INSTRUCTORS

MEET
the WRITING EXPERTS from bookcamp 2026

Novel Bookcamp brings writers together with instructors, coaches, mentors, and industry experts within our All-Genre or Speculative Fiction tracks. For the whole week, you'll have access to these professionals in formal and informal settings alike to learn more about the craft, the business, and what it means to build a career as a writer.

Our 2027 Workshop instructors, Retreat mentors, and Book Coaches are set! Check back for more updates on the industry professionals joining us at Bookcamp 2027!

ALL GENRE

ALL-GENRE INSTRUCTOR

Ted Sanders

Ted Sanders is the author The Keepers, a four-book middle grade series from HarperCollins Children's Books (2014), and the short story collection No Animals We Could Name (Graywolf Press 2012). His stories and essays have appeared in publications such the O. Henry Prize Stories, The Southern Review, Cincinnati Review, Aquifer, Georgia Review, and Gettysburg Review. A recipient of a 2012 National Endowment for the Arts literature fellowship, Ted lives with his family in Urbana, Illinois, where he teaches in the Creative Writing program at the University of Illinois.

ALL-GENRE BOOK COACH

Robb Grindstaff

Robb Grindstaff is an award-winning author of six novels and two dozen published short stories. He writes contemporary southern fiction, including political suspense, coming-of-age, and cultural satire, with occasional bits of the paranormal. Robb has edited more than 200 novels over the past twenty years, including bestselling authors. He has taught writing courses for a variety of organizations, such as Wisconsin Writers Conference, Missouri Writers Conference, Romance Writers of Australia (even though he is neither a romance writer nor Australian,) and Novel-in Progress Bookcamp. His journalism career took him from small, southern towns to Washington, D.C., nine years in Wisconsin, and five years in Asia. He has served as a reporter, news editor, publisher, and in corporate executive positions with multimedia companies. Robb left the news media business in 2020 to write, edit, and teach fiction writing full time. He now lives at Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri. He also produces the weekly publication "A Writer’s Block," published each Monday on Substack with discussions of tips and techniques in the art and craft of fiction.

All-Genre Retreat Mentor

SJ Rozan

SJ Rozan is the multi-award-winning author of Mysteries and Paranormal Thrillers, and an anthology editor. A native New Yorker, she has written 18 novels and six dozen short stories. Her work has won the Edgar, Shamus, Anthony, Nero, and Macavity awards for Best Novel and the Edgar for Best Short Story. She's twice received the Japanese Maltese Falcon Award, and recently the Life Achievement Award from the Private Eye Writers of America. Bronx Noir, a short story anthology SJ edited, was chosen NAIBA's "Notable Book of the Year." She also co-edited with Jonathan Santlofer, the anthology Dark End of the Street and edited Crime Hits Home, the Mystery Writers of America anthology.

SJ served on the National Boards of Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime, and is ex-President of the Private Eye Writers of America. She speaks, lectures, and teaches, and runs a summer writing workshop at the Art Workshop International in Assisi, Italy.

A former architect in a practice that focused on police stations, firehouses, and zoos, SJ Rozan lives in lower Manhattan. As you can probably tell, she loves to travel. Also, to play basketball, read, and walk. SJRozan.net. SJ is part of the very fabric of Novel Bookcamp, and we are so lucky she has embraced the organization.

All-Genre Industry Professionals

Michelle Grajkowski All-Gen Agent

From the moment Michelle Grajkowski first opened the doors to the 3 Seas Literary Agency in August of 2000, she has been living her dream. What could be better than surrounding yourself with amazing authors and their exciting and imaginative books?) Since then, her agency has sold more than 900 books to all the major publishing houses, and has grown from one agent to five!

Michelle’s client list includes New York Times Bestselling Authors Katie MacAlister, Cathy McDavid, Kerrelyn Sparks, and C.L. Wilson. She primarily represents romance, women’s fiction, young adult and middle grade fiction along with select non-fiction projects with a terrific message. She is currently looking for fantastic writers with a voice of their own.

When not curled up with a great manuscript, Michelle loves to spend time with her husband, children, and her crazy puppy who refuses to grow up. Find out more at https://www.threeseasagency.com/agents/michelle-grajkowski.

SPECULATIVE FICTION

SPECULATIVE FICTION INSTRUCTOR

Nicole Whisler

Nicole Whisler is the founder of Fantasy Footsteps, a book coaching program designed to help writers craft stories that resonate. She leads a thriving Facebook community for fantasy writers and has been recognized as a leading book coach by the Coach Foundation. A former teacher and developmental editor, she has presented for David Farland’s Apex Writers, spoken at ProWritingAid’s Novel November event, and coached writers at David Rank’s Novel Bookcamp. She also shares practical writing advice on her blog. An ambivert, sushi enthusiast, and lifelong story addict, Nicole lives in Overland Park, Kansas, with her husband and three young daughters.

SPECULATIVE FICTION BOOK COACH

Author, editor, and book coach Suzy Vadori

Suzy Vadori

is the Calgary Bestselling Author of The Fountain Series (The Fountain, The West Woods, Wall of Wishes). This fantastical series has received three Aurora Nominations for Best Young Adult Novel. She is represented by Naomi Davis of Bookends Literary Agency. Suzy is the founder of the Inspired Writing Community, a Resident Writing Coach for Writers Helping Writers, a touring member of the Young Alberta Book Society (YABS) and a regular presenter at writers conferences across North America, both in person and online. Suzy specializes in breaking down complex writing concepts for newer writers into manageable steps, to get the book idea exploding in their minds onto the page in a way that will make readers take notice. She works with both fiction and nonfiction writers, in Memoir, Mystery, Thriller, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Women’s Fiction, Romance, Middle Grade, and of course, Young Adult. Suzy is an Advanced Certified Book Coach from Jennie Nash’s Author Accelerator.

SPECULATIVE FICTION RETREAT MENTOR

Kelly Van Sant

Kelly Van Sant is KT Literary’s contracts manager and a literary agent seeking Middle Grade, Young Adult, and limited women’s fiction across all genres, including fantasy, science fiction, adventure, historical, and contemporary. Her background includes stints with the literary agencies Writers House and Harold Ober Associates, and publishing groups Llewellyn Worldwide and Quarto Publishing Group USA, gaining expertise in subsidiary rights management, with focuses on audio rights, foreign rights, and permissions. Residing in Minnesota, Kelly has worked as a freelance editor with various publishers and is a teaching artist at the Loft Literary Center. She also blogs about writing and the publishing industry at Pub(lishing) Crawl and co-hosts its weekly podcast. KTLiterary.com. Kelly is a favorite with Novel Bookcamp alumni. Welcome back, Kelly!

SPECULATIVE FICTION INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS

Laura Zats

For over a decade, Laura has worked with books in every way from bookselling to editing to self-publishing. A literary agent since 2014, she finds the most joy in working closely with authors to build their long-term careers in ways that contribute positively to their financial and mental health, as well as the greater community. Since 2016, Laura has hosted Print Run, a publishing podcast, with Erik Hane and is increasingly passionate about teaching, mentorship, and the role books play in the fight for social justice. In her spare time, Laura plays tabletop role-playing games, cooks elaborate meals, weaves tapestries, and drinks a lot of tea. Connect with her on Bluesky @LZats.bsky.social.