Meet The Faculty | Appalachian Writer's Conference

Meet Your AWC25 Faculty

Author, Literacy Advocate, and Assoc. Literary Agent at Focused Artists

Jackie Kruzie

Jackie’s love for books began during her elementary school’s annual Young Author’s Conference, where the joy of storytelling and creativity sparked a lifelong passion for reading and writing.

With a master’s degree in library science, Jackie became a dedicated advocate for literacy in both school and public libraries, all while honing her writing skills. As the regional advisor for her local chapter of the Society for Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), she built connections with agents and editors, inspiring her transition from libraries to publishing. Jackie served as an acquisitions editor for an Indie publisher before completing a 6-month internship with Olswanger Literary and joining the team at Focused Artists.

Jackie is the author of The Lousy Layup, a graphic novel published by Capstone Publishing, and a contributing author to Serving Patrons with Disabilities by The American Library Association. Her innovative P.A.S.S. Approach — a step-by-step guide empowering librarians and others to communicate effectively with users of Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) devices — was featured in American Libraries Magazine. This national recognition led to her invitation to present at the American Library Association Conference in 2023.

An experienced workshop leader, Jackie has shared her expertise on writing, literacy, and open access to information at writing and library conferences nationwide.

Jackie will lead sessions on "Perfecting Your Pitch," "The Dreaded Synopsis," and a Lunch and Learn Session "Should I Get an Agent?" She will also meet with authors for eight-minute pitch sessions and panel discussions at AWC25.

Award Winning Crime, Thriller, and Suspense Author

Trace Conger

Trace Conger is an award-winning author in the crime, thriller, and suspense genres. He writes the Connor Harding (Thriller) series and the Mr. Finn (PI) series.

His Connor Harding series follows freelance “Mirage Man” Connor Harding as he solves problems for the world’s most dangerous criminals. The Mr. Finn series follows private investigator Finn Harding as he straddles the fine line between right and wrong.

Conger won a Shamus Award for his debut novel, THE SHADOW BROKER. His novel, FIVE WILL DIE, has been optioned for a six-episode series and will begin production this year.

He is known for his tight writing style, dark themes, and subtle humor. Trace lives in Cincinnati with his wonderfully supportive family.

Trace will lead sessions on plotting your crime novel, heightening suspense, and will join the Lunch and Learn
"Ask Me Anything" panel.

Author of a New York Times Best Crime Novel of the Year

Susan Furlong

Susan Furlong is the author of several mysteries including the newly released MURDER IN THE APPALACHIANS, WHAT THEY DON'T KNOW and SHATTERED JUSTICE, a New York Times Best Crime Novel of the Year. She also contributes, under a pen name, to the New York Times bestselling Novel Idea series.

She resides in Illinois with her husband and children.

Learn more about Susan's work here.

Susan will lead sessions on character development, finding your crime genre, and participate in the "
Ask Me Anything" panel discussion AWC25.

Epic Fantasy and Historical Romance Novelist

Summer Hanford

Summer Hanford writes gripping Epic Fantasy, swashbuckling Historical Romance, and best-selling Pride and Prejudice retellings. She lives in the Finger Lakes Region of New York with her husband and compulsory, deliberately spoiled, cat. The newest addition to their household, an energetic setter-shepherd mix, has been trying, and failing, for seven years to gain acceptance from the cat, but is adored by the humans.

Since the moment she read her first novel, Summer’s passion has always been writing. As a child growing up on a dairy farm, she built castles made of hay and wielded swords made of fence posts. She is also passionate about animals, travel, and organizing her closet. Nothing pleases her more than a row of tops broken down by sleeve length and ordered by color…except working on her latest novel with her cat in her lap, her dog lounging on the rug dreaming of squirrels, and a cup of tea at hand.

Learn more about Summer's work here.

Author Photo Summer Hanford (2)[6607].jpg

Summer will lead sessions on How to Market Your Already Published Work, Self Publishing: Launching Your Book, What's Hot in Fantasy, and offer her expertise for the"Ask Me Anything" panel discussion at AWC25.

Award Winning Fiction Writer and Novelist

Sherry Robinson

Sherry Robinson, an award-winning American fiction writer, is the author of three novels, Blessed (2019) and Shadows Hold Their Breath (2022), and Echo Her Lovely Bones (2nd edition, 2022, with Foreword by New York Times best-selling author Silas House). She is the retired Vice Provost and Professor of English at Eastern Kentucky University, where she spent thirteen years specializing in American Literature before moving into administrative positions.

Robinson is a native of Lexington, Kentucky, where her desire to be an author was also born. Sherry has an MA from Eastern Kentucky University and a PhD from the University of Kentucky, both in English. Robinson spent two summers at the Hindman Settlement School’s Appalachian Writers Workshop under the mentorship of Silas House. She completed an MFA in creative writing from Eastern Kentucky University, Bluegrass Writers Studio, in 2021.

Learn more about Sherry and her work here.

Award Winning Writer for Stage and Screen, Cannes Film Festival Finalist

Mark will lead a session on screenwriting and adaptation and will participate in the "Ask Me Anything" panel discussion, at AWC25.

Mark Daniels

Mark Daniels is an award-winning writer for stage and screen. His very first screenplay was a top five finalist at the international WILDsound Screenwriting Festival in Toronto.

Mark has had numerous screenplays optioned and purchased, including projects with Elaine Hendrix (THE PARENT TRAP), Darrin Henson (THE EXPRESS), Malcolm McDowell (A CLOCKWORK ORANGE) and Dean Cain (LOIS AND CLARK).

Mark has been a top ten screenplay finalist at the Cannes Film Festival. One of his recent projects, DECAY, is in financial development with the Robb Company in Los Angeles.

In addition to writing, Mr. Daniels oversees a film career pathway for high school students at Corbin Independent Schools, and he is also an instructor at Eastern Kentucky University in screenwriting and communications.

In his official role, Mark is the Principal at The Corbin School of Innovation, Director of Innovative Programs/Director of Pupil Personnel, and Bell-Knox-Whitley KY-ASAP Chairperson. He holds a B.A. in Communications, a B.S. in Education and an M.A. in Special Education and Rank I.

Mark is pictured here with actor Malcolm McDowell filming on location.

President & CEO of the Law Firm Cole, Cole, Anderson & Newman

Frank K. Newman, J.D.

Frank K. Newman, J.D., is the President & CEO of the law firm Cole, Cole, Anderson & Newman, PSC. The firm is a recognized constant for coal miners and their families in the mountains of eastern Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia since 1952, representing clients with occupational injuries, environmental hazard exposure, and occupational disability claims. Newman and his firm are regionally recognized for representing employees working in coal mining, coal-powered plants, and other coal-industry-related industries. The firm also represents individual and corporate clients in real estate acquisitions, transfers, and bankruptcy filings.

Since 2010, Frank has been drafting and negotiating book publishing contracts for Martin Sisters Publishing, an independent book publisher in Appalachian Kentucky. More recently, Frank has been drafting screenwriting contracts and has engaged in broader rights negotiations for authors who wish to adapt their books to film.

Frank will lead a session on creative rights, legal considerations, and contracts -- including new information about AI and ownership, and will participate in the "Ask Me Anything" panel discussion at AWC25.

Award-Winning Copywriter, Journalist, Public Relations & Marketing Expert

Gery Deer

Gery will lead a session called "The Living Writer," covering how to make a living as a working writer while you write your novel. He will also participate in the "Ask Me Anything" panel discussion at AWC25.

Gery Deer is an award-winning copywriter, journalist, columnist, publicist, editor, and creative director. Thousands of Gery’s feature stories and articles have been published over the last 30 years, including three long-running newspaper columns. The most prominent, “Deer In Headlines,” hit weekly newsstands and websites in 2008 and is still running today. The hard-hitting, Pulitzer-nominated series changed its tone in 2023 to take a more personal, conversational approach.

In 1998, Gery launched GLD Communications, a marketing and public relations media agency that offers content marketing, audio and video production, syndicated feature stories, and reputation and crisis management. Part of his job includes working with authors and publishers as an editor, publishing and PR consulting, and business coach.

Gery is a member of the Editorial Freelancers Association, the National Society of Newspaper Columnists, and Business Networking International (BNI). He volunteers to support literacy programs through Reading is Fundamental (RIF) and serves on the Greene County FISH Food Pantry board in Xenia, Ohio.

Appy Inkwell Award Coordinator, Writer, Book Editor, English Literature Instructor

Mary Ryan Wineberg

Mary Ryan Wineberg is the Martin Sisters Writing Competition Coordinator and an events facilitator for the Appalachian Writer's Conference. She holds a Master’s degree in English Literature and teaches composition at the University of Dayton. She has been published in Flights, Better than Starbucks and The Oakwood Register. She lives in Dayton, Ohio with her husband, four children and two baby boy dogs. She loves to be with people and help them grow creativity.

Ryan is the coordinator for the Appy Inkwell Awards and the Dr. Pamela Parry Lifetime Learning Award for the Appalachian Writer's Conference. She is also an editor for Martin Sisters Publishing. She will also host a writer's collaboration corner for writers who need help with story structure and editing.

President & CEO of Martin Sisters Publishing, Novelist, Appalachian Writer and Researcher, and Appalachian Writer's Conference Host

Melissa Newman

Melissa will lead a session on memoir writing and participate in the "Ask Me Anything" panel discussion at AWC25.

Melissa Newman is the President & CEO of Martin Sisters Publishing and the 2024 Appalachian Writer's Conference Host.

Martin Sisters Publishing, a traditional book publisher situated in the heart of Appalachia, published its first book in 2010, and now has over one hundred titles worldwide and was listed in Writer’s Digest Magazine as one of the top fifty independent book publishers.

Melissa has combined her professional strengths and life-long passion and commitment to the people of Appalachia to engage in academic research that demonstrates how raising hope can benefit local economies by eroding decades of negative stereotypes. Her studies, presented as community tool kits for raising hope by way of a more positive narrative, have significant effects on hope in Kentucky’s Appalachia. She is also the co-author of an academic text, “History of Media Coverage of Poverty in the United States Since 1960,” a Routledge Companion to Media and Poverty.

Melissa created Martin Sisters Publishing to give amazingly talented authors a home to highlight their work and share their creations with readers. Now, Dr. Newman has created the Appalachian Writer's Conference to bring authors from all publishing houses together in one place to share with up-and-coming writers the craft and the business of book publishing.

Dr. Newman’s own novels include “Sister Blackberry” (2009), “House of Cleaving” (2010), and “Growing Up Wilder” (2012). Her first two novels have been adapted into screenplays. Melissa is also an award-winning journalist and educator, teaching communication at a state University and leading community enrichment courses on writing.