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SPEAKER BIOS

Emmy® Award-winning talk show host Tamron Hall is the host and executive producer of the popular nationally syndicated talk show “Tamron Hall.” Formerly of the “Today show,” she has also hosted six seasons of “Deadline: Crime” on Investigation Discovery. While at NBC, she was a recipient of the Edward R. Murrow Award for her report on domestic abuse. Tamron currently serves as an advocate for domestic violence awareness. With more than two decades of journalism experience, including her six years as the host of the “Deadline: Crime” series on Investigation Discovery, Tamron Hall has a unique wealth of knowledge about the world of crime reporting. Drawing on this and her own personal experience of losing a sister to murder, Tamron’s newly released book, AS THE WICKED WATCH, is the dazzling debut volume of her new crime thriller series.

Tamron Hall

Emmy® Award-winning talk show host Tamron Hall is the host and executive producer of the popular nationally syndicated talk show “Tamron Hall.” Formerly of the “Today show,” she has also hosted six seasons of “Deadline: Crime” on Investigation Discovery. While at NBC, she was a recipient of the Edward R. Murrow Award for her report on domestic abuse. Tamron currently serves as an advocate for domestic violence awareness. With more than two decades of journalism experience, including her six years as the host of the “Deadline: Crime” series on Investigation Discovery, Tamron Hall has a unique wealth of knowledge about the world of crime reporting. Drawing on this and her own personal experience of losing a sister to murder, Tamron’s newly released book, AS THE WICKED WATCH, is the dazzling debut volume of her new crime thriller series.
Jeffery Deaver is an award-winning, international number one best-selling author of more than 40 novels and three collections of short stories. His four series include novels about criminologist Lincoln Rhyme, who is a quadriplegic, and novels about Colter Shaw, an itinerate “reward-seeker,” who helps solve crimes and locate missing persons. Films based on his novels include The Bone Collector and A Maiden’s Grave. Deaver’s latest novels are The Final Twist and The Midnight Lock.

Jeffery Deaver

Jeffery Deaver is an award-winning, international number one best-selling author of more than 40 novels and three collections of short stories. His four series include novels about criminologist Lincoln Rhyme, who is a quadriplegic, and novels about Colter Shaw, an itinerate “reward-seeker,” who helps solve crimes and locate missing persons. Films based on his novels include The Bone Collector and A Maiden’s Grave. Deaver’s latest novels are The Final Twist and The Midnight Lock.
USA Today and international bestselling author Alison Gaylin has won the Edgar and Shamus awards, and has been nominated for the Anthony, Macavity, ITW Thriller and Strand Book Awards, among others. Her short story, “Where I Belong,” has been chosen for this year’s Best American Mysteries and Suspense anthology, guest edited by Alafair Burke, while “The Gift,” another one of her short stories, was chosen for The Best Mystery Stories of the Year, guest edited by Lee Child. Her 12th novel, The Collective, was recently published.

Alison Gaylin

USA Today and international bestselling author Alison Gaylin has won the Edgar and Shamus awards, and has been nominated for the Anthony, Macavity, ITW Thriller and Strand Book Awards, among others. Her short story, “Where I Belong,” has been chosen for this year’s Best American Mysteries and Suspense anthology, guest edited by Alafair Burke, while “The Gift,” another one of her short stories, was chosen for The Best Mystery Stories of the Year, guest edited by Lee Child. Her 12th novel, The Collective, was recently published.
Rachel Howzell Hall is the critically acclaimed author and Los Angeles Times Book Prize finalist for And Now She’s Gone, which was also nominated for the Lefty-, Barry-, Shamus- and Anthony Awards, and the Audible Originals bestseller How It Ends. A New York Times bestselling author of The Good Sister with James Patterson, Rachel is an Anthony-, International Thriller Writers- and Lefty Award nominee for her novel They All Fall Down. Her newly published 7th novel These Toxic Things already has earned high praise.

Rachel Howzell Hall

Rachel Howzell Hall is the critically acclaimed author and Los Angeles Times Book Prize finalist for And Now She’s Gone, which was also nominated for the Lefty-, Barry-, Shamus- and Anthony Awards, and the Audible Originals bestseller How It Ends. A New York Times bestselling author of The Good Sister with James Patterson, Rachel is an Anthony-, International Thriller Writers- and Lefty Award nominee for her novel They All Fall Down. Her newly published 7th novel These Toxic Things already has earned high praise.
Oline H. Cogdill reviews mystery fiction for the Sun-Sentinel in Fort Lauderdale/Tribune Publishing Wire, Publishers Weekly, Shelf Awareness, Associated Press and Mystery Scene magazine. She has received the 2013 Raven Award from the Mystery Writers of America, the 1999 Ellen Nehr Award by the American Crime Writers League, and the 1997 Sun Sentinel’s Pettijohn Award. Oline has been a judge for the 2020 and 2021 Los Angeles Times Book Prize in the mystery/thriller category.

Oline Cogdill

Oline H. Cogdill reviews mystery fiction for the Sun-Sentinel in Fort Lauderdale/Tribune Publishing Wire, Publishers Weekly, Shelf Awareness, Associated Press and Mystery Scene magazine. She has received the 2013 Raven Award from the Mystery Writers of America, the 1999 Ellen Nehr Award by the American Crime Writers League, and the 1997 Sun Sentinel’s Pettijohn Award. Oline has been a judge for the 2020 and 2021 Los Angeles Times Book Prize in the mystery/thriller category.
A leading authority in the do-it-yourself home improvement field, Ron Hazelton is the host of his own home improvement series, "Ron Hazelton's HouseCalls," now in its 21st season. Formerly, he was the Home Improvement Editor for ABC's "Good Morning America". As founder of the online destination www.ronhazelton.com, he’s an enthusiastic advocate for the internet and believes that television and digital platforms are the ideal mediums for delivering how-to content to home improvement enthusiasts.

Ron Hazelton

A leading authority in the do-it-yourself home improvement field, Ron Hazelton is the host of his own home improvement series, “Ron Hazelton’s HouseCalls,” now in its 21st season. Formerly, he was the Home Improvement Editor for ABC’s “Good Morning America”. As founder of the online destination www.ronhazelton.com, he’s an enthusiastic advocate for the internet and believes that television and digital platforms are the ideal mediums for delivering how-to content to home improvement enthusiasts.
Dr. Diane Darby Beach is a Gerontologist in private practice in San Diego. She has a Master's Degree in Public Health and a Doctorate in Education and has 28 years of experience in the area of Health Promotion and Eldercare. During that time, she has trained thousands of staff caregivers who care for residents and other persons with dementia. She counsels family members and provides support groups for those coping with this disease and is interviewed frequently as a dementia expert. She has presented her work at several national and international conferences and has been published in The Journal of Gerontological Nursing, The Hospice Journal, The Journal of Gerontological Social Work, and many others. She teaches at CSU San Marcos and the San Diego Community College District.

Dr. Diane Darby Beach, MPH, Ph.D

Dr. Diane Darby Beach is a Gerontologist in private practice in San Diego. She has a Master’s Degree in Public Health and a Doctorate in Education and has 28 years of experience in the area of Health Promotion and Eldercare. During that time, she has trained thousands of staff caregivers who care for residents and other persons with dementia. She counsels family members and provides support groups for those coping with this disease and is interviewed frequently as a dementia expert. She has presented her work at several national and international conferences and has been published in The Journal of Gerontological Nursing, The Hospice Journal, The Journal of Gerontological Social Work, and many others. She teaches at CSU San Marcos and the San Diego Community College District.
Dallas Blaney is the Executive Director at Challenge America and a Navy Veteran. In this role, Dallas works with a talented team of creative professionals to develop and administer innovative initiatives that use technology and the creative arts to improve the lives of Veterans and their families. Among these are the Veteran Arts Community (CAVARTS), Makers For Veterans (CAMVETS), and The Military Sisterhood Initiative (MSI). Prior to joining Challenge America, Dallas was an Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Wisconsin, where he taught courses on International Relations, America Government, Global Environmental Politics, and Politics of Developing Areas.

Dallas Blaney

Dallas Blaney is the Executive Director at Challenge America and a Navy Veteran. In this role, Dallas works with a talented team of creative professionals to develop and administer innovative initiatives that use technology and the creative arts to improve the lives of Veterans and their families. Among these are the Veteran Arts Community (CAVARTS), Makers For Veterans (CAMVETS), and The Military Sisterhood Initiative (MSI). Prior to joining Challenge America, Dallas was an Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Wisconsin, where he taught courses on International Relations, America Government, Global Environmental Politics, and Politics of Developing Areas.
Ann Abernethy began her television career in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma as a Vice-President of Promotion at the ABC affiliate station, as well as hosting a public-affairs talk show. After meeting Regis Philbin at an ABC interview junket, she became his co-host on “The Morning Show, WABC-TV, New York City. After working on-air in New York and Los Angeles, Ann moved to Santa Barbara, Ca. to raise her children and continue her career in television, as well as pursuing her love of real estate development. While in California, she created a news feature called “ParentTalk”, which aired on the ABC affiliate for 5 years. Community has always been an important part of Ann’s life. Whether acting as President of the Montecito Educational Foundation, hosting 18 annual telethons for The Unity Shoppe in Santa Barbara, emceeing the Vince Gill and Amy Grant annual Challenge Aspen Gala, or performing auctioneer and emcee tasks as a volunteer for numerous non-profits, she always finds the connection fulfilling whether in California or in the Roaring Fork Valley of Colorado, where she now lives and works full-time as a top real estate broker. Her “Women and Wine” events have featured Ann’s interviews with outstanding women leaders. She is currently launching a video/audio show called, “Beyond Badass: How fierce women get it done”. The show features powerful interviews with women who have overcome major obstacles and succeeded on their own.

Ann Abernethy

Ann Abernethy began her television career in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma as a Vice-President of Promotion at the ABC affiliate station, as well as hosting a public-affairs talk show. After meeting Regis Philbin at an ABC interview junket, she became his co-host on “The Morning Show, WABC-TV, New York City. After working on-air in New York and Los Angeles, Ann moved to Santa Barbara, Ca. to raise her children and continue her career in television, as well as pursuing her love of real estate development. While in California, she created a news feature called “ParentTalk”, which aired on the ABC affiliate for 5 years. Community has always been an important part of Ann’s life. Whether acting as President of the Montecito Educational Foundation, hosting 18 annual telethons for The Unity Shoppe in Santa Barbara, emceeing the Vince Gill and Amy Grant annual Challenge Aspen Gala, or performing auctioneer and emcee tasks as a volunteer for numerous non-profits, she always finds the connection fulfilling whether in California or in the Roaring Fork Valley of Colorado, where she now lives and works full-time as a top real estate broker. Her “Women and Wine” events have featured Ann’s interviews with outstanding women leaders. She is currently launching a video/audio show called, “Beyond Badass: How fierce women get it done”. The show features powerful interviews with women who have overcome major obstacles and succeeded on their own.
Sam the Cooking Guy is an everyday guy, who just happens to have 15 Emmys! Sam found a way to make cooking casually understandable. With no fancy equipment and by speaking English instead of ‘chef-speak,’ he’s sort of the everyman of cooking. With two shows, the TV show SAM THE COOKING GUY airs in 25 markets across the country, and my online show, STCGO. Both are shot right in his house – and he cooks with his kids, dogs – just like we all do. There’s no fois gras… no white truffle oil, no ‘Peruvian mountain-raised squab in sesame-lime-soy marinade stuffed with braised forest turnips and wild enoki mushrooms in a hand pressed plum and raspberry glaze’. He’s just a regular guy, using regular words showing how to cook easy, great food… Food that’s ‘big in taste and small in effort’. It’s a handful of ingredients and a few steps – that’s it.

Sam Zien – Sam the Cooking Guy

Sam the Cooking Guy is an everyday guy, who just happens to have 15 Emmys! Sam found a way to make cooking casually understandable. With no fancy equipment and by speaking English instead of ‘chef-speak,’ he’s sort of the everyman of cooking. With two shows, the TV show SAM THE COOKING GUY airs in 25 markets across the country, and my online show, STCGO. Both are shot right in his house – and he cooks with his kids, dogs – just like we all do. There’s no fois gras… no white truffle oil, no ‘Peruvian mountain-raised squab in sesame-lime-soy marinade stuffed with braised forest turnips and wild enoki mushrooms in a hand pressed plum and raspberry glaze’. He’s just a regular guy, using regular words showing how to cook easy, great food… Food that’s ‘big in taste and small in effort’. It’s a handful of ingredients and a few steps – that’s it.
Katie Quinn is a video creator, podcast host, and cookbook author. Every week she posts food and travel videos to her YouTube channel, QKatie, which has over 57,000 subscribers. She has appeared on NBC's Today, as a contestant on the Food Network's Chopped, and as a judge on Beat Bobby Flay. She attended Le Cordon Bleu in Paris and is the author of Short Stack Editions' Avocados cookbook. Before starting the QKatie brand, she worked for Serious Eats as a writer, NBC as a video producer, and NowThis News as a video host. She currently lives in Italy.

Katie Quinn

Katie Quinn is a video creator, podcast host, and cookbook author. Every week she posts food and travel videos to her YouTube channel, QKatie, which has over 57,000 subscribers. She has appeared on NBC’s Today, as a contestant on the Food Network’s Chopped, and as a judge on Beat Bobby Flay. She attended Le Cordon Bleu in Paris and is the author of Short Stack Editions’ Avocados cookbook. Before starting the QKatie brand, she worked for Serious Eats as a writer, NBC as a video producer, and NowThis News as a video host. She currently lives in Italy.

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