Chadwick Gillenwater

Chadwick Gillenwater (also known as Professor Watermelon) is an experienced school librarian, children’s book author and creative writing teacher. Along his journey, he has collected the essential tools to teach his students the elements of writing for children. He knows what makes characters memorable, he understands what makes scenes and settings captivating, and he has discovered what simmers and twists a good plot. As Professor Watermelon, Chadwick has written three middle grade novels. He is on the board of the Indiana Writers Center, and he lives in Indianapolis with his husband, two dogs and one bearded dragon. Find out more about his work at www.professorwatermelon.com.

Dirk Manning is the writer/creator of comic series such as the supernatural noir Tales of Mr. Rhee and the genre-bending horror anthology Nightmare World. More of Dirk’s comic work includes:

• Buried But Not Dead (Nominated for a Ringo Award as “Best Original Graphic Novel” of 2021)
• Twiztid Haunted High-Ons (Nominated for four Ringo Awards, including “Best Humor Comic” in 2020 and 2022)
• Butts in Seats: The Tony Schiavone Story (#1 Best-Selling Graphic Novel on Amazon)
• Homestead
• Hope
• Arn Anderson: My Life as the Enforcer
• The Adventures of Cthulhu Jr. & Friends
• Love Stories About Death
• London After Midnight: The Official Graphic Novel Adaptation

 Now predominantly publishing with Source Point Press (where he also serves as Special Projects Manager), Dirk was an early adopter in using crowdfunding to launch pre-sales of his comics and graphic novels, with Dirk’s work having raised over half a million dollars and counting in pre-sales on Kickstarter alone.

Dirk is also the author of the inspirational/how-to column turned book series Write or Wrong: A Writer’s Guide to Creating Comics and has contributed several short stories to the RPG game series “Clockwork: Dominion for Reliquary” Game Studios. His screenplay writing credits include the YouTube horror series Blackbox TV episode “The Hunger” (directed by Drew Daywalt and featuring Bonnie Aarons and Jon Gries).

When not at his desk writing, touring on the comic convention circuit, and/or sampling his way across the best ice cream shops in the world, Dirk can be found online at www.DirkManning.com and on most social media platforms as @DirkManning.

He does not wear a top hat and scarf in real life.

Kristin Noland

With over 80 manuscripts to her name—including two bestsellers, one a military thriller—Kristin has spent her career helping authors bring their stories to life and position their work for success. From intricate world-building to sharp pacing, intricate plots, and characters who stay with readers long after the last page, she has her clients’ backs.

As a ghostwriter and editor specializing in speculative and crime fiction, she works with authors to: strengthen narrative structure, ensuring every plot point builds toward a compelling conclusion; refine style and voice, polishing language to capture her client’s unique storytelling voice; and prepare their books for the marketplace by aligning the manuscript with what agents, publishers, and readers are looking for.

Her background spans traditional and independent publishing, including editorial roles with Literary Wanderlust and collaborations with Greenleaf Book Group, She Writes Press, and The Literary Consultancy. She’s guided authors through the challenges of both debut projects and seasoned careers, always with the goal of creating a book that resonates and connects.

Carol Saller

CAROL FISHER SALLER is the author of MADDIE’S GHOST, EDDIE’S WAR, and THE BRIDGE DANCERS. Honors for her children’s books include Bank Street Best Book of the Year, Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the Year, Horn Book Recommended Verse, the Midland Authors Award for Children’s Fiction, the Carl Sandburg Award for Children’s Literature, and Chicago Public Library’s Best Teen Fiction.

As a professional manuscript editor, Carol is the author of the book and blog THE SUBVERSIVE COPY EDITOR and contributing editor to THE CHICAGO MANUAL OF STYLE. She lives in Chicago.

Allison Spooner

Allison Spooner is the author of the Amazon Bestseller and #1 New Release, The Lost Girl: A Neverland Story. She’s also published two collections of genre-crossing flash fiction, Flash in the Dark: A Collection of Flash Fiction and The Problem with Humans: And Other Stories, and has contributed to several horror and science fiction anthologies.

When she isn’t writing, Allison loves reading, doing yoga, trying not to kill her plants, watching bad disaster movies, and spending time with her family in her home state of Michigan.

Allison enjoys encouraging writers to fight through writer’s block and exploring and experimenting in different genres.

J.D. Webb

J.D. Webb (Dave) a full-time author since 2002, credits Midwest Writer’ Workshop as the impetus for his latest career. He is a Viet Nam veteran and was a manager in a Fortune 500 company for twenty-five years, retail shoe sales and repair shop owner before beginning a writing journey.  He has garnered writing awards for both short stories and novels. In 2008 his short story “Nine One One” won the coveted EPPY from the international Electronic Publishing Internet Connection (EPIC). Three different publishers publish his stories. In 2008 he was a Fellow at Midwest Writers Workshop and was honored to be elected recently to a term on their Board of Directors.