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Resume

Summery

I’ve always believed stories find us when we need them most. Mine usually start with ordinary people trying to do the right thing, even when life gives them every reason not to. I’m an award-winning author and artist with roots sunk deep in Appalachian soil and a heart that still belongs to the wide skies of the West.

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Writing as Mina Beckett, Shelby James, and Cager Elliott, I explore love, loss, and the strength that carries us through both. Mina tells stories of contemporary Western and small-town romance—sometimes tender, sometimes tangled with danger and suspense. Shelby captures the sweeter side of love, the kind that blooms slow and steady and makes you sigh with satisfaction after you read final word. And as Cager Elliott, I step into the shadowed backroads of the South to write noir-tinged psychological suspense—stories where the past doesn’t just haunt, it hunts; where good and evil share the same bloodline, and redemption is a rumor whispered through the dark.

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Since 2005, I’ve built a life around words and art. My work has appeared in Woman’s World, Sasee Magazine, and Micromance Magazine. In 2018, I founded CurtissLynn Publishing, an independent press that lets me follow my instincts—to write what I love, paint what I feel, and tell stories that stay with people long after the last page.

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My paintings, much like my books, explore the human condition—our hunger for belonging, our battles with loss, and the quiet victories that shape who we become. Across all my work runs a single thread. That is the spirit’s stubborn will to rise again, to make meaning from both the wreckage and the wonder.

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Even in Cager Elliott’s darker tales—where love is often lost and the past refuses to stay buried—the truth remains the same: what we survive, and what we carry forward, defines who we are.

Mina Beckett

Education

Publications

Skills & Expertise

Writing Highlights

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  • Associate Degree in Technology

  • Dual Bachelor’s Degrees in Business Administration and Management

  • Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership

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Novels

  • Sullivan's Way. 5Prince Publishing, 2016

  • Love Find's Its Way. 5Prince Publishing, 2017

  • The Heartbreak Cowboy. CurtissLynn Publishing, 2018

  • The Fallen Cowboy. CurtissLynn Publishing, 2018

  • A Cowboy Charming Christmas. CurtissLynn Publishing, 2019

  • Breaking the Cowboy. CurtissLynn Publishing, 2021

  • Coldiron Cowboy's Boxset. CurtissLynn Publishing, 2022

  • Hollywood Cowboy. CurtissLynn Publishing, 2023

  • A Cold Montana Christmas. CurtissLynn Publishing, 2024

  • Snowbound Hearts. CurtissLynn Publishing, 2024

  • Roughneck Cowboy. CurtissLynn Publishing, 2025​

  • A Christmas Wish Come True. CurtissLynn Publishing, 2024

  • The Key to My Heart Inn. CurtissLynn Publishing, 2024

  • The Thanksgiving Pie Pact, CurtissLynn Publishing, 2025

  • The Hour Between Dog and Wolf. CurtissLynn Publishing, 2025

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Novella's

  • The Cowboy's Goodnight Kiss. CurtissLyn Publishing, 2018

  • Trapped In Temptation. CurtissLynn Publishing, 2024

  • Secrets Behind the Masquerade. CurtissLynn Publishing, 2024

  • Once Upon a Halloween. CurtissLynn Publishing, 2024

  • When August Ends, CurtissLynn Publishing, 2025

 

Novelette's

  • Diva Cat's & Cheap Bubbly. CurtissLynn Publishing, 2025

  • Love on the Line. CurtissLynn Publishing, 2025

  • Runaway Bridesmaid. CurtissLynn Publishing, 2025

  • The Beach House Bet. CurtissLynn Publishing, 2025

  • Once More Goodbye. CurtissLynn Publishing, 2025

  • Once Loved. CurtissLynn Publishing, 2025

  • Under a July Moon. CurtissLynn Publishing, 2025

  • When August Ends. CurtissLynn Publishing, 2025

  • Betting On Alaska. CurtissLynn Publishing, 2025

  • Stone Heart Ranch. CurtissLynn Publishing, 2025

  • Stone Heart Rogue, CurtissLynn Publishing, 2025

  • Nicolas & the Nine Impossible Gifts, CurtissLynn Publishing, 2025

 

 

Short Stories

  • A Starlight Vineyard Romance, Micromance Magazine, 2024

  • A Sky-High Romance, CurtissLynn Publishing, 2024

  • The Friendship Fall, CurtissLynn Publishing, 2024

  • A Heart Full of Thanks, CurtissLynn Publishing, 2024

  • A Winterberry Christmas, Micromance Magazine, 2024

  • A December to Begin Again, CurtissLynn Publishing, 2024

  • A Star Spangled Reunion, Woman's World Magazine, 2024

  • The Sweet Side of Mix-Up, Woman's World Magazine, 2024

  • The Missing Tom Mystery, Woman's World Magazine, 2024

  • Dance of Second Chances, Woman's World Magazine, 2024

  • Breaking the Ice, Woman's World Magazine, 2025

  • Unexpected Dinner Date, Woman's World Magazine, 2025​

  • Bumping Into Love, KissMeet Quarterly, Micromance Magazine, Spring 2025

  •  Contributing Author, Christmas at Murphy's," KissMeet Quarterly anthology, Micromance Magazine, 2025

  • A Love Match Made In Flannel, Woman's World Magazine, 2025

  • Friendsgiving at the Wrong Door, Women's World Magazine, 2025

  • Christmas At Murphy's, KissMeet Quarterly, Micromance Magazine, Winter 2026

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Article's and Essay's

  • Healing Through Courageous Creativity, Sasee Magazine, 2024. Featured essay & cover artist. Infinite Sprit

  • Those Who Fight For Love, Sasee Magazine, 2025
  • A Look Back: Trusting the Process, Romantic Reader Newsletter, 2025
  • When the Story Pulls You Under: The Seduction of Escape,  Let's Talk Publishing, 2025
  • The Romance Industry's Plot Twist Nobody Saw Coming: When Mass Market Dies and Digital Takes Over, Let's Talk Publishing, 2025

  • Dancing Between Worlds: The Beautiful Juggling Act of Living Two Creative Lives, Let's Talk Publishing, 2025

  • Zoning Out and Getting Words Down: Building My Catalog, Let's Talk Publishing, 2025

  • Gollum, Epic Dreams and Sugar Therapy, Let's Talk Publishing, 2025

  • From Hallmark to Homicide: Changing writing lanes like I'm auditioning for Fast & Furious, Let's Talk Publishing, 2025

  • ​When Wisdom Becomes Fear in Comfortable Shoes: The difference between being wise and being afraid, Let's Talk Publishing, 2025

  • The Gentle Kind: How we learn to read what’s not said., Let's Talk Publishing, 2025

  • Romance Isn’t Dead, But the Business Model Might Be: Why I’ve Stepped Away from Algorithms, Ads, and Industry Expectations, Let's Talk Publishing, 2025

  • ​My Go-To Techniques for Writing Emotional Romance: Your Characters’ Hearts Are Waiting—Make Them Beat, Let's Talk Publishing, 2025

  • Fiction is never just fiction. It’s a reflection: The Themes I Can’t Seem to Escape—And What They Say About Me, Let's Talk Publishing, 2025

  • Why Sharing Your Creative Process Could Be the Key to Engaging Your Readers, Let's Talk Publishing, 2025

  • Why Short Stories Might Be My Biggest Writing Challenge Yet: Seriously, a heartfelt soup ad can tell a better story in 30 seconds than some movies do in two hours!, Let's Talk Publishing, 2025

  • Reclaiming Your Muse: Techniques for Breaking Writer's Block, Let's Talk Publishing, 2025

  • Mastering Romantic Tension in Romance: Give me some juicy misunderstandings and conflicts any day, Let's Talk Publishing, 2025

  • How Real Life Experiences Inspire My Novels: There is power in authentic emotio., Let's Talk Publishing, 2024

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Newsletter's

  • The Romantic Reader – Creator & Author. Monthly newsletter featuring original romance fiction, author updates, and serialized content (2024–Present)

  • ArtAlive – Writer & Visual Artist. Monthly newsletter focused on oil painting, process, and the intersection of art and storytelling (2024–Present)

  • Let’s Talk Publishing – Editor & Independent Publisher. Informational newsletter offering insights into indie publishing, marketing, and the creative business (2025)

 

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Writing & Storytelling

  • Long-form fiction writing: novels, novellas, and novelettes

  • Short fiction for magazine markets

  • Multi-genre writing

  • Character-driven storytelling and emotional plotting

  • Writing under multiple pen names and brand voices

  • Dialogue crafting, pacing, and story structure development

  • Manuscript development, editing, and story doctoring

  • Content creation for newsletters, blogs, and author platforms

  • Personal essay and narrative nonfiction writing

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  • Visual Arts & Illustration

  • Professional oil painting with a focus on rural, Appalachian, and Western themes

  • Cover illustration and magazine feature art

  • Painting for private collectors and gallery presentation

  • Giclée print preparation, signing, and limited-edition management

  • Digital and physical art merchandising

  • Visual storytelling that complements written narratives

 

  • Publishing & Book Production

  • Founder and publisher of CurtissLynn Publishing

  • End-to-end indie publishing for digital and print formats

  • Print layout, typesetting, and eBook conversion

  • ISBN, copyright, and metadata management

  • Quality control, proofreading, and final file delivery

  • Upload and distribution via Amazon KDP, IngramSpark, and direct sales channels

  • Book series planning, release schedules, and backlist maintenance

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  • Technology & Digital Tools

  • Website design and maintenance 

  • Graphic design 

  • Email marketing platforms

  • File formatting tools: 

  • Social media scheduling and analytics tools 

  • Digital downloads and fulfillment via e-commerce platforms

  • Cloud storage, content backups, and document version control

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  • Business & Entrepreneurship

  • Small business ownership and daily operations

  • Strategic planning and creative project management

  • Budgeting, vendor relations, and timeline oversight

  • Branding and brand consistency across multiple creative identities

  • Intellectual property awareness and rights management

  • Inventory and shipping for books and fine art prints

  • Customer service, community engagement, and sales funnel management

  • Data tracking, sales reports, and marketing analytics

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  • Marketing, Promotion & Outreach

  • Content marketing for books, art, and brand storytelling

  • Press release writing and media kit development

  • Book launch strategy, ARC distribution, and newsletter campaigns

  • Social media content creation, engagement, and growth

  • Audience segmentation and subscriber funneling

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  • Winner – 2020 Imadjinn Award, Best Romance Novel

        A Cowboy Charming Christmas
        Presented by the Imaginarium Convention

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