Indie Authors

Over 30 indie authors, including those from small presses and self-published works, will be at the Indie Author Alley found on the first level of Richland Library Main. Explore a variety of genres and support local talent by meeting authors and picking up signed copies of their books.

    • Carla Blake is a multifaceted author, educator, mentor, and publisher whose life and work are firmly rooted in her faith and belief in God. She inspires and guides youth in schools and church settings, fostering resilience, purpose, and character development. As the founder of Written Imprints Publishing, Carla empowers authors and creatives to leave their imprint through purpose-driven storytelling and transformative publishing.

    • Russell Earle Jr.’s debut book and travel memoir, Until I Came Home: A Sunset’s Journal, isn’t yet a year old as he continues his newly discovered journey as an author. Along with being a Substack contributor and hosting his weekly podcast, Sunset Sundays, he sees himself as a community architect and an environmental observer. 

    • Alexandria Faulkenbury is the author of Somewhere Past the End (Apprentice House, 2025). She lives in Columbia, where she teaches English at Midlands Technical College and ferries her kids to various activities.

    • Ashley Green is a licensed master social worker, author, and advocate for mental well-being. With experience as both a therapist and a medical social worker, she is passionate about helping people find peace and balance in their lives.

    • Fa'apepele "Pele" Hunkin is a mother, grandmother, dog mama, retired U.S. Army Combat Veteran, speaker, and author who empowers women through faith-centered storytelling, resilience, and self-love. 

    • Latonya Jonesis a multi-book author and human service professional whose work centers on women’s emotional wellness and healing. Through storytelling, guided journaling, and color therapy, she creates meaningful spaces for reflection, growth, and restoration. Her books are designed to support women who have experience relational trauma, a desire to enhance her prayer life, and seeking to reconnect with her inner calm. 

    • Casey Lown (they/them) is the author of character-driven fiction and coming-of-age novels that wear their hearts on their sleeves. 

    • Charli Nyberg is a dark fantasy author whose work blends myth, history, and human resilience. Her debut novel, Daughter of Ash and Iron, explores power, prophecy, and the cost of survival through a fiercely human lens.

    • Christopher Lucius “C-Lyric” Wynn is a poet, author, podcaster, and performer from 

      Charleston, SC. He’s truly an inspiration to the lowcountry that wants to keep his community inspired by great words of wisdom. His favorite quote for anyone is “If you have a dream and a goal in life, don’t give up, keep reaching for the stars for greatness.”

    • Crystal Symone is a Charlotte native who enjoys writing in the disciplines of contemporary romance and fiction as well as poetry. A 4x Indie published author, her stories are rooted in storytelling and empowerment. 

    • Marla Taviano writes with warmth and wit about leaving toxic religion and pursuing your passions.

    • E. R. Belle writes romantasy with lush and shadow-drenched worlds, slow-burn desire, and beautifully dangerous love. Her stories blend magic, emotion, and fate into tales of connection and power.

    • Ja’Air Bush is an award-winning audiobook narrator, author, and creative storyteller. She is the author of You’re the Reason, her debut novel, and From Dream to Screen, a guide for aspiring actors ready to pursue their dreams boldly.

    • Juri Hine’s purpose is to craft stories that embrace the essence of romance, the power of passion, and the authenticity of intimacy in all its shades. Juri remains committed to delivering feel-good reads that explore healing through love.

    • Ryan Hodge is a graduate of the University of South Carolina. Ryan is an author of 10 self-published novels. Additionally, he has won multiple awards for his short film entitled Blink of an Eye. 

    • Robert J. Lewis' body of works includes the Shadow Guardian series, a character-driven Latinx LGBTQIA superhero series, and his MM spicy romance Someone Series under Robert Lewis. In 2025 and 2026, he hosted the red carpet for the Grabbys America awards and is looking forward to hosting again in 2026. 

    • Andraya Valentine is a romance author hailing from the Lowcountry. Her stories celebrate Black love, honor mental health, and center around plus-size heroines who choose joy and always receive the happily ever after they deserve.

    • Rebecca Wrights is a romance author writing real and relatable romance stories for soft-hearted readers. She loves writing stories that make readers feel seen, heard, and supported and left feeling hopeful for their own happily ever after. 

    • Arlene Marturano grew up gardening with her family in northern Illinois and credits her training in outdoor education at Northern Illinois University with uniting her love of teaching, gardening, and writing.

    • Candice Waldo believes her poetry book is noteworthy for its exploration of the trials and tribulations of the modern work environment from a unique and compelling perspective. Through her work, she examines the differences, tensions, and challenges people face in today’s workplace.

    • Frank W Baker is the author of many books, most recently We Survived the Holocaust: The Bluma and Felix Goldberg Story (2022) and the recently published Risk, Resilience and Redemption: A Miraculous Holocaust Story (2025). He strives to help young (and old) people better understand the Holocaust.

    • Tara L. Thompson is an award-winning author whose stories explore love, loss, and family dynamics. She is the author of Before I Say I Do and Divided Souls, romance novels centered on love and family, and Clara’s Curse, a multigenerational novel with roots in the 1950s that explores generational curses. In 2019, she was honored as Queen City Author of the Year. She is an avid reader and enjoys spending time with her daughter.

    • Bonnie Stanard is an award-winning author who draws on her rural background and an interest in history to write novels, short stories, and poems with credits in journals such as The Hollins Critic. Her historical fiction novels and children’s books are available at various online venues including Amazon, poetry available from Main Street Rag and Belle Isle Books.

    • Kailey Bright is a young adult fantasy author and computer scientist, which means she writes code by daylight and pages by starlight. Her debut trilogy is about a servant-turned-soldier who must persevere with and through her disadvantages. 

    • C.L. Darling is a lover of reading and writing stories that fascinate the mind and push the limits of fiction. When not writing she can be found playing Minecraft or snuggling her cat Luna.

    • Maxamillion Moon is a husband, a father, and a producer of dark arts. He is the author of the vampire hunter novel - Death Reapers: Book of Lilyana, A Vampire Hunter Novel Series, first in The Chronicles of Death Reapers. 

    • Steven Prouseis an independent writer of comics, screenplays, short stories, and novels. His latest novel, Nine Seconds From Yesterday, follows an art professor, unhappy with his career, who discovers the ability to travel through his own timeline and make changes to his past. With each revision, he suffers competing memories of lives he never lived, ultimately threatening both his sanity and the fabric of reality. 

    • W.K. (Bill) Rader draws from his pioneering work in biotech and implantable cellular devices to craft the pulse-pounding dystopian thriller The Gathering. An award-winning author, Rader delivers a chilling vision of AI dominance, underground rebellion, and the unbreakable human spirit fighting to reclaim freedom.

    • G.A. Sallee is a U.S. Army veteran and author known for gripping thrillers that blur the line between truth and fiction. His writing explores themes of justice, truth, and family, inspired by a lifelong passion for storytelling and his deep-rooted love for his wife, children, and grandchildren. Now based in South Carolina, he continues to craft suspenseful stories that captivate and provoke thought.

    • Kal Spriggs is a SF/F writer and US Army combat vet with far too many hobbies and 
      interests and never enough time. When his day job doesn’t interfere, he’s either spending 
      time in the Rockies, writing, spending time with his family, or all three. Kal has 40+ 
      published novels, including the Children of Valor and Shadow Space Chronicles book series. 

    • Dr. Melissa Boyd is a board-certified Clinical Psychologist and has served active duty in the Army since 2008. Dr. Boyd is the author of a children’s book series called Skills for Kids. Her books focus on emotional learning, wellness, social development, and healthy coping skills. Her professional interests include mental health disparities, suicide prevention and awareness, and the use of literature in therapy. 

    • Nicole Burns Caudle is a writer of children’s books and adult fiction, spanning horror and romance, with stories that explore wonder, fear, and the emotional truths in between. She is also the host of the upcoming SCETV series Unknown.

    • J.E. Franke

    • Tiffiny Mariano is a South Carolina based children’s book author who writes heart-filled, whimsical picture books that empower kids to celebrate their quirks. Her debut picture book, Green Beans & Tangerines follows a multi-racial girl navigating picky eating and new experiences, encouraging kids to embrace what makes them unique.

    • Kanisha McCrea is a native of Nesmith, South Carolina. She is a licensed  Speech-Language Pathologist who is passionate about early intervention and helping families.  This is her first children's book, but she hopes to write many more. 

    • Dr. Marrielle Myers is an award-winning author, professor, international speaker, and former public school teacher who creates engaging picture books that help children see math as a natural and joyful part of everyday life. Through her Marlee Loves Math series, she blends vibrant storytelling and culturally relevant representation to ignite young readers’ love for both reading and critical mathematical thinking. 

    • Alexandra Parker grew up in Winter Park, Florida. As a child, she loved many of the same activities as her main character, Molly Periwinkle: spending time with her family, playing outdoors, building sandcastles, and reading. After graduating from school in North Carolina, she moved to Columbia, South Carolina, where she resides with her husband and son and is currently working on her second book.

    • Kate Noel Wells is a bestselling author and educator.  10% of all author proceeds from her book Fortino the Fetching Dog are donated to animal rescue charities.