As the year comes to a close, we are thrilled to share some exciting publication news from friends, former faculty, and past participants of the Mendocino Coast Writers’ Conference. Join us in celebrating these amazing accomplishments from our community!
In other news, MCWC is actively seeking new volunteer board members to support the mission and needs of the conference and staff.
Minimum participation requirements for an MCWC Board Member include:
- Be available to participate in monthly virtual meetings, the conference itself, and the annual retreat following the conference.
- Be responsible for at least one specific task that is necessary for a successful conference.
- Have a cheerful and can-do attitude toward board work.
- Agree with our core commitment to social justice which values the diversity of views, expertise, opinions, backgrounds, and experiences reflected among all faculty, speakers, staff, attendees, and volunteers. We intentionally support the voices of under-represented individuals and groups.
Contact president@mcwc.org to learn more and apply.
Congratulations to all and continued, happy writing!
MCWC Team
Community NEws
Jan M. Flynn, MCWC alum from 2016, has two middle-grade fantasies published by Disney-Hyperion Books. The first, Griffin Speaker, released in May 2026, and is now in its second printing. Its sequel, Griffin Rider is forthcoming in May 2027 (available for preorder now).
Alexia Nader's debut novel, The Meaning of Daughter (part of which was workshopped at MCWC with Ariel Gore) was published in September 2026 by University of Iowa Press.
Pallavi Wakharkar, a past MCWC attendee, has a debut novel, Housesitting, coming out from Flatiron in 2027.
Kat Lewis, another past MCWC attendee, has a debut novel, Good People, forthcoming in 2027 from Simon & Schuster.
Catherine Marshall, longtime participant/supporter of MCWC has a new memoir, No Longer Needed, that just released this month, November 2026!
Lauren Oertel has a debut full-length poetry collection, Scars and Other Luxuries, publishing November 2026 from Finishing Line Press (many of the poems in it were written and/or workshopped at MCWC!).
MCWC alum and our 2026 conference’s multi-talented photographer Hellin Kay has a memoir LOVE FASHION SEX CHAOS publishing November 2027 from Clash Books.
GOT NEWS? We love celebrating the successes of the MCWC community! If you have news you'd like to share, please send it to info@mcwc.org.
Noyo Review Now Open for Submissions
The Mendocino Coast Writers' Conference literary journal, Noyo Review, is open for submissions! We are excited to read your poems and works of fiction and nonfiction.
Our open call is for faculty and participants of the 2026 Mendocino Coast Writers' Conference in any genre. Please submit only one piece of prose or up to five (5) poems. All poems should be submitted in a single document. Fiction and creative nonfiction may be up to 5,000 words. Please include a third-person bio of up to 150 words and send your submission as a Word or PDF file to noyoreview@gmail.com with the genre + title of your work in the subject line (e.g. "Poetry + "Poem Title(s)").
Submissions will be accepted through December 15, 2026. Simultaneous submissions are accepted. Please let us know if your work is accepted elsewhere.
We look forward to reading your work!
Support MCWC
As a micro non-profit arts organization managed by a tiny-but-mighty team of two part-time staff and a handful of hardworking volunteer board members, our beloved, handmade conference would not be what it is today without the enduring support of writers (and lovers of literature) like you. Please consider making a contribution so that we may continue this important work.
Mailed donations can also be sent to:
MCWC
PO Box 2087
Fort Bragg, CA 95437