This page will be updated as more faculty members are
confirmed for the 2026 Writing Workshop of Chicago.
Brent Fisher is an author of contemporary YA fiction represented by Eric Smith of Neighborhood Literary Agency, who he successfully pitched at the 2023 Writing Workshop of Chicago (another Writing Day Workshop event). His debut novel, THE DAY THE WORLD DROWNED, will be out with Disney-Hyperion in the Spring of 2027.
When Brent isn’t writing fantastical lies for teenagers, he is forcing them to know English for money. Which is to say, Brent is a writer and a teacher with a passion for both who relishes in the opportunity to marry those two passions. Born and raised in the Midwest, Brent currently lives on the second flattest state in America with his family but frequents the beautiful state of Michigan whenever he can. You can learn more about Brent at brentonfisher.com.
At the 2026 MWW, Brent is teaching a class about how to pitch a literary agent as well offering add-on on-site manuscript critiques.
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Audrey Wilson is the award-winning author of The Ever End, Dear Unrequited Love Girl, Wrong Girl Gone, and Only Human.
Having earned her BA in Television Writing and Producing from Columbia College Chicago, Audrey has written and co-written over two dozen screenplays and television episodes, and has won a variety of awards for her writing, including a regional Emmy nomination.
An avid supporter of authors of all writing levels, Audrey has spoken professionally at numerous writing events, including the Golden Crown Literary Society Conference, the Let’s Just Write! Chicago Writers Conference, and the International Dublin Writers’ Festival. Audrey is an active member of International Thriller Writers, and is represented by The Purcell Agency.
At the event, she is teaching, and also offering add-on manuscript critiques to attendees.
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Jenna Satterthwaite is an agent with Storm Literary.
Jenna reached agenting sideways, as many do. She didn’t know agenting existed until she wrote her first novel back in 2014 and learned she had to do this thing called “querying.” Fast forward many years during which she wrote many novels and became agented herself, and she had an aha moment. Agenting was the nexus where her two decades of business experience in sales, pitching, project management and contract negotiation met her decade of bookish experience. After completing internships with Liza Dawson Associates and Rees Literary, Jenna joined Storm as an agent in 2024.
She’s looking to represent authors over the course of their careers who are passionate about their work and willing to arm themselves with the tenacity that it takes to succeed in the world of publishing. She is an editorial agent who wants to help make your manuscript the best and most sellable version of itself, and then pitch the heck out of it to the right editors. Jenna is here to help you navigate this career that can unfold in so many different ways, advocate for you, and seek your best interests. She’s not afraid of multi-genre writers, (she’s one herself!) and she is ready to try and break your name into as many genres and age groups as you want to write. YOU are your brand!
Omnivorous in her taste, Jenna is seeking to represent adult, Young Adult and Middle Grade commercial fiction in most genres, graphic novels from middle grade to young adult, adult non-fiction, and very select picture books. (See submission guidelines for more details.) Jenna is also fully bilingual English/Spanish, so dual language projects are most welcome!
Jenna lives in Chicago with her family, and when she’s not agenting, reading or writing, you can find her trying a Milk Street recipe, making music in living rooms with friends, or plotting when she can get sushi next.
Favorite authors include: Lucy Foley, Vera Kurian, Andrea Bartz, May Cobb, Laurie Elizabeth Flynn, Louise Penny, Tana French, Alix Harrow, Sarah J Maas, Tia Williams, Emily Henry, Gail Honeyman, J. Ryan Stradal, Kate Bowler, Brigid Kemmerer, Karen McManus, Leigh Bardugo, Krystal Sutherland, Xiran Jay Zhao, Rae Carson, Megan Miranda.
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Chuck Sambuchino (@chucksambuchino) is a freelance editor, bestselling book author, and former longtime staffer for Writer’s Digest Books. For many years he edited the GUIDE TO LITERARY AGENTS and the CHILDREN’S WRITER’S & ILLUSTRATOR’S MARKET. His Guide to Literary Agents Blog was one of the largest blogs in publishing, and he wrote the platform guidebook CREATE YOUR WRITER PLATFORM.
He is the co-director of Writing Day Workshops writers conferences, and he has taught at more than 175 writers conferences throughout his career. He is the co-coordinator of the Writing Workshop of Chicago.
His humor book, HOW TO SURVIVE A GARDEN GNOME ATTACK, was optioned by Sony Pictures. Chuck’s books have been mentioned in Reader’s Digest, USA Today, the New York Times, The Huffington Post, Variety, New York Magazine, Buzzfeed, Mental Floss,New York magazine, and many more media outlets. All his latest books are about pickleball, including ULTIMATE PICKLEBALL, a 2026 tear-off desk calendar due out in August 2025 (Sellers Publishing). His picture book, GOODNIGHT, PICKLEBALL, released from Hachette in August 2025, was carried in Target, and hit the USA Today bestseller list.
He is a successful freelance editor of queries, synopses, and manuscripts—seeing dozens of clients get agents or book deals following his consultations/edits. He loves meeting new writers.
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Brian A. Klems (@BrianKlems) is the former online editor of WritersDigest.com. He is the current co-director of Writing Day Workshops.
His blog during his tenure there, The Writer’s Dig—which covered everything writing and publishing—was one of the largest blogs in the writing community.
He is the lead coordinator of the Writing Workshop of Chicago.
Brian’s first book, Oh Boy, You’re Having a Girl: A Dad’s Guide to Raising Daughters (Adams Media) was released in 2013. It received high-level buzz and praise from some of the funniest writers alive, including Dave Barry and Bruce Cameron. Brian is also a proud graduate of the Ohio University E.W. Scripps School of Journalism, a husband, softball infielder, perennial fantasy sports underachiever, and father of three lovely girls.