Kari has been writing literary fiction for many years, and her stories have appeared in such national literary journals as The Literary Review, Brooklyn Review, and Del Sol Review. She is recipient of a MacArthur Scholarship in Fiction and received her MFA in Fiction from Brooklyn College, and also a Phd in English. She is currently a professor of creative writing and fiction at SUNY/Empire State College. Her novel, HALF OF NO, is in progress and looking brilliant.

A former editor at Dutton and Vintage Books, Julie has edited many award-winning and New York Times bestselling novels including two highly acclaimed memoirs (INSIDE, INSIDE and THE COMMITMENT), the National Jewish Book Award anthology humor winner (THE MODERN JEWISH GIRL'S GUIDE TO GUILT), two mysteries by Edgar Award-nominated writer Barbara Parker, well-reviewed thriller SEASON OF THE WITCH, and the science fiction novel, IN THE COURTS OF THE SUN.

Beginning as an editor with the San Jose Mercury News, Carla went on to become a bestselling author of the nonfiction PERFECT VICTIM published in hard and soft cover in America and abroad. Besides topping bestseller lists, PERFECT VICTIM became required reading in FBI behavioral sciences training. Carla has an MFA from Goddard, and twice served as a judge for the Edgar Awards. Her novel, THE EDGE OF NORMAL, was recently signed via Author Salon by Minotaur Books.

A former correspondent for the Philadelphia Theatre Review, Lisa is advisor to the Board of Pennwriters (www.pennwriters.com), founder of the Pennwriters Springfield Critique Group and the Philadelphia Critique Group. She leads workshops on writing and her short fiction has appeared in national journals including 63 Channels and The StraightJackets Magazine. She is currently working on her MFA, as well as her novel, THE KEEPER OF LOST THINGS.

Jennifer spent over five years as Editorial Director for Literary Traveler, called a “bookworm’s delight” by the Wall Street Journal. At Suite 101, she is a Topic Editor. She also edited for major publishing house Pearson and currently works as a freelance fiction and nonfiction editor. She received her master’s in creative writing from New York University, and she is the founder and editor-in-chief of Pencey X Pages, a blog that promotes success for authors and aspiring authors.

Elise assists Sandra Dijkstra and is a Literary Agent at SDLA. She is most interested in serious upmarket/literary fiction and narrative nonfiction. She seeks out writers who are published regularly in magazines and who have a realistic sense of the market. Some of her recent and soon-to-be-published books include Jonathon Keats' THE BOOK OF THE UNKNOWN (Random House), Ali Liebegott's THE IHOP PAPERS (Carroll & Graf), and Whitney Lyles' FIRST COMES LOVE (Berkley).

Lindsey Clemons is a literary agent for Larsen Pomada Agency. She is actively looking for captivating thrillers, mysteries of all sorts, and literary upmarket fiction. She is an advocate for strong, well-developed characters with fresh, distinct voices. Lindsey graduated from California State University, Long Beach with a BA in Film and Electronic Arts and a minor in Creative Writing.

New York Pitch and Algonkian Writer Conferences director, Michael Neff, now an associate with AEI Films and Books in Los Angeles, is on the search for high-concept SF/F, mystery/thrillers, historicals, and generally darn good fiction, upmarket or otherwise. His own work has appeared in such classic literary publications as The Literary Review, North American Review, Quarterly West, and Conjunctions, and his political novel, YEAR OF THE RHINOCEROS, was published in 2009 by Red Hen Press. He is also a contributing editor to Author Salon.

Senior Agent at Andrea Hurst Literary Management, Gordon is looking for upmarket and general fiction with an edge as well as YA, memoir and other nonfiction. He frequently participates in conferences and workshops. He is an honors graduate with a BA in Creative and Professional Writing, possesses eclectic taste, and in no particular order loves THE GLASS CASTLE, SUPER SAID TRUE LOVE STORY, THE GARDEN OF EDEN, and WORLD WAR Z.

Bruce has spent 25 years practicing law in Philadelphia. He writes legal articles for business publications, and for the last six years has worked on his current novel, THE FLOOD DANCER, that concerns the wreckage which Hurricane Agnes heaped upon Pennsylvania in 1972, flowing back into the life of the main character 34 years later with the discovery of a dark secret within his childhood home.

Rachel is an artist and inspirational writer who lives in the Pacific Northwest. She is the proud mother of two beautiful daughters and President of The Butterfly Project, an organization founded on the principle that every human being is precious and deserves the support and encouragement to find their wings. She is currently working on her breakout novel, THE LAST SCRIBE, a story about a young woman who has the power to write the future with a stroke of her pen.

Wendy is a published author and licensed psychotherapist. Her current novel on the verge, KILLER ON THE WALL, was an award winner in the Maryland Writer’s Association mystery novel contest. Her upmarket novel, LIAM, was a semifinalist in the Amazon next breakthrough novel award, and her EDUCATING TIGERS was published by Erica House in 2001 and noted as recommended reading by syndicated columnist Marguerite Kelly in her Washington Post column, “Family Almanac.”

Jennifer spent over five years as Editorial Director for Literary Traveler, called a “bookworm’s delight” by the Wall Street Journal. At Suite 101, she is a Topic Editor. She also edited for major publishing house Pearson and currently works as a freelance fiction and nonfiction editor. She received her master’s in creative writing from New York University, and she is the founder and editor-in-chief of Pencey X Pages, a blog that promotes success for authors and aspiring authors.

Robin holds degrees in history and worked in both archeology and the museum field. She studied Egyptian Hieroglyphs and Hieratic and as written non-fiction for exhibitions, catalogs and historical publications. She primarily writes when her wild children are out of the house or asleep. Her novel, the GODS OF STEAM, keeps her steaming with ideas.

Teaching middle and high school for fifteen years has kept Melissa abreast of what her students like to read, and while training in medieval studies, Romance languages, English, and mythology at both MA and PHD levels, she considers herself a scholar by trade and inclination, but a storyteller at heart. She sees nothing contradictory in this for she believes the best teachers are often master storytellers.

By day, Kevin is a professional IT consultant in southwest Ohio. By night, when not relaxing with his Genius Wife or playing with his five young children, he is writing an epic fantasy series called The Tome of Greystone. The books describe a land where common people are chosen to represent ultimate good and evil in a cataclysmic event called The Proving, and how a group of young men and women handle their calling.

Kaj Kim is the author of a dozen published articles about molecular biology, which is not entirely surprising given that she went to science camp instead of summer camp. She studied English Literature in college where she came to the conclusion that, when it comes to capturing the essence of revenge, no book in our language can compete with Alexandre Dumas’ French masterpiece, THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO.

Joan Koster is a published author of books and articles in the fields of ethnography, racism, education, textile history, and the arts. She attended the Algonkian Writers Workshop, New York Pitch and Shop, and studied creative writing at Binghamton University. Her blog, "American Civil War Voices" features information gleaned from first hand sources during research for her novel.

Kari has been writing literary fiction for many years, and her stories have appeared in such national literary journals as The Literary Review, Brooklyn Review, and Del Sol Review. She is recipient of a MacArthur Scholarship in Fiction and received her MFA in Fiction from Brooklyn College, and also a Phd in English. She is currently a professor of creative writing and fiction at SUNY/Empire State College. Her novel, HALF OF NO, is in progress and looking brilliant.

Jennifer Skutelsky is an associate agent at Veritas Literary Agency in San Francisco. A successful nonfiction writer and ghost author, Jennifer worked as a reader for Manus Literary before moving to Veritas. She is on the lookout for compelling work in a variety of genres, excluding romance and horror. Her own novel, GRAVE OF HUMMINGBIRDS, has been requested by major agencies and publishers.

Chris Stewart is Program Director for Literary Arts with her state arts council. A writer of fiction and poetry, she helps writers live a passionate creative life through mentoring and editing services at The Real Writer (www.therealwriter.com). Her novel, This End Up, is based on the summer she spent helping her father clean out her grandparents’ cluttered home after their dementia-related deaths and the resulting disturbing discoveries.