In this post, we’re looking back at the 2025 Mendocino Coast Writers’ Conference. What a tremendous honor and opportunity it is for us to welcome old friends and new faces to Mendocino for three days of workshops, seminars, readings, open mics, and panels.
Executive Director Lisa Locascio Nighthawk at Crown Hall - Photo by: Mimi Carroll
This year, we granted 20 scholarships and we awarded 18 writers through our annual contest. We welcomed participants from as far away as Italy, and as near as Fort Bragg.
Hybrid Genre Workshop with Tomas Moniz - Photo by: Mimi Carroll
We kicked-off the conference with our faculty at The Brickery, and then they read to a packed house of conference participants and local attendees on Thursday and Friday night. Thanks to our wonderful booksellers Gallery Bookshop, our friends at Crown Hall, and the K8 School in Mendocino for their support. We celebrated our closing dinner with food from local favorite, Los Gallitos, and an inspiring keynote address from Byron F. Aspaas.
Standing Ovation for Byron F. Aspaas Keynote Address - Photo by: Mimi Carroll
We were delighted to convene once again on the magical Mendocino coast and hold a space together for writers to find opportunity, expertise, and friendship. We offer thanks to our faculty, dedicated Board, and our 2026 volunteers.
MCWC Volunteers - Photo by: Mimi Carroll
In the post below, you can meet the scholarship winners, learn who won the contest, and we’ll also give you a chance for an early registration discount for next year’s conference. We hope to see you there!
MCWC Board and Executive Director - Photo by: Mimi Carroll
From one scholarship recipient:
“MCWC exceeded all of my expectations. My workshop was so inspiring. All the participants were generous with their time, the discussions were energizing, and I found everyone's feedback thoughtful and constructive. I made friends during the conference that I think will last; something that I am always looking for in the writing community. I truly grew so much as a writer in three short days.”
MCWC 2025 - Photo by: Mimi Carroll
SAVE THE DATES!
Save the dates! Our next conference will take place from July 30 - August 1, 2026. Scholarship and Master Class applications will be available in January 2026. General Registration will open in April 2026.
Photo by: Mimi Carroll
Can’t wait until next year? Save $75 and Pre-Register.
We’re offering the opportunity to Pre-Register from now until October 31, 2025. Pre-Registration allows you to hold your spot for $200 in the workshop of your choice and save $75 on the tuition price. You will be contacted in March to confirm participation and your Workshop and make the remainder of your payment. You are eligible for a refund on your deposit until April 1. Full price tuition is $875 and Pre-Registration offers it to you for $800.
MEET OUR 2025 SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS!
We are thrilled to share that 20 writers were selected to join us in Mendocino for the 2025 conference as scholarship recipients. Thanks to our generous donors, our scholarship winners have been granted full tuition for the conference. Many were also being assisted with travel and housing accommodations. Below is a list of winners:
Albertina Tholakele Dube Scholarship - Dani Putney
Albertina Tholakele Dube Scholarship - Grace Crouthamel
Albertina Tholakele Dube Scholarship - Lucas Escoto
Albertina Tholakele Dube Scholarship - Marc Huerta Osborn
Albertina Tholakele Dube Scholarship (High School) - Grey Simerson
Albertina Tholakele Dube Scholarship (High School) - Citlali Coral Andrade Ake
Albertina Tholakele Dube Scholarship (High School) - Elizabeth Dodge
Albertina Tholakele Dube Scholarship (High School) - Elle Jimenez-Potter
Albertina Tholakele Dube Scholarship (High School) - Emily Soto
Anne G. Locascio Memorial Scholarship - Carrie Lynn Hawthorne
Anne G. Locascio Memorial Scholarship - Xander Beattie
Anne G. Locascio Memorial Scholarship - Eric Boyd
Anne G. Locascio Memorial Scholarship - Mahru Elahi
Ginny Rorby MG/YA Scholarship - Molly Montgomery
Margaret Speaker Yuan Memorial Scholarship - Kersten Tanner
Marion Deeds Scholarship - Mary Elis Tharin
Nella Larsen Memorial Scholarship - Shaquam Edwards
Octavia Butler Memorial Scholarship for Speculative Fiction - Logan Hoffman-Smith
Norma Watkins Scholarship - Jason Prokowiew
Teresa Connelly First Taste Scholarship - Des DeVivo
We also received support to establish a new scholarship for a chicanx/latinx poet in the name of the late Vicente Zeta Colacion. We look forward to granting this scholarship for the 2026 conference.
CONTEST WINNERS
This year, we awarded 18 writers who submitted to our annual contest. Winners had the opportunity to read their work at the conference, received a credit to our Gallery Bookshop pop-up, and will be considered for publication in Noyo Review, the literary journal of the Mendocino Coast Writers’ Conference. Below are the 2025 winners:
MEMOIR
First Place: Jason Prokowiew, It’s All Gone
Second Place: Hellin Kay, The Punk & the Socialites
Third Place: Zoe Engel, Eggs
MG/YA
First Place: Phoebe Shang, The Fifth Inclusion
SHORT STORY
First place: Des DeVivo, We’re Here
Second place: Candace Coulombe, Vital Statistics
Third place: Gabino Cabanilla, Gumbo Time
Honorable Mention: Carrie Lynn Hawthorne, The Tigress
SPECULATIVE FICTION
First Place: Amanda Brady Ford, Black Orchid
Second Place: Mary Elis Tharin, Echo
Third Place: Alyssa Ho, The Exam
Honorable Mention: Grace Crouthamel, Toska
NOVEL
First Place: Molly Montgomery, Daughters of the Harvest Moon
Second Place: Jackie Ashton, Wild Heart Calling
Third Place: Xander Beattie, Flailing
Honorable Mention: Kersten Tanner, Scotland to California
POETRY
First Place: Dani Putney, Explorers of Darkness
Second Place: Marc Huerta Osborn, I am out and about in my outing
Third Place: Amanda Cruise, The crocodiles that raised me
Honorable Mention: Robin Michel, Seeing the Saltair Pavilion From the Shore of the Great Salt Lake
NONFICTION
First Place: Tamara Catto, What They Told Me
Second Place: Lauren Oertel, Caught in the Headlights
SUPPORT MCWC!
MCWC has a profound impact on the lives of our participants. Our conference offers expertise, opportunity and friendship to writers at all levels. Thanks to our welcoming atmosphere, many of our authors choose to return year after year, developing a special relationship with both the Conference but and the Mendocino Coast. Writers young and old experience the joy and fulfillment of an entire weekend dedicated to literary craft in a location of unparalleled natural grandeur. Help us continue this work and make a contribution today.
Photo by: Mimi Carroll