All workshops and events will take place at the conference hotel, the Sonesta 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 18, 2023. (Reader selection will open once the majority have been confirmed.)
As of 5/31/23 (more to be announced)
Special Guest Speakers
JASMIN IOLANI HAKES is is the author of Hula, her sweeping debut novel. An Oprah Daily pick, it’s been named one of the “Best New Books to Read” this summer by ELLE. In a starred review, Booklist calls it “[An] immersive and astute debut … a deeply affecting story of mothers and daughters and what makes a family.” And author Myriam Gurba (Mean and Dahlia Season) concludes, “Hula immerses readers in a place they won’t find on any map sold to tourists, Hawaii for Hawaiians. Ferociously beautiful and beautifully ferocious, Hula is a novel soaked in the spirit of Haunani-Kay Trask.” Born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, Jasmin’s essays have appeared in the Los Angeles Times and the Sacramento Bee.
CRISTINA LEPORT is the author of Dissection. New York Times Bestselling Author Lee Child (Jack Reacher series) describes it as “High stakes, breathless suspense, and real insider authenticity – a terrific debut.” Internationally bestselling Tess Gerritsen concludes, “With a terrifying premise and riveting medical details, Dissection moves at a frantic pace.” And from Kirkus: “The blending of medical emergencies with political thriller tropes is relatively uncommon … LePort uses her own experience as a cardiovascular specialist to enhance an already engaging actioner.” Born in Bologna, Italy, Cristina is also Chief Medical Officer and co-founder of Genescient, a biotech company devoted to genetic research on aging and the amelioration of chronic diseases.
DAREK “D.J.” WILLIAMS is the author of Hunt for Eden’s Star, the first in his epic, globally inspired YA Beacon Hill series. Kirkus Reviews lauds, “Williams’ series opener moves briskly … fast-paced action and a rich setting boost the beginning of a promising paranormal saga.” “A blistering, high-stakes, fast-paced supernatural thriller that’s impossible to put down.” Ryan Steck, editor-in-chief of The Real Book Spy, adding the novel “[I]ntroduces a compelling new hero and takes readers on an unforgettable adventure where countless twists and turns await.” A television producer and director, Darek’s previous books include Walking Lazarus, a mystery, and an international thriller. The Auctioneer.
Authors & Industry Experts
WES ALBERS is Director of the Southern California Writers’ Conference. For more than a decade he has helped to facilitate over $4 million worth of first time book and movie 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 (ZOVA Books), 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
RYKA AOKI is a poet, composer, teacher, and novelist whose books include He Mele a Hilo and two Lambda Award finalists, Seasonal Velocities and Why Dust Shall Never Settle Upon This Soul. Ryka’s work has appeared or been recognized in publications including Vogue, Elle, Bustle, Autostraddle, PopSugar, and Buzzfeed. Her poetry was featured at the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center, and she was honored by the California State Senate for “extraordinary commitment to the visibility and well-being of Transgender people.” Publishers Weekly hails her latest novel, Light From Uncommon Stars, [A] beautiful, satisfying story of redemption and families of choice,” a 2022 Hugo Award finalist.
- SESSIONS: TBA
GAYLE CARLINE began life as a software engineer until she chewed her way out of the cubicle to become a storyteller. In addition to writing a humor column for her local Orange County newspaper, she is the author of the fun and entertaining Peri Minneopa Mysteries, including Freezer Burn, Hit or Missus, The Hot Mess, and Clean Sweep, featuring a housecleaner-turned-detective living in the OC. Her recent releases include the stand-alone From the Horse’s Mouth: One Lucky Memoir, and the first of a new equine-themed murder-mystery series, Murder on the Hoof. A More Deadly Union, featuring housecleaner-turned-detective Peri Minneopa, is her latest.
- SESSIONS: TBA
ADVANCE SUBMISSION CRITIQUE: Fiction, mystery, humor, columns; first 10 pages (or multiple columns up to 10 pages), cover letter
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: “Crafting Delicious Fiction Readers Will Crave,” “The Power of Shorts: Jump-Start Your Career by Writing Short Stories for Market” and TBA
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 remains a bestseller 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
ARA GRIGORIAN is the international award-winning author of Game of Love, Ten Year Dance and 15 Days With You. Ara is a technology executive in the entertainment industry. True to the Hollywood life, Ara wrote for a children’s television pilot that could have made him rich (but didn’t) and nearly sold a video game to a major publisher (who closed shop days later). Fascinated by the human species, Ara writes about choices, relationships, and second chances. Always a sucker for a hopeful ending, he also inevitably writes contemporary romance. His most recent novels, kicking off a new series, are Reunion at Fortuny Bay and Secrets of Fortuny Bay.
- SESSIONS: TBA
MELANIE HOOKS started out spinning tales on playgrounds as the perennial ‘new kid’ as an Army brat. These days she’s found new audiences in podcasts (Classic Movie Recall), journalism (Pasadena’s ColoradoBoulevard.net), TV writing (Quarterfinalist for NBC Universal’s ‘Writers on the Verge’) and screenwriting (‘Queen of Wishful Thinking’). She loves classic film, comedy, sci-fi/fantasy and historical fiction. Someday she will figure out how to merge Room with a View with Galaxy Quest … and it will blow your mind!
- SESSIONS: Rogue Read & Critique: SciFi/Fantasy (with Laura Perkins)
JEFF POLLAK is the author of First Second Coming, his debut novel, and its forthcoming sequels. A supernatural romantic suspense in which the New Testament God retires after more than two thousand years of service, only to be replaced by a new deity who must decide the fate of humanity under new management, the novel is currently being adapted for film by Voyage Media. A former trial attorney who spent his career in and around civil litigation, Jeff is now retired, pursuing his passion of writing fiction.
- ADVANCE SUBMISSION CRITIQUE: Suspense, sci-fi, fantasy and historical.; up to 10 pages double-spaced, cover letter
BARBARA PRONIN‘s work has been lauded by legendary mystery novelist Tony Hillerman as, “Neat, suspenseful plots about the kind of people you worry about, written with skill.” The author of multiple titles, both as Barbara Pronin and as Barbara Nickolae (published internationally in nine languages by Reader’s Digest Condensed Books), and two nonfiction books, her latest release is The Miner’s Canary, a who-done-it about a single mom haunted by a death she might have prevented. A journalist by day, Barbara is now working on a historical novel set in World War II Holland..
- SESSIONS: “Fiction From the Gut: Writing Unforgettable Characters” and TBA
JUDY REEVES is a writer and teacher who has published four books on writing including the award-winning A Writer’s Book of Days, and, most recently, Wild Women, Wild Voices. Her work has appeared in the San Diego Reader; The Frozen Moment; Connotations Press; Serving House Journal; Waymark; Expressive Writing, Classroom and Community, and other journals and anthologies. She is also an editor for manuscripts, journals, and chapbooks. She has been leading writing groups and teaching creative writing for 25 years at writing conferences internationally and at San Diego Writers, Ink, a nonprofit literary center she cofounded. Judyreeveswriter.com.
- SESSIONS: “Creating Atmosphere and Mood,” “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 non-fiction, women’s fiction; up to 10 pages double-spaced
PAT SPENCER has published fiction and nonfiction with three different traditional book publishers, a major newspaper, and a national trade journal without the aid of an agent. She indie-published Story of a Stolen Girl, an international thriller intensely focused on the cost of human trafficking. Golden Boxty in the Frypan, a historical fiction, is under contract with Pen It Publications, and the Sticks in a Bundle trilogy, a historical/literary fiction crossover, is signed for a three-book contract with Scarsdale Publishing. Additionally, Pat’s short stories have appeared in a variety of online journals, such as the Literary Yard, Scarlet Leaf Review, and Potato Soup Journal, and her A Healing Place won the 2019 Oceanside Literary Festival.
- SESSIONS: “Yes, You Can Traditionally Publish Your Work Without a Literary Agent!”
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
MARY VENSEL WHITE‘s debut novel, The Qualities of Wood, was published by HarperCollins, the first book published by the company’s digital imprint, Authonomy, only a year prior to hardcopy. Her second novel, Bellflower, is an experimental “novel-in-moments” that Scott Pack (Weightless Fireworks) declared, “A remarkable feat.” A third novel, Starling, is forthcoming this year. Mary’s work has appeared in Catapult, The Rumpus, The Write Launch, Author Magazine, and elsewhere. She edits fiction and nonfiction projects at TypeEighteenEditing.com, is an adjunct professor of English and writing at Concordia University in Irvine, contributing editor of The Riverside Quarterly, and vice president of the California Writers Club, Orange County branch.
- SESSIONS: TBA
ADVANCE SUBMISSION CRITIQUE: Contemporary fiction; first 10 pages double-spaced, cover letter
Agents & Editors
ANNIE BOMPKE is a literary agent with over a decade of experience in the publishing industry. Her books include Gus Moreno’s critically acclaimed literary horror novel This Thing Between Us, the Macavity Award winning Dodging and Burning by John Copenhaver, and People magazine pick Double Exposure by Ava Barry. Her interests span a range of genres—from hard-nosed business books to otherworldly historical novels. Authors have called her the pH test for good writing, and a bedrock for literary quality control.
- STATE OF THE AGENTS PANEL
- ADVANCE SUBMISSION CRITIQUE: Commercial, literary, historical, women’s & upmarket fiction, mysteries, police procedurals, thrillers, horror; self-help, business, health/diet, cookbooks, memoir, relationships, current events, psychology, and narrative nonfiction; first 10 pages, double-spaced, cover letter
CATHIE HEDRICK-ARMSTRONG is an agent with The Purcell Agency. 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.
- STATE OF THE AGENTS PANEL
- 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
STEVEN HUTSON is an agent with WordWise Media, which he founded as an editorial service in 2005. Branching out as a literary agent in 2011, he’s landed author-client deals with such publishers as Dutton, Thomas Nelson, Tyndale, Potomac, David C. Cook, Praeger, Writer’s Digest Books, and others, in myriad genres. Looking to expand the firm’s list, his interest in multiple genres is expansive.
- STATE OF THE AGENT PANEL
- ADVANCE SUBMISSION CRITIQUE: Pretty much all fiction except erotica, picture books, poetry and short story collections; Nonfiction is open; first 10 pages double-spaced, cover letter
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.
- SESSIONS: “Mindfulness in Craft: Practices to Elevate Your Writing 1,” “Mindfulness in Craft: Practices to Elevate Your Writing 2” (both with White), “Slice of Life: Sculpting Your Memoir’s Story,” “Soul Therapy: The Spirit 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
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: “Pitch Witch: Query Letter Critique” and “Pitch Witch: What’s Your Book About?“
- 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
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: Rogue Read & Critique: SciFi/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.
- 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,” and Rogue Read & Critique: All-Genre
- ADVANCE SUBMISSION CRITIQUE: Mainstream, historical and genre fiction, romance; first 10 pages double-spaced, cover letter
CARLISLE WEBBER is an agent with Fuse Literary. She is looking for high-concept commercial fiction in middle grade, young adult, and adult, and is especially interested in stories by and about people of color; with both visible and invisible disabilities and illnesses; who are economically disadvantaged; who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or queer; or who are members of religious minorities.
- STATE OF THE AGENT PANEL
- ADVANCE SUBMISSION CRITIQUE: Commercial & women’s fiction, thriller, mystery, suspense, horror, middle grade & YA (any genre); first 10 pages, double-spaced; cover letter