a master’s degree in counseling psychology and worked as a psychotherapist with other combat veterans in the Department of Veteran’s Affairs. Dismas has also worked as a program director and clinical supervisor with criminal offenders and, after joining a private company working with recently released offenders, he suffered major heart failure. This was just the beginning of what his life would be like for the next couple of years. From Sudden Death to Paradise shares one man’s story of suddenly facing his mortality and coming to terms with what he experienced. After being exposed to toxic chemicals while in the military, author T. S. Dismas developed an autoimmune disease that would kill him.Yet in his near-death experience and brief visit to heaven, he learned valuable lessons about himself, his life, his faith, and God. tsdismas.com

Fox Pointe Publishing is a "boutique publisher" in the fact we’re particular with whom we work. Any genre is welcome.  We prefer to work with authors who are dedicated to their writing craft and are willing to be participants (at varying levels) in the process of getting their book/project to market.  More information at foxpointepublishing.com 

Lynn Garthwaite is the author of eight books, seven of which are for children. She is a member of the Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, and a writing instructor for Bloomington Community Education. Her books include the Dirkle Smat series, and How Did Our States Get Their Crazy Shapes? lynngarthwaite.com


Amy Gregg  is the Minnesota Book Award nominated author of Relic Chosen: Magic and Madness from North Star Press. She is also the author of Through the Woods and Next Weekend, from Lulu Publishing. She began her writing journey at a young age and never once thought to stop. Amy is currently working on a rural cozy mystery series soon to be released from Fox Pointe Publishing. A native Minnesotan who grew up in the suburbs of Minneapolis, this “city girl” now lives with her husband, daughter, 15-pound cat, and 100 dairy cows on their farm west of the Twin Cities. facebook.com/AmyGreggAuthor

Hadleigh House is a new creative publishing house with a unique author partnership model. Founded by two best-selling female authors, Hadleigh House is a collaborative place where authors work together and share in the success, investment and process of bringing a manuscript to the marketplace. Our partnership model is unique to the publishing industry and was developed to fill the void left between traditional publishing and self-publishing. Hadleigh House is in the market for unique stories, bold voices, and authors who are interested in non-traditional publishing. Female Founded By: Allison Mann, Alisha Perkins & Anna Biehn. hadleighhouse.com


Laurie Hanson was inspired to write the children’s book, Treasure’s Gift, after the death of her family’s first Golden Retriever, Treasure.  The book won a national award. Laurie has spoken to many elementary and high school classes about her experience writing her first book.  She has owned and shown Siberian Huskies and Golden Retrievers her whole life and her dogs have won numerous AKC awards and been featured in several commercials and many print ads.  lauriehansonbooks.azurewebsites.net
 
Gary Harbo. In 1990, Gary plunged into his love of drawing, writing and teaching children. With 28 published books, Gary has a unique style of drawing children into the wonderful world of cartoon characters. His funny, step-by-step art workshops have stimulated the imaginations of over 300,000 elementary students in nearly 800 school visits during the last 28 years. His motto is,"Where the pencil meets the paper is where your imagination comes to life. Pick up the pencil..."  A to Z Come Read With Me;  Hey Little Buddy, What Did You See?; How To Draw 104 Cartoons with Gary Harbo  garyharbo.com


Nancy Hedin has an MFA from Hamline University. Her novel, Bend, was named Debut Novel of the Year by Golden Crown Literary Society and one of twenty-five books to read for Pride month by Barnes and Noble. Her second novel, Stray, was released in August of 2019.  She has been a pastor, bartender,  stand-up comic, and crisis social worker. She lives in Minnesota with her wife and daughters. nancyhedin.com


Julie Holmes has been a writer since elementary school and has written eight mystery manuscripts. Murder in Plane Sight was a recipient of the IAN 2019 Outstanding Mystery of the Year award. She has participated in Christine DeSmet’s Master Novel Writing Class, and continues to be mentored by Chris. julieholmesauthor.com​


Amy Louise Johnson is a science and children’s writer, based in the Twin Cities. Her co-author and son, Christopher Johnson, is currently a sophomore at Princeton University. Their most recent work, Easy Einstein: A Guide to Special & General Relativity in Cartoons, explains Relativity in a way that even “non-science people” can understand. One reader described the book as being like a cross between a Stephen Hawking book and Diary of a Wimpy Kid. While originally intended for kids ages 8-14, adults everywhere have been snatching up copies of Easy Einstein for themselves. (After all, how many adults really understand Special or General Relativity?)   


Judy M. Kerr is a lifelong Minnesotan who’s always enjoyed reading and now writing mysteries. A number of Judy’s short stories have been published in various anthologies. Black Friday is the first novel in her planned series with a postal inspector protagonist.  She’s currently working on the second book in the series.  judymkerr.com


Evelyn Klein holds an M.S. in English, taught at public schools, Century College, Loft Literary Center, and is editor of The Minnesota Scholar. A prize-winning poet, she is also an essayist and illustrator, including greeting cards. Her books are: From Here Across the Bridge, illustrated by Wolfgang Klein; Once Upon a Neighborhood; and Seasons of Desire, illustrated by her and placed in the Minnesota Historical Society’s library collection.   evelynklein.com


Kevin A. Kuhn  is a proud member of Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America. His first novel, Do You Realize?, won five independent literary awards and spent time as a number-one Amazon best seller in four countries. His other title is Ten Tales of a Dark Tomorrow. Kevin is a retired technology executive who currently teaches at the University of Minnesota. Kevin lives in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, with his wife, Melinda, and their three kids.  kevkuhn45.allauthor.com


Midwest Independent Publishing Association (MIPA)   Founded in 1984, the Midwest Independent Publishing Association exists today as a vibrant professional nonprofit association that serves the upper-Midwest independent publishing community through education, networking, and peer recognition. MIPA is proud to be a sponsor of the Midwest Book Awards and a regional affiliate of the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA). mipa.org


Mike Lein successfully published over 50 non-fiction pieces in magazines and journals before moving on to book publishing. His first two books, Firewood Happens: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness in Minnesota’s Northwoods and Down at the Dock: More Stories of the Good Life in the Northwoods, scored back-to-back First Place Awards for Humor from the Midwest Independent Publishing Association. One judge’s comment says it all: “This book belongs in every cabin in Minnesota!” The Crooked Lake Chronicles: Mostly True Stories of Life Up North continues this series with more lightly embellished tales of the things that happen, the people you meet, and the struggles with Mother Nature that occur when you step out and enjoy the simple life in the Great Outdoors.  mikelein.com


Catherine Lundoff is an award-winning writer, editor, and publisher from Minneapolis. She is the author of Silver Moon and Out of This World: Queer Speculative Fiction Stories and editor of the fantastical pirate anthology, Scourge of the Seas of Time (and Space), as well as over 100 published short stories in different genres. She is also the publisher at Queen of Swords Press, a genre fiction publisher specializing in fiction from out of this world.  catherinelundoff.net   


Timothy McDonnell  is a nature writer and author of three books: The Whole Forest For A Backyard: A Gunflint Trail Wilderness Memoir; The Contemplative Paddler’s Fireside Companion;  and Where Water Collides With Stone. He grew up just outside the BWCA in Minnesota. He spent decades teaching English and reading skills to deaf and hard-of-hearing students in suburban Minneapolis. Since his retirement, Tim spends his time writing and doing volunteer work for a Twin Cities non-profit organization that helps individuals transition out of homeless shelters and into independent living. tmcdonnell.com


Linda S. Miller grew up in North Minneapolis with seven other siblings. During her formative years—a time of no cell phones, smart TV’s or computers—reading and writing became one of her favorite pastimes. Linda started writing while raising three children, taking college courses, and operating an in-home childcare program focused on early literacy, and diversity and inclusion. Linda currently lives in South Minneapolis with her family. Her books are:  Isaiah's Sunglasses and Myleigh's Magical Curls.  lncbookworks.com


Cyril Mukalel  is a storyteller and poet and has been a resident of Minnesota for the past 20 years. His writings are influenced by the values and dreams of ordinary people. Cyril won the prestigious 2013 Loft Inroads Fellowship for emerging writers and has received numerous other awards for his short stories, poetry and short film. His novel is Life in a Faceless World​. 

Mark Munger has been published in Writer’s Journal, Hermantown Star, Duluth News Tribune, New World Finn, and other periodicals. His second Finnish American novel, Sukulaiset: The Kindred was a semi-finalist for the 2012 Pirate’s Alley Faulkner Writing Award and was awarded a Finlandia National Association grant in 2014. He has written ten books, including six novels, one collection of short fiction, one biography, and two collections of essays. Mark is a frequent lecturer and workshop leader on writerly topics and is a voracious reader and reviewer of books. cloquetriverpress.com


Susan Murphy, The Humane Marketer, gives small business a big presence. Her articles, newsletters, blogs, and website content bring out the human side of business. With over 20 years marketing experience, Susan has assisted businesses and solopreneurs focused on health, the arts, education, consumer goods and more.  She is currently writing La Casa Su Lago (The House on the Lake), a novel based on her youth in a large Italian family. Writing accomplishments include a successful proposal funding a documentary on Saint Paul’s Summit Hill area. She is a proud mom, actress and marketing mentor to women entrepreneurs through WomenVenture. thehumanemarketer.com
 

Darby Nelson is an aquatic ecologist who taught at Anoka-Ramsey Community College. His first book, For Love of Lakes, was a finalist for the Minnesota Book Award in creative nonfiction. For Love of a River: The Minnesota came out in October 2019. Darby has published articles in the Boundary Waters Journal and Minnesota Conservation Volunteer among other publications and has been a tireless advocate for the environment. darbynelson.com


Chris Norbury  is the award-winning author of the suspense thriller Castle Danger. His new novel, Straight River, is the prequel to Castle Danger and the first book of a planned trilogy. He’s written for several websites as a freelance writer, and his essays on wilderness canoeing have been published in the Boundary Waters Journal. Originally from the Twin Cities area, he now lives in southern Minnesota with his wife and golf clubs.  chrisnorbury.com


Daniel O'Brien, literature teacher [MA Advanced Japanese Studies], created the Japan Series: “Exploring Japanese Culture & History Through Mystery” An active Minnesota author, he has also lived in Japan. Japanese Ghost in America is the second in a trilogy of self-discovery for Jimmy Swenson. Next in the Japan Series is Pilgrimage: Resolution. O'Brien's first novel, Star Points: Connections Old and New, will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. japanseries.com


Joy Riggs is the author of Crackerjack Bands and Hometown Boosters: The Story of a Minnesota Music Man. She specializes in writing about history, travel, and parenting. Her award-winning columns, essays, and articles have appeared in numerous publications, including the Star Tribune, Minnesota Parent, Minnesota Monthly, and the Des Moines Register. She lives in Northfield, Minnesota. joyriggs.com


Kelly Rosso Rodenberg is a life-long Minnesotan, growing up on farms near Raymond and Pennock. She currently resides in Chaska, Minnesota. She excelled as an executive assistant at companies including W.R. Maleckar, UnitedHealthcare, and DTN before her medical condition forced her into “early retirement.” Learning to navigate life with a brain tumor, she now focuses on the good vs. bad, joy vs. sorrow. Kelly’s passionate about motivating cancer warriors, survivors, caregivers, and well-intentioned souls. Her book is There's Something Going On Upstairs: Learning to Laugh My Way through a Cancerous Brain Tumor, One Chemo Cycle at a Time.  farmgirlink.com​

Erin Servais is a book editor, author coach, and founder of Dot and Dash LLC, an author-services company focusing on women author-entrepreneurs. She specializes in women’s fiction, romance, young adult, and business nonfiction and has helped to bring hundreds of titles to publication over her dozen years in the industry. She also leads the Twin Cities Writing Accountability Group and the Solo Entrepreneur Girl Gang, a networking and education group for Minnesota women business owners. She lives in Minneapolis with her two old cats, her odd-shaped dog, and her hockey-playing husband. She writes to her pen pals in her spare time. dotanddashllc.com​


Shipwreckt Books  has published more than 150 authors since 2010 via its three literary imprints and the eclectic Folk Opera magazine. Shipwreckt received a silver medal for poetry in 2014 from the Midwest Independent Publishers Association. Our mission at Shipwreckt Books—besides giving voice and opportunity to writers of all stripes—is to elevate independent publishing to the same level as Indie music and film.  shipwrecktbooks.com  


Sigma's Bookshelf  is believed to be the first and only traditional book publishing company exclusively for teen writers. All services required to bring books to market are free for authors whose work is selected for publication. Authors receive royalties for books sold online, in stores and at events. The company was started up in 2017 by twice published teen author Justin M. Anderson of Minnetonka, Minnesota. He wanted to help other teens who didn’t have access to the resources he does get their books published as well. In addition to publishing books, the company also offers occasional writing workshops.  sigmasbookshelf.com


Spring Book Design. Developing a truly readable book is the primary goal of good book design. Books are initially judged by their covers. We invest serious creativity in a solid cover design that enhances the overall look and feel of your book, captures audience interest, stands out, and maintains the integrity of your message. In today's marketplace, where anyone can go online and create a book, good design is more critical than ever. Design is more than just a function of putting the book into production with some basic skills. It takes years of experience to do it well. Spring Book Design has the most wonderful, interesting clients. Come join us! springbookdesign.com

Cheryl Stephani



Susan Straddiotto  (a.k.a. Julia Greene) lives in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, where she works diligently on writing either fantasy, romance, or sometimes both. She is a member of Romance Writers of America. She writes romance because she believes that everyone deserves to feel their hearts go pitter-patter. She writes to share stories that connect to the human spirit, show people overcoming strong conflict, and put a spotlight on strong women. Her books include The Caeteran Tales series, and Don’t Mess With Mama! susanstradiotto.com


Jonathan W. Sweet is an award-winning journalist who lives in the Twin Cities with his wife, two exceptional children, and one fairly dim-witted dog. He is the author of three books, with a fourth due this spring: DeForest: A Small-Town Wisconsin History; Minnesota’s 50 Greatest Baseball Players; and The Beginner's Guide to Pulp Fiction and has contributed to or edited more than 20 anthologies and collections. He is the owner of Brick Pickle Media, a Minnesota-based communications firm and publisher, and the host of the Pulp Nostalgia Audiocast.  brickpicklemedia.com


Bonnie Geisert Way taught elementary school in Galena, Illinois, for twenty-five years before writing three novels: Prairie Summer; Lessons; and Prairie Winter, based on her childhood in rural South Dakota. She also wrote texts for five picture books (Illustrated by Arthur Geisert). In 2018, she married Harold Way, a high school classmate she hadn’t seen for fifty-seven years, and moved to Roseville, Minnesota. They serve as coordinators for the newly organized Roseville Writers Group.​


Jason Lee Willis is an author and teacher who grew up in South Dakota and currently lives in Minnesota, where he lives the life of a hobbit by gardening, writing, walking around barefoot, wearing vests, fishing, and going on adventures with his wife Julie. His books include The Fire Handler and The Wintermaker (Dream Catcher Chronicles: Books 1 and 2); Tales from the Haunted Valley: Volume One; Tales from the Haunted Valley: Volume Two;  An Appointed Time; Examining Christmas. ​


Words and Deeds, Inc.  has offered book manuscript editing for many years—in a wide variety of genres. Clients appreciate the insights and honesty that Connie Anderson brings to her editing, and agree that the right editor can help make your book the best possible…so find one you can trust. She also makes sure authors write to their intended market, and that they know and avoid costly mistakes in the publishing process. Connie offers FREE sample edit of up to eight manuscript pages. wordsanddedsinc.com