CHRISTINA SUZANN NELSON, Philomath, Oregon
Christina Suzann Nelson is an inspirational speaker and award-winning author of six books, including More Than We Remember, What Happens Next, and the Christy Award-winning The Way It Should Be. She is the mother of six children and is passionate about helping others find hope after trauma.
9:15 a.m.—General Presentation
Hook Them from the Start: First Line to First Page to First Chapter
Writers will learn the essential techniques for crafting compelling openings that immediately capture readers’ attention and draw them into the story. From the importance of a gripping first line to the seamless transition into the first page and the setup of the initial chapter, this class will provide practical strategies for hooking readers from the very beginning. They’ll learn the power of a strong first line, momentum in the first page, and the importance of the first chapter to hook the reader.
11 a.m.—Workshop B
The Writing Parent: Finding Time to Pursue Your Dream
This workshop is designed for parents who aspire to maintain a writing career amidst the demands of parenthood. We’ll discuss practical strategies and support to help writers navigate the challenges of balancing creative pursuits with parenting responsibilities, empowering them to prioritize their writing goals while honoring their role as parents. Participants will learn how to make writing time flexible and productive, share dreams with their children, and build a writing practice that can be maintained.
GARTH STEIN, Seattle, Washington
Garth Stein is the internationally bestselling author of The Art of Racing in the Rain, which has sold more than 6 million copies worldwide, been translated into 38 languages, and spent more than three years on the New York Times bestseller list. It inspired a 2019 motion picture film. He is also the author of three other novels—A Sudden Light, How Evan Broke His Head and Other Secrets, and Raven Stole the Moon—and cofounder of Seattle7Writers, a nonprofit collective dedicated to energizing readers, writers, and their communities. He has won many literary awards, including two Pacific Northwest Book Awards.
11 a.m.—Workshop A
It’s All About the Rock
This workshop will focus on the writer’s role in the creation of a novel. Writers think it’s all about them, but it isn’t. Your novel is bigger than that, and you need to find out how much bigger it is if you want to have a novel that transcends. The writer can actually be a hindrance to the writing process in some cases if the Writer’s Ego gets in the way. We will talk about the conscious mind and the subconscious mind, which part of your brain to use when, and how you can make a deal with your subconscious to allow your creativity to be accessed more dependably.
CRAIG ALLEN HEATH, Longview, Washington
After a long career as a journalist, instructor, and technical writer, Craig Allen Heath published his first novel, Where You Will Die, in 2022. He is putting the finishing touches on his second novel, Killing Buddhas. Previously published works included an award-winning volume of poetry, a play, and dozens of short stories and essays. His experience in college and community theatre as an actor and director is evident when giving readings at WordFest literary events. He performs as a historical reenactor and has given training seminars to his colleagues on these topics. More information is available at his website, www.craigallenheath.com.
11 a.m.—Workshop C
The Author Acts: Give Stage-Worthy Readings of Your Fiction
When authors read their work in public, they need the same presentation skills as their counterparts in business—proper breathing, vocalization, posture, etc. But fiction authors need an additional skill: acting before a live audience. Actors spend their entire careers honing the tools of their craft just as authors hone theirs. But when authors stand before a crowd and read fiction, they need some of the actor’s artistry. In this workshop, we examine what is needed to turn a reading into a performance, how to delineate character voices from the narrator’s and the author’s, how to paint scenes in the imagination, and how to give their written words the best opening night possible.
LINDA L. KRUSCHKE, Lake Oswego, Oregon
Linda L. Kruschke writes candid memoirs and fearless poetry. She is published in The Christian Journal, Today’s Christian Living, Bible Advocate, What Now?, Fathom magazine, iBelieve.com, Calla Press, Divine Purpose blog and magazine, Agape Review, Milk & Honey Women blog, We Too blog, Chicken Soup for the Soul, Triumph from Tragedy compilation, Life, Repurposed compilation, What’s in a Name compilation, The Cat in the Christmas Tree compilation, The Quiet Hour devotionals, Guideposts devotionals, and several other anthologies. She is editor-in-chief of Swallow’s Nest and the CCW Cascade Writing Contest Director.
11 a.m.—Workshop D
The Path to Publication: Don’t Despise Small Beginnings
Learn practical tips on how to get small pieces—articles, devotionals, poems, and short stories—published in magazines, compilations, and online. Discover how to find opportunities for submitting short works, the importance of following submission guidelines, and how to track submissions, publications, and rejections. Linda, who has a gift for administration, will share a useful tool for managing the submission process.
1:15 p.m.—Workshop K
Unlocking the Secret of “Show, Don’t Tell”
This workshop provides a clear explanation of the often-elusive concept of “show, don’t tell” using concrete examples. In addition, attendees will have an opportunity to try their hand at rewriting a “telling” sentence or paragraph using the principles discussed. Discover how to recognize “telling” prose and understand the value and purpose of “showing” proof through hands-on writing exercises and sharing. Knowing the familiar shorthand phrase can discourage writers, Linda wants to help others experience the lightbulb moment in their writing.
MARY STONE, Castle Rock, Washington
Mary earned her master’s degree in counseling from the University of Nebraska—Kearney and retired after three decades of teaching and counseling at Lower Columbia College in Longview. Her published works have appeared in Ladies’ Home Journal, Mature Living, Seek, Evangel, The Salal Review, The Rambunctious Review, and two anthologies: OakTara’s I Choose You, and Bethany House’s Love is a Flame. Her nonfiction book, Run in the Path of Peace—the Secret of Being Content No Matter What, was a Cascade Writing Contest finalist. Her humorous middle-grade book, In BeTWEEN TROUBLE, is available on Kindle Vella. Her latest nonfiction devotional series, When Your Loved One, consists of three books: When Your Wife Gets on Your Nerves; When Your Husband Is a Christian—But Doesn’t Always Act Like One; and When You Have an Unsaved Loved One. This year, Mary also released a short story collection, The Innocents at Home—Children of the 1940s.
11 a.m.—Workshop E
Character Development
A novel or short story without a sympathetic character is lifeless. Whether writing fiction or non-fiction, effective character development is pivotal for characters to leap off the page and into a reader’s personal world. Workshop attendees will learn how to develop their protagonists as sympathetic characters, discover how to create three-dimensional characters, and recognize the importance of creating vivid and consistent character traits in their story. Although optional, Mary asks attendees to bring one sheet describing their main and secondary characters as well as their antagonist.
1:15 p.m.—Workshop L
Sensible Senses
In order for readers to truly feel and undergo what the story’s characters experience, writers must incorporate senses, i.e., sight, smell, hearing, touch/feeling/body sensations, and taste. Workshop attendees will learn the quickest route to a character’s mind, heart, and experiences is through the senses. Participants will come away from the session knowing when and where to incorporate senses such as using senses for effective scene breaks, etc. Attendees also will recognize how to tap into their own senses to bring their character’s story to life. Although optional, Mary asks attendees to bring one page of their manuscript to class.
JENNIFER ANNE F. MESSING, Portland, Oregon
Jennifer Anne is the author of four books including American Fiction Award winner Love’s Faithful Promise and a two-time Cascade Writing Contest winner (Published Short Story). She’s a poet, speaker, graphic designer, and past president of Oregon Christian Writers (now known as Cascade Christian Writers). She earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism. She’s had more than 250 short stories, articles, and poems published in 75 magazines and books, including: Woman’s World, Guideposts, Bible Advocate, CaféLit, Edify Fiction, LIVE, Standard, Seek, and Purpose. Philippine-born, Jennifer Anne and her husband are parents of three grown children and a son-in-law, and grandparents of four young children. www.JenniferAnneMessing.com
11 a.m.—Workshop F
Prolific Publishing in Magazines Midst a Busy Life
Is your life jam-packed, but you long to get published? Learn ways to capture and organize your scattered ideas, thoughts, notes, diary entries, and craft them into saleable magazine articles, short stories, and poems. Jennifer Anne will cover using journaling techniques to ignite creativity, self-editing, proper submission formatting, entering contests, and submitting to US-based and international magazines and book compilations. She will discuss the importance of a writer’s social media presence and publicity and offer suggestions on time management to create time to write.
SCOTT EAGAN, Greyhaus Literary, Puyallup, Washington
Scott’s education includes a bachelor’s degree in English literature, a master’s in literacy, and a master’s in creative writing. He is an active member of the Romance Writers of America and still dabbles in writing as a hobby. Outside of the agency, Scott is an instructor with the UCLA Extension Program teaching publishing. He also provides critiques with Writer’s Digest and does book reviews for Publisher’s Weekly. His family keeps him busy with one who swims competitively, one who rides in hunter/jumper equestrian events, and one who dances.
1:15 p.m.—Workshop G
What Agents Really Want
As a literary agent, Scott knows what agents really want, and he’ll tell you in this workshop. The focus is looking at what agents look for in submissions beyond the genre. In this honest, straightforward, and practical presentation, he’ll let writers know why authors may be rejected and how they might move beyond the barriers to publishing. He also can explain specific genres, including the two he represents—traditional romance and women’s fiction.
ERICK MERTZ, Oregon City, Oregon
Erick is a writer and lifelong Pacific Northwest native, currently residing in Oregon City, Oregon. As a ghostwriter and editor, he has written memoirs, feature-length screenplays, and nonfiction for clients around the world. In addition, he is an independent author, publishing the Strange Air series of paranormal mysteries, which are set in the Pacific Northwest. He co-chaired the 2019 Willamette Writers Conference in Portland.
1:15 p.m.—Workshop H
Self-Publishing Success: What Worked, What Didn’t, What I’d Do Differently
This class covers self-publishing basics. Using examples, Erick covers important topics like editing, covers, and reaching readers. He’ll talk about why each element is critical, look at common mistakes, and describe the best practice for each. He has self-published his paranormal mystery series over the last five years, learning much through trial and error. Using a blend of data and humor, he’ll demonstrate to students what worked for him, what didn’t, and what he would do differently.
CARMEN PEONE, Inchelium, Washington
Carmen Peone is an award-winning author of young adult and contemporary western romantic suspense and lives with her husband in Northeast Washington on the Colville Confederated Indian Reservation. She weaves threads of healing, hope, and horses into her stories that lead to happily ever after.
1:15 p.m.—Workshop I
Creating Authentic Native American Characters
In this workshop, Carmen will talk about why writers should include Native Americans in their work while addressing “Own Voice” issues, discuss major Native American stereotypes, cover how writers can represent Native People accurately and the significance of powwows, and talk about where writers can find resources for their research. She has been married to a Native American for nearly four decades and has lived on the reservation for 30 years. She is the mother and grandmother of Native American children.
2:30 p.m.—Workshop P
The One Time Emotions Need to Take Control
Readers must feel something when they read a story, or they stop reading—plain and simple. Writers add emotion to stories and characters by layering emotions in a way that character voices are heard and by showing what characters are doing through use of mood and attitude. Learn how to use an emotional wheel, employ symbolism and metaphors, identify stakes in emotions, and create sympathetic characters by tying their stakes to emotions. During this workshop, authors will learn the story scene equation (by Susan May Warren) and two other exercises to help dig deep into emotions and bring the reader along for the ride.
MIRIAM GERSHOW, Eugene, Oregon
Miriam Gershow is a novelist and writer of short stories, flash fiction, and creative nonfiction. She is the author of The Local News (Spiegel & Grau)and Survival Tips: Stories (Propeller Books). Her novel, Closer, is forthcoming from Regal House in 2025. Miriam’s stories appear in The Georgia Review, Gulf Coast, and Black Warrior Review, among other journals. Her flash fiction appears in anthologies from Alan Squire Books and Alternating Currents, as well as in Pithead Chapel, Had, and Variant Lit, where she is the inaugural winner of the Pizza Prize. Her creative nonfiction is featured in Salon and Craft Literary among other journals.
1:15 p.m.—Workshop J
The Joy of Flash: How Short Writing Can Jumpstart Your Creative Practice
In this workshop, attendees will learn the basic precepts of flash fiction, read several quick pieces of flash fiction as inspiration, write a flash fiction piece quickly, and find the spark in their writing. Miriam, an award-winning writer of flash fiction, has taught flash fiction at the University of Oregon and held community workshops on the subject. Any fiction writer can benefit from writing flash fiction, regardless of genre. Poets and nonfiction writers also excel in the workshop.
2:30 p.m.—Workshop O
Big Press? Small Press? Agent? Agent-free? Figuring Out the Questions—and Answers—to Your Publishing Path.
In this presentation, participants will consider the various venues of traditional publication—alt journals, micro-presses, small presses, Big Five publishers—and the pros and cons of each. They’ll also learn the most common paths to publication with an agent and without. And they’ll discover accessible resources for finding potential presses and agents for their work.
CURTIS C. CHEN, Vancouver, Washington
Once a Silicon Valley software engineer, Curtis C. Chen (陳致宇) now writes stories and runs puzzle games near Portland, Oregon. He’s the author of the Kangaroo series of funny science fiction spy thrillers, including Waypoint Kangaroo and Kangaroo Too. He has written for the Realm original podcasts Echo Park, Ninth Step Murders, and Machina. Curtis’s short fiction has appeared in Playboy Magazine, Aliens vs. Predators: Ultimate Prey, The Sunday Morning Transport, and elsewhere. His homebrew cat-feeding robot was displayed in the “Worlds Beyond Here” exhibit at Seattle’s Wing Luke Museum. Visit him online: https://CurtisCChen.com. Curtis is a board member for Willamette Writers, an Oregon 501c3, which holds an annual conference in Portland every August.
2:30 p.m.—Workshop M
Query Letters That Work
So you’ve written a novel. Great! Now let’s talk about how to sell it. Query letters are still the best way to get an agent, but the skills used to write a query will also help with other aspects of book marketing and promotion, no matter how you publish. Knowing how to pitch your story means understanding what your story is and having a sense of the best way to introduce it to a potential reader. Discover the specific format for query letters to literary agents and learn from examples of successful queries from published authors online.
SHANNON BLOOD, Olympia, Washington
Born in the Pacific Northwest, Shannon wrote her first poem at age eight and hasn’t stopped scribbling since. When not chained to her desk spinning policy, Shannon dreams in color and rhyme. Shannon’s poetry and short stories have been published in the Percival Review, Sunlight Basin Anthology, I Hear Olympia Singing, and Sandscript. Her articles and essays have appeared in Georgetown University’s Say Ahhh! Blog, the OCVAdvocate, Tidings, the Sheepskin, and the Olympian. She has also coauthored numerous technical policy papers and curriculum for the State of Washington.
2:30 p.m.—Workshop N
Don’t Stay Stuck: Get Short! Using Haiku to Tease Apart Our Sometimes-Tangled Webs
A combination of lecture and practice, this workshop focuses on using haiku to get past stuck points and help manage the sometimes daunting task of making creative vision a reality. Whether writing fairy tales, technical articles, or trying to make sense of a complex life experience, haiku can help tease apart tangled ideas and get to the heart of the matter, freeing their inner muse. Participants will learn about the freedom of haiku as an exploratory discipline beyond the traditional 5-7-5 taught in schools. Shannon will explore haiku masters and modern-day writers, identify a current issue or stuck place on our mind, and then craft, share, and respond to each other’s haiku. Participants will leave the workshop with a new—or perhaps revitalized! —tool to get to the heart of the matter and free their inner muse.
TRACY CRAM PERKINS, Gig Harbor, Washington
Tracy is a four-time dementia caregiving survivor and the author of Dementia Home Care: How to Prepare Before, During, and After, winner of the 2022 Chanticleer International Book Awards for Instruction and Insight. She hosts the Dementia Home Care Show on USA Global TV. Tracy’s writing career started with a magic marker on the wall of her bedroom at the bold age of three. Proper spelling via stick figure cats and choice of medium—the writer’s cave wall—could have been responsible for the disappearance of all pens on surfaces below three feet high. But that’s just a theory.
2:30 p.m.—Workshop Q
A Compelling Nonfiction Book Proposal Anyone Can Write
Before starting any nonfiction project, crafting a book proposal brings the project into focus. For new and seasoned writers, writing and selling a book proposal presents challenges. Tracy will identify the 10 steps to writing a compelling book proposal and use real-world examples in answering questions authors face with every new project: How do I research comparable titles and authors? What are agents and editors looking for? How do I recognize overdone ideas? Or is the project so different from others in the genre that nobody will look at it, and why? How is memoir different from the rest of the nonfiction proposals? What is my platform? Where do I start?
CHRISTINE PINTO, Shoreline, Washington
As a developmental editor, Christine Pinto draws on experience as a fiction writer and writing instructor to help writers of all ages refine their work for maximum impact. An award-winning short story writer, Christine shares writing techniques in workshops for adults and children. Information on her workshops, and her nineteenth-century history lessons for elementary school students, can be found at christinepintowrites.com and allegoryediting.com.
2:30 p.m.—Workshop R
Writing Distinct Characters with Distinctive Voices
Unique characters captivate readers, agents, and publishers. Memorable voices and personalities make characters unforgettable. Distinct and engaging characters can mean the difference between a yes from an agent or editor and a rejection. This session explores concrete strategies for making characters dynamic, distinct from each other, and unforgettable. Writers will learn to create compelling characters with distinct voices and ask the magic question for every scene: How would each character experience this event, and how does that differ from the experience of the other characters? Christine will discuss how to use characteristic speech patterns, word choice, rhythm, word sound, actions, reactions from other characters, and internal thoughts to flesh out character personality.
3:45 p.m.—Workshop V
Make Every Sentence Work Harder
This lecture provides a deep dive into the rich possibilities at the sentence level. Variations in sentence length, structure, placement, and punctuation have a significant effect on the way readers receive words. Participants will learn sentence-level editing techniques to make their prose more powerful. Techniques include finding hidden redundancies and removing, or intentionally enhancing them; eliminating pauses, verbal static, overused words and actions; making active word choices; considering options for joining ideas; evaluating punctuation and sentence structure choices, including comma splices, fragments, and the effect of long vs. short sentences; and using word and phrase placement to land the most important points with the most impact.
KELLYN ROTH aka Kelly Langdon, The Dalles, Oregon
Kellyn Roth writes historical romance stories that shine hope without pretending darkness doesn’t exist. When not building her author career or working with authors at her indie publisher, Wild Blue Wonder Press, she is likely getting lost somewhere in the Pacific Northwest with her friends and husband or watching period dramas and facetious comedies with her border collies.
3:45 p.m.—Workshop S
How to Leverage Your Author Community on Social Media to Sell More Books
In this workshop, Kelly will discuss developing a social media presence, turning your followers into super fans, and leveraging that community during book launches to sell more books. She will provide step-by-step instructions that will apply to most genres and author situations. As a published author of 25 books, including 10 novels, Kelly has experience writing and marketing fiction in a way that appeals to readers. She also has coached more than a hundred young writers on craft and career.
ANNETTE GRANTHAM, Winlock, Washington
Annette Grantham’s fingers on the keyboard have always been mightier than a sword, and her lifelong dream to weave tales has come to fruition in her writing. She now crafts enthralling fantasy novels that stitch together her fascination with bygone eras and the mystical. Her acclaimed five-book series, The Frontier Witches, is where the grit of Deadwood meets the enchanting allure of Practical Magic. Here, readers find themselves alongside bold and spirited heroines—witches who don’t just navigate but flourish in the untamed frontiers of the Old West.
3:45 p.m.—Workshop T
The Ultimate Quest: Self-Publishing
In the realm of self-publishing, the absence of a guide can lead writers into a labyrinth of confusion, where questions like “What comes next?” and “What do I need for this step?” echo unanswered. In this workshop, Annette aims to dispel these mists of doubt by offering not just a map but a treasure trove of resources to transform the journey into a quest marked by joy and discovery.
WENDY KENDALL, Edmonds, Washington
The result of Wendy Kendall’s passion for purses, mystery, and romance is the intriguing In Purse-Suit Mysteries. Published by Harlequin at Harper Collins, Kat Out of the Bag introduces Katherine Watson purse designer/sleuth, and is available February 20, 2024. The full five-book series is also published by The Wild Rose Press. As Katherine moves from designer bags to body bags, she’s uncovering clues to a murder. Book Six is on the way. Wendy enjoys investigating the Pacific Northwest life, and she leaves a trail of her own clues as a blogger, YouTube podcaster, speaker, and syndicated columnist.
3:45 p.m.—Workshop U
Writing Novellas
The novella is surging in popularity with publishers and readers. This workshop reviews the expectations of publishers and readers of a novella. Wendy, who has published four novellas with The Wild Rose Press, will also discuss the opportunities and challenges to the writing craft that novellas present. She’ll identify what publishers are looking for, what readers are looking for, how to write a novella, and different options for marketing novellas. Wendy will discuss the novella story structure, three types of novellas—literary, inspirational, and genre—and how to leverage novellas as an author.
KATE RISTAU, Tigard, Oregon
Author and folklorist Kate Ristau of Tigard, Ore., executive director of Willamette Writers, is the author of three middle-grade series—Clockbreakers, Mythwakers, and Wylde Wings, and the young adult Shadow Girl series. You can read her essays in The New York Times and The Washington Post. Kate is the Producer of the Nebula Awards, the Chair of the Tigard Public Library Board of Directors, the Vice-President of the Oregon Poetry Association, and the Vice-Chair of Tualatin Valley Creates. Meet her online at Kateristau.com.
3:45 p.m.—Workshop W
Look Who’s Talking: Dialogue & Action
“Who’s talking? You are!” But dialogue is more than just chatting. Dialogue can reveal plot and character, and it can also drive the action forward in your work. But how? Join us for an in-depth presentation on mastering the art of dialogue to find out. Bring your current work with you for this interactive workshop. Kate loves dialogue, and her enthusiasm for her subject is bound to inspire writers to make the words spoken by their characters shine.
JEFF CHENEY, Vernonia, Oregon
Jeff has worked as a civilian contract mechanic for the US Army, a heavy equipment mechanic, a high school teacher, and currently in high technology computer chip manufacturing. He has written science fiction and fantasy stories for enjoyment for more than thirty-five years and published four SF novels with his brothers: Dead Reckoning, Day of Reckoning, Force of Reckoning, and Final Reckoning. The brothers have also published a collection of short stories set in their Reckoning universe. Jeff has also completed two solo novels, Forged by Betrayal and Music Box Murders. He enjoys coaching youth basketball, working on cars and doing woodworking when the time allows. He has three grown children and lives in a small Northwest Oregon town with his wife of 34 years.
3:45 p.m.—Workshop X
How to Write a Book with Another Author and Survive
Jeff, who has written five novels with his brothers and is working on a sixth, will talk about how to create an outline of a novel in collaboration with another author. They created a process that solves many of the issues that arise in writing collaboratively with another author. Participants will learn how to outline and write together, what to determine ahead of time, and what can and cannot be changed during the writing process. He’ll discuss the division of duties—who does what, how to edit, when to know you’re done, and who makes the final decisions.
