Grayslake AuthorFest

Grayslake AuthorFest We bring together local authors, readers, and aspiring writers. Save the Date: Saturday, July 18, 2026

Grayslake Arts AllianceZee Lacson - Author is the award-winning author of a bestselling trilogy and a standalone nov...
05/28/2026

Grayslake Arts Alliance

Zee Lacson - Author is the award-winning author of a bestselling trilogy and a standalone novel. Recognized as one of the Philippine Consulate General in Chicago's 80 for 80 Filipino-American Women Leaders of 2026, her book “Twice Removed” received the Young Adult Best Indie Book Award (BIBA®) in 2024 and the International Impact Book Award in 2025.

Born and raised in Manila, Philippines, Zee’s work is shaped by a diverse career as an engineer, educator, photographer, business owner and artist. Her novels examine identity with authentic representation. And a touch of magic.

Zee enjoys a good coffee or fine wine. Depending on the time of day. And sushi. Anytime.

www.ZeeLacson.com

Grayslake AuthorFest 2026 is Saturday, July 18, in downtown Grayslake, Illinois.

Sandra Macek is the author of the young adult scifi series the Scorched Earth. After completing a degree in rhetoric,...
05/28/2026



Sandra Macek is the author of the young adult scifi series the Scorched Earth. After completing a degree in rhetoric, she dreamed of becoming a novelist; instead she got a job so she could eat. Now Sandra is an IT professional by day and a writer by night — surviving suburbia on a continuous diet of girl-power fiction.

She's a member of SCBWI and Chicago Writers Association. Sandra facilitates a critique group through her local library and enjoys several book clubs.

Given the chance to be anyone else, Sandra would be Buffy, Bella or any woman in Paris.

www.SandraMacek.com

Grayslake AuthorFest 2026 is Saturday, July 18, in downtown Grayslake, Illinois.

Alex Dove was born in Michigan and spent his formative years moving around the East Coast and Midwest with his parent...
05/28/2026



Alex Dove was born in Michigan and spent his formative years moving around the East Coast and Midwest with his parents.

He graduated from Indiana University and, several years later, Alex earned a second bachelor’s degree from DeVry University, graduating Summa Cum Laude. He continued with his education, earning a third degree – a master’s in history – from Eastern Illinois University.

After teaching history as an adjunct professor, Alex strove to make even more of an impact and shifted his focus to writing. That was when he authored his first novel, “The Lost Demigod.” It is the first in a six-book series, The Demigod Chronicles.

https://alexdove.com

Grayslake AuthorFest 2026 is Saturday, July 18, in downtown Grayslake, Illinois.

RE Bunch is a girl, writer and skeleton with eyes from Chicago. She is best known for her award-winning novella, “The...
05/27/2026



RE Bunch is a girl, writer and skeleton with eyes from Chicago. She is best known for her award-winning novella, “The By-Blow Promise Land” (The BookFest 2024); short story collection “Phobias;” fiction chapbook “Next of Kin;” and her most recent novel, “Red Horn.” RE placed third in Southern New Hampshire University’s Fall Fiction Contest for her story, “Sleeping Beauty.” She blends elements of magical realism and Midwestern gothic to craft macabre tales that horrify and enchant readers. RE is currently pursuing a master’s degree in creative writing and English at Southern New Hampshire University.

https://linktr.ee/anxiousdogpress

Grayslake AuthorFest 2026 is Saturday, July 18, in downtown Grayslake, Illinois.

Taylor Schafer- Author is an avid reader turned passionate writer known for her captivating, smutty books. With a fea...
05/27/2026



Taylor Schafer- Author is an avid reader turned passionate writer known for her captivating, smutty books. With a fearless approach to storytelling, Taylor delves into the realm of passion and desire, crafting steamy narratives that leave readers spellbound. When she's not writing, Taylor enjoys the company of her two cats, Cowboy and Bandit. Her love for all things Christmas often finds its way into her work, infusing stories with warmth and joy.

https://linktr.ee/trose_1234

Grayslake AuthorFest 2026 is Saturday, July 18, in downtown Grayslake, Illinois.

Rebecca Garner, Author’s teenage years were filled with embarrassing moments. Now, she reimagines them through Emma B...
05/27/2026



Rebecca Garner, Author’s teenage years were filled with embarrassing moments. Now, she reimagines them through Emma Bishop, a girl with normal experiences, like an awkward and gross first kiss or a break-up gone wrong.

She is the author of the award-winning coming-of-age novel, “Why Won’t My B***s Grow… and Other Annoyances” and the sequel, “Dear Boyfriend… and Other High School Dilemmas.”

Rebecca is a teenage girl, even in her 30s, with more emotions than she knows what to do with and a habit of still embarrassing herself. She currently lives in the suburbs of Chicago with her husband and children.

www.rebeccagarnerauthor.com

Grayslake AuthorFest 2026 is Saturday, July 18, in downtown Grayslake, Illinois.

Rachelle Paige Campbell writes bestselling contemporary romance novels filled with heart and hope. She believes love ...
05/26/2026



Rachelle Paige Campbell writes bestselling contemporary romance novels filled with heart and hope. She believes love and laughter can change lives, and every story needs a happily ever after.

https://rachellepaigecampbell.com

Grayslake AuthorFest 2026 is Saturday, July 18, in downtown Grayslake, Illinois.

CJ Warrant is a best-selling author for dark romantic thrillers, suspense and contemporary romance. Her alter ego is ...
05/26/2026



CJ Warrant is a best-selling author for dark romantic thrillers, suspense and contemporary romance. Her alter ego is CJ Barlowe, who writes MM romance. She is a lover of strong coffee, baking and family, but not always in that order. She is a wife, a mother of three and worked in the beauty industry for many years until writing romance became her passion. Now a full-time author, CJ is happy being home and writing dark, gritty stories to life.

https://cjwarrant.com

Grayslake AuthorFest 2026 is Saturday, July 18, in downtown Grayslake, Illinois.

A Star Wars ju**ie and Shakespeare groupie who quotes both Yoda and the Bard with equal aplomb, USA Today bestselling...
05/26/2026



A Star Wars ju**ie and Shakespeare groupie who quotes both Yoda and the Bard with equal aplomb, USA Today bestselling author Melonie Johnson – aka – loves dark coffee, cheap wine and expensive beer. And margaritas. And mimosas. And mules. Basically any cocktail that starts with the letter m. Declared a “writer to watch” by Kirkus and a “fizzy, engrossing new voice” by Entertainment Weekly, Melonie’s smart, funny, contemporary romances are known for their witty banter and strong cast of female friendships.

https://meloniejohnson.com

Grayslake AuthorFest 2026 is Saturday, July 18, in downtown Grayslake, Illinois.

M.P. McDonald writes bestselling thrillers and post-apocalyptic fiction about ordinary people thrust into extraordina...
05/23/2026



M.P. McDonald writes bestselling thrillers and post-apocalyptic fiction about ordinary people thrust into extraordinary circumstances. Her stories feature reluctant heroes — characters who never set out to save the world but find the courage to act when everything is on the line.

M. P. is the author of more than 19 novels, including the bestselling Sympatico Syndrome series, the Mark Taylor Thrillers and her latest dystopian novel, “The Stranger Beneath the Broken Sky.” Her books have reached the Top 100 in the Kindle Store, with “No Good Deed” climbing as high as No. 15 overall and earning more than 10,000 reader reviews.

https://mpmcdonald.com

Grayslake AuthorFest 2026 is Saturday, July 18, in downtown Grayslake, Illinois.

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