Meet The 2024 Writing Day Workshops Team
Brian Klems
Director & Coordinator
Brian is a writer, speaker, freelance editor, husband, softball player, perennial fantasy sports underachiever, Huffington Post contributor, N64 Golden Eye Champion, Saved by the Bell enthusiast and father of three lovely little girls (who, thankfully, look like their mother). He’s a proud graduate of the journalism school at Ohio University. He’s also the former online editor of Writer’s Digest magazine. Brian is the author of the Amazon bestselling parenting humor book, OH BOY, YOU’RE HAVING A GIRL: A Dad’s Survival Guide to Raising Daughters (Adams Media). Often used as a popular gift book for new parents and a prop at reveal parties and pregnancy announcements, OH BOY was called a “Laugh-out-loud book” by the Chicago Tribune and was endorsed by humor writing legend Dave Barry.
Director & Coordinator
Brian is a writer, speaker, freelance editor, husband, softball player, perennial fantasy sports underachiever, Huffington Post contributor, N64 Golden Eye Champion, Saved by the Bell enthusiast and father of three lovely little girls (who, thankfully, look like their mother). He’s a proud graduate of the journalism school at Ohio University. He’s also the former online editor of Writer’s Digest magazine. Brian is the author of the Amazon bestselling parenting humor book, OH BOY, YOU’RE HAVING A GIRL: A Dad’s Survival Guide to Raising Daughters (Adams Media). Often used as a popular gift book for new parents and a prop at reveal parties and pregnancy announcements, OH BOY was called a “Laugh-out-loud book” by the Chicago Tribune and was endorsed by humor writing legend Dave Barry.
Chuck Sambuchino
Director & Coordinator
Chuck Sambuchino is a bestselling humor book writer, a freelance editor, and a former editor for Writer’s Digest Books for many years. During his time with WD Books, he edited the GUIDE TO LITERARY AGENTS as well as the CHILDREN’S WRITER’S & ILLUSTRATOR’S MARKET. His Guide to Literary Agents Blog was one of the biggest blogs in publishing. He was named by Forbes as one of the top influencers in publishing in recognition of his personal Twitter. He is a successful freelance editor of queries, synopses, book proposals, and manuscripts.
His first humor book, HOW TO SURVIVE A GARDEN GNOME ATTACK, was featured by Reader’s Digest, USA Today, Buzzfeed, Wired, and the New York Times. The film rights were optioned by Sony and director Robert Zemeckis (Back to the Future). Besides that, he is a proud father of an adorable ten-year-old daughter (and her girl scout troop leader), a cover band guitarist, chocolate chip cookie addict, movie trivia geek, and owner of a flabby-yet-lovable dog named Graham.
Director & Coordinator
Chuck Sambuchino is a bestselling humor book writer, a freelance editor, and a former editor for Writer’s Digest Books for many years. During his time with WD Books, he edited the GUIDE TO LITERARY AGENTS as well as the CHILDREN’S WRITER’S & ILLUSTRATOR’S MARKET. His Guide to Literary Agents Blog was one of the biggest blogs in publishing. He was named by Forbes as one of the top influencers in publishing in recognition of his personal Twitter. He is a successful freelance editor of queries, synopses, book proposals, and manuscripts.
His first humor book, HOW TO SURVIVE A GARDEN GNOME ATTACK, was featured by Reader’s Digest, USA Today, Buzzfeed, Wired, and the New York Times. The film rights were optioned by Sony and director Robert Zemeckis (Back to the Future). Besides that, he is a proud father of an adorable ten-year-old daughter (and her girl scout troop leader), a cover band guitarist, chocolate chip cookie addict, movie trivia geek, and owner of a flabby-yet-lovable dog named Graham.
Jessica Bell
Founder and Coordinator Emeritus
Jessica Bell is an award-winning Australian author, writing and publishing coach, and graphic designer. In addition to having published a memoir, four novels, three poetry collections, and her bestselling Writing in a Nutshell series, she has been featured in a variety of publications and ABC Radio National shows such as Writer's Digest, Publisher's Weekly, The Guardian, Life Matters, and Poetica. She is also the Publisher of Vine Leaves Press, CEO of Independent Publishing Assistance, a voice-over actor, and the coordinator of the Writing Day Workshops. In October 2016, she became the new lead singer of the well-known dream-pop group, Keep Shelly In Athens, and records and performs as a solo artist under the name BRUNO.
Founder and Coordinator Emeritus
Jessica Bell is an award-winning Australian author, writing and publishing coach, and graphic designer. In addition to having published a memoir, four novels, three poetry collections, and her bestselling Writing in a Nutshell series, she has been featured in a variety of publications and ABC Radio National shows such as Writer's Digest, Publisher's Weekly, The Guardian, Life Matters, and Poetica. She is also the Publisher of Vine Leaves Press, CEO of Independent Publishing Assistance, a voice-over actor, and the coordinator of the Writing Day Workshops. In October 2016, she became the new lead singer of the well-known dream-pop group, Keep Shelly In Athens, and records and performs as a solo artist under the name BRUNO.
Carlie Webber
Event Facilitator and Former Coordinator
Carlisle is a former literary agent at Fuse Literary. Carlisle refused to major in English in college because she didn’t think there was anything fun to read on the required lists. No Stephen King? No R.L. Stine? No thanks! After college, she took her love of commercial, YA, and middle grade fiction to the University of Pittsburgh School of Information Sciences, where she earned a Master of Library and Information Sciences. She worked as a public librarian for years before deciding to move to the business side of publishing. She attended the Columbia Publishing Course and holds a Professional Certificate in Editing from UC-Berkeley.
Event Facilitator and Former Coordinator
Carlisle is a former literary agent at Fuse Literary. Carlisle refused to major in English in college because she didn’t think there was anything fun to read on the required lists. No Stephen King? No R.L. Stine? No thanks! After college, she took her love of commercial, YA, and middle grade fiction to the University of Pittsburgh School of Information Sciences, where she earned a Master of Library and Information Sciences. She worked as a public librarian for years before deciding to move to the business side of publishing. She attended the Columbia Publishing Course and holds a Professional Certificate in Editing from UC-Berkeley.