Authors on Fire

Susan Rex Ryan is the award-winning author of Defend Your Life about the awesome health benefits of vitamin D including the potential prevention of chronic medical conditions including autism, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and multiple sclerosis. Her health articles have been published on Hormones Matter (TM), the Lucine Health Sciences website, and in Choices Magazine. Sue has also been featured on recent radio shows where she discussed vitamin D’s benefits.
Sue Ryan holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Georgetown University and a Master of Science degree from the U.S. military’s National War College. In addition, she has earned scores of Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits from accredited U.S. medical programs approved by, inter alia, The American Academy of Family Physicians. Her professional memberships include the Vitamin D Council, the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine, and the Independent Book Publishers Association.

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Texas author M.K. (Katie) Lever is a PhD student at the University of Texas at Austin Moody College of Communication, studying NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) discourse. Having served as a former Division 1 runner – she ran track and cross country for Western Kentucky University – she now is a freelance writer for LRT Sports and a sports consultant with a mission to aid future college athletes in navigating the NCAA. SURVIVING THE SECOND TIER is her debut novel.
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Karen Gruber is an International #1 best-selling, award-winning author, inspirational speaker, and Leadership Development Coach for purpose-driven women entrepreneurs. Karen has helped hundreds of women get crystal clear on how to structure their soul-aligned business so they can magnetize their dream clients and earn explosive, consistent income. Karen’s clients create successful, authentic businesses that are fulfilling and financially rewarding.
Grounded in the Active Feminine Formula™ and focused on maximizing the potential of each woman’s zone of brilliance, Karen helps her clients overcome fear and release the limiting beliefs that keep them playing small so they can gain the courage to fully express their soul-driven purpose and create financial and soul-aligned success.
Committed to a vision of global women’s empowerment, Karen is a Feminine Power Certified Transformational Coach and Art of Feminine Presence teacher. Sharing her life with her husband Jim and daughter Jaymie, presenting her message to other women, and traveling the world brings her the greatest joy.
When Lions Roar is Karen’s debut fictional work. She is freakish about Christmas lights and loves to play Baccarat. To book Karen for speaking, bookclub, or coaching opportunities contact her at [email protected]




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Violet Lemay was a stage designer, a university art professor, and an editorial illustrator before arriving at her dream job: writing and illustrating books for kids. Violet has illustrated forty-four books, six of which she also wrote. Clients include HarperCollins, Penguin Random House, Scholastic, duopress, ‘Magination Press, and Highlights. A native of St. Louis, Missouri, Violet and her family are expatriates who have lived in New Zealand, China, and Malaysia. If she’s not at her desk drawing, she’s probably outside feeding the birds, who think she is Snow White. :o)
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Sparky Of Bunker Hill And The Cold Kid Case, a Firebird Book Award 1st Place Cozy Mystery winner, Author Academy Top Ten Best Mystery Finalist, and a Critters Readers’ Poll top finisher, is my latest novel, a humorous noir mystery that’s fun for middle-grade, YA, and adult readers. 
Dozens of my short stories have appeared in webzines and print anthologies, including the popular Strangely Funny series, FAPA President’s Book Award Silver Medalist History And Mystery Oh My!, and Cern Zoo, British Fantasy Society nominee for best anthology.  TV Monster is my children’s picture book I wrote and illustrated.  My work has placed in numerous competitions, including the Writers Digest Screenplay Competition and Shriekfest Film Festival.
I am a member of Sisters in Crime, SCBWI: Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, IWOSC: Independent Writers of Southern California, and W&PN: Writers and Publishers Network.
Los Angeles is where I write.
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Tryn Rose Seley supports the lives of young children, those with special needs, and people living with Alzheimer's or other forms of dementia. All her projects and offerings are designed to empower caregivers and the one they care for, including her book, "15 Minutes of Fame: One Photo Does Wonders to Bring You Both Back to Solid Ground" and her expressive arts class, Mindful Art. She plays guitar and appreciates the beautiful world we live in through gardening, bird-watching, and photography.
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Pastor Phil Dvorak is the founder and president of Recovery Church Movement. He has served as a pastor, church planter, and as a ministry executive. However, his passion for those impacted by addiction is palpable.
He coauthored a 30-Day recovery guide with Dr. Paul Meier (founder of Meier Clinics) and Dr. Jared Pingleton (Vice President American Association of Christian Counselors). He is ordained by the Christian & Missionary Alliance and a licensed mental health counselor. Phil has personally served thousands of individuals. His treatment curriculums have been published and implemented by a number of treatment centers across the country.
He has a passion to see people recover from the disease of addiction and be a part of the solution to this crisis in our nation. He is a devoted husband, father, and servant leader. Phil and his wife Sara have five children. 
For more information about Recovery Church. Visit www.Recovery.Church
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ALSO $500 GRAND PRIZE WINNER
 

Nicholas L. Chiarkas was the Director of Wisconsin's State Public Defender Agency for 22-years. Under his leadership, the agency received several awards for excellence. He was the founder of Justice Without Borders, was an adjunct professor of law at the University of Wisconsin Law School, and a visiting lecturer in law at Justus-Liebig-Universität, Gießen, Germany.
Previously Dr. Chiarkas served as the Deputy Chief Counsel & Research Director to the President's Commission on Organized Crime; Professor of Law; Professor of Criminology; a New York City Police Officer; and a US Army Paratrooper (101st ABN DIV).
Dr. Chiarkas received Doctorate and Master's degrees from Columbia University, a law degree from Temple University, a Master's and Bachelor's degree from John Jay College; And was a Pickett Fellow at Harvard University.
Dr. Chiarkas worked with Israel in establishing its first National Public Defender Agency; with Japan as it introduced a public defender system, with the Department of Justice in examining indigent defense, including New Orleans after Katrina; with NLADA in assessing defense services in Michigan, and Ohio. He was on the planning team for USDOJ's 2010 Symposium on Indigent defense in the U. S., in 2012 Dr. Chiarkas developed the public defender protocols for Afghanistan. In 2013 & 2015, he examined Delaware's & Indiana's justice system for The Sixth Amendment Center.
Dr. Chiarkas' is the author of the award-winning novel "Weepers." The sequel, "Nunzio's Way," will be out in late June 2022. He has also received awards for his poetry. His other publications include law books, books about Criminal Organizations, and several articles. He is a Wisconsin Writers Association Board Member.
Dr. Chiarkas grew up in the Al Smith projects on Manhattan's Lower East Side, where "Weepers" takes place. When he was in the fourth grade, his mother was told by the principal of PS-1, "Nick was unlikely ever to complete high school, so you must steer him toward a simple and secure vocation."
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Patricia Leavy, Ph.D., is a best-selling, award-winning author, publisher, arts advocate, and internationally recognized leader in research design and arts-based research.
She is widely considered the world’s most visible proponent of arts-based research as a means of making research publicly accessible. Moreover, she coined the terms “social fiction” and “fiction-based research” and has been pioneering the world-wide effort to legitimate fiction as a research practice. A prolific author, Dr. Leavy has published over 40 books.
She has earned critical and commercial success in both nonfiction and fiction, and her work has been translated into numerous languages. Dr. Leavy’s works have garnered a slew of book awards including USA Best Book Awards, Independent Press Awards, International Impact Book Awards, National Indie Excellence Awards, International Book Awards, New York City Big Book Awards, and American Fiction Awards.
Recently, Celestial Bodies: The Tess Lee and Jack Miller Novels was the 2022 Firebird Awards first-place winner for Romance.
On the academic side, Dr. Leavy earned her Ph.D. in Sociology at Boston College in 2002. She was a tenured Associate Professor of Sociology at Stonehill College from 2002-2012 where she also served as Founding Director of the Gender Studies Program and the Chairperson of the Sociology & Criminology Department. Dr. Leavy previously taught at Boston College, Northeastern University, and Curry College. In 2012 Dr. Leavy left academia to focus her full-time efforts on her work as an author and public intellectual.
Dr. Leavy serves on the advisory board for the Arts and Humanities in Medicine Program at The University of Maine.
In addition to her own writing, Dr. Leavy is widely recognized for her pioneering work creating innovative publishing opportunities for other scholars and artists, through the ten book series for which she has served as creator and series editor over the course of her career for Oxford University Press, Guilford Press, and Brill/Sense. The Social Fictions series she created, for which she served as editor for 10 years, is the first and only academic book series to solely publish full-length literary works. The ground-breaking series received global attention, earned a national creativity award, and produced many award-winning and best-selling titles under Dr. Leavy’s tenure as editor and creative visionary. In 2021 she launched Paper Stars Press, her own publishing imprint.
A vocal advocate of public scholarship, Dr. Leavy has appeared on national news, radio, and is regularly quoted by the print and online news media (for example, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, USA Today). She is also routinely interviewed about her work by popular and scholarly media. She has blogged for The Huffington Post, The Creativity Post, We Are the Real Deal, and other outlets.
Dr. Leavy has received numerous career awards. In recognition of her significant contributions to the discipline of sociology The New England Sociological Association named Dr. Leavy the 2010 New England Sociologist of the Year. Dr. Leavy received a 2014 Special Achievement Award from the American Creativity Association which honors creativity and innovation in every field. The Special Achievement award recognizes her extraordinary work advancing arts-based research and the ground-breaking Social Fictions series. Arts-based scholars from all over the world, including many of the Social Fictions authors, sent in letters of support calling Dr. Leavy “a visionary” and the Social Fictions series “a watershed moment in the academy.”
In 2015 Dr. Leavy was announced as the youngest recipient of the Special Career Award given by the International Congress of Qualitative Inquiry. The award recognizes her entire body of work, and particularly honors her advancement of qualitative and arts-based research. In that same year Dr.

I am an International Speaker, Author, Consultant, and Facilitator with a focus on emotional intelligence, communication, and leadership development. I am an expert in enhancing personal effectiveness, understanding behaviour styles, developing inspirational leadership, and strengthening communication for maximum impact and influence.
I am a Master Practitioner of Genos International Emotional Intelligence Programs and certified in DISC ADVANCED® Behavioural Profile Systems and LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY™ Methodology. I am also the author of the Amazon #1 Best Selling book: "How to be a BADASS: Navigating Your Road to Self-Mastery."
I lead custom-designed programs and masterclasses for corporations with proven results in enhancing leadership, communication, culture shift, conflict resolution, and significantly improved workplace health and safety.
I am an award-winning thought leader and expert media commentator and have gained global recognition as a keynote presenter, facilitator, and MC. I speak frequently on the topics of self-mastery, emotional intelligence, nonverbal communication, resilience and wellbeing, and leadership development.
Outside of work, I am a competitive endurance runner and a student of Kyokushin karate.
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