Meet the 2025 Faculty
Angie Hodapp
Angie Hodapp is the Director of Literary Development at Nelson Literary Agency. She holds a BA in English and secondary education from the University of Northern Colorado and an MA in English and communication development from Colorado State University. A graduate of the Publishing Institute at the University of Denver, she has worked in professional writing, editing, and education for more than twenty years. A frequent presenter at writing conferences and events, and the author of Query Craft and Do You Need a Literary Agent (plus a bunch of short stories and comic books for a couple video-game companies), she loves helping writers improve their craft and learn about the ever-changing world of publishing.
Angie Hodapp is the Director of Literary Development at Nelson Literary Agency. She holds a BA in English and secondary education from the University of Northern Colorado and an MA in English and communication development from Colorado State University. A graduate of the Publishing Institute at the University of Denver, she has worked in professional writing, editing, and education for more than twenty years. A frequent presenter at writing conferences and events, and the author of Query Craft and Do You Need a Literary Agent (plus a bunch of short stories and comic books for a couple video-game companies), she loves helping writers improve their craft and learn about the ever-changing world of publishing.
January Gill O'Neil
January Gill O'Neil is an associate professor at Salem State University and the author of Glitter Road (2024), Rewilding (2018), Misery Islands (2014), and Underlife (2009), all published by CavanKerry Press. Glitter Road was a finalist for the 2024 New England Book Award. From 2012-2018, she served as the executive director of the Massachusetts Poetry Festival. Her poems and articles have appeared in The New York Times Magazine, the Academy of American Poets’ Poem-A-Day series, American Poetry Review, The Nation, Poetry, and Sierra magazine, among others. Her poem, “At the Rededication of the Emmett Till Memorial,” was a co-winner of the 2022 Allen Ginsberg Poetry Award from the Poetry Center at Passaic County Community College. The recipient of fellowships from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, Cave Canem, and the Barbara Deming Memorial Fund, O'Neil was the 2019-2020 John and Renée Grisham Writer-in-Residence at the University of Mississippi, Oxford. She currently serves as the 2022-2025 board chair of the Association of Writers and Writing Programs (AWP). O'Neil earned her BA from Old Dominion University and her MFA from New York University. She lives in Beverly, MA.
January Gill O'Neil is an associate professor at Salem State University and the author of Glitter Road (2024), Rewilding (2018), Misery Islands (2014), and Underlife (2009), all published by CavanKerry Press. Glitter Road was a finalist for the 2024 New England Book Award. From 2012-2018, she served as the executive director of the Massachusetts Poetry Festival. Her poems and articles have appeared in The New York Times Magazine, the Academy of American Poets’ Poem-A-Day series, American Poetry Review, The Nation, Poetry, and Sierra magazine, among others. Her poem, “At the Rededication of the Emmett Till Memorial,” was a co-winner of the 2022 Allen Ginsberg Poetry Award from the Poetry Center at Passaic County Community College. The recipient of fellowships from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, Cave Canem, and the Barbara Deming Memorial Fund, O'Neil was the 2019-2020 John and Renée Grisham Writer-in-Residence at the University of Mississippi, Oxford. She currently serves as the 2022-2025 board chair of the Association of Writers and Writing Programs (AWP). O'Neil earned her BA from Old Dominion University and her MFA from New York University. She lives in Beverly, MA.
Mark Stevens
The son of two librarians, Mark Stevens was raised in Lincoln, Massachusetts, and has worked as a reporter, as a national television news producer and in public relations. Stevens is the author of the forthcoming No Lie Lasts Forever (Thomas & Mercer, 2025) and The Fireballer (Lake Union, 2023) He is also the author of The Allison Coil Mystery Series including Antler Dust, Buried by the Roan, Trapline, Lake of Fire, and The Melancholy Howl. Buried by the Roan, Trapline, and Lake of Fire were all finalists for the Colorado Book Award. Trapline won. Stevens has had short stories published by Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, Mystery Tribune, and in Denver Noir (Akashic Books, 2022). Denver Noir went on to win the Colorado Book Award for Best Anthology in 2023. In 2016 and again in 2023, Stevens was named Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers’ Writer of the Year. Stevens hosts a regular podcast for Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers. (YouTube version here; online podcast page here or search for Rocky Mountain Writer on your favorite podcast platform). Stevens has served as president of the Rocky Mountain chapter for Mystery Writers of America.
The son of two librarians, Mark Stevens was raised in Lincoln, Massachusetts, and has worked as a reporter, as a national television news producer and in public relations. Stevens is the author of the forthcoming No Lie Lasts Forever (Thomas & Mercer, 2025) and The Fireballer (Lake Union, 2023) He is also the author of The Allison Coil Mystery Series including Antler Dust, Buried by the Roan, Trapline, Lake of Fire, and The Melancholy Howl. Buried by the Roan, Trapline, and Lake of Fire were all finalists for the Colorado Book Award. Trapline won. Stevens has had short stories published by Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, Mystery Tribune, and in Denver Noir (Akashic Books, 2022). Denver Noir went on to win the Colorado Book Award for Best Anthology in 2023. In 2016 and again in 2023, Stevens was named Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers’ Writer of the Year. Stevens hosts a regular podcast for Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers. (YouTube version here; online podcast page here or search for Rocky Mountain Writer on your favorite podcast platform). Stevens has served as president of the Rocky Mountain chapter for Mystery Writers of America.
Lisa C. Taylor
Lisa C. Taylor holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Stonecoast/University of Southern Maine. She has three published collections of poetry, two published collections of short stories, and her debut novel, The Shape of What Remains (February, 2025). Lisa’s honors include the Elizabeth Shanley Gerson Lecture in Irish Literature with Irish writer Geraldine Mills, a Surdna Arts Fellowship that enabled her to spend a summer in Ireland, a Hugo House New Works Fiction Award, Pushcart nominations in fiction and poetry, and Best-of-the-Net nominations in fiction and poetry. She’s received writing residencies from the Tyrone Guthrie Centre in Ireland, Vermont Studio Center, and Willowtail Springs in Colorado. Her work has appeared in anthologies and numerous literary journals. Lisa formerly taught creative writing at a university and an arts magnet high school. She currently teaches online, presents at writing conferences nationwide, and co-directs the Mesa Verde Writers Conference with writer Mark Stevens.
Lisa C. Taylor holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Stonecoast/University of Southern Maine. She has three published collections of poetry, two published collections of short stories, and her debut novel, The Shape of What Remains (February, 2025). Lisa’s honors include the Elizabeth Shanley Gerson Lecture in Irish Literature with Irish writer Geraldine Mills, a Surdna Arts Fellowship that enabled her to spend a summer in Ireland, a Hugo House New Works Fiction Award, Pushcart nominations in fiction and poetry, and Best-of-the-Net nominations in fiction and poetry. She’s received writing residencies from the Tyrone Guthrie Centre in Ireland, Vermont Studio Center, and Willowtail Springs in Colorado. Her work has appeared in anthologies and numerous literary journals. Lisa formerly taught creative writing at a university and an arts magnet high school. She currently teaches online, presents at writing conferences nationwide, and co-directs the Mesa Verde Writers Conference with writer Mark Stevens.
Previous conferences faculties:
2024 Faculty: Alyse Knorr, Anita Mumm, Mark Stevens, Lisa C. Taylor
2023 Faculty: Alan McMonagle, Nick Arvin, Lisa C. Taylor, Mark Stevens
2024 Faculty: Alyse Knorr, Anita Mumm, Mark Stevens, Lisa C. Taylor
2023 Faculty: Alan McMonagle, Nick Arvin, Lisa C. Taylor, Mark Stevens