JILL SHALVIS - Keynote Speaker

New York Times, USA Today, & Publisher’s Weekly bestselling author JILL SHALVIS lives in a small town in the Sierras full of quirky characters. Any resemblance to the quirky characters in her books is… mostly coincidental. Look for Jill's bestselling, award-winning books including her latest LOST AND FOUND SISTERS along with the HEARTBREAKER BAY series wherever romances are sold and visit her website for a complete book list and daily blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountains adventures.

RAEANNE THAYNE

RAEANNE THAYNE is a New York Times, Publishers Weekly and USA Today bestselling author of more than fifty books. Her books have won many honors, including six RITA® nominations from Romance Writers of America®, a RT Book Reviews career achievement award and the Colorado Romance Writers Award of Excellence. She has also been named a Romance Pioneer of 2016 from RT Book Reviews. Her stories have been described as “poignant and sweet,” with “beautiful, honest storytelling (that) goes straight to the heart.” She finds inspiration from the beautiful northern Utah mountains, where she lives with her family.

KELLI ANN MORGAN

KELLI ANN MORGAN recognized a passion for writing when she wrote and directly a play for her elementary school and since that time has devoted herself to creativity of all sorts. Today, she is a full time writer of western historical and contemporary romance as well as children's books, and she moonlights as a Creative Designer - creating book covers and more for other authors- and works as a photographer, jewelry designer, painter, and motivational speaker when time permits.

Kelli Ann's Redbourne family has woven a place in the hearts of her readers and her books can be found on over 100K reading devices world-wide. Her novels are on the sensual side of PG--without the graphic love scenes. She feels strongly that great romance novels are those that make you feel a spectrum of emotion, those that leave you wanting more, and it is her hope that every time you crack open one of her books, that you walk away inspired, uplifted, and wanting more..

ANNIE ADAMS

ANNIE ADAMS is the author of The Flower Shop Mystery series including THE FINAL ARRANGEMENT, DEADLY ARRANGEMENTS and A CHRISTMAS ARRANGEMENT. She is a contributor to the Happy Homicides, 13 cozy mystery novellas box sets.  She lives with her husband, two giant dogs, and too giant cat in Northern Utah at the foot of the Wasatch Mountains. When not writing she can be found arranging flowers or delivering them in her own Zombie Delivery Van. She's a member of Romance Writers of America, the Utah chapter (President, 2016) and the Kiss of Death chapter of RWA (KOD).  

MARY MARTINEZ

MARY MARTINEZ lives in Magna, a little town west of Salt Lake City, Utah. Together with her husband, she has six grown children, and six wonderful grandsons and five beautiful granddaughters. She loves to spend time with family and friends--she includes good books as friends!

Mary and her husband love to travel, especially to the Caribbean for relaxing, and Italy for the wine. And most recently she discovered she was Irish and Scottish, of course they had to visit Ireland and Scotland. Mary fell in love with both, but the green hills of Ireland felt like home. With the experience from the exotic places she has visited, she is able to fill her books with colorful descriptions of cities, painting a colorful backdrop for her characters. One of her favorite US destinations is New York/Brooklyn, where her beloved Beckett's live. When she visits, she can wander their neighborhoods, favorite parks, and visit their favorite pub, Putnum's. They are avid concert ‘Ho’s’! Yes, they pretty much want to do them all. They love outdoor amphitheaters the best and attend as many during the warmer months as possible.

Mary writes mostly romantic suspense, romance, women's fiction, and she has just begun to dabble in young adult mystery. She is a member of Romance Writers of America (RWA). During her writing career she has been a conference coordinator, workshop presenter, and chapter president for the Utah Chapter of RWA. In 2007 she was presented with the Utah RWA service award in acknowledgment and appreciation for outstanding service. Mary has also participated in numerous library panels on writing and co-presented a workshop on writing a series at the League of Utah Writers conference. Mary and her husband are also enthusiastic college football fans. They have season tickets to the UTES, University of Utah Football and they tailgate every game. They love tailgating so much, that they were married at a tailgating in 1999. GO UTES!

LISA BINGHAM

LISA BINGHAM was thirteen when she decided she wanted to be a published author, and she reached that goal less than ten years later. Now, Lisa is the bestselling author of more than thirty historical and contemporary romantic fiction novels. Lisa has also been a teacher and a professional theatrical and historical reenactment costume designer--she's considered an expert in both fields. She has been lucky enough to live and study in such exotic locales as Brazil, Mexico, Europe, and the United Kingdom. Currently she lives in rural northern Utah near her husband's fourth-generation family farm. She is married to her sweetheart of twenty-two years and has three beautiful children, an over-protective dog, a burr-laden cat, and a miniature goat who thinks she's a puppy.

JENNIFER BECKSTRAND

JENNIFER BECKSTRAND is the RITA-nominated, award-winning Amish romance author of The Matchmakers of Huckleberry Hill series and The Honeybee Sisters series for Kensington Books. She and her husband have been married for thirty-two years, and she has four daughters, two sons, and six adorable grandchildren, whom she spoils rotten.

TIFFINIE HELMER

Raised in Alaska, I spent many long, dark winters as a teenager escaping the forty below temperatures by penning romantic adventures. I attended the University of Alaska Fairbanks where I met a man who swept me off my mukluks and promptly married him. The 90's were spent playing mommy to four children, and on the glorious day my youngest entered kindergarten, I set up camp at the keyboard.

I write mystery/suspense (just can't  keep the bad guys out) and contemporary romance (for when I need to  lighten things up). When I'm not writing, I moonlight as a potter, love to race around with my top down on my convertible, and drink green tea Frappuccinos! 

Some of my favorite things are muscle cars, sun worshiping, kayaking, the arts, traveling, and Frappuccinos!

IRISH WINTERS

IRISH WINTERS is an award-winning author who dabbles in poetry, grandchildren, and rarely (as in extremely rarely) the kitchen. More prone to be outdoors than in, she grew up the quintessential tomboy on a farm in rural Wisconsin, spent her teenage years in the Pacific Northwest, but calls the Wasatch Mountains of Northern Utah home. For now.

The wife of one handsome husband and the mother of three perfect sons, Irish divides her time between writing at home and travelling the country with her man while - writing. (Seriously, what else?) She believes in making every day count for something and follows the wise admonition of her mother to, "Look out the window and see something!"

STANALEI FLETCHER

STANALEI FLETCHER's first writing award came from her high school creative writing class.
The award: A coupon redeemable for a future writing assignment.
The contest: The wildest excuse ever for not turning in a homework assignment.
Her story: UFO abduction.
Many of her stories fall into the romantic suspense genre and are filled with action-adventure woven through dangerous circumstances. But she also likes to dabble on the edge of sci-fi. She's even been fortunate to have her stories final in a few contests.

Stanalei's love of writing romance stems from reading favorites such as Grimm's Fairy Tales,  Barbara Cartland, and Alistair MacLean. She has over twenty years in the martial arts and holds the rank of Sandan, a third degree black belt, in Aikido. After a taste of life on both U.S. coasts, she now reside near the beautiful Wasatch Mountains with her hero, who just happens to be her best friend and husband. Together, they enjoy backcountry dirt trails on a RZR, visiting our National Parks, or exploring museums and ghost towns.

Stanalei is a member of the Romance Writers of America, the Utah Romance Writers
Chapter, and the Kiss of Death Chapter of Romance Writers.

JUDY BAKER

JUDY BAKER is an author of several historical western romances/suspense novels. She’s been
involved in many writing groups including National RWA, Utah RWA, and the Music City Romance writers of America in Nashville, Tennessee. She has presented a beginners writing class during the National RWA, Florida Conference, and taught classes for adult writers with the West Jordan Community Education District. Baker and author Mary Martinez present workshops
in Writing Series for conferences.

Baker grew up in Tennessee, but has lived much of her life in the west. Moving to Nevada to teach school, she was compelled to write the stories that filled her head. She now lives in Utah
with her husband, Brett and three furry kids, Stanley, a Lakeland terrier, Charlie Daniel, an
Airedale terrier, and, Bruce, an eighteen pound cat.

When not writing, she enjoys RVing with her family, stargazing through one of her many
telescopes, digging in her wildflower garden, and golfing, or just swinging on the patio while
plotting her next story.

She’s also an avid fan of coffee, tea and the ocean.

JOSI S. KILPACK

JOSI S. KILPACK has written twenty-five novels, a cookbook, and several novellas. She is a two-time Whitney Award Winner--"Sheep's Clothing" in 2007 and "Wedding Cake" in 2014--and was the Best of State winner for Fiction in 2012. She began writing historical romance in 2015. "Lord Fenton's Folly" is a finalist for the 2015 Whitney Awards in Romance. "Forever and Forever: The Courtship of Henry Longfellow and Fanny Appleton" will be released in spring 2016.

Josi and her husband, Lee, have four children and live in Northern Utah.

BECKY MONSON

By day, BECKY MONSON is a mother to three young children, and a wife. By night, she escapes with reading books and writing. An award-winning author, Becky uses humor and true-life experiences to bring her characters to life. She has written four novels and one novella. Her very first book - Thirty-Two Going on Spinster - is being made into a movie this fall! She loves all things chick-lit (movies, books, etc.), and wishes she had a British accent. She has recently given up Diet Coke for the fiftieth time and is hopeful this time will last... but it probably won't. 

JEN GREYSON

Badass women and the men who need them.

JENNIFER was first published by the international publishing house that launched the blockbuster, Fifty Shades of Grey. She has over 45 published books and her works have appeared on the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists. She currently writes and publishes under the pen name Jen Greyson in the genres of new adult, romance, and fantasy.

Her non-fiction credits include ghostwritten books for CEOs and entrepreneurs, an international speaker, and the heir to an automotive fortune.

She lives in Utah with her husband and two young sons and enjoys camping, boating, and anything with a beach.

KIRSTEN OSBOURNE

USA Today bestselling author KIRSTEN OSBOURNE knows how to write romance. Each book is an experience that transplants the reader, indulging them in decadence, intense emotion and sweeping love.
Hailing from the state of Wisconsin, she has lived in Texas for over thirty years as a mother, writer, and wife. Married to the love of her life for more than fifteen years, she knows that true love exists and shares that vision with the world.
She writes contemporary and historical romance as well and also ventures into the realm of paranormal romance. She invites you to join her in her world of fantasy, love, and make believe, no matter the location, where there is always a happily ever after at the end.

STEFANI WORTHEN

STEFANI WORTHEN, a lifelong reader and romance writer, studied Music at the University of Utah where she enjoyed classes in music, reading, composition, and folk dancing and endured classes in physics and math. Originally from Los Angeles, California, she and her husband now reside just outside of Salt Lake City, Utah. She enjoys music, genealogy, and handwork. She also loves visiting her six children and 24 grandchildren.  

JENNIFER PEEL

JENNIFER PEEL is the award-winning bestselling author of the Dating by Design and Women of Merryton series, as well as several other contemporary romances. Though she lives and breathes writing, her first love is her family. She is the mother of three amazing kiddos and has recently added the title of mother-in-law, with the addition of two terrific sons-in-law.  She’s been married to her best friend and partner in crime for a lot longer than seems possible. Some of her favorite things are late night talks, beach vacations, the mountains, pink bubble gum ice cream, tours of model homes, and Southern living. She can frequently be found with her laptop on, fingers typing away, indulging in chocolate milk, and writing out the stories that are constantly swirling through her head.

C.C. WILEY

Historical and contemporary romance author, C.C. WILEY, is a farm girl at heart and now lives in Utah. She tried the city life but soon discovered she likes wide-open spaces, rolling hills, fresh air, blue skies, and a little quiet. It just feels right. Growing up on a farm in Indiana she learned to escape the never-ending chores by slipping off to the barn or the fields and settle into a book that would take her away. Before long, she started creating her own stories to keep herself entertained. Eventually, adult responsibilities took over. She put her storytelling away for a while and kept the dream of becoming an author a secret.

Despite her eclectic tastes, when given a choice, she prefers a yummy, well-written, historical or contemporary romance that is chock-full of hope, love and a Happy Ever After. She believes there are wonderful courageous characters waiting for someone to tell their story. It's her hope that each adventurous romance she writes will touch the reader and carry them away to another place and time, where hopes and dreams abound.

JEANNE TAYLOR THOMAS

Writing has been a passion of mine since I was in my twenties and had growing children. I'd write here and there and then tuck it away, thinking 'someday I'll finish this.' I've written and published poetry and even placed seventh in a national contest for children's verse.

My children are grown now and have children of their own. It's time to live my dream. Give a child a book and you give wings to their imaginations.

AMELIA C. ADAMS

Amelia C. Adams (Tristi Pinkston) started writing sweet Western romances in 2015, and since that time, has published forty novellas in that genre. Having grown up in the west and being a student of history, it seemed like a natural fit. Her series include Kansas Crossroads, Nurses of New York, River's End Ranch, Mail Order Mounties, and Burnt River. She enjoys writing strong characters who definitely have their flaws, but who learn from their mistakes and maybe kiss a little along the way.
She lives in Idaho with her real-life hero and their four amazingly brilliant and talented children. As her alter ego, she has presented at writers conferences up and down the Wasatch Front, mentored countless authors, worked as a freelance editor, and ran her own publishing company. She greatly enjoys eating tacos, and she may or may not have a tiny little Netflix addiction. You can learn more about her at www.ameliacadams.com

ALYSIA S. KNIGHT

I grew up in a small town in Wyoming loving the outdoors, sports, art, and reading Hardy Boys books. After reading them all at least a half dozen times, I started writing my own stories.

I will be honest and say:  
I am the writer who hated English.  
I can't diagram a sentence to save me.  
I am a dreamer, storyteller and plotter.  
I'm a romantic, and love adventure.  
I enjoy being around people but could easily be a hermit; as long as I have something to write.
I am better expressing myself through writing and hope you enjoy what I write.

I am a storyteller. I write the classic hero story because I think there's a need for more heroes, love, and adventure in our lives. I'm not out to change the world with my writing; I'm just hoping to make your day a little better.

JENNIFER MOORE

JENNIFER MOORE is a passionate reader and writer of all things romance due to the need to balance the rest of her world that includes a perpetually traveling husband and four active sons, who create heaps of laundry that are anything but romantic. She suffers from an acute addiction to 18th and 19th century military history and literature. Jennifer has a B.A. in Linguistics from the University of Utah and is a Guitar Hero champion. She lives in northern Utah with her family, but most of the time wishes she was on board a frigate during the Age of Sail.

NANCY CAMPBELL   ALLEN

NANCY CAMPBELL ALLEN is the author of twelve novels, which span genres from contemporary romantic suspense to historical fiction. She has been a speaker at numerous writing conferences and events. She has a degree in Elementary Education and is the mother of three children.