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The Author Development Program empowers YOU, the Story Maker, to choose your mentor. We understand the difference proper support and guidance can make. So we make every effort to match you with the mentor who can help accomplish your literary goals.
Here are this year's Story Coaches. Let us know your top three in your application. If you're not sure, contact us and we can help with how you might choose. |
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CHOOSE YOUR
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JASS AUJLAJass Aujla, a Canadian South-Asian author and dedicated writing mentor, turned her own publishing dreams into reality with her debut novel Next of Twin (SparkPress/Simon & Schuster, 2023), which was followed by her self-narrated audiobook in 2025. Her microfiction and poetry have also appeared in prestigious international anthologies.
With extensive mentoring experience as a Board Director and mentor for Crime Writers of Canada, a manuscript evaluator for The Writers’ Union of Canada, and a frequent festival panelist, she has successfully guided numerous writers from initial idea to polished manuscript and publication. Combining sharp editorial insight with a project management background, she delivers honest, big-picture storytelling feedback alongside precise line-level craft notes — all in a supportive, judgment-free environment that prevents burnout while keeping writers organized and on track. Writers she coaches describe the experience as transformative: encouraging yet rigorous, practical yet deeply inspiring. Whether you write mystery, thriller, suspense, literary fiction, or emotionally resonant contemporary stories, she meets you exactly where you are and equips you with the heart, hustle, and clarity needed to reach your goals. |
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CHRIS PATRICK CAROLANChris Patrick Carolan is an author, editor, and hovercraft enthusiast, originally from Glasgow but now based in Calgary, Alberta. He writes fantasy, science fiction, and horror, though he has also been known to turn to crime to make ends meet. Crime fiction, that is. His short stories have appeared in various award-nominated anthologies, and his first book The Nightshade Cabal (Parliament House Press, 2020) was a finalist for the Crime Writers of Canada Awards of Excellence ‘Best First Novel’ award.
As a Story Coach, his approach is rooted in inclusion and respect. Everyone is bringing something different to the table. It isn’t simply about identifying a writer’s underdeveloped skills, but also examining their confidences and what they already do well, and finding ways to use these identified strengths to inform and build up the Story Maker’s unique toolkit. |
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PAULO DA COSTAWith more than 25 years of professional writing experience and seven published books spanning fiction, creative non-fiction, and poetry, paulo da costa brings both breadth and depth to coaching relationships. His work across multiple genres gives him a comprehensive understanding of the craft of writing, allowing him to support emerging and established writers at every stage of their creative journey.
paulo has mentored authors through programs offered by the Writers’ Guild of Alberta, the Alexandra Writers’ Centre Society, and the Writers’ Union of Canada. As the Author-in-Residence for the Saskatchewan Writers’ Guild, the Calgary Public Library, and AWCS, he has worked with hundreds of writers, helping them strengthen their craft, refine their manuscripts, and build confidence in their creative voices. His mentoring approach combines rigorous technical feedback with practical insights into the realities of today's publishing landscape. Every manuscript begins with a conversation about the writer's vision, goals, and aspirations. Together, he and the Story Maker will examine elements such as narrative structure, story arc, plot development, characterization, language, pacing, theme, and point of view. You will work to ensure that every aspect of the manuscript serves the story and resonates with its intended audience. Beyond craft, paulo helps writers navigate the broader literary ecosystem. You will explore readership, publishing opportunities, submission strategies, and the practical steps involved in building a sustainable writing career. During your mentorship, paulo will take the time to understand you as an author and works that inspire you while introducing additional writers, books, and reading pathways that can deepen and expand your creative practice. Writing can be a solitary pursuit, but growth thrives through thoughtful conversation, constructive challenge, and genuine encouragement. paulo's goal as a mentor is not simply to improve a manuscript, but to help writers develop the skills, confidence, and artistic vision that will sustain them throughout their writing path. |
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SUSAN FORESTSusan Forest, here! As a Story Coach I take a mentoring approach to my work with Story Makers. I like to begin with a dialogue to explore your goals and questions, and what type of interaction you're most comfortable with, along with reviewing a sample your writing. In working with you I may use a combination of questions for you to consider, possibly an analysis of the work's structure, the function of each scene in the book, or what off-page characters are up to so their actions are integrated when they recur in the story. I've even been known to offer Accountability Writing sessions to increase productivity. It all depends on the Story Maker, and your desires and needs.
What do I bring to the process? I'm a long-time teacher and writing coach, as well as an award-winning fantasy author with three novels in my Addicted to Heaven series (Laksa Media Groups) and over 25 internationally-published short stories. Four of my short stories were finalists for the Prix Aurora Award (Canada's national speculative fiction award). My novels, Bursts of Fire (a Publishers' Lunch Buzz Book), and Flights of Marigold from Laksa Media Groups both won the Aurora for Best YA Novel. Rivers of Ivy, fourth in my Addicted to Heaven series, will be out in 2026. I also edit novels, biographies, and memoirs, and am a member of Editors Canada. In 2021, I was Editor Guest of Honour at Keycon. Of the five short story collections and multiple novels I have edited, three have won or been a finalist for the Prix Aurora Award. |
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MEREDITH HAMBROCKMeredith Hambrock is the author of She's a Lamb! which won the Leacock Medal for Humour in 2026 and was an Indigo Books, McNally Robinson Books, and Rakuten-Kobo Best Book of the Year. She has worked in writing rooms on over 100 episodes of TV Comedy. She most recently served as Executive Story Editor on the sitcom Corner Gas Animated. Her literary mystery novel, Other People’s Secrets, was published in September 2022 by Crooked Lane Books and was called “audacious” and “fabulous” by the New York Times Book Review. Additionally, in 2025 she began working as an Editor for Thistledown Press.
She currently lives and writes in Saskatoon, in Treaty Six Territory, on the traditional homeland of the Metis People where she teaches a fiction writing course at The University of Saskatchewan. This is Meredith's third year as a mentor in the ADP program and she absolutely loves the chance to work with emerging novelists. |
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RICHARD HARRISONBeginning with his appointment as the third Canadian Writer-in-Residence at the University of Calgary, Richard Harrison has been working with writers in Calgary for over thirty years.
As workshop leader, mentor, editor, and professor of Creative Writing at Mount Royal University, he has helped bring over 50 books to publication. With eight books of poetry, including the 2017 Governor General's Award winner, one book of essays, and one edited collection of essays to his name, Richard is currently working on a book on the need to change the way writing is taught at the high school and university levels. For him, mentoring a writer means having an extended conversation with them. That conversation can, and sometimes has, lasted anywhere from a few days to many years; writing is a lifetime's art. But the pattern is the same: begin with understanding what the writer's voice is doing in the moment, and then find the path for that voice's further development. The clues to that path lie in the writer's own questions about what their writing has achieved compared to what they want it to do. In effect Richard's method enlists the instincts, desires, and doubts every writer has with their work to help move that work to the next level of its growth. |
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TAWNY STOKESHello, I’m author Tawny Stokes (sometimes Vivi Anna, but she’s a handful, so we’ll just put her aside for this). Throughout my 20 years in the industry, I’ve worked with two different agents and have written close to 80 books, published by top New York publishing companies, a few smaller publishing companies, and self-published. I’ve been there and done it all. I’ve written in various genres such as paranormal romance, cozy mystery, dystopian, dark mafia, dark academia, and YA.
I also have experience in the film and TV industry. I’ve written over 20 original scripts, adapted several of my own books and several other authors’ books into feature and TV pilots, and have had my work read at MTV, CW, ABC, among others. I’ve been a finalist in several prestigious screenwriting contests, and have had four scripts optioned for film. I’ve been called a “pitch master” as I know how to get work in front of the people who can make dreams reality. How does all this experience help you, fellow Story Maker? Well, let me tell you. There is nothing more exciting and rewarding for me than to help writers discover their individual voice and craft their unique stories. I’m all in, meaning I will use every minute together teaching, supporting and cheering. Need critique on your work? I’m there. Need advice about your career and the publishing industry? I’m also there. Need someone to jump up and down in celebration with? Sign me up. I’ll be Robin to your Batman. |
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SUZY VADORISuzy Vadori is passionate about helping writers make their vision for their books come to life, so that the book they write is exactly what they'd hoped. She works with publishers, agents, and writers all over the world each year, bringing back new strategies to share with writers. Her specialty is taking complex writing concepts and breaking them down into manageable steps that writers can apply to their manuscripts immediately, with precision.
Suzy has a keen interest in the brain science of how readers become immersed in books, and shares proven resources and techniques that can maximize a book's impact on readers, while staying true to the story the writer feels called to write. She works with writers of all levels, meeting the writer where they're at and supporting them to make their books stronger, whether it's their first book, or tenth. She's coached hundreds of writers over the past decade who've gone on to publish in many ways, including traditional publishing and other methods, producing books that have become bestsellers and won awards. Suzy cares deeply about each and every writer's project she has the opportunity to support, and would love to hear more about your goals for your book, to see how she can support your writing journey. Suzy is the bestselling author of the fantastical The Fountain Series, a three-time finalist for an Aurora Award. She is agented by Naomi Davis of Bookends Literary Agency, and works with writers to get the books exploding in their minds onto their pages in a way their readers will love. |
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JESSICA WAITEHi Story Makers! Writing a book is hard and it takes a long time. The initial bolt of inspiration that kickstarts our writing fades long before we reach the end. Most books are abandoned—not because the writer lacks talent, not because the project lacks merit—but because writers lack the support that allows us to navigate obstacles and sustain momentum.
I’m Jessica Waite. My debut memoir was published in 2024, and if you knew how often I wanted to quit writing that book, you’d know how grateful I am for the mentorship I received when I was a Story Maker in the ADP program. I’d love to offer my version of that support to you. It might come as a gentle nudge, a provocative question, a challenge to meet a given deadline. . . It will not come as a suggestion to mold your voice into something mirroring my own. My published work includes three short stories, five essays (one of which won the Jon Whyte Memorial Essay Award), and one book: national bestseller The Widow’s Guide to Dead Bastards (Atria/Simon & Schuster Canada, 2024). I’ve taught English in three countries and mentored people in a variety of domains, including the Hero’s Journey Prison Writing Project for incarcerated writers. I read broadly but feel least equipped to help writers of romance, fantasy, and sci-fi. My sweet spot would be supporting writers of memoir, narrative non-fiction, and literary fiction. Hope you’ll apply if you’d like to have me in your corner for this next stage of your project. |
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EMILY A WEEDONEmily A Weedon is the author of the dystopian Autokrator, the sexy horror/crime cross-over Hemo Sapiens, and has work forthcoming with Dundurn Press, Monsters, anthology and is co-editor of Whatever, a Gen X Fiction Anthology.
A CSA award-winning screenwriter, Emily teaches Genre Writing for the Humber Creative Writing Program. She created and hosts the irreverent reading series Drunk Fiction, celebrating over two years and one of the hottest reading tickets in the city… why? Because it is TOUGH out there and writers need all the support and community they can get. You may have seen her in the film The Bride of Chucky or playing the Cameron House with her band once upon a time. She’s called Hamilton, Coe Hill, Budapest, and mostly Toronto home. Emily has Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, a gift that keeps on “giving”: pain, injuries, degeneration, slow healing and as a free bonus, anxiety! She credits that anxiety with supercharging her creative imagination. (Catastrophizing, horror, anyone?) Soon, after too long without one, she is getting a cat. |
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