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Tracy J. Jones is a professional content writer, developmental editor, and writing coach with more than twenty-five years of experience writing and editing for private clients, nonprofits, and corporations.

Since its inception in 2015, she’s been involved with the San Diego Memoir Showcase—first as a participant and now as a co-producer, head judge, writing coach, and co-director of the popular theatrical program. She co-edited the award-winning San Diego Memoir Showcase anthology, Shaking the Tree: Brazen. Short. Memoir. The fifth volume of Shaking the Tree was published in January 2024.

She is a co-instructor for the year-long Memoir Certificate program at San Diego Writers, Ink, and runs three writing groups. She is the President and a founding board member of the International Memoir Writers Association. Tracy is the Warwick’s + San Diego Writers Festivals Book Club interviewer.

In her previous corporate life, Tracy spent more than fifteen years doing C-Level executive communications (primarily as a speechwriter), internal communications, and public relations at organizations such as Porter Novelli PR, The New York Times, Avon Products, Inc., and KPMG LLP.

Tracy is a lover of salted caramel anything, the purr of her cat, Lulu, cult documentaries, and rainy days spent reading. And she’s happiest when helping writers find their voice and confidence to pursue their literary dreams.

Anastasia Zadeik is a writer, editor, and storyteller.  After graduating summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa with a B.A. in psychology from Smith College, she had an international career in neuropsychological research while raising her children. She now serves as Director of Operations for the San Diego Writers Festival, as a co-producer of the San Diego Memoir Showcase, and as a mentor and board member for the literary nonprofit So Say We All.

A frequent performer of narrative non-fiction in a hushed bar, her work has appeared in the San Diego Decameron Project, LitHub, writeordietribe.com, Literary Vine Review, and the award-winning anthology, Shaking the Tree: Short. Brazen. Memoir. Her debut novel, Blurred Fates, was released August 2, 2022.

When she isn’t reading or writing, you can find her hiking, biking, swimming, practicing yoga, or hanging out with her husband, Tom, and their empty-nest rescue dog, Charlie.

Saadia Ali Esmail was born in Pakistan, raised in Long Island, and has lived in San Diego from 2004-2006 (her 2-year honeymoon) and since 2015. She has 3 kids, ranging in age from 11 to 17 who love to keep her on her toes, as well as a newly adopted ragdoll cat who is her latest shadow. With a Bachelor’s in International Relations from the George Washington University and a Masters in Biotechnology from Hopkins, one would think she would have career aspirations but after working a handful of years for others, she loves to be her own boss. She has co-founded a business for baby products (www.zcush.com), and has partnered with others for various NGO’s, the latest focused on wildlife preservation. With two kids nearing college, she has agreed to take on a part-time job which thankfully gives her freedom to write in her spare time. She is working on her first memoir about the challenges of an arranged marriage as a Pakistani-American with an autoimmune condition called Myasthenia Gravis. Her pieces have been included in the anthologies, Shaking the Tree, and A Year in Ink, with one chosen to be performed in the 2018 Memoir Showcase. She is humbled and honored to be asked to serve on the Board of IMWA and looks forward to working with the talented writing community in San Diego.

Wendy Wong is a certified Jungian coach who leverages the energy arts – Reiki, qigong, tai chi, shadow work, and dream analysis –  for insight, creativity, healing, and growth. After a professional career as a chief marketing officer, she now focuses most of her time on writing creative non-fiction and fiction. Her first novel, Soon: A Wayfinder’s Wondrous Map to the Tao is awaiting publication. Her newsletter, Everything Everywhere: The Best Version Yet, can be found at wendywong.substack.com, in which she chronicles her discovery of the multiverse, much as the archetype of Evelyn Wang, the protagonist of Everything Everywhere All At Once. Her new memoir in progress is the real-life parable of this magical qigong journey called Seeing the Unseen. 

When she is not writing, she is practicing yoga, tai chi, working with clients, or producing Energy Camps that show ordinary people the extraordinary power of intent when qi (the vital life force) is harnessed. For more information, visit her coaching website, missionquest.life.  

Holly Kammier is the co-founder and acquisitions editor of Acorn Publishing, the largest publishing house in San Diego and one of the largest in California. Acorn publishes a wide variety of genres and currently has over one hundred books in its catalog, including several award winners and best sellers.

Kammier is the bestselling author of Kingston Court, Choosing Hope, and Lost Girl, A Shelby Day Novel. She is also an accomplished content editor whose clients have gone on to become USA Today and New York Times bestsellers. She’s on faculty with the Santa Barbara Writers Conference and is the publishing director for the San Diego Writers Festival. Kammier is a frequent presenter at industry conferences and events. The former journalist’s professional resume includes Channel 9 News in Los Angeles and CNN in Washington, D.C.

A UCLA honors graduate, Holly Kammier resides in San Diego with her brilliant and often sarcastic children. An avid reader with a passion for gorgeous writing, she is always on the hunt for the next great story.

Jane Muschenetz, a Ukrainian Jewish refugee who arrived in the US as a child, is a 2023 City of Encinitas Exhibiting Artist and Director of Partnerships at the San Diego Entertainment & Arts Guild. Her debut chapbook, All the Bad Girls Wear Russian Accents, (Kelsay Books, 2023), was shortlisted for the Jacar Press Chapbook Prize. Jane is the winner of the 2022 Good Life Review Poetry Prize and took First Place in the 2022 LSAG Art Show. Connect with Jane’s work at her website, www.PalmFrondZoo.com, and in various publications.

Danny Swanson, SDWF Tech Director, runs a tech consulting business, teaches a little yoga, and tries to sell screenplays and use his powers for good whenever he can. 

Laura L. Engel, born and raised on the Mississippi Gulf Coast transplanted in San Diego 56 years ago. She is married to the love of her life and the mother of five beloved grown children and an adored golden retriever, Layla Louise. Laura is Grammy to ten cherished grandchildren.

In 2016 Laura retired from a 35-year career in the corporate world with plans to quietly catch up on hobbies and travels. In October of that year those plans changed when a miracle happened in her life. She soon found herself busier than ever, joining San Diego Memoir Writers and writing about a secret she thought she would take to her grave.

Laura is a member of the International Memoir Writers Association, based in San Diego and is an active member of the International Women Writers Guild, San Diego Writers Ink, San Diego Writers and Editors Guild, and the National Association of Memoir Writers.

She has been published in three of IMWA’s anthology Shaking the Tree series, in Writers Digest, and in several online adoption triad magazines. She is a firm believer that writing memoir heals and is available to speak on the subject.

Laura’s first memoir You’ll Forget This Ever Happened – Secrets, Shame, and Adoption in the 1960s was published by She Writes Press in May of 2022.

You can reach Laura at https://www.lauralengel.com
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