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M&M Conference Speakers

Darynda Jones

Keynote Speaker

Bio:

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NYTimes and USA Today Bestselling Author Darynda Jones has won numerous awards for her work, including a prestigious RITA, a Golden Heart, and a Daphne du Maurier, and her books have been translated into 17 languages. As a born storyteller, Darynda grew up spinning tales of dashing damsels and heroes in distress for any unfortunate soul who happened by, certain they went away the better for it. She penned the internationally bestselling Charley Davidson series and is currently working on several beloved projects, most notably the Sunshine Vicram Mystery Series with St. Martin's Press and the Betwixt and Between Series of paranormal women's fiction. She lives in the Land of Enchantment, also known as New Mexico, with her husband and two beautiful sons, the Mighty, Mighty Jones Boys. 

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Watch Darynda's Video

Vanessa Vale

Workshop Speaker

Bio:

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Within five years, Vanessa forged two pen names from scratch to seven figures using the strategies and techniques shared in the Thrifty Tips For Authors Facebook group and Brick-By-Brick class. The beginnings of these came when she was banned from Facebook ads, forcing her to develop strong branding and marketing steps that are enduring and withstand the changes and whims of the publishing industry. She is still a go-to author for steamy small town romances, however has retired from her second pen name. Her Thrifty Tips for Authors Facebook group has over 3300 members.

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Watch Vanessa's Video

Berta Platas

Luncheon Speaker

Bio:

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  • Born in Havana, Cuba. My paternal grandparents emigrated there from Galicia, in northwestern Spain. Two generations later, we became refugees. I’m so grateful to have lived most of my life in the U.S.

  • I have four children and they have children of their own. I love my big family!

  • Married to the sexiest dude on the planet.

  • I’ve lived in Miami, Pittsburgh, New York, Charlotte and Atlanta, in that order. 

  • I have one sister, also a writer.

  • Still work at a fun day job in fintech.

  • Love martinis. Stolis, straight up, one olive.

  • I am currently addicted to jigsaw puzzles. This may change. I’m a Gemini, after all.

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