Saturday, March 21, 1:00pm – 4:00 pm
Monken Activity Room, Second Floor (accessible by elevator and stairs)
Twelve local authors will be exhibiting in the Monken Activity Room to discuss, sell, and sign their books. Admission is free and there will be a raffle drawing!
Meet the authors in this spring’s lineup:
Kristina Brand
Kristina’s TikTok, Instagram, and Amazon Author Page
Genre(s): Contemporary Romance
Target Audience: New Adults, Adults
Kristina is a small town momma of two. When she’s not mommin’, you’ll find her writing, crocheting, or with her nose deep in a romance book. Caffeine is her powerhouse, responsible for the many moments you’ll catch her daydreaming about her characters.
Books:
Shiver for Me (2024)
The Ridge Lane Series (3 Books; 2025)
Shelia Cisco
Shelia’s Illinois Author Page
Genre(s): Poetry, Short Stories, Vignettes (Fiction, Nonfiction)
Target Audience: Children, Adults
Shelia is a therapist, minister, public speaker, and a previous end-of-life supporter advocating for those with Near Death Experiences. She is a member of various professional organizations, the American Counseling Association, the National Christian Association, and the Association of Spiritual, Ethical, and Religious Values in Counseling.
Books:
Of Visions and Dreams: For Her Daughters (2021)
Sir Gregory Groundhog of Essex County (2023)
Loving the Broken (2024)
The Extinction of the Marriage Covenant: Fact or Fiction (2024)
Lauren Fischer
Lauren’s Website, Instagram, Facebook, and Bluesky
Genre(s): Fiction (Mystery, Coming of Age)
Target Audience: Middle Grade (Ages 10+)
Lauren was born and raised in Indiana, graduated from Miami University in Oxford, OH, and lives in Chicago with her family. She edited many articles while working as a science editor for JAMA. She advocates for LGBTQ+ and disability representation in children’s literature.
Books:
Orphanland (2025)
Queen Kirkwood-Hatchett
Queen’s Substack, Gumroad, Facebook, and Amazon Author Page
Genre(s): Spiritual and Religious
Target Audience: Ages 12+
Queen has been writing for about 48 years. She has a Master of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Capella University, a Master of Arts degree in Theological Studies from Liberty University, and a Graduate Certificate in Worship from Liberty University.
Books:
A General Study of the Books of the Bible (2006)
Transitioning from Promise to Fulfillment (2015)
Survival of the Inner Man (2017)
Categories of Women in the Bible (And Their Stories) (2025)
Categories of Women in the Bible (And Their Stories) Companion Workbook (2026)
Bible Narratives and How they Relate to Our Lives
Lee LoBue
Lee’s Website, Facebook, and Instagram
Genre(s): Picture Books
Target Audience: Children Ages 1-10
Lee started writing out of his passion for storytelling and as a way to put his imagination into words. Growing up in rural Illinois, he often found himself outdoors exploring nature and letting the surroundings come to life around him (which continues today). His work as a writer has primarily focused on children’s stories often with quirky characters, animals, lessons to learn, and fun to be had. As a proud parent himself, Lee uses his experiences as a girl dad to make his stories more engaging and relatable to kids and parents alike. He resides in Carlinville, IL, with his wife and two daughters.
Books:
Sleepy Dinosaur and the Bad Case of the Bedtime ROARs! (2021)
Hungry Dinosaur and the Bad Case of the Tummy GROWLs! (2024)
Jon Christian Minor
Jon’s Facebook
Genre(s): Christian Fiction, Fantasy, Mythology
Target Audience: Teens to Adults
Centralia native and author of two books, Jon was recently spotlit on our website! Read our exclusive interview with him.
Books:
Beyond Millennium (2011)
The Profane (2025)
Beatrice B. Morgan
Beatrice’s Website, Twitter/X, Instagram, Facebook, and Amazon Author Page
Genre(s): Fantasy
Target Audience: Upper YA/Young Adults to Adults
Beatrice is an avid reader and cozy gamer. When she is not reading or writing, she is working on the biggest Minecraft castle you’ve ever seen.
Books:
Thief in the Castle (2019)
Hard as Stone (2019)
Mage in the Undercity (2020)
Thick as Blood (2020)
Dreams in the Snow (2021)
Strong as Steel (2021)
Nightmares in the Ice (2024)
Witch in the Wylds (2024)
Archmage in the Ruins (2024)
Blood Enchantress (2025)
Deb Obermeier
Deb’s Website, Amazon Author Page, and Illinois Author Page
Genre(s): Family Friendly Fiction
Target Audience: All Ages
Deb’s home is in Hoyleton, IL, in her century-old farmhouse where she calls home. This season of life finds her sitting in her comfy chair, tweaking her dreams of having an Inn by creating the anticipated adventure in the written word. Her passion for baking is shared with friends, real and fiction. Rooms of antiques and uniques and flower gardens surrounding her are her inspiration. Her characters are as charming to her readers as they are company to her. She lives a simply blessed life.
Books:
The A Simple Stitch Series (Ongoing since 2025)
Sami Patron
Sami’s Facebook and TikTok
Genre(s): Fiction (Thriller)
Target Audience: YA/Teens, Adults
Sami is an indie author, a middle school teacher, editor, mother, and wife. She loves to read thrillers when she’s not writing or spending time with family.
Books:
You Belong (2024)
Skin Deep (2024)
Frozen in Time (2024)
He Who Waits in the Shadows (2025)
Roxane Runyon
Roxane’s Website and Amazon Author Page
Genre(s): Historical Fiction, Christian
Target Audience: Adults
Roxane is a married, retired mother of two children and 6 grandchildren, whose hobby and lifetime goal was always to be an author and now that she is retired, she is pursuing that goal.
Books:
Liberty Hunter (2023)
Faces of Faith (2024)
Renea Starr
Renea’s Website and Amazon Author Page
Genre(s): Picture Books
Target Audience: Children Ages 2-12
Renea was born and raised in Centralia. Her working career included 15 years at Centralia Junior High School as an administrative assistant. Her husband, Colin, and she lived for 7 years in the Memphis area where she was a contract supervisor for the U.S. Coast Guard. Before her retirement, she worked for 2 years at the University of Illinois extension office in Nashville, Il.
Books:
Come Explore the U.S.A. with Austin the Airplane (2025)
G. ‘Doc’ Swift
Doc’s Amazon Author Page, Facebook, and Twitter/X
Genre(s): Military Science Fiction/Fantasy, Sword & Sorcery
Target Audience: Adults
Doc spent over a decade amassing five degrees, then spent the same amount of time working for a defense contractor. During the latter, he began writing for the BattleTech game line, including game supplements, sourcebooks, PDF products, and fiction. He since joined a university faculty teaching engineering. He spends his paltry free time writing fantasy, military science fiction, and sword & sorcery.
Books:
The Warpiper Series (Ongoing since 2019)
Cats of War (2019)
Frogs of War (2019)
Cats of War II (2020)
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For questions and concerns about the fair, please email program coordinator Charessa Sistek at csistek@centralia.lib.il.us or call 618-532-5222 extension 225.
If you are an Illinois author that would like a chance to exhibit at our next fair, let us know!
Updated 3/2/2026
