2019 All-Iowa Writers' Conference Presenters
Tracey Garvis Graves is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling author of contemporary fiction. Her debut novel, On the Island, spent 9 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, has been translated into thirty-one languages, and is in development with MGM and Temple Hill Productions for a feature film. She is also the author of Uncharted, Covet, Every Time I Think of You, Cherish, Heart-Shaped Hack, White-Hot Hack, and The Girl He Used to Know. She is hard at work on her next book. Tracey loves to interact with her readers and can be found on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Cheryl Mullenbach - My experiences as a social studies educator, public television content developer, and social studies consultant gave me a solid background in education foundations. Parents from the greatest generation instilled a love of the past and inspired me. A love of history evolved throughout my childhood and adulthood, and today I search for stories about people and events from the past to include in my books—focusing on previously overlooked stories. My books have been recognized by the National Council for Social Studies, American Library Association, and International Literacy Association. C-SPAN's "Book TV" featured my talk at the FDR Presidential Library and Museum.
In addition to writing the Sugar and Spice series for Kensington Books, Mary Lee Ashford is also half of the writing team of Sparkle Abbey, who have authored the national bestselling Pampered Pets mystery series from Bell Bridge Books. Prior to publishing, Mary Lee won first place in the Daphne du Maurier contest, sponsored by the Kiss of Death chapter of RWA, and was a finalist in Murder in the Grove’s mystery contest, as well as Killer Nashville’s Claymore Dagger contest. She is the founding president of Sisters in Crime – Iowa and a current board member of the Mystery Writers of America Midwest chapter, as well as a member of Novelists, Inc., Romance Writers of America, Kiss of Death the RWA Mystery Suspense chapter, Sisters in Crime, and the SinC internet group Guppies. She loves encouraging other writers and is a frequent presenter for writers’ groups. Mary Lee has a passionate interest in creativity and teaches a university level course in Creative Management to MPA candidates, as well as presenting workshops and blogging about creativity. She currently resides in the Midwest with her husband, Tim. Her delights are reading and enjoying her two sons and daughter-in-laws, and six grandchildren.
As a teen, Marci Bolden skipped over young adult books and jumped right into reading romance novels. She never left.Marci lives in the Midwest with her husband, two teenaged kiddos, and numerous rescue pets. If she had an ounce of will power, Marci would embrace healthy living but until cupcakes and wine are no longer available at the local grocery store, she’ll put that ambition on hold and appease her guilt by reading self-help books and promising to join a gym “soon.”
M.L. Williams is an award-winning ex-journalist. He retired after 39 years of battling deadlines to venture into the world of science fiction.Williams lives in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He spend his time reading, writing and enjoying his role as Grandpa. His novels include Seers of Verde: The Legend Fulfilled and Return of the Earthers.