Caren Johnson Literary Agency Authors
Bisi Adjapon
Bisi is currently on sabbatical from the U.S. Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) where she has worked on capacity building for West African Women in Science, a project endorsed by the Nobel Prize Laureate, Norman E. Borlaug. She was the winner of the 2004 USDA/ FAS Civil Rights Award and Strategic Objective Award. She has written for numerous journals and newspapers, and has translated books for Macmillan Publishers. Her Young Shakespeare Company has been featured in the Washington Times. Daughter of Ghana, Bisi’s coming-of-age memoir, will be published in Ghana (details to come) in late 2010.
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Emily Adler
Emily was born and raised in New York City. At Columbia Prep High School, she wrote and directed her first play, Surprise!. She is a graduate of Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota and has a Masters in Theater from Hunter College, where she studied with playwright Tina Howe. After Hunter, she studied playwriting with Stuart Spencer at The Ensemble Studio Theater, as well as improvisation with Scott Eck and scene study with Joan MacIntosh. Her many jobs while playwriting include: waitress, video store clerk, kosher bakery clerk, conference organizer, production assistant, preschool teacher, and ESL teacher. Her plays to date include: The Frog in the Flipper, Spiritual Playboy, and Andromeda Speaks. She is also the artistic director of a peer education theater group at a college in New Jersey and co-founder, along with Michael Joseph Smith, of Mixed Blessings Theater Company - which produced John Patrick Shanley’s Four Dogs and a Bone at the Red Room. Her first book, Sweet 15, is coming out in Summer 2009 from Marshall Cavendish Books .
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Karen Anders
Karen has received numerous honors such as the HOLT (Honoring Outstanding Literary Talent) Medallion for her first book, Jennifer’s Outlaw, made Waldenbooks bestseller list twice in 2003, was nominated for a Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice Award in 2004 and was also a double finalist in the National Reader’s Choice Award in 2005. Her website is located here . Her new book, Going Ballistic, will be coming out from Harlequin in 2009.
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Catalina Alvira
Catalina Alvira’s writing cuts across multiple genres — from power-girl action-adventure to literary erotica to social satire. Her fiction has won several fellowships from prestigious writing residencies and organizations, including the Vermont Studio Center, Anderson Center at Tower View, Atlantic Center for the Arts, Summer Literary Seminars in St. Petersburg, Russia and the Illinois Arts Council. She is also the owner and founder of Agent Query, a popular writers’ resource, which currently receives over 2,500 unique visitors per day and over a million hits per month. Visit her website here.
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Carrie Anton
Today, Carrie’s doing double duty as she further pursues her freelance-writing dreams while also working as an editor for American Girl where she creates games, activities, and story copy for the girls’ entertainment sites, as well as instructional and marketing copy for parents. On the side, she’s had articles published in multiple publications including Maximum Fitness, Madison Magazine, Inside Wisconsin Sports, and eGrad.com. She’s also written a number of articles and materials for Concentre Communications, CUNA and Affiliates, Magna Publications, Inc., Planet Newsletter, and Sentry Insurance. Visit her website here .
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Terri Clark
Terri received a B.A. in Psychology at the University of Northern Colorado, and she currently works as a Teen Patron Services Specialist Her first book, Sleepless , hits stores in September 2008 and her novella, Don’t Mind Me is in the anthology Breaking Up is Hard to Do , out in May 2008. Visit her website here and her blog here .
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Ralph DiGennaro
The former Men’s Style Editor at the New York Times Magazine and Fashion News Editor at Gentlemen’s Quarterly, Ralph (known mostly as Ron) DiGennaro is one of the preeminent voices in men’s fashion journalism. A graduate of the University of Florida School of Journalism, his writing and styling has also appeared in Esquire, The New Yorker, New York Newsday, Departures, Business Week, Robb Report, Cigar Aficionado and a host of other national magazines. Ron is also a member of the American Society of Journalists & Authors (ASJA) and the Italian American Writers Association (IAWA) and writes for a number of magazines on wine, travel, music and food. He is a co-author of the book, Brioni: Fifty Years of Style (Octavo 1995). In 1979 he was the inaugural recipient of the Neckwear Association of America (NAA) Journalism Award for “Excellence in Fashion Reporting.” In 1991 the NAA honored him with a Lifetime Achievement Award.
A contributing editor to Trader Monthly, Dealmaker and Golf Connoisseur, Ralph lives and writes from his home on the north shore of Long Island near the north fork wine country. When he is not writing, listening to contemporary folk music or managing his poet daughter’s publishing, Ron spends his time picking and strumming his Martin guitar, a glass of Long Island Cabernet Sauvignon or Carneros Pinot Noir never far from reach.
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Jennifer Echols
Jennifer Echols writes YA fiction for Simon Pulse ( Major Crush , July 2006; The Boys Next Door , July 2007) and MTV Books (Boy In Blue, Summer 2009). Major Crush won the Reader’s Choice Award , sponsored by the Oklahoma Romance Writers of America . She runs the Simon Pulse Romantic Comedies and MTV book blogs. To read more about her books, check out her website here.
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Anna J. Evans
Anna’s first erotic romance hit the virtual shelves in 2005. It featured fiercely passionate characters and plenty of hot, steamy romance. Since then she’s written over twelve additional novels and novellas, the latest of which is “Deep Cover”, a BDSM Urban Fantasy set in the near future. Check out her website to find out more about her available titles and to learn where to purchase her books. Anna also writes under the name Annaliese Evans, with her sexy, historical urban fantasy series, “Night’s Rose” (Tor Books) hitting shelves in February 2009.
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Annaliese Evans
Annaliese Evans is thrilled to be writing historical urban fantasy. Her “Night’s Rose” series (Tor/Forge) is set in the 18th century and features the real Sleeping Beauty, ogre slayer Rosemarie Edenburg. The first book, “Night’s Rose” will debut in February of 2009. “Night’s Rose”, “The Prince of Frogs”, and “Cold as Snow, Red as Fire” follow Rose as she uncovers the truth about her past while navigating the tumultuous world of supernatural politics and the even more chaotic world of romance with two magnetic men. Find out more about Annaliese and the series here . Annaliese also writes erotic romance as Anna J. Evans for Ellora’s Cave and Samhain Publishing.
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Jennifer Natalya Fink
Jennifer Fink is a writer, children’s bookmaker, teacher, hell-raiser, English professor, and critically acclaimed novelist. Her debut novel, Burn (Suspect Thoughts, 2003) has been called “a modern Lolita…a literary classic” and was nominated for the National Jewish Book Award. Her follow up novel, V , (She Devil Press, 2007) was praised for its lyrical prose, vivid imagery, and brilliantly drawn characters. A seasoned teacher and public speaker, she has taught teen and adult creative writing classes at New York University, SUNY-Purchase, Gotham Writers’ Workshops, and the 92nd Street Y/Makor. She received her doctorate from New York University, and is currently an Assistant Professor of English at Georgetown University.
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L. Faye Hughes
Faye has written several romance novels for Bantam’s Loveswept line ( Can’t Fight the Feeling , March 1995; Gotta Have it, August 1995; Wild at Heart, January 1996; Licensed to Sin, August 1996; Afterglow, August 1997). She is now branching out into mysteries. You can find her website here . She also writes non-fiction with Christie Craig. The Everything Guide to Writing a Romance Novel (Adams Media) will be released in September, 2008. They’ve recently sold a fun-filled relationships/self-help on how to love like you’re in a romance novel.
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Stacey Jay
Stacey Jay never outgrew her love of Young Adult books or campy zombie horror films. Luckily she’s managed to indulge both her loves in her first YA book, “You are So Undead to Me”. The tale of Megan Berry, teenage zombie Settler, will be a Spring 2009 release from Penguin’s Razorbill division. You can learn more about Stacey and the rabid, feeding-frenzied undead here .
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Stephanie Kuehnert
Stephanie received her MFA from Columbia College in Chicago. Stephanie’s short stories have been published in Hair Trigger, f6 magazine and on inkstains.org. “Fairytale,” an excerpt from her novel that appeared in Hair Trigger 27 was recently award Third Place in Traditional Fiction by the Columbia University Scholastic Press Association. Stephanie’s interviews and essays have appeared on Virginia Quarterly Review’s website, in Glimmer Train’s Writer’s Ask, and on freshyarn.com. Her ‘zine was featured in the Zine scene by Francesca Lia Block and Hillary Carlip. Stephanie’s website is currently located here . Her first book, I Wanna Be Your Joey Ramone , is due out July of 2008 from MTV Books.
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Michael Leifman
Michael Leifman is a successful freelance photographer/graphic designer whose work has appeared in several urban lifestyle publications such as Mass Appeal, Fader, Vice, Complex, and Ego Trip. He is a graduate of Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY and holds a BFA in Communication Arts. He co-founded the urban culture magazine Mass Appeal Magazine, acting as Art Director and Managing Editor for three years. Mass Appeal initially began as a graffiti magazine, whose focus later shifted toward fashion, music, art, and culture. He also designed t-shirt designs for a clothing company called PNB Nation. Michael is currently studying to become a Certified Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counselor (CASAC). He attends Hunter College, working towards his Masters in Rehabilitation Counseling. He hopes to marry his art with his studies; by incorporating people, graffiti, and advertising, the bodega becomes a product of the community and the best way to show this is pictorially.
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Carrie Lofty
Carrie received her bachelor’s degree from Bowling Green State University in Ohio, and spent a semester abroad at the University of East Anglia in Norwitch as an exchange student. One of her short stories, “ Sundial ,” won first place in the Vintage (1950s-60s) category of The Wild Rose Press’s “Through the Garden Gate” contest. Her first historical romance, What a Scoundrel Wants , will be published in December 2008, and she is currently working on a second, untitled work. You can learn more about Carrie at her website .
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Kathleen Long
Kathleen has been writing since 2005, with her first book, Get Bunny Love (March 2005), released by Kensington. Since then she has written a whopping 12 more books, dividing her time between creating fun romantic comedies, including Cherry On Top (November 2005) and exciting suspense novels including Positive ID (April 2008), High Society Sabotage (June 2007), and Reluctant Witness (March 2007), all published by Harlequin Books. In addition, she is currently working on Cold Case Connection (coming May 2008), and Undercover Commitment (coming June 2008). To read more about her books, check out her website .
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Lee Roland
Lee Roland writes dark, contemporary fantasies where strong, defiant women and men battle evil. Her characters are passionate in love, savage in hatred, and defy conventional mores as they pursue justice. Her short stories have won numerous writing contests, including the Valley of the Sun RWA Hot Prospects Contest, the Washington Romance Writers contest, the Valley Forge Romance Writers contest, and the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers contest. Her website can be found here , and her most recent short story, Blue Moon and the Warrior, can be found in the Highland Press anthology, Blue Moon Magic .
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A. E. Roman
Alex began his writing career as a playwright, when his plays Everybody Does and Unfinished Moon were produced and staged at the American Theater of Actors. Alex also directed Aven’U Boys by Frank Pugliese at the Irish Rep. He has read his poetry at the Nuyorican Poet’s Café, Dixon Place, The Cooper Hewitt Museum, and the John Coltrane Society. He was recently published in the magazine A Gathering of the Tribes. His forays into film include writing, shooting, directing, and editing the short Going Outside. His debut mystery, Chinatown Angel, is out in fall 2009, followed by the sequel, Wrestling with the Superman, in fall 2010. Visit his blog here .
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Kelly St. John
Kelly began her writing career as a senior writer at NASA, penning top secret documents and manuals for training purposes. This fueled her long held desire to write, especially fiction, especially romance, though the tone ranges from super sexy romantic comedies to heart pounding suspense novels. Her debut novel, published by Warner in November 2005, called Good Girls Don’t, is a comedy about the second chances we get at love. Kelley generated extensive publicity including an interview with Serena Altschul on the CBS Early Morning Show, an interview in conjunction with Jennifer Crusie and Nora Roberts in PW magazine, and an interview in the 2007 Writer’s Digest Novel and Short Story Writer’s Market as a new voice to look for. Her website www.kelleysbooks.com has had close to a million hits. Good Girls Don’t is also available through Doubleday and Rhapsody book clubs; Rhapsody Book Club chose Good Girl’s Don’t as a top pick. Her other books include Real Women Don’t Wear Size 2 , To Catch A Cheat (Nov. 2007) and The Trouble with Men(February 2009). Her website is located here .
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Kelsey Timmerman
Kelsey Timmerman is a freelance journalist and scuba instructor living with his wife in Muncie, Indiana. He travels regularly, maintaining a website and travel blog called Travelin’ Light which gets 5,000 page views per month. Kelsey’s writing has appeared in the Christian Science Monitor, Indianapolis Star, Raleigh News & Observer, Arlington Heights Daily Herald. He is currently writing a monthly outdoor column for the Dayton City Paper; he’s also written for Transitions Abroad, Endurance, and, Glucose magazines. His writing primarily focuses on travel, the outdoors, adventure, and what it means to be a Touron (moron + tourist) in worlds of clashing cultures. His first book, Where Am I Wearing? is due out in November 2008 from Wiley.
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Marlene Wagman-Geller
Marlene Wagman-Geller is a high school English teacher. She holds a BA in English from York University and a BA in education from University of Toronto. Her first book, Once Again to Zelda , a book that tells the tales behind the dedications of some of the most iconic book—think Jane Eyre, The Brother’s Karamozov and Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone—hits stores in November 2008.
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Elisabeth Wilhelm
Elisabeth Wilhelm is a writing major at Pratt Institute, freelance writer, international youth activist, web designer, and amateur belly dancer. When she isn’t working with incarcerated teen writers or running young authors’ conferences, Elisabeth runs Absynthe Muse , the award-winning international young adult writing community she founded in early 2005. Absynthe Muse won second place in the creativity and e-culture category at the World Summit Youth Award at the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), was recognized as one of the Best 101 Websites for Writers in 2006 by Writers’ Digest, and has formed a partnership with Kiwibox.com, an online teen magazine with 1.8 million members, to supply fiction pieces by AM members for the Kiwibox eXpressions section. Absynthe Muse is also the birthplace of the Little Owl Mentoring Program, which Elisabeth co-runs with Hope Clark, editor of FundsforWriters.com. To date, Little Owl has matched over 250 young writers to adult writers online for free.