CAW Executive Board 2026

Tammy Barron, President of Cartersville Area Writers, is a passionate storyteller with a BFA in Theatre from the University of Utah and a BS in Education from Shorter University. Her background in performance and education deeply informs her writing, bringing a rich, narrative-driven approach to her work. Tammy was a contributing writer for Northwest Georgia Living in her three-year column, Blackberry Hills. In 2018, she joined V3 Publications contributing the monthly column, Opened Doors, in addition to features highlighting local businesses and community leaders. Tammy lives on a farm in Rome, Georgia, with her husband and two children, where she continues to weave stories about life, place, and community. 

When not writing, Brie Sutherland roams the mountains and valleys of Northeast Georgia with her two boys.  Besides noodling around with fantasy novels, she loves baking, gardening, sewing, and all manner of handicrafts. You can read her recent work and thoughts at Briesutherland.com. 

Kayla Cromer is a fiction writer based in Northwest Georgia, crafting stories that blend emotional depth with vivid, grounded imagery. Her work often explores themes of resilience, family, and the quiet magic of the natural world. With a background in technology and design, she brings a sharp eye to structure and voice. Outside of writing, Kayla enjoys tinkering with digital tools, relaxing with her two cats, and gaming with her husband. Whether working on a short story or a full-length novel, she’s passionate about creating meaningful narratives that linger long after the last page. 

Kris Owens, who writes under the pen name K Owens, is a sci-fi and fantasy author interested in branching out into drama. He is the Treasurer for Cartersville Area Writers. When he's not working in law enforcement, he spends his time writing and sharing his work on his Substack, https://authorkowens.substack.com/. Kris Owens lives with his wife and child who support and motivate him to work harder.

KD Smith is an alumna of Berry College, a poet, and a short story writer who grew up in the southern foothills of the Appalachians. She is a founding member and serves on the board of Cartersville Area Writers (CAW), where she holds the position of Social Media/Promotions Director. She is a member of Broadleaf Writers Association and The Atlanta Writers Club. Her work has been published or is forthcoming in various literary magazines, including Academy of the Heart and Mind, The Dead Mule School of Southern Literature, Poetic Sun, The Literary Yard, The Old Red Kimono, and CAW The Crow Speaks Volumes I , II, and III, among others. You can find KD on her website, kdsmiththewriter.com, as well as on most other social media platforms. She lives in the hills of North Georgia with her husband, Greg, and Wiley the Literary Cat.