from Charlottesville, Virginia

Until the age of ten, Bob Anderson was raised in Hawaii where he developed a fascination for rain forests.  He began drawing at the age of 4 and by the age of 6 had focused much of his attention on drawing rain forest fantasies. Today he continues to draw and paint but, now also writes stories which accompany his art work.  His first book, OBO, published by Hampton Roads Publishing Company, is about a young monkey searching for paradise in the African rain forest.  A second book, When I was a Little Boy, I was a Black Panther, based on a fantasy from his own childhood, is self-published and had a limited release in October, 2002.  His third book, Africa - A Little Rhino Coloring Book, was released 2005.  A fourth book, The Wedding, is set in India and is due out in 2009.  Many of the drawings in his books were either done on-location, or were based on sketches and photos he took in West Africa, Central America, and India. 

Each of Bob’s books is meant to teach as well as entertain. OBO includes a glossary of African wildlife at the back of the book and The Wedding will have a wildlife glossary and a map.  Africa - A Little Rhino Coloring Book includes factual information on each of the animals which appear in the book, including the current survival status.  A number of school systems have been using OBO as a support tool for the SOL’s.

In addition to the jungle drawings, Bob Anderson has worked as a cartoonist in Paris, France, he helped to illustrate a book on medical anatomy; he is a painter, a sculptor and a licensed architect (he has his own architectural business). 

Today Bob lives in Charlottesville, Virginia with his wife, Dominique and their dog Sammy.  They also have three grown-up children and two grandsons.

Bob will be signing copies of his new book, Africa - A Little Rhino Coloring Book, as well as OBO and When I Was a Little Boy I Was a  Black Panther, each of which will be available for sale.

                     from Charleston, South Carolina

Charles H. Banov, M. D., was born in Charleston, SC, and lived there most of his life, although he has traveled extensively and taught in numerous countries of the world.  He is a graduate of Emory University and the Medical University of SC in Charleston with his post-graduate training having been taken at Milwaukee County Hospital, Charity Hospital of New Orleans and Massachusetts General Hospital (Harvard Medical School).

                        from Waynesboro, Virginia

Deb Booth is a newly published author with her base in photography and digital art. Her first book is titled Floral Fables – How Flowers Came to Be.

The story’s focus is on Mother Nature as she creates flowers – roses, iris, daisies, tulips, amaryllis. But she saves the most important flower for last. You’ll be amazed at Mother’s Nature’s choice, and her poignant reasoning provides a warm lesson of strength and tenacity – with a joyful touch of whimsy. Full color photos in vibrant, mouth watering shades make the book a pleasure to read for young and old alike. Booth lives in Waynesboro, Virginia.

                    from High Point, North Carolina

Joanne Clarey grew up in Massachusetts and graduated from Colby College in Maine with a major in English Literature. She taught English in public schools and operated her own antique business until she earned her M.Ed. and Ed.D. in Counseling and Supervision. She taught Counseling and Women’s Studies at the University of Southern Maine and as a Licensed Professional Counselor provided psychotherapy services for almost two decades.     

Research articles on women’s development, newsletter columns, music lyrics and numerous other non-fiction writings preceded Clarey’s fiction writing. She is the author of seven books, three mysteries, two thrillers and two non-fiction training manuals. Her experience and research in the field of psychology provides rich material for the development of her characters’ motivation and behavior.

Clarey lives in North Carolina and New England. Her life is enriched by her partner, two children, her grandson, four siblings, wonderful friends and challenging and supportive authors and friends in her writers’ roundtable.

She can be reached at:
joannnejhc@aol.com
www.joanneclarey.com
 

                             from South Carolina

Joyce V. Coakley is a native of Mount Peasant in Charleston County, South Carolina.  One of Coakley’s objectives is to author a South Carolina supplemental history program of oral history for middle school students that explores the history, culture, and experiences of South Carolina Lowcountry residents from 1850 to 1954 based on documented narratives.  Her start in achieving the preservation of her local history is with the publication of Sweetgrass Baskets and the Gullah Tradition.

Coakley has completed studies at Charleston Southern University, the University of South Carolina, and The Citadel Military College.  She is continuing her studies in education administration at Madison University.

Community involvement is a big part of Coakley’s daily agenda.  Organizations Coakley is involved in include the East Cooper Senior Coalition, Director of Education Department, Co-leader of Women’s Ministry, Chief Grants Writer, Public Relations Coordinator, and Special Advisor to the Jewels to Jewels Campaign (a program to help the women in Rwanda) at God’s Way Healing and Worship Center in Mount Pleasant.

In addition to being a diversity consultant, writer, motivational speaker, and historian, Coakley is a skilled sweetgrass basket maker and is fluent in the Gullah language.  She also is President and co-founder of the Sweetgrass Cultural Arts Preservation Society, the owner and a designer for Sweetgrass Baskets by Design, and owner of Ferdy’s Fine Food.