“The Foreword”
Thursday, March 26th, 5:30 -8:00 p.m. at The Collectors Gallery in Venice.
Sponsored and moderated by Michael Rank and Aimee Odette of The Island Bookshop
Join us for a wine-and-cheese reception to start the Venice Writers’ Festival and Book Fair at The Collectors Gallery as South Beach Shakedown bestselling author Don Bruns, Heal America: The Remarkable Life of Mary Lasker author Judy Pearson, and collaborative writer and coach Karen Kelly kick off the literary weekend with a look back and a look forward on our area and publishing overall.
USA Today bestselling author Don Bruns is the author of three mystery series. His first novel, Jamaica Blues, was championed by author Sue Grafton and became the cornerstone of his Caribbean Series His second series, the Stuff series, features two twenty-four-year-old private detectives in Miami. The books received praise for their humor, compelling storylines, and characters. A starred review in Booklist compares the novels to Mark Twain’s Huck Finn.
Bruns’s newest series, the Quentin Archer mysteries, involves a New Orleans homicide detective and a voodoo practitioner who team up to solve crime in The Big Easy.
Traveling the country as a guitar-playing comic, Bruns worked the Playboy circuit, Las Vegas, and several nightclubs across the country. As a writer, he has traveled the country for book signings. Don is a musician, songwriter, advertising guru, painter, cook, stand-up comic, and novelist.
Karen Kelly is an innovative, seasoned media professional specializing in collaborative writing and proposal development in lifestyle, business, current events, and general nonfiction. With more than 25 years of experience working in every aspect of book publishing, including stints at literary agencies, book packagers, book clubs, and publishing houses, and as a published author and journalist, she has a deep understanding of how publishing works.
She has written over 40 books with numerous boldface names, including Bethany Frankel, John Taffer, The Property Brothers, Laurie David, Frank Abagnale, and many others, published by major houses such as Random House, Simon & Schuster, Viking, and HarperCollins.
Judith Pearson is a best-selling author, an accomplished presenter, and a graduate of Michigan State University. But her favorite title is “storyteller.” Always a fan of history, Judy’s first books told of ordinary people who became extraordinary heroes during World War II. The first, Belly of the Beast: A POW’s True Story of Faith, Courage and Survival, recounts the saga of an American naval corpsman taken prisoner in the Philippines at the outset of the war in the Pacific
The Wolves at the Door: The True Story of America’s Greatest Female Spy is the groundbreaking story of the amazing French Resistance leader Virginia Hall. It is not only a bestseller but has been purchased for a movie. From Shadows to Life: A Biography of the Cancer Survivorship Movement was selected as the 2021 Nautilus Book Award gold winner. In researching From Shadows to Life, Judy learned about Mary Lasker, the wealthy New York philanthropist whose drive and courage changed the landscape of medical research funding forever. Her story is told in Crusade to Heal America: The Remarkable Life of Mary Lasker, published by Mayo Clinic Press, a 2023 bronze medal winner in the Florida Book Awards.
The final book in this accidental trilogy is Radical Sisters: Shirley Temple Black, Rose Kushner, Evelyn Lauder, and the Dawn of the Breast Cancer Movement (also to be released by Mayo Clinic Press in September 2025). It is not only the story of how those courageous women turned their darkest day into life-saving advances in the fight against the disease, but also the history of the Women’s Health Movement in the latter decades of the 20th century. Judy was named one of Chicago’s Most Inspirational Women by Chicago Magazine, selected as a finalist for the Arizona Healthcare Leadership Awards, and named a Phoenix Healthcare Hero.
Friday, March 27th, Gulf Coast Community Foundation Room,
William H. Jervey Jr. Venice Public Library
11:00 – 11:45 a.m. “Imagine Yourself a Writer: Tools and Tips for Getting Started” Moderated by Venice Theater Publishing Course instructor Camille Cline.
Michele Swift, Michael Schlesinger, Bill Glover, Ken Brennen, Diane Turner, and Jason Gallourakis reflect on a year of starting to write and edit, and on giving practical tips and resources for beginning and mid-process authors.
12:00 – 1:00 p.m. “Do You Plot or Do You Write by the Seat of Your Pants? Which Are You and Does It Make a Difference?” Moderated by children’s book author and illustrator Alis Seflik.
Joanne Rock is a USA Today bestselling author of over one hundred works of popular fiction in a variety of genres and 17 separate series. A former Golden Heart recipient, Joanne has won numerous awards for her stories. Her work has been reprinted in twenty-four countries and translated into nineteen languages.
A frequent speaker at regional and national writing conferences, she enjoys giving back to the writing community that nurtured and inspired her. Joanne earned her master’s degree in literature from the University of Louisville and has taught fiction, film, and writing at the college level. When she is not writing, Joanne enjoys travelling to gather new ideas.
Her debut domestic suspense, The Last Book Club (Crooked Lane Books), will be on shelves in May 2026. A book club’s murder mystery game goes fatally wrong in this page-turning mystery, perfect for fans of The Block Party.
James Harold Kelly, an award-winning author of the historical fiction series I am a Soldier, First and Always: The Distinguished Career of Winfield Scott Hancock – Rebellion and Turning Point, and These Sacred Lands—his latest novel in the series, Tremaine, A Lakota Warrior in Roosevelt’s Rough Riders is the story of a Lakota warrior who stands in two worlds, maintaining his Lakota heritage while following the white man’s ways.
James is a retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel and Defense Department executive, serving 45 years in the Department. His varied military assignments include cavalry, infantry, and air defense artillery. As a Defense Department executive, he led divisions under both the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Secretary of Defense. Kelly has taken every opportunity to pursue his passion for walking battlefields, driven by a desire to understand strategy and tactics and their impact on history.
Susana Falcon, a member of AEA and SAG for 18 years, acted in feature films, commercials, off-Broadway productions, regional and dinner theatre, and musicals throughout Europe and on cruise ships. As an author, she had 19 works of fiction published by Amber Quill Press under pen names and her own. After earning an M.A. in Literary English, Creative Writing, and Screenwriting, Susana taught at the State College of Florida for 6 years. She has judged writing competitions for Romance Writers of America and recently published an urban fantasy novella, Pan in the Park, on Amazon. In addition to writing and teaching, she directs live theatre. Her upcoming project, the classic Bell, Book and Candle, will open at Lemon Bay Playhouse this autumn.
1:30 – 2:30 p.m. “The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Writing and Marketing” Moderated by The Literary Spa founder Camille Cline.
Michael Rank has been the co-owner of The Island Bookshop, LLC, since July 2021, 
and the Collector’s Gallery and Framery since November 2022; both are located in Historic Downtown Venice, Florida. Both businesses have won the Best of Venice awards 2023 and 2024 in multiple categories, voted on by the community of Venice, Florida, and awarded by The Venice Gondolier newspaper.
Michael recently retired from the University of Southern California as an Emeritus Professor. He was previously the Director of the University of Southern California’s San Diego Academic Center and affiliated with the Center for Innovation, Research on Veterans and Military Families. He was a tenured Associate Professor at the University of South Florida from1995 to 2010. He received his doctorate from the University of South Carolina, a master’s degree from Bryn Mawr College, and a bachelor’s degree from Bloomsburg University.
He is a decorated Vietnam veteran, having served honorably as an infantryman in the U.S. Army during 1969-1970 (196th Infantry; Americal Division). He spent ten years as a state parole agent in Pennsylvania; directed the Family Advocacy and Children Have a Potential (CHAP) program for the United States Air Force; served as a Team Leader for the Veterans Administration Vet Center program; and was a Director of Employee Assistance Programs for Family Service America. He has conducted critical incident stress debriefings following traumatic events for Bank of America and the United States Postal Service. He has consulted with international academic programs, most notably Kuwait University.
Donna Boock. A member of the Society for Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators since 2005, she served as Co-RA for the Eastern Pennsylvania chapter from 2013 until relocating to Venice, Florida, in 2016. Her first published story, Ducktective Max Quacks and the Missing Farm Animals, appeared in Highlights for Children in April 2009, and Night Owl Nabs the Sheep Snatcher followed in the July 2011 edition
Kirkus Reviews said, “…Boock…masters the art of choosing the perfect words for every page, especially glamorous (and sometimes invented) rhymes: razzled, dazzled, and pizazzled. The friendship lesson here, along with the clever turns of phrase and vivid images, is likely to make this a hit with Fancy Nancy series fans.” Donna is also the author of the hilarious chapter book series Kinzie’s Kinventions, including Kinzie’s Got Talent, Earth to Kinzie, and Kinzie & the P. U. Zoo. In 2018, she gave in to her entrepreneurial spirit and began an independent publishing company. .donnaboock.com
Kelly Duyn (Assistant Director of Education and Community Engagement – Venice Theatre) is a passionate theatre educator, Director, and actor with over 20 years of experience bringing the magic of theatre to students of all ages, both in the non-profit sector and in public education. She holds a B.A. in Theatre from the University of Central Florida and a Professional Educator Certificate from the FLDOE. She has spent her career teaching, directing, and developing theatre programs both in the U.S. and abroad. As a theatre professional, Kelly leads youth programs, directs productions, and creates opportunities for students to explore the world of theatre. She loves working with young performers, whether in the classroom, on stage, or through community engagement programs.
Beyond her work in theatre, Kelly is deeply devoted to her family. Being a mother is the most challenging role yet, and she cherishes the balance between her love for the arts and raising her family. She believes that storytelling—whether on stage or at home—has the power to inspire, connect, and nurture creativity in all aspects of life.She is excited for everyone to share in her new adventure as an author and hopes her book, When I Grow Up, will inspire kids and adults alike. She is looking forward to publishing an additional book in the future. 
Clarissa Thomasson received her B.A. in English literature from Duke University and her master’s degree in English Literature from the University of Florida. She taught English literature, creative writing, and journalism in Montgomery County, Maryland, before moving to Nags Head, North Carolina, with her husband.
Kim Cool, the Gondolier Sun’s Features Editor, is a journalist, author, and local historian. She is the author or co-author of 30 books, including needlework and business books, written for the third-largest craft book publisher in the U.S. in the 1980’s. They were co-authored with Iona Dettelbach, co-owner of “And Sew On Inc.,” a custom needlework store on Cleveland’s east side. Their Needlework from Start to Finish for Right- and Left-handed Stitches was a national bestseller, selling more than 5,000 copies per month. The two also wrote several top-selling craft books for the same company, learning the publishing business as they went.
After moving to Venice in 1993, she first wrote about real estate for the Venice Gondolier Sun, where she has been the Our Town Editor for most of the past 24 years. During these years, Kim began her series of ghost stories and founded her own publishing house, Historic Venice Press. Her books are available at Barnes & Noble and many other bookstores, as well as online.
She is a charter member of the group that founded the Venice Writers’ Festival. Kim has won state, regional, and national awards, as well as numerous journalism awards, including first-place awards annually for the past several years from the Florida Publishers Association.
During his four-decade-long career, Larry R. Humes worked mostly in journalism, higher education marketing, and communication. He wrote for newspapers throughout Florida, served as a stringer for United Press International, and was editor of the Greentree Gazette, a bimonthly national magazine targeting higher education administrators. His mystery novel, Bridge to Nowhere, was published in 1980. Since his retirement, he has remained active in local history projects and has given presentations on the topic. He also writes regularly about local history for the Venice Gondolier newspaper
In Venice, A Century on the Gulf, Humes traces the events and characters that put Venice on the proverbial map. Venice is certainly not among the oldest cities in Florida. The fact that it even survived its rocky beginning is nothing short of remarkable. But it was luck and persistence that transformed the little City on the Gulf into one of Florida’s most sought-after destinations.
Lee Grace Mathews, a first-time author, shares her love of the Venice area in her recent release, The Heart of Venice. Experience the vibrant
beauty of Venice and nearby Nokomis and Osprey, Florida, with “The Heart of Venice.” This amazing area is where historic charms and lush nature converge. The book comes from the author’s heart, featuring her color photos and interesting facts that date back to the 1850s. It’s a tribute to the early homesteaders and residents who shaped this area into the cherished coastal location we enjoy today.
NOTES:
• Registration for “The Foreword” and “Table of Contents” Writers’ Festival is separate from registration for the Book Fair. Guaranteed entry to the first 40 registrants; $20 payable by credit card at: https://veniceheritage.org/vbf-writers-festival-registration/
• There will be a 30-minute book signing after each session. We recommend bringing cash if you decide to purchase books from the panel members.
