Speaker Bios

Jonathan Maberry
Opening Keynote Speaker

Jonathan Maberry is a NYTimes bestselling author, 5-time Bram Stoker Award-winner, 4-time Scribe Award winner, Inkpot Award winner, editor, writing teacher, poet, playwright, and comic book writer. He writes in multiple genres including thriller, horror, sci-fi, mystery, and fantasy. V-WARS (Netflix) was based on his books/comics; Alcon is developing his Rot & Ruin novels for film; and Chad Stahelski, director of JOHN WICK, is developing his Joe Ledger thrillers for TV. Marvel’s BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER was partly based on his work. He’s written more than 55 novels, 200 short stories, 30 graphic novels, 1200 feature articles, and two dozen nonfiction books. Jonathan has also edited 30 anthologies, including Aliens, The X-Files, the official tribute to Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, and many others. He’s the president of the International Association of Media Tie-in Writers, and the editor of Weird Tales Magazine. www.jonathanmaberry.com

Christine Fairchild
Closing Keynote Speaker

Christine Fairchild brings 35+ years of experience as a writer, editor, and book doctor. She’s conducted celebrity interviews (XFiles, SciFiMall.com), edited for technical giants (Microsoft, Hitachi), and served as a communications and marketing specialist for consumer product clients including DHL, Cingular, and AT&T. She now specializes as a Book Doctor in Suspense Fiction and helps authors take their work, and their career, to the next level through her online workshops, conference classes, and craft books. Christine also writes romantic suspense, mystery, women’s fiction, and historical fiction, so she understands the challenges authors face in the publishing industry. Find more information, including free tips and tricks, at EditorDevil.blogspot.com.

Patricia Alexander

Patricia Alexander calls her 50-year career “highly eclectic” and fulfilling. She is gratified to present a laundry list of accomplishments: line editor, award-winning author, columnist, journalist, teacher, workshop leader, inspirational speaker, and humorist. Now living in Paso Robles, Patricia was born and raised in Los Angeles. That’s where she stumbled into her first writing job in 1976 working for Rona Barrett on Good Morning, America. Patricia went on from there to write and edit for animation, advertising, public relations and marketing, while freelancing dozens of articles to magazines and newspapers. Eventually she became a personal-perspective columnist for the Ventura County Reporter. Along the way, she started up Writing Support Groups, fulfilling her passion to help other writers work on and complete their projects, while guiding them through writing, rewriting, publishing, and marketing. Semi-retired, Patricia currently takes great joy in being a freelance line editor and a fulltime health nut.

Teri Bayus

Step into the captivating world of Teri Bayus, where words come alive, and worlds are built. With two self-published novels under her belt and a portfolio bursting with two optioned screenplays and four teleplays, Teri’s creativity knows no bounds. Dive into The Greatest Of Ease, a thrilling tale of her time as a trapeze artist, or Consumed, an erotic culinary romp. Before the world shifted, Teri graced television screens with Taste Buds, celebrating chefs’ talents worldwide. For two decades, she savored the roles of food and film critic, and for six years, she led the Central Coast Writers Conference as its executive director, and in 2025, she was awarded the Lillian Dean Award. Through countless writing and marketing classes, Teri’s passion for nurturing creativity has touched many lives. Find more info at teribayus.com.

Debbie Black

Debbie Black brings her passion for writing and for breaking rules to this year’s Central Coast Writers’ Conference. Never one to worry 麻豆视频 genre-hopping, she toggles back and forth between adult fiction and MG (middle grade, ages 8-12). Her MG series, which includes Deetjen’s Closet and The Old Secret at Hotel Oregon, has won multiple awards including the prestigious Gertrude Warner International Middle Grade Fiction Awards and Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards. Debbie is also a columnist for Estero Bay News and author of the popular blog RV Camping in Your Own Backyard. She’s an active member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, SLO NightWriters, and The BookShelf Writers, and has been a presenter at the Central Coast Writers’ Conference, SLO NightWriters, and numerous service groups, book clubs, and classrooms. She writes from the coast in San Luis Obispo County. See more at DebbieNobleBlack.com.

David Congalton

David Congalton is a screenwriter, radio host, and former director of the Central Coast Writers Conference. He wrote the screenplay for the 2014 rom-com Authors Anonymous with Kaley Cuoco, Chris Klein, and Jonathan Banks. A second screenplay, Mrs. Strissel and the Dogs, is currently in pre-production with director Kerstin Karlhuber. David is a founding faculty member of the Rocaberti Screenwriting Retreat in Barcelona. Find more information at davecongaltonstories.com.

Jennifer Coté

Jennifer Coté is a Hollywood screenwriter and TV producer. She developed the Jennifer Lopez vehicle Shades of Blue for NBC, and wrote/produced USA Network’s Eyewitness, which won a GLAAD Award for best limited-series. A dynamic and energizing speaker, she delivers practical, confidence-building tools that help writers pitch clearly, strengthen their storytelling, and trust their creative instincts. When not developing new projects or teaching at writers’ conferences, she can be found hiking along the California coast with her husband and their waggly dog. Find more information at cotewrites.com.

Diane Frank

Diane Frank is the author of nine books of poems, three novels, and a photo memoir of her 400- mile trek in the Nepal Himalayas. While Listening to the Enigma Variations: New and Selected Poems won the 2022 Next Generation Indie Book Award for Poetry. Her new book of poems, Prayer to the Invisible, was an overnight bestseller – #3 for American Poetry, #3 for Poems by Women. She teaches poetry, flash fiction and memoir workshops at San Francisco State University and Dominican University. Her first novel, Blackberries in the Dream House, was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize. Her new novel, Mermaids and Musicians, is an unusual love story, full of music and a plea to save the Earth. Find more information at dianefrank.com.

Bill Froehlich

Bill Froehlich has been a writer-director-producer-author for 40+ years whose work is seen throughout the world. Initially guided and encouraged by his mentor, Rod Serling (The Twilight Zone), while at Ithaca College, he has done motion pictures, television series, TV movies and documentaries with the involvement of such stars as Katharine Hepburn, Paul Newman, Burt Lancaster, Anthony Hopkins, George Clooney, Suzanne Pleshette, Kurt Russell, Ryan Reynolds, Francis McDormand, Robert Wagner, Stephanie Powers, Richard Dean Anderson, and Ron Howard. Bill has produced 10 TV series, many as a showrunner or co-showrunner, including the original MacGyver, Scarecrow & Mrs. King, and The Outer Limits, as well as Freddy’s Nightmares, Poltergeist, The Legacy, and A Fine Romance. His romantic thriller, Chasing the Goddess, is his first solo novel and available online worldwide. Bill is a member of the WGA, DGA, SAG-AFTRA and the Television Academy. Find more info at BillFroehlich.com.

Joey Garcia

Joey Garcia is an author platform coach who helps writers get known and build income streams while she’s editing their manuscripts. Her clients have been interviewed by, or have bylines in, The Wall Street Journal, Smithsonian magazine, Ms. magazine, CNN, and The Tamron Hall Show, among others. A former newspaper advice columnist, Joey has been featured in HuffPost, USA Today, Deutsche Welle, KVIE public TV, and Slate’s Dear Prudence podcast. Her poetry, essays, and short stories have been published, anthologized, and performed. In 2024, she received the Queen Mary Wasafiri Life Writing Prize judged by Pulitzer-Prize winning author Cristina Rivera Garza. Find more info at joeygarcia.com.

Henry Herz

Henry Herz has authored 14 traditionally published picture books for Pelican, Schiffer, Sterling, Kane-Miller, Familius, and Tilbury House: Monster Goose Nursery Rhymes, When You Give An Imp A Penny, Mabel & The Queen Of Dreams, Little Red Cuttlefish, Cap'n Rex & His Clever Crew, How The Squid Got Two Long Arms, Alice's Magic Garden, Good Egg And Bad Apple, 2 Pirates + 1 Robot, I Am Smoke, I Am Gravity, I Am Light, I Am Wind, and A Book 麻豆视频 Nothing. His middle grade, young adult, and adult short stories have appeared in Daily Science Fiction, Weird Tales, Pseudopod, Metastellar, Highlights for Children, Ladybug Magazine, and anthologies from Titan Books, Penguin-Random House, Albert Whitman, Blackstone Publishing, Third Flatiron, Baen Books, elsewhere. In addition, Henry has edited ten anthologies. henryherz.com

Tara Jacobi

Tara Jacobi is a publishing professional and attorney. In 2024, she obtained a master's degree in professional studies (MPS) from George Washington University in publishing, focusing her legal acumen on challenges within the publishing industry. Currently, she is editing legal titles for Carolina Academic Press and compiling an anthology of short stories for Running Wild Press. Tara published an academic article entitled, "Artificial Intelligence as a Creative," in the GW Journal of Ethics in Publishing exploring the legal and artistic aspects of AI working as a writer and presented on this same topic at the 13th GW Ethics in Publishing Conference. As a writer for Books Are Our Superpower (BAOS) on Medium, she also reviews books focusing on literary fiction, iconic writers, women, travel and lifestyle. taraljacobi.com

Jenna Elizabeth Johnson

Fantasy Author. Swordswoman. Chicken Mama. These are just a few of the titles Jenna Elizabeth Johnson goes by. She is the author of over a dozen novels, novellas, and short stories, including the award-winning Legend of Oescienne series, the Otherworld series, and the Draghans of Firiehn novella series. Besides writing fantasy adventures featuring domineering dragons, headstrong heroines, brooding Celtic warriors, and all the magical creatures in between, she is a competitive HEMA (Historical European Martial Arts) practitioner, participating in longsword tournaments whenever she gets the chance. During her down time, Jenna can be found exploring the open spaces of California’s Central Coast, camping in Yosemite National Park, reading books and webcomics, or hanging out with her flock of overly-affectionate lap chickens. You can join Jenna’s readership at www.jennaelizabethjohnson.com.

Kalyn Josephson

Kalyn Josephson is a New York Times bestselling author, sometimes-baker, and full-time consumer of too much tea. She lives on the California coast with two tiny black cats in a house in constant need of repair. She is the author of several fantasy series for kids, teens, and adults, as well as the owner of The Cove Books. Find more information at kalynjosephson.com.

Lisa Diane Kastner

Lisa Diane Kastner is the Founder and Executive Editor of Running Wild, LLC, a content creation, distribution, and licensing company. Currently publishing four imprints: Running Wild, RIZE, Trompe L'Oeil, and Junkyard Rooster, Running Wild's imprints focus on those stories that don't fit neatly in a box, and changing the world through story. Featured in FORBES and several other publications, she’s been an author and editor for more than twenty years. With multiple books that have been named best of the year by Kirkus Reviews, and groundbreaking across genres, Lisa has been mentored by such greats as Percival Everett, Wally Lamb, Da Chen, Porochista Khakpour, and Jonathan Maberry. Lisa received her MFA and MBA acknowledging both the creative and business sides of the industry.

Rebecca Langston-George

Rebecca Langston-George is the author of nineteen books for children including her new middle-historical fiction novel One Fine Voice, which Kirkus called “a swift, compelling story 麻豆视频 standing strong against hate” and her newest picture book Rover Rolled Over. A retired teacher and board member of the California Reading Association, Rebecca is the Regional Advisor for the Central-Coastal California chapter of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI CenCal), helping other writers learn the craft. She writes, and mostly re-writes, on a treadmill desk at one mile per hour. Find more info at rebeccalangston-george.com.

Ian Lendler

Ian Lendler is a multiple award-winning writer of picture books, non-fiction (adult and middle-grade), and graphic novels. After selling his first book at age 21, he has been working for over 25 years as a professional writer. Ian has worked in every capacity of the writing life – as a copy editor, magazine editor, freelance journalist, and publishing assistant at Harper Collins. Ian has also written for commercials, television, and film in solo projects and as a script doctor.  He is a graduate of Columbia University where he majored in screenwriting. As an agent and Creative Director with McKinnon Literary, what Ian looks for most in any project is story. While he specializes in children's literature, he is always looking for narrative non-fiction and adult fiction that elevates story, character, and the narrative structure supporting both of these. mckinnonliterary.com

Juan Pablo Luzuriaga

Juan Pablo Luzuriaga was born in Ecuador and immigrated to the United States in 2000. He studied Neuroscience at Rutgers University and English at the University of California, Merced. Juan teaches poetry in prisons, currently at California Men’s Colony, and at Cuesta College. He has been a featured panelist at UC Merced, the Central Coast Writers’ Conference, the San Francisco Writers Conference, Litfest, and other literary events. His work appears in Acentos Review, San Diego Poetry Annual, Monterey Poetry Review, Cholla Needles, Poetry Breakfast, as well as in numerous anthologies. Find more information at juanology.com.

Juliet McDaniel

Juliet McDaniel is an author and screenwriter who specializes in messy, complicated female characters. Her first novel, Mr. & Mrs. American Pie, was adapted by Apple TV as the series Palm Royale, and her forthcoming novel, Screaming Ball of Chaos, is also in development for television. Additionally, she is the screenwriter of the award- winning indie film rom-com, QWERTY. Prior to embarking on a career as an author, Juliet taught composition, literature, film, and screenwriting to community college students. She holds a B.A. in American Studies from Lake Forest College, and an M.A. in writing from DePaul University. She lives in Los Angeles. Find more information at julietmcdaniel.com.

Nicole Meier

Nicole Meier is a certified book coach, developmental editor, and author of four upmarket novels. Her books have been recognized by Booklist, Refinery29, BookBub, and Popsugar. Nicole also hosts The Whole Writer podcast for fiction writers that shares insights and encouragement to help you build confidence, nurture your writing craft, and create stories that truly connect with readers. You may find more 麻豆视频 her at nicolemeier.com.

Becky Mosgofian

Becky Mosgofian is a seasoned communications professional with 30 years of experience in public relations, marketing, and event planning. As the founder of YOBECKO, Brand Cheerleaders & Storytellers, and an advisor with the Small Business Development Center at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, she believes every entrepreneur and author has a story worth telling — and she helps them uncover it. Her career spans television, print, and radio, and includes directing a university alumni relations program and serving as editor-in-chief of its publication before launching her consulting practice in 2002. Becky has been a proud member of the CCWC community for six years as an advisory board member and returning presenter — and this year she's back with proven, practical strategies to help authors stop waiting to be discovered and unlock their media success. Find more information at yobecko.com

Natalie Obando

For nearly two decades, Natalie Obando has worked in the world of books as a book publicist. The founder of Do Good Public Relations Group and the grassroots organization, Women of Color Writers Podcast and Programming, she has dedicated her career to amplifying authors and voices often on the margins of publishing. Natalie serves on the executive board of the 107-year-old non-profit, the Women’s National Book Association (WNBA), overseeing programming across all ten chapters across the nation. As the first Latina president of the national organization, her goal has been promoting diversity in publishing via strategic grassroots efforts. Find more information at dogoodprgroup.com and follow her at: Instagram @wocwriters and LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalie-obando.

Colleen Paeff

Colleen Paeff is the author of The Great Stink: How Joseph Bazalgette Solved London’s Poop Pollution Problem, winner of a Robert F. Sibert Honor Award; Firefly Song: Lynn Frierson Faust and the Great Smoky Mountain Discovery, named a Best Book of 2025 by Kirkus Reviews, BookList, and others, and Pufflings Fly Free!: A Rescue Tale from Iceland (available June 2026). A lifelong Californian, Colleen received a Bachelor’s Degree in set design for theater from California State University Fullerton before becoming a bookseller, preschool teacher, and newspaper columnist. (She never did become a set designer!) Eventually, she figured out how to roll books, kids, and writing into a career as a children’s book author, and now she shares her enthusiasm for books and learning by visiting with students both at home and abroad. She lives in Los Angeles, California. colleenpaeff.com

Jaime Parker Stickle

Jaime Parker Stickle is the author of Vicious Cycle and Take Hart books one and two of the Corey in Los Angeles series. She is a writer, actor, podcaster, and professor of film and TV at Montclair State University. She is the co-creator and cohost of the true crime podcast The Girl with the Same Name as well as the hilarious podcast 麻豆视频 side hustles, Make That Paper. Jaime lives in Los Angeles with her husband, son, two fur babies and a chameleon named Tilly. Find more information at jaimeparkerstickle.com.

Mark Parsons

Mark Parsons has written primarily non-fiction for several years, penning over 200 articles for national publications as well as a pair of non-fiction books before turning to book-length fiction. His first YA novel ROAD RASH (Knopf/Random House) was named to the ALA’s Best Fiction for Young Adults list, as well as Bank Street College’s Best Children’s Books of the Year list. His latest YA novel, THE 9:09 PROJECT (Delacorte/Random House) explores the healing power of art. It was a Kirkus Reviews Best of The Year selection, and a Bank Street Best Children’s Books of the Year selection. It has received critical acclaim (Kirkus calls it “A brilliant literary portrait…wryly funny, extremely intelligent, and sweetly romantic” in a starred review) and has been translated into Russian, Polish, and Chinese. He currently has other works making their way through the publishing landscape. Find more info at markhparsons.com.

Leanne Phillips

Leanne Phillips lives, reads, and writes on California’s Central Coast. She is a professional editor and a book coach certified in fiction, nonfiction, and memoir. Her work has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, The Rumpus, the Los Angeles Review of Books, The Coachella Review, Kelp Journal, and elsewhere. Her debut novel-in-collected-stories is coming in fall 2027 from Sibylline Press. Leanne earned a BA in English from Cal Poly, an MFA in fiction with a cross-emphasis in creative nonfiction from UC Riverside Palm Desert, and a copyediting certificate from UC San Diego. You can find Leanne at leannephillips.com.

Jordan Rosenfeld

Jordan Rosenfeld is author of the novels Fallout, Women in Red and Forged in Grace and eight books on the craft of writing, including the forthcoming Writing Through the Pause: Mining Midlife For Powerful Writing (Jan '27), The Sound of Story: Developing Voice and Tone in Writing, How to Write a Page-Turner, the bestselling Make a Scene, Writing the Intimate Character, A Writer’s Guide to Persistence, Writing Deep Scenes (with Martha Alderson) and Write Free (with Rebecca Lawton). Her freelance writing has been published in hundreds of publications, including: The Atlantic, the New York Times, Publisher’s Weekly, Salon, Scientific American, the Rumpus, Writer’s Digest Magazine, and many more. Jordan is also a freelance manuscript editor, writing coach, and teaches online classes. Find more information at jordanrosenfeld.net.

Brian Schwartz

As founder and CEO of SelfPublish.org, Brian Schwartz has empowered over 750 authors to successfully publish and promote their work since 2009. His author concierge service and consulting firm bridges the gap between traditional and self-publishing through proven strategies that deliver professional results. Brian's distinguished leadership as former director of the Central Coast Writers’ Conference and past president of the Colorado Independent Publishers Association reflects his commitment to the writing community. His mission: "to bridge the gap between self-publishers and traditional publishing by applying the proven strategies and techniques of successful independent publishers." Innovating beyond consultation, Brian has developed online platforms catering to the needs of author publishers which include ever evolving AI tools specifically designed to give authors an advantage and accelerate their time to market. Using these tools and his expert guidance, Brian transforms how independent authors navigate the publishing landscape, staying at the forefront of innovation in publishing.

Cody Sisco

Cody Sisco is a freelance editor specializing in developmental editing, book coaching, and advising authors on creativity and career development. Thematically, he enjoys working with writers who grapple with dark subject matter and LGBTQ+ authors of fiction and memoir. As the executive editor of Made in L.A. Writers, Cody also publishes and edits short fiction, and he runs a literary events and media company called BookSwell. He serves as a co-chair on the Board of Directors for the Editorial Freelancers Association. Cody is the author of Broken Mirror, Tortured Echoes, and Altered Bodies. Find more information at codysisco.com.

Laurie Woodward

Laurie Woodward is a multi-award-winning author and screenwriter who brings wonder to life through her novels, screenplays, and blog. Her published works include the science fiction novel Time Murmurations, the coming-of-age story Finding Joy, the Artania Chronicles fantasy series, the middle-grade adventure Forest Secrets, and numerous short stories and poems. Her work has received many awards and has reached the screen through projects such as the anti-bullying DVD Resolutions. She also co-wrote the memoir Dean and JoJo: The Dolphin Legacy, a story featured in the IMAX film Dolphins and programs on Animal Planet. A former bilingual teacher and peace consultant, Laurie believes creativity has the power to transform lives. She is currently producing a short film she wrote and developing a new science fiction trilogy as part of her mission to craft hopeful stories where imagination can change the world. Find more information at artania.net.