Meet The 2024-2025 Writing Day Workshops Team
Chuck Sambuchino
Executive 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). His latest books are all about pickleball, with the first one released in 2024 -- a daily tear-off calendar from Sellers Publishing called ULTIMATE PICKLEBALL. Besides that, he is a proud father of an adorable 11-year-old daughter (and her assistant 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.
Executive 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). His latest books are all about pickleball, with the first one released in 2024 -- a daily tear-off calendar from Sellers Publishing called ULTIMATE PICKLEBALL. Besides that, he is a proud father of an adorable 11-year-old daughter (and her assistant 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.
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.
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 Publishers 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 Publishers 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
Carlie is a former literary agent from Fuse Literary. Carlie 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
Carlie is a former literary agent from Fuse Literary. Carlie 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.
Kesia Lupo
Social Media Manager
Kesia studied History at Oxford University and Creative Writing at Bath Spa University. She started her publishing career at Pan Macmillan London in 2013 as an editorial assistant. In 2015 she was hired as Junior Editor at YA and MG fiction publisher Chicken House – over the next eight years she was promoted through Editor to Senior Editor. In 2023, she relocated to the San Francisco Bay Area and transitioned to literary agenting at the Bindery Agency, representing adult and children’s fiction before leaving in 2024. She is now a literary agent at Donald Maass Literary Agency alongside her work with Writing Day Workshops. Kesia is also a writer with three YA novels out with Bloomsbury UK. You can find her on X @keslupo, on Instagram/Threads @kesialupoauthor and via her website kesialupo.com.
Social Media Manager
Kesia studied History at Oxford University and Creative Writing at Bath Spa University. She started her publishing career at Pan Macmillan London in 2013 as an editorial assistant. In 2015 she was hired as Junior Editor at YA and MG fiction publisher Chicken House – over the next eight years she was promoted through Editor to Senior Editor. In 2023, she relocated to the San Francisco Bay Area and transitioned to literary agenting at the Bindery Agency, representing adult and children’s fiction before leaving in 2024. She is now a literary agent at Donald Maass Literary Agency alongside her work with Writing Day Workshops. Kesia is also a writer with three YA novels out with Bloomsbury UK. You can find her on X @keslupo, on Instagram/Threads @kesialupoauthor and via her website kesialupo.com.
Anna Hawkins
Event Coordinator
Anna Hawkins is a biologist turned speculative fiction author based in Houston, Texas. Writing as A.P. Hawkins, her short fiction has appeared in various fiction magazines and anthologies, including Analog Science Fiction & Fact Magazine and “The Librarian,” an anthology from Air and Nothingness Press. Anna is a co-founder of Tomeworks, an editing collective dedicated to helping genre authors build better books, and a first reader at Hexagon, a magazine for speculative fiction. She’s appeared as a panelist at conventions and events such as Comicpalooza, WriteHive, and Weeknight Writers’ Storycrafting Sessions. She also volunteered as Houston’s Municipal Liaison for National Novel Writing Month from 2021-2023. When she’s not writing or editing, Anna dabbles in gaming, cosplay, baking, crafting, and painting minifigures for TTRPGs. You can follow her on social media (@ahawkwrites) or check out her website (aphawkinsauthor.com) for updates.
Event Coordinator
Anna Hawkins is a biologist turned speculative fiction author based in Houston, Texas. Writing as A.P. Hawkins, her short fiction has appeared in various fiction magazines and anthologies, including Analog Science Fiction & Fact Magazine and “The Librarian,” an anthology from Air and Nothingness Press. Anna is a co-founder of Tomeworks, an editing collective dedicated to helping genre authors build better books, and a first reader at Hexagon, a magazine for speculative fiction. She’s appeared as a panelist at conventions and events such as Comicpalooza, WriteHive, and Weeknight Writers’ Storycrafting Sessions. She also volunteered as Houston’s Municipal Liaison for National Novel Writing Month from 2021-2023. When she’s not writing or editing, Anna dabbles in gaming, cosplay, baking, crafting, and painting minifigures for TTRPGs. You can follow her on social media (@ahawkwrites) or check out her website (aphawkinsauthor.com) for updates.
Kimiko Nakamura
Executive Critique Staff
Kimiko Nakamura is a literary agent with Dee Mura Literary, representing YA and adult titles within the genres of contemporary, literary, historical, and women’s fiction. In the categories of non-fiction she specializes in cookbooks and memoir. As a WDW contributor, she is a lead critiquer, offering add-on manuscript consultations to attendees at numerous conferences. A graduate of Boston University’s Book Publishing program and Skidmore College, Kimiko has called the publishing industry home since 2006. From production to sales she’s worked within publishing houses to release new titles and foster backlist profits. As an agent, she uses this diverse background to assist her clients with all stages of publication, and well beyond. Kimiko works with aspiring and established authors alike. She loves projects that reimagine what’s possible, characters with something (or nothing) to lose, unique viewpoints, trailblazing heroines, and cookbooks she can read like the Sunday morning paper.
Executive Critique Staff
Kimiko Nakamura is a literary agent with Dee Mura Literary, representing YA and adult titles within the genres of contemporary, literary, historical, and women’s fiction. In the categories of non-fiction she specializes in cookbooks and memoir. As a WDW contributor, she is a lead critiquer, offering add-on manuscript consultations to attendees at numerous conferences. A graduate of Boston University’s Book Publishing program and Skidmore College, Kimiko has called the publishing industry home since 2006. From production to sales she’s worked within publishing houses to release new titles and foster backlist profits. As an agent, she uses this diverse background to assist her clients with all stages of publication, and well beyond. Kimiko works with aspiring and established authors alike. She loves projects that reimagine what’s possible, characters with something (or nothing) to lose, unique viewpoints, trailblazing heroines, and cookbooks she can read like the Sunday morning paper.
Brittany J. Thurman
Executive Critique Staff
Brittany J. Thurman writes award-winning books for kids. (Find all her books here.) She is the author of Fly, (Golden Kite Award for Picture Book Text) and Fearless: Boulevard of Dreams. Her upcoming works include Forever and Always, illustrated by Shamar Knight Justice (2024), Fearless: The Takeover (2024), The First Library: The True Story of the First Library by and For Black America, illustrated by Cozbi Cabrera (2025) and Come Catch a Dream, illustrated by Islenia Mil (2025). She holds an MFA in Dramatic Writing from Carnegie Mellon University, and a Bachelor of Art in Theater from Kingston University, London, England. Her plays have been produced in Aspen, Colorado, and in New York City. Brittany is a former children’s early literacy specialist. She lives in her hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, where she holds tight to her elders, roots, and her childhood home. As a WDW contributor, she is a lead critiquer, offering add-on manuscript consultations to attendees at numerous conferences.
Executive Critique Staff
Brittany J. Thurman writes award-winning books for kids. (Find all her books here.) She is the author of Fly, (Golden Kite Award for Picture Book Text) and Fearless: Boulevard of Dreams. Her upcoming works include Forever and Always, illustrated by Shamar Knight Justice (2024), Fearless: The Takeover (2024), The First Library: The True Story of the First Library by and For Black America, illustrated by Cozbi Cabrera (2025) and Come Catch a Dream, illustrated by Islenia Mil (2025). She holds an MFA in Dramatic Writing from Carnegie Mellon University, and a Bachelor of Art in Theater from Kingston University, London, England. Her plays have been produced in Aspen, Colorado, and in New York City. Brittany is a former children’s early literacy specialist. She lives in her hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, where she holds tight to her elders, roots, and her childhood home. As a WDW contributor, she is a lead critiquer, offering add-on manuscript consultations to attendees at numerous conferences.
Zachary Steele
Event Facilitator
Zachary Steele is the founder & executive director of Broadleaf Writers Association. He is also the author of four novels, including The Weight of Ashes, nominated for Georgia Author of the Year in 2021; and Perfectly Normal (March 2024). He has been featured in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Publishers Weekly, Writer’s Magazine, Shelf Awareness and City Lights with Lois Reitzes on NPR. Currently, he is hard at work on The Fallen Hero, the first in a series of fantasy novels. You can follow his ramblings on writing and life at zacharysteele.com.
Event Facilitator
Zachary Steele is the founder & executive director of Broadleaf Writers Association. He is also the author of four novels, including The Weight of Ashes, nominated for Georgia Author of the Year in 2021; and Perfectly Normal (March 2024). He has been featured in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Publishers Weekly, Writer’s Magazine, Shelf Awareness and City Lights with Lois Reitzes on NPR. Currently, he is hard at work on The Fallen Hero, the first in a series of fantasy novels. You can follow his ramblings on writing and life at zacharysteele.com.