2026 Colorado Gold Conference Presenters

V.L. Andromeda brings academic rigor and creative insight to writing, editing, and teaching. With a background in the humanities and higher education, they specialize in translating complex storytelling and craft theory into practical, actionable tools writers can apply immediately. An author, poet, editor, and college educator, V.L. works with writers at every stage of their careers to strengthen foundations, deepen character work, and build sustainable creative practices. Their approach emphasizes ethical storytelling, inclusive creative spaces, and the intentional development of both skill and confidence. V.L. uses they/she pronouns and is based in Wyoming with their partner. 

Workshops:

Fanfiction is Practice, Not the Product: How to Train in Borrowed Worlds

Literary Telephone: There Are No New Stories, Only New Storytellers

What's on My Mind? How Much Time Do You Have? – A Panel of Neurodivergent Writers

Gabriella Batel is a vibrant young Catholic woman with an adrenaline craving and a passion for God, family, acting, animation, fanart, and good food. She's the leechcraft-y author of the acclaimed Don't thriller series, the fantasy thriller Ending, and the prize-winning post-apocalyptic fantasy story "Antivenom."

Workshops:

Frankengenre – The Unending World of Genre Fusion

How to Not Need Me (An Editor): Self Editing Techniques That Will Impress Your Own Editor (Who You Definitely Still Need)

Oliver Blakemore's not in a band. He likes getting that out of the way early. It saves time. Similar to the metal or punk lyrics he's accused of flexing his fingers on, he writes stories aimed to earn pumped fists and devil horns. Like so many punks and metalheads before him, he's a recovering intellectual and an undiagnosed neurodivergent. His idea of a true story is explaining the world by saying it must be witches and dragons (which need befriending) and systemic stereotypes (which need defeating). And he only writes true stories. He lives in Colorado with his partner and her animals. In his daywalker job, he interviews fledgling rock and rollers and writes marketing material for them.

Workshops:

Literary Telephone: There Are No New Stories, Only New Storytellers

What’s on My Mind? How Much Time Do You Have? – A Panel of Neurodivergent Writers

Ryanne Buck (Ryanne Glenn) is the Volunteer Chair of Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers and has a degree in Chemical Engineering. She currently works as an Electrical Engineer in Grand Junction, CO. After struggling with depression in college, she turned to writing as a healthy outlet for her emotions. She wants to write strong female role models and is excited to share her stories with the world.

Workshops:

Let’s Kill Some Characters – With Science!

Geography, Geology, Geometry, Let's Talk Maps

Debbie Burke looks like a cookie-baking grandma but behind that innocent smile lurks a devious criminal mind. Her award-winning Tawny Lindholm Thriller series (nine books) is set in her home state of Montana, the last best place to kill someone...fictionally, that is. The Villain's Journey - How to Create Villains Readers Love to Hate is her bestselling nonfiction book that earned accolades from Christopher Vogler (The Writer's Journey), Will Akers (Your Screenplay Sucks), and Midwest Book Review, as well as enthusiastic readers. With nearly four decades as a novelist, journalist, and freelance editor, Debbie has survived exhilarating success and soul-sucking disappointment. She shares hard-won experience with warmth and humor, teaching classes and workshops for all writing levels. Website: debbieburkewriter.com Contributor to The Kill Zone blog for crime writers Email: debbieburkewriter@gmail.com

Workshop:

Save Yourself from Seductive Scammers – 10 Tips to Recognize and Defend Against AI Predators

Gemini Writer's Studio (Julie Cameron) is a professional writing community and consultancy supporting writers across genres and career stages. Our editors include award-winning and widely published authors whose work has appeared in nationally recognized literary journals as well as commercial and independent presses. Gemini provides advanced craft education, manuscript development, and industry-focused guidance through workshops, editorial consulting, and coaching. Our website (https://geminiwritersstudio.com/) features our editors' publications, professional credentials, and ongoing programming, including genre-spanning workshops and author talks. Gemini Writer's Studio is committed to elevating literary excellence, amplifying diverse voices, and supporting writers in achieving professional recognition and publication success.

Workshop:

So, You Want to Write Some Romance

A 40-year television, film, and education veteran, Kevin Campbell started his career as a TV news journalist. He produced hundreds of news stories as well as TV commercials, marketing videos, and education/training content. He also taught video production for high school and college students. He wrote and produced his first feature film, Cheerleader Ninjas, in 2001 which sold to Lionsgate Entertainment and is now streaming on Tubi, Apple, Amazon Prime, and Philo. In 2008 he worked with "Save the Cat" author Blake Snyder at the Creative Screenwriting Expo in Los Angeles. Kevin was a finalist in the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writer's Gold Rush Literary Awards in 2021 for his rom-com novel, "Kamikaze Girl," and was a Semi-Finalist in the 2022 Emerging Screenwriters competition for his horror-comedy "Blood Rush." You can learn more about him on his website, KevinCampbellFilms.com.

Workshops:

How to Make an Audiobook for Your Novel & Harvest Millions of New Readers

Master Your Novel Pitch: How to Write, Refine, and Deliver a Pitch That Hoos Your Future Agent

Trai Cartwright is a 30-year entertainment industry veteran and creative writing specialist. While in Los Angeles for 15 years, she was a screenwriter, independent film producer, and story consultant and development executive for multiple studios, Assistant Directed Leonardo DiCaprio's online short film festival, and worked in the online entertainment realm in a range of creative capacities. While in Colorado for 15 years, she taught and built curriculum for several of Colorado's university film departments, and for a range writers groups and conferences (including CO Gold!), and works one-on-one as a development and story editor. Trai is the producer of several short form projects and five independent films, and was commissioned to adapt several properties for screen. Her newest endeavor, Lucidity, from the Kansas City Feature Project, launched in October 2025.

Workshops:

Tasha Christensen is a writer, teacher, and researcher based in Colorado. Her Itaska High series chronicles the romantic shenanigans of a high school marching band in Minnesota. The first book, As You Were, won the 2023 Indie Author Project contest, and she was honored as an RMFW Writer of the Year finalist in 2024. She co-edited the short story anthology Wild, and her fiction has been featured in award-winning collections and journals. She recently received her MSc in Digital Anthropology from University College London. In her free time, she enjoys playing D&D, perfecting her volleyball serve, and exploring the Rocky Mountains with her husband and two daughters.

Workshops:

Publishing Isn’t a Straight Line: Creating Your Personal  Definition of Success

Worlds That Matter: Using Speculative Fiction to Explore Real Issues

Caitee Cooper is an entrepreneur, professional copywriter, and the author of multiple novels. She has ten years of writing and editing experience across a variety of industries and channels, and has helped launch three successful small businesses. After having her two sons, she pivoted to writing fiction (her first love). She knows from personal experience how to juggle the responsibilities of family and professional life in a way that (mostly) doesn't drive her insane, and loves sharing that knowledge - as well as her writing craft, business, and entrepreneurship experience - with her fellow writers. She lives in Casper, Wyoming, with her husband, their sons, and a really strange rescue cat named Smokey. When she's not writing, you can find her hiking, oil painting, hanging out with her family, or stuffing chocolate in her face.

Workshops:

Kickstarter 201: Let’s Do This

Rachel Delaney Craft writes speculative fiction for children and teens. Her short stories have appeared in publications such as Cricket, Uncharted, and Cast of Wonders, and she edited the 2020 RMFW anthology, WILD. On the novel side, she is a two-time winner of the Colorado Gold Rush Literary Award and is represented by Alex Land at Mad Woman Literary Agency.

Workshops:

From Picture Books to YA: Writing for the Next Generation Readers

Pitch Your Way to a Better Book

Short and Sweet: The Art and Business of Short Story Writing

Worlds That Matter: Using Speculative Fiction to Explore Real Issues

Z.J. Czupor's new murder mystery, DEAD MEN DON'T DRINK, is published at zoltanjames.substack.com. He's also the author of THE BIG WEIRD: Haikus in Times of Pandemic and Chaos. Z.J. is immediate past president of Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers and is an active member of Mystery Writers of America and International Thriller Writers. He is represented by Terrie Wolf, founder and owner of AKA Literary Management.

Workshop:

The Ten-Page Test: How to Win Agents and Readers Before Chapter Two

Miranda Darrow is an author, freelance fiction editor, and #RevPit online revision contest board member and contributing editor. Miranda's Concise Fiction Academy series of writing craft books and courses combines her experience as a freelance editor and a corporate attorney into an executive summary of complex writing topics with an overview, key recommendations, and sources for more information, all with a dash of humor. Miranda lives in Minnesota with her husband, teen boys, and two bossy little dogs.

Workshop:

DIY Critique Group

Gamify Your Writing to Level Up Your Productivity & Reader Engagement

The Six-Step Revision Process: Revise Your Novel From First Draft to Final

Rachel Horak Dempsey is a writer of dark fiction living in Denver. Her debut novella, a retelling of Pinocchio with a terrifying techno twist, is forthcoming from M4L Publishing in summer of 2026. Her short fiction is available or forthcoming from Creepy Pod, Brigids Gate Press, Timber Ghost Press, Twenty Bellows (Pushcart nominated 2024), Stars and Sabers, and others. Rachel is also the editor of the anthology Horizons 2 from Twenty Bellows. She currently serves on the Executive Board of Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers and appears regularly on the Writers Who Read podcast as a guest host. Rachel holds a BFA in Drama and English from NYU, a Master's in Journalism from Georgetown and an MFA in Creative Writing from Regis University.

Workshops:

Homegrown Heroes: The Real Meaning of Write What You Know

Intertextuality: The Art of Crafting Classic and Contemporary Ideas

Elizabeth S. Devecchi spent her formative years in Rhode Island before setting out to gather degrees and experiences. She writes in a variety of genres and styles, but horror holds a special place in her heart. Her most recent short releases include: short horror story "Web of Truths," appearing in Broken Brain Books anthology Screams from the Dark Ages (March 2025); short horror story "Open House," in the Running Wild Press Short Story Anthology, Volume 8 (June 2025); and "Dust," a horror short appearing in Dark and Dreary: A basement horror anthology, by Screaming Scorpion Press (September 2025). Wicked House Publishing released Elizabeth's debut horror novel, A Whisper in the Dark, in October 2024 and followed with her first dark suspense novel, A Twist of the Lens, in October 2025. Now an imprint of Aethon Books, Wicked House Publishing plans to release The Shadow Beside Her, part of the Whisper in the Dark series, in early to mid 2026. Thus far, A Whisper in the Dark has received a Gold Award at BookFest and a Cippa Evvy Gold Medal and A Twist of the Lens was the recipient of a BookFest third place award. Elizabeth is a member of the Horror Writer's Association, Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers (PAA), and Italian American Writers Association, among others. She resides in Colorado with her family, which includes an ever-changing menagerie of pets and "guest creatures." For more info: elizabethdevecchi.com

Workshop:

POV, How to Properly Pick Your Poison

Karen Dropps, author of My Elbert and The Dorcha, holds a master's degree in Heritage Studies for a Global Society and a graduate certificate in Museum Studies from Regis College, Weston, Massachusetts. Karen followed adventurous careers in academia, museums, and cub scouts. She grew up in New England and now resides in the mountains of Colorado, where she enjoys Martial Arts hiking, and spending time with her family and cats.

Workshops:

Protect Your Book and Your Characters

Tom Farrell was the Writer of the Year and a former VP of Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers.

Workshop:

Audiobooks: What the Author Needs to Know 

Blythe Brandenburg (Rebecca Fuentes) is the author of fifteen published fantasy romance short stories and the fantasy romance novel Mistress & Mage. Her work combines her love of high fantasy, historical romance, and swashbuckling adventure. As such, she's a fan of Tolkien, Jane Austen, and Alexander Dumas, and enjoys the many books those have inspired. She's a former English teacher who's passionate about every child's right to a thorough education and the importance of the arts. Currently, she is on the board of directors for Wyoming Writers, Inc. She lives in the rural Rocky Mountains with her husband, children, and pets. 

Workshop:

Twisting Tropes and Crossing Genres

Bowen Gillings comes as both author and literary agent. Known for thrillers and fantasy tales laced with snark, wit, and characters you could share a beer with, he writes to keep fiction fun. He joined Savvy Literary Services in 2025 and is an active member of the American Association of Literary Agents. Bowen brings to the table a decade of experience as an author and champion of authors. He loves giving back to the writing community through workshops, media, and conversations over choice beverages.

Workshops:

Networking the Conference: Getting Out of the Shell and Getting Known

Query Right

The Query Triad: Master the Basics Before Hitting Send

John Gilstrap is the Thriller Award-winning, New York Times bestselling author of over two dozen thrillers, including 17 books in his Jonathan Grave thriller series, 3 books in his Victoria Emerson thriller series, and most recently, two books in his Irene Rivers thriller series. Add to that a half dozen or so stand alone novels, 4 screenplays for Hollywood and a whole lot of short stories. His nonfiction book, "Six Minutes to Freedom" is in development at Netflix to be a feature film in 2027. Prior to the beginning of his writing career, John served 15 years in the fire and rescue service. A frequent speaker at literary events, John also teaches seminars on suspense writing techniques at a wide variety of venues, from local libraries to The Smithsonian Institution. He currently co-hosts a drivetime radio talk show on WRNR/TV10 in Martinsburg, WV. John has a bachelorâââ¬ââ¢s degree in History from The College of William and Mary in Virginia, and a master of science degree in Safety from the University of Southern California. Outside of his writing life, John is a renowned safety expert with extensive knowledge of explosives, weapons systems, hazardous materials, and fire behavior. John lives in Berkeley County, WV.

Workshops:

Matt Ginsberg. Author, AI scientist at Google DeepMind, trained by Nobel Laureates Kip Thorne and Roger Penrose. Also playwright, crossword constructor. I would be speaking as a member of DeepMind staff.

Workshops:

AI and Authorship: Separating the Hype from the Reality

Andre Gonzalez is the international bestselling author of the Wealth of Time Series, and co-owner of M4L Publishing. After surviving the Aurora Theater Shooting in 2012, Andre was inspired to chase his lifelong dream of pursuing a career as an author. This tragedy gave him a new appreciation for life along with a drive to make the world a better place by publishing books readers all around the world can enjoy. He has written over twenty time-travel, thriller, and horror books after spending many years reading and studying the works of Stephen King and Dean Koontz. Keeping readers up late and their hearts pumping faster than normal is his ultimate goal. Andre was the recipient of the Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers 2021 Independent Writer of the Year award. When he's not writing, you can find Andre buried underneath a long to-do list or chasing around his three hyper children. He and his wife are raising their family in their hometown of Denver, CO.

Workshops:

From First Book to Full-Time Author: What It Really Takes

Run Your Author Business Without Going Insane

What's the BFD?

Natasha Gonzalez is a Colorado native, children's author, publisher, and marketing strategist dedicated to helping authors build and grow their careers. After 12 years in structural engineering, she transitioned into publishing, co-founding an indie press in 2019 and later help launching a marketing agency specializing in Amazon advertising. She has worked on 50+ books and brings a data-driven, real-world approach to publishing and sales. Natasha is also a bilingual children's author, inspired by her Colombian and Venezuelan heritage. When she's not working with authors, she enjoys traveling, outdoor adventures, and time with her family.

Workshops:

From First Book to Full-Time Author: What It Really Takes

From Picture Books to YA: Writing for the Next Generation Readers

The Long Game: Building a Sustainable Author Business

Plot Twist: AI is Your New Marketing Assistant

Kendra Griffin is an indie author and developmental editor who has never met a good dog or a good underdog she didn't fall in love with. She is addicted to writing about quirky misfits, social inequality, diverse ensemble casts, and sibling dynamics. Kendra has an MA in Literature and has taught college-level creative writing for twelve years. She coaches authors of all levels through community programs, local libraries, and professional conferences. Kendra wishes she could jump between parallel universes and find time to write every novel that has ever occurred to her.

Workshop:

Filtering: Why, When, Where & Why Not? 

Rochelle Hampton is an author and playwright currently working in education. She has cast and directed her one-act play, "Closets Cleaned". Her flash fiction story, "Honest to the Last Drop", won an award at the Wyoming Writers Inc. conference. She also contributed to A Season for Romance: Summer Simmer anthology. Currently, she is writing a mafia-centered contemporary fantasy series. Her work is an unflinching exploration of the darker side of human nature. Her career in education has given her experience working with adjudicated teens, emotionally disabled students of all ages, and preparing non-traditional students for college. Rochelle was the former Vice President for the Wyoming Writers Inc.. She is the co-founder of 5150 Writer's Circle, based in Casper, Wyoming. She has presented at multiple conferences.

Workshop:

My Pants Are Missing: The Pantsing and Plotting Continuum

LS Hawker is the author of the thrillers THE DROWNING GAME, BODY AND BONE, END OF THE ROAD, and THE THROWAWAYS. THE DROWNING GAME is a USA Today bestseller and finalist in the ITW Thriller Awards in the Best First Novel category. Her novels have been translated into eight languages, and she's sold 100,000+ books worldwide. Visit LSHawker.com to view book trailers and read about her adventures as a cocktail waitress, traveling Kmart portrait photographer, and witness to basement exorcisms.

Workshops:

Make the News, Don’t Buy It: Publicity for Authors

Marketing as Mischief: Creative Ways to Get Notices

Sales Surge Strategy: How to Stack Promos That Convert

Scroll-Stopping Book Bub Ads: Design, Copy, Convert

Cathie Hedrick-Armstrong* is a literary agent at Marsal Lyon Literary Agency with nine years of industry experience. a life-long lover of books, Cathie enjoys vivid memories of the exact day she unlocked the secret code behind the letters that combine to form words. Since then, itâââ¬ââ¢s the rare occasion when youâââ¬ââ¢ll find her without a book in her hand, a Kindle in her purse, or a pair of AirPods in her ears while she devours the works of whatever author sheâââ¬ââ¢s selected as her new favorite of the month.

Cathieâââ¬ââ¢s journey in publishing began in 2014 when she wrote her first book, The Edge of Nowhere, a work of adult historical fiction inspired by her grandmotherâââ¬ââ¢s life as a widow raising fourteen children during the one-two punch of the 1930s Dust Bowl and The Great Depression. Three years later, she followed up with her sophomore novel, Roam, a young adult title inspired by the unhoused community in a small Minnesota town. The release of this second book coincided with Cathieâââ¬ââ¢s first job as a literary agent where she spent eight years learning the industry before joining the team at Marsal Lyon in May 2024.

Workshops:

Save Your Darlings: Reduce Your Word Count Without Cutting Important Content

Steps to Take Before Querying

Kate Jonuska is an author, freelance writer, and yoga teacher based in Boulder, CO. Her novel, Transference, was a Denver Post Staff Pick, and Kate's craft book, The Dictionary of Fiction Critique, is in its second edition.

Workshops:

Chair Yoga for Writers

Critique Partner Speed Dating

Dissecting the Story: Critiquing Like a Surgeon

Kim Lajevardi is a former teacher who traded the insanity of middle school science for that of working all day every day with her family, but what she truly prefers is to fly dragons and fight crime. Her books have won awards in several writing competitions, including Pike's Peak Zebulon, The Pacific Northwest Writer's Association, The Tucson Festival of Books, and Colorado Gold. The first book of her YA fantasy series is currently winging its way through the submission trenches.

Workshops:

Plot(ing) Is Not a Four-Letter Word 

Mira Landry studied Creative Writing at Simon Fraser University and spent three years working at a boutique literary agency. She presents workshops on publishing and craft across the continent and co-hosts a literary-forensics podcast called Writers Who Read. When not writing upmarket suspense novels, she can be found frolicking on the high peaks of the Rockies or knitting sweaters that likely won't fit anyone properly. Born and raised in British Columbia, she now resides in Colorado with her husband. 

Workshops:

From Manuscript to Market: Demystifying Traditional Publishing 

Homegrown Heroes: The Real Meaning of Write What You Know

Critiquing Opening Pages (Like an Agent)

The Many Angles of Showing Vs. Telling 

Intertextuality: The Art of Crafting Classic and Contemporary Ideas

Karen Lin is a hopeless foodie, award-winning novelist, and produced screenwriter. She teaches for cruise lines and writers conferences in Colorado where she is part of a rich author community. Many of her stories are inspired by her experience marrying into a Taiwanese family. Food is a subplot in her novels: Mu Shu Mac & Cheese and American Moon: A Chinese Immigrant Story. She, her husband, and their two boys have traveled the world as she researches recipes for a literary cookbook. She's a pitch and writing coach for award-winning and bestselling authors. 

Workshops:

Take That AI! Tap Into Your Engaging Human Voice

Who's Alpha Now? Why, When, and How to Depict Chracter Status and Status Changes

Kelley J. P. Lindberg writes YA and adult fiction, but her writing history is littered with dozens of how-to books (including several bestsellers) and hundreds of articles. Her fiction and essays have appeared in literary magazines such as The Baltimore Review and Wilderness House Literary Review; in anthologies including This Isn't the Place, Bizarre Bazaar, Journeys into Possibility, and Chicken Soup for the Wine Lover's Soul; and in the Tellables app for Amazon Alexa. When she isn't writing from her home on the high plains of Colorado, she's traveling as far and as often as she can. She blogs about the writer's life and writing craft on her website, www.KelleyLindberg.com, and on the RMFW blog, where she basks in the glory of being RMFW's blog editor. Follow her on BlueSky, Instagram, and X at @KelleyLindberg1.

Workshops:

From Picture Books to YA: Writing for the Next Generation Readers

Just-In-Time Description and World Building (How to Avoid Those Info-Dumps)

Develop Your Characters' Voices: A Hands On Approach 2 hour                 

Stant Litore is the author of Ansible, Colosseums for Dinosaurs, The Zombie Bible, and Dante's Heart. His short story "The Screaming of the Tyrannosaur" was adapted into an Emmy-nominated episode of Love, Death, + Robots. Besides science fiction and fantasy, he has written the writers' toolkits Write Worlds Your Readers Won't Forget and Write Characters Your Readers Won't Forget, as well as Lives of Unstoppable Hope and Lives of Unforgetting, and has been featured in Jeff Vandermeer's Wonderbook: An Illustrated Guide to Creating Imaginative Fiction. He has served as a developmental editor for Westmarch Publishing and holds a Ph.D. in English. He lives in Aurora, Colorado with his three children and is currently at work on his next novel.

Workshops:

Going from 0-60: Write Pacing Your Readers Won't Forget 

Public speaker and author Rod Martinez writes middle grade & young adult. Growing up on Marvel Comics and Twilight Zone, the inspiration was inevitable. After a challenge by his son to write a story about him and his friends "like the Goonies' but based in Tampa", his first novel "The Juniors" was published "“ and the rest as they say "“ is history. A regular speaker at conferences and schools, Rod loves to share his writing experience with audiences.

Workshops:

Capturing Middle Grade Voice in an Adult World

Diving Into Diversity: Dodging the Dangerous 

Christy Matheson has been a teacher almost as long as she has been a storyteller, starting with running school on the alphabet blanket with a classroom of dolls. Over the next few decades, she has added teaching skills that also benefit adults, where she is praised for being engaging and encouraging. Christy is an agented author with books both trad and indie published, so she is familiar with both major publishing paths. She has built her platform recently enough to understand the challenges that emerging authors are going through today. She is also an anthology editor, which gives her experience working with authors through all stages of publication, and a soft spot for the challenges of short story writing. Besides her own publications, Christy is a regular speaker at writing events and classes, and is a columnist for Write On! magazine.

Workshop:

So You Want to Make an Anthology?

Harnessing the Power of BookFunnel to Find Your Audience

Sharon Mignerey is one of the founding members of RMFW, considers the organization to be her writing home, and is a self-described writer, teacher, and spiritual seeker. She remains fascinated about the evolving yet timeless craft of storytelling. As a curious person who is continually learning, one joy is sharing what she has learned along the way. Sharon began her career in traditional publishing and has transitioned to indy publishing, a journey both exhilarating and terrifying. She holds an MFA in Writing Popular Fiction, and she is the author of 14 (and counting) novels and articles on the art and craft of writing.

Workshops:

Reclaim and Renew Your Writing Spirit

Mandy Miller is an attorney, university professor, and writer. She is the author of the novels States of Grace, Friday Night in The Glades, and Grace Period. Her novel, a work of historical fiction set in Cuba entitled They Say They Want a Revolution will be published in 2026. She holds a J.D. from Northwestern University, as well as a PhD degree in Experimental Social Psychology. She has presented at many conferences including RMFW and Bouchercon and has been awarded spots in several writers residencies.

Workshops:

Chelsea Pennington is a romance author with three published books. She holds a degree in English/Creative Writing from Samford University and previously worked as a freelance editor. She shares the lessons she has learned from writing and editing in the hundreds of articles on her website and now on her Substack. When she's not writing, you can probably find her reading or being distracted by birds.

Workshop:

Critiquing Opening Pages (Like an Agent) 

Let’s Start a Newsletter: How to Grow Your Audience 

It Builds Character: 4 Steps to Creating Characters That Readers Will Root For and Remember

Ariane Peveto is a YA writer and editor who has called the US, England, and Japan home for a time. She earned a master's degree in creative writing and studied literary craft at the University of Oxford as a Visiting Scholar. Now she supports other writers through her small business, Ground Crew Editorial, while also serving as a volunteer and presenter with SCBWI. 

Workshops:

The Three Levels of Editing and How to Use Them to Elevate Your Writing

Kirsten "Kiki" Ringer is a powerhouse in the publishing industry with more than 30 years of experience across editorial, marketing, contracts, and career strategy. She has worked with Nobel and Pulitzer Prize-winning authors at Russell & Volkening Literary Agency and held roles at The Walt Disney Studios and Penguin Putnam. For the past 18 years, she has led KLR Literary Management, working almost exclusively with author-publishers to produce books to traditional-industry standards while retaining full creative control. Having worked in every major publishing model, she now teaches authors how to navigate the publishing timeline, build sustainable platforms, and make strategic decisions that support long-term careers. She is known for her no-nonsense approach to marketing and fierce advocacy for authors, and serves as Co-Ambassador for the Denver chapter of the Authors Guild. When she's not working with writers, she's training for a triathlon, snuggling her Dobermans, or taking fall Saturdays off to watch Alabama football. Roll Tide!

Workshops:

The Publishing Timeline Nobody Warned You About 

Metadata is Marketing: How Readers Actually Find Your Book

Stop Writing for Everyone

A native of Boulder, Colorado, David Rodeback also lived in Idaho and New York for about a decade each before moving to American Fork, Utah, where he has lived since 1998. He has an MA in Slavic Studies (Russian Literature emphasis) from Cornell University, a BA in Russian and Political Science from Brigham Young University, and a certificate from the Pushkin Russian Language Institute in Moscow. He taught writing and Russian language and literature courses at Cornell University, Brigham Young University, and elsewhere, before landing in the software industry. He is Chief Marketing Technology Officer of a West Valley City manufacturing firm and serves on the board of the League of Utah Writers. He and his wife have four children and two grandchildren. He is the League of Utah Writers 2025 Writer of the Year. His two self-published collections of short fiction won 2024 Silver and Bronze Quill Awards from the League of Utah Writers and were named Notable Reads by the 2025 Utah Book Awards. He released his first novel, a contemporary coming-of-age story, in December 2025. He has written and associate-produced two feature-length documentary films and has four Telly Award for commercial short video. He writes a monthly column for local newspapers, mostly about books, bookstores, and reading, and has become a frequent presenter at writing conferences.

Workshops:

Help a Writer Pull the Weeds: Being a Good Critique Partner

Penny C. Sansevieri is a powerhouse in the publishing industry. As the Founder and CEO of Author Marketing Experts, Inc., she has revolutionized book marketing, shaping the careers of authors and guiding them to bestseller status. Penny's influence is undeniable"”named one of New York Metropolitan Magazine's Top Influencers of 2019, she's known for her cutting-edge Amazon campaigns and innovative strategies that catapult exceptional books onto bestseller lists. She is also the author of 24 books.

Workshop:

Speculative fiction author Lesley L. Smith, M.F.A, has had short stories appear in various venues, including Fiction River and Analog Science Fiction and Fact. She has published twelve novels, including The Quantum Cop, Conservation of Luck, Temporal Dreams, and Kat Cubed. She's a founder and editor of the ezine Electric Spec (www.electricspec.com). Check her out online at www.lesleylsmith.com.

Workshops:

Harvest Your Inspiration Through Short Stories

Named 2025 Indie Author of the Year by the Indie Author Project, Cynthia Swanson is the author of three novels and a forthcoming short story collection. Cynthia's debut novel, The Bookseller, was a New York Times bestseller, an Indie Next selection, and the winner of the 2016 WILLA Literary Award for Historical Fiction. The Bookseller is translated into 18 languages and slated to be a motion picture produced by Julia Roberts. Cynthia's second novel, The Glass Forest, was a CAL Award finalist, a USA Today bestseller, and is translated into 7 languages. Her third novel, Anyone But Her, won the 2025 Colorado Book Award (Thriller), was a finalist for the 2025 WILLA Literary Award (Mystery/Thriller), and was named 2024 Best Mystery/Thriller by the Indie Author Project. Her short story collection, This Isn't New: Women's Historical Stories, is forthcoming in May 2026. Cynthia is also the editor of the Colorado Book Award winning anthology Denver Noir. In addition to writing fiction, she is a developmental editor, content editor, and ghostwriter. Cynthia lives with her family in Denver.

Workshops:

When Backstory IS the Story

The Authentic Book Launch 

The Multi POV Novel

Angela Sylvaine is a Bram Stoker Award nominated author and self-proclaimed cheerful goth who writes speculative fiction and poetry. Her sci-fi horror comedy novels, Frost Bite and Cold Snap, and her YA mall slasher novella, Chopping Spree, embody her demented but cheerful side. Her short story collection, The Dead Spot: Stories of Lost Girls is fully goth and heart-breaking. Angela's short fiction and poetry have appeared in over sixty anthologies, magazines, and podcasts, including Southwest Review, Apex, and The NoSleep Podcast. She lives in the shadow of the Rocky Mountains with her sweetheart and creepy cats. You can find her online at angelasylvaine.com.

Workshops:

Travis Tougaw grew up in a military family. As a perpetual âââ¬Å“new kid,âââ¬Â he quickly learned the value of sharing stories to connect with others. Having settled down after his own stint in the Air Force, Travis stopped relocating, but heâââ¬ââ¢s never stopped telling stories. Heâââ¬ââ¢s always on the lookout for characters and storylines that will grab readersâââ¬â⢠attention and keep them turning pages. Travis lives in Colorado with his wife and children and an enormous dog. When heâââ¬ââ¢s not writing, he enjoys reading, outdoor activities, playing musical instruments, and trivia competitions.

Workshop:

The Further Adventures ofâââ¬Â¦: Considerations for Series Writing

Amy Trent is a long time fan of happily-ever-afters, cookies, and staying up late to write happily-ever-afters and eat cookies. She writes novels and short stories that explore identity, whimsy, and love through the lens of fairy tales and folklore. A woman, a mother, a reader, and a devoted stan of her cat, Amy can think of nothing better than an afternoon of connecting with others over books and creature comforts. Her brand is cozy; her point of view is a slow-burning ember of hope. Amy has been publishing novels since 2021. She is a 2024 Praiseworthy Award finalist and a 2024 Once Upon a Pen Book Award nominee, and a #1 Amazon Best Seller. Her short stories have appeared or will soon appear in The Fairy Tale Magazine, Corvid Queen, and various anthologies. Amy currently lives in Colorado with her family, but the Trents have also called California and Mississippi home.

Workshops:

The Art of the Apology: The Hidden Superpower of Literatureâââ¬ââ¢s Swooniest Scene

Non-Crude Profanity: Crafting âââ¬Å“Stormingâââ¬Â Good Swears

Marketing as an Introvert: How to Grow Your Newsletter from 20 to 1020 Readers Without Social Media

Laura VanArendonk Baugh is an award-winning writer of fantasy, non-fiction, and a few other things. Sheâââ¬ââ¢s a professional instructor with a weakness for fair-trade chocolate and the lure of the far horizon.

Workshops:

Selling Books at Live Events (Without Needing a Shower)

A Wizard Did It: Magical Systems as Science in Fantasy

#1 Amazon bestselling author Peggy Waide entered her first book in the Colorado Gold. The editor offered a contract. She has published four romances with Dorchester. Montlake now publishes her books. She is shopping an amateur sleuth and a romantic suspense. Sheâââ¬ââ¢s also been a trainer, personal coach and speaker.

Workshop:

Help! My Book Has Gone Off the Rails

J. Warren Weaver is an award-winning international bestselling author. J. lives in small town Colorado where he enjoys the bountiful great outdoors with his wife, daughter, and one of his three dogs. When his baby girl isnâââ¬ââ¢t demanding his complete and undivided attention, he writes edge of your seat thrillers with thought provoking mysteries at the center.

Workshops:

ADHD and Imposter Syndrome and General Anxiety, Oh My!

Dialogue As An Action

The One, Two Punch to Defeating Publishing Worries on KDP

How to Make Your Story Feel Cinematic

Marie Whittaker is an award-winning essayist and novelist. She created The Adventures of Lola Hopscotch, Legendary Roots, and many of her stories appear in anthologies, including Weird Tales. She enjoys teaching about project and time management for creatives. Sheâââ¬ââ¢s worked as a truck driver and raft guide and is now Associate Publisher at WordFire Press and Executive Director for Superstars Writing Seminars. Marie is a Colorado native, mom to two adult children and Grammy to one who is made of pure magic. Marie enjoys hiking, gardening, and renovating her historic Victorian home. Sheâââ¬ââ¢s an advocate against animal abuse, a dog mom, cat mom, and bunny mom.

Workshops:

Sustainable Project Management for Creatives

Traditional Publishing 101 (with Jonathan Maberry)

One Manâââ¬ââ¢s Villain is Another Manâââ¬ââ¢s Hero (with Jonathan Maberry)

Jennifer S. Wilkov is a multi #1 international best-selling award-winning author, producer, an award-winning freelance writer, The Literary Agent Matchmakerâ„¢, and a respected book, business and entertainment creative consultant for nearly 20 years. Jennifer was selected as the Top Motivational Speaker, Business Consultant and Best-Selling Author of the Year for 2024 by the International Association of Top Professionals (IAOTP). She supports first-time writers and creators and seasoned authors, screenwriters, scriptwriters and playwrights with the essentials to become a bestseller: a great project, a strong platform and a well-polished pitch, presentation and hook for their book, television project, film, or theater project. She passionately teaches and educates writers as a speaker and program producer at writers conferences including Writerâââ¬ââ¢s Digest Conferences, American Society of Journalists and Authors, Crimebake, ThrillerFest, Women in Publishing Summit, California Creative Writers Conference, and others and for groups such as the Writers Guild of America âââ¬â€Å East, Motion Picture Association and New York Women in Film & Television where she leads the Writers Group as a platinum member and teaches online for writersâââ¬â⢠resources such as Writerâââ¬ââ¢s Digest. She is a member of Women In Film in Los Angeles and the creator and producer of The Next Bestsellerâ„¢ Workshop (virtual), a safe space that provides writers with exclusive access to the dream team to help writers learn to talk effectively with industry professionals about their projects. Her keen eye for stories that sell for both books and in Hollywood is trusted by industry professionals who appreciate her savvy in seeing the many possibilities a subject can lend itself to.

Workshop:

Infamous Conduits: Comp Titles

Jennifer Wilson is a #1 bestselling YA author and the creator of the acclaimed New World Series, comprising Rising, Ashes, and Inferno. Featured in OwlCrate and the BookWormBox, the New World trilogy has sold over 17,000 copies. Her YA short story, âââ¬Å“The Vanished,âââ¬Â was published in Colleen Hooverâââ¬ââ¢s Two More Days Anthology, and she is the creator of Write Your Novel âââ¬â€Å The Writerâââ¬ââ¢s Workbook. In addition, Jennifer has two new romance novels coming out in 2025 under the pen name Kay Rockland. Where her writing is a fiery cocktail of witty banter and sizzling romance. When not writing, she can be found dreaming up new bookish boyfriends, crafting snarky dialogue, and guzzling French press coffee while snuggling her cream retriever.

Workshops:

Writing for Young Adults: Finding âââ¬Å“All The Feelsâââ¬ÂÂ

The Art of Outlining: Discovering the Best Style for You

Scrivenerâââ¬ââ¢s Hidden Superpowers: Five Tools You Should Be Using

Critique Groups Unite! Forging Successful Critique Partnerships

Critique Partner Speed Dating