2024 Okoboji Writers' Retreat Speakers

All Speakers / meet our speakers

In addition to several returning speakers from previous Okoboji Writers’ Retreats, we have an all-star mix of new expertise. Topics covered include fiction, memoir, nonfiction, editing, blogging, poetry, songwriting, playwriting, column-writing, nuts-and-bolts, storytelling, writing for visual media, marketing, public speaking, and more.

As usual, survey results of participant interest will guide speakers in designing session topics. Planning is still underway.

But, in the meantime, check out the impressive list of speakers (and click to read their bios!) we’ve got onboard already!

Memoir

Arnold Garson

Editor/Reporter/Research

Arnold Garson is a media executive (retired after 46 years in the newspaper business)

Beth Hoffman

Memoir Author

I have written and produced media on food and agriculture for more than 25

Debra Engle

Debra Engle is the bestselling author of five books of non-fiction, including The Only

Fern Kupfer

Author and Columnist

Retired creative writing professor: memoirist, novelist, columnist. ENROLL NOW

Joe Geha

Author

Joseph Geha is the author of the short story collection, Through and Through: Toledo

Kali White VanBaale

Author

Kali White VanBaale is the author of three novels, most recently The Monsters We

Maura Casey

Author and Editorial Writer

Maura Casey spent 35 years as an editorial writer for four newspapers, including the

Rhonda Wiley-Jones

Travel Writer

Rhonda Wiley-Jones published a debut novel, Song of Herself, in 2022, and her coming-of-age

Storytelling

Barry Fitzsimmons

Television Writer and Creative Director

Barry Fitzsimmons is an award-winning television writer and creative director. He's a video/multimedia producer,

Beth Howard

Memoir Author and Documentary Filmmaker

Beth M. Howard is the author of four books, including Making Piece: A Memoir

Carol Guensburg

Editor/Reporter

Carol Guensburg is a longtime editor and reporter, now guiding standards for the Washington-based

Courtney Crowder

Columnist

Courtney is the Iowa Columnist and a senior writer at the Des Moines Register.

Douglas Burns

Journalist

Douglas Burns, the co-founder of Mercury Boost, a media and marketing firm, is a

Fern Kupfer

Author and Columnist

Retired creative writing professor: memoirist, novelist, columnist. ENROLL NOW

Jane Olson

Author & Humanitarian

Jane Olson has volunteered for many decades to promote peace and justice

Joe Geha

Author

Joseph Geha is the author of the short story collection, Through and Through: Toledo

John Dinges

Author and Journalist

John has spent much of his career writing about human rights/dictatorships in Latin America.

Kyle Munson

Journalist and Content Strategist

Kyle Munson is a lifelong writer, journalist, and content strategist who has participated in

Phoebe Wall Howard

Investigative Reporter

Phoebe Wall Howard has worked in the Midwest, Deep South and California covering business,

Rachel Jones

Director of Journalism Initiatives

Rachel is the Director of Journalism Initiatives with the National Press Foundation in Washington,

Fiction

Abena Sankofa Imhotep

Children's Book Author

Abena has presented human rights papers on social impact & responsibility and strategies for

Ellen Won Steil

Author, Mystery

Ellen Won Steil is the bestselling author of Fortune and the forthcoming Becoming Marlow

Grant Faulkner

Author/Exec. Dir. NaNoWriMo

Grant Faulkner is the Executive Director of National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) and the

Justin Roberts

Musician and Author

Five-time GRAMMY Nominee Justin Roberts has helped to create and define the modern family

Nicole Baart

Author

Nicole Baart is the bestselling author of eleven novels, including Everything We Didn’t Say

Scott Garson

Author

A writer, editor, and educator, Scott Garson grew up in Iowa and spent a

Mystery

Ellen Won Steil

Author, Mystery

Ellen Won Steil is the bestselling author of Fortune and the forthcoming Becoming Marlow

Children's Literature

Abena Sankofa Imhotep

Children's Book Author

Abena has presented human rights papers on social impact & responsibility and strategies for

Justin Roberts

Musician and Author

Five-time GRAMMY Nominee Justin Roberts has helped to create and define the modern family

Nonfiction

Beth Hoffman

Memoir Author

I have written and produced media on food and agriculture for more than 25

Carol Guensburg

Editor/Reporter

Carol Guensburg is a longtime editor and reporter, now guiding standards for the Washington-based

Dana James

Newspaper Publisher and Journalist

Dana James is an award-winning writer, who founded Black Iowa News in 2020 and

Douglas Burns

Journalist

Douglas Burns, the co-founder of Mercury Boost, a media and marketing firm, is a

John Dinges

Author and Journalist

John has spent much of his career writing about human rights/dictatorships in Latin America.

Kali White VanBaale

Author

Kali White VanBaale is the author of three novels, most recently The Monsters We

Laura Belin

Columnist

Publisher, editor, and primary reporter for the Iowa political website Bleeding Heartland. Co-host of "Capitol

Lee Rood

Investigative Reporter

Lee Rood created and writes the Watchdog column at the Des Moines Register since

Rachel Jones

Director of Journalism Initiatives

Rachel is the Director of Journalism Initiatives with the National Press Foundation in Washington,

Ty Rushing

Journalist and Documentary Filmmaker

Ty Rushing is a Kansas City, Kansas, native who made a name for himself

Travel Writing

Beth Howard

Memoir Author and Documentary Filmmaker

Beth M. Howard is the author of four books, including Making Piece: A Memoir

Jane Olson

Author & Humanitarian

Jane Olson has volunteered for many decades to promote peace and justice

Rachel Jones

Director of Journalism Initiatives

Rachel is the Director of Journalism Initiatives with the National Press Foundation in Washington,

Rachelle Chase

Author and Journalist

Rachelle's bio is coming soon. In the meantime, visit her website at

Rhonda Wiley-Jones

Travel Writer

Rhonda Wiley-Jones published a debut novel, Song of Herself, in 2022, and her coming-of-age

Opinion

Art Cullen

Publisher, Editor and Columnist

Art Cullen is editor-publisher of the Storm Lake Times Pilot in Northwest Iowa, where

Chris Jones

Opinion Columnist and Author

Chris Jones is retired from the University of Iowa where he researched water quality

Dr. Robert Leonard

Opinion Columnist and Author

Robert Leonard is an occasional contributor to The New York Times, the Kansas City

Maura Casey

Author and Editorial Writer

Maura Casey spent 35 years as an editorial writer for four newspapers, including the

Rekha Basu

Columnist

Thirty-year syndicated Des Moines Register opinion columnist. Previously Editorial writer at Register and Schenectady

Todd Dorman

Editor/Columnist

Todd Dorman is the opinion editor and a columnist for The Gazette in Cedar

Environmental

Chris Jones

Opinion Columnist and Author

Chris Jones is retired from the University of Iowa where he researched water quality

Larry Stone

Author

As a farm kid, I loved to play in the creeks, pastures, and woods

Steve Semken

Book Publisher

Steve began the Ice Cube Press in 1991 with a wish to better understand

Filmmaking

Beth Howard

Memoir Author and Documentary Filmmaker

Beth M. Howard is the author of four books, including Making Piece: A Memoir

Ty Rushing

Journalist and Documentary Filmmaker

Ty Rushing is a Kansas City, Kansas, native who made a name for himself

Screenwriting

Becky Smith

Screenwriter

Becky is a filmmaker/film educator who writes + directs feature films, documentaries, hybrid television

Zach Koepp

Writer-Director

Zach Koepp is a Writer-Director from Okoboji, Iowa. He has lived in Los Angeles

Playwriting

Allison Engel

Author, Journalist, and Playwright

Allison Engel has been a reporter for the Des Moines Tribune, San

Margaret (Peggy) Engel

Author, Columnist and Playwright

Margaret Engel currently directs the Alicia Patterson Journalism Foundation, which gives grants to journalists

Television

Barry Fitzsimmons

Television Writer and Creative Director

Barry Fitzsimmons is an award-winning television writer and creative director. He's a video/multimedia producer,

Becky Smith

Screenwriter

Becky is a filmmaker/film educator who writes + directs feature films, documentaries, hybrid television

Songwriting

Billy Weathers

Hip-Hop Artist and Activist

Billy “B.Well” Weathers is a soulful hip-hop artist and community activist from Des Moines,

Carol Montag

Singer/Songwriter

Carol Montag is an awards winning singer/songwriter from Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She was a

Chad Elliott

Songwriter and Artist

Midwest singer-songwriter Chad Elliott blends folk roots, swampy blues and soulful writing to deliver

Jara Johnson

Singer/Songwriter

Jara Johnson is a singer/songwriter originally fromClarinda

Jason Walsmith

Songwriter/Musician

Jason's bio is coming soon! In the meantime, please visit his website at

Justin Roberts

Musician and Author

Five-time GRAMMY Nominee Justin Roberts has helped to create and define the modern family

Kevin “Brother Shucker” Brooks

Songwriter/Musician

As a lifelong sailor, songwriter/musician, Kevin “Brother Shucker” Brooks brings a rich musical and

Paul Micich

Musician and Artist

Paul Micich can’t decide, and besides, he doesn’t want to. So, he’s an artist

Poetry

Caleb Rainey

Spoken Word Poet

Caleb “The Negro Artist” Rainey is an author, performer, and producer. His debut book,

Kelsey Bigelow

Poet

In her work, Kelsey molds incredibly specific emotions into something human, digestible, and cathartic.

Entertainment Coverage

Ann Hornaday

Movie Critic

Ann Hornaday grew up in Des Moines, Iowa and graduated cum laude with a

Jay Stahl

Entertainment Reporter

Jay Stahl is an entertainment reporter at the Des Moines Register. He joined Iowa's

Research

Promotion

Barry Fitzsimmons

Television Writer and Creative Director

Barry Fitzsimmons is an award-winning television writer and creative director. He's a video/multimedia producer,

Chip Webster

Business Consultant

Chip has a proven track record of building and leading teams. Since 1987 he

All Speakers / meet our speakers

Memoir

Storytelling

Fiction

Mystery

Children's Literature

Nonfiction

Travel Writing

Opinion

Environmental

Filmmaking

Screenwriting

Playwriting

Television

Songwriting

Poetry

Entertainment Coverage

Research

Promotion

Publishing