JOLENE PERRY

Author and Book Coach (Waypoint Authors)

Jolene Perry has over 15 years of experience in the publishing world. She’s worked with editors from more than 4 mid and large-sized publishers, agents from several agencies, and read over 100 manuscripts while interning for Jenny Bent. She has freelance edited for USA TODAY and NYT Bestselling authors and done ghostwriting for people she can’t name (and some she can). Jolene no longer edits outside of writing conferences, and specializes in adult historical and speculative fiction as well as YA contemporary/historical/speculative fiction. She’s worked on a handful of memoirs and non-fiction projects, but is likely NOT your best choice for high fantasy, picture books, or middle grade novels. Also, chatting someone through their plot is her FAVORITE.

JASON KIRK

Professional Editor – Brasswax LLC

JASON KIRK (Brasswax LLC) has served as a professional editor for more than 20 years and worked on more than 200 fiction and nonfiction books. Collectively, these books have hit the Wall Street Journal best-seller list nine times, won more than two dozen awards (including the Arthur C. Clarke and British Science Fiction Awards), been nominated for more than 75 (including the Philip. K. Dick and Bram Stoker Awards), and moved over 10 million units worldwide.

Website: brasswax.com
Social Media: @brasswax

SAMANTHA MILLBURN

Senior Editor – Shadow Mountain Publishing

Samantha Millburn is the senior editor at Shadow Mountain Publishing and has worked for Deseret Book Company imprints for nearly seventeen years, shaping hundreds of books from concept to publication. A 2024 ACFW Editor of the Year finalist, she specializes in developmental editing, line, and copyediting, with extensive experience in historical and contemporary fiction, romance, suspense, middle grade, and values-driven nonfiction.

In her Premise and Plot Chats, Samantha offers focused one-on-one feedback on submitted synopses, helping writers strengthen premise, sharpen plot direction, deepen characters, and identify what’s working—and what may be holding the story back. Attendees can expect clear, professional insight grounded in real-world publishing standards that have helped hundreds of books Samantha has edited win awards and garner recognitions and starred reviews.

GINA DENNY

Author, Editor, Publishing Professional

Gina Denny is a writer, editor, publishing professional, and erstwhile music teacher. After editing manuscripts for friends, critique partners, and self-publishers, she became an associate editor for an independent press and then launched her own freelance business. She has done ghostwriting and other write-for-hire work and has supported authors along their journey to self-publishing, indie press publishing, and traditional publishing. Her writing advice reaches more than a million viewers every month and she has been on writing conference faculties since 2019 and has served on the committees behind the scenes of writing conferences since 2020, and was especially proud to be a member of the inaugural DEIB team for the Storymakers Conference in 2021. She is a non-agent member of the Association of American Literary Agents and member of the Editorial Freelancers Association. ​Her areas of expertise include fantasy and romance of all subgenres and heat levels, women’s fiction, historical fiction, memoir, young adult of all genres, middle grade of all genres, and thrillers/domestic suspense but only if you want those checked for plot holes.

RANEÉ S CLARK

Freelance Editor

Raneé Clark has over twelve years of free-lance editing experience and an eye for story. She loves helping authors find both little and big holes, as well as polishing grammar and punctuation. She has a degree in history from the University of Wyoming that she loves putting to use for her clients. She has an eye for perfection and seeks to make sure every client is satisfied with any project they work on together. She’s a multi-published author with experience in both the indie and traditional publishing markets. When she’s not chauffeuring her boys to various activities (and sometimes while she is), she loves to read, obsess over clothes, and figure out how to find Crumbl cookies in rural Wyoming. Raneé’s expertise lies in romance with an emphasis on closed door/sweet romances, historical fiction, accessible sci-fi/fantasy, and women’s fiction.