Speaker Bios

To assist you in your marketing efforts Alice B. Acheson draws on decades of working with large and small publishers, negotiating book contracts, selling subsidiary rights, and editing (at a major NYC publisher) and publicizing books. Her work as publicist was recognized with numerous New York Times bestsellers (four simultaneously) and the Literary Market Place Outside Services Award for Advertising, Promotion and Publicity. After Jean Auel made her initial contact with her agent at a previous Willamette Writers Conference, Alice managed the publicity for her Clan of the Cave Bear.

Marc Acito's comic debut novel, How I Paid for College: A Novel of Sex, Theft, Friendship and Musical Theater, won the Ken Kesey Award for the Novel and made the American Library Association's Top Ten Teen Book List. It was also selected as an Editors' Choice by the New York Times, has been optioned for film by Columbia Pictures and is translated into five languages the author cannot read. Its much anticipated sequel, Attack of the Theater People, debuts April 22nd. For four years Acito shocked and amused readers with his syndicated humor column, "The Gospel According to Marc," which ran nationwide in nineteen alternative newspapers. A former opera singer, he is now a popular contributor to the New York Times and National Public Radio's All Things Considered. Marc's web site is at www.MarcAcito.com.

Marilyn Allen spent 25 years working in positions of increasing publishing responsibility culminating in Associate Publisher and Senior Vice President of Marketing for Harper Collins before striking out on her own seven years ago. Prior to that, she had directed sales and marketing teams for Penguin Books, Simon & Schuster, and Avon Books. She created many innovative marketing campaigns and managed a host of successful authors and brands through the years. She is an impassioned advocate for innovation in the marketing and selling of books and loves to work with writers who understand their audience and have smart marketing plans lined up.

Jackie Blain is a Writer's Guild of America, West, screenwriter with over 40 hours of produced network television, a short film in production, and a feature in development. She most recently spent 4½ years on the faculty of the Art Institute of Portland, has taught for the UCLA Extension Writer's Program, and is Program Director of the Portland Film Workshops at Indent Studios in Portland. She also does script consulting work through her firm Yellow Lab Ltd. and is associate producer on her Yellow Lab client Susan Hess Logeais' independent feature Not Dead Yet (in production). In addition, she is pursuing an MFA in Screenwriting at Goddard College and coordinates the Pitch Practice Room at The Willamette Writers Conference. Her student's films have been accepted by and won awards at numerous film festivals, including the New York Film Festival, the San Francisco Film Festival, the Longbaugh Festival, and the Salem Film Festival.

Carmen T. Bernier-Grand is the author of six books for children and young adults. Her books include a biography in poems and one in prose, an anthology of Puerto Rican folk-tales and a second book of four illustrated folk-tales, and a novel. Her Cesar: Yes, We Can! ¡Sí, Se Puede! won Pura Belpré Honors for her poems and David Diaz's illustrations. Her book Frida: ¡Viva la vida! Long Live Life! appeared in the summer of 2007. Diego: Bigger Than Life, illustrated by David Diaz, will be out in 2008. Her web site is at http://www.hevanet.com/grand/

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A member of the American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA) and author of the motivational book, The Gifts of Change, Nancy Christie contributes regularly to print magazines and informational websites. She is also the creator of the "Rut-Busting"™ series of workshops and travels widely presenting workshops on writing and on personal growth. Visit her at www.nancychristie.com and www.communityofchange.com.

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Linda Clare is the coauthor of three non-fiction books, including Making Peace with a Dangerous God, with Kristen Ingram. In 2007 Linda won an Honorable Mention in the Writers Digest Competition and her fiction won two awards in the 2005 and 2006 Kay Snow Writing Competitions. Additionally, a short story was nominated for a Pushcart Prize in 2004. She teaches writing at Lane Community College in Eugene and is a frequent presenter at writing conferences in the Northwest. She's currently finishing her latest non-fiction book, GodSong. Her web site is at http://godsonggrace.blogspot.com

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Sage Cohen is the author of Writing the Life Poetic, a creative companion for poets forthcoming from Writer's Digest Books, and the poetry collection Like the Heart, the World. Her poetry and essays appear in journals and anthologies including Cup of Comfort for Writers, Oregon Literary Review, Greater Good and VoiceCatcher. In 2006, she won first prize in the Ghost Road Press annual poetry contest. Sage holds an MA in creative writing from New York University where she was awarded a New York Times Foundation fellowship. Sage teaches Poetry for the People, an email poetry class. Visit Sage at www.sagesaidso.com.

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Carolyn attended Reed College and the Pacific Northwest College of Art, where she learned to ponder just about any subject and doodle and scribble and paint, paint, paint. She tried her best to dodge any marketable skills, but the pondering and doodling and scribbling paid off, anyway. She is the current staff illustrator of CRICKET magazine, (which means she writes and illustrate the on-going adventures of the Cricket Country gang). She has illustrated several books by other authors, the most recent being a storybook called The Discontended Gopher, by L. Frank Baum, (Yes! The Wizard of Oz guy) published in November, 2006 by the South Dakota Historical Society Press. She also wrote and illustrated The Twelve Days of Christmas Dogs, published by Dutton Books in fall, 2005. She lives with her family in Portland, Oregon.

Gary has been a freelance writer and consultant since July, 2005. His published work has appeared in Brainstorm Northwest magazine, The Oregonian, the Portland Tribune, and Global Envision, among others. Contract clients include HDR Engineering, the Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles, Trilogics Corporation, the City of Portland, Innovative Growth Solutions, and Oregon PERS. Gary lives and works in Portland, OR, with the world's most expensive free dog. His draft novel, Lying in Judgment, seeks a willing and brave agent.

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Inspired to become a writer through a prophetic dream of her father in 1995, Stella Pope Duarte's writing is described as lyrical and vivid, reminiscent at once of Laura Esquivel and Alice Hoffman. Her first collection of short stories, Fragile Night, (Bilingual Review Press, 1997) won a creative writing fellowship from the Arizona Commission on the Arts, and was named a candidate for the prestigious, Pen West Fiction Award. In 2001, Ms. Duarte was awarded a second creative writing fellowship for her current novel, Let Their Spirits Dance, (HarperCollins, 2002). Critiques have described Duarte as a "major, new literary voice in America."
Ms. Duarte's work has won awards and honors nationwide, including a nomination for the Pushcart Prize in Literature. Let Their Spirits Dance is on the Book Sense List, and was awarded the AZ Highways Fiction Award for 2003, and nominated as a ONEBOOKAz in 2004. Ms. Duarte won the 2003, Excellence in Latino Arts & Culture Award, and in 2004, she received the Barbara Deming Memorial Fund Award for an excerpt from, If I Die in Juárez, (University of AZ Press) to be released in Spring 2008. In 2005 she was awarded the Outstanding Alumni of the Year, by the American Association of Community Colleges. She is a highly sought-after inspirational speaker for audiences of all ages, on topics related to her work, as well as on issues related to: women's rights, culture, diversity, leadership, education, literacy, Chicano/Latino history, writing, and storytelling. Ms. Duarte was born and raised in the Sonorita Barrio in South Phoenix.

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Hallie Ephron is the author of Writing and Selling Your Mystery Novel: How to Knock 'Em Dead with Style (Writers Digest Books, 2005), the book about mystery writing that cracks the code. The book was nominated for a 2006 Edgar award for Best Critical/Biographical and for a 2006 Anthony Award for Best Critical/Non-fiction. Her latest book is 1001 Books for Every Mood (Adams Media, April 2008). It's the book lover's book, a guide to the best books of our time, organized to suit your every mood. And her psychological suspense novel, Baby, Baby, will be published by HarperCollins. Hallie is also co-author of five Dr. Peter Zak mystery/ psychological thrillers by G. H. Ephron and crime fiction book reviewer for the Boston Globe. She is the winner of the Ellen Nehr Award for Excellence in Mystery Reviewing, and the former president of the New England chapter of Sisters in Crime. Her web site is at www.hallieephron.com/

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Julie A. Fast is the bestselling author of Loving Someone with Bipolar Disorder: Understanding and Helping Your Partner (over 65,000 copies sold. New Harbinger, 2004), Take Charge of Bipolar Disorder (Time/Warner, 2006-17,000 copies in the first year) and her latest book, Get it Done When You're Depressed (Penguin, 2008). She is the recipient of the Mental Health America Excellence in Journalism award for her magazine writing. Julie's weekly KTRO AM 910 radio show can be heard by podcast on www.juliefast.com/radio. Her web site is at www.juliefast.com.

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David Greenburg studied Philosophy of Religion and graduated from Reed College. After several odd jobs, he started a Chinese eggroll restaurant at a weekend craft fair. During the week, when he wasn't eggrolling, he began volunteering at local schools, helping kids with their reading and writing. He started using the poems he'd been writing as teaching material for these kids, and found, to his astonishment, that they really seemed to enjoy his writing. David published his first book of poetry, Slugs (Little, Brown & Co.). Since then he's published The Great School Lunch Rebellion, Your Dog Might be a Werewolf - Your Toes Could All Explode, Bugs!, Skunks!, Snakes!, Whatever happened to Humpty Dumpty?, and The Book of Boys for Girls - The Book of Girls for Boys, and Don't Forget Your Etiquette. David now lives in Portland, Oregon. His web site is at www.authorsillustrators.com/greenberg/greenberg.htm.

At eighteen, Pamela sold a story her hometown newspaper and has been writing professionally ever since--first as a staff writer on an old-fashioned newspaper Society page and later as an advertising copywriter and publicist. She's written about everything from weddings, Girl Scout jamborees, and old ladies who carved statues out of gourds; to Mount Rushmore, Water Piks, and basketball shoes. She left the corporate world behind in the 1990s to teach and write for young adults. She's published three award-winning novels, and has directed writing programs at universities in Colorado, Oregon, and Washington. Her latest book is Laura Ingalls Wilder: A Writer's Life, a biography for adult readers. http://www.pamelasmithhill.com/

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Leigh Anne Jasheway-Bryant is a humor writer and speaker who lives in Eugene, Oregon with her husband, her giant wiener dogs and the voices in her head. She is the author of fifteen published books, including Life is Funny: A Riveting Tale of Comedy, Hairdressing, and Texas Politics, I'm Not Getting Older (I'm Getting Better at Denial), Bedtime Stories for Cats, and Bedtime Stories for Dogs. She has a new humor gift book, Not Guilty by Reason of Menopause, due out with Ten Speed Press in September. For eight years, she was a humor and inspiration columnist for Family Circle Magazine, and has written for more than a dozen other national magazines. Her first play -- a comedy about friendship, betrayal, and reincarnation was produced last year, and her musical, Yes Mamm!, is scheduled for production. For a year, she was the host of Women Under the Influence of Laughter, a radio show on KOPT AM 1600 in Eugene. Her website is www.accidentalcomic.com.

Bill is author of A Story is a Promise & Deep Characterization, a writing workbook that explores how to create dramatic, engaging stories. He is a skilled story analyst and teacher and has taught writing workshops around the United States. He currently reviews screenplays and novels. He is also the backbone of Willamette Writers, serving as Office Manager and on the Conference Committee in charge of registration. His web site is at www.storyispromise.com.

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Christina Katz is the author Get Known Before the Book Deal, Use Your Person Strengths to Grow an Author Platform (Writer's Digest Books, October 2008) and Writer Mama, How to Raise a Writing Career Alongside Your Kids (Writer's Digest Books, March 2007). She has written hundreds of articles for magazines, newspapers, and on-line publications and has appeared on Good Morning America. Christina is a popular writing instructor who has taught hundreds of writers over the past seven years. She blogs daily at The Writer Mama Riffs and is publisher and editor of two e-zines, Writers on the Rise and The Writer Mama. Her web site is at www.christinakatz.com.

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Bharti Kirchner is the author of eight books -- four novels and four cookbooks. Her work has been translated into German, Dutch, Spanish, Thai and other languages. Her fourth novel Pastries: A Novel of Desserts and Discoveries was selected to be among Summer 2006 Washington Reads program. Her third novel Darjeeling received endorsements from top national authors. Shiva Dancing, her first novel, was chosen by Seattle Weekly to be among the top 18 books by Seattle authors in the last 25 years. And Sharmila's Book, her second novel, was described by Publisher's Weekly as "Smart, swift, and funny." Bharti has won two Seattle Arts Commission literature grants and a GAP grant from the Artist Trust.
An award winning cook, Bharti is the author of four popular cookbooks. She has also written numerous articles and essays on food, travel and fitness for magazines that include Food & Wine, The Writer, Writer's Digest, The Seattle Times, Fitness Plus, and Northwest Travel. She is a freelance book reviewer for The Seattle Times. Her most recent personal essay was published in the 2006 Doubleday anthology Kiss Tomorrow Hello. Bharti is a frequent speaker at writer's conferences, book festivals, and universities throughout the nation. For more information, please go to www.bhartikirchner.com.

A native of the Northwest, Clark Kohanek is a freelance illustrator, storyboard artist and commercial director. Weiden and Kennedy, Anonymous Content, Dark Horse and Universal Studios are only a few of the ad agencies, studios and production companies Clark has worked withover the last 10 years. Clark has illustrated commercial spots for clients Nike, Microsoft, Coca Cola, Miller Beer, Toyota, AT&T, Sony PSP, and Konami. Clark is also the co-creator and co-author of the comic book "The Wound" with Dr. Ryan Coon Psy.D. The experimental comic series was recently presented to the 2006 American Psychological Association National Convention, as an alternative narrative therapy for troubled teens. In 2005 Clark's horror/comedy "The Undertakers" was a Nicholl Fellowship Quarter Finalist. In November 2006, Clark was tapped for conceptual and promotional art on a major motion picture for Disney. Clark currently lives in Los Angeles.

Gregory A. Kompes (http://www.Kompes.com), author of the bestseller 50 Fabulous Gay-Friendly Places to Live and the Writer's Series that includes Endorsement Quest, So, You Wanna be a Writer, Should You Write an Ebook, and Creating Your Online Media Kit, speaks at conferences and teaches Internet marketing courses online. He's a contributor to Chopped Liver for the Gentle Spirit, Chopped Liver for the Kindred Spirit, The Complete Writer's Journal, Writer's Bloc and Writer's Bloc II. Gregory is editor of the Queer Collection: Prose & Poetry series, the Patchwork Path series, BellaOnline's Distance Learning website, The Fabulist Flash, an informative newsletter for writers, and the Writer's Digest "101 Best Website". Eighteen Questions, a Q&A series that collects published authors experiences. In Las Vegas, he hosts the Writerpreneur Workshops and co-host's the Writer's Pen & Grill. Gregory holds a BA in English Literature from Columbia University, New York, a certificate in Online Teaching and Learning and an MS Ed., with an emphasis in Online Teaching and Learning, from California State University, East Bay.

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Lee Lofland is the author of Police Procedure and Investigation, A Guide For Writers from Writers Digest Books. Lee is a former police detective with nearly two decades of law-enforcement and crime-solving experience. He was in charge of major felony cases, including homicide, narcotics, rape, kidnapping, ritualistic and occult crimes, fraud, and robbery.
Lee is a nationally acclaimed expert on police procedure and crime-scene investigation and is a popular conference and workshop speaker. He writes freelance articles for publications, such as The Writer magazine and for newspapers and newsletters across the country. He is also a consultant for many bestselling authors and television and film writers, and he writes and maintains the popular blog site The Graveyard Shift.
His current works-in-progress are a mystery novel and a children's book titled Everything Kids: I Want To Be A Police Officer. Lee and his wife, Dr. Denene Lofland, live in the Boston area, where he proudly serves on the board of directors for the New England Chapter of Mystery Writers of America. He's also a member of Sisters in Crime.

Elizabeth Lyon is the author of The Sell Your Novel Tool Kit, A Writer's Guide to Fiction, A Writer's Guide to Non-fiction, National Directory of Editors & Writers, Non-fiction Book Proposals Anybody Can Write, and Manuscript Makeover, on how to revise fiction, in 2009 to be joined by a similar book on revising non-fiction. An independent book editor for two decades, Lyon enjoys the challenge and discovery that are a part of editing, each manuscript an original creation. Her work has helped nearly 50 writers to break into print through her editing service, Editing International. Her custom-made private workshops are available to writers' groups for hire. You are welcome to reach her through e-mail: elyon123@comcast.net or to visit her websites: www.elizabethlyon.com or www.4- edit.com.

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Maureen McQuerry is a teacher, novelist and poet. Her most recent book is Wolfproof (Idylls 2006), the first in a YA fantasy trilogy. The sequel, The Travelers' Market, will be released in July 2008. She's the author of two non-fiction books, Nuclear Legacy (an Independent Publisher's Award winner) and Student Inquiry, and a poetry collection, Relentless Light (Finishing Line 2007). She's been honorably mentioned twice in the Year's Best Fantasy and Horror and her chapbook, Wingward, is the winner of the New Eden Chapbook Competition. She's been a frequent presenter at conferences on gifted education, and currently gives author talks at schools, and in bookstores, and speaks at writing workshops. She presents on a variety of topics to both student and adult writers. Maureen works as a gifted education specialist and as a teaching artist for the WA State Arts commission. Her web site is at www.maureenmcquerry.com.

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Jessica Page Morrell is surrounded by writers. She is the author of The Writer's I Ching: Wisdom for the Creative Life published by Running Press, Voices from the Street published by Gray Sunshine, Between the Lines: Master The Subtle Elements Of Fiction Writing published by Writer's Digest Books, and Writing Out the Storm, Collectors Press. Additionally in July 2008 Bullies, Bastards & Bitches: How to Write the Bad Guys in Fiction is being published by Writer's Digest Books; Dear Bad Writer, How to Avoid the Rejection Pile will be published in 2009 by Tarcher-Penguin.
Morrell works as a developmental editor where she has learned how to quickly size up a story's merits, as a writing coach, and was formerly the Writing Expert at iVillage.com. Morrell has served as a Writer in the Schools through Oregon Literary Arts. She hosts a web site at www.writing-life.com and she's been writing a monthly column about topics related to writing since 1998 which currently appears in The Willamette Writer, writes a monthly newsletter, The Writing Life, a web log, and has contributed articles to newspapers and The Writer and Writer's Digest magazines.
Morrell also teaches thousands of writers each year through a series of workshops in the Northwest, at writing conferences throughout the country and in Canada and Mexico, and teaches at Evergreen College in Olympia, Washington.

Educator, writer, consultant, web designer, graphic artist and speaker, Tobi Kibel Piatek has extensive experience developing and presenting curriculum, web content and classroom content for kids and teachers. She currently develops online courses and blog content for Portland State University. Other projects include an online column and curriculum for teachers and parents for Oregon Public Broadcasting, PBS, and Reading Rainbow. She has written online text books, books about how to integrate technology into the classroom, and a biography of Abraham Lincoln for young readers. Tobi is owner and creative director of SynerGenii Creative Communications (www.synergenii.com). Her combination of skills is enhanced by her understanding of how technology can help you market your books, message and products to a broader your audience.

Renee has been writing fiction ever since she won her first writing contest in second grade. She has three published books, with two more on the way, to complete her latest trilogy, Saving Sailor. Renee has taught fiction writing workshops at writer's conferences, writing festivals, and travels extensively to teach workshops to both students and teachers during the school year. She has many helpful hints and ideas for creating and developing scenes that will keep the readers smiling and the pages turning. She would love to share them with anyone willing to listen!

Gigi Rosenberg is a writer, teacher and solo performer. Her essays have appeared in The Oregonian, Jewish Review and Cycle California! Magazine and she has performed her dramatic monologues at Seattle's On The Boards, Lewis and Clark College and Pacific University. She specializes in coaching writers on how to read in public and teaching artists how to write grants. She has taught at The Foundation Center in New York City, the Northwest Writing Institute and the Regional Arts and Culture Council. Last year she premiered "The Hanukkah Bush," a radio commentary, on Oregon Public Broadcasting.

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Mary Rosenblum was first published in Asimov's Magazine in 1990 with For A Price, one of her Clarion West stories. (She attended that boot camp for writers in 1988). Since that first publication, she has published more than 60 short stories in SF, mystery, and mainstream fiction, as well as eight novels. Her newest novel, Horizons, was released in November 2006 from Tor Books and came out in paperback in November 2007. Water Rites a compendium of the novel Drylands as well as three prequel novelettes that first appeared in Asimov's were released from Fairwood Press in January 2007. Her SF stories have been published in Asimov's, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, SciFiction, and Analog among others. She won the Compton Crook award for Best First Novel, The Asimov's Readers Award, and has been a Hugo Award finalist. She has been on the short list for a lot of awards but she doesn't keep track. She publishes in mystery as Mary Freeman, teaches writing for Long Ridge Writers Group, and at writer's workshops and will be an instructor for the prestigious Clarion West Writers Workshop in the summer of 2008. When she is not writing, she trains dogs in tracking, sheep herding, and obedience work and grows all her fruits and vegetables on country acreage. She managed to raise two sons who have turned out to be pretty cool people. You can find more information at her website: www.maryrosenblum.com

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As an award-winning freelance writer and former managing editor of Teacher magazine, editor-in-chief of PointsBeyond.com, and contributing editor to Child and Fit Pregnancy, Liz has published more than 100 articles in numerous national magazines for children and adults. Her publishing credits include Harper's Magazine, Mother Jones, Backpacker, Portland Monthly, Smithsonian, FamilyFun, Parents, Parenting, Family Life, American Baby, Parents Baby, Woman's Day, Family Circle, Ladies' Home Journal, Read, American Girl, Guideposts for Teens, The Denver Post, and The Oregonian among many others.
Her first book, Generation Fix, was a Smithsonian magazine Notable Children's Book and a finalist for the International Reading Association's Children's Book Award and the Oregon Book Award. She has four recently released children's books: Will It Blow?: Become a Volcano Detective at Mt. St. Helens; A Day with No Crayons; The Planet Hunter: The Story Behind What Happened to Pluto and Girl's Tennis: Conquering the Court.
She has led workshops and given lectures and presentations for children and adults at schools such as Childpeace Montessori, and Maimonides in Portland; colleges such as Portland State University, Duke University, and University of California at Berkeley; and conferences such as the Willamette Writers Conference, Chalk It Up for Literacy, and the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators in Portland and the National Service Learning Conference in Minneapolis. Learn more at www.elizabethrusch.com.

Luke Ryan arrived in Hollywood in 2000 and has since worked as a screenwriter, producer, studio executive, and instructor at UCLA Extension. He has a script in development at New Line, has served as a studio executive at New Line and Paramount Pictures/MTV Films, and his producing credits include Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle and the recent New Line Cinema release, Martian Child. When he's not single-hand- edly trying to bring about the downfall of western cinematic culture, he enjoys watching enormously trashy reality TV shows and hiking with his dog, Blue.

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Cornelia Seigneur pens the family column, "Real-Life Mom," for The Oregonian newspaper's SW Weekly section, and before that wrote "WriterMom" and "On the Home Front" memoir-like essays for The West Linn Tidings newspaper for seven years, covering life with five children. She has been a regular contributor to The Oregonian since 1996, specializing in Faith and Inspiration stories as well as family features. Cornelia contributes to other publications such as Travel Oregon, and she is penning a book about West Linn, Oregon for Arcadia Publishing, due out later this year. Cornelia is an adjunct professor at George Fox University and has led memoir, creative non-fiction and journalism workshops through Portland State University; she is also a freelance editor. Her website and blog can be found at: www.writermom.net

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Elyn Selu has taught creative writing for the University of New Orleans, screenwriting for Louisiana State University's Red Stick International Animation Festival, and was co-founder of the fiction writing workshop, The Women's Writing Collective. She has published one novel, Pretty is Just a Face I Make, as well as numerous stories in the speculative market. Her latest work, a novel series about a family of witches, is currently being shopped.

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Sheila L. Stephens was the first female Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms (ATF) special agent in the state of Alabama. She is a graduate of The Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, the Alabama State Trooper Academy and the University of Alabama, holding a B.S. in Deaf Education, and a Masters Degree in Criminal Justice fro University. In September 2011, she graduate with a PhD in Forensic Psychology. She is presently an instructor at the online criminal justice programs at Andrew Jackson University and Boston University-and runs a private investigation business specializing in security products, background checks and covert camera sales and installations. Her Everything Book of Private Investigation will be published by August 2008, and the Writer's Digest Book of Weapons, Technology and Surveillance will be released in 2009. Her web site is at www.safersecurityinc.com.

Evan Stuart is the producer/director of the feature film "Reality Check" which has been featured in both the Cinequest film festival and the Longbaugh film festival. He is also the creative director of Fictitious Films, a production company specializing in Independent film and alternative methods of media distribution. As the former head of marketing at Tricoast Studios in Los Angeles, he cut film trailers and oversaw media campaigns for New Line, Artisan, Moonstone, New Image and Showtime Networks. He has taught screenwriting at The Art Institute of Portland, and the Northwest Academy.

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Elizabeth Taylor and her partner, Barbara Allen Burke, are the co-owners of Past Perfect, a life-story writing business. They are the authors of Half Past Perfect: Writing Simple, Personal Stories to "Re-Story" Your Life, and its companion notebook, Story Starters. In addition, Elizabeth is the author of three novels for young adult and middle readers: Fat Moon Dance, Julie In Between, and Beach Kids in Oceans of Trouble, which were published in her native Canada. Learn more at www.IAmStory.com

Mike Thaler has produced over 180 published books and is known as "America's Riddle King." He has also been called "The Court Jester of Children's Literature."
Mike has produced many well-known and loved characters in children's literature. He was the creator of "The Letterman" for the PBS Electric Company series. Elementary teachers read about Mrs. Green from The Teacher from the Black Lagoon, and the rest of the Lagoon faculty in his expanding book series with Scholastic publishers. Bubba and Bumpo from the The Bully Brothers books and some of his retold fairy tales like "Cinderella Bigfoot" have won numerous "Children's Choice" awards. He recently created the "Heaven and Mirth" series of humorous retellings of Bible stories, like Moses Take Two Tablets and Call Me in the Morning, and David and Bubblebathsheba.
Mike travels each year throughout the world helping children and teachers create their own stories, riddles, and books. He writes and teaches with creativity, inspiring his audiences with a love of language. Mike Thaler is considered one of the most creative forces in children's literature today.

Cynthia Whitcomb has sold over fifty scripts to movie studios and television networks. More than 25 have been produced as Television movies and miniseries. She has been nominated for the Writers Guild, Cable Ace and Emmy Awards. She is the author of The Writers Guide to Writing Your Screenplay and The Writers Guide to Selling Your Screenplay. She has taught screenwriting for many years, including 7 at UCLA Film School. She has been President of Willamette Writers since 1995.

Laura Whitcomb's first novel A Certain Slant of Light (Houghton Mifflin, 2005), was a Barnes & Noble "Discover Great New Writers" selection, an ALA Best Books for Young Adults pick, and was a finalist in six state teen book contests. The Fetch, her new YA novel, will be out in September. Her writing book, Your First Novel (Writers Digest Books, 2006) was co-authored by literary agent Ann Rittenberg. Laura has been a speaker at numerous bookstores, libraries, schools, and book groups in five states.

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Eric M. Witchey has sold over 50 short stories and a novel into national and international markets. His stories have appeared in multiple genres under several names. His How-to articles have appeared in The Writer Magazine, Writer's Digest Magazine, and other print and on-line magazines. He has won awards and recognition from a number of organizations, including: Writers of the Future, Writer's Digest, New Century Writers, and ralan.com. When not writing or teaching, he restores antique, model locomotives or tosses small bits of feather and pointy wire at laughing trout.