Catherine Adel West was born and raised in Chicago, IL where she currently resides. She graduated with both her Bachelors and Masters of Science in Journalism from the University of Illinois, Urbana. Catherine counts Oscar Wilde, Octavia Butler, Nikki Giovanni, and James Baldwin among her many literary heroes. Her work is published in Black Fox, Five2One, Better than Starbucks, Doors Ajar, 805 Lit + Art, The Helix Magazine, and Lunch Ticket. In between writing and traveling, Catherine works as an editor.
Learn more about SAVING RUBY KING at Harlequin
Learn more about SAVING RUBY KING at Harlequin
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“Catherine Adel West's stunning debut novel explores the dark and cobwebbed corners that lurk in the history of two families. These long-buried secrets both bind and separate them through several generations, as they struggle to rise above this tangled web of mistakes, misplaced loyalty and violence that haunt them. Through the eyes of the Calvary Hope Christian Church, set in Chicago's South Side, we witness the strength of community, the on-going struggle of racial divide and the sad reality of neighbors who turn a blind eye to a crisis unfolding in the house next door. The bonds of sisterhood hold true through several generations of women who fight to save themselves from the reality of their lives and ultimately break free of their past. The murder of Ruby King's mother is the catalyst that forces the past to the surface and holds the key to forgiveness, hope, understanding and the possibility of a new beginning.”
– Maxwell Gregory, Lake Forest Book Store |
M Shelly Conner's historical fiction EVERYMAN is forthcoming from Black Stone Publishing (Winter 2021)
M Shelly Conner, PhD, is a multi-genre writer and an assistant professor of creative writing at the University of Central Arkansas. Her work has been published, produced and/or screened at: Second City Chicago, Outfest, Playboy Magazine, AfterEllen, The Root, and several print anthologies. Shelly is the creator of Quare Life Web Series and the dapper queer culture website.
Martin Padgett's nonfiction debut MIDNIGHT AT THE OASIS: A DECADE OF DRAG, DRUGS, AND DISCO AT THE SWEET GUM HEAD is forthcoming from Norton (Fall 2021)
Martin Padgett was born in Washington, D.C., and lived in Detroit, Birmingham, and Bangkok before he settled in Atlanta. He has written books, essays, features, product reviews, and news for 30 years. He has written about single mothers in pursuit of sole custody, the prison labor that trains wild horses for adoption, the novel legal defenses of Atlanta strip clubs, the best dive bars in the French Quarter (RIP Flanagan’s), and the economic effects of self-driving cars. By day, Padgett is the editorial director for Internet Brands Automotive, where he runs the daily news operations for some of the leading car review and research web sites, including The Car Connection, Motor Authority, and Green Car Reports. In 2018 he earned his MFA in narrative nonfiction writing from the University of Georgia’s Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication; in 2019, he was named a Lambda Literary fellow. Padgett lives in Atlanta and Pensacola Beach with his husband, three cats, and an overflowing file of future story ideas.
Martin Padgett was born in Washington, D.C., and lived in Detroit, Birmingham, and Bangkok before he settled in Atlanta. He has written books, essays, features, product reviews, and news for 30 years. He has written about single mothers in pursuit of sole custody, the prison labor that trains wild horses for adoption, the novel legal defenses of Atlanta strip clubs, the best dive bars in the French Quarter (RIP Flanagan’s), and the economic effects of self-driving cars. By day, Padgett is the editorial director for Internet Brands Automotive, where he runs the daily news operations for some of the leading car review and research web sites, including The Car Connection, Motor Authority, and Green Car Reports. In 2018 he earned his MFA in narrative nonfiction writing from the University of Georgia’s Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication; in 2019, he was named a Lambda Literary fellow. Padgett lives in Atlanta and Pensacola Beach with his husband, three cats, and an overflowing file of future story ideas.
MIMOSA is an upcoming graphic novel published by Surely Books (Abrams) about four 30-something Minneapolis friends who learn that showing up for each other is often the bare minimum of what it means to be a chosen family and that sometimes growing up means growing apart.
Archie Bongiovanni is a cartoonist and illustrator living in Minneapolis. Their graphic novel, A Quick And Easy Guide To They/Them Pronouns was published with Limerence Press/Oni Press and has been praised by School Library Journal, Publishers Weekly and was one of YALSA's Great Graphic Novels For Teens. Their newest graphic novel, Grease Bats was released by BOOM! Studios. Archie has been featured on Autostraddle, The Nib, Vice and The New Yorker.
Archie Bongiovanni is a cartoonist and illustrator living in Minneapolis. Their graphic novel, A Quick And Easy Guide To They/Them Pronouns was published with Limerence Press/Oni Press and has been praised by School Library Journal, Publishers Weekly and was one of YALSA's Great Graphic Novels For Teens. Their newest graphic novel, Grease Bats was released by BOOM! Studios. Archie has been featured on Autostraddle, The Nib, Vice and The New Yorker.
Cody T Luff's debut horror novel RATION just released from Apex Book Company
Cody T Luff is a native of Montana who managed to escape and is now hiding out in Oregon. He has won several awards including Fiction Winner of the Montana Book Festival’s Regional Emerging Writer’s Contest 2016, finalist for the Prime Number Magazine Award for Short Fiction, the CutBank chapbook contest, the Iron Horse Literary Review Single-Author Issue Competition, and honorable mention for the Bear Deluxe Magazine Doug Fir Fiction Award. He has an MFA in Creative Writing from Goddard College, and his stories have appeared in Pilgrimage, Cirque, KYSO Flash, and other publications. His story “Horticulture" was a notable story for the 2014 storySouth Million Writers Award.
Cody T Luff is a native of Montana who managed to escape and is now hiding out in Oregon. He has won several awards including Fiction Winner of the Montana Book Festival’s Regional Emerging Writer’s Contest 2016, finalist for the Prime Number Magazine Award for Short Fiction, the CutBank chapbook contest, the Iron Horse Literary Review Single-Author Issue Competition, and honorable mention for the Bear Deluxe Magazine Doug Fir Fiction Award. He has an MFA in Creative Writing from Goddard College, and his stories have appeared in Pilgrimage, Cirque, KYSO Flash, and other publications. His story “Horticulture" was a notable story for the 2014 storySouth Million Writers Award.
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"Similar to the only other book I have awarded five stars on Horror DNA in 2019, Ian Reid’s majestic Foe, it is one of those novels in which the less you know in advance the better. It’s not strictly a horror novel, nor is it a straight dystopian tale and it rises way above the confines of genre fiction. One could argue that this is a genuine example of contemporary speculative fiction and a warning shot for what lies ahead for mankind should there be a genuine worldwide food shortage. It is both bleak and brutal, but also carries a powerful message of love. Highly recommended." -Tony Jones, Horror DNA |
tammy lynne stoner's debut novel SUGAR LAND recently won a silver medal IPPY (Independent Publisher Book Award)
tammy lynne stoner’s work has been selected for more than a dozen anthologies and journals. Her novel, SUGAR LAND, has been met with rave reviews. A VCAA Fellow, she earned her MFA from Antioch University and was nominated for a Million Writers Award and a Pushcart. Stemming from what her grandmother calls her “gypsy blood”, tammy has lived in 15 cities, working as a biscuit maker, a medical experimentee, a gas station attendant, and a college instructor, among other odd jobs. She’s also the Publisher of Gertrude journal and wrangler for GERTIE, a queer book club.
tammy lynne stoner’s work has been selected for more than a dozen anthologies and journals. Her novel, SUGAR LAND, has been met with rave reviews. A VCAA Fellow, she earned her MFA from Antioch University and was nominated for a Million Writers Award and a Pushcart. Stemming from what her grandmother calls her “gypsy blood”, tammy has lived in 15 cities, working as a biscuit maker, a medical experimentee, a gas station attendant, and a college instructor, among other odd jobs. She’s also the Publisher of Gertrude journal and wrangler for GERTIE, a queer book club.
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"[Sugar Land] is about improbable kindnesses stubbornly taking root in harsh environments; the resourcefulness of people who feel they’ve been cursed not just by society but their own desires; and how the toughest prisons are often the ones we create for ourselves."
Chris Gray, Houston Chronicle |
Ladderbird invests heavily in each client we take on with the intention of building careers! We take chances and we stay with our authors because we are committed to creating space for all voices. We want to work with people who are passionate about writing and willing to do the work it takes to build a long lasting writing career. If you are kind, hardworking, and passionate, we would love to have your on our team!