33 Books by Writer’s Digest Conference Speakers
Explore 33 books written by speakers and instructors who will be at the 2023 Writer’s Digest Annual Conference.
The Writer’s Digest Annual Conference is fun for a lot of reasons: hanging out in NYC, being with people who love writing as much as we do, full days dedicated to learning and talking about writing. But, one of my favorite parts is meeting and learning from authors whose work I admire. This year, we have an incredible lineup of speakers, and their books are IMPRESSIVE. Sure, you can read them to be able to chat with the authors when you meet them, but you’ll also be treating yourself to some wonderfully entertaining and thought-provoking summer reading.
Here are 33 book written by WDC speakers and instructors.
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Literary Fiction
Hell of a Book by Jason Mott
Jason Mott is a New York Times bestselling author and Hell of a Book won the 2021 National Book Award. He’ll be the closing keynote speaker at #WDC23.
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The Displacements by Bruce Holsinger
Bruce Holsinger is a novelist and literary scholar and the recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship. He is the author of the USA Today and Los Angeles Times-bestselling novel The Gifted School. His newest novel is The Displacements. He’ll be teaching two sessions at WDC including one about writing climate fiction like The Displacements.
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Family Lore by Elizabeth Acevedo
Elizabeth Acevedo is a multiple-award-winning and bestselling author of fiction for young adults. Her first novel for adults, Family Lore, will be published August 1, 2023. Pre-order it now and hear her talk about it during the central keynote at #WDC23.
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Young Adult
The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo
The Poet X is a YA novel in verse. It won the National Book Award along with five other literary awards. Read more about it in WD’s Sept/Oct 2021 interview with Elizabeth Acevedo.
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Mystery/Thriller
The Writing Retreat by Julia Bartz
The Writing Retreat is Julia Bartz’s debut novel and was an instant New York Times bestseller. Hear Julia Bartz on the Debut Author Panel at #WDC23.
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Rock Paper Scissors by Matty Dalrymple
Rock Paper Scissors is the first in Matty Dalrymple’s Lizzy Ballard thriller series. Matty Dalrymple will be leading three sessions at #WDC23 including a day-long pre-conference workshop about Indie Publishing.
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Careful What You Wish For by Hallie Ephron
Careful What You Wish For is the most recent of 11 novels by New York Times-bestselling author Hallie Ephron. Join Hallie Ephron for her two sessions or hear her speak on the Mystery/Thriller Panel at #WDC23.
The House Guest by Hank Phillippi Ryan
Hank Phillippi Ryan is a multiple-award-winning and bestselling author and journalist who will be teaching two craft of writing sessions (including one about perfecting your first page) at #WDC23 as well as appearing on the Mystery/Thriller panel.
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Her Name Is Knight by Yasmin Angoe
This is the first in a three-part political thriller series by award-winning author Yasmin Angoe. Yasmin Angoe will be teaching two sessions at #WDC23 including one about writing villians—read this book for some truly intense villains!
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Book 2 in the series, They Come at Knight, is out now.
Pre-order Book 3, It Ends With Knight, which will be published in September 2023.
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Black River Orchard by Chuck Wendig
The newest novel by bestselling author Chuck Wendig will be release in September 2023, but you can pre-order it now and hear from Chuck Wendig at his opening keynote address.
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Writing Advice
Gentle Writing Advice by Chuck Wendig
The newest book from Chuck Wendig, Gentle Writing Advice is his third writing advice book!
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Mastering Plot Twists by Jane K. Cleland
Jane K. Cleland is a multiple-award-winning author of fiction and nonfiction, including the Writer’s Digest book Mastering Plot Twists. Jane K. Cleland will be teaching two sessions at #WDC23 including one about using the setting to create intrigue and suspense.
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Writing and Selling Your Mystery Novel by Hallie Ephron
Join New York Times bestselling author Hallie Ephron for her two sessions (including one about effective use of backstory) or hear her speak on the Mystery/Thriller Panel at #WDC23.
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Writing That Gets Noticed by Estelle Erasmus
Estelle Erasmus is an award-winning journalist and writing coach who just released her first writing instruction book. Join Estelle Erasmus for two nonfiction sessions at #WDC23.
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Improv for Writers by Jorjeana Marie
Jorjeana Marie is an Emmy-nominated writer and award-winning audiobook narrator. She’s also a comedian who adapts improv techniques to help writers spark creativity. Experience it for yourself in her #WDC23 creativity workshop.
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DIY MFA by Gabriela Pereira
Gabriela Pereira is an author, speaker, and entrepreneur who wants to challenge the status quo of higher education. She is also the founder and instigator of DIYMFA.com. She’ll be leading two sessions at #WDC23 including how to survive and succeed as a writer.
How to Write a Page-Turner by Jordan Rosenfeld
Jordan Rosenfeld is the author of six books on the craft of writing and is a frequent contributor to Writer’s Digest magazine. Her two #WDC23 sessions focus on point of view and tone.
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Writing Sci-Fi, Fantasy, and Horror for Dummies by Ryan G. Van Cleave and Rick Dakan
Ryan G. Van Cleave runs the creative writing program at the Ringling College of Art & Design and is also known for being The Picture-Book Whisperer. Ryan will be leading a pre-conference workshop about the business of creative writing and two regular sessions at #WDC23, including one all about writing fantasy.
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Intuitive Editing by Tiffany Yates Martin
Tiffany Yates Martin has spent nearly thirty years as an editor in the publishing industry, working with major publishers and New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestselling and award-winning authors as well as indie and newer writers, and is the founder of FoxPrint Editorial. Intuitive Editing is her bestselling writing instruction book. Learn more from Tiffany Yates Martin in her pre-conference workshop for fiction writers, or in her two #WDC23 sessions.
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Memoir
Negative Space by Lilly Dancyger
Lilly Dancyger is the author of Negative Space (2021), a reported and illustrated memoir selected by Carmen Maria Machado as a winner of the Santa Fe Writers Project Literary Awards. Learn more about memoir writing in Lilly Dancyger’s #WDC23 memoir session.
Romance
The Vibrant Years by Sonali Dev
USA Today bestselling author Sonali Dev writes Bollywood-style love stories that explore universal issues. Her novels have been named Best Books of the Year by Library Journal, NPR, the Washington Post, and Kirkus. Join Sonali Dev for two #WDC23 sessions including one about decoding feedback and overcoming revision anxiety.
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The Love Match by Priyanka Taslim
Priyanka teaches by day and tells all kinds of stories about Bangladeshi characters by night. Her writing usually stars spunky Bengali heroines finding their place in the world...and a little swoony romance, too. Hear about Priyanka Taslim’s debut novel, The Love Match, on the debut author panel.
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Science Fiction
The Paradox Hotel by Rob Hart
Rob Hart is the author of The Paradox Hotel, one of NPR’s best books of 2022, as well as The Warehouse, which sold in more than 20 languages and was optioned for film by Ron Howard. WD has chosen The Paradox Hotel as our fall book club pick! Join us as we record the book club podcast episode live at #WDC23 and learn more from Rob in the two sessions he’ll be leading.
The Sleepless by Victor Manibo
Victor Manibo is a speculative fiction writer living in New York. Though he has always written stories from a young age, he first started drafting novels in the fall of 2017 for National Novel Writing Month. Thence came his debut science fiction noir novel, The Sleepless, which was published in August 2022 from Erewhon Books. Learn more about The Sleepless and Victor Manibo on the Debut Author Panel.
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Historical Fiction
The Mayfair Bookshop by Eliza Knight
Eliza Knight is an award-winning and USA Today bestselling author. She is known best for her novels, The Mayfair Bookshop, My Lady Viper, Prisoner of the Queen, and Ribbons of Scarlet. Join Eliza Knight for two sessions at #WDC23, including one about travel for research, and an Indie Author Ask Me Anything Panel.
Sister Mother Warrior by Vanessa Riley
Vanessa Riley is an award-winning author of more than 20 books which encompass historical fiction, historical romance, and historical mystery. Her novels showcase the hidden histories of Black women and women of color, emphasizing strong sisterhoods and dazzling multicultural communities. Join Vanessa Riley for two sessions at #WDC23 and the Indie Author Ask Me Anything Panel.
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Don’t forget to pre-order Queen of Exiles, which comes out July 11!
Pre-order a copy!
Nottingham by Nathan Makaryk
Nathan is a theater owner, playwright, director, actor and improv comedian, living in southern California. Nathan's debut novel Nottingham was released in August 2019 by Tor/Forge (US) and Bantam (AUS), and its sequel Lionhearts followed in September 2020. Join Nathan Makaryk for two sessions at #WDC23 including one about how to think beyond your first book.
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Fantasy
Shadow Deal by Michael La Ronn
Michael La Ronn is the author of over 60 science fiction & fantasy novels and self-help books for writers. When he’s not writing novels, Michael runs the popular YouTube channel, Author Level Up, where he publishes weekly advice videos for writers. Michael is also a frequent contributor to Writer’s Digest and will be leading two regular sessions at #WDC23 plus a pre-conference workshop about becoming a successful indie author.
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Amazon
Nonfiction
Listful Living by Paula Rizzo
Paula Rizzo is an Emmy Award-winning television producer, best-selling author of Listful Thinking & Listful Living, media-training coach, speaker, LinkedIn Learning Instructor, host of the live-stream show Inside Scoop, and creator of the popular online training Media-Ready Author. Join Paula Rizzo for her session about media training for authors.
Once Upon a Word by Jess Zafarris
Jess Zafarris is the author of Words From Hell (Chambers 2023) and Once Upon a Word: A Word-Origin Dictionary for Kids (Rockridge Press 2020), and an educational social media creator who focuses on etymology and word history-focused deep dives and explanations. Learn all about how TikTok works for writers in her #WDC23 session on TikTok.
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Amazon
About Amy Jones
Amy Jones is the Editor-in-Chief of Writer’s Digest and was the managing content director for WD Books. She is the editor of the Novel and Short Story Writer's Market and Children's Writer's and Illustrator's Market. Prior to joining the WD team, Amy was the managing editor for North Light Books and IMPACT Books. Like most WD staffers, Amy is a voracious reader and has a particular interest in literary fiction, historical fiction, steamy romance, and page-turning mysteries. When she’s not reading, Amy can be found daydreaming about Italy or volunteering at her local no-kill cat shelter. Find Amy on Twitter @AmyMJones_5.
