Meet the Authors of Ballast Books | Published Writers & Storytellers

Meet Our Authors

Rosa

Miller

Rosa Miller resides in Boone, Iowa, with her loving husband and three children—with a fourth on the way! A doting mother with a background in education, Rosa homeschools her kids.

Frank

Demith

Frank Demith is a retired Army veteran who served on active duty for twenty-eight years.

Binod “Ben”

Thapa

Binod “Ben” Thapa is an avid golfer and world traveler who has worked for over twenty-five years in systems engineering.

Axel T.

Harper

Axel T. Harper is a fiction writer specializing in science fiction and fantasy genres.

Barbara Powers

Wyatt

Barbara Powers Wyatt is an accomplished artist and author, blending visual creativity with compelling storytelling.

Ben

Snyder Jr

Ben Snyder is fourteen years old and working toward earning an associate degree at Lake-Sumter State College.

Andy

Symonds

Andy Symonds is the President and Publisher of Ballast Books, bringing a wealth of experience in the publishing industry.

Brad

Ahlquist

Brad Ahlquist, a Texas resident, finds solace and self-expression in his recreational writing, often delving into short stories and inspirational pieces.

Amy

Salo

Amy Salo has always believed that knowledge isn’t just power—it’s empowerment. With a distinguished career in financial services, Amy has uncovered a glaring truth: many individuals aren’t receiving the comprehensive advice they deserve.

Andrea

Gallagher

Andrea Gallagher rose to national prominence after her husband, Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher, was imprisoned for war crimes he did not commit, fighting tirelessly behind the scenes.

Allyson

McCollum

Allyson McCollum lives in a secluded holler in the Georgia mountains, where she writes to procrastinate on her chores and does chores to procrastinate on writing.

Douglas

Fifer

Doug Fifer is a retired Alaskan police officer who specialized in crime scene analysis, deviant sexual crimes, hostage negotiations, and various special assignments throughout his twenty-five-year career.

Colonel Eric “Ferris”

Buer, USMC (Ret)

Colonel Eric “Ferris” Buer, USMC (Ret), is a retired Marine Corps officer and author focusing on leadership and strategy.

John P.

Lyons

John Patrick Lyons was born in Houston, Texas. At the age of 15, John went to work at the Port of Houston and later in the oilfields of South Texas.

David

Sears

David Sears is a retired U.S. Navy SEAL commander and author, sharing his extensive military experience and leadership insights through his writings.

D.E

Novak

D.E. Novak lives blissfully in Eugene, Oregon, with her beloved cats and betta fishes. She is a graduate of West Virginia University as well as the school of life.

Drew

Dusebout

Drew Dusebout has always had an entrepreneurial spirit.

Carol

GoldfainDavis MA, LPC

Carol GoldfainDavis is a licensed professional counselor with a master's degree, focusing on mental health and personal development in her writings.

Jennifer

Smith, PhD

Jennifer Smith has always been passionate about emerging infectious diseases like prions, Ebola virus, and 1918 influenza. She earned her doctoral degree in microbiology and molecular cell sciences...

Michael

Stutts

Michael Stutts is a corporate executive and client services leader who strives to leave companies and people better than he found them.

Michelle

Snyder

Michelle Snyder owns a private counseling practice in Winter Garden, Florida, where she provides mental health support to a variety of populations.

Matthew Q.

Lesser, MD

Matthew Q. Lesser started his career leading his family’s struggling business.

Kevin

Freeman

Kevin Freeman grew up in Maryland, where he currently serves as a pastor of Redland Baptist Church in Rockville.

LT Kegan "SMURF"

Gill

LT Kegan "SMURF" Gill is a retired U.S. Navy Lieutenant known for his resilience and dedication, sharing his experiences to inspire others.

Mary

Zahau-Loehner

Mary Zahau-Loehner graduated as a board-certified family nurse practitioner in 2005 and has been working in dermatology since 2008.

Mark

Burrell

Mark Burrell is originally from Pennsylvania and grew up in the Episcopal Church where he accepted Christ as a teenager.

Kevin

Cramer

Kevin Cramer is the proud father of a maniac two-year-old girl who will only go down the tallest slides at the park and a nine-year-old boy who’s trying to bankrupt him by being good at ice hockey.

Lauren

Green

Lauren Green has always been a voracious reader and inspired writer.

Roger

Smith

Roger Smith is the past CEO of American Income Life Insurance Co, National Income Life Insurance Co, and Liberty National Life Insurance Co.

R. H.

Emmers

R. H. Emmers has had a number of careers in his life: reporter and editor, crisis communications consultant, private detective, and insurance fraud investigator.

Sam

Carpenter

Sam Carpenter has owned/operated Cetratel for over four decades, with a background in engineering, construction management, publishing, and journalism.

Dudek

PJ Dudek has lived in Northeast Ohio his whole life. Despite being a major fan of the state, he is also inspired by the beauty of the larger world beyond the Ohio River and Great Lakes.

Shahar

Or Shahar is a seasoned technology leader with a passion for inspiring and driving teams to success . . .

Ron

Gross

Ron Gross, an MSc in CS from Technion, is a tech leader, Bitcoin advocate, and co-founder of the Israeli Bitcoin Association.

Tom

Oliva

Gunnery Sergeant Tom Oliva entered the United States Marine Corps in 1986 and retired in 2006.

Rear Admiral Kyle

Cozad

Rear Admiral Kyle Cozad graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1985. His Navy career centered around aviation training and operations, and he served extensively as an instructor pilot in multiple operational tours.

Schuyler

Williamson

Schuyler Williamson is a leadership expert and keynote speaker, award-winning entrepreneur, and military veteran who has consistently achieved at the highest level in every facet of his career.

Sven

Lundin

Sven Lundin is a retired businessman and avid outdoorsman. Born and educated in Sweden, he moved to the United States to pursue his career.

The Cast Iron

Crew

The Cast Iron Crew is MSOFC’s Family Dinner Team, composed of six spouses drawn from across Army, Navy, and Air Force special operations units.

Yousuf

Sediq

Yousuf Sediq is a former Afghan Special Forces operator who waged war for fourteen years against Al Qaeda and the Taliban.

Varpas

de Sa Pereira

Varpas de Sa Pereira has over fifteen years of military service as well as six years of psychology education and practice.

Mike S.

Adams

Mike S. Adams had a PhD in criminology and became a professor at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington (UNCW). He also wrote columns First Amendment and pro-life issues.

Rodney

Magallan

Rodney Magallan has spent over 35 years serving as a Navy SEAL, the US Marshals Service, the CIA, and as an executive protection manager in the corporate and private sector.

Kristin

Cronic

Kristin Cronic is an artist and author, blending her passion for visual arts with storytelling to create immersive experiences.

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