How does it work?

Ask-a-Pro sessions last just 15-minutes and are conducted one-on-one between you and the pro—delivered via phone call (unless the pro reaches out to you ahead of time with their Zoom link). This is not a sales pitch for either party. It’s an opportunity for NFWC attendees to ask questions and receive guidance from industry professionals.

What does it cost?

Ask-a-Pro is completely FREE for Gold, Platinum, VIP, and Thought Leader attendees of NFWC! (Sorry, Live-access attendees are not eligible to participate.)

How many sessions are available?

Space is absolutely limited for our Ask-a-Pro sessions and they fill up fast. Most of our consultants have just a handful of appointment times available. So, if there is someone in particular you really want to meet with, be sure to sign up right away. Once the sessions are full, registration for Ask-a-Pro will be closed.

When do consultations happen?

Consultations happen during the week of the conference. Some consultations may happen concurrently during conference hours so plan accordingly.

REGISTRATION FOR ASK-A-PRO IS NOW OPEN 

Gold, Platinum, VIP, and Thought Leader attendees receive instructions via email and in your conference Dropbox file explaining how to reserve up to three consultation sessions with the pros. Once the consultation appointments fill up, they’re gone for good!

Register for the Nonfiction Writers Conference

Meet the Pros for NFWC 2026

Stephanie Chandler is the author of several books including The Book Marketing and Launch Plan and The Nonfiction Book Publishing Plan. She is the CEO of the Nonfiction Authors Association, a vibrant community for writers, and Nonfiction Writers Conference, an annual event conducted entirely online since 2010. A frequent speaker at business events and on the radio, she has been featured in Entrepreneur, Writer’s Digest, The Writer, BusinessWeek, and Wired magazine. 

Mike Larsen is an author coach who loves helping writers understand and achieve their goals. Mike cofounded Larsen-Pomada Literary Agents, which sold books to more than a hundred publishers and imprints. Books: How to Write a Book Proposal, now in its fifth edition, coauthored by Jody Rein; How to Get a Literary Agent; Guerrilla Marketing for Writers (coauthor). His next book: Writing Success Guaranteed: How to Deal Yourself Five Hearts to Win the Publishing Game

Paula Rizzo is an Emmy-award winning TV producer, bestselling author, media trainer and strategist. She trains authors before, during and after their book launches to feel better on camera and produce their own videos. She is the author of Listful Thinking: Using Lists to be More Productive, Highly Successful and Less Stressed, and Listful Living: A List-Making Journey to a Less Stressed You. She’s also working on a commercial fiction novel. Paula is a LinkedIn Learning instructor, Writers Digest columnist, and frequent television media guest. Paula is the creator of MediaReadyAuthor.com – an online media-training course for authors. To get the 10 Media Questions Every Author Needs to Answer go to PaulaRizzo.com/10Q.

Joanne McCall helps nonfiction authors and experts to become Media Darlings so the media calls them. A publicist, media insider, and trainer, she positions experts for standout coverage, secures the coverage, and then coaches them to deliver interviews that are clear, confident, and impossible to ignore. With more than two decades in publicity and media training, Joanne has built strong relationships with producers, editors, writers, and journalists, and has secured coverage for clients including Brian Tracy, Ken Blanchard, Andy Andrews, Dave Ramsey, and Dr. Richard Bandler. She is the creator of Media Book Camp and the author of Media Darling: Shine Through Every Interview.

Drew Gerber is the CEO of Wasabi Publicity and an insight catalyst for nonfiction authors ready to expand their influence beyond the page. He works with thought leaders and entrepreneurs to clarify what they truly stand for—and turn those ideas into conversations that move people. Through strategic PR and podcast placements, Drew helps clients step into visibility in a way that feels aligned, differentiated, and impactful. As an Ask-a-Pro consultant, Drew guides writers in clarifying what they really stand for, so they don’t just get seen, they get remembered. Drew lives in Budapest, Hungary, with his husband. Learn more at www.WasabiPublicity.com.

Tracee Dunblazier, GC-C, a Los Angeles based spiritual empath, shaman, and 68-time international award-winning author – publisher at GTP. is a multi-sensitive. Tracee’s blend of intuitive information combined with different modalities, has provided others the opportunity to achieve deep healing and success. Tracee is President of the Coalition of Visionary Resources—the trade organization for MBS businesses. Her latest award-winning books are Transformative Grief and Your Crystal Allies:44 Sacred altar Cards & Oracle Set, with the forthcoming Oracle of the InBetween.

MaryCatherine Jones is the Owner and Executive Producer at The Audiobook Experience, an award winning boutique audiobook recording and production studio. She delights in working with authors in her Vermont Studio as well as partner studios across the country to bring their stories into the world, either using their voices or finding the perfect narrator for their audiobook.

Robin Colucci is more than a book coach; she’s a visionary mentor and strategist for leaders ready to transform their expertise into a legacy that reshapes our world. With a BA in Journalism and an MA in Spiritual Psychology, Robin’s credentials are only rivaled by her successes. In a mere four years, her clients recently have collected more than $6.3 million in advances signing with Big 5 publishing houses as well as important independent presses, and have gone on to hit bestsellers’ lists all the way from Amazon to The New York Times.

Dr. Sharon Hinton is the founder, CEO, and book/writing coach for PepTalk Productions LLC. She is a Registered Nurse, professional educator, and international presenter with a Doctor of Ministry degree in Global Health and Wholeness and several national certifications including Nonfiction Book Publishing. Specializing in personal and professional growth, self-care, and leadership development as a mentor and author, you will find her stories in her blog, three editions of Chicken Soup for the Soul, ten years of columns in the Journal of Christian Nursing, and multiple workbooks and nonfiction books including Grief: A Healing Words Mini Journal that was nominated for the 2023 Richard Wright Literary Award in nonfiction by the Memphis Public Library.

Christina Larocco is a developmental editor and book coach who works with research-driven nonfiction writers navigating complex material. She is editor-in-chief of the Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography and has spent more than a decade working with scholars, professionals, and subject-matter experts on book-length projects. Her work focuses on helping writers move from accumulation to clarity: defining scope, making structural decisions, and shaping manuscripts that can sustain both depth and momentum. She is the author of two traditionally published books and is currently working on a third. You can learn more at www.christinalarocco.com.

Lisa Tener is an award-winning book writing and publishing coach. Her book coaching and editing clients have secured 5- and 6-figure book deals and won numerous book awards. She is the author of Breathe. Write. Breathe.: 18 Energizing Practices to Spark Your Writing and Free Your Voice, which offers ancient mindful movement and breathing practices to access a state of creative flow and your most inspired writing. The book has won 14 book awards including the Gold Nautilus Award in Creativity and Innovation. Lisa’s previous book, The Joy of Writing Journal won 5 book awards, including the Ben Franklin Award.

Marla J. Albertie, PhD,  is a successful author and speaker with two published books—52 Career Tips and The Ultimate Brag Book—and two co-authored works. She founded Marla J. Albertie, LLC, Truth Speaks Group LLC, MJA Publishing LLC, and the nonprofit IO For Teens Inc. In addition to her prose, Marla is a published poet featured in three Women Writing for a Change anthologies. Motivated by her passion for sharing I/O psychology with the world and combining its methods with everyday life skills, Dr. Albertie creates innovative, engaging workbooks and journals based on the 26 core areas of Industrial/Organizational Psychology and Positive Psychology. 

Stacy Ennis is a best-selling author, book coach, and speaker on a mission to help leaders clarify their ideas and harness their unique story to make an impact. Her background includes impacting more than 100 books in her 16-plus years in publishing; ghostwriting for a Nobel Prize winner in medicine; and leading as executive editor of Sam’s Club’s Healthy Living Made Simple, a publication that reached around 11 million readers. Stacy’s work and writing have been featured in Yahoo!, Inc., Insider, Publisher’s Weekly, Katie Couric, and the TEDx stage. Stacy is also the host of the podcast Beyond Better and holds a master’s in writing and editing from the University of Cincinnati.

Robbie Samuels is a book launch strategist, business growth strategy coach, and founder of the Biz Book Pub Hub. He is an enthusiastic supporter of entrepreneurial authors and believes their books can become powerful business assets. He partners with authors to create launches that generate 50+ reviews and build a pipeline from the book to their business. Robbie is an award-winning author with four books, including LAUNCH Your Book! An Entrepreneur’s Guide to Reviews That Drive Revenue, and his books have received more than 900 Amazon reviews combined. NPR, Forbes, Harvard Business Review, Inc., and TEDx have featured his work.

Jaime Smith is a longtime educator and the author of The Complete Guide to College Transfer. She landed an agent and publisher during the Pitch-the-Agents session at the 2024 Nonfiction Writers Conference. In the last two years, Jaime has learned the ins and outs of working with a traditional publisher to write, edit, and produce a book in paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats. She blogs about transfer credit and college admissions at https://www.transfersavvy.com.

Leisa Reid is known as The Speaking Strategy Mentor and is the Founder of Get Speaking Gigs Now™ and the CEO of the International Speaker Network™. Having delivered over 600 talks and authored 9 books, Leisa has helped business owners scale their impact beyond 1:1- through the power of speaking. She believes speaking isn’t just about giving a talk; it’s about creating a consistent strategy to get booked, stay booked, and attract clients for the lifetime of your business. Her down-to-earth approach and proven system empower business owners to confidently share their message, grow their business, and make the impact they were born to create. 

Dr. Jo Lukins is a performance psychologist, best‑selling author, and executive mentor who has used her own nonfiction books to open doors to conferences, corporate programs, bulk “white label” sales, and big stages around the world. Drawing on decades of work with elite sporting teams, corporate leaders, and Australian Special Forces, she shares the practical strategies she’s personally used to turn book content into high‑value opportunities. In these 15‑minute mentoring sessions, Jo will focus on your specific questions and help you uncover realistic ways to repurpose your expertise, add simple “Would you like fries with that?” style offers, and position your book for bigger doors to open.

As a Key Account Manager at IngramSpark, Mollie Bolen works closely with authors and publishers on bringing their stories to life and reaching readers worldwide. Her passion lies in making self-publishing accessible and empowering for every creator, no matter where they are in their publishing journey. She truly loves helping authors navigate the publishing process with confidence and strategy, no matter the genre.

Cristen Iris is an award-winning developmental editor, book doctor, and ghostwriter, , and the creator of The Aware EditorTM and Aware AuthorTM approaches to writing, editing, pitching, and promoting high-impact, commercially viable books. Cristen’s clients have been published by Big 5 traditional and traditional model independent publishers, including HarperCollins, Oxford University Press, Johns Hopkins University Press, TarcherPerigee, Prometheus Books, and Unsolicited Press. Title bestseller rankings include The New York Times, Publishers Weekly, and Amazon Charts. She is also an enthusiastic public speaker, workshop leader, and podcast guest who’s delighted to once again serve the NFAA by educating and empowering NFWC attendees during one-on-one Ask-a-Pro sessions.

Edward H. Carpenter is an award-winning author with experience across the full spectrum of publishing. With a Master’s degree in Creative Writing and Literature from Harvard, bylines in the Washington Post and World Politics Review, and an academic book chapter pending publication with Palgrave Macmillan, he is looking forward to sharing his “lessons learned” with others who are on their writing journey. Having recently published a critically acclaimed, bestselling memoir through the University of Nebraska Press, Edward has a deep knowledge about what works and what to expect from academic publishing houses—and how authors can make this industry segment work for them. Learn more at ehcarpenter.com.

Kirsten Holmberg leverages more than two decades of experience in keynote speaking and writing to equip both new and skilled speakers to achieve maximum impact with their presentations to customers, stakeholders, and audiences of all sizes. Her background in both business and communication has proved an asset in collaborating with clients from business, public service, religion, and academia. She’s worked with individuals and teams from: Google, Stanford University Graduate School of Business, Oracle, Amazon Web Services, Snap, Adobe, Edward Jones, Abbott, Lockheed Martin, and TEDx programs. Kirsten holds a degree in Business Administration from the University of Colorado. As evidence that her true love is communication, she brandishes her ability to recite all 46 prepositions in alphabetical order—something she still knows from her 7th grade language arts class.

Chelsea Bennett is the Education and Community Manager for Lulu.com and host of Lulu’s YouTube series, Lulu University and author of Get Published. Her areas of expertise include self-publishing, Print-on-Demand technology, building an author brand, direct sales and marketing. When not thinking about publishing, Chelsea can be found playing disc golf with her husband or having in-depth conversations about the universe with her cat, Batman and dog Bessie.