Carolina Writers Speak

S L Hollister aka Sherri Lupton Hollister is the author of 16 novels and several dozen short stories, novellas and essays. She dreamed of being a romance author but after raising six sons she decided she enjoyed killing people and blowing things up, but only in her books. 

She has been a member of several national and international writers groups and organizations. At the present, she is an active member of Triangle Association of Freelancers of North Carolina and Pamlico Writers Group, as well as The New Romance Café International Romance Writers.

She enjoys talking books, writing and murder. She lives in eastern North Carolina with the love of her life and is presently a town commissioner.

Celebrating books, writers, readers...and the stories that bring us together.

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I am a local poet living in New Bern - a transplant from my native Miami, Florida.  A scientist by trade, a poet by heart, an activist by conviction, and a yoga teacher by nature, I am passionate about communicating truth.  I've been on a years-long journey to complete my first collection of poems, and I am proud to share that my work (a full-length book of poetry) was picked up by award-winning publisher Finishing Line Press.  

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Thomas Kies, the Edgar nominated author of the critically acclaimed Geneva Chase Mystery Series, has worked for newspapers and magazines for 30 years, primarily in New York and New England.  Random Road, was given a starred review as well as named debut of the month in the Library Journal. Kirkus said Shadow Hill is "Sleek and engaging. If you miss Kinsey Millhone, you might give Geneva a whirl.” "Readers will hope to see a lot more of the down-to-earth Geneva…Sara Paretsky fans will find much to like.” ― Publishers Weekly

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W. Scott Jones is an American author of Southern multi-genre fiction, drawing heavily on his 30-year career as a public school history teacher, high school football coach, and athletic director. Born in Alapaha, Georgia, and raised near Sumter, South Carolina, the University of South Carolina alumnus weaves themes of history, sports, community tension, and redemption throughout his work. 

His latest release, End Road Work (2026): His latest release centering on a profound, generation-spanning conversation about Heaven between a dying elderly man and a young man on a journey.

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Meet Carol Baldwin, Author, Writing Teacher and Speaker. Carol is a multi award winning author. Her book Half Truths is the winner most recently of the prestigious NC AAUW Young People’s Literature Award! Carol is also part of the Monarch Educational Services. 

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Meet award winning, best selling author Joan Aubele. Author of The Dance and Hearts Ablaze. 

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Dale Austin launched his new book Putting Salt on a Bird's Tail.  This beautiful nostalgic collection of poetry is sure to resonate with everyone who gets a chance to experience it. 

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Lori Closter is a wife, mom, grammy, and lifelong writer and horse lover who is fulfilling her dream of giving people hope and faith through stories. A native New Yorker with degrees from Cornell (BA) and Temple Universities (MA), she served as writer/assistant producer on various projects, including an educational film series for National Geographic, and even spent a summer working for renowned producer Joseph E. Levine. Her short stories have been published in several places and her unpublished collection, Riding the Elephant, was a contest semi-finalist.

Lori’s Young Adult, faith-based novel Topping the Willow and its accompanying screenplay, BREAKING JOY, have also been multiply recognized, including IAN Book of the Year finalist and Kairos Prize finalist, respectively.  In 2025, everything came together for the movie to move forward: BREAKING JOY won Best Script at Purpose Fest in Indiana, where Lori connected with former CHOSEN producer Justen Overlander, who became her co-writer in streamlining and then producing the screenplay. With veteran “teen girl” movie producer Alexandra Boylan of The Boylan Sisters as director, the movie was just filmed on a beautiful estate in Columbus, Georgia, and is now in post-production.

Lori and her retired pastor husband now live in coastal NC, where they enjoy small boating and she is already working on the sequel—again, as both novel and screenplay! It’s so hard to pick just one…

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Hatfield 1677 author Laura Rader discusses her debut novel and what she is working on now. Laura’s debut historical fiction, Hatfield 1677, was published by Acorn Publishing, LLC
in 2024, winning several awards and reader and critical praise. Kirkus Reviews calls it & quot;a moving work, dramatically compelling and historically searching. An engrossing novel that challenges stale narratives of colonial America.” 
Laura is currently querying another historical novel based on the life of a Gilded Age composer, and her work in progress centers on multiple characters in Massachusetts on the eve of the Revolutionary War.
Laura was born in California where she taught English and history for many years. She retired and moved to North Carolina and now writes historical fiction full time. When not writing, she enjoys book clubs, researching genealogy, attending symphony performances, walking her dog, and spending time with family and friends.

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Carol Baldwin is a author passionate about all things literary: reading, writing, and teaching writing. I live in Charlotte, NC, am a team member of Write2Ignite, and am a volunteer publicist for Monarch Educational Services. Carol hs written for many local and national publications and presented at numerous writing and educational conferences. She has published two nonfiction books. Her debut YA historical novel, Half-Truths will come out in June 2025. As a SCBWI member for over twenty-five years, she is  committed to promoting great literature for children and young adults.

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