The Penmen Profile: Bestseller Robin Wasserman

by Rebecca LeBoeuf “Girls on Fire,” Robin Wasserman’s first adult novel, was named an NPR and a BuzzFeed Best Book of the Year in 2016. The book also received praise from the New York Times, the Associated Press, Booklist and Cosmopolitan, among many other positive reviews. A faculty member of…

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“Among Animals 2” Brings Humans and Animals Together

by Rebecca LeBoeuf “Among Animals 2” is the second anthology produced by Ashland Creek Press, depicting the relationship between humans and animals, both domestic and wild. Fifteen authors contributed to this 2016 collection, and The Penmen Review was lucky enough to talk to four of them about their stories. C.S….

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The Penmen Profile: “Knowing” Screenwriter Ryne Douglas Pearson

by Rebecca LeBoeuf Author and screenwriter Ryne Douglas Pearson may be best known for the 2009 film, “Knowing,” a sci-fi thriller featuring Nicholas Cage that hit number one in the international box office during its opening weekend. He first emerged in the world of screenwriting, however, with the film, “Mercury…

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The Penmen Profile: Children’s Book Author Cynthia Reeg

by Rebecca LeBoeuf Cynthia Reeg writes middle-grade fiction and educational children’s books. The first book in her “Monster or Die” trilogy, “From the Grave,” was published in October 2016. Reeg’s Pet Grammar Parade books use animals to teach children about different parts of speech. In addition to these books, the…

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The Penmen Profile: “Jerkbait” Author Mia Siegert

by Rebecca LeBoeuf Southern New Hampshire University professor Mia Siegert writes contemporary young adult, adult thriller and literary fiction in the form of short stories, articles, personal essays and now novels. Published May 2016, Siegert’s coming-of-age novel, “Jerkbait,” was identified as the top new release in Teen and Young Adult…

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The Penmen Profile: Award-winning Novelist James E. McTeer II

by Rebecca LeBoeuf School library media specialist James E. McTeer II’s life changed after he won the South Carolina First Novel Prize competition for his adventure novel, “Minnow.” This led to an opportunity to publish “Minnow” with independent publisher Hub City Press, who co-sponsored the competition with The South Carolina…

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The Penmen Profile: Short Fictionist Tony Press

by Rebecca LeBoeuf Short fiction writer Tony Press published a collection of stories, “Crossing the Lines: Stories by Tony Press,” earlier this year. In 2014, one of his stories was nominated for the Pushcart Prize. His story, “Funeral Season,” was published in 2015 in The Penmen Review. Press also writes…

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The Penmen Profile: Playwright and Fiction Author Kathy Anderson

by Rebecca LeBoeuf Fiction writer and playwright Kathy Anderson’s first short story collection, “Bull and Other Stories,” published earlier this year. The collection was chosen for publication as the result of winningthe 2015 Autumn House Press Fiction Prize. Anderson’s short stories, essays, poems and articles have also published in journals, magazines and anthologies….

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The Penmen Review: Multi-Genre Author John Dufresne

by Rebecca LeBoeuf John Dufresne is the author of novels, short stories, nonfiction, plays and chapbooks. He has also edited anthologies and worked with 12 other authors to write “Naked Came the Manatee,” a 1996 mystery novel. Primarily a fiction writer, Dufresne’ most recent work, “I Don’t Like Where this…

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The Penmen Profile: Journalist Turned Memoirist Nancy Nau Sullivan

by Rebecca LeBoeuf Nancy Nau Sullivan’s background as a journalist has proven beneficial throughout her career as a writer, but has provided some challenges as well—particularly in fiction and memoir, which don’t adhere to the concise rules of journalism. Her memoir, “The Last Cadillac: A Memoir,” published in April 2016. Sullivan’s short stories have appeared in…

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