Karen Allen, a retired certified clinical research professional, medical technologist and educator, lives in Birmingham, Alabama. She worked in the field of cancer research at the University of Alabama at Birmingham for 32 years co-authoring numerous articles in journals such as the International Journal of Cancer, Clinical Cancer Research, and the Journal of Immunotherapy. She and her husband, George Parker (Parky), were childhood sweethearts in their hometown of Sylacauga, Alabama.

The early years of their marriage were spent in Lake Charles, Louisiana but they later moved back to their native roots in Alabama. Although Karen and her husband do not have any children they are avid dog-lovers and enjoy the companionship of their rescued canines. Karen and two of her former pets became pet therapy teams visiting hospitals, nursing homes, and rehabilitation centers for a number of years. Karen also served as a hospice volunteer for 11 years developing lasting friendships along the way.

Aside from healthcare, writing, and mentoring other women, Karen enjoys using her musical talent as a singer and instrumentalist. She can be found on Sunday mornings on the organ bench at Meadow Brook Baptist in Birmingham, Alabama. Karen enjoys sharing her music, speaking, and writing to the glory of God. Her mission work has reached as far away as India, Moldova, Greece, and Honduras. Her best-selling, award-winning book has been translated into Burmese, Slovak, and Spanish. Her Ewe R Blessed Ministries (https://ewerblessed.com) that can be followed on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Karen did not pursue her interest in writing until after she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2003. Her walk through cancer brought new heights of faith. Friends encouraged her to write about her experiences to offer inspiration, hope, and faith-building to others going through the crisis of cancer as well as other chronic diseases. Karen hopes her Bible study "Confronting Cancer with Faith" will offer deeper spiritual support to patients, loved ones, caregivers, or anyone who has been touched by cancer.

Karen has had numerous other publications including magazine articles, devotionals, newspaper articles, and short stories. Visit her ministry website for a full listing of publications.

For further information and to schedule speaking engagements, go to www.confrontingcancerwithfaith.com. You may also contact Karen via email at Karen@ewerblessed.com.

Clover’s Wildflower Field Trip is filled with scientific facts and vocabulary words that support STEM standards for kindergarten through second grade. Becky collaborated with her biologist brother and teacher sister to write the colorful book as part of The Biology Bucket Series. Now, she’s working on Clover and Critters in the Creek.

As a devotional writer for Guideposts, Becky’s work appears in Pray a Word a Day, God’s Comforting Ways, In the Arms of Angels, and When God Makes Lemonade. Her story “Connected by Kindness” in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Miracles & Divine Intervention received first-place awards from Carolina Christian Writers Conference and Southern Christian Writers Conference.

Becky teaches for the International Guide Academy and leads tours to Washington, D.C., New York, Toronto, Niagara Falls, Charleston, Nashville, and other destinations. Before her travel adventures, she taught kids about Jesus for twenty-five years as a children's minister.

Say hi to Becky or order a copy of Clover’s Wildflower Field Trip at HappyChairBooks.com.

Gunnysack Hell, Nancy Brashear's (Ph.D.), psychological thriller, was released on Feb. 10, 2020, followed by her Gunnysack Hell short-story prequel with bonus UFO material, "Flashes from the Rock," in 2021. Intrigued by difficult issues in life, she had also published Ready or Not, A Creepy Retold Fairytale from Grownups (an adult Hansel and Gretel tale) in October 2020 and has plans for a Retold Fairytale for Grownup series with psychological twists and turns. She's been writing for most of her life beginning with her first poem (about sitting in the fog on a bench with magical creatures swirling around her) when she was eight years old. As an adult, she has published short stories and poems. Recently, she won first place in the Casa Romantica Cultural Center and Gardens 2020 First Annual Poetry Contest with a mermaid poem. Additionally, she has written articles and chapters for academic books, blog reviews for The International Literacy Association, and content for educational publishers. She is Professor Emeritus from Azusa Pacific University where she was the Chair of Teacher Education for more than a decade and also taught abroad in a Leadership Studies program in Zimbabwe and Kazakhstan before she moved to the English Department for the next decade. A retired k-12 public school teacher, she still teaches and mentors students as an adjunct at her university using her specialties in Teaching (k-graduates), English (all forms of literacy and language), and teaching students who speak English as a Second Language. She and her husband live at the beach in Southern California with their rescue dog, Goldie, and is encouraged by her grown children and seven young granddaughters. She finds inspiration for writing in her gazebo "office" with a perfect view of Catalina Island--and, of course, life.

Marilyn Turk's roots are in the coastal South, born and raised in Louisiana, now a Florida resident. An award-winning author, she calls herself a "literary archaeologist" because she loves to discover stories in history that her fictional characters can experience. A fascination for lighthouses spawned her popular weekly lighthouse blog @pathwayheart.com, and inspired her to write Lighthouse Devotions. She has published three World War II era historical suspense novels, one dual-time - Abigail's Secret, and the four-book Coastal Lights Legacy series set in the 1800's South, and has novellas in eight collections.

Alice H. Murray is an adoption attorney who has practiced law in Florida for over 30 years. While being a lawyer is her profession, Alice’s passion is writing. She served as a staff writer for adoption.com for three years and is a contributing author in Short and Sweet, Chicken Soup For The Soul books, and for the Northwest Florida Literary Review. Alice has had numerous devotions and articles published both in print and online. She serves as vice president for the Destin Word Weavers International Chapter.

Shelley Pierce calls the mountains of East Tennessee home, where she enjoys her work with children and their families. Her writing includes numerous Children's Bible study and worship curriculums through Lifeway Kids and devotions for The Upper Room, Power for Living, and numerous Short and Sweet collections.

Check out The Crumberry Chronicles series. Vol. one, The Wish I Wished Last Night (2018 Selah Award finalist), has gained a following of parents and preteens alike. Tackling the subject of bullying and difficult choices, Shelley gives kids real-life issues and practical help to resolve them. Don't forget the laughs, as one young reader reviewed--It made me LOL!

Vol. two, Battle Buddies (2019 Selah Award winner), answers the questions of friendship. Jase continues to get himself into trouble he didn't see coming but learns a lot as he figures out what to do next.

Vol. three, 624 Juniper Street, released in April 2020. Jase Freeman's adventures take him to his grandparent's Kentucky farm and the discovery of forgiveness.

Vol. four, Trouble in the Halls, released Oct. 2021. Young people will be able to relate to the struggles and challenges Jase faces when he is wrongly accused and seems to only make matters worse for himself.

Sweet Moments, Insight and Encouragement for the Pastor's Wife, released February 2019, and received the 2020 Selah Award in Christian Living.

Shelley has two picture books, I Know What Grandma Does While I'm Napping and High-Water Hattie.

Get Off the Struggle Bus is Shelley's first middle-grade non-fiction. Get Off the Struggle Bus helps kids and grown-ups too grow in their faith as they learn some of the names of God and how God communicates His care through those names,

Shelley is an In the Quiver contributor, a website committed to the strengthening of godly parenting.

You can connect with Shelley on her website, https://pierceshelley9.wixsite.com/mysite, on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/shelleyrpierce/ or contact her at pierceshelley@yahoo.com.