.png)
CONFERENCE
This free, virtual conference is designed to help you make the most of your time with short videos from presenters around the world. Videos are available on YouTube indefinitely on YouTube and some presenters are available to chat in Discord. These authors, editors, and industry professionals are donating their time to help you be a better writer.
Learn more about our 2026 presenters and their topics below!
Subscribe for free on YouTube.
Organized by S.E. Reed and Theresa Green
with help from Bruce Buchanan
Sponsored by YOU
when you like and share
Volunteer to present in 2027 HERE
2026 PRESENTERS:
In addition to individual talks,
we're hosting FOUR incredible panels in 2026!
Literary Magazines
featuring
Jay Aja (University of Tampa Press)
Elizabeth Coffey & Mark Wish (Coolest American Stories)
Kolby Granville (After Dinner Conversation)
Miah Jeffra (Foglifter Press)
Poetry Presses
featuring
Kristina Darling (Tupelo Press)
Kate Gale (Red Hen Press)
Tyler Hurula (South Broadway Press)
Ophelia Monet (wildscape. Literary Journal)
Small Presses
featuring
Shayna Keyles (North Atlantic Books)
Christine Stroud (Autumn House Press)
Nicole Tallman (Jackleg Press)
(Re)Imaginings: Adaptations and Retellings
with Colleen Alles
Tuesday: 1 pm Eastern, 5 pm UTC
Retellings and adaptations are perennially popular with readers and viewers. From Clueless to Percival Everett’s Pulitzer Prize winning James, we love to explore classic stories in innovative ways. This talk unpacks the distinctions between retellings and adaptations while offering specific approaches for writers. Audience members will come away from this talk with a deeper understanding of the mechanisms at work in retellings and, hopefully, inspiration to venture their own ideas in this marketable space.
About Colleen:
Colleen Alles is a lifelong Michigander and award-winning writer. The author of three novels and two poetry collections, she’s also a fiction editor with Barren Magazine and an MFA candidate at Spalding University. Her debut short fiction collection, Close to a Flame, was a 2025 National Indie Excellence Award Finalist; it was also named one of Lit Hub’s 100 Notable Small Press Books (2025). Etchings Press (University of Indianapolis) awarded her debut novella as its winner (2025).
Twitter/X: ColleenAlles
Instagram: colleenalles_author
Facebook: facebook.com/colleenalles13
GoodReads: goodreads.com/author/show/17807036.Colleen_Alles LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/colleen-alles-1590b713
TikTok: @colleenalles_authorX
.jpeg)
Connecting With Your Readers
with Saffron Asteria
Sunday: 3 pm Eastern, 7 pm UTC
In this insightful marketing talk, Saffron explains how to identify your audience (it starts you) and engage with them… and it might not be on social media. These tips and tricks for connecting with your audience can help authors at any stage, from those publishing for the first-time to multi-bestselling industry pros. They’re also an excellent way for readers to find great writing!
About Saffron:
Saffron is a writer, creator of the website Indiosyncrasy and host of the shows BOOKED (Indiosyncrasy's sister podcast) and Strangers in Fiction. My goal with each of my endeavours is to lift up writers and to help readers find their next favourite indie book!
Twitter and Instagram @indiosyncbooks
Microfiction: Big Benefits from Small Writing Projects
with Bruce Buchanan
Thursday: 11 am Eastern, 3 pm UTC
Bite-sized fiction is perfect for a culture used to scrolling social media. Microfiction can help writers of longer prose sharpen their skills and earn confidence-boosting publication acceptances. This talk addresses the types of microfiction, the benefits of writing short-form fiction, and some tips on how to approach it. Added bonus: ideas about where to get published!
About Bruce:
Bruce Buchanan is the communications writer for an international law firm and a former journalist but he’s been a fan of fantasy and heroic fiction for most of his life. His influences range from the novels of Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman and Terry Brooks to the Marvel Comics stories of Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, and Steve Ditko. Bruce is the author of the NA fantasy novel The Blacksmith’s Boy (August 2025, Wild Ink Publishing). His next two novels, the adult superhero redemption story The Return of the Cerulean Blur and the sequel to The Blacksmith’s Boy, The Queen’s Daughter, both are signed with Wild Ink for 2026.
Instagram: @brucebuchanan7710
Twitter: @BBuchananWomble
Bluesky: @bbuchananwomble.bsky.social
Facebook: bruce.buchanan.92
The Query Letter Formula
with K.T. Carlisle
Saturday: 9 am Eastern, 1 pm UTC
The Query Letter is the hardest part of publishing. In this step-by-step guide, K.T. walks querying authors through everything they need to know about writing the perfect query letter, including the opening paragraph, log line, two-paragraph summary, and author bio… plus how to make each one stand out.
About K.T.:
K.T. Carlisle is the pseudonym for a murder mystery writer living in Southwest Florida. Since early childhood, Carlisle has dedicated her life to the written word. Earning her B.A. in Writing Arts with a concentration in Creative Writing in 2015 from Rowan University, Carlisle received the Excellence in Writing Arts Award from the university — an honor reserved for students who exhibit exceptional skill as a writer and teacher of writing. When she is not busy working on her next novel, Carlisle spends her days editing other authors' books, playing DND with her incredible fiancé, making memories with her adorable stepson, and snuggling with her two crazy dogs.
@KT_Carlisle
Using 4thewords to Write
with Coffee Quills
Tuesday: 7 pm Eastern, 11 pm UTC
4thewords is an innovative platform that turns writing into a role-playing game adventure. Battle monsters, undertake heroic quests, and win loot—all by writing! In this presentation, author Coffee Quills demonstrates how you can join in the fun, interact with other writers, and boost your writing at the same time. This presentation serves as an in-depth guide for beginners on how to use 4thewords.
About Coffee:
CoffeeQuills is a genre-weaver who enjoys writing horror, fantasy, sci-fi, apocalypse, & romance. They're a dev with 4thewords (an RPG for writers) & a Writers CONduit planning dragon. Warning: Coffee is a #HurricaneWriter, #DustWarrior, & #ApocalypticallyOptimistic ~ Ask me about my books!
About Tenesha:
A native of Louisville, Kentucky, Tenesha L. Curtis has been a lover of the dark, disturbing, and deviant since childhood. In her kindergarten and elementary school years, her favorite movies included classics like Child’s Play and Candyman. Unable to be tied to one genre, she’s consumed work from writers like Edgar Allen Poe, Kazuo Ishiguro, Toni Morrison, Amy Tan, Patricia Cornwell, Stephen King, Ayn Rand, and Zane. Her fascination with the human psyche led her to earn a master's degree in chemical addiction treatment and work in the mental health world for over a decade before turning her life over to literature completely. She uses this training and experience to influence straightforward books on writing made especially for newbie authors, and thrilling works of fiction in various genres.
Write a Book This Year
with Tenesha L. Curtis
Friday: 7 pm Eastern, 11 pm UTC
In this talk, Tenesha explains how beneficial positive thinking can be. She provides tips on how to set and meet achievable goals so you can confidently write your book this year.
About Mick:
M. Dane was raised in outback Australia, where he grew up on a farm with cattle, pigs, and his siblings—who were just as wild. In his isolation, he fell in love with novels as they offered unlimited adventures at the turn of a page. After finishing school, he traded fields for far-off lands, joining the army and embarking on a journey that took him around the world.
The Slow Approach to Writing Quick Middle Grade Fiction
with Mick Dane
Friday: 1 pm Eastern, 5 pm UTC
In this talk, Mick teaches authors how to maintain the youthful narration and pacing needed in middle grade work. He explains how to use format, structure, story progression, and dialogue effectively for middle grade writing and how to do so in a way that will maintain interest. His focus on starting to plot the next book while drafting the current one helps give ideas time to grow.
His foray into writing wasn’t a sudden leap, but a gradual shift that began with scribbles that evolved into his debut novel, The Traitor in the Trees. While he jokingly says his writing career started with struggling to spell his own name at fifteen, the truth is, the seeds of storytelling were planted long before then, in the dusty paddocks of his childhood.
Seventeen years in the army taught him more than just discipline; it opened his eyes to the wonderful cultures and experiences that shape our world. Now, having switched the uniform for a writer’s desk, his focus is on writing stories that capture the essence of his travels and the diverse beauty of the places he's seen. He hopes to bring a piece of the world to his readers, encouraging a curiosity and appreciation for the diverse cultures that enrich our planet.
Insta: author_downunder_m.dane
X: @author_MDane
Writing a Dual Timeline
with Alexandria Faulkenbury
Thursday: 9 am Eastern, 1 pm UTC
Author Alexandria Faulkenbury teaches you how to maintain reader interest with a dual timeline, emphasizing that both timelines need their own arc, motives, goals, and strong characters. It’s like writing two books in one. She explores the pros and cons of using differing points of view and perspectives between timelines and using different tenses for each timeline. You’ll learn how to create clear, parallel scenes between timelines, how to weave timelines, and how to link them so they work together.
About Alexandria:
Alexandria Faulkenbury is the author of Somewhere Past the End (May 25, Apprentice House Press). Her writing has appeared in The Maine Review and MER Literary, among others. She holds an M.A. in literature and teaches English at Midlands Technical College. She lives in SC with her husband, two rambunctious kids, and one ornery dog.
instagram: amfaulkenbury
Twitter: @lexibury
Numbers Meet Your Novel:
A Quantitative Way to Self-Edit
with K.M. Hasling
Thursday: 1 pm Eastern, 5 pm UTC
As writers, we pour our hearts into lovable characters, enticing plots, and beautiful prose. Sometimes we're too close to see the patterns that a quantitative analysis can reveal. In Numbers Meet Your Novel, K.M. Hasling exposes blind spots through page analysis, multi-mediums, and key inflection points.
About K.M.:
K.M. Hasling is an author of more than science fiction and fantasy novels. She has written dry user guides as an engineer, nail-biting ghost stories as a cave tour guide, and interactive fiction. Today, she lives in Colorado and turns science fiction dreams into reality as a product manager.
@kristaINK
Writing Neurodivergent Characters
with Brianna Heath
Tuesday: 11 am Eastern, 3 pm UTC
Author Brianna Heath discusses what neurodiversity is and how it differs for everyone. She provides a walkthrough of how a writer might approach developing a neurodivergent character. Includes tips on realism, masking, and interiority, how to avoid stereotypes, and what it’s like to live with a brain that works differently.
Happy book release day, Brianna!
About Brianna:
Brianna Heath (she/her/hers) is a queer, neurodivergent, disabled author who writes books that can be broadly described as “Be Gay, Do Crime” with queer millennials who are still figuring out adulting. Her stories center queer companionship and joy. Her debut novel is Robbie McNeil’s Hit List (Poisoned Pen Press/Sourcebooks, March 2026).
In her non-writing life, she works as a program manager for autism research and teaches seminars on disability advocacy and inclusion. She is on the board of directors for a nonprofit queer library that promotes and preserves LGBTQIA+ books and history.
Brianna lives in Northern California with Beau, her rescued border collie/gremlin, who, like her, has absolutely no chill.
Instagram, bsky, X: @briannahwrites
What Is Speculative Fiction?
with MJ Huntsgood
Wednesday: 11 am Eastern, 3 pm UTC
In this fun and informative presentation, author MJ Huntsgood explores the wild worlds of speculative fiction and how it pertains to real life. Far from “escapism,” speculative fiction holds a mirror up to the world we live in. This video offers tips on how to get started writing science fiction, fantasy, horror, and other speculative genres, both in short story and novel form. Huntsgood also explains why speculative fiction is open to all writers. So watch this video—then give it a shot!
About MJ:
MJ Huntsgood is a speculative thriller and horror author who enjoys exploring the use of perspective and deep POV in her work to find the nightmare not just in a situation, but within ourselves. She is a member of the Horror Writers’ Association, a founder of the Writers' Read And Listen Along, and a board member of Hood College’s Master’s Advisory Program. She is represented by Morgan Wilson of Belcastro Literary.
Since entering the literary world in 2023, she has been in over two dozen literary magazines and has published in anthologies with Timber Ghost Press Red Cape Publishing, and You’re Never Too Much: Poems for Every Emotion from Macmillan Children’s Books. She is a loser of various awards, and an applicant for many others. She lives in Washington DC with her ever dwindling number of underwatered plants, 2 cats and trophy husband.
Most platforms at @MJHuntsgood
Our Bold Voices Panel Discussion
with Paul Iarrobino & Our Bold Voices
Tuesday: 5 pm Eastern, 9 pm UTC
Our Bold Voices amplifies the voices of underrepresented communities through storytelling and collaboration. Our Bold Voices published its first book of queer stories, Defining Moments, followed by Defiant Moments, and more books are on the way. In this panel discussion, a group of Our Bold Voices authors discusses their stories, their motivations for sharing their work, and how collaborating has improved their writing experience. Our Bold Voices Founding Director Paul Iarrobino moderates this candid conversation and is joined by writers Russell Alexander-Orozco, Heidi Bruins Green, Jamison Green, John Lucia, and Scott Strickland.
About the Our Bold Voices authors:
Paul Iarrobino (he/him) is a storyteller, author and activist. He is one of the founding members of Elder Pride Services and received their Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018 for providing leadership during their formative years and is pleased that Our Bold Voices received their Community Hero Award in 2025. Paul is the proud recipient of Oregon Queer History Collective’s 2021 Queer Hero Award for his groundbreaking work engaging and inspiring community dialogues during the pandemic. He lives in Portland, Oregon, with his husband, Arnel. You can follow Paul at www.ourboldvoices.com.
Russell Alexander-Orozco (he/him) is a multidisciplinary artist of Latinx and Native American heritage: teaching artist, actor, writer, filmmaker, storyteller, community organizer and an advocate for social justice. He utilizes Theatre Arts Integration to create art that impels action and uplifts community beyond barriers of race, gender, class and geography. Russell is the recipient of the Guardian Award for extraordinary leadership & years of service to the Community of Los Angeles. He can be heard sharing his stories at the Autry Museum of the American West, the NDA Show, and Strong Words – Voices of the City.
Heidi Bruins Green (she/her) was raised in conservative Bakersfield, CA, by hippie parents who fostered her political activism. Coming out as a lesbian at 23, Heidi spent 20+ years in the lesbian community. Then she fell in love with a man, her now-husband, Jamison Green, a trans author and activist. Believing sexuality is a journey rather than a destination, Heidi spent several decades teaching workshops that encouraged bisexual+ people to celebrate all parts of their journeys. Now (sort of) retired, Heidi and Jamison are thrilled to have recently fallen in love with their brand-new grandson, who lives nearby, much to their delight.
Jamison Green (he/him) always knew he would be a writer, a career goal that led to many adventures. He earned his M.F.A. in Creative Writing from the University of Oregon. Since then, he has taught legal writing, skiing, and gender studies. He performed in rock bands, percussion ensembles, and musical theater. He has written for major corporations, and led nonprofit organizations. He changed anti-discrimination laws, reformed insurance industry and healthcare delivery practices — all while publishing numerous articles and books on a variety of subjects. His best-known book is Becoming a Visible Man. Learn more at jamisongreen.com.
John Lucia (he/him) was born and raised in San Francisco. He moved to Portland, Oregon, in 1994. He worked mostly in accounting management, having had some early forays into floristry, secretarial and property management, before traveling the country by RV for 10 years, working remotely at times. After spending over 10 years in Tucson, He came back to the Pacific Northwest to enjoy the beauty of the area.
Scott Strickland (he/him) was born in northwest Portland and lives there again 70 years later. He spent as much time as possible in eastern Oregon while growing up. Oregon was home for college and graduate school until a job in Minnesota took Scott on a 20 year ride in AIDS care and research. He was drawn back to the beauty of Oregon and a less stressful job in 1998. After a stint in prison, Scott has settled into a quiet peaceful existence in the place he loves.
Writing Epic Fantasy
with Autumn Kaufer
Wednesday: 7 pm Eastern, 11 pm UTC
In this talk, Autumn provides a comprehensive view of her path to publication. She discusses how writing can save lives and how easy it is to start with a short story and end up with an eight-book epic fantasy series (oops!). Learn about the steps in the publishing process, how to use your own experiences to flesh out your fantasy world, and how to blend reality and fiction in a world you create.
About Autumn:
Autumn Kaufer has dreamed of becoming a published author for as long as she can remember. She is a DV and SA survivor, and champions for mental health services for those in need. She lives in Indiana with her wonderful husband and furbabies. When she's not reading or writing, she enjoys playing video games, watching movies, and going for walks in the woods around her home.
She is currently working on an eight book fantasy series, The Courtship Saga, and a series of standalone fairytale retellings, The Stolen Royalty Series.
https://linktr.ee/arkauferauthor
About Thea:
Thea Landen lives in New York with her husband and children. Though she’s dabbled in all romantic subgenres, she has a special love for sci-fi, fantasy, and adventure… anything that pushes the imagination beyond its usual limits. When she’s not writing, she’s either knitting or crocheting, playing video games, or pretending to enjoy cardio and squats.
How To Write a Great Sex Scene
with Thea Landen
Saturday: 7 pm Eastern, 11 pm UTC
In this (actually clean) talk, Thea discusses tips and advice you can apply to ANY type of fiction, but especially sex scenes. In addition to varying sentence structure and description choices, characterization can inform tense and point of view—they matter (a lot) in every scene, no matter what you’re writing. Characters also help you establish the way you use language, helping you avoid bizarre euphemisms or unnecessarily clinical speech. In sex scenes in particular, attention to physicality is crucial to inform your narration. This talk includes closed door and open door romance, and the necessity of a sex scene.
Thea taps a lot of our Core Concepts in this talk: character development, description, pacing, and perspective.
The Lure of Lore:
Using Family Lore, Local Lore, and Folklore in Your Writing
with Deb Lerew
Wednesday: 5 pm Eastern, 9 pm UTC
In this talk, Deb explains how to use different types of lore to flesh out your narrative. From family lore, with genealogy and anecdotes, reunions, pictures and stories, to local lore with news, human interest stories, and local rumors, she has so many amazing tips! Add a dash of popular (or not-so-popular) legends, tales, fairy stories as inspiration to bring your setting to life.
About Deb:
Deb Lerew grew up in the small town of Millersburg, Pennsylvania, where she spent her summers daydreaming by the river, stargazing in her backyard, or reading every book she could check out of the library. She currently lives in Dillsburg, Pennsylvania, with her husband, college-aged sons, and black lab.
As Leta Hawk, she is the author of the Kyrie Carter: Supernatural Sleuth series, which includes The Newbie, School Spirits, The Witch of Willow Lake, An Uneasy Inheritance, Dandelion Souls, and Outwalk the Light, Outrun the Darkness. The final book of the series, tentatively titled Telling the Truth Slant, is forthcoming. Anticipated future works include a Young Adult series featuring Kyr and Spook's teenage children, who will have adventures of their own, and the Millers Ferry Cozy Mysteries series.
Writing as Play
with Jessica Lee Minneci
Tuesday: 9 am Eastern, 1 pm UTC
In Writing As Play, Jessica teaches authors how to change their approach to writing to make it less of a mental chore and more playful. She suggests creating a mental “sandbox” to gain familiarity with characters and plot, asking “what ifs” to help expand plot ideas, word association, and classic influences like fairy tales. This talk also explores what makes writing fun for the writer overall—even in revision.
About Jessica:
Jessica Lee Minneci is a young adult fantasy author, living in Louisville, Kentucky. She earned her MFA in Writing Popular Fiction and a BA in English, Creative Writing from Seton Hill University. Jessica has had three short stories published, and one more will be featured in an anthology later this year.
Instagram & X: @jessicalminneci
How to Craft a Best-Selling Picture Book Series
with Amy Nielsen
Monday: 5 pm Eastern, 9 pm UTC
Pick up the templates in our Downloads folder!
As a youth librarian, Amy Nielsen purchased hundreds of picture books. As a literary agent, she’s sold numerous illustrated children’s books to publishers. Amy shares her knowledge with the Writer’s Workout, including how to get started writing a children’s picture book (ideas, characters, setting, etc.) She explores the difference between character-driven and concept-driven picture books. Amy also addresses the importance of branding in creating a marketable children’s series. Once you have all the pieces in place, she explains how to best pitch your concept to literary agents.
About Amy:
Amy Nielsen spent twenty amazing years as a children's and youth librarian. She is currently a literary agent at The Purcell Agency, specializing in picture books. She is also the author of the picture book Goldilocks and the Three Bears: Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorder. When not reading or writing, Amy and her family can be found boating the waters of Tampa Bay with two canine co-captains in mermaid life vests.
Twitter: @AmyNielsen06
IG: @Author_Amy.Nielsen
The Developmental Edit:
How to Self-Evaluate Your Manuscript
and Story Elements Your Editor Will Look At
with Dakota Nyght
Wednesday: 9 am Eastern, 1 pm UTC
You've finally typed those two little words: "The End." Congratulations! Now it's time to tackle revisions, but where to start? In this talk, we’ll look at the process of a developmental edit, what your editor focuses on, and how to apply a similar analytical lens when evaluating your own work. Asking yourself these questions can help guide your revision process and, later, help you get more value out of a paid developmental edit. This talk includes common manuscript errors and the cons of using AI.
Dakota Nyght (she/her) is a Developmental and Line/Copy Editor for fiction authors and heart-led entrepreneurs. She helps them clarify and untangle their writing to craft compelling stories that engage their readers. With over eighteen years of writing and editing experience, she blends her practical journalism and technical writing skills with the soulful understanding of a fellow artist in a sensitive and insightful editing style. She holds a BA in Journalism from the University of Montana, a Certificate in Professional Editing from the University of Washington, and is a member of the Editorial Freelancers Association and ACES: The Society for Editing. When not at her computer, you can find her attempting to wrangle her household menagerie, absorbed in her own artistic pursuits, or hiking up a Montana mountainside.
Facebook: facebook.com/DakotaNyght
Instagram: instagram.com/dakotanyghtediting
Maria S. Picone/수영 (mariaspicone.com; @mspicone) is a queer Korean American adoptee who has three chapbooks: Anti Asian Bias, Adoptee Song (Game Over Books), This Tenuous Atmosphere (Conium). She has been published in Tahoma Literary Review, Reckoning, and others including Best Small Fictions 2021. She won Salamander’s Louisa Solano Memorial Emerging Poet Prize, Cream City Review’s 2020 Poetry Prize, and support from Kenyon Review, Juniper, Tin House, Hambidge, The Watering Hole, South Carolina Arts Commission, South Arts, and elsewhere. She edits at Chestnut Review, Five Minutes, and Foglifter.
Chestnut Review: volunteering for literary magazines
with Maria Picone & the Chestnut Review team
Friday: 9 am Eastern, 1 pm UTC
In this panel discussion, Chestnut Review Editor Maria Picone joins writers Kyle Givens, Reina Garcia and Samira Shakib-Bregeth to discuss volunteer opportunities in the literary magazine and small press world. The panelists discuss their personal experiences with literary magazines and how volunteers can find positions. What questions should prospective volunteers ask before they commit to a project? They also talk about balancing volunteer work with their own writing.
About the Chestnut Review team:
Kyle Givens is a writer from Arlington, TX, where he lives with his wife, three children, a dog, and a couple birds. He is a Prose Reader at The Chestnut Review, and is at work on a novel set in Depression era Texas.
Reina Garcia is a second-generation Mexican-American and a native of Los Angeles. She is currently pursuing her certificate in the Creative Writing program at UCLA Extension. Reina is a reader for Chestnut Magazine, and her poem "Buttery Gold" was published in Chestnut's 2024 Art Book. Additionally, her poem "My Accent" was featured on the California Poet Laureate website as part of the "Our California" project. Reina participated in two panels at the 2025 Flights of Foundry virtual writer's conference. Her artistry delves into the layered and often hidden histories of Mexicans in Southern California. She lives in Irvine with her fiancé and their Chihuahua-terrier, and she is a legal eagle by day at a video game company.
Samira Shakib-Bregeth is an Iranian-American writer from Chicago who lives and teaches in suburban Atlanta. She sponsors high school literary magazines and is the communications manager at Chestnut Review. Some of her publications can be found at Literary Mama, Hawai`i Pacific Review, Wild Roof Journal, Heartwood, Parhelion, Fig & Quince, and Hungry Chimera. Currently on submission, Samira’s #ownvoices novel was a finalist for UCLA’s Allegra Johnson’s Writing Prize. Samira has a soft heart for creatives and dreamers.
How to Write a Horror Novel
with Stacey L. Pierson
Monday: 7 pm Eastern, 11 pm UTC
In How to Write a Horror Novel, Stacey talks through the process of finding a fear, creating a character to interact with that fear, and how to put that fear in motion. She discusses the importance of atmosphere with descriptive language, especially with setting. Fear, setting, and atmosphere, combined with character synergy, create a strong, believable horror narrative.
About Stacey:
I have written three novels: Vale, Dark Descendants, and Static, and one novella, The Breathing House. My writing has appeared in Abditory Literary Journal’s Issue One: Mirabilia and recently in Bunker Squirrel Magazine, Signal Magazine, and RDG Books. My fifth novel, Wilt, will be published on March 27, 2026, through Anuci Press. I have been on multiple news outlets, such as KTVE Morning Show and Louisiana Living, for my novels, along with various YouTube channels. I’m also a staff writer for Signal Magazine, which has published a few of my short stories.
shilohgirl318.wixsite.com/staceylpierson
Twitter: @SuperStacey318
Instagram/Threads: @superstacey318
TikTok: @superstaceywriiter318
About Emily:
Emily Rae Russo is a speculative fiction writer, represented by Maria Whelan of Mushens Entertainment.
She has over thirteen years of website and marketing experience, and has built hundreds of websites for a variety of industries through her marketing firm. Emily also runs The Writer's Website, building websites for fellow writers with the mission of giving authors an affordable, professional, and easy-to-manage website.
When she’s not writing or working, Emily spends her time hiking with her husband and two shih tzus.
Building Author Websites
with Emily Rae Russo
Thursday: 7 pm Eastern, 11 pm UTC
Learn about how to build your own dazzling author website. Emily covers the benefits of having your own author website, branding, positioning, purpose, and using this space to showcase your personality. Learn what to include (even if you’re not published yet), explore the platforms, and find out what makes a website great.
Instagram/TikTok/X: @by_emilyrae
The Writer’s Website: writerwebsitedesign.com
X/Instagram: @writerswebsite
About Benjamin:
Benjamin Ryan is the acclaimed author of Madame Eldridge’s Wayward Home for Unruly Boys, a spellbinding debut that has captured the hearts of readers and critics alike. A dedicated special education teacher in Manhattan, Benjamin holds degrees in Art History and World Religions, as well as a dual Master’s in Education and Special Education from NYU.
A proud member of the LGBTQ community and a military brat who lived across U.S. and Europe, he brings a rich, diverse perspective to his work, shaped by his
Realistic Dialogue: Let's Talk About Talking
with Benjamin Ryan
Sunday: 11 am Eastern, 3 pm UTC
Multitalented author Benjamin Ryan teaches you how to write strong dialogue that speaks to the reader as well as the characters. Using published examples, he shows how to know when to use or cut the tags, how action beats work with dialogue to develop character, and the all-important subtext. Say hi to Francine!
experiences as the “new kid” who often felt different. In his mid-twenties, Benjamin faced a life-threatening diagnosis that inspired a dramatic personal transformation. He lost over 175 pounds and embraced his passion for storytelling. His writing blends emotional authenticity with powerful, character-driven narratives that explore identity, resilience, and the lives lived behind closed doors—“I didn’t want to die with these stories still inside me.”
He also engages actively with readers, fellow authors, and fans on Twitter (X) and Instagram (@BRClothWrites), where he shares insights, writing updates, and guest appearances. Following the success of Madame Eldridge’s Wayward Home for Unruly Boys, Benjamin is thrilled to announce its sequel, along with several forthcoming titles for both adult, young adult, and middle-grade readers. Among them is Welcome to Midlothian Boulevard—generating early buzz from reviewers.
Tricky Grammar Tips
with Cyndi Sandusky
Thursday: 5 pm Eastern, 9 pm UTC
Quick quizzes on tricky grammar followed by definitions, tips on remembering, and answers, along with some fun examples of common grammar faux pas.
About Cyndi:
I'm Cyndi, and I live in Upstate South Carolina. I’m a voracious reader, and I love words. You know those people who want to learn about everything? Yeah, that’s me! I’ve had careers ranging from graphic design to crime lab analysis to wildlife rehabilitation to medical transcription. My hobbies include riding horses, watercolor painting, and watching NFL football, and I’ve even tried basket weaving and beekeeping and trained in martial arts. I bring this varied background to my copyediting career.
I love variety in my editing. I edit medicolegal reports and chapters in an online veterinary manual, and I also edit fiction. My main genres are fantasy, paranormal, romance, cozy mystery, and thrillers. I’m committed to making my clients' stories the best they can be.
Exclusive DISCOUNT CODE for attendees: WW26-10
Book your service with Cyndi by March 31.
Instagram: @sanduskyeditorial
Retellings and Reimaginings
with Demi Michelle Schwartz
Friday: 11 am Eastern, 3 pm UTC
Multifaceted creative Demi explains the differences between retellings and reimaginings, which types of pieces can fit within this label, and potential pitfalls to writing a retelling. Her advice will help you navigate this fun and creative storytelling style to help your work stand out.
About Demi:
Demi Michelle Schwartz is an author from Pittsburgh, PA. She primarily writes young adult fiction, focusing on the fantasy and thriller genres, though she loves to explore other genres and age categories in her short stories found in anthologies. In 2019, Demi graduated summa cum laude with BAs in Creative Writing and Music from Seton Hill University, then earned her MFA in Writing Popular Fiction at Seton Hill in June of 2022.
Along with being an author, Demi is the host of Literary Blend: A Publishing Podcast, a freelance fiction editor through her independently-run services, Amethyst Ink Editorial, an editor for Revise & Resub (#RevPit), and an award-winning songwriter and recording artist.
Twitter, Bluesky, & Instagram: @demimschwartz
Legal Issues for Writers
with Tali Shammas
Friday: 5 pm Eastern, 9 pm UTC
As much as writers may wish otherwise, there are lots of legal issues to consider when writing something for publication. Author and JD Tali Shammas explores some of the most important topics, including contracts. She provides an overview of issues to watch in contracts with publishers, agents, and editors, as well as how authors can navigate work-for-hire agreements. Beyond that, Tali examines defamation claims and how writers can best protect themselves.
About Tali:
Tali grew up devouring books by flashlight long after bedtime. She believed stories could change the world, which led her to a career in law. But after witnessing the corporate world's gender disparity in leadership, she returned to academia to pursue a PhD examining gender diversity. Eventually, she expanded her focus to explore how global events shape judicial decision-making.
Throughout her career, Tali always wrote, but it wasn't until her maternity leave
that she turned to fiction. What began as a personal outlet became her first full-length manuscript. Within three months of querying, she received an offer of representation, but feeling there was more to learn, she opted instead to enter a mentorship program to hone her craft. Her next project, THE ART OF BLEEDING, a gothic fantasy, changed everything. Just weeks after querying, the manuscript sparked a whirlwind of interest and multiple offers of representation. Tali is represented by Marilyn Biderman and Brenna English-Loeb at Transatlantic Literary Agency.
Now, Tali gives back by offering mentorship to up-and-coming writers and running workshops on legal issues writers should consider. Tali is the chair of a large writer's organization and her award-winning short fiction has been published in an anthology. She also runs The Prose Pros Podcast, a weekly podcast where she discusses publishing with industry insiders.
She currently lives in Ontario with her husband, two children, and a very spoiled (and handicapable) cockapoo with wheels.
Twitter, Instagram, and BlueSky: @talishammas
A Guide to Business Operations for Freelancers
with Rachel Thompson
Monday: 1 pm Eastern, 5 pm UTC
As freelance writers, we work IN the business delivering value to readers and ON the business to make sure it achieves its goal. This session provides a basic guide to structuring your business as a hobbyist, side hustle, or a full-time author. Learn how your business operations can support your life, brain, and bank account with tips on financial, administrative, and contracting structures, digital presence, and outreach strategies.
About Rachel:
Rachel Thompson is a Certified Professional Facilitator, Editor and Brand and Business Strategist for solo business owners. As the founder of Daring Studios and Teal Edits, she helps solopreneurs, freelancers and creatives build sustainable businesses and stronger stories through strategy, structure, and clarity. Rachel blends structure, curiosity, and expertise to help people work with more clarity, confidence, and creative freedom.
@rachelbedaring
About Becky:
Becky Tuch is a fiction and nonfiction writer, based in Philadelphia. She has been honored with awards and fellowships from Moment Magazine, The Somerville, MA Arts Council, and The MacDowell Colony. Her writing has appeared in dozens of publications including Virginia Quarterly Review, Gulf Coast, McSweeney’s Internet Tendency, and several anthologies, including Best of the Net.
She is the Founder of Lit Mag News, a newsletter dedicated to helping writers navigate lit mag publishing.
X: @BeckyLTuch
Publishing in Literary Magazines
with Becky Tuch
Saturday: 1 pm Eastern, 5 pm UTC
Ever wondered how to get your work published in literary magazines? This video is for you! Becky Tuch, the creator of Lit Mag News, offers a step-by-step practical guide on the lit mag submission process. Her presentation includes recognizing when a piece is ready to submit, drafting a quality cover letter, and finding the magazines and journals that meet your writing goals. She covers rejections, and what writers can learn from rejection tiers. Becky also discusses writing contests as an option for your work.
About Danielle:
Danielle Render Turmaud, PhD is an agented kidlit author, a trauma therapist, a published academic author, an Expert Blog Author for Psychology Today, an experienced professor, an international presenter and speaker, host of the You, Me & the Writing Journey podcast, Critique Coach for the Picture Book Academy, host of the Take Your Kid to Publishing Day Event, and host of the #YouDeservepIt writer pitch event.
Balancing Your Voice & Market Needs in the Kidlit Journey
with Danielle Render Turmaud
Wednesday: 1 pm Eastern, 5 pm UTC
The writing/kidlit journey is a beautiful and wild ride! One full of many ups and downs. And amidst those ups and downs, the balancing act of using our creative voice and the needs of the market can be challenging. But it is a skill that we can develop throughout our career! In this presentation, Danielle Render Turmaud, PhD, kidlit author and therapist, will discuss the balancing act of maintaining our unique author voice/vision while navigating an ever changing (and at times picky) market.
Quiet Places: Writing Retreats
with Wendy Van Camp
Saturday: 5 pm Eastern, 9 pm UTC
Pick up the packet in our Downloads folder!
Writing retreats can provide the time and space to connect with your work, grow your community, and discover more of who you are as an artist. In this talk, Wendy explains the benefits of a writing retreat and why you might (or might not) want one.
About Wendy:
Wendy Van Camp writes science fiction, fantasy, historical regency, along with poetry and non-fiction essays. Her poetry and essays have appeared in Indie Author Magazine, Star*Line, Scifaikuest, and Worlds of IF. She is the inaugural editor of the sci-fi poetry anthology series Eccentric Orbits and of Anaheim Poetry Review. She was also an editor for the SFPA's Eye to the Telescope. Wendy was named Anaheim Poet Laureate (2022-2024) and served her term as a mentor to Anaheim’s poetry community and an organizer of library events. Currently, she works at Indigoskye Press a woman-owned publishing imprint, an editorial and writing coach business. She lives between a writing desk and a painting easel in Anaheim, CA.
Pick up the companion book for Wendy's talk here: https://payhip.com/b/ZO6KR
Editing + Coaching for SFF - indigoskye.com
amazon.com/author/wendyvancamp
medium.com/@wvancamp
twitter.com/wvancamp
instagram.com/nowastedink
Free Monthly Newsletter - nowastedink.substack.com
Writing Commercial Young Adult Fiction
with Alyssa Villaire
Monday: 11 am Eastern, 3 pm UTC
What defines young adult fiction? Sure, it’s the numbers (age range, word count, etc.) But it’s also the themes: Coming-of-age, gaining independence, and the birth of nostalgia. YA fantasy author Alyssa Villaire explores the elements that make young adult fiction—and what separates this age category from middle grade and new adult books. She then discusses how to create a hook that teases the overarching plot of your YA novel. In addition, she talks about how adult writers can capture a young adult voice on the page. A must-watch for anyone interested in writing YA!
About Alyssa:
Alyssa Villaire is the #1 Sunday Times bestselling author of The Glittering Edge and the upcoming sequel, The Neon Sky. She writes fantasy books with eerie magic, complicated friendships, and lots of yearning. She’s based in Los Angeles, where she lives with her husband and a steadily growing library.
Indie Author Panel
with Diane Billas, Erica Eberhart, Courtney Reece, and Avery Timmons, hosted by S.E. Reed
Sunday: 5 pm Eastern, 9 pm UTC
Join small press authors in a panel discussion about the publishing process and what it's like to be a small-press published author. Hosted by S.E. Reed and featuring Diane Billas, Erica Eberheart, Courtney Reece, and Avery Timmons.
About the Indie Authors:
S.E. Reed lives in the south and writes strange, haunting, real stories of people and places along old highways. Winner of the 2023 Florida Book Awards, the 2024 Paterson Prize for Books for Young People, and a finalist in the 2024 Book Blogger Novel of the Year Award. Additionally, she's been nominated for a Pushcart Prize, the Indie Ink Awards, and won honorable mention twice in L. Ron Hubbard's Writers of the Future Contest. Her short stories have been featured by The Writer's Workout, SEMO Press, Parhelion Lit, Adimverse, The Writers’ Co-op, Wild Ink Publishing, Hey Hey Books, and Tempered Rune's Press.
Diane Billas is an award-winning author of the YA sapphic contemporary romance novel Does Love Always Win?, featured in Parents online, and the YA superhero novel Superficial, both with Creative James Media. Her short stories are featured in Wild Ink Publishing’s Prom Perfect anthology and Of the Publishing Persuasion’s Jingle These Bells spicy holiday anthology.
Twitter, TikTok, Bluesky, and Facebook @dianebillas
Instagram/Threads @dianebillaswrites
Erica Rose Eberhart is a neurodivergent, disabled writer of queer characters, dragons, girls who grow feathers, and boys who become trees. She grew up in the Catskills region of New York, and spent many formative years in both Eastern Pennsylvania and Northern Virginia. She now resides with her family and cat in the Finger Lakes region of New York. A technical editor by trade, she has a Master’s degree in English and Creative Writing. Erica has written stories since she was able to write sentences and has found comfort in fantasy her entire life, whether by consuming fantastical stories or creating her own. Besides the comfort of books, Erica adores nature walks, crocheting, embroidery, cats, baking, and autumn. Her debut novel, Tarnished, released in 2025. The Elder Tree Trilogy is her first published series. Find out more at ericaroseeberhart.com.
Instagram @ericaroseeberhart
Courtney Reece is an Indiana-based author holding a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Culture, Telecommunications, and Language Arts Secondary Education from Indiana University. She is the author of the YA paranormal novel Meet Me in the Woods. She loves to write about female protagonists who are haunted by their literal and metaphorical ghosts, transforming their fear and pain into something truly magical. When not writing, Courtney loves hiking through the woods with her dogs and hanging with her husband and two daughters.
Avery Timmons is an Illinois-based author holding a Bachelor of Arts in creative writing with a concentration in fiction from Columbia College Chicago. She is the author of YA fantasy novels Thicker Than Water and Maimed (forthcoming April 2026) and has had numerous speculative short stories and photographs published in literary magazines and anthologies. Regardless of genre, she loves to write about protagonists who are trying to figure out who they want to be and their place in the world. She often draws inspiration from the other things she loves besides books: music, theater, and the city of Chicago.
Literary Magazine Panel
with Jay Aja (University of Tampa Press), Elizabeth Coffey & Mark Wish (Coolest American Stories), Kolby Granville (After Dinner Conversation), and Miah Jeffra (Foglifter Press)
hosted by S.E. Reed
Saturday: 3 pm Eastern, 7 pm UTC
Join literary magazine and anthology publishers in a panel discussion about the publishing process of shorter submitted works. Hosted by S.E. Reed and featuring Jay Aja of University of Tampa Press, Elizabeth Coffey and Mark Wish of Coolest American Stories, Kolby Granville of After Dinner Conversation, and Miah Jeffra of Foglifter Press.
About the Literary Magazine and Anthology Editors:
S.E. Reed lives in the south and writes strange, haunting, real stories of people and places along old highways. Winner of the 2023 Florida Book Awards, the 2024 Paterson Prize for Books for Young People, and a finalist in the 2024 Book Blogger Novel of the Year Award. Additionally, she's been nominated for a Pushcart Prize, the Indie Ink Awards, and won honorable mention twice in L. Ron Hubbard's Writers of the Future Contest. Her short stories have been featured by The Writer's Workout, SEMO Press, Parhelion Lit, Adimverse, The Writers’ Co-op, Wild Ink Publishing, Hey Hey Books, and Tempered Rune's Press.
Jay Aja (they / he) serves as Managing Editor for the University of Tampa Press. They hold an M.F.A. and a Certificate in Graphic Design. While professionalizing for a career in publishing, he had the opportunity to intern with the literary journals and publishers: The Nasiona, Saw Palm: Florida Literature and Art, Black Ocean, and Copper Canyon Press. In their work, they have typeset and copyedited manuscripts of poetry, nonfiction, fiction, academic articles, a museum companion book, as well as resumes and cover letters. As a creator, they mainly draw comics alongside writing poetry and nonfiction, with work published in The Rumpus, Foglifter, and iō Literary Journal.
@ComicsBhaiJay
Elizabeth Coffey is an award-winning design director at Random House, where she's designed book interiors for Barack Obama's A Promised Land, Michelle Obama's Becoming, Glennon Doyle's Untamed, and numerous other bestselling titles. She dabbled in poetry in the nineties and published in several small magazines. She is working on her first novel, a mystery about estranged sisters, and uses the pen name Elizabeth Coffey as a tribute to her great-grandmother Johanna Coffey. Elizabeth has been Mark's go-to editor for virtually all of his published short stories and Watch Me Go.
@JustCoolStories
More than 125 of Mark Wish's short stories have appeared in print venues such as Best American Short Stories, The Georgia Review, TriQuarterly, American Short Fiction, The Antioch Review, Crazyhorse, The Gettysburg Review, Fiction, The Southern Review, Virginia Quarterly Review, New England Review, Barrelhouse, The Yale Review, The Sun, Paris Transcontinental, and Fiction International, and have won distinctions such as the Tobias Wolff Award, the Kay Cattarulla Award, an Isherwood Fellowship, and a Pushcart Prize. Mark served as the Fiction Editor of California Quarterly, was the founding Fiction Editor of New York Stories and a Contributing Editor for Pushcart, and has long been known as the freelance editor who has revised the fiction of once-struggling writers, leading it to land numerous book deals as well as publication in dozens of venues including The Atlantic Monthly, The Kenyon Review, Tin House, Michigan Quarterly Review, The Hudson Review, and Best American Short Stories. His novel Watch Me Go was published by Putnam.
@JustCoolStories
Kolby Granville (Founder, Editor-in-Chief) is a lawyer, teacher, traveler, writer, and trail runner. He spent five years teaching Socratic discussion classes based on primary source literature and just finished spending 3.5 years traveling the world through 20 countries and living the digital nomad life. He now works with his sister as a lawyer at Granville Law doing indigent criminal defense.
Facebook afterdinnerconversation
Instagram afterdinnerconversationseries
Twitter afterdinnercon
Bluesky @afterdinnerconversation.com
Miah Jeffra is author of four books—most recently The Violence Almanac (finalist for several awards, including the Grace Paley and Robert C Jones Book Prizes) and the novel American Gospel, finalist for the PEN/Hemingway Award—and is co-editor of the anthology Home is Where You Queer Your Heart. Work can be seen in StoryQuarterly, Prairie Schooner, The North American Review and many others. Miah is co-founder of Whiting Award-winning queer and trans literary collaborative, Foglifter Press, and serves as Assistant Professor of English and Creative Writing at Santa Clara University.
Instagram: @miahjeffra
Poetry Press Panel
with Kristina Darling (Tupelo Press), Kate Gale (Red Hen Press), Tyler Hurula (South Broadway Press), and Ophelia Monet (wildscape. Literary Journal) hosted by S.E. Reed
Sunday: 1 pm Eastern, 5 pm UTC
Join poetry press publishers in a panel discussion about the challenges of publishing poetry and the publishing process. Hosted by S.E. Reed and featuring Kristina Darling of Tupelo Press, Kate Gale of Red Hen Press, Tyler Hurula of South Broadway Press, and Ophelia Momet of wildscape.
About the Poetry Press Editors:
S.E. Reed lives in the south and writes strange, haunting, real stories of people and places along old highways. Winner of the 2023 Florida Book Awards, the 2024 Paterson Prize for Books for Young People, and a finalist in the 2024 Book Blogger Novel of the Year Award. Additionally, she's been nominated for a Pushcart Prize, the Indie Ink Awards, and won honorable mention twice in L. Ron Hubbard's Writers of the Future Contest. Her short stories have been featured by The Writer's Workout, SEMO Press, Parhelion Lit, Adimverse, The Writers’ Co-op, Wild Ink Publishing, Hey Hey Books, and Tempered Rune's Press.
Kate Gale, Publisher, Red Hen Press, author of Loneliest Girl and The Goldilocks Zone and the novel Under a Neon Sun.
Kristina Marie Darling is the author of over thirty books, which include recent releases from Bloomsbury, Dzanc, Persea, and Penguin Canada.
A twice-awarded Fulbright Scholar, Dr. Darling was granted a five-year tenure as an expert consultant with the U.S. Fulbright Commission and now serves on the jury for Fulbright awards. Her work has also been recognized by Yaddo, the Villa Lena Foundation, the American Academy in Rome, Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris, the Ucross Foundation, Fundación Valparaíso, the Andorran Ministry of Culture, the American Academy in Berlin, where she was nominated for the Distinguished Visitor Fellowship, the European Law and Governance School, the Clews Foundation, where she will serve as faculty at their Chateau La Napoule
Retreat Series in the south of France, and many other leading institutions in the U.S. and abroad.
A prolific educator and public speaker, Dr. Darling has also lectured (or is scheduled to lecture) at Yale University, the American University of Rome, Stanford University, the Leopardi Writers Conference in Recanati, Italy, the Leysin American School in Switzerland, the Universidade do Porto, Columbia University in the City of New York, the New School, the University of Cyprus, the Prague Summer Program for Writers, the University of Zadar, the University of Montenegro, the University of Pécs in Hungary, the University of Bangka Belitung in Indonesia, the San Miguel Writers Conference & Literary Festival, and the Ionian Center for the Arts & Culture, where she is now permanent faculty.
Dr. Darling lives in Croatia, spends her summers teaching in Greece, on the islands of Andros and Kefalonia respectively, and her winters in San Michele on the Amalfi Coast.
Tyler Hurula (she/they) is the pinkest poet in Denver, Colorado. She strives to be the most queer and polyamorous person they can be. You’ll likely find her parading around in a tiara with hot pink lipstick going to an art walk or discussing the intricacies of the latest horror movie she’s watched with anyone who will listen. Author of chapbook Love Me Louder (Querencia Press) and Too Pretty for Plain Coffee (Wayfarer Books). They have been nominated for Best of the Net and Pushcart Prizes, and were an honorable mention for the Write Bloody 2024 Jack McCarthy Book Prize Contest. She worked as an editor with Beyond the Veil Press for two years, and is currently an editor for South Broadway Press.
@theprettypinkpoet
Ophelia Monet is a lot of things (some would argue too many things), including high school special education teacher, poet, editor, storm chaser (yes, really), archery coach, mother to a wily toddler, and avid crocheter. She is the founder and editor-in-chief of wildscape. literary journal, has had nearly seventy poems published in literary magazines and anthologies, and has been twice nominated for Best of the Net. You can nearly always find her in a used bookstore in Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky, in the mosh pit at a local heavy metal show, or standing far too close to tornado.
Instagram: @opheliamonetwrites
Small Press Panel
with Shayna Keyles (North Atlantic Books), Christine Stroud (Autumn House Press), and Nicole Tallman (Jackleg Press), hosted by S.E. Reed
Saturday: 11 am Eastern, 3 pm UTC
Join small press publishers in a panel discussion about the publishing process from the publisher’s perspective. Hosted by S.E. Reed and featuring Shayna Keyles of North Atlantic Books, Christine Stroud of Autumn House Press, and Nicole Tallman of Jackleg Press.
About the Small Press Editors:
S.E. Reed lives in the south and writes strange, haunting, real stories of people and places along old highways. Winner of the 2023 Florida Book Awards, the 2024 Paterson Prize for Books for Young People, and a finalist in the 2024 Book Blogger Novel of the Year Award. Additionally, she's been nominated for a Pushcart Prize, the Indie Ink Awards, and won honorable mention twice in L. Ron Hubbard's Writers of the Future Contest. Her short stories have been featured by The Writer's Workout, SEMO Press, Parhelion Lit, Adimverse, The Writers’ Co-op, Wild Ink Publishing, Hey Hey Books, and Tempered Rune's Press.
Shayna Keyles has been in the world of publishing for over a decade and is currently the associate director of acquisitions at North Atlantic Books, an independent nonprofit that publishes nonfiction at the intersection of self-help and social change. Shayna specializes in structural and developmental editing. They works with their team to empower authors to understand the publishing process from first proposal to proofs to publicity. When stepping away from the keyboard, Shayna makes art, meets community, and makes a mess in her kitchen.
Instagram: @shay.comms and @shaypaper
Christine Stroud is the Editor in Chief at Autumn House Press. With an MFA in Creative Writing from Chatham University and a BA in Literature with distinction from the University of North Carolina at Asheville, she has a background in both writing and publishing. In 2019, she was honored with the Yale Publishing Course’s Innovative Leader Scholarship in Book Publishing.
Stroud has edited award-winning titles, including those recognized by the Kate Tufts Discovery Prize and the Oregon Book Award. She also established the Rising Writer Prize to support and amplify emerging authors. In addition to her editorial work, Stroud is the author of two chapbooks, The Buried Return and Sister Suite, and her poems have been featured in various journals and anthologies.
Nicole Tallman is a poet, writer, and editor. She serves as the official Poetry Ambassador for Miami, Poetry and Interviews Editor for The Blue Mountain Review and South Florida Poetry Journal, and Communications Director for JackLeg Press. She is the author of five collections: Dolce Vita/Let There Be a Little Light, Julie, or Sylvia, FERSACE, Poems for the People, and Something Kindred. She is also the founder and former editor of The Redacted Books Series, and the founder and former host of the Be Well Reading Series and the Lunchtime Poetry & Jazz Series at Miami-Dade County's Main Library. Find her on social media @natallman.
