Nancy Sondel's Pacific Coast Children's Writers Workshop
20 years of Master Class to Masterpiece
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  • “Knowledgeable faculty, dedicated director, great writers. Gold stars all the way!”
    — A. McAfee, former First Place winner in Win-Win Writer’s contest for a YA novel
  • “The workshop director took very good care of participants. I had a terrific time.”
    — Deborah Noyes Wayshak, novelist; Executive Editor, Candlewick Press
  • “Instructive, supportive ongoing seminar in how to refine one’s writing. I feel the gears moving again. My next rewrite will be far more profitable.” — Linda Smith, alum
  • “A uniquely intimate environment for learning and sharing. I appreciated all the
    personal attention.” — Agent Jill Corcoran, as a former PCCWW enrollee

FACULTY INTERVIEWS

One of the greatest draws to any workshop—and perhaps its greatest strength—is its faculty. We select cutting-edge, articulate presenters who enjoy working closely with writers. Like you, our faculty would like to see your manuscript shine—then be successfully published.

Below: Enjoy our complete history of faculty interviews. More treasures can be found in our past faculty bios. Note: Since our workshop, faculty may have moved to a different agency or publishing house. (Teens: Check out your faculty on the teen pages.)

2022 FACULTY

  • AGENT: Stephen Fraser
  • AGENT: Andrea Cascardi
  • EDITOR: Liz Kossnar
  • GUEST EDITOR: Susan Van Metre
  • AUTHORS: Bridget Hodder (Kirkus starred review for her second/2022 youth novel); Ann Angel (YALSA Excellence in YA Nonfiction Award winner)
  • STORY COACH: Kathleen Dougherty (support for developing and published writers)

PAST FACULTY

Agents

  • Barr, Stephen (Writers House; 2015)
  • Cascardi, Andrea (Transatlantic Literary Agency; 2007)
  • Fraser, Stephen (Jennifer DeChiara Literary Agency; 2009)
  • Johnson, Brianne (Writers House; 2017)
  • Kenshole, Fiona (Transatlantic Agency; 2013)
  • Knapp, Peter (Park Literary; 2016)
  • Malawer, Ted (Upstart Crow Literary; 2010)
  • Mann, Hannah (Writers House; 2020)
  • Martindale, Taylor (Full Circle Literary; 2011)
  • Necarsulmer, Edward (McIntosh & Otis, Inc.; 2008)
  • Rofe, Jennifer (Andrea Brown Literary Agency; 2006)
  • Slattery, Joan (Pippin Properties; 2011)
  • Sutherland, Kari (Bradford Literary; 2019)
  • Sylvan Kim, Emily (Prospect Agency; 2012)
  • Symonds, Laurel (The Bent Agency; 2020)
  • Treimel, Scott (Scott Treimel New York; 2014)

Editors and Publishers

  • Boughton, Simon (Roaring Brook Press and Farrar, Straus & Giroux; 2012)
  • Clarke, Erin (Knopf Books for Young Readers; 2009)
  • Farrell, Kate (Henry Holt Books for Young Readers; 2016)
  • Gentry, Samantha (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers; 2019)
  • Griffin, Regina (Egmont USA; 2013)
  • Harrison, Kate (Dial Books for Young Readers; 2010)
  • Harrison, Katherine (Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers; 2017)
  • Hoppe, Anne (HarperCollins Children’s Books; 2008)
  • Neaves, Joy (Front Street Books; 2006)
  • Nolan, Melanie Cecka (Knopf Books for Young Readers; 2014)
  • Pettit, Kristen (HarperCollins; 2015)
  • Romeis, Julie (Bloomsbury Children’s Books; 2007)
  • Van Metre, Susan (Amulet/Abrams Books for Young Readers; 2011)
  • Vitola, Krista (Simon & Schuster; 2018)
  • Wayshak, Deborah (Candlewick Books; 2006)

Authors and Story Consultants (by year)

  • Spinelli, Jerry (Teens and adults presenter; 2021)  
  • Crutcher, Chris (Teens and adults presenter; 2018)
  • Dougherty, Kat (Talks and “Group B-Plus” critiques; 2014-present)
  • O’Brien, Annemarie (Talks and “Group B-Plus” critiques; 2011-2013)
  • Backes, Laura (Children’s Book Insider publisher; craft; 2010)
  • Bauer, Marion Dane (Home Study; 2009)
  • Halverson, Deborah (Interview and Home Study; 2008)
  • Shoup, Barbara (Interview and Home Study; 2007)

Teens’ Faculty (by year)

  • Spinelli, Jerry (author of Maniac Magee, Wringer, Stargirl and others; 2021)
  • Angel, Ann (author of multiple YA books, including Things I’ll Never Say; 2020)
  • Hodder, Bridget (author of multiple MG novels, including The Rat Prince; 2020)
  • Bayerl, Katie (author of YA novel, Psalm for Lost Girls; 2019)
  • Crutcher, Chris (multi-published author, intergenerational presenter; 2018)
  • Guina, Trevor (high school English teacher and Drama Club coach; 2015–2017)
  • Bjorkman, Lauren (author of YA novels, including My Invented Life; 2016)
  • Scarborough, Sheryl (YA author and award-winning screenwriter; 2011, 2015)
  • Pyne, Helen (author and former Doubleday editor; 2013, 2014, 2015)
  • O’Brien, Annemarie (Lara’s Gift author. Talks and “Group B-Plus” critiques; 2011-2013)
  • Bond, Katherine Grace (author of The Summer of No Regrets; 2012)
  • Gallagher, Elizabeth (author of The Opposite of Invisible; 2010)
  • Vincent, Zu (author of YA novel, The Lucky Place; 2009)

Guest/Adjunct Faculty

  • Barney, Stacey (Editor; Penguin/Putnam BFYR)
  • Cloud, Amy (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)
  • Ker Hawn, Molly (The Bent Agency)
  • Landis, Sarah (Sterling Lord Literistic)
Join our stellar faculty in this intimate, coastal setting!
© 2003 - by Nancy R. Sondel. All rights reserved.