AUTHORS

2017

Gina Warren Buzby is originally from Columbia, South Carolina.  She has a B.A. in Art and Advertising from Columbia College (SC) and a Masters of Education from Clemson University.  Currently, Gina serves on many boards including Columbia College Board of Visitors, Armed Services YMCA of Hampton Roads, East Beach Writers Guild and the Tidewater Collection at Norfolk Naval Base.

Gina is also a proud member of P.E.O. – Philanthropic Educational Organization, Chapter AK. She works as a Professional Fine Artist from her carriage house studio in East Beach.  And she enjoys leading the “Van Gogh and Vino” classes at East Beach Sandwich Company and through private bookings. View her paintings and plein air pieces on her website. 

Patrick Clark was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  He is a graduate of the School of Journalism at the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee and holds a Master of Arts degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College.

After twenty years as a Surface Warfare Officer in the U.S. Navy, Patrick retired and went into industry as a Vice President of Operations. 

His writing themes leverage his knowledge of the military and government to develop stories with suspense and intrigue.  He currently lives in Norfolk, Virginia.
     
His debut novel, The Monroe Decision, is scheduled for publication in summer 2017.

Michelle Davenport is a Midwestern girl who spent a majority of her adult life in the Norfolk, Virginia area. She recently moved out to the west coast, because home is where the Navy sends your spouse. When not taking care of her little family (two cats, a dog, a bird and loving husband), she volunteers on the Homecoming Committee of the Surface Officer Spouses of San Diego and Anchor Scholarship Foundation.  Her first short story, “Second Chances at East Beach” was published in the first By The Bay: East Beach Stories.



Karen Harris is a writer and editor from San Francisco, California, now living in Virginia Beach.   A graduate of the University of California, Davis, she is the coordinator for the Virginia Beach Master Gardeners’ Annual Trial Garden and sings with Bellissima Women’s Chorus.  Her first short story, “I Have a Dress” was published in the first By The Bay: East Beach Stories.






Will Hopkins lives in East Beach.  He is the author of three police mysteries set in mid-century Norfolk: Willowood, Full Fathom Five and Miss Nike Ajax.   His most recent book is The Lights, a collection of short stories set against the great flying-saucer scare of 1952.






Elizabeth Kimball is a Florida attorney, Navy wife, and East Beach mom to two girls who love the Chesapeake Bay. She actively serves her community by volunteering with The Tidewater Officer Spouse Association, The Federalist Society, and other organizations.







Jamie McAllister works as a freelance writer. In addition to writing for businesses and agencies, her work has also appeared in several Hampton Roads publications, including Coastal Virginia Magazine, The Health Journal, Coastal Virginia Business Magazine, and Tidewater Women. This is her first published short story. She and her husband, James, live with their two rescue cats in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Twitter: @jmcallisterwe


L.W. (Skip) McLamb was born and raised in High Point, North Carolina.  He earned degrees from North Carolina State University, The College of William & Mary, and Old Dominion University that lead to a career in teaching.  He has resided in Hampton Roads for over forty years.
Currently retired, Skip worked for four decades in the Virginia Beach Public Schools in a variety of teaching and administrative positions.  He is active in a variety of environmental organizations.   
His interests include camping, hiking, kayaking, fishing, and visiting his children and grand children.  He hopes that writing will provide a new avenue to extend his teaching career.

Mary Jac O’Daniel is orginally from Richardson, TX. She has a Bachelor of Science in Education from Baylor University and she is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Speech Pathology from Old Dominion University.   Mary Jac has been published in the Elephant Journal. A former high school English teacher and track coach, she has also taught in California and China. An avid traveler, Mary Jac has been able to visit every continent except Africa and Antarctica. She enjoys running, swimming, and competitive sailing. Mary Jac is a military spouse and lives in East Beach with her husband, Paul.

Jayne Ormerod grew up in a small Ohio town then went on to a small-town Ohio college. Upon earning her degree in accountancy she became a CIA (that’s not a sexy spy thing, but a Certified Internal Auditor.) She married a naval officer and off they sailed to see the world. After fifteen moves she realized she needed a more transportable vocation, so turned to writing cozy mysteries. In addition to two short stories in the first anthology, By the Bay: East Beach Stories, Jayne’s publication credits include four additional short mysteries in various anthologies, two full-length cozy mysteries, and one novella.

Mike Owens, a retired physician, has undergraduate and medical degrees from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. He obtained his MFA degree in creative writing from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA in 2011. His nonfiction works include: Care of the Terminally Ill Cancer Patient (2002) and Primary Care Issues for End-of-Life Care (2003). His first novel, The End of Free Will, was published in January, 2014, followed by a second novel, The Threshold, in September 2014. His latest work, Screwed, a retelling of the steamy eighteenth century saga, Moll Flanders, will be released by The Wild Rose Press in 2017.


Jenny Sparks was born and raised in South Carolina. She graduated from the College of Charleston with a BS in Sociology and a minor in Health and Gerontology.
Married for 28 years to a career Naval Officer she has lived throughout the United States and raised two sons.
Jenny has volunteered in various positions in her children’s schools and with the navy in jobs ranging from PTA president to ombudsman. She has been employed as a preschool teacher, vocational education teacher, vocational consultant and senior center director.
Jenny lives in Virginia with her husband and their dogs, Millie and Twyla.

2015

 GINA WARREN BUZBY
Gina is originally from Columbia, SC.  She has a B.A. in Art from Columbia College and a Masters from Clemson University. Currently, Gina serves on these boards: Columbia College, Armed Services YMCA/Hampton Roads, East Beach Writers Guild and The Tidewater Collection at Norfolk Naval Base. Gina is also a member of P.E.O. - Philanthropic Educational Organization, Chapter AK. Gina works as a Fine Artist from her home studio in East Beach.  She enjoys  teaching  the "Van Gogh and Vino" classes at the East Beach Sandwich Company and through private bookings.  View her plein air paintings via her website, www.GinaWarrenBuzby.com. Gina is the author of "Plein Mysterious".

 PATRICK CLARK
Patrick was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  He is a graduate of the School of Journalism at the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee and holds a Master of Arts degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College. Patrick earned a commission in the United States Navy where he served as a Surface Warfare Officer.   He retired after twenty years of service and went into industry as a Vice President of Operations and retired after thirteen years. His writing themes leverage his knowledge of the military and government to develop stories with suspense and intrigue.  He currently lives in Norfolk, Virginia.  Website: www.patrick-clark.com.  Patrick is the author of "Boneyard" and "The Town Hall Incident".

MICHELLE DAVENPORT  
Michelle is a stay at home navy wife currently living in Norfolk, Virginia.  A transplant from southern Illinois, Michelle spends her days taking care of her two cats, dog and bird as well as her loving husband.  When not caring for her little family, she enjoys volunteering at the Hampton Roads Naval Museum, reading, and catching up with friends.  Blog: www.michelleddavenport.blogspot.com.  Michelle is the author of "Second Chance At East Beach". 

KAREN HARRIS
Karen Harris is a writer and editor from San Francisco, California.  As the wife of a naval officer, she has lived in Japan and all over the eastern half of the United States.  
She and her husband have two children and call Virginia Beach, Virginia home.  Karen is the author of "I Have A Dress".



WILL HOPKINS
Will lives in East Beach.  He is the author of three police mysteries set in mid-century Norfolk: Willowood, Full Fathom Five and Miss Nike Ajax.  His website is www.willhopkins4.com.  Will is the author of "Lights On The Water".





R.G. KOEPF
R.G. has always been a writer, receiving her first rejection letter from Jack and Jill Magazine when she was ten years old. As a naval officer, she served as a Staff Writer in the White House Liaison Office for the Secretary of the Navy. An early resident of East Beach, she helped establish several neighborhood traditions, including Bible Study and the 4th of July Parade, and is a founding member of the East Beach Writer’s Guild. She now lives on Lake Gaston, North Carolina. Website: http://rgkoepf.com  Blog: http://mollybrowndog.blogspot.com/.  R.G. is the author of "In The Trenches".


MARY-JAC O’DANIEL
Mary-Jac O’Daniel is originally from Richardson, TX. She has a Bachelor of Science in Education from Baylor University and she is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Speech Pathology from Old Dominion University. Mary-Jac is a former high school English teacher and track coach, who has taught in California and in China.  An avid traveler, Mary-Jac, has been able to visit every continent except Africa and Antarctica. She enjoys running, swimming, competitive sailing, and any excuse to have a glass of wine. Mary-Jac is a military spouse and lives in East Beach with her husband, Paul.   Mary-Jac is the author of "Zinnias Always Bloom".  

JAYNE ORMEROD
Jayne grew up in a small Ohio town then went on to a small-town Ohio college. Upon earning her degree in accounting she became a CIA (that’s not a sexy spy thing, but a Certified Internal Auditor.)  She married a naval officer and off they sailed to see the world. After fifteen moves she realized she needed a more transportable vocation, so turned to writing cozy mysteries.  Blond Faith is her latest release. Website: www.JayneOrmerod.com. Blog: www.JayneOrmerod.blogspot.com.  Jayne is the author of "Secrets" and "The Sniper Sisters".


MIKE OWENS
Mike, a retired physician, has undergraduate and medical degrees from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. He obtained his MFA degree in creative writing from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia in 2011. His nonfiction works include: Care of the Terminally Ill Cancer Patient (2002) and Primary Care Issues for End-of-Life Care (2003). His first novel, The End of Free Will, was published in January, 2014, followed by a second novel, The Threshold, in September 2014.  Website: www.MikeOwens42.com.  Mike is the author of "Herbie Meets His Match". 


JENNY F. SPARKS
Jenny Sparks was born and raised in South Carolina. She graduated from the College of Charleston with a BS in Sociology and a minor in Health and Gerontology.
Married for 26 years to a career naval officer she has lived throughout the United States and raised two sons. She has volunteered in various positions in her children’s schools and with the Navy in jobs ranging from PTA president to ombudsman. She has been employed as a preschool teacher, vocational education teacher, vocational consultant and senior center director. Jenny lives in Virginia with her husband and their dogs, Millie and Twyla.  Jenny is the author of "Millie's Missing Key".
Foreword written by JUANITA SMITH:  We are so grateful to original East Beach resident Juanita Smith who penned the foreword to BY THE BAY. Here is a little bit about Juanita, and why she is the perfect person to introduce our stories:
Juanita Smith is a retired Executive Director of Human Resources for the Defense Logistics Agency; President of Kingdom Building Equipping School, a former teacher of the East Beach Bible study group and author of the book What I Believe.
Juanita has a unique connection to what is now called East Beach. More than 60 years ago as a child, she played on this beach at a time when it was then called “City Beach”. Her grandparents were beach caretakers who lived in a cinderblock house behind the chain-link fence that enclosed the beach. Their job was to open the gate in the morning and close it in the evening after the last beach goers left. An annual visit to her grandparents’ house was considered her “summer vacation”. Juanita, her siblings and cousins spent many happy days playing on the hot sand, splashing in the shallow waters of the Chesapeake Bay, crabbing and climbing the large rocks that separated the bay from the Little Creek Channel where navy ships and commercial boats crisscross daily.
     She is a Norfolk native, who after graduating from Norfolk State University and working locally for twenty-five years as a civil servant for the navy in Human Resources, moved to Alexandria, Virginia, where she was promoted to a Senior Executive Service position for the Department of Defense. After retirement, Juanita and her husband, Willie decided to relocate to Norfolk, with the thought of purchasing a condo by the bay.
     Their search for a beach front condo did not go as they planned. They consider it serendipitous that they discovered a community called East Beach still in the development stage. A builder friend showed them blueprints of a large brick house situated on an unpaved street close to the bay. Though it was not quite what they initially imagined for a retirement home, it felt right and it was clearly a wonderful opportunity. In a matter of days, they contracted to purchase it and became the first East Beach home owners.
     It was only after the purchase of their “house by the bay” did Juanita experience an epiphany. She suddenly realized: “This is the old City Beach, the place where my grandparents lived in the ’50s and where I, as a child, spent my summers playing on the hot sand.” The small cinder block house they lived in had been replaced by a construction staging area, but the locked chain-link fence, and more importantly, the memories were still firmly in place. She had come a long way from summers spent with family on City Beach to retirement at East Beach.
     She says, “Finding East Beach was like going to the beach looking for a particular grain of sand---and finding it.”






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