A SFWC Success Story!

By San Francisco Writers Conference | October 23, 2025 |

Two-time SFWC Attendee Shares Publishing Success Story
From domestic life to a domestic thriller writer

I attended my first in-person writer’s conference in July 2022—the SFWC, and was so nervous.
I’d been a stay-at-home mom for years, and my former career in high-tech marketing
communications had me focused on business writing, far from the more creative writing I
dreamed of one day achieving with a novel. A writer friend shared how valuable a conference
could be in making progress, so I set a goal to take part in as many sessions as possible.
During the four-day event, the stand-outs included how to write vivid settings and characters,
add more suspense to my pages, create dynamic dialogue, and understand the different
publishing options (traditional, self, or hybrid). I even listened in on a panel about the legal
issues authors should know (co-presented by the awesome Tisha Morris, who would later
become my attorney). I also signed up for a few manuscript critiques with editors, including the
wonderful Jordan Rosenfeld, and a speed-dating slot with agents, where I met the very kind
Laurie McLean, who offered genuine encouragement about my novel’s premise, and shared her
knowledge of the domestic suspense genre.

After the conference, I returned to the busyness of life, and tried my best to maintain a writing
practice.

I registered again for the SFWC in February 2023, with a goal this time of learning more about
the writing craft, plus finding a developmental editor with fresh eyes—which is how I came to
meet the fabulous Heather Lazare. Also at that conference, I had my headshot taken with the
talented Sari Singerman, who was offering sessions onsite to attendees.

Those SFWC building blocks helped propel me towards finalizing my manuscript, signing up for
a Stanford Continuing Studies course on how to prepare a submission package, and pitching
agents in January 2024. I cast my net wide—targeting agents, and small presses not requiring
agents.

My first bite came from Zibby Books in March, who requested a revise-and-resubmit (but
ultimately passed because my work was “more of a thriller/detective story” than they were
publishing). I’d also had a few full manuscript requests from agents, and simultaneously
submitted my book to Sibylline Press, who only publishes the brilliant work of women authors
over 50. How cool, I thought! And even cooler when they accepted my debut domestic
thriller, Tread Lightly (about a stay-at-home mom with a past who navigates a murder in Silicon
Valley).

This brings me to present day—at age 55, my novel will be published on October 10th by
Sibylline Press. If you’re near Books Inc. in Campbell, CA on Friday, October 24th at 7pm, please stop by
my launch event and say hello. I will be in conversation with Jordan Rosenfeld.

I hope my story inspires anyone on the fence about attending their first conference, or to
start/restart a project they know in their heart should be shared—no matter their age. San
Francisco is a great place for inspiration, and tools for success.