Mae Clair
Hello, I’m Mae Clair, one of the reviewers at The Well Read Fish. I’m an author of mystery and suspense novels who also loves reading Christian fiction. I’m especially fond of stories set in Biblical times, whether Old Testament or New Testament. I also enjoy a good mystery/suspense novel with Christian influence. If the plot has historical elements or is flavored with esoteric themes like cryptozoology, the Nephilim, End Times, or puzzling oddities, so much the better.
As a sixteen-year-old, I still vividly recall opening the Bible to the Gospel of Matthew, then having my heart wrenched inside out when I read the Sermon on the Mount. The beauty of those passages reduced me to tears.
Since that encounter with the Lord in Matthew all those decades ago, I’ve read Christian fiction off and on. Then a few years past, I picked up a book called Pearl in the Sand by Tessa Afshar, and the spirit of revival flared in my heart. Since then, I’ve devoured Christian fiction on a regular basis. I’m delighted the genre has exploded in the decades since I was a teenager, and I look forward to sharing my reviews with you. I am so thankful for the gifted authors who draw our attention to Jesus, Savior and King!
Priscilla Bettis
Priscilla Bettis is an avid reader and a joyful writer. She lives in small-town Texas with her two-legged and four-legged family members. She is a former secular horror author who now writes Christian short stories and poetry. Whispers of a Southern Moon, Priscilla’s first Christian collection, is out now. Priscilla chats about life and writing on X.
Gwen Plano
Hello, I’m Gwen Plano, and I’m one of the reviewers at The Well Read Fish. I write in several genres – memoir, thriller, mystery, and currently romance. My books often include themes of forgiveness and redemption because both interweave with life’s mysteries.
I grew up on a farm, and in addition to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, we had two Bibles – one for adults, the other for kids. I read and reread the children’s bible stories until they lived in my imagination. My interest never dissipated over the years, but my questions mounted. So, as an adult, I enrolled in classes at a seminary and earned an advanced degree in Religious Studies. It’s not a surprise that, in one way or another, my stories include religious dimensions.
I love books that stretch the heart and make us think. And I’m especially drawn to stories that open doors to the everyday workings of God in our lives. I look forward to meeting you and sharing the reviews of some of the books that have touched me.
Joan Hall
Hello! I’m Joan Hall, one of the reviewers for The Well Read Fish. I’m the author of several mystery and suspense stories and also an avid reader. It’s not surprising that my favorite books to read are also mystery and suspense, but I also enjoy several genres. Recently, my interest in Christian fiction has been rekindled.
I grew up in a Christian home. I can still picture my father sitting at the kitchen table reading his Bible and remember my mother’s ardent prayers for her family. My paternal grandparents helped plant churches in the Dallas area several years before I was born. After high school, I worked almost five years for World Challenge, a Christian ministry founded by David Wilkerson, author of The Cross and The Switchblade.
I’m thrilled to be a part of this group and look forward to visiting with you and sharing my reviews.
Staci Troilo
Hi, friends. I’m Staci Troilo, and I’m delighted to be one of the reviewers here at The Well Read Fish. I was born into a devout family, and my faith has only strengthened through the years. I’ve volunteered at church, taught religious formation classes to children, and worked for a Christian nursing home in the development/communications department.
When I had my kids, I left the corporate world to be a stay-at-home mom, a decision I’ve never regretted. But I also had a deep sense of professional purpose that I couldn’t ignore, so I began freelance writing and editing. I’m now a multi-genre author with a body of work that includes (but isn’t limited to) cozies, suspense and thrillers, paranormal mysteries, and mainstream. Readers will find a common element across my catalogue—character-driven fiction with a focus on family (whether it’s defined by birth or by choice). You can find more information about me at my site.
Historically, most of my faith-centric reading was nonfiction… the Bible (of course), biographies of saints, prayer books, etc. In recent years, I’ve expanded my bookshelf to include works of Christian fiction, particularly in the mystery, suspense, thriller, and general fiction sub-genres. (That’s not to say I read or write exclusively in those categories. I don’t. But they do comprise a substantial percentage of what I enjoy these days.) With the genre growing and improving daily, there’s no shortage of works to read. I consider it a blessing and am very much looking forward to sharing my reviews with you and getting to know you better in our discussions.
Kelly Goshorn
Hello, I’m Kelly Goshorn and I’m thrilled to join the team of reviewers here at The Well Read Fish. At heart, I’m an old-fashioned girl trapped in the 21st century who loves Jesus and her family. For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved history and historical romances, both in print and on screen. As a native Virginian, I’ve had the privilege of living near some of our nation’s greatest historical treasures and can often be found dragging my family to a battlefield or a museum where I insist on reading every descriptive detail.
Inspired by my youngest son, I decided to tinker with storytelling. It was only a matter of time before my love of history and Christian fiction intertwined and my secret hobby became a God-given passion. Four years and two complete revisions later, my debut novel, A Love Restored, debuted with Pelican Book Group (2018). My non-fiction short story, Beautiful Words, is part of the Spoken Moments anthology (Grace Publishing, April 2015). I’ve since written two novellas, “The Veil,” (Barbour Publishing, April 2023) part of the Across the Shores novella collection and “The Christmas Carving,” part of the Chiseled on the Heart anthology (October 2023).
Through it all, I’ve been blessed to enjoy my own happily-ever-after with my husband and best friend, Mike, for 33 years. We make our home in the foothills of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains where together we’ve raised three children, four cats, two dogs, a turtle, a guinea pig, a gecko, and countless hamsters. Thankfully not all at the same time. When I’m not writing, I enjoy spending time with my adult children, binge-watching BBC period dramas, board gaming with my husband, and spoiling my Welsh corgi, Levi. I’d love to connect with you via my website.
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