The Penmen Profile: Journalist Mark Sundeen

by Rebecca LeBoeuf Journalist Mark Sundeen is on tour across the United States, promoting his newly published book, “The Unsettlers.” This work of nonfiction follows couples in search of simple, authentic lives in America. Sundeen published three other books, one of which won the 2015 Green Book Festival (“The Man…

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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: “The Star Side of Bird Hill” Author Naomi Jackson

by Rebecca LeBoeuf Dubbed a “Writer to Watch” by Publishers Weekly, Naomi Jackson had her first novel published last year. Since then, “The Star Side of Bird Hill” won the Late Night Library’s Debut-litzer prize and garnered praise from such notables as The New York Times, The New Yorker, Kirkus…

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The Penmen Profile: YA Sci-fi Author Ryan Dalton

by Rebecca LeBoeuf Ryan Dalton’s second book from the “Time Shift Trilogy” hits shelves in April, so there’s still time to read his debut novel and book one, “The Year of Lightning.” This young adult science fiction trilogy follows not-so-normal teenage twins as they encounter and solve mysteries and often…

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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: Historical Fiction Novelist Julia Franks

by Rebecca LeBoeuf Julia Franks’ first novel, “Over the Plain Houses,” published in May of 2016. This work of historical fiction focuses on the ideas of witchcraft and women’s independence, set in 1939 in North Carolina. The novel was chosen as the Spring 2016 Okra Pick from the Southern Independent…

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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: “Southern Gospel” Memoirist Mark Beaver

by Rebecca LeBoeuf “Suburban Gospel” draws upon high school teacher Mark Beaver’s religious background and what life was like for a teen coming of age in the ‘80s. The memoir debuted in early 2016 and has drawn positive response from Kirkus Reviews, Publishers Weekly and many of Beaver’s peers. The…

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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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