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Southport Literary Fair

Meet the Authors

Rachel Adler is a Chicago artist with a BFA in Cartooning from The School of Visual Arts. They illustrate monsters and whimsical images, inspired by 80s abstract art, drag culture, and plastic objects. Rachel has worked on comic books, zines, and storyboards for animations and music posters nationwide.
Meagan Ankney is a geologist, chemist, and Halloween enthusiast. In 2020, she co-founded the Spooky Science Sisters podcast with her sister-in-law, Paige Miller. Outside of podcasting, she enjoys cozy gaming, reading fantasy novels, and exploring Wisconsin with her family. "Spooky Science" is her debut book.
Skyla Arndt has always loved the creepy, crawly side of life. When she was younger, she thought that love might translate to hunting Bigfoot, but luckily for him, writing proved easier. Together We Rot is her debut novel.
Chandra Blumberg writes funny, heartwarming love stories with relatable characters. Originally from Michigan, she now lives in the Chicago area after earning her English degree from Michigan State University. In her free time, she enjoys weightlifting, baking with her four kids, and traveling with her family.
Ren Browne is a lifelong romantic, cowboy enthusiast, and rumored woodland spirit. When not reading or writing, she can be found spending time with her husband, who is the living embodiment of Ron Swanson, their two outdoor-loving children, their silly dog, and a growing flock of chickens.
Allison Buccola is the author of The Ascent and Catch Her When She Falls. She has a JD from the University of Chicago and lives in the Chicago suburbs with her husband and their two young children.
Lina Chern's debut mystery novel, Play the Fool, won the 2024 Mary Higgins Clark Award and was nominated for the Lefty and Anthony Awards. Her shorter works have appeared in various publications, including Mystery Weekly and The Bellingham Review. She lives in the Chicago area with her family.
Sally Collins released her debut novel, Muddled Cherries, inspired by her time in Wisconsin's restaurant industry. A semifinalist for the 2024 Wisconsin People & Ideas contest, her work has appeared in Barstow and Grand and Feels Blind Literary. She lives in Door County with her family and contributes to local publications.
Michelle Cox is an award-winning historical fiction author known for the Henrietta and Inspector Howard series. She writes the blog “Novel Notes of Local Lore” about Chicago’s forgotten residents. Based in the northern suburbs of Chicago, she enjoys board games, period dramas, big band music, and marmalade.
Hayley Gelfuso is an author and poet focused on the environment. She writes about nature, drawing on history and science. Her poetry appears in Plumwood Mountain Journal. Her debut novel, The Book of Lost Hours, is the August 2025 Good Morning America Book Club selection. She resides in the Chicago suburbs with her husband.
Meadoe Hora is a writer and working mom from Wisconsin, known for her teen books featuring strong female leads and mythology, including Ariadne’s Crown and the Furious Legacy series. Her work has appeared in Chicken Soup for the Soul and Sweatpants and Coffee. She lives with her family and their dogs, including two basset hounds and a black lab.
Zee Lacson has explored various professions: engineer, teacher, photographer, visual artist, and writer. A lifelong dreamer, she writes young adult magical realism fiction. Born and raised in Manila, she now lives in the northern suburbs of Chicago with her husband and twin sons, realizing her dream.
Mae Marvel is the pen name of coauthors Ruthie Knox and Annie Mare, known for their bestselling mystery and romance, often featuring sapphic themes. Their work has appeared in the New York Times and The New Yorker. Married, they live in Green Bay with their two teenagers, two dogs, two cats, and various pets in an old house with a garden.
Paige Miller is a chemist and safety professional, and an EHS graduate student. A lifelong Halloween fan, she co-hosts the Spooky Science Sisters podcast with her sister-in-law, Meagan Ankney. As a first-time coauthor of "Spooky Science," Paige writes from Wisconsin and enjoys the outdoors with her husband and dog.
TJ Morris grew up in Chicago with a love for the arts, starting her career at Columbia College. She became a Multimedia Artist for Medical Publications and, after 25 years in various genres, found her calling in writing. She will soon publish a sequel to Blood is Thicker Than Color.
Riley Preston inspires youth through messages of leadership, kindness, and perseverance. He shares his book and engages in classes discussing positive mindset, emotions, and resilience. Believing that making the world better starts with individual actions, he volunteers at food banks and promotes kindness through his experiences.
Lori Rader-Day is an award-winning author of Wreck Your Heart (January 2026) and other novels. She holds a master’s in creative nonfiction and an MFA in creative writing. Based in Chicago, she co-chairs the Midwest Mystery Conference and teaches at Northwestern University.
Eveline Rose discovered storytelling in high school. Now in the Chicago area with her cat, she writes romantic suspense featuring strong heroes and happy endings. A theatre enthusiast and self-defense instructor, she also volunteers in her community and is a member of the Chicago North Romance Writers Group.
Amy Leigh Sazama's memoir, Fleetwood Dreams: Climbing a Mountain After a Landslide, emphasizes hope and recovery. Living in Wisconsin with her family, she teaches yoga and works as a Group Exercise Coordinator. A UW-Whitewater graduate, she enjoys writing, exploring holistic practices, and watching documentaries.
Donovan Scherer is an author and illustrator known for his adventurous and humorous works. He started the Fear & Sunshine series in 2009 and has expanded into various media. In 2019, he opened Studio Moonfall in Kenosha, Wisconsin, an art studio and bookstore supporting local creators.
Steve Tindall, from Amboy, NY, served in the U.S. Navy and later moved to data networking, where he wrote articles and edited a morale-boosting newsletter. He retired on April Fools' Day in 2016 and now focuses on improving veterans' lives and educating others about military history.
Kristen Vale writes queer cozy fantasy romcoms filled with sweetness & spice. When not reading or writing, she can usually be found thrifting, playing D&D, or staring lovingly at trees. She lives in Chicago with her partner and her frenemy black cat, Opal. A Tale of Mirth & Magic is her first novel.
Christine (C.A.) Verstraete is a Wisconsin writer focused on monsters and mysteries. Her work has appeared in various anthologies and magazines, including I Just Died in Your Arms, Scare Street: Night Terrors, and A to Z of Horror. She is also the author of the Lizzie Borden, Zombie Hunter series.
Award-winning author Rod Vick writes mysteries and thrillers. When he's not writing or giving foot rubs to his wife Marsha, he runs half marathons, travels by train, and daydreams of self-mowing lawns. He lives in Wisconsin, where cheese is a religion and you're never far from something that might go "MOO."
Award-winning USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Brighton Walsh pens contemporary romances featuring strong-willed heroines and the protective heroes who fall head over heels for them. She lives along the shores of Lake Michigan with her high school sweetheart, their two boys, and her dog who thinks she's a queen.
Desireé T. Young is a Wisconsin author and publisher with seven books since 2020, including fantasy and writing workbooks. She founded King’s Glory Publishing House to help writers incorporate Kingdom values. Her portal fantasy series appeals to young adults who enjoy Eragon and The Chronicles of Narnia.

Author Schedule

AUTHORS ALLEY

11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Authors will be available throughout the day for meet and greets and signings! Note that authors will be unavailable while they are participating in a panel discussion and during a 30-minute break for lunch.

STORYTIME ROOM PANELS

9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
How early literacy practices get kids ready for more than just reading

Learn how simple daily practices lay the foundation for learning to read and how those same practices can be applied to all areas of learning. Wisconsin Registry credit available to early childhood educators

10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Reading aloud with kids

Pro tips on reading aloud with kids to maximize early literacy skill development and FUN! Get the inside scoop on KPL staff favorites and new book recommendations from Blue House Books. Wisconsin Registry credit available to early childhood educators.

ACTIVITY ROOM PANELS

12:00 - 12:45 PM
Gaslighting 101: Planning the Perfect Plot Twist

Join mystery and thriller authors Allison Buccola, Lina Chern, Michelle Cox, and Lori Rader- Day as they discuss how they plot their mysterious to leave their readers guessing until the very end.

1:00 - 1:45 PM
Building Tension: Slow vs. Fast Burn Romance

Romance authors Kristen Vale, Chandra Blumberg, Mae Marvel, Ren Browne, and Eveline Rose will talk through how they develop their characters and stories, and why they choose to rush the romance, or leave their readers pining for more!

2:00 - 2:45 PM
H-O-T-TBR ♫♬

Five! Six! Seven! Eight! How many of these hot new books will you add to your TBR? Come to hear YOUR favorite KPL book experts talk about the h-o-t-t-e-s-t new books that have us snapping, clapping, and touching our toes with excitement!

3:00 - 3:45 PM
World & Character Building: How Authors Create their Universe

Fantasy authors Hayley Gelfus, Nghi Vo, Skyla Arndt, and Meadoe Hora will discuss how they build their magical worlds, and the research that goes into developing paranormal content.

STORYTIMES

All storytime sessions will include a reading that lasts about 30 minutes!

12:30 - 1:00 PM
Riley Preston, author of Kindness... Pass It On

1:30 - 2:00 PM
Rachel Adler, author of Tiger Tuffy and the Awesome Birthday Bike

Vendors & Snacks

Fun and Whimsical Gifts for Book Lovers Including Art and Jewelry.

Original Storybooks, Activity Books, Coloring Books, Crayon Holders, Tote Bags and "Magic" Wands.

Hot Coffee, Chai, Iced Lattes, Bags of Coffee Beans, & Bakery Items! Plant Milk Options Available.

Hand embroidered patches, Polish paper star ornaments, mixed media bookmarks, linocut prints, and more!

Pick Your Clothing Item, Pick a Bookish Logo, and Watch Them Make Your New Gear Right There on the Spot!

Handmade book sleeves, book covers, and pen pocket bookmarks

Custom & Pre- Made Fabric Book Sleeves, E-reader Sleeves, Fabric Bookmarks, and Other Bookish Accessories.

Cotton candy, homemade chocolate turtles, pretzel rods, and popcorn: Caramel, cheddar, and seasonal flavors pumpkin spice pecan caramel corn and apple spice walnut caramel corn.

Other Activities

AUTHOR SCAVENGER HUNT

11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Learn about all of our visiting authors by participating in our scavenger hunt! Find the author that matches each clue, and anyone who completes the hunt will be entered to win a huge prize basket of books and goodies!

BLUE HOUSE BOOKMOBILE

11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Shop the bestselling titles and staff picks from your local indie bookstore at our Bookmobile!

FROM INK TO INK

12:00 - 3:00 PM
Show us your tattoo, tell us the story, and we'll match you with a book that fits. A lively way to connect your body art with literary art!

ONCE UPON A PUTT

2:30 PM
Tee off on a playful mini golf adventure featuring holes themed after beloved stories and characters in the Storytime Room!

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