Kent Whitaker has taken his down-home, Southern-style cooking to an art-form. I find irresistible to do a bit more than burgers and dogs on the grill. He is the writer of many cookbooks, Tennessee Hometown Cookbook (Great American Publishers, 2007), Smoke in the Mountains (Quail Ridge Press, 2004) and Checkered Flag Cooking (Quail Ridge Press, 2005), and has written and illustrated two children’s books, Why are the Mountains Smoky? (Overmountain Press, 2004) and Big Mo’s Tennis Ball Hunt (Great American Publishers, 2006). Kent has appeared on the Food Network and other network television stations. He often hosts cooking classes at the Chattanooga Market and right through the South. He writes monthly articles for The National Barbecue News. Kent and his wife Ally live in East Tennessee with one son, Macee, a Golden Retriever named Moses and a Shitzu named Lucy. Sheila Simmons is passionate about cooking and cookbooks. In her travels, when people come to stay at her rambling house in the country, when entertaining, or even when watching one of her two boys play ball, the subject will at all times, eventually, turn to recipes. Sheila’s interest in regional recipes was once originally born all through her 18 years with Quail Ridge Press in Brandon, Mississippi. In 2006, she left QRP to focus her love of publishing on Great American Publishers and Great American Cookbooks where she is Publisher and co-owner with husband Roger. Sheila has also found an outlet for her regional recipe passion in the State Hometown Cookbook Series. She and co-writer Kent Whitaker collect favorite recipes from every state in the country for the series. A job that may be perfect for someone who loves to discuss and share great recipes. Sheila is a member of the International Association of Culinary Professionals. She lives in Lena, Mississippi with her husband Roger and two sons, Ryan and Nicholas. Along with publishing, cooking, and collecting recipes Sheila enjoys family, reading, antique cars and books.