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Abraham, Ken
Akin, Genie
Alexander, Tasha

Alexander, Hudson

Allen, Mary

Allen, Nancy Evelyn (Hatchett)

Allen, William Fletcher

Anderson, Mary Trim

Anderson, Wren Smith

Armistead, Bob

Ash, William

Atkinson, Don

Atwood, Jeff

Augustine, Peg 
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Abraham, Ken

Following a childhood in the small Pennsylvania town of Clymer, Ken Abraham received his education at Indiana University, Asbury College, and Asbury Theological Seminary. He has been a professional musician, pastor, and motivational speaker. Writing was a part of all these career paths and gradually became his main focus. In addition to his own books, he has collaborated with many popular celebrities and public figures, including Paul Azinger, Dr. Jimmy Allen, and Jim Bakker, for which he has been featured on "20-20," "Larry King Live," and "Good Morning America." He also writes Bible commentaries and study guides. Abraham has authored more than 50 books with sales of more than 2 million copies. Abraham and his family moved to Williamson County in 1997.

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Akin, Genie

Genie Akin grew up on a large farm in Franklin, the daughter of one of the largest cattle breeders in Tennessee. On her farm near Lexington, Kentucky, she raises thoroughbred broodmares and racing stock, as well as breeding and selling hunter and jumper ponies. Akin donated the proceeds of her first book, a children’s title, Whose Children Are We?, to the Mary G. Copeland Foundation’s home for abused and neglected children, which she began in 1994.  She wrote a novel about the horse show world under the pen name Ellie Boatman.
 

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Alexander, Tasha (See Tyska, Tasha)

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Alexander, Hudson

            A native of Franklin, Hudson Alexander began writing for the Tennessean at age 17 while he was still attending Battle Ground Academy. He graduated from UT-Knoxville with a B.S. in communications, having worked summers in radio news at WKDA. Alexander has worked in radio, business, and freelance writing, mostly for Civil War publications. He has been a staff writer for Civil War News. He was inspired to write by the example of his grandfather, T. H. “Alex” Alexander, who was the first nationally syndicated columnist.

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Allen, Mary (1941-  )

            Mary Allen attended Nashville elementary schools, moved to Williamson County in 1954, and graduated from Franklin High School in 1960. Her poetry has won several awards and has been published by Quill Press, World of Poetry, Great Lakes Poetry Press, and Sparrow Grass Poetry. Allen says that readers should focus on her poems, not her accomplishments. She writes, "It is my expressed hope that these poems will be of encouragement to anyone who seeks to use their talents for the betterment of humanity and for the glory of God."

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Allen, Nancy Evelyn (Hatchett) (1941-  )

            Nancy Allen grew up on a Bell Buckle, Tennessee farm. Nancy has had varied work experiences as a cosmetologist, a day care manager, a minister of education, adult group home manager and Baptist Sunday School Board employee. After retiring three times she is now devoted to full-time writing from her home in Nolensville. Interested in storytelling as early as high school, she only began writing in her later years. Her writing experience is significantly influenced, not only by her work experiences, but also by the different places she has lived in the states and in Germany. As a graduate of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, almost all her writing includes a Christian content.

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Allen, William Fletcher (1931-  )
 

            Fletcher Allen, along with two brothers and three sisters, grew up on a farm in South Carolina, where he learned to appreciate hard work and high thinking. His large family is the subject of his book. Allen graduated from Furman University in Greenville, S.C. and entered a career of writing and editing, a lifetime occupation interrupted only by a stint in the army during the Korean War. He worked on Baptist denominational newspapers in South Carolina, Maryland, and more recently Tennessee. He came to Franklin, Williamson County, in 1987. In retirement Allen has published poetry and essays.

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Anderson, Mary Trim (1910-  )
 

            Born in Maury County, Mary Trim Anderson grew up in Thompson’s Station, attended UT-Knoxville, and received her master's degree from Peabody. She taught English in the Williamson County, Franklin City, and Maury County schools for 44 years before her retirement in 1975. She has served as president of the Tennessee Council of Teachers of English, the Franklin Business and Professional Women’s Club, Delta Kappa Gamma Professional Society, and the Williamson County Historical Society. She has made frequent contributions to the annual journal of the historical society and has served as its editor several times, most notably for the 1976 bicentennial edition. Her book was added to the selective historical collection of the DAR Library in Washington, D.C.

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Anderson, Wren Smith
 

            Inspired by a seventh grade teacher in her home city of Knoxville, Tennessee, Wren Anderson began to write plays and stories. She dreamed of someday writing and illustrating her own children’s book. While majoring in advertising at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Wren also studied art. After working in sales for a few years, she attended Middle Tennessee State University, received her M.Ed. in business education and became a teacher in Williamson County high schools. She continued to sketch, write and dream of writing a children’s book. Inspired by a family member’s true story, Wren wrote her first children’s book.

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Armistead, Bob (1952-  )
 

            Bob Armistead was born in Franklin and graduated from Battle Ground Academy. He attended Vanderbilt University on a football scholarship and majored in history. Since graduation in 1971, he has made his home in Nashville, where he has a gallery and related internet business that deal in Civil War art and battle souvenirs. The titles of his works show that his main interest is Civil War history.

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Ash, William  (see Hooper, Charles)
 

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Atkinson, Don
 

            Don Atkinson grew up and was educated in the Huntsville, Alabama area. He received his master and doctoral degrees from Baptist seminaries and served pastorates in Alabama and Georgia before coming to serve as an editor and writer with the Baptist Sunday School Board (LifeWay Christian Resources) in Nashville and to live in Franklin. In addition to his work with the Board, Atkinson has served as pastor of Walker Memorial Baptist Church in Franklin. He is also an avid sports fan—the Crimson Tide above all.

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Atwood, Jeff (1964- )
 

            Jeff Atwood was born in Madison, Wisconsin, and spent his formative years in Wisconsin, Iowa, Indiana and Pennsylvania, all of which influenced his outlook on life and family values. His love for writing was born from his affection for books at an early age. His book Our Big, Big God was influenced by conversations about God with his daughter, who has significant mental and physical disabilities. Jeff was educated at Purdue University and has had a career in communications, advertising/public relations, and marketing. He now resides in Brentwood.

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Augustine, Peg (1948-  )
 

            Born in Virginia, Peg Augustine attended Scarritt College, earning a degree in Christian education. A resident of Franklin, she is a children’s book editor at the United Methodist Publishing House in Nashville and pastor of historic Garrison United Methodist Church near Leiper’s Fork. Augustine’s books for children are affordable, inspirational, and colorfully illustrated stories of Christmas, Easter, and Bible characters.

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