Faculty
Bob Mayer, Author
NY Times bestselling author Bob Mayer has 40 books published. He has over three million books in print and is in demand as a team-building, life-change, and leadership speaker and consultant. Bob graduated from West Point and served in the military as a Special Forces A-Team leader and a teacher at the JFK Special Warfare Center & School. His latest book is Who Dares Wins: The Green Beret Way to Conquer Fear & Succeed. He teaches novel writing and improving the author via his Warrior-Writer program. He lives on an island off Seattle. For more information see www.bobmayer.org
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Brandi Bowles, Agent
Brandi Bowles has been an agent with Howard Morhaim Literary Agency in Brooklyn, NY, since 2007. She was previously an editor at Three Rivers Press. As an agent she represents a wide range of authors, from burlesque performers to archaeologists, illustrators, professors, CEOs, chefs, rappers, folk musicians, and fitness gurus. Said Brandi in one interview, “I really love big idea books, and books about broad sociological phenomena, but will only consider them if they are written by experts in their fields. I love books that shed new light on something in pop culture, media culture, and everyday life. In terms of fiction, I like Southern fiction, experimental fiction, and cross-cultural novels. Quirky, funny, edgy, or naughty book ideas are always welcome in my inbox, and bonus points go to any authors that can make me laugh.”
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Jami Carpenter, Editor
With a bachelor’s degree from the University of California at Berkeley and a master’s from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Jami Carpenter has been involved with the writing community for over thirty years. Jami was executive producer and host of the Vegas PBS television show, Book Club, which featured interviews with local, national, and international authors, and is a frequent presenter at writing workshops and educational conferences.
Jami currently works as a ghostwriter and editor with independent writers as well as with Stephens Press and American Book Publishers. She has worked with authors from South Africa to southern Nevada. Jami is also co-author and editor of Education in the Neon Shadow; The First Fifty Years of the Clark County School District. For more information, please visit her website at www.redpengirl.com or contact her via email at jamicarpenter@yahoo.com.
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Ginger Clark, Agent
Ginger Clark has been a literary agent with Curtis Brown LTD since 2005. She represents science fiction, fantasy, paranormal romance, literary horror, and young adult and middle grade fiction. In addition to representing her own clients, she also represents British rights for the agency’s children’s list. Previously, she worked at Writers House for six years as an assistant literary agent. Her first job in publishing was as an editorial assistant at Tor Books. She is a graduate of Bryn Mawr College and a member of the Contracts Committee of the AAR. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband.
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Crystalwizard, Publisher
Crystalwizard is an author, a graphic artist and the driving force behind Cyberwizard Productions, which publishes books, and Abandoned Towers Magazine. When she’s not busy coding a website, laying out an issue, editing someone’s manuscript or fixing other people’s computers, she spends time playing with her cats. In between all of that, she sometimes finds time to write, and a few of her stories and poems can be found on her bio page at Bewildering Stories. Thank goodness for staff, without which she would be drowning!
Abandoned Towers Magazine is located here:
http://cyberwizardproductions.com/AbandonedTowers
Cyberwizard Productions (and its imprints) is here:
http://cyberwizardproductions.com
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Margaret Dalrymple, Publisher
http://www.unpress.nevada.edu/
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Dan Decker, Screenwriter
Dan Decker has taught screenwriting for 18 years, is author of the bestselling “Anatomy of a Screenplay,” and consultant to the Nevada Film Office for the screenplay competition. His students have found success writing in Los Angeles for TV and feature films. Today he works with writers as a private consultant on rewrites or on development of new screenplays. He is also the Artistic Director of the Las Vegas Shakespeare Company and recently published an article in the New England Theatre Journal.
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Maxwell Alexander Drake, Author/Publisher
Known to fans and friends as Drake, has been writing science fiction and fantasy for over twenty-eight years. His first major series, the Genesis of Oblivion Saga, is a six novel series published by Imagined Interprises, Inc. Book one of this series, Farmers and Mercenaries, is a 2009 Moonbeam Young Adult Fantasy award winner for excellence in literature and is available now in hardback, paperback and several digital formats. Book two of the series, Mortals and Deities, will be released June of 2010.
Learn more about the Genesis of Oblivion Saga and read the first four chapters of book one at the official website, www.genesisofoblivion.com.
Drake is being honored as “Best in Show” in this year’s Gen-Con Short Story collection for his story The Way of the Lion, a Genesis of Oblivion Saga short.
He has spoken at writing events and seminars. He runs a new writers blog as well as helps unpublished writers with critiques and feedback on their work. To learn more about him, or check out his writer’s blog and activities, head to his official website at www.maxwellalexanderdrake.com.
During the conference, Drake will conduct his seminar entitled “How to Create a More Realistic Fantasy World.” This seminar is designed to open a writer’s imagination to the types of things that help create a rich, vibrant and believable world. The world becomes the blanket that wraps around their story and immerses the reader.
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Megan Edwards, Author
In the wake of a wildfire that rendered her suddenly “houseless and stuffless,” Megan Edwards spent six years “on the road” all over the United States and Canada. Her book, Roads from the Ashes: An Odyssey in Real Life on the Virtual Frontier, is a memoir of her experiences. Edwards is co-founder of RoadTripAmerica.com, the premiere source for North America road trip information and advice, scenic drives, day trips, routes and the Web’s largest collection of funny road signs. She is also the Executive editor of Living-Las-Vegas.com, which publishes articles about everyday life and current events in southern Nevada, and co-author of Caution: Funny Signs Ahead. Currently represented by Donald Maass of the Donald Maass Literary Agency, Edwards writes both fiction and nonfiction.
Living-Las-Vegas.com: http://living-las-vegas.com
RoadTripAmerica.com: http://www.roadtripamerica.com
Sign Circus.com http://www.signcircus.com
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Diana Fox, Agent
Diana Fox is the owner of Fox Literary LLC, a boutique literary agency specializing in commercial fiction along with select works of literary fiction and non-fiction with broad commercial appeal. Before founding Fox Literary in 2007, Diana spent several years learning the business of publishing at Writers House. Since then, Fox Literary has represented a steadily growing client list, including the agency’s first New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors. Diana studied English literature and creative writing at Smith College, and grew up in the suburbs of New York City; she now lives in Manhattan, where she has no room for dogs or cats as the books have taken over the apartment.
To learn about what kind of submissions Diana is looking for and how to query Fox Literary, please visit the agency’s Publishers Marketplace page at http://www.publishersmarketplace.com/members/fox/.
www.foxliterary.com
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Dennis Griffin, Author
Dennis Griffin retired in 1994, after a 20-year career in investigations and law enforcement in New York State. He and his wife Faith moved to Las Vegas, Nevada, shortly afterward. He wrote his first novel, The Morgue, in 1996. He currently has seven mystery/thrillers published.
Dennis’s debut in non-fiction, Policing Las Vegas – A History of Law Enforcement in Southern Nevada, was released in April 2005. It covers the evolution of law enforcement in Las Vegas and Clark County from the city’s establishment in 1905. His second non-fiction, The Battle for Las Vegas – The Law versus the Mob, tells the story of the Tony Spilotro era in Las Vegas from 1971 thru 1986. It was released in July 2006 and was a Computer Times Editor’s Selection in October 2006. His latest non-fiction is CULLOTTA, the biography of former Chicago and Las Vegas mobster Frank Cullotta.
Dennis is currently a contributing writer to Action! Magazine and Examiner.com. He also serves as a consultant to the Vegas Mob Tour.
He is an active member of the Henderson Writers Group, Public Safety Writers Association, Sisters in Crime, and the Wizards of Words.
www.dennisngriffin.com
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Leslie Hoffman, Poet/Editor
Leslie Hoffman works as a writer, independent editor, and photographer. Her poems, essays, and articles have been published in magazines, anthologies, newspapers, and on the Web. Publishing credits include: The Mountain Astrologer, Aug./Sept. 2007, Saturn Opposite Neptune; PenHouseInk Press, 2002-07 Annual Anthologies; Las Vegas Quill Keepers, Loss, 2008; Henderson Writers Group, 2008, Writer’s Bloc II; RMJ, 2008, First Voyages; Choice Publishing Group, LLC, 2008, Patchwork Path: Grandma’s Choice. Leslie’s photos are sold via her line of note cards and as matted enlargements. Her “Hacienda Bridge” photo was featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show in 2002.
Along with Gregory A. Kompes, Leslie is co-founder of Laudably Tarnished, a poetry workshop that meets monthly in Las Vegas.
http://www.laudablytarnished.com/
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Richard Johnson
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Judi Moreo, Author
Judi Moreo’s expertise as a communicator is in demand by associations, organizations and corporations worldwide. Judi Moreo has presented keynote speeches, workshops, and seminars in twenty-six countries on four continents. Her high quality, high energy programs bring to her audiences well researched material and hands-on experience delivered in a down to earth style that will create a distinct, memorable session. Integrating her own rich multicultural experiences, she informs, challenges, motivates and entertains the audience. Most of all, participants will leave with practical, results oriented “how to” techniques which can be put to use right away for greater productivity and self satisfaction.
Judi is the author of nine books including her best selling self help/motivational, “You Are More Than Enough: Every Woman’s Guide to Purpose, Passion, and Power” published by Stephens Press.
In 2003, the US Business Advisory Council named Judi Moreo the Nevada Business Person of the Year. In 1986, the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce honored her as “Woman of Achievement – Entrepreneur.”
She is the Past President of both the Greater Las Vegas Advertising Federation and the Las Vegas Professional Speakers Association, served as the Western Regional Advisor for the prestigious National Speakers Association for two years, and was awarded the “Outstanding Achievement and Community Service Award” by the American Women in Radio and Television.
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Lynn Pisar, Publisher
Lynn Pisar has lived in Spokane Washington for 35 years. She began her career with Books In Motion 10 years ago. The front desk was only the beginning for her as she has worked her way to different positions within the company. Because she has had the opportunity to handle different jobs within Books In Motion she is more than qualified for her current position as Director of Operations.
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Geoff Schumacher, Journalist/Publisher
Geoff Schumacher is an author, editor, columnist, speaker and newspaper executive in Las Vegas, Nevada.
He is the author of “Howard Hughes: Power, Paranoia & Palace Intrigue,” released in February 2008, and “Sun, Sin & Suburbia: An Essential History of Modern Las Vegas,” released in October 2004. Both books were published by Stephens Press.
Schumacher was a reporter, editorial writer and city editor for the Las Vegas Sun for 10 years and editor of Las Vegas CityLife for three years. He founded and edited the Las Vegas Mercury. Today, he is the publisher of CityLife and director of community publications for Stephens Media, overseeing editorial operations of numerous weekly newspapers, magazines, sections and websites.
Schumacher writes a weekly public affairs column for the Las Vegas Review-Journal and serves as editor of CityLife Books, an imprint of Stephens Press.
Schumacher was born in Madison, Wisconsin, grew up in Southern Nevada and earned his bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Nevada, Reno, in 1988.
For more information, go to www.geoffschumacher.com.
http://lvcitylifebooks.com/
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Morgan St. James, Author
MORGAN ST. JAMES co-authors the comical crime caper series, Silver Sisters Mysteries, with her sister Phyllice Bradner. “A Corpse in the Soup” was named Best Mystery Audio Book 2007 by USA Book News. The second in the series is “Seven Deadly Samovars” “Vanishing Act in Vegas” is currently in work. Morgan’s short stories appear in multiple anthologies including the “Chicken Soup for the Soul” series. In early to mid 2010, writing as Arliss Adams, “”Devil’s Dance” and “The Devil’s Due”, a set of romantic suspense novels–will be released by L&L Dreamspell and Books in Motion.. Morgan is a founding member of Sisters in Crime/Southern Nevada, and belongs to Sisters in Crime/LA, Las Vegas Writer’s Group, Public Safety Writers Group and Henderson Writer’s Group. She is editor of “On The Prowl”, the SinC/SN newsletter and frequently appears on author’s panels, Meet the Author events, as well as presenting writers’ workshops. For more information visit http://www.silversistersmysteries.com or www.morganstjames-author.com. E-Mail: write2morgan@aol.com
Links:
www.silversistersmysteries.com
www.morganstjames-author.com
http://allaboutarliss.blogspot.com
www.perpetualprose.com
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Maralys Wills, Author
Maralys Wills’s twelve published books span several genres and publishers. Her fiction works include four romance novels published by Harlequin and Silhouette, and a techno-thriller about airplane sabotage. The N.Y. Times called SCATTERPATH “exciting, down-to-the-wire stuff . . her cockpit sequences all but put the reader at the controls.”
Among her non-fictions is MANBIRDS: HANG GLIDERS & HANG GLIDING, published by Prentice-Hall; a party game book from Price/Stern/Sloan, and her family story about hang gliding champions, HIGHER THAN EAGLES. Sadly, the Wills family lost two sons to the sport, and Wills’s account of those years–initially exhilarating, then tragic–earned her high marks in Publisher’s Weekly and Kirkus. HIGHER THAN EAGLES garnered five movie options, including one from Disney.
Wills’s book on addiction, SAVE MY SON, is the result of years of trauma with an addicted son. Research in four states proved that other locales do offer real solutions.
Her recent, light-hearted memoir, A CIRCUS WITHOUT ELEPHANTS, earned a national award from Writer’s Digest. In 2008, Stephens Press published both the sequel, A CLOWN IN THE TRUNK, (an Indie award wnner), and her writing book, DAMN THE REJECTIONS, FULL SPEED AHEAD, which won two national awards.
For the past 22 years, Wills has taught college novel-writing, and in 2000 was voted “Teacher of the Year.” In addition to frequent speaking engagements, she has given numerous writing seminars—at UCLA, UC Riverside, UCI, Orange Coast College, Cerritos College, and writers’ conferences across the country. She is a past president of the Orange County Chapter of Romance Writers of America.