All workshops and events will take place at the conference hotel, the Wyndham Irvine, located at 17941 Von Karman Avenue, Irvine, CA 92614. Workshops summaries can be found on the Workshops and Events page, and within the working Schedule (when it becomes available).
Staffers conducting optional Advance Submission Critique, followed by one-on-one consultation, are indicated beneath their respective bio. The deadline to submit material is August 31, 2017.
Special Guest Speakers
KELLY ABBOTT is CEO and co-founder of Great Jones Street, a new platform devoted to discovering and publishing exceptional short fiction in the era of the mobile reader. A serial entrepreneur who’s helped launch and grow social media, dating, and publishing products purchased by Match.com, Adobe, and Oprah, now Kelly’s mission is to meld his literary roots and tech chops to transform the world of short stories for readers and authors alike. Fresh stories by great writers debut daily on GJS, where thousands of award-winning titles have already been curated for every sitting. Need a 1-minute horror story? Check. Crave a 6-minute romance? They’ve got that, too. All types, all sizes, by hundreds of A-list and emerging contemporary writers.
GRETA BORIS is the author of a new domestic suspense series based on the 7 Deadly Sins, which is being published by Fawkes Press in a rare seven-book deal. The first title, A Margin of Lust, is out June, to be followed by The Scent of Wrath later this year. Greta also authored the Amazon Kindle bestseller The Wine and Chocolate Workout, and has written articles on culture, health and entertainment for a variety of national magazines, including Victorian Homes, Zombies, 50 Scariest Movies, Exodus, and Women of the Bible. She is the Director of O.C. Writers, a community of over 700 published and aspiring authors in Orange County, California.
RACHEL HOWZELL HALL is the author of seven novels, including her acclaimed Detective Elouise Norton series. Named by The Guardian one of the “Top 10 Female Detectives in Fiction,” Library Journal affirms, “Hall has created a strong and likable African American detective who rivals Michael Connelly’s Harry Bosch in grit, intelligence, and tenacity.” Of Rachel herself New York Times bestseller Lee Child declares, “A fresh voice in crime fiction.” The fourth installment in Norton’s ongoing adventures, City of Saviors, is now out. The third, Trail of Echoes, received a coveted Kirkus Star and was one of Kirkus Reviews “Books That Kept Us Up All Night.” And both Land of Shadows and Skies of Ash were included on the Los Angeles Times’ “Books to Read This Summer” lists. Named one of Apple iBooks’ “10 Authors to Read in 2017,” Rachel is also a featured writer on NPR’s acclaimed “Crime in the City” series and the National Endowment for the Arts weekly podcast. A collaboration with James Patterson, “The Good Sister,” is included in the September BookShots release, The Family Lawyer.
CHERIE KEPHART served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Zambia on a water sanitation and health education project before returning to the United States with an African souvenir she didn’t expect: a debilitating illness that went misdiagnosed for years and nearly killed her. Aionios Books publisher Gerardeen M. Santiago, PhD, describes her just-released A Few Minor Adjustments as, “[A] memoir that reads like a novel. It contains all the elements of a compelling read: a great story, with perfect pace, and a seasoned/mature writing style.” Kirkus Reviews declares it, “A rich and complicated story, told on each page with clear dialogue and memorable anecdotes.” A graduate of the University of Auckland, New Zealand with an M.A. in Medical and Cultural Anthropology with First Class Honors, Cherie also holds a B.A. in Communications from UCSD and a Certification in Scientific and Technical Writing. In addition to her extensive technical writing, Cherie also has notable experience as both a ghostwriter and editor.
Authors & Industry Experts
AS OF 9/10/17
WES ALBERS is Director of the SCWC. For more than a decade he has helped facilitate over $4 million worth of first-time book and screen deals for emerging authors through the SCWC and his personal contacts. His own writing draws from over twenty years in the San Diego Police Department, first as a patrolman, then sergeant. He now serves as Detective Sergeant in charge of Border Investigations, as well as Staff Sergeant supervising the Emergency Negotiations Team, a hybrid team of hostage negotiators from the SDPD, the FBI, and NCIS. Of his debut novel, Black and White, New York Times bestselling author Gayle Lynds (The Book of Spies) hails, “Gritty and rewarding … A top-notch cop novel. Watch out, Joseph Wambaugh!”
- SESSIONS: “How to Make the Most of the Conference,” No-Host Mixer, Introductions
GRETA BORIS is the author of a new domestic suspense series based on the 7 Deadly Sins, which is being published by Fawkes Press in a rare seven-book deal. The first title, A Margin of Lust, is out June, to be followed by The Scent of Wrath later this year. Greta also authored the Amazon Kindle bestseller The Wine and Chocolate Workout, and has written articles on culture, health and entertainment for a variety of national magazines, including Victorian Homes, Zombies, 50 Scariest Movies, Exodus, and Women of the Bible. She is the Director of O.C. Writers, a community of over 700 published and aspiring authors in Orange County, California.
- SESSIONS: “Choose Your Adventure: A Publishing Guide for Aspiring Authors” (with Megan Haskell)
TERESA BURRELL is the author of the popular legal thrillers featuring Juvenilie Court Attorney Sabre Brown, The Advocate, The Advocate’s Betrayal, The Advocate’s Conviction, The Advocate’s Dilemma, The Advocate’s Ex Parte, The Advocate’s Felony and, her latest, The Advocate’s Geocache. As an attorney in San Diego, Teresa maintained a private law practice for twelve years, which specialized in juvenile court work where she focused on representing abused minors and juvenile delinquents. She has also enjoyed a satisfying career as a teacher of children of all ages, with diverse backgrounds and special needs.
- SESSIONS: “$0 to Six-figures in 7 ‘Not-So-Easy’ Steps” and Read & Critique
- ADVANCE SUBMISSION CRITIQUE: Fiction, mystery, suspense, thriller; first 10 pages, cover letter
GAYLE CARLINE is author of the delightful, celebrated Peri Minneopa Mysteries, which includes Freezer Burn, Hit or Missus, The Hot Mess, and Clean Sweep. Featuring a housecleaner-turned-detective living in Orange County, her latest addition to the series, A More Deadly Union, pits its eponymous sleuth against the shady dealings of mayoral politics and the fate of her longtime detective boyfriend, hospitalized following a shooting and in a coma from which he may not awaken. The first of a new equine-themed murder-mystery series, Murder on the Hoof, is also now out.
- SESSIONS: “Something to Talk About: Speaking Publicly About Your Book,” “Rhythm, Pace, and Amusement,” and “Storytelling is Murder”
- ADVANCE SUBMISSION CRITIQUE: Fiction, mystery, humor, columns; first 10 pages (or multiple columns up to 15 pages), cover letter
MICHAEL STEVEN GREGORY is Executive Director of the SCWC. An award-winning filmmaker, he has scripted network series, directed television and features, and been involved as a writer, producer or director in over 150 short films. His longform projects include the doculogues We, The Writer and We, The Screenwriter, the romantic-comedy A Valentine Carol, and groundbreaking Don King Presents: Prizefighter, for 2K Games. His books include Disc Golf: All You Need to Know about the Game You Want to Play. Michael is also owner of AuthorEdge, a transmedia content producer for publishers. He’s been recognized as Man of the Year from San Diego Writer’s Monthly, and is a recipient of the Odin Award for Lifetime Achievement from the San Diego Writers/Editors Guild.
- SESSIONS: “Building the Better Book Trailer,” No-Host Mixer, Introductions
- ADVANCE SUBMISSION CRITIQUE: Screenplays, TV and short-form scripts; first 15 pages in proper format, cover letter
ARA GRIGORIAN is the international award-winning author of Game of Love (Curiosity Quills Press). Set in the world of professional women’s tennis, in it a fiercely competitive player is torn by scandal and a whirlwind romance that threatens her dream of winning a Grand Slam as Wimbledon approaches. The debut novel won the Readers’ Favorite 2015 International Book Award Gold in Sports, Outstanding “Romance” in the 2016 IAN Book of the Year awards. An SCWC alumnus and active member of the Romance Writers of America, Ara’s latest, Ten Year Dance, is out October from Wedlock Publishing.
- SESSIONS: “Every Story is a Love Story,” “Scrivener 101: Maximize the Value, Minimize the Stress” and “Story Beats: Your Story’s Pulse”
- ADVANCE SUBMISSION CRITIQUE: Genre fiction; first 10 pages double-spaced
MEGAN HASKELL is the author of the Kindle Best Selling dark fantasy adventure series, The Sanyare Chronicles, and Program Director of O.C. Writers, a community of over 700 published and aspiring authors in Orange County, California. Called “a must read” by bestselling YA author, Sherry Ficklin, Sanyare: The Last Descendant (Book 1) has been honored with a BRAG Medallion, which identifies the book as an outstanding self-published title. Megan lives in Orange County, California with her husband, two young daughters, and one ridiculously energetic dog. You can find her online at www.MeganHaskell.com, OCWriters.Network, and Facebook.
- SESSIONS: “Choose Your Adventure: A Publishing Guide for Aspiring Authors” (with Greta Boris)
MELANIE HOOKS is a recent graduate ‘With Distinction’ of UCLA Extension’s TV Writing Program, Melanie Hooks first dipped her toe into Read & Critiques over ten years ago at her first SCWC San Diego. As an English teacher, she thought herself prepared, but discovered firsthand the terrors that can await the fragile writer ego. She’s happy to share her ‘id’ survival tricks – and all her distinguished, unfunded script pitches if you sit still too long over coffee… you’ve been warned.
- SESSIONS: “Read, Critique & Live to Write Another Day” (with Laura Perkins) and Rogue Read & Critique: SciFi/Fantasy (with Laura Perkins)
HOLLY KAMMIER is a former journalist who has worked everywhere from CNN in Washington, D.C. and KCOP-TV in Los Angeles, to the NBC affiliate in small-town Medford, Oregon. The UCLA honor grad currently splits her time between San Diego, CA and Henderson, NV. She recently published her second book, Kingston Court, a chic lit novel with an edge. Holly is an avid reader with a passion for timeless books and beautiful writing. Along with novelist Jessica Therrien, she co-founded Acorn Publishing, a new model approach for enabling quality authors to indie publish under a single imprint.
- SESSIONS: “Acorn Publishing: Exploring the Benefits of Hybrid Publishing” (with Jessica Therrien)
JEFFREY J. MICHAELS is a Gemini. As such he is deeply involved in whatever interests him at the moment. He is currently polishing a sweeping fantasy series of interconnected tales collectively known as “The Mystical Histories.” He describes his writing as “metaphyictional,” combining fantasy and humor with metaphysical elements, offering the reader new ways of looking at themselves and their world. In his real life, he conducts motivational workshops and offers personal consultations assisting clients to tap into their own inner wisdom to make positive life and creative choices. Jeff’s published works include: A Day at the Beach and Other Brief Diversions, a collection of metaphyfictional short stories, and Tasa’s Path, Book One in his fantasy trilogy. Over the past decade Jeff has been a monthly columnist for the magazine Sedona Journal of Emergence. Six collections of his inspirational articles are available in trade paperback and on Kindle.
- SESSIONS: “The Long and Short of Storytelling” and “Write from the Heart”
- ADVANCE SUBMISSION CRITIQUE: Genre (sci-fi, fantasy, thriller, horror) and commercial fiction; aspirational & transformative non-fiction; first 10 pages double-spaced
RICK OCHOCKI is a novelist and writer of fiction and creative nonfiction living in San Diego. His contest-winning flash fiction was included in the e-book Fiction 101: The Anthology from the San Diego CityBEAT weekly magazine. He’s an active member of Romance Writers of America, the Los Angeles Romance Authors and the Romance Writers of America San Diego chapter.
- SESSIONS: “NaNoWriMo Preparation for Maximum Proficiency”
LAURA PERKINS has penned five young adult fantasy novels and serves as a freelance editor and writing coach. She has an extensive background in facilitating groups as well as conducting personal feedback sessions, assisting clients with motivation issues, goal setting and strength assessment. She brings first-hand knowledge and experience in many areas writers often use as their story worlds, including the Criminal Justice Department, probation, psychiatric facilities, wilderness programs, adventure sports, middle schools and high schools – internationally and in the states. She has lived in Europe and South America and traveled extensively internationally and domestically. While her passion is fantasy, young adult, character driven fiction and sci-fi, she works with many different genres and loves the offbeat and out of the ordinary.
- SESSIONS: “Read, Critique & Live to Write Another Day” (with Hooks) and Rogue Read & Critique: SciFi/Fantasy (with Melanie Hooks)
DARLENE QUINN authors the popular Web series, which draws upon real events in the ever changing world of high-fashion of the mid-80’s to present day. As part of a seven-member corporate management team of Bullocks Wilshire, Darlene saw first-hand how greed became a major factor in the demise of our regional department stores. But while the series is brimming with intrigue and haunting nostalgia, she never allows the hard facts to get in the way of page-turning suspense. Each title has garnered national and international awards. Unpredictable Webs won the International Readers Favorite Gold Medal for General Fiction, as well the President’s Choice top prize at the Beverly Hills Book Awards. Her most recent, Conflicting Webs, won the International Beverly Hills Award for excellence in General Fiction and Readers Favorite Silver Medal for General Fiction. Severed Webs is the next in the series.
- SESSIONS: “Rewrite & Read,” “Rewrite & Critique” and Read & Critique (All-Genre)
JUDY REEVES is a writer and educator with more than 20 years of experience as a workshop leader. She is the author of four books on writing, including A Writer’s Book of Days, named a “hottest book for writers” by Writer’s Digest magazine. The other books are Writing Alone, Writing Together, A Creative Writer’s Kit, and The Writer’s Retreat Kit. She teaches creative writing at UCSD Extension, holds private workshops, and speaks at writing conferences internationally. In addition to her work as a writer and writing provocateur, Judy co-founded The Writing Center, a nonprofit literary arts organization and is executive director of San Diego Writers, Ink. Her most recent book is Wild Women, Wild Voices, now out from New World Library.
- SESSIONS: “Structure in Memoir: How to Reveal the Universal Story Inside the Personal Narrative,” “Tell Me a Story—Using the Techniques of Fiction to Craft a Compelling Memoir” and “Time in Memoir—A Chronology of Its Own”
- Advance Submission Critique: Memoirs, narrative nonfiction, women’s fiction; up to 10 pages double-spaced
JESSICA THERRIEN is the author of the young adult paranormal fiction series Children of the Gods. Book one in the series, Oppression, became a Barnes & Noble best-seller shortly after its release. Aside from her wildly popular trilogy, Jessica’s work can also be found in a published collection of flash fiction stories called Campaigner Challenges 2011. Out of over 350 submissions her story, “The Soulless,” won first place for people’s choice and fourth place in the judging round. After being published by a small press out of Los Angeles and hitting the #3 best-selling book for Teens on Barnes & Noble, Jessica discovered that the world of traditional publishing isn’t for everyone, got her rights back and, with novelist Holly Kammier, co-founded Acorn Publishing, a new model approach for enabling quality authors to indie publish under a single imprint.
- SESSIONS: “Acorn Publishing: Exploring the Benefits of Hybrid Publishing” (with Holly Kammier)
JANIS THOMAS is the author of three critically-acclaimed humorous Women’s Fiction novels, Something New, Sweet Nothings, and Say Never. The award-winning Murder in A-Minor is the first book in her Musical Murder Mystery series, featuring songwriting detective Samantha Wedlock. She has recently signed a two-book deal with Lake Union, the women’s fiction imprint of Amazon Publishing, for her latest two novels of domestic suspense. Janis is a popular workshop leader and speaker, an editor, and a passionate writing advocate.
- SESSIONS: “Getting to the Heart of Women’s Fiction,” “The Storyteller’s Toolbox” and Read & Critique (Women’s & Commercial Fiction)
- ADVANCE SUBMISSION CRITIQUE: Commercial and women’s fiction, romance, first 10 pages double-spaced; cover letter
DR. SETH WAGERMAN is a professor and researcher whose interests lie at the intersection of personality and social behavior. He received his MA and PhD in Psychology from the University of California, Riverside, where he was also granted an award for excellence in teaching. Currently at Pepperdine University, Seth continues to be interested in the ways in which traits manifest in behavior and how personality injects itself into online interactions and character choice in video games. He runs a local creative writing group, The Inklings, and is currently working on a YA novel centered in Celtic mythology.
- SESSIONS: “The Doctor is IN: Using Psychology to Master Character Development”
CLAUDIA WHITSITT is an award-winning author and former educator who has published five mysteries and three works of middle grade historical fiction to date. Broken Lines, the third installment in her Kids Like You series, which began with Between the Lines and Beyond the Lines, is out now. Claudia’s novels feature strong heroines and address social issues which continue to plague our country. When she isn’t writing, she’s visiting schools and teaching writing to middle grade students. She’s known for her kind nature, even when telling you that your works sucks, and will make you want to become a better writer.
- SESSIONS: “Applying Tension and Voice to First Pages” and “Creating Tension on Every Page” and Read & Critique
MARALYS WILLS is the author of a dozen published books in a variety of genres, including the techno-thriller Scatterpath, of which The New York Times raved, “Her cockpit sequences all but put the reader at the controls,” and four romance novels. Her nonfiction includes the critically lauded Higher Than Eagles: The Tragedy and Triumph of an American Family, which chronicles the loss of two of her sons and has been optioned for film five times, and Save My Son: A Mother and a Sheriff Unite to Reclaim the Lives of Addicted Offenders (with Michael Carona). Maralys’s other titles include A Clown in the Trunk, a sequel of sorts to her light-hearted memoir, A Circus Without Elephants, and Damn the Rejections: Full Speed Ahead. Her most recent, written with Dr. John West, is Prevent, Survive, Thrive: Every Woman’s Guide to Optimal Breast Care (BenBella Publishers).
- SESSIONS: “Turning Your Real-life Experiences into a Book” and Read & Critique (All-Genre)
- ADVANCE SUBMISSION CRITIQUE: Mainstream, literary and historical fiction; memoir and narrative nonfiction; first 10 pages double-spaced, cover letter
Agents & Editors
AS OF 9/10/17
CLAIRE GERUS is a literary agent and book development consultant, whose emphasis is adult nonfiction. She has been editor-in-chief of two publishing houses, worked for seven major publishers, including Harlequin, Random House, Doubleday, John Wiley, Kensington, and Adams Media. She was also Executive Editor at Adams Media, where she published the first biography of Laura Bush, along with a wide range of new age, business, self-help, and inspirational books.
- SESSIONS: “An Agent, an Editor, and a Publishing Consultant Walk into a Bar… What do they really say about your work?” (with Helga Schier & Pam Sheppard)
- ADVANCE SUBMISSION CRITIQUE: Nonfiction, including health, self-help, biography, science, memoir, true crime, parenting, business, inspirational; first 10 pages, double-spaced, cover letter –SOLD OUT
JEAN JENKINS is a freelance editor (MsRewrite.com) and consultant to writers. She has successfully shepherded to print genre and mainstream novels with major publishers and small independents, as well as editing/advising self- and e-published writers. Clients include writers, both foreign and domestic. Her specialty is teaching craft and what works in the marketplace as she helps writers polish their material. Several books on which she has consulted are in the pipeline and nearing publication with major houses. Calling upon her varied life experiences and over twenty years of editorial consulting, she is equally at home editing spy thrillers, cozies, suspense, women’s issues, mainstream, or any bloody good story. It might be said, the bloodier, the better.
- SESSIONS: “Best Foot Forward: Polishing to Impress” (1 & 2), and “Master Class: Editors’ Tricks To Grow Your Writing”
- ADVANCE SUBMISSION CRITIQUE: Mystery, suspense, thriller, police procedural; narrative nonfiction; first 10 pages, double-spaced, cover letter
JENNIFER KIM is a junior agent with Sandra Dijkstra Literary, actively building her own list. SDLA represents an eclectic client roster, including Amy Tan, Lisa See, Diane Mott Davidson and David Freed, among others. Jennifer holds a B.A. in English Literature and Spanish Literature, and spent a year studying Spanish literature and culture at the University of Barcelona. In YA Sci-Fi/Fantasy, she is looking for multicultural projects featuring multi-dimensional protagonists from diverse backgrounds; Contemporary YA: uncommon teen stories with an authentic voice; Middle Grade: stories that don’t shy away from tough subjects, or those witty, whimsy ones with a touch of surrealism, tales of friendship, families and found-families, and self-reliance. In the the adult market, Jennifer values a distinct narrative voice and memorable characters, and is drawn to travel narratives, historical fiction, coming of age stories, family sagas, stories of displacement, and magical realism.
- SESSIONS: STATE OF THE AGENT PANEL
- ADVANCE SUBMISSION CRITIQUE: Adult fiction, YA Sci-Fi, Contemporary YA and middle grade fiction ; first 10 pages, double-spaced, cover letter –SOLD OUT
MARLA MILLER is an author and freelance editor. She wrote for the OC Register’s lifestyle magazine for 16 years before becoming founding editor-in-chief of an O.C. coastal lifestyle magazine. Her first book, All American Girls, the only authorized biography of the iconic World Cup/Gold Medal winning U.S Women’s National Soccer Team, was published by Simon & Schuster, and her sports oriented columns appeared in Oxygen.com. Marla launched MarketingtheMuse Workshops in 2003, motivated by her recognition that most traditionally published authors receive little help from “big house” marketing departments. Her experience in the entrepreneurial author movement includes “with author” bylines for two indie books, The Booty Bible and Decode the Black Box of Group Health Insurance, along with her own Days Gone By and first e-novel, Deadly Little Secrets. MarlaMiller.com is a resource center for writers with emphasis on marketing information in publishing/epublishing.
- SESSIONS: “Crafting a Compelling Book Proposal,” “Nonfiction for Newbies: Is it a Book, Blog, Feature or What?”, “Pitch Witches: Query Letter Critique” and “Pitch Witches: What’s Your Book About?” (with Jennifer Silva Redmond), ” Rogue Read & Critique: “Cold Openings: Your First Five Pages”
- ADVANCE SUBMISSION CRITIQUE: Fiction; narrative and prescriptive non-fiction; columns (Note: anything emphasizing medicine or psychology, Marla’s your reader); first 15 pages, cover letter
PATRICIA NELSON is an agent with Marsal Lyon Literary, representing women’s fiction, contemporary and historical romance, and select literary fiction, as well as all genres of young adult and middle grade fiction. She received her bachelor’s degree from the College of William and Mary in 2008, and also holds a master’s degree in English Literature from the University of Southern California and a master’s degree in Gender Studies from the University of Texas at Austin. Recent sales include books placed with Simon and Schuster, Penguin Random House, and St. Martin’s Press, among others.
- STATE OF THE AGENT PANEL
- ADVANCE SUBMISSION CRITIQUE: Contemporary & historical romance, women’s, literary, YA and middle grade fiction; first 10 pages, cover letter –SOLD OUT
JENNIFER SILVA REDMOND spent more than a decade as editor-in-chief/acquisitions editor at Sunbelt Publications before becoming a freelance publishing consultant and editor. On the staff of the Southern California Writers Conference and San Diego Writers, Ink, she was also prose editor for A Year in Ink Vol 3, and co-founder of the Sea of Cortez Review. Her essays, articles, and short fiction have been published in various anthologies, such as Latinos in Lotusland, and national magazines. She is always looking for “great new stuff” and has a wide circle of agents, editors, and publishers with whom to share marketable fiction and nonfiction. More information, a short list of edited titles, and client testimonials can be found at www.jennyredbug.com.
- SESSIONS: “Backstory: Employing Expository Like a Screenwriter,” “Marketing Literary Fiction and Memoir,” “Pitch Witches: Query Letter Critique” and “Pitch Witches: What’s Your Book About?” (with Marla Miller)
- ADVANCE SUBMISSION CRITIQUE: Fiction, nonfiction, memoir, short stories; first 10 pages double-spaced, cover letter –SOLD OUT
HELGA SCHIER is a freelance editor, translator and writer who began her career as a foreign language editor at Random House, working with accomplished and first-time writers by gently guiding them from rough idea to polished manuscript and published book. Her work as a translator comprises feature length movie scripts, memoirs, novels, coffee table books, company histories, essay collections and websites. And as a published author, Helga’s publications include nonfiction books on current topics for young adults such as school violence and the attacks on 9/11, numerous Language Arts and Foreign Language materials, corporate histories and a book of literary criticism.
- SESSIONS: “An Agent, an Editor, and a Publishing Consultant Walk into a Bar… What do they really say about your work?” (with Claire Gerus & Pam Sheppard)
PAM SHEPPARD‘s primary publishing background is in retail sales and marketing, managing territories for Simon & Schuster, Random House, and Crown Publishers. For the past eight years she has sold books for 40 fine mid-sized, small, and university presses to stores across the southwest to retailers including independent bookstores, museum stores, university bookstores and others. She also spent two years as Assistant Instructor for Cal State Long Beach’s Ghostwriting Certification Course, developed as a professional program to certify trained and accredited ghostwriters. For her own service, Sheppard Editorial, Pam has edited more than fifty projects.
- SESSIONS: “An Agent, an Editor, and a Publishing Consultant Walk into a Bar… What do they really say about your work?” (with Claire Gerus & Helga Schier)
KARI SUTHERLAND is an agent with Bradford Literary, which she joined after a decade of experience in publishing from the editorial side. Previously a Senior Editor at HarperCollins Children’s Books, she has worked with bestselling and critically acclaimed authors on projects such as the #1 New York Times bestselling Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard and the #1 New York Times bestselling Pretty Little Liars series by Sara Shepard. She graduated from Williams College with a B.A. in English and Psychology, which she considers the perfect combination for working with authors on character and plot development. While open to an expanse range of genres, Kari is not seeking: horror, romance, erotica, memoir, cookbooks, business, spiritual/religious, poetry, or screenplays
- ADVANCE SUBMISSION CRITIQUE: Adult fiction, including women’s, intergenerational tales, sci-fi/fantasy, magical realism; psychological thrillers, historical drama, light-hearted contemporary fiction; YA and children’s books; Quirky nonfiction, history and biography, pop science and psychology, humor, and parenting; first 10 pages, cover letter –SOLD OUT
LAURA TAYLOR is an author and freelance editor, whose work has received endorsements from Pat Conroy, W.E.B. Griffin, and Stephen King. She is the recipient of numerous awards for her writing, including 6 Romantic Times Lifetime Achievement, Reviewer’s Choice, and Career Achievement Awards, 2 Maggie Awards from GRW/RWA, 2 Golden Heart Finalist Awards (RWA), an RWA RITA Finalist Award, and a Golden Rose Award from the Gold Coast Chapter of RWA. Having sold over a million books in print, nearly another additional million digital editions have been downloaded by e-book readers. Her novels feature sassy, strong-willed heroines and determined alpha male heroes. Her romance e-books include: Desert Rose, Midnight Storm, Heartbreaker, More Than Friends, Fallen Angel, Wilder’s Woman, Warrior Series Boxed Set, Moment By Moment, The Christmas Gift, Anticipation, Seduction, Surrender, Sublime, and the Love at the Beach Boxed Set.
- SESSIONS: “Indie Excellence: Glocalization and the Key to Survival” and Rogue Read & Critique
- ADVANCE SUBMISSION CRITIQUE: Mainstream, historical and genre fiction, romance; first 10 pages double-spaced, cover letter
JUSTIN WELLS is an agent with Corvisiero Literary, eagerly looking to expand his list. While open to any story that immediately captivates, his primary focus is young adult, middle grade, and new adult fiction, if Justin finds a great fantasy book, you can expect him to be lost in the book for hours. Fantasy is by far his favorite genre, with science fiction and contemporary pulling up a close second. His favorite author include Markus Zusak, John Green, J.K. Rowling, J.R.R. Tolkein, Beth Revis, Susan Dennard, Gary Paulsen, Lauren Oliver, and Sarah Dessen.
- STATE OF THE AGENT PANEL
- ADVANCE SUBMISSION CRITIQUE: Young adult, middle grade and new adult fiction; fantasy and science fiction; first 10 pages, cover letter –SOLD OUT
JANET F. WILLIAMS writes and edits both fiction and non-fiction. She is the author of the self-help/communications book You Don’t Ask, You Don’t Get: Proven Techniques to Get More Out of Life, named Best Specialized Instruction Book by Kirkus Indie, and selected one of their top 10 books of the year. She also writes lesbian romance and erotica under the pen name Zoe Amos, including her novella, Superior, and numerous inclusions in short story anthologies. Her website is janetfwilliams.com.
- SESSIONS: “7 Character Motivations You Need to Know” and “X-traordinary Sex Writing”
- ADVANCE SUBMISSION CRITIQUE: Women and commercial fiction, LGBT; Nonfiction: business; first 10 pages double-spaced
ROBERT YEHLING is the award-winning author, co-author and ghostwriter of numerous books, as well as long-time journalist, editor and writing instructor. Through his company, Word Journeys, he has edited more than 130 fiction and nonfiction titles that have found homes with publishers of all sizes. Bob’s latest titles include the biography of autistic surfer Clay Marzo, Just Add Water: A Surfing Savant’s Journey with Asperger’s (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt), and musician Stevie Salas’ When We Were the Boys: Coming of Age on Rod Stewart’s Out of Order Tour (Rowman Littlefield). Voices (Open Books Press), a novel set against a half-century of rock and roll, is his latest.
- SESSIONS: TBA
- ADVANCE SUBMISSION CRITIQUE: Commercial fiction, memoir, biography and poetry; first 10 pages double-spaced