Conference Faculty                                                                                                                                                                   


Bobbie Christmas founded Zebra Communications in 1992 after spending almost 30 years as a professional writer and editor in the corporate world. Because she cures ailing manuscripts, people refer to her as a book doctor. Her syndicated “Ask the Book Doctor” column appears in more than two dozen periodicals and Web sites. Union Square Publishing released her book on creative writing, Write In Style, in 2004, and it won three awards. She also has authored, coauthored, or edited countless other published books and articles. Website and e-mail





Dahris Clair has published articles and stories in various magazines, is a former columnist for a NJ weekly, was editor of a community publication for eight years and published a novel in 2006. She is the founder/publisher and senior editor of the highly successful e-zine for writers, The Infinite Writer. Clair has conducted two successful mini-conferences in New Port Richey. She is FWA’s corresponding secretary and leads the Pasco/Hernando Writers Group.



C. Hope Clark is editor and founder of FundsforWriters.com, an online resource of grants, markets, contests and publishing opportunities for writers. Her editorials attract readers more than the sources, and her little smack of attitude prompts many readers to email thanks and electronic high-fives to her each week. She is also a monthly columnist for WOW-womenonwriting.com, Writersontherise.com and TheDabblingmum.com. She has published in Writer's Digest, The Writer, Byline Magazine, Chicken Soup, NextStep Magazine, College Bound Teen, Appleseeds, Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA), and more. She is a member of MENSA and the South Carolina Writers Association. Website: www.fundsforwriters.com


Mary Ann de Stefano owns MAD about Words and is a writer, editor, and writing coach with more than 25 years experience in publishing and independent consulting. The M-A-D in her company name is a play on her initials and her passion for writing. MAD about Words fosters personal expression and creative spirit in a variety of ways. In addition to personalized writing services, MAD offers professionally facilitated workshops and operates the Lounge, a free networking website for writers. Mary Ann is a member of the Florida Writers Association, the Creativity Coaching Association, and studied coaching with America’s pioneer creativity coach, Eric Maisel. She writes fiction and personal essays and lives in Winter Park, Florida. Website: www.MADaboutWords.com



Vic DiGenti - After thirty-five years in public broadcasting working as a producer, director, fundraiser, and producer of the Jacksonville Jazz Festival, Vic DiGenti turned to his first love -- writing. He found inspiration in his household of feline critters and wrote three adventure/fantasies with a feline protagonist. His first two novels -- Windrusher and Windrusher and the Cave of Tho-hoth (Ocean Publishing) -- have won multiple awards and attracted readers of all ages. His third in the series, Windrusher and the Trail of Fire, will be released in June 2008. Vic is a regional director of the Florida Writers Association and vice president of the Friends of the Library -- Ponte Vedra Beach. Website


Terri DuLong, this year’s Royal Palm Literary Award Chairperson, is an award-winning author who recently signed a two-book contract with Kensington Publishing.  Her women’s fiction novel, Spinning Forward, will be released Spring 2009. A member of Florida Writers Association and Romance Writers of America, Terri began her writing career as a contributing writer for Bonjour Paris, where she shared her travel to France in over forty articles with a fictional canine narrator. She is a staff writer for the Cedar Key News and a speaker and presenter at writer’s conferences.  Originally from the Boston area, Terri now resides on Cedar Key with her husband, two dogs and three cats where she pursues her writing career full-time.  http://www.terridulong.com/+

Rik Feeney is a speaker at many FWA chapter meetings and writing groups in the southern states and the author of more than 44 books, reports, and CD’s on the sport and business of gymnastics (www.GymnasticsTrainingTips.com). In addition, Rik uses his promotion and creative talents as a book coach and marketing whiz for aspiring self-published authors. Rik has a new book out for the Summer Olympics titled, Gymnastics: A Survival Guide for Parents, and a book on writing (available at the conference) titled, Writing for Fun, Fame, and Fortune. Rik is a resident of Altamonte Springs, Florida and can be reached at 407-862-5037 or by email at: coachrik@aol.com. Website: www.IsThereABookInsideYou.com

Marcia Freespirit As an author, publisher and business leader, Marcia leads JimSam Inc. and its authors to reach new heights. In the first year of business, JimSam Inc. became home to almost 30 authors, published six titles and sold well over 1000 books even though the bulk of releases occurred in the last half of the year. In addition, Marcia was a finalist for the Tampa Bay Business Woman of the Year for 2007. Dedicated to helping others reach beyond their goals, she encourages authors and businesses to set their sights beyond expectations. Through her own experiences of physical and emotional abuse, failed relationships and personal tragedy, Marcia is able to pull from a wealth of experience and strength. She is able to relate to people from all walks of life and diverse backgrounds. Her own story of surviving pain and crisis is shared in her memoir, Gladwoman.





Dan Gamber is partner and Publisher of Meadowhawk Press, a small press publisher of speculative fiction. He has 20 years of graphics and design background, and is a Professional Member of the IDSA design society. He has appeared as a guest panelist at numerous conventions throughout the Midwest and Southeastern part of the country.  Website:  www.meadowhawkpress.com









Jackie Gamber is an award winning author and recipient of the 2008 Darrell Award for short fiction. She has numerous short stories in magazines and anthologies, including a novella coming out from Orson Scott Card's Intergalactic Medicine Show, next spring. Her new novel, Redheart, was published this fall. Jackie has spoken at writers' conferences in Michigan, Ohio, and Tennessee. She is an acquiring editor for Kerlak Publishing and Executive Editor and partner of Meadowhawk Press, a small press publisher of speculative fiction.  Website:   www.jackiegamber.com

Allan Gilbreath is a nationally recognized and award-winning author, publisher, speaker, and instructor. He has appeared on television, stage, radio, web cast, and has toured the country in live appearances. He has served on numerous panels covering a wide range of topics from the serious to the outrageous. Allan's works cover a wide range of genres; science fiction, fantasy, mystery, dark fantasy, speculative, humor, computer science, and business applications. He is representing Kerlak Publishing. Website

 

Eliot Kleinberg is that rarest of Floridians: a native. Born in South Florida, he has spent some three decades in both broadcast and print news, including 20-plus years at The Palm Beach Post in West Palm Beach. In addition to covering local news, he also writes extensively about Florida and Floridiana. He has written nine books, all focusing on Florida, including Black Cloud, a 75th anniversary book on the great 1928 Okeechobee Hurricane; two Weird Florida books and Palm Beach Past, a collection of his weekly local history column in the Post. He lives in Boca Raton.

 

Deborah LeBlanc is an award-winning author from Lafayette, Louisiana. She is also a business owner, a licensed death scene investigator, and an active member of two national paranormal investigation teams. Deborah's unique experiences, enthusiasm, and high-energy level make her a much sought after speaker at writers' conferences across the nation. She is president of the Horror Writers Association, Writers' Guild of Acadiana, and Mystery Writers of America's Southwest Chapter, and an active member of Sisters in Crime, the National Association of Women Writers, and International Thriller Writers Inc. Her most recent novels are: Family Inheritance, Grave Intent, A House Divided, and Morbid Curiosity. Deborah's next release, Water Witch, is due in December '08.

Pam Lontos is president of PR/PR, a public relations firm that specializes in providing publicity to speakers, authors and experts. She is the author of I See Your Name Everywhere, published by Morgan James, and is a past VP for Disney’s Shamrock Broadcasting. Years of experience in promotion have taught her how to successfully publicize clients by placing them in publications such as The Wall Street Journal, Entrepreneur, USA Today, The New York Times, Us Weekly, and Inc., as well as various trade journals, e-zines and radio talk shows. Her clients include Brian Tracy, Oscar and Emmy-nominated actress Diane Ladd, LeAnn Thieman (Chicken Soup for the Nurse’s Soul), Jason Jennings (Less is More), and Sy Sperling, founder of Hair Club for Men.

Publishing since the 1970s, Elissa Malcohn was a 1985 John W. Campbell Award finalist for best new science fiction writer of the year and reached preliminary ballot for a 1989 Nebula Award. She edited Star*Line (Science Fiction Poetry Association) from 1986-1988 and was a four-time Rhysling Award nominee for best speculative poem. Work is forthcoming in Electric Velocipede, Helix, Riffing on Strings (Scriblerus Press), and Unspeakable Horror (Dark Scribe Press). Covenant, the first volume in her Deviations series, is available from Aisling Press. Deviations: Appetite will be released in 2008. Website

 

Suzette M. Marteny is an attorney. Her practice focuses on technology, intellectual property, trade secret protection, trademark prosecution, copyright infringement, Internet and computer law issues for emerging technology companies. She represents a wide variety of clients in sporting goods, medical devices, laboratory equipment, management consulting, printer technology, electronic document tracking, software, education and publishing. She is a member of The Florida Bar, the Federal Bar and the Hillsborough County Bar Associations. Ms. Marteny is also a member of the American Intellectual Property Law Association and the Hillsborough Association of Women Lawyers.

 

Rita Milios has been a popular speaker at writing workshops, both regionally and nationally, for more than twenty years. A member of the National Speaker’s Association, Association of Journalists and Authors, Florida Writers Association, and Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, Rita has been a freelance editor for publishers McMillan and Prentice Hall, and was an instructor for The Long Ridge Writer’s Group, a national writing school. She is author of more than thirty fiction and non-fiction books for children, adults, teachers and counselors. Also known as The Mind Mentor, Rita writes self-help/spirituality books and articles for adults, including Dream Journal and Tools for Transformation, which has been translated into Spanish and Japanese.

Molli Nickell, former publisher, Time-Life editor and five-times published author, teaches writers how to create query and cover letters, synopses and first pages—the marketing documents they need in order to move toward their goal of becoming published authors. With 25 years experience in the publishing biz, Molli has evaluated hundreds of queries, synopses and book proposals and knows what works and what doesn’t. She helps writers make the mind shift from “telling” to “selling” and write professional documents that motivate the agent, editor, or publisher request a manuscript submission. Currently residing in Florida, Molli speaks and teaches marketing workshops at writer’s conferences across the country. Website

Eugene Orlando has taught 23 years in the Hillsborough County school system in junior high social studies and computers, mentally handicapped, and adult high school computers. Eugene studied playwriting under visiting artist/playwright T. Dianne Anderson and produced a few local plays. Bitten by the writing bug in 1998, Eugene has since written 32 novels (mostly middle grade and YA), over 90 short stories, 16 plays, and 3 screenplays bringing his word total to over two-and-a-third million. In the Florida Writers Association’s Royal Palm Literary Awards since 2004, he’s received three first place, three second place, and three third place wins for unpublished novel and short story writing. In the last three years he’s received three honorable mentions in the Annual Writer’s Digest Writing Competitions for short stories.

Lori Perkins has been a literary agent for 20 years and is a published author
herself, as well as an adjunct professor at New York University's Center for
Publishing. Perkins is President of L. Perkins Agency,which has foreign agents
in 11 countries and working relationships with Hollywood agents.  In September
2008, Perkins joined forces with principals Holly Schmidt and Allan Penn of
Hollan Publishing, Inc. to form Literary Partners Group, Inc., which has
announced the launch of Ravenous Romance, an online publishing company.

Writer Anne Petty lives in rural Wakulla County, Florida, and is best known for her two books on J.R.R. Tolkien, One Ring to Bind Them All and Tolkien in the Land of Heroes (a 2005 Mythopoeic Society Awards Finalist). Her dark fantasy novel, Thin Line Between, and her volume of literary criticism on famous fantasy authors, Dragons of Fantasy, have made her a popular speaker at such conventions as Dragon*Con in Atlanta and ORC (One Ring Celebration) in Los Angeles. She has also published many essays in lifestyle magazines and literary journals, and chapters in hardcover anthologies on mythology and folklore, J.R.R. Tolkien, pop culture, fiction writing, and publishing. She’s finishing an invited chapter for a new Tolkien anthology this year. Anne has a PhD in English from FSU. In her non-writing time, she operates her own small-press publishing company,  Kitsune Books.

Jenny Rappaport (L. Perkins Agency) specializes in science fiction and
fantasy, romance, and young adult books.  She is especially interested in
historical romances with strong heroines, contemporary romances and women's
fiction that focus on unique ideas rather than clichés, and fantasy novels
that don't involve farm boys.

 

Penny C. Sansevieri, CEO and founder of Author Marketing Experts, Inc., is a best-selling author and internationally recognized book marketing and media relations expert. Her company has developed some of the most cutting-edge book marketing campaigns, including the first comprehensive Internet publicity campaign called The Virtual Author Tour™. Penny’s innovative marketing strategies have been featured in Marketing Sherpa, Writer’s Digest Magazine, Book Marketing Update, The Publicity Hound, The San Diego Union Tribune, Working Writer Magazine, and many more. She edits "The Book Marketing Expert" newsletter more than 7,000 subscribers. Her most recent book, Red Hot Internet Publicity, has been called “an indispensable guide to leveraging the Internet for success.” Website

Mary Sue Seymour is a former teacher and still holds her permanent teaching certificate in New York State. She has been agenting since 1992. She is a member of the AAR, WGA, The Author’s Guild and RWA. Current sales are multi-book deals to Harper San Francisco, Zondervan and Thomas Nelson. Mary Sue has a positive working relationship with the editors at Adams Media Corp in Boston and sells them a lot of “Everything” books and also general nonfiction titles. She has also sold books to Bantam, Berkley, Warner Books, Harlequin and others.

Tina Marie Smith is a Communication Technology Specialist for Walt Disney Park and Resorts and a multi-published author. She holds a Masters Degree in Creative Writing from the University of Central Florida and has taught classes in the Central Florida area. She currently leads the highly active Orlando Writing League.

Karen Solem is the President of Spencerhill Associates Ltd., a literary agency. She represents a broad range of commercial fiction including women’s fiction, thrillers and mysteries and a small selection of non-fiction. A number of her clients have become NYT bestsellers and though it’s wonderful to have that kind of recognition she still takes a lot of pleasure in discovering and working with new talent. She was previously associated with Writers House where she worked for nearly seven years; Prior to her years as an agent Solem had 25 years of corporate publishing experience. She was most recently Associate Publisher and Editorial Director of Harper Paperbacks and, earlier, Editor in Chief of Silhouette Books.