Success Stories

Agatha Christie signs copies of her books, 1947.

We’ve had hundreds of writers come through the Monday night feedback rooms. Success is different for every writer; it may be writing a memoir for family, finishing one novel, self-publishing, writing and/or selling a screenplay, getting an agent and going the traditional publishing route, or any other measure of success.

Michele Cacano

“In 2007, I decided to focus my creative energy on writing. Over the years of being a part of this community, I’ve learned so much. Many writers come and share their work, their insight, their experience, their knowledge…we are so lucky to have such a safe and creative place to grow as writers.”

Some of my work can be accessed through my Chill Subs author page: https://www.chillsubs.com/profile/michelecacano which also contains links to my social media.

Aaron Fitzgerald

Aaron is a hug fan of literature ranging from fiction, horror, fantasy, sci-fi. Sometimes he wants to hang out with Holden at the night club, and dance with pretty girls, while wondering what happened to his college education. Other times he finds himself in a town infested with vampires and wondered why he ever stumbled onto this depressing thread of life. Yes, I am writing about myself in the third person. Kind of silly, don’t you think? I have a comic book, a drama fantasy story, Wolf Spell, available to read on GlobalComix.com. Give it a read, my artist and I would greatly appreciate it. It’s been a joy to work on. Oh, yeah, and read Catcher In the Rye if you haven’t, it’s pretty good.

Maysam Yabandeh

Dr. Maysam Yabandeh is the bestselling author of several books, including Da Vinci in Love, which has reached over 400,000 people worldwide.

Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Maysam-Yabandeh/author/B07KGNQG5J

Latest book: Numbered Love https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DRYTGJHY/

Katheryn McMullen

A longtime member of the SWM, Kathy has had many short stories published and has a new novel in the editing process. She sometimes updates her blog, found here.

“I just had a short story, “Hit and Run,” published in Faultline, a literary magazine out of Irvine, CA. Also my short story “Tethered,” came out last fall in Main Street Rag. Both these stories were ones I workshopped in the Monday night pub group at College Inn Pub. On the way to publication, both stories changed quite a bit, especially the endings.”

Paul Michael Winters

Paul has workshopped two novels with SWM, to great success. Together in a Broken World and The Haunting Between Us have both been published by Ninestar Press. YA LGBT+ speculative fiction. Learn more at https://pmwinters.com/.

Alison Vogel

A. ‎A. Vogel writes YA fiction. She’s the author of the Beloved Daughter series, a five-book magical realism series set in Saudi Arabia and Switzerland in the 1970s. Alison has workshopped the first two books in her YA series, Call of the Desert: Crossing and Call of the Desert: Exile into publication. Learn more at https://alisonvogel.com/.

Alison Vogel (writing as A. A. Vogel)
links for Call of the Desert: Crossing
- Universal: https://books2read.com/CotDCrossing
- Publisher: https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?iLvIazokEsqYytjBD9alLJ91WW2bvodBZFouYNFohwS
- Library: https://library.biblioboard.com/content/16ebd6a1-2f74-4042-a57c-0e2d037a0d37
links for Call of the Desert: Exile
- Universal: https://books2read.com/CotDExile
- Publisher: https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?params=2eZCaEqwCpKVzfRcbzVCWSOD1Ry8wnLFgXOgTxSsixL
- Library: https://library.biblioboard.com/content/9e4e531c-ed0e-4975-a75b-79e3dd1838b3

Michael Destro

For over a decade, Michael has been workshopping and publishing his novels, poetry, and memoir in the SWM group. Learn more here.

Doug Margeson

Retired journalist Doug Margeson has been an active member of SWM for more than a decade. His novel, Gazing at the Distant Lights, was published in 2019 by W & B Publishers.

Megan Wildhood

Prolific poet, essayist, and novelist, Megan joined the SWM at the start of COVID. Her poetry collection, Bowed As If Laden With Snow, was published in 2023 by Cornerstone Press. Subscribe to her newsletter here.

My website: meganwildhood.com

My linktree, which las links to my books, Amazon author page, website, newsletter, etc): https://hy.page/linktreemw

My books:

Long Division (chapbook, 2017) through Finishing Line Press or reach out to me directly

Bowed As If Laden With Snow (full-length, 2023) through Cornerstone Press (scroll to my name and follow instructions) or reach out to me directly

My socials:

Twitter: https://x.com/mnrwildhood

IG: https://www.instagram.com/meganwildhood/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100085894137089

Stephen Robinson

For many years, Stephen was an active member and fellow facilitator for the feedback sessions, alternating Mondays with Michele. His novel, Mahogany Slade was released in 2012 by Black Saint Records. He has written for the stage in Seattle, WA and Portland, OR and maintains a healthy career as an essayist and commenter on popular culture and current events. Subscribe to his newsletter here.

Edwin Staples

Edwin Staples and his wife, Rachel, live and work in Seattle, Washington. They served together as Peace Corps volunteers in two countries: the Solomon Islands and Suriname. Edwin has been writing long and short fiction since his youth. He was chief editor of the Quill literary magazine while a student at Bowdoin College.

Edwin has been an active member since 2015, and is part of the facilitation team at SWM. He has published short stories, personal essays, short fiction, and poetry. He has brought these and many novel drafts to the group over the years. You can find him on Twitter/X .

Stacy Goodman

Stacy has workshopped her novel, Flight 987, over several years in the writing group. She is very close to publication as I write this, in summer of 2025. Find out more on her website – readflight987.com.

Carla Janes-Heneghan

Carla is a retired early childhood educator, who has developed a comprehensive collection of stories and scripts to help children of all ages learn to read.

Dominique Bretin

Dominique Bretin, a seasoned author and dual French-American citizen residing in Seattle, has established herself in the literary world with a diverse array of compelling works. Her short stories, such as Sunday Brunch, have been featured in two University of Washington anthologies. Bretin’s flash fiction piece, Green Lake Man, offers a poignant exploration of COVID-19’s impact and was published in the Bright Flash Literary Review. Another notable work, White Car, was previewed in The Arlington Literary Review (issue 167a).

Her debut novel, Moon Water, is a deeply evocative narrative inspired by the resilience of a French family during and after World War II. Through its pages, Bretin masterfully charts a young woman’s journey to healing and renewal following devastating family loss. She navigates a strained mother-daughter relationship burdened by shared trauma and the lasting impact of unspeakable experiences suffered by women during the war.

Beyond her writing, Dominique is passionate about reading and cooking for friends and is an avid outdoors enthusiast who finds joy in running and hiking. Her literary influences include T.C. Boyle, Kristin Hannah, Gustave Flaubert, and Wally Lamb, reflecting her admiration for layered storytelling and profound character development.

Learn more at dominiquebretin.com.

Jeri Cafesin

J. Cafesin is a bestselling novelist of taut, edgy, modern fiction, filled with complex, compelling characters so real they’ll linger long after the read. Her essays in national publications and her blogs on Medium have been translated into multiple languages and shared globally. A recent empty-nester of two talented, spectacular kids, she lives in the San Francisco Bay area with her husband/BFF, and a bratty, but cute Shepherd pound-hound. Contact Jeri through her website: jcafesin.com.

Recent Pub credits:

Parenting

Asimov’s SF Magazine

The [Lowell] Sun

Better Marketing

Medium

Fate

Illuminations

Wilderness House Lit Review

Salmon Creek Lit Journal

LINKS:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/J.-Cafesin/author/B0049BJ250

Author Website: jcafesin.com

Medium Blog: https://medium.com/@author_jcafesin

Michael J. McClure

Not to be confused with Michael McClure, the late Beat poet, Michael has been writing fiction, poetry, and plays for ages. His urban dark fantasy novel, Nevermoon, was released in 2022.

Michael J. McClure is an accomplished author with a literary background that spans over a decade writing thought-provoking poetry and plays.

Michael’s mission is to breathe new life into fantasy and science fiction novels, vividly representing modern social challenges that include LGBTQIA+ communities and experiences. He lives his dream with a loving husband and two furry companions who bring endless joy and inspiration to his work.

Michael loves hearing from fans! Please reach out!

Author Website: https://www.michaeljmcclure.com

Social Media: https://www.facebook.com/michael.J.mcclure.author

Amazon: Nevermoonamazon.com