All workshops and events will take place at the conference hotel, Sheraton Mission Valley. 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 January 12, 2025. Advance Submission Reader selection opens November.
As of 11/16/24 (More to be announced.)
Special Guest Speakers
ELLE JAUFFRET is the author of Threads of Deception, her debut novel, which sold in a three-book deal. The first installment of her Suddenly French Mysteries, in it criminal attorney-turned-private chef Claire Fontaine returns to small town California after a bomb destroyed her firm that left her with a French foreign accent syndrome, stumbles into a suspected murder, then clashes with the detective who happens to be her new roommate. As a former criminal attorney for the California Attorney General’s office and avid foodie, Elle infuses fiction with her expertise and enthusiasm in both. She also chaired the pediatric literature program at Walter Reed Medical Center (the hospital of American presidents), and is an active member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and International Thriller Writers.
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Authors & Industry Experts
ANN BANCROFT published her debut novel, Almost Family, at age 71 after a career as a journalist with The San Francisco Chronicle, the Associated Press and The Sacramento Bee. She was also a speechwriter and Communications Director for the State Superintendent of Public Instruction. Retiring early after a first bout of cancer, Ann turned to learning the craft of writing fiction. An early draft of her book won the 2018 San Diego Book Award for best unpublished novel, and she was twice published in A Year in Ink, the anthology of San Diego Writers, Ink. Since 2015, she has led weekly prompt-writing workshops aimed at stimulating creativity and generating story ideas..
- SESSIONS: “Late Bloomers: Publishing After 50”
GAYLE CARLINE is a humor columnist for an Orange County newspaper and author of the popular Peri Minneopa Mysteries, including Freezer Burn, Hit or Missus, The Hot Mess, Clean Sweep and A More Deadly Union, featuring a housecleaner-turned-detective living in the OC. Other titles include the stand-alone From the Horse’s Mouth: One Lucky Memoir, the first of a new equine-themed murder-mystery series, Murder on the Hoof and new historical fantasy Dragon Shadows trilogy, Blood Dragon Rising, Moon Dragon Falling and New Dragon Soaring. Writing as M.G. Wetherholt, here latest is geared for younger readers, Paws on the Pier (A Magical Mouse Caper).
- SESSIONS: “Avoiding Stereotypes, Cliches and the All-Too Commont,” “The End is Just the Beginning” and “What’s the Point? Story, Subtext and Plot”
ADVANCE SUBMISSION CRITIQUE: Fiction, mystery, humor, columns; first 10 pages (or multiple columns up to 10 pages), cover letter
DENNIS CROSBY is an award-winning author of the bestselling Kassidy Simmons paranormal suspense series, in which the Reaper of Souls struggles to maintain harmony between life and death by returning lost souls to their proper place in the afterlife. Introduced in 2020, the series is now comprised of Death’s Legacy, Death’s Debt and the latest installment, Death’s Despair. With a degree in Criminal Justice, Dennis spent six years working as a private investigator, and while pursuing a Master’s Degree in Forensic Psychology, transitioned into social service to aid adult men and women facing mental health and addiction challenges. His short fiction has appeared in numerous anthologies, including Literally Dead: Tales of Halloween Hauntings, Blood Fiction: If It Bleed It Reads and Castle of Horror volumes 5 and 8.
- SESSIONS: “How to Craft a Strong & Believable Villain,” “Networking for Introverts” and “Writing Non-Human Characters”
KRISTI (K.A.) FOX is the USA Today bestselling author of the YA urban fantasy Murphey’s Law series, comprised of The Devils Own, Judas Kiss, and Earthly Shadows. In it, the Devil’s estranged daughter must grapple with the inheritance of her’s father’s infernal powers and combat succumbing to them in effort to protect those she loves. Writing bestselling short romances as Krysta Fox, she ranges from contemporary (Surprised Under the Mistletoe) to the paranormal (the Surprise Shifters series) and has released over seventeen titles since September 2020. She can be found online on Facebook as imkafox and KrystaFoxAuthor.
- SESSIONS: “The Power of Shorts: Jump-Start Your Career by Writing Short Stories for Market,” “Writing Good, Bad and Ugly Better” and TBA
- ADVANCE SUBMISSION CRITIQUE: Sci-fi/fantasy urban fantasy, contemporary and paranormal romance; first 10 pages, cover letter
MICHAEL STEVEN GREGORY, Executive Director of the Southern California Writers’ Conference, is an award-winning filmmaker and screenwriter. 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, which remained a periodic bestseller well over a decade after publication. Michael is also the owner of AuthorEdge, a transmedia content producer for publishers. He was 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: No-Host Mixer, Introductions
- ADVANCE SUBMISSION CRITIQUE: Screenplays, TV and short-form scripts; first 15 pages in proper format, cover letter
HENRY HERZ’s stories will/have appeared in Daily Science Fiction, Weird Tales, Pseudopod, Metastellar, Titan Books, Highlights for Children, Ladybug Magazine, and anthologies from Albert Whitman & Co., Blackstone Publishing, Brigid’s Gate Press, Air and Nothingness Press, Baen Books, and elsewhere. He’s edited seven anthologies and written twelve picture books. www.henryherz.com
- SESSIONS: TBA
TWAY HUYNH’s Lessons of Kindness: Transformations from Around the World is a compilation of life-affirming stories by over seventy contributors seeking to share inspiring true affirmations of finding goodness in times of despair. Coupled with exquisite full page photographs of heart-shaped rocks found along the California coastline, the lavishly produced book bucked traditional publishing norms to far outsell expectations, despite the decision to eschew tradition distribution outlets such as Amazon, relying strictly on an unorthodox marketing campaign reliant solely on onsite branding, limited social media, personal relationships, speaking engagements and word of mouth. Tway’s next project, The Gift of Autism, is now underway. Visit Abraham Press for more.
- SESSIONS: “Against All Odds: Publishing WELL from Scratch”
LINDA MOORE is an author of literary suspense. She published her debut novel, Attribution, at age 75 after a career as a gallery owner and healthcare administrator. Named the literary fiction winner of the National Indie Book Awards, and multiple other honors, New York Times bestseller Caroline Leavitt called it, “Gorgeously written … Moore’s book is a winner.” Her most recent, Five Days in Bogotá, was honored as the International Book Awards winner in Literary Fiction and declared by Kirkus “a pulse-pounding game of cat-and-mouse.” Linda studied art history in the Prado while at the University of Madrid, ultimately earning degrees at the University of California and Stanford She has served on art museum boards, edited and published exhibition catalogs, contributed to anthologies, and written for art journals.
- SESSIONS “Late Bloomers: Publishing After 50”
ERIC PETERSON is the author of three novels. His debut, Life as a Sandwich, was a finalist in the San Diego Book Awards. His second, The Dining Car, which introduced audiences to legendary food writer and bon vivant Horace Button, won the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Gold Award for Popular Fiction, the San Diego Book Award Gold Medal for Contemporary Fiction, and the Readers’ Favorite Book Award Silver Medal for Literary Fiction. Publishers Weekly’s BookLife named it a “Book to Watch.” It’s follow-up, Sunshine Chief, returned with another high class adventure with Button and entourage on his vintage private railcars. Possessing a Communication degree from Stanford, majoring in journalism, Eric’s foray into nonfiction is Museum of the Unknown Writer, a collection of essays which first appeared in the online daily magazine, Piller to Post.
- SESSIONS: “For a Few Dollars More: The Cost of Selling Yourself Short” (with Jennifer Silva Redmond)
JANIS THOMAS is the author of such domestic suspense novels as All That’s Left of Me and What Remains True, both with Lake Union, and three critically acclaimed humorous works of women’s fiction—Something New, Sweet Nothings, and Say Never—as well as the mystery Murder in A-Minor. She has written more than fifty songs and two children’s books, which she created with her dad, is a passionate writing advocate, a popular workshop leader, speaker, and editor. Her latest novel is the paranormal thriller Finding Grace, which Kirkus Reviews calls “An authentically creepy tale.”
- TRACK: Novel Boot Camp
- ADVANCE SUBMISSION CRITIQUE: Women’s fiction, suspense, mystery; first 10 pages double-spaced
CARL VONDERAU writes domestic suspense and thrillers, following more than a thirty-year careers as a banker in the U.S., Latin America, and North Africa. Those international settings were sources of inspiration for his books. His first novel, Murderabilia was published in 2019, when Carl was 66. It won a Left Coast Crime award for Best Debut, and a San Diego Book award for Best Mystery. Kirkus Reviews declared it, “An explosive premise … and a clever solution.” While New York Times bestselling author Karin Slaughter (The Good Daughter) enthused, “[A] story that will lay a cold finger of dread on the back of your neck … a terrific book.” His second novel, Saving Myles, was published in August, 2023. Carl is president of the San Diego chapter of Sisters in Crime.
- SESSIONS “Late Bloomers: Publishing After 50” and “Putting Heart Into Thrillers”
CLAUDIA WHITSITT is an award-winning author and retired special educator teacher who has published four mysteries in the Samantha Series, Identity Issues, Intimacy Issues, Internal Issues and Inherited Issues, as well as a stand-alone, The Wrong Guy. In middle grade historical fiction, set during the Vietnam era, the Kids Like You series consists of Between the Lines, Beyond the Lines, Broken Lines and, the latest installment, Battle Lines. Geared for adults, a new series, Love and Loss, consists of three novels. Black Ice was released in 2021, Lake Fog in 2022, and the third, Lingering Clouds, will be out shortly. When she isn’t writing, Claudia is 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: “Infusing Micro-Tension Into Your Story,” “Supporting Cast: Crafting Purposeful Secondary Characters,” “Voice: Finding Your Unmistakable Own” and Read & Critique (All-Genre)
- ADVANCE SUBMISSION CRITIQUE: Middle-grade fiction, mystery; first 10 pages double-spaced, cover letter
Agents & Editors
JESSICA BERG, founded Rosecliff Literary, a boutique agency dedicated to discovering and nurturing exceptional talent. Passionate about stories that combine depth with a touch of intrigue, she’s drawn to accessible narratives that offer something unexpected—whether a hint of magic, complex family histories, or genre mashups with a dark edge. Stories that elevate Jewish queerness, include intergenerational trauma, or offer a unique spin on dark academia, particularly with older protagonists navigating the shadows; speculative fiction that merges magical realism with grounded plots, and stories that explore curses, haunted objects, or family secrets, are of great interest.
- AGENTS PANEL: PAGE ONE CAGE MATCH
- ADVANCE SUBMISSION CRITIQUE: alternate history/historical fantasy, contemporary fantasy, historical fiction (excluding WWII), upmarket/book club fiction, women’s fiction, romance (including Gothic/noir); Nonfiction: memoir, especially focused on military women or those adjacent to military life, self-help, cookbookse first 10 pages, cover letter
JACQUELIN CANGRO worked at Penguin Random House and Simon & Schuster for more than twenty years. Now, as an independent developmental editor and book coach, she’s reviewed hundreds of novel and memoir manuscripts, providing writers with feedback to make their stories the best they can be. Her editorial specialties include women’s fiction, romance, YA, and upmarket. Jacquelin’s short fiction was selected as one of the Saturday Evening Post’s Great American Stories, and her other works of fiction have appeared in Stonecrop Review, The Macguffin, Valparaiso Fiction Review, and Cortland Review. Her first book, The Subway Chronicles: Scenes from Life in New York, is a collection of essays about the New York City subway system. You can find out more about Jackie and her work at https://jacquelincangro.com.
- SESSIONS: “Setting and Place Masterclass” and “Unlocking Your Novel’s Inciting Incident”
- ADVANCE SUBMISSION CRITIQUE: Fiction; nonfiction; first 10 pages, double-spaced, cover letter
CATHIE HEDRICK-ARMSTRONG is an agent with Marsal Lyon Literary. She deliberately keeps her author list small in effort to give her authors the time dedication each deserves. She looks for manuscripts that catch her attention within the first few pages. If you can evoke an emotional reaction in the opening pages—make her laugh out loud, cause her pulse to race, make her cry, etc.—you’ve likely got a winner. While never interested in sci-fi or fantasy, some paranormal aspects in the vein of Victoria Laurie’s Abby Cooper and Ghost Hunter Series, or a more contemporary version of something akin to Karen Marie Moning’s Highlander Series may will be considered.
- AGENTS PANEL: PAGE ONE CAGE MATCH
- ADVANCE SUBMISSION CRITIQUE: Young adult, new adult, contemporary romance, general women’s fiction and suspense; BIPOC, Own Voices, and LGBTQ+; first 10 pages, double-spaced, cover letter
CHERIE KEPHART‘s award-winning memoir, A Few Minor Adjustments, is called by Kirkus Reviews, “A rich and complicated story, told on each page with clear dialogue and memorable anecdotes,” and by Publisher’s Weekly, “A story of gut-wrenching perseverance and determination.” Her other publications include, The Healing 100 and Poetry of Peace, as well as essays, short stories, and poems in various literary journals and anthologies. Cherie is also a freelance editor, writing coach, and workshop facilitator with a passion for helping writers on all aspects of their writing journey. A graduate with first class honors from the University of Auckland in Medical and Cultural Anthropology, Cherie also holds a BA in Communications from UCSD and a Certification in Scientific and Technical Writing.
- SESSIONS: “Editing Explained 1” and “Editing Explained 2” (with Laura Perkins), “Slice of Life: Sculpting Your Memoir’s Story,” “Soul Therapy: The Spiritual Side of Writing Memoir” and Read & Critique (Memoir/Narrative Nonfiction)
- ADVANCE SUBMISSION CRITIQUE: Memoir, personal stories, wellness, self-help, personal transformation, metaphysical; first 10 pages, cover letter
SHAYLA KRIGGE is an agent with High Line Literary Collective, having worked under agency co-founder Victoria Marini since 2021. Passionately seeking to build her own list of talented clients, she is interested in books by marginalized authors who’ve yet to had the opportunity to have their voices heard. In particular: BIPOC, LGBTQIA, and other #OwnVoices as a fellow queer woman of color. She longs for uplifting perspectives from these communities rather than those that focus on the trauma inherent to being a part of them. Sheyla would love to see stories filled with myth, magic, and a healthy dose of smut, when appropriate. Alternatively, she would love to see Percy Jackson-esque middle grade fiction; the type she can giggle along with as she reads them to her own children. Stories set in other lands, or other worlds tend to be her go to choice when reading.
- AGENTS PANEL: PAGE ONE CAGE MATCH
- ADVANCE SUBMISSION CRITIQUE: Memoir, personal stories, wellness, self-help, personal transformation, metaphysical; first 10 pages, cover letter
JAKE LOVELL is an agent with Dijkstra Literary, actively seeking to build his list. He is interested in upmarket fiction, with an emphasis on Gothic, horror, thrillers, westerns, military, and speculative fiction (supernatural, paranormal and UFOs). In general, he’s especially drawn to character driven stories written in distinct and diverse voices. Nonfiction-wise, Jake’s especially interested in working with historians, up-and-coming scholars looking to transition to trade readership, journalists, doctors, veterans, and people with unique takes on important issues. Born and raised in Southern California, Jake proudly comes from a mixed cultural background and is second generation Chicano on his mother’s side.
- AGENTS PANEL: PAGE ONE CAGE MATCH
- ADVANCE SUBMISSION CRITIQUE: Upmarket and speculative fiction (excluding romance, fantasy, sci-fi, YA, or children’s); Narrative nonfiction ; first 10 pages, double-spaced, cover letter
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 in 1999, 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, published under MarketingtheMuse Publications. MarlaMiller.com is a resource center for writers with emphasis on marketing information in publishing/epublishing.
- SESSIONS: “Cold Openings: Your First Five Pages,” “Pitch Witches: What’s Your Book About?” (with Jennifer Silva Redmond) and Pitch Witches: Query Letter Critique (with Jennifer Silva Redmond)
- ADVANCE SUBMISSION CRITIQUE: Fiction, narrative and prescriptive nonfiction, columns (Note: anything emphasizing medicine or psychology, Marla’s your reader); first 10 pages, cover letter
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. Under the pen name Mercy Hollow, she is the author of the dark fantasy novels Scythe – Legions of the Claimed and the second book in the series Grim – Legions of the Claimed.
- SESSIONS: “Editing Explained 1,” “Editing Explained 2” (with Cherie Kephart) “Writing Coach 101: Saving Time, Money, and Your Sanity” and Rogue Read & Critique (Horror/Sci-Fi/Fantasy)
- ADVANCE SUBMISSION CRITIQUE: Fantasy, young adult, sci-fi, fiction; first 10 pages (or multiple columns up to 10 pages), cover letter
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: “Constructing Compelling Nonfiction,” “For a Few Dollars More: The Cost of Selling Yourself Short” (with Eric Peterson), “Pitch Witch: What’s Your Book About?” and Early “Bard” Read & Critique (All-Genre)
- ADVANCE SUBMISSION CRITIQUE: Fiction, nonfiction, memoir, short stories; first 10 pages double-spaced, cover letter
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, an additional 550,000 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,” “Romance Writing: The Nuts and Bolts of the Fictional Happily-Ever-After” and Rogue Read & Critique (All-Genre)
- ADVANCE SUBMISSION CRITIQUE: Mainstream, historical and genre fiction, romance; first 10 pages double-spaced, cover letter
PATRICIA WILKINSON is a writing coach, freelance editor, novelist, and coauthor of Amazon bestselling and Readers’ Choice winner Brain Stages: How to Raise Smart, Confident Kids and Have Fun Doing It. A credentialed, mentor teacher of 23 years, Trish has helped numerous writers find their voices, hone their craft and move on to publication. Her clients include David Crow, whose memoir The Pale Face Lie: A True Story sold more than 100,000 copies, Captain Jack Molan (You Can’t Make This Stuff Up: My Thirty Years as Captain in the Bering Sea), Linda Berry (The Killing Woods), and Howard Shulman (Running from the Mirror: A Memoir).
- SESSIONS: “Build a Better Author Bio: A Powerful Tool to Attract Readers,” “Reboot Your Brain and Electrify Your Writing” and “What Does ‘Show Don’t Tell’ Actually Mean?”
- ADVANCE SUBMISSION CRITIQUE:
Adult and YA fiction; Memoir, narrative and practical nonfiction; nonfiction book proposals, first 10 pages double-spaced; cover letter