2024 Faculty: S through Z
Bob Saenz
Screenwriter and Author, Bob Saenz, whose 21 produced films include the dark comedy thriller Extracurricular Activities, plus write for hire, rewrites, and adaptations for Producers and Production Companies. The author of the popular screenwriting book, “That’s Not the Way It Works” and his new Novel from RedSky Publishing, “Jessica’s Vampire Diary”.
R. J. Shaw
R. J. Shaw spent 30 years as an FBI Special Agent. Shaw’s first book, Lies People Tell, won two Silver Falchion Awards from the International Writers Conference: 1st Runner Up for Best Book of 2022 and Best Nonfiction Book of 2023. His current novel is Dirt Road Reckoning.
Judy Penz Sheluk
Judy Penz Sheluk is the bestselling author of Finding YOUR Path to Publication and Self-publishing: The Ins & Outs of Going Indie, the Marketville and Glass Dolphin mystery series, and several short stories. Judy is also the publisher/editor of four Superior Shores Anthologies, and Past Chair of Crime Writers of Canada. www.judypenzsheluk.com.
Michelle Skeen
Michelle Skeen, PsyD has a doctorate in clinical psychology. She is the author of eight psychology self-help books published by New Harbinger Publications. Her books have been translated in over thirteen languages. Michelle received her MFA in Popular Fiction Writing from Seton Hill University. The Four Percent is her thesis novel.
Paul James Smith
Paul James Smith served community and country from age 19 to 59, as enlisted marine, local lawman, Federal Agent, and reserve Coast Guard officer (Captain, retired). His 31-year cop resume included Patrolman, Detective, undercover assignments with ATF, outlaw biker investigations, and SWAT team member/leader in operations that included Ruby Ridge and Waco. https://www.nightpolice.com/
Clay Stafford
Clay Stafford is an American bestselling and award-winning author, poet, screenwriter, playwright, and composer; film and television producer, director, showrunner, actor; book, film, and stage reviewer; and public speaker. He has sold nearly four million copies of his books, distributed his work in sixteen languages, and spoken live to over one million people. He is the founder and CEO of the annual Killer Nashville International Writers’ Conference, American Blackguard Entertainment, publisher of Killer Nashville Magazine, and a contributor to Writer’s Digest magazine with his monthly column, “Killer Writers.” He has been called “One of the Top 40 North American publishing industry professionals to watch” by Publishers Weekly, Frankfurter Buchmesse (Frankfurt Book Fair), and the American Booksellers Association. Publishers Weekly lauds that Clay Stafford, through his influence, plays “an essential role in defining which books become bestsellers” throughout “the nation’s book culture.” For more information, visit https://claystafford.com/
Marie Still
Marie Still torments her characters in thriller and horror novels. Her award-winning debut WE'RE ALL LYING snagged a spot on Buzzfeed's most anticipated mystery/thrillers of 2023, BEVERLY BONNEFINCHE IS DEAD released in 2023 under Kristen Seeley. Her forthcoming novels include MY DARLINGS (2024), BAD THINGS HAPPENED IN THIS ROOM (2025), and SUCH A PRETTY THING (2025).
Cathi Stoler
Cathi Stoler is an Amazon Best Selling author and Derringer winner. Her three series include The Laurel and Helen NY Mysteries, The Murder On The Rocks Mysteries, and The Nick Donahue Adventures. She is a board member of NYSinC, and a member of MWA, and ITW. You can find her at www.cathistoler.com.
Steve Stratton
Steve Stratton - worked as a communicator at the White House before joining the US Secret Service. After leaving the service he became a defense contractor and joined 20th Special Forces deploying to South America. He lives in Colorado and when not writing can be found hiking, fishing and hunting.
Emmett Tatter
Raised in Saint Augustine, Florida, Emmett Tatter’s decisions and “fuck it” attitude led to 10 years in Florida’s DOC. Back in Saint Augustine, he now writes, teaches yoga/calisthenics, and lectures about prison/post prison and mental health awareness. He enjoys reading, nature, and the beach with his girlfriend and their dog.
Jaden (Beth) Terrell
Jaden (Beth) Terrell is the author of the Nashville-based Jared McKean private detective series, a contributor to ITW’s Big Thrill magazine, and a previous chapter president for Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime. She offers live and online workshops and courses for fiction writers.
Lauren Thoman
Lauren Thoman is the author of the speculative mysteries I’ll Stop the World and You Shouldn’t Be Here. She lives outside of Nashville, Tennessee, with her husband and two children. When she’s not writing, she’s probably on the hunt for tacos or coffee, or buried underneath a pile of dogs.
Denise Tiller
Denise Tiller is author of the Reaper Madness paranormal mystery series, featuring Death’s niece. Her first novel, Calculated Risk was published by Timberwolf Press. She loves paranormal and fantasy mysteries that feature strong female protagonists who are not bound by current gender norms and enjoy the magic in life
Charles Todd
Charles Todd is The New York Times Best Selling author of the Inspector Ian Rutledge Series and the Bess Crawford series. A Game of Fear (Ian Rutledge Mystery) 2-1-22 and The Cliffs Edge (Bess Crawford Mystery) 2-14-23. He has published forty titles including two stand-alone novels, anthology and twenty short-stories appearing in mystery magazines and anthologies worldwide. His works have received the Mary Higgins Clark, Agatha, and Barry awards and nominations other major awards.
Michael J. Tucker
Michael J. Tucker is the author of critically acclaimed novels, Aquarius Falling, Capricorn’s Collapse, SummerHaze, and the collection Between Night and Fog. His work also appears in several anthologies.
Scout Underhill
Scout Underhill (they/them) is a nonbinary, queer author-illustrator. Their webcomic DnDoggos began in 2017, and DnDoggos Get the Party Started is their debut graphic novel. They have appeared on NPR and presented on panels at ECCC, GenCon, and SCBWI. They live in Nashville with a swarm of dogs.
Photo credit: Emily April Allen
Chris Underwood
Chris Underwood has a 3 book adventure series about the Niagara Falls Power grid going down, called The Cold Winter Series. On his lighthearted side, he has written an award-winning comedy murder mystery which he also converted into a screenplay, called The Creatures of Holden Beach and the Murder they did NOT Commit!
Rodney Walther
Rodney Walther is the bestselling author of Broken Laces and Space in the Heart, domestic dramas that explore issues of loss, regret, and second chances. Readers enjoy his complex characters, smooth narrative, and deep POV style. Rodney has won 7 writing awards across the country, including the 2023 Claymore Award in Mainstream/Commercial Fiction for his complete-but-unpublished novel Glory of the Leopard. He is also a double-finalist for the 2024 Claymore Award with his latest works, Spirit of the Gazelle and What Remains Behind. www.rodneywalther.com
J. D. Webb
J. D. Webb, served in the Air Force in Viet Nam and the Philippines as a Chinese linguist, as a corporate transportation manager, then shoe repair and sales shop owner, before becoming an author. An award-wining author of five novels, an anthology and two short stories. Incredible Witness the anthology was a finalist in the 2023 Silver Falchion awards. His latest novel is Bayou Chase, a thriller, published September 2023 from Wild Rose Press. In 2023 Webb was honored to be elected to the Midwest Writer’s Workshop Board of Directors.
R Weir
R Weir is a Colorado award-winning indie author. His gritty plots covering Mystery, Crime, Suspense and Thriller genres in his Divine Devils and Jarvis Mann PI series. Featuring former US Marshal Hunter Divine and snarky private eye Jarvis Mann. Stories where no evil stands a chance against his written word!
Darin Werkmeister
Darin Werkmeister is a retired FBI Agent with 21 years of street experience. He investigated white collar crime, Italian organized crime, Eastern European organized crime and international money laundering. He was also an 8 year member of the Philadelphia FBI SWAT team. He published his first novel in 2024.
Wendy Whitman
Wendy Whitman spent decades working at Court TV and the Nancy Grace show, covering high-profile murder cases. Whitman previously worked for comedians Lily Tomlin and George Carlin. She has received three Telly Awards and two GLAAD nominations. Whitman has published two crime thriller novels: Premonition and the sequel, Retribution. https://wendywhitman.com/
Sara Wigal
Sara Wigal is an Assistant Professor and Director of Publishing at Belmont University. She is the Director of WriterFest Nashville, a conference for writers of book, song and screen each November hosted at Belmont University. She is a former publicist, published writer, current editor, and much more. Instagram @shewritespirates.
Carol Willis
Carol Willis (she/her) received her MFA in Writing (fiction) from Vermont College of Fine Arts. Carol writes across all genres and loves all things mysterious and suspenseful. Author of several novels, many of her short stories have been published journals and anthologies. She lives in Central Virginia currently revising her next psychological thriller. www.carolwillisauthor.com
Lynn Chandler Willis
Lynn Chandler Willis is the award-winning, best-selling author of mystery, suspense, crime fiction and true crime. She's been published with the small houses to the Big 4 and is happy in between. She's the current President of SEMWA. She lives on a farm in the heart of North Carolina.
C.B. Wilson
C.B. Wilson, the award-winning author of the Barkview Mysteries series, has turned a fascination with canines into a ten-book cozy pet mystery series. Set in the dog-friendliest city in America, the Barkview Mysteries follow a cat person’s humorous journey to find the perfect dog. www.cbwilsonauthor.com
Lois Winston
Published since 2006 in mystery, romance, romantic suspense, and chick lit, Lois Winston (www.loiswinston.com) has authored twenty-two novels, five novellas, short stories, and a children’s chapter book. She currently writes the critically acclaimed, bestselling Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mysteries. A retired literary agent and NJ transplant, Lois now lives in TN.
Steven Womack
Edgar and Shamus Award-winning author Steven Womack created the groundbreaking Music City Murders series, which was the first series to put Nashville on the map as a mystery setting. He is also the author of a number of other novels, including the New York Times Notable Book Murphy’s Fault. Visit his website: www.stevenwomack.com.
Alan Woodruff
Alan Woodruff is the author of eight action-adventure and legal-mystery novels drawing on his experience and a lawyer, management consultant and consultant to the Departments of Defense and State and the Central Intelligence Agency. He also teaches creating writing and is the author of a college textbook on novel writing.
J. Woollcott
J. Woollcott is a Belfast born Canadian author. A Humber School for Writers graduate, she won the 2019 Daphne du Maurier Award, was long-listed and short-listed in the CWC Awards of Excellence, was a KN Silver Falchion Award finalist in 2023 and 2024 and a Claymore Award finalist in 2024.
Lisa Wysocky
Lisa Wysocky is the author of more than twenty fiction and nonfiction books and the ghostwriter for several dozen more. She is an in-demand book editor, host of the Celebs with Horses podcast, and the author of the award-winning Cat Enright cozy equestrian mystery series, now optioned for television. Lisa also serves as executive director of the nonprofit organization Colby’s Army. Find out more at lisawysocky.com, or at lisawysocky@gmail.com.
Gay Yellen
Gay Yellen first dipped into mystery as a ghostwriter for the author of the international thriller Five Minutes to Midnight, a New York Times “Notable” selection. That book’s success led to her own award-winning Samantha Newman Mystery Series—The Body Business, The Body Next Door, and Body in the News.
Cyle Young
Cyle Young is a talented literary agent, award-winning author, and sought-after speaker. With a passion for nurturing writers, Cyle has successfully represented numerous authors across various genres. He's known for his dynamic approach to author development, keen market insight, and a deep commitment to fostering literary excellence.
Yoshikawa Yurina
Yurina Yoshikawa is the Director of Education at The Porch. She holds an M.F.A. from Columbia University, and her writing has appeared in The Atlantic, NPR, Lit Hub, The Japan Times, and elsewhere. She has lived in Tokyo, Palo Alto, and New York before settling down in Nashville, where she lives with her husband and two sons.
Rebecca Zanetti
Rebecca Zanetti is the award-winning, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over eighty romantic suspense, dark paranormal, and contemporary romances, many of which have also appeared on the Publishers Weekly, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Apple bestseller lists and sold millions of copies worldwide. Her books have been featured in The Washington Post and New York Times Book Review and received starred reviews from Publisher’s Weekly, Library Journal, and Kirkus. Previously an art curator, Senate aide, lawyer, college professor, and a hearing examiner, Rebecca has ridden in a locked Chevy trunk, asked the unfortunate delivery guy to release her from a set of handcuffs, and discovered the best silver mine shafts in which to bury a body – all in the name of research. She lives in the Pacific Northwest and can be found online at RebeccaZanetti.com
Mark Zeid
Mark Zeid is a former military police officer for the Marine Corps, journalist, and criminal justice instructor. He’s provided ad hoc assistance to NCIS, press security for the G-8 Summit, and disaster recovery efforts. Currently, he supports one wife and four cats, holds writing workshops, and does Holocaust education.