Local Authors & Poets
Authors and poets from Pike and surrounding counties
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Vanessa R. Tracy
About the Author: Quickly becoming one of reality TV’s favorite moms, Vanessa Rodgers Tracy is a woman you don’t want to miss. As a proud Brundidge, Alabama native and mother of Melody Shari, she is a part of a rising entertainment powerhouse that is taking the industry by storm. With the meteoric success of The Oprah Winfrey Network’s hit reality show, Love & Marriage: Huntsville, Vanessa is proud to have yet another platform that allows her to be transparent about her life in a way that helps soothes the souls of others. As both a former first lady & radio host, Vanessa continues to blaze trails as an author, speaker, real estate professional & TV personality. Vanessa’s life is a reflection of what can happen when you use every God-given gift and encourage others to do the same. |
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Myra Nicole Duncan
About the Author: Myra Nicole Duncan was born and raised in the South. She grew up with something inside of her heart that she carries with her still today...Love. "No matter who you are, or what you are going through you're still somebody; show love for others." She knows that love overpowers all because Jesus is Love. |
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W. Larry McLeod
About the Author: William Larry McLeod was born in Luverne, Alabama. He graduated from Goshen High School and Troy State University. He is President of Friends of Tupper Lightfoot Memorial Library and a participant in "Growing Words" a writing group in Brundidge. He lives in Brundidge, Alabama. |
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Angel Clove
About the Author: Angel Clove initially lived with her mother, and then later moved in with her grandmother by the age of sixteen. Now a wife and mother to four beautiful children, Angel hopes you will enjoy and learn from her personal journey. She prays you will grow in your faith by knowing how God led her-as He did for her, God will do for you. |
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Bob Perdue
About the Author: Bob Perdue, the poet laureate of Crenshaw County, besides being an accomplished writer, is a musician, singer and wood worker of Bamboo. He began writing poetry by writing a birthday poem for a friend, and realized then his words had meaning and power. After feeling he had run out of poems, he began writing stories about the people around him - and the characters he writes about come to life, even to those of us who don't them. His mind works in arts and crafts as well - he has created such things as airplanes, helicopters, crosses, butterflies and angels- even a lighthouse and fire hydrant! |
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Cornelia Britton
About the Author: Cornelia C. Britton has a bachelors degree in the Art of Ministry and a passion for the believers accomplishments in the things of Gods. She is a mother, wife, and business owner. She has completed two previous books, entitled Dont Flinch: The Believers Journey Unveiled and Dont Flinch: Pit Stops of the Journey for the encouragement of all. |
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Deborah Lynn Sutton
About the Author: Deborah Lynn Sutton was born in Pike County, Alabama and raised in the Southeast corner of Pike County in the Tennille Community. Deborah Lynn enjoys the art of the written word. Reading and writing are her most enjoyed hobbies along with her two beagle companions, Shiloh and Holly. The very essence of her life lies within her two precious sons and their families. Clay and Liz Allen and Jarrett and Jana Oakes Allen are the most important aspects of her life. Aside from family, Deborah Lynn also enjoys quilt making and fun times with husband, Hill. |
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Kimberley M. Byrd
About the Author: As painful as it was to lose her mother, Kimberley took the paid to add it to her passion to discover her purpose. She began believing she could write more than poetry shortly after her mother passed by birthing out her first and most painful novel, Forbidden Fruit, in which she deals with her own personal grief through the character she created. Since then a library has been unlocked inside of her with the release of her second novel, Son of the forgiven, as well as the upcoming release of her first nonfiction title, 10 Commandments of a Dream Chaser. |
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Laurie McKinney-Nicholson
About the Author: Laurie grew up in Illinois, but is by all means a member of the Brundidge community. Moving to Pike County in her early twenties, she’s lived mostly in the area since, rearing a family of nine kids. She’s loved to write since she was young, even having a piece featured in a Regent's Park, Oxford, book of poems. She has several writings in process and one song recorded. |
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Willie F Diggs II (right)
About the Author: Willie F. Diggs II, LBSW, MSW is the Director of Field Education at Alabama Agriculture and Mechanical University. He is an author, workshop presenter, parent educator, and resource builder in the community. As the founder of Come Thirsty Ministries, Inc., Willie facilities 3 programs for kids. Through his Social Worker experience, Willie has worked with diverse populations; a variety of age groups, and mental health needs in the social service arena. He is the proud of author of two books, which combines his love for empowerment and spirituality. He is currently participating in research and presentations focusing on Alzheimer’s, Mentorship, and The Lived Experiences of African Americans Who Endured Jim Crow. Willie is a licensed Elder in the Church of God in Christ. |
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Nina Nelson-Garrett, M.D. (left)
About the Author: Nina Nelson-Garrett, MD. Author of Grace Will Lead You Home. Nina spent her formative years in Jackson, Mississippi and completed a double major in Molecular Biology and Classical Studies at Vanderbilt University. Dr. Garrett went to medical school at The University of Texas Health Sciences Center at Houston in Texas. Nina has been blessed to practice medicine and serve on various boards across the US. She moved to Montgomery, Alabama over twelve years ago and is proud to call it home. Nina has been married for 25 years to C.W. Garrett and they have two adult children, Brittany and Donovan. Dr. Garrett is active in her church and unashamedly loves God. She enjoys traveling with her husband, spending time with family, interior decorating, and painting. |
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M. Sue Elliard (Myrtle Sue Cook-Gipson)
About the Author: Sue describes herself work as “Modernized and Simplified”. She was born one of twelve siblings in Alabama, and has also lived in New York and in New Jersey. Sue has been a member of Pilot International, assisted Doctor Alan Tiedrich as Medical clerk in Plainfield, NJ and got to travel globally quiet a bit. Sue started writing poetry in the early eighties. She has taken courses at Union Colleges in New Jersey. Sue served as hostess at New Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church in Troy for the Food Bank for two years. She is a faithful member of “Growing Words Poets” located in Brundidge, Alabama at their local library downtown. Sue writes poems for all occasions; happy or sad. She has coined the phrase… “I can be as nice as you let me or irate as you make me.” |
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Martha Duke Anderson
About the Author: Martha Duke Anderson worked at an Area Agency on Aging for thirty years in Southeast Alabama. Anderson took early retirement in 2016, and began writing and traveling. She has published two books, and has four others in progress. Anderson is a graduate of Troy University with degrees in Psychology and Criminal Justice. She is a licensed Social Worker, and holds certificates in various other aging and long-term care groups. |
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Nicole Copeland
About the Author: Nicole K. Copeland is a graduate of Pike Co., where she discovered her passion for writing through Creative Writing and Journalism classes. Upon attending the Young Authors Conference with her English teacher Ms. Nellie Sue Helms, she set a goal to one day be a published author. She holds both her Bachelors and Masters in English, Creative Writing, and Education from TROY U. In 2014 she published her first book, which in 2017 was nominated for an Author's Excellence Award and became a finalist in Drama. While she primarily writes YA she also has works of southern, paranormal and poetry in progress. In addition to writing, she owns Sissygirl Publishing; is a motivational speaker for youth and women's groups, and offers writing workshops. In her spare time she enjoys her growing family, spending time in her art studio painting, traveling to the beach, attending arts and craft shows, and watching sports. |
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John M. "Mike" Moody (Now passed)
About the Author: Mike Moody was born John Milton Moody in the small town of Troy, Alabama on January 6, 1944, and grew up in the smaller town of Luverne about 20 miles away in rural Crenshaw County, Alabama some 50 miles from the Florida state line. He graduated from Luverne High and then earned a B.S. degree in economics from Troy in 1964. He later attended graduate school at the University of Alabama during the Paul “Bear” Bryant and Joe Namath era and spent the next twenty or so years in the broadcasting field. Mike earned his M.S. degree in Counseling and Human Development in 1990, and worked as a Counselor in Montgomery, Alabama. |
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Theron Montgomery
About the Author: Theron Montgomery is the author of The Procession, a collection of short stories and novellas; Driving Truman Capote, a memoir; and The End of the Legend of Jared Snead, a novel. He has been the Founding Editor for the Alabama Literary Review, Chief Editor for the Alabama English Journaland Fiction Editor for the Blue Moon Review, North America’s first literary ezine. He is a professor of Contemporary Literature and creative writing at Troy University in Troy, Alabama. |
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Ed Hicks (left)
About the Author: Ed Hicks, a retired Troy University professor, is a master of words. Hicks voice can emulate the roar of a raging sea or the flutter of a butterfly’s wing. |
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Chelsea Singleton
All Things Left Unsaid is a collection of poems that were written during some of the highest, lowest, and most beautiful moments in my life. This book was born from a place of raw emotion and is now being put forth for it to serve as whatever each reader needs it to serve as in each moment. This book is uncensored expression brought about by the most confusing thing out there; life. |
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Larya Fifer
About the Author: Larya Fifer is the prestige Author of the book series "The Trouble Life of Cassidy". Larya was 13 when she wrote part one of The Trouble Life of Cassidy. Larya was inspired to write her first novel in the year of 2020 while the nation was shutdown due to the coronavirus pandemic. Larya Fifer is a native of Troy, Alabama. When she's not traveling she enjoy writing and baking. |
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Raelyn Comstock
Written by 6-year-old author, Raelyn Comstock. Follow Benley the Duck on his many adventures. He is a happy duck but learns important life lessons through his curiosity and imagination. |
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Waylon Cousins
About the Author: Waylon is a devoted husband, a dedicated father of three amazing kids, and has 4 dogs, 1 cat, and fish. He is a veteran with the US Army and also has a Master's Degree in Criminal Justice. He works for the State of AL. In his free time, he is busy with his family, but one day hopes to live in an RV and see the country. |
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Professor Awesome, PhD
About the Author: Professor Awesome, PhD is both the nom de plume and nom de guerre of Dr. Richard Scott Nokes, professor of medieval literature at Troy University. Dr. Nokes is the writer and editor of many boring academic books and articles that are of interest to only a certain type of nerd. Generally found near and around his secret base, the Awesome Lair, he and his Minions of Doom plot world domination through medievalism and other weapons of mass nerdiness. |
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Angela Jackson-Brown
About the Author: Angela Jackson-Brown is an award-winning writer, poet and playwright who is an Associate Professor in Creative Writing at Indiana University in Bloomington, IN and a member of the graduate faculty of the Naslund-Mann Graduate School of Writing at Spalding University in Louisville, KY. She is a graduate of Troy, Auburn and the Spalding low-residency MFA program in Creative Writing. She has published her short fiction, Creative Nonfiction, and poetry in journals like The Louisville Journal and the Appalachian Review. Her book When Stars Rain Down is a highly acclaimed novel that received a starred review from the Library Journal and glowing reviews from Alabama Public Library, Buzzfeed, Parade Magazine, and Women’s Weekly, just to name a few. It was also named a finalist for the David J. Langum, Sr. Prize in American Historical Fiction and was short listed for the 2022 Indiana's Authors Award. |
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Bob McGough
About the Author: Born and raised in South Alabama, Bob has two useless college degrees, has roadied for a band you've never heard of, he’s written for video games, designed board games, and owns a disturbing number of roleplaying games. In addition to the passible podcasts he's made he has also filmed terrible short horror movies and been the producer on a trio of albums. He’s worked and written for musical acts ranging from Upchurch the Redneck to Stitches. He runs a non-profit while thriving on the groans of those he has punned around. More relevant he wrote some books, then self-pubbed some other books, and has also been published by a number of other folks with questionable judgment. The fictional things he writes sometimes come weirdly true. He lives in the middle of Alabama with his amazing LadyFriend, the Kiddo, and a trio of portly cats. |
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A.W. Myrie
About the Author: Arlisha Williams-Myrie was born in Jacksonville, Fl. and raised in a small town in Alabama called Brundidge. She is happily married to her husband, Kazembe, of twelve years and together they share two beautiful children Kazembe and Kariyah, and a Maltese. She has an A.S. degree in Business Administration, B. S. in Educational Studies, an M.S. degree in Higher Education, and is currently working on an M.A. degree in English and Creative Writing. She loves the Lord with all of her heart and worships at one of the greatest Apostolic churches in the city of Tampa, New Life Tabernacle, UPC. She works at a university and does photography with her company Admiring With Myrie Photography. She loves to READ, sing, write, act, teach, and do photography. She has a plethora of other hobbies that she enjoys as well and she is a die-hard Bama fan! Look out for more great books in the near future. |
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TERAH S. HARRIS
Terah Shelton Harris is a librarian and freelance writer, who now writes upmarket fiction with bittersweet endings. As a freelancer, her work has appeared in consumer and trade magazines including Catapult, Women’s Health, Every Day with Rachael Ray, Backpacker, Minority Nurse, and more. One Summer in Savannah is her first novel. Photo Credit: Sarah Willis |
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