Staff and Board

 

 

Staff

Katharine Herndon, James River Writers Executive Director

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Katharine Herndon was a fan of James River Writers even before they hired her. She has attended every conference and well over a hundred Writing Shows. She was on the board in a variety of roles, including executive secretary, co-chair of the 2011 conference committee, and membership chair. She has earned a 120-hour certificate in Nonprofit Management and completed the Emerging Nonprofit Leadership Program. Throughout her time with JRW, she has prioritized service to the literary community, and has served as a judge for the Virginia High School League and the local Scholastic awards, as well as being a panelist for selecting the Visual Arts Center of Richmond’s first Writer in Residence, Richmond’s first Poet Laureate, and the Virginia Commission for the Arts\’ Artist Fellowship in Poetry. Katharine’s work has been published by RVA indie press Sink/Swim in The Great Richmond Zombie Book and appears in the anthology River Town, and the Richmond-based anthology River City Secrets. She is a graduate of the University of Central Florida, Davidson College, and St. Catherine’s School. (@kaherndon)


Katharine Herndon, James River Writers Executive Director

DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS AND COMMUNICATIONS

Brynn Markham is passionate about making connections to people and organizations in ways that strengthen communities and amplify the talents of its citizens. Prior to joining JRW, she was able to see the impact of James River Writers through her work with Richmond’s PBS and NPR stations. In her communications and outreach role, she was thrilled to champion award-winning projects and events that connected public media audiences to national content through partnerships with Richmond’s nonprofit community. Prior to her tenure at WCVE PBS/NPR, Brynn worked with First Book, helping children in underserved areas gain access to books to tackle the literacy gap. Before having her son and changing her career path, she worked as a Senior Accountant in Orlando, Florida, for a national Real Estate Investment Trust for 8 years. She studied accounting at the University of Central Florida, and then Nonprofit Management at VCU. Her love of writing and books began in high school when she penned a weekly column in her local newspaper and continued into adulthood when she dabbled in blogging.  More about Brynn HERE.


Katharine Herndon, James River Writers Executive Director

MEMBERSHIP DIRECTOR

Catie-Reagan King, Ed.D. comes to JRW as an experienced editor, researcher, and strategist with a demonstrated history of working in the design and creative industries. She received a bachelor\’s degree in Theatre Arts from Virginia Tech before completing a master\’s program in Strategic Design and Management at Parsons School of Design. She also completed a doctorate from Baylor University. She\’s joined by her two savvy assistants, Olivia, a tortoiseshell cat, and Junie B. Jones, a calico cutie. More about Catie-Reagan HERE.


Katharine Herndon, James River Writers Executive Director

MEMBERSHIP COORDINATOR

Jamie King is an experienced database and project manager having worked primarily in the film and television industry. He most recently worked as an Extras Casting Associate on projects such as Madam Web, Hocus Pocus 2, and Swagger, among others. A VCU-alum, Jamie is plugged into the Richmond community and is excited to help writers amplify their voices with the help of his trusty canine sidekick, Lobo.


Board of Directors

Suzan McKenzie, Writer and James River Writers Board Member

BOARD CHAIR

Dr. DaNika Neblett Robinson is the author of The Metamorphic Journey, a novella that explores three teenage mothers’ quest to succeed. This fictional work is based on her experiences of becoming a teen mom, first-generation college student, and ultimately the recipient of multiple academic degrees, including master’s and doctoral degrees. The Metamorphic Journey is also the name of a movement that DaNika founded to foster individuals’ personal growth. Additionally, she is the founder of Wailing Women Ministries, a nonprofit organization that provides book scholarships to female high school seniors. DaNika is a higher education administrator and expert in transformational leadership who speaks widely about the benefits of diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, justice, and leadership in the workplace. She also coauthored an anthology, On Womanhood: Connecting and Thriving in Every Season, featuring personal essays penned by women ages 21 to 72.


Julie Valerie, Writer and James River Writers Board Member

VICE CHAIR

Ran Walker is the author of twenty-one books. His short stories, flash fiction, microfiction, and poetry have appeared in a variety of anthologies and journals. He is the winner of the Indie Author Project\’s 2019 National Indie Author of the Year Award (selected by judges from Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, IngramSpark, St. Martin\’s Press, and Writer\’s Digest), the 2019 Black Caucus of the American Library Association Best Fiction Ebook Award, and the 2018 Virginia Indie Author Project Award for Adult Fiction.  Ran has taught workshops across the country, including Writer\’s Digest conferences in both New York and L.A., and is an Assistant Professor of English and Creative Writing at Hampton University.  Prior to becoming a writer and educator, he worked in magazine publishing and practiced law in Mississippi.


 

Robin Farmer, Journalist, Author, JRW Board Member

TREASURER 

Dae Newman has had a love of books and storytelling since they were a child. They write fantasy and science fiction as well as occasionally dabbling in poetry, screenwriting, and essays. They have been involved with JRW since 2015, where they quickly found a vibrant, diverse, and supportive writing community. Initially a regular attendee of JRW\’s weekly Writers Farmhouse meet-ups, they soon became a member of JRW and eventually a volunteer. Attending the annual conference has become a tradition. Dae works as an administrative assistant at VCU, where they are in the process of earning their M.Ed in Educational Leadership. They also hold a BA in English from VCU.

 
 
Robin Farmer, Journalist, Author, JRW Board Member

SECRETARY

Alethea McCollin is a playwright, producer, director, and shoe addict. She has produced her work locally and has presented them at various theatre festivals nationally. Her most recent production is of The Stilettos Monologue – a show that celebrates women – runs for three nights September 30 – October 01, 2022. Alethea is a member of the Dramatist Guild, and Virginia Screenwriters Forum, and also serves on several local boards. Alethea loves working out, is a passionate gardener, and loves to bake, though she says, she still hasn’t mastered either pastime.


 

Rachel Beanland, James River Writers Board Member

BOARD MEMBER 

Rachel Beanland is the author of the forthcoming novel, The House Is On Fire, which will be published by Simon & Schuster in April 2023. Her debut novel, Florence Adler Swims Forever, was selected as a book club pick by Barnes & Noble, a featured debut by Amazon, an Indie Next pick by the American Booksellers Association, and one of the best books of 2020 by USA Today. It was also named a New York Times Editors’ Choice and was recognized with the 2020 National Jewish Book Award for Debut Fiction (Greenberg Prize). To date, it has been published or is forthcoming in nine countries. Rachel’s writing has also appeared in Lit Hub, Business Insider, Creative Nonfiction, and Broad Street, among other places. She is a graduate of the University of South Carolina and earned her MFA in creative writing from Virginia Commonwealth University. Rachel lives in Richmond, Virginia, with herfamily.


Mike Christos, James River Writers Board Member

BOARD MEMBER

Rosa Castellano is a writer and teacher whose work has been supported with a year-long fellowship from the Visual Arts Center of Richmond and by Tin House. She received an MFA in poetry from Virginia Commonwealth University and in 2021 was a finalist for Cave Canem’s Starshine and Clay Fellowship. Her work can be found or is forth coming at the South Hampton Review, Alternating Current Press and EcoTheo Review.

 

Suzan McKenzie, Writer and James River Writers Board Member

BOARD MEMBER

Hollee Freeman, PhD, is an award-winning and nationally certified educator who has worked for over three decades in K-12 schools, at the undergraduate and graduate levels, and in administration. She is also an author, photographer, and beekeeper who uses her creative and professional endeavors to create space and cultivate learning experiences for adults and students.

Dr. Freeman develops curricula, delivers keynote speeches, and conducts educational workshops. Her academic work has been featured in books, podcasts, and in articles focusing on educational reform, teaching practices, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) and DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion).

Dr. Freeman is a self-published author of five children’s books, and, for the Boston Public Schools, she has written sixteen nonfiction readers. She has also developed customized curricula for businesses, schools, and educational organizations. Dr. Freeman has created a short, independent film focused on her experiences as a beekeeper.

 

Dr. Freeman has shared her work around creating space for learning in STEM contexts through speaking engagements at TEDx RVA, Creative Mornings RVA, and the Richmond Public Arts Alliance, to name a few. She is the owner and operator of Freeman Educational & Business Consulting LLC, Hollee Freeman Photography, and the Hollee Freeman Foundation. Dr. Freeman is also the co-curator of City Bees RVA, an ecological and experienced-based program focused on environmental sustainability and honeybees.


 

Suzan McKenzie, Writer and James River Writers Board Member

BOARD MEMBER

Terry Menefee Gau is an accomplished actor & writer, as well as a non-profit professional for the past twenty years.  She has a varied theatre and film resume, spanning over twenty-five years as an actor, producer, writer, and director.  Terry is a proud member of the Virginia Screenwriters’ Forum and has several award-winning scripts under her belt.  She also works at VPM as an events manager in Community Engagement. Terry received her M.Div. and MACE from Union Presbyterian Seminary, focusing in Narrative and Film Theology, and she has a B.S. in Mathematics from James Madison University.  She loves the dichotomy of art and logic, spirit and reason. (@TerryGau)


 

Suzan McKenzie, Writer and James River Writers Board Member

BOARD MEMBER

 Dr. Laura Q. Jimenez is a speculative fiction author, scientist, and professor in the heartland of Virginia. Her short fiction has appeared in a Dragon Soul Press anthology, and her dieselpunk-fairytale “Piper” was the editor’s top choice for that year. Her poetry has also appeared in the Horror Writers of America Poetry Showcase. She is a member of James River Writers and a Municipal Liaison for the Richmond chapter of NaNoWriMo. She’s one of those rare breeds who is not afraid to speak in front of crowds, as her scientific career has seen her lecture and present to groups ranging from 10 to 100.

 

Dean King, award-winning nonfiction author

BOARD MEMBER

Tracey Livesay’s latest release, American Royalty is a dangerously sexy rom-com that evokes the real life romance between Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan Markle, and is one of the most buzzed about books of 2022. She’s the 2021 Emma Award winner for Best Interracial Romance for Like Lovers Do, which was also named one of the 100 Best Fiction Books of 2020 by Kirkus Reviews. In addition to being named to USA Today’s list of “100 Black Novelists You Should Read,” she’s been featured in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune, Entertainment Weekly and on CBS This Morning. A former criminal defense attorney, Tracey lives in Virginia with her husband–who she met on the very first day of law school–and their three children. 


 

Suzan McKenzie, Writer and James River Writers Board Member

BOARD MEMBER

During his career in public service Mark Slauter authored and co-authored 75 technical reports and documents with the occasional article in various environmental publications. His first published personal work in 1984 was a poem titled \\\”A Piece Of Fall,\\\” which has long since been lost to the minions of the Muse. Apart from music copyrights, Mark has one self-published work of non-fiction released in 2017. Over his career he has managed about $400M in projects and programs, and was involved with managing regional and national conferences. His most recent endeavor is an entertainment start-up, which has hosted three concerts in the country of Colombia. Like most writers his WIP list continues to grow. (@MarkSlauter)


 

Ron Smith, Poet and James River Writers Advisory Board Member

BOARD MEMBER

Alexander Trivas taught English and Global Studies in independent schools for over 20 years in both Baltimore and Los Angeles. While he is not working on his own writing or editing his wife\’s manuscripts, he runs The Food Monsters, an educational and health company that teaches kids and families about the confusing, secretive, and sometimes dangerous fake ingredients lurking in their foods. He also co-leads curated food and writing experiences at various ethnic restaurants in Richmond. Alex serves on the board of Get Lit: Words Ignite, a Los Angeles based spoken word organization which aims to ignite a passion for poetry in the community. He holds his undergraduate degree from The University of Pennsylvania and his master’s degree in Education and Writing from Johns Hopkins University. He lives in Richmond with his wife Tracy and his two daughters.