2025 Central Coast Writer's Conference Presenters

Brooke Warner
Opening Keynote Speaker

Brooke Warner is publisher of She Writes Press, a memoir coach, and author of Write On, Sisters!, Green-light Your Book, What's Your Book?, and three books on memoir. She’s a TEDx speaker, weekly podcaster (of “Write-minded” with co-host Grant Faulkner of NaNoWriMo), and publishes a weekly newsletter, Writerly Things, on Substack at brookewarner.substack.com

Rob Edwards
Closing Keynote Speaker

Rob Edwards has written two classic animated films for Walt Disney Feature Animation – the Academy Award, and Golden Globe-nominated The Princess and the Frog, and the Academy Award-nominated Treasure Planet. In 2025, he has three films being released – Marvel’s Captain America: Brave New World, Sneaks, and The King of Kings. Rob also consulted on Tangled, Wreck-it Ralph, and Frozen and wrote and directed the award-winning animated short film The Park Bench. He is currently writing projects for Universal, Showtime, and Sony. 

Rob is a 20-year veteran of television, where he wrote and produced several television shows, including The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Full House, A Different World, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, Roc, and In Living Color. His graphic novel, Defiant, a best seller in three categories on Amazon, is currently being made into a motion picture by Legion M. Rob is an adjunct professor of screenwriting at the School of Cinematic Arts at USC and the Newhouse School at Syracuse University, where he also serves on the SUMA Advisory Council. 

Editor and award-winning author, Patricia Alexander calls her 49-year career fulfilling and “eclectic.” Her experience includes being an inspirational speaker, a humorist, a newspaper columnist, a freelance writer, a movie and TV reviewer, and a journalist. 

Patricia says she even “finally” wrote a book: The Book of Comforts: Simple, Powerful Ways to Comfort Your Spirit, Body & Soul, with her late husband, Michael Burgos. An inspirational self-help, it went on to win the Benjamin Franklin Finalist Award for Best Spiritual Book (available for free to non-profits). 

Semi-retired, Patricia is now a freelance book editor, and also leader of her Writing Support Group on Zoom, where she guides writers to improve their projects as well as understand the marketing and business of writing.

She adds, however, that her mate, Robert, would dispute the semi-retired part. But, hey! Does a writer/editor ever really retire? 

Patricia says, “Nah! But don’t tell Robert.”

Debbie Black

Debbie Black writes historical grounded fantasy novels for her favorite readers—that “sweet spot”—middle grade, ages 8-12. Deetjen’s Closet (Coalesce Press) is a finalist in the prestigious Gertrude Warner International Middle Grade Fiction Awards. The Old Secret at Hotel Oregon received the 5-star seal from Readers’ Favorite. Debbie is also a columnist for Estero Bay News and author of the popular blog RV Camping in Your Own Backyard. She is an active member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, SLO NightWriters, and The BookShelf Writers. She has been a presenter at the Central Coast Writers Conference and SLO NightWriters, as well as numerous service groups, book clubs, and classrooms. She lives on the Central Coast. www.DebbieNobleBlack.com 

Carol Chenot

Carol Chenot is a multifaceted professional from Arroyo Grande, California. She is known for her diverse roles as an entrepreneur, book designer, and community leader. She retired from a 35-year corporate career in Learning & Development where she held senior roles in Executive Development. She has a B.S. from Taylor University and an M.S. in Health Care Administration.

Carol values lifelong learning, and artificial intelligence is now the focus of her business, AI ADVANTAGE. She designs workshops and offers consulting to make learning new tools (like AI) accessible, understandable and useful for small businesses and solopreneurs. Since 2006, Carol has been deeply committed to her community in the Five Cities where she lives with her husband Ross. She volunteers with Womenade, supporting women and families in need, and she also serves as President of the 5 Cities Women’s Network.

Eldonna Edwards

Author Eldonna Edwards is a beloved alumni presenter at CCWC. A born communicator, her engaging personality and warm encouragement consistently win over the hearts and minds of attendees. Whether it’s writing, editing, finding an agent, negotiating a deal, or marketing your book, Eldonna’s lively workshops are designed to engage participants in all aspects of the writing process. As both a traditionally-published and indie author of memoir and fiction and an independent editor, she’s dedicated to helping others learn from her experience and benefit from her successes.

Eldonna’s memoir Lost in Transplantation chronicles a life-changing decision to donate a kidney to an ailing stranger. Her best-selling novels This I Know and Clover Blue both released to rave reviews. Eldonna is also the subject of the award-winning documentary "Perfect Strangers" that follows one kidney patient and one potential kidney donor in their search for a possible match. eldonnaedwards.com

Luke Johnson

Luke Johnson is the author of Quiver (Texas Review Press), a finalist for the Jake Adam York Award, The Vassar Miller Prize, and The Levis Award; A Slow Indwelling (Harbor Editions); and Distributary (Texas Review Press 2025). Quiver was named one of four finalists for the 2024 California Book Award. Johnson was selected by Patricia Smith as a finalist for the 2024 Robert Frost Residency through Dartmouth College. You can find more of his work at Kenyon Review, Prairie Schooner and elsewhere.

Lisa Diane Kastner 

Lisa Diane Kastner is the Founder of Running Wild, LLC, a content creation, distribution, and licensing company. Featured in FORBES and several other publications, she’s been named to multiple “Best of”s. A writer and editor for more than twenty years, she has identified talent including Jamie Ford’s Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, Shay Galloway’s The Valley of Sage and Juniper, and many other authors whose works have been named groundbreaking in their respective genres.

Lisa began Running Wild with the belief that we can change the world through storytelling. 

Juan Luzuriaga

Juan Luzuriaga was born in Guayaquil, Ecuador, and immigrated to the U.S. in 2000. He studied Neuroscience at Rutgers University and English at UC Merced. He teaches poetry in prisons (currently California Men’s Colony), Cuesta College, and California Poets in the Schools. He has been a featured panelist at UC Merced, Cuesta College Central Coast Writers’ Conference, San Francisco Writers Conference, Litfest, and more. He has been published in Acentos Review, To Be Completely Honest anthology, Method Writers Speak anthology, San Diego Poetry Annual, Monterey Poetry Review, Cholla Needles, Poetry Breakfast, Matchbox Magazine, and more. Find more information on Juanology.com and on Instagram @juanologies

Becky Mosgofian is a seasoned communications professional with 30 years of experience in public relations, marketing, and event planning. As the founder of YOBECKO, Brand Cheerleaders & Storytellers, and a consultant with the Small Business Development Center at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, she empowers entrepreneurs to develop compelling narratives.

Becky holds a degree in Journalism/PR with minors in Business Administration and Studio Art from Cal Poly Humboldt. Her extensive career includes work in television, print, and radio, as well as directing a university alumni relations program and serving as editor-in-chief of its publication before establishing her marketing and PR consulting practice in 2002. She served on the CCWC advisory board for five years and has been a past panelist. Becky is eager to return to CCWC this year to share her proven PR strategies for achieving media success.

Claire Noland

As a children’s librarian, reading specialist, kindergarten teacher, and author, Claire Noland’s career has been built around her favorite things – children and books. She writes heart-filled stories for the magazine, educational, and trade markets. Her picture books have won many awards with her favorite being the Northern Lights Late Bloomer Award for an author first published over the age of fifty. When she’s not writing, Claire loves traveling and discovering new story ideas. She loves to connect with other kidlit creators through her volunteer work with the local region of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. Claire lives in Central California with her husband and canine buddy, Mr. Ernie. 

Skye Pratt

Skye Pratt is a writer, editor, and artist with 15 years of experience in journalism, publishing, and travel writing. Through her company, Skye Pratt Creative, she offers freelance writing and editing services for a variety of clients, from publications to independent authors. She also created Going Places With Skye, a travel blog where she shares stories from the road.

In addition to her writing career, Skye teaches acrylic painting for all ages on her YouTube channel, Paint Along With Skye, and will soon be teaching online art and English classes for teens and preteens. Passionate about creative independence, she enjoys the flexibility of being self-employed and working remotely, allowing her to live and work from anywhere.

Sara Roahen

Sara Roahen is a writer, editor, teacher, and publishing professional. Her memoir, Gumbo Tales: Finding My Place at the New Orleans Table, was the chosen reading for the One Book One New Orleans reading initiative in 2009, and it received the Louisiana Library Association’s Louisiana Literary Award in 2010. Sara co-edited and contributed writing to The Southern Foodways Alliance Community Cookbook. Last year, she self-published a guide for life story writers, How to Begin Writing Your Life Stories: Putting Memories on the Page. A more extensive book of tips and prompts for memoir and life story writers is on its way. Sara holds a copyediting certificate from UCSD and teaches life story and memoir writing, both privately and through Cuesta College’s Emeritus program. 

Stephanie Roth Sisson

Stephanie Roth Sisson’s first author-illustrated book, Star Stuff: Carl Sagan and the Mysteries of the Cosmos, earned three starred reviews: an SLJ Book of the Year, a Bank Street Best Book, and an Orbis Pictus among other awards. Spring After Spring, a picture book about Rachel Carson, was an NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Book, NSTA Best Stem, CBC Notable, and JLG Selection. 

Stephanie was born in Germany and moved often as a kid. Books were steady companions, teachers, and treasures. Now, she considers it an honor to create books for new generations of kids. In addition to her own books, she has illustrated well over 60 books including The Princess Posey Series written by Stephanie Greene. Her latest illustrated book is Orson and the World’s Loudest Library, written by Laura Gehl. Visit www.stephanitely.com 

Sheila Roberts

USA Today and Publishers Weekly best-selling author Sheila Roberts has written over fifty books under various names, ranging from romance and relationship fiction to devotional and self-improvement. Over three million of her novels have been sold and that number continues to climb. Her humor and heart have won her a legion of fans and her novels have been turned into movies for the Lifetime, Hallmark, and Great American Family channels. Sheila is also a popular speaker, and has been featured at women’s retreats, writers’ conferences, and banquets. When she’s not out dancing with her husband or hanging out with friends, she can be found writing about those things near and dear to women’s hearts: family, friends and chocolate.

Jordan Rosenfeld

Jordan Rosenfeld is author of the novels Fallout, Women in Red, and Forged in Grace, and six books on the craft of writing, including the bestselling Make a Scene and How to Write a Page-Turner, Writing the Intimate Character, A Writer’s Guide to Persistence, Writing Deep Scenes and Write Free: Attracting the Creative Life. Her freelance essays and articles have been published in hundreds of publications, including The Atlantic, The Rumpus, LitHub, Publisher’s Weekly, The Cut, Scientific American, and many more. www.jordanrosenfeld.net