Presenters

2024 Speaker Bios 

Bob Balmer

Bob Balmer, a wordsmith extraordinaire, has left his indelible mark on the literary world. His captivating work has graced the prestigious pages of the Smithsonian, Golf Illustrated, ZYZZYVA, and renowned newspapers like the Oregonian and the Seattle Times. Not just confined to print, his compelling narratives have echoed through the airwaves on MarketPlace, the Savvy Traveler, and Oregon Public Radio and Television. A mentor and guide, Bob has spearheaded enlightening workshops across the West Coast. His pursuit of excellence led him to the hallowed halls of Second City in Chicago, and he continues to hone his craft under the tutelage of the best in the business. Bob Balmer, a true artisan of words, ceaselessly strives to perfect his craft, pushing the boundaries of storytelling.

Jenny Bartoy

Jenny Bartoy is a freelance writer and developmental editor working in both fiction and creative nonfiction. Her writing appears in The Boston Globe, The Seattle Times, CrimeReads, Room,The Rumpus, and the anthology Sharp Notions: Essays from the Stitching Life, among many other publications. Jenny is the editor of Broken Free: Writers on Estrangement, a collection under literary representation, and the former managing editor of Literary Mama and Quiltfolk magazine. She holds a master’s degree in sociocultural anthropology from Columbia University and a certificate in editing from the University of Washington. Visit her at www.JennyBartoy.com. 

Andy Becker

Andy Becker, a writer and gardener from Western Washington, was a successful lawyer who found solace in gardening, outdoor activities, and Judaism. His first book, “The Spiritual Gardener,” combines spiritual themes with gardening tasks and won the New York City Big Book Award in the Home and Garden category. His second book, “Cracking an Egg,” humorously recounts his childhood experiences in the 1960s. His third novel, “The Kissing Rabbi,” is a #MeToo novel about a young ultra-orthodox rabbi, which won a First Place Chanticleer Mark Twain Award for humor and satire. His latest book, “The Spiritual Forest,” encourages us to cultivate trees and forests for a healthier planet and spiritual life, and was a finalist in the National Indie Excellence Awards, Indie Book Awards, and the Best Book Awards in the Spirituality and Nature categories in 2023.

Allen Braden

Allen Braden is the author of A Wreath of Down and Drops of Blood, a finalist for the Walt Whitman Award judged by Mary Oliver, and Elegy in the Passive Voice, winner of the Midnight Sun Chapbook Contest. His poems have been anthologized in The Bedford Introduction to Literature, Poetry: An Introduction, Thinking and Writing about Poetry, Best New Poets, Spreading the Word: Editors on Poetry, Cascadia Field Guide, Dear Human at the Edge of Time: Poems on Climate Change in the United States, The Ecopoetry Anthology: Volume II and The World Is Charged: Poetic Engagements with Gerard Manley Hopkins. Braden earned an MA in literature and an MFA in creative writing from McNeese State University. His writing has received awards, including a fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts and a writer's residency at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. He teaches a variety of courses at TCC.

Kathleen Byrd

Kathleen Byrd is the current poet laureate of Olympia, Washington. She holds an MFA from Western Washington University and teaches English at South Puget Sound Community College. Her poems have appeared in Subjectiv: Visual and Literary Arts of the Pacific Northwest; UnspokenNW; Pontoon; Crosscurrents; Works in Progress; and Godiva Speaks. Her chapbook collection, Hold the Babieswas a finalist for Finishing Line Press’s Emerging Women’s Voices chapbook contest. She was awarded a Sue Boynton Poetry Award in 2021. Her first book Last Resort is forthcoming with Last Word Press in Olympia.

Tara Campbell

Tara Campbell is an award-winning writer, teacher, Kimbilio Fellow, fiction co-editor at Barrelhouse, and graduate of American University's MFA in Creative Writing. Publication credits include Masters Review, Wigleaf, Electric Literature, CRAFT Literary, Uncharted Magazine, Daily Science Fiction, Strange Horizons, and Escape Pod/Artemis Rising. She's the author of the eco sci-fi novel TreeVolution, two hybrid collections of poetry and prose, and two short story collections from feminist sci-fi publisher Aqueduct Press. Her sixth book, City of Dancing Gargoyles, is forthcoming from Santa Fe Writers Project (SFWP) in September 2024. She teaches creative writing at venues such as Johns Hopkins University, Clarion West, The Writer's Center, and Hugo House. Find her at www.taracampbell.com

Connie Hampton Connally

Connie Hampton Connally is a Tacoma writer. Her two historical novels set in Hungary, The Songs We Hide and Fire Music (both published by Coffeetown Press) have received excellent reviews. Connie has also published newspaper articles and magazine stories. An experienced teacher and editor, she loves interacting with other writers and helping them sharpen their craft. She holds a BA in English from the University of Washington and a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing from Antioch University.

Scott Eagan

Scott Eagan opened Greyhaus Literary Agency in 2003 focusing exclusively on traditional romance and women’s fiction. He is an active member of the Romance Writers of America providing workshops to writing chapters around the world. He has sold to major publishers around the world including Simon and Schuster, Kensington, Source Books, Mills and Boon, and Harlequin. His background includes both digital and traditional print publishing. 

Scott is also an instructor with the UCLA Extension program teaching courses in Developmental Editing, Marketing and PR for Agents and Writer, Networking for Agents and Writers, Resume Writing and basic grammar courses.  

His education includes a BA in English Literature, a MA in Literacy and a MA in Creative Writing. 

He has written two books of poetry and is currently working on a third collection in his spare time.

Erick Mertz

Erick Mertz is a writer and lifelong Pacific Northwest native, living in his hometown of Oregon City, Oregon. As a ghostwriter and editor with more than twenty years of experience, he has written memoirs, feature-length screenplays, and nonfiction for clients from all around the world. He is also an independent author, publishing the Black Springs Saga and Strange Air series of paranormal mysteries, the latter of which is set in the Pacific Northwest. He co-chaired the 2019 Willamette Writers Conference in Portland.  

Valerie Ihsan

Valerie Ihsan, Transformative Accountability Coach, writes memoirs, women’s fiction, and nonfiction for writers. She co-chaired the Eugene Chapter of Willamette Writers for over eight years, diagnoses manuscripts as a Certified Three Story Method Editor, and helps authors write memoirs. She podcasts at the Writer Craft Podcast, loves dogs and runs an annual transformational writing retreat and workshop in Marcola, OR. She lives in Oregon with her husband and three dogs. Contact her directly for speaking at your meeting or event. 

Bronwyn Scott

Bronwyn Scott writes historical romance for Harlequin, Mills and Boon. She has 65 titles currently in print with them.

Bronwyn's 2018 Novella, Dancing with the Duke's Heir was a RITA finalist and her Christmas novella, Unwrapping his Festive Temptation, was a 2020 Bookseller’s Best finalist. Bronwyn enjoys learning foreign languages, traveling, and history. She does her best brainstorming while walking her two dogs.

She credits Write in the Harbor as the place she got her start.

Shama Shams

Shama Shams, a Seattle-based debut author and master's graduate from Florida State University, has garnered acclaim for her memoir featured in prestigious publications like Palooka, Transformation, and Mandala Literary Journal, reaching the finals of the Black Warrior Review. Her readings at venues such as the Dallas Museum of Arts and the AT&T Performing Arts Center, titled "Lost in Translation," "Elephant in the Room," and "Old School," have resonated with sold-out audiences and are available on the YouTube channel "Oral Fixation (An Obsession with True Life Tales)." With over two decades in the nonprofit sector, Shams authored "Nonprofit Fundraising - Lessons from the Trenches" and hosts the podcast "From Passion to Purpose," celebrating nonprofit leaders. Her memoir, She Called Me Throwaway, received excellent reviews and is now available.  She serves on the boards of Folio Seattle, Seattle City of Literature, and the Association of Fundraising Professionals while instructing at the Hugo House, North Seattle College, and Edmonds College. Beyond her professional endeavors, Shams finds joy in family time with her husband, two daughters, and beloved golden retriever, reflecting her commitment to impactful community engagement. 

Josie Emmons Turner

Josie Emmons Turner is the author of More Blue to be published in 2024 by Cave Moon Press. She has served as the fourth Tacoma Poet Laureate and holds her MFA from the Rainier Writing Workshop at PLU. Her work has been published in numerous journals and anthologies including The Madrona Project III: Art in a Public Voice, The Madrona Project IV: The Empty Bowl Cookbook, California Quarterly, and Floating Bridge Review. She has taught creative writing classes and workshops for youth and adults, had a long career as an arts administrator, and is a regular contributor to West Sound Magazine. Turner lives on an estuary feeding into the Salish Sea in Gig Harbor.