Meet the folks who MAKE IT ALL HAPPEN

Hi, I’m Greg! I’m the author of Leg: The Story of a Limb and The Boy Who Grew from It (2023) and The Book Incubator’s current memoirist-in-residence. I’m a National Endowment for the Arts Fellow in Prose and graduate of the Michener Center for Writers. My work has appeared in The Best American Essays and been supported by MacDowell and the Corporation of Yaddo. I live with my husband, our son, and our dog in Austin, TX.

Hi, I’m Mary! I’m the author of the novels When You Read This (an Indie Next Pick and “Best Book of 2019” by Good Housekeeping), Privilege (a Today.com “Best Summer Read”), and Palm Beach (a New York Post “Best Book of 2021” and described by the Associated Press as “like a sandy beach, equal parts beautiful and uncomfortable”). My memoir, You Might Feel a Little Pressure, was released in 2025 through an independent press I co-founded, Third Rail Press.

My books have been published in 13 countries, and my writing has appeared in The New York Times, The Atlantic, Slate, and more.

In 2021, after years of navigating the world of novel-writing and publishing through random classes and trial-and-error, I founded The Book Incubator™, an MFA-alternative program that has helped hundreds of writers finish their books in just 12 months (with a 95% completion rate!) and continues to support them through publication—forever.

When I’m not writing, I’m likely building a fort with my 7-year-old son Finn, indulging in an overpriced Lush bath bomb, or binge-watching reality TV. I live in Dallas, where I spend my free time attempting to domesticate a stubborn tabby cat.

My books have been featured on “Best Of” lists by Good Housekeeping, Today.com, and The New York Post, among others.

Hi, I’m Rufi!

I’m author of the novels The Knockout Queen (Pen/Faulkner Finalist), Dear Fang, With Love, The Girls from Corona Del Mar (long listed for Dylan Thomas Prize & First Novel Prize), and Margo’s Got Money Troubles (finalist for the 2024 Kirkus Prize for Fiction, winner of the Clark Fiction Prize, and now an AppleTV mini-series).

I live in California with my husband, two sons, and a highly opinionated bull terrier named Coco.

I grew up in Southern California, the only child of a single mom who read (and still reads! And writes!) voraciously. I was kind of an unhappy and weenie-ish child, and books were my salvation. I got my MFA in Creative Writing from UVA in Virginia, where I waited tables to make money. After graduate school I started teaching academic writing at the college level and found I loved it.

When Mary invited me to teach for The Book Incubator™️, it literally felt like a dream come true. She and I have a really similar pedagogical approach grounded in the fundamental belief that writing is a teachable skill. It isn’t something only 1 in 1,000 people can do. Being a storyteller is a common gift. Your uncle who makes everyone laugh is a storyteller, your most gossipy friend is a storyteller…and if you’re here, you’re probably one, too. What makes a good writer isn’t talent. It isn’t being special or chosen or profoundly gifted. What makes a good storyteller is being someone who loves stories. 

If you write a good enough book, eventually someone will publish it, even if you have zero connections. I believe this with my heart and soul, because it happened to me, and I’ve seen it happen for countless students. 

I can’t wait to help you bring your book to life.

My debut novel The Slip (Simon & Schuster) was the winner of the 2025 Kirkus Prize for Fiction. It was also a national bestseller, one of Washington Post’s 10 Best Books of 2025, one of New York Times Book Review’s 100 Notable Books of 2025, and a NBCC John Leonard Prize Finalist, among other honors. I earned an MFA in Creative Writing from UT Austin and a BA from Duke, where Mary and I met as freshmen and began a lifetime of mischief. I live in Austin with my husband, the writer Greg Marshall, our son Oscar, and our dog Zeus, who is tied with Alle’s dog for best dog in the world.

A freelance editor based in New York, I spent over a decade as an acquiring editor at Penguin Random House, where I worked on bestselling titles such as Samantha Irby's We Are Never Meeting in Real Life and Jennifer McMahon's The Winter People. Before that, I was part of the team at The Book of the Month Club, where I evaluated thousands of titles for club inclusion. Books I’ve edited have appeared on the bestseller lists of The New York Times, USA Today, and ABA IndieBound.

I’m the Founder and Chief Publisher of Third Rail Press, an independent publishing house devoted to sharing the untold stories from women’s lives. I’m the author of the memoir Blue Hour Homecoming: Finding Life on the Fringes of Reproduction, which is a 2026 finalist for the Independent Book Publishers Association Bill Fisher Award for Best First Book. I live in New Mexico with my three children and the best dog in the world.

I spent nearly a decade with literary agency Sanford J. Greenburger Associates, where I worked with a wide range of clients from Big Five authors and self-published authors. As an author myself, I have also published four YA novels: The Art of Wishing duology (Penguin Random House); The Pros of Cons (Scholastic); and Rocks Fall, Everyone Dies (Penguin Random House), which was nominated for an Andre Norton Nebula Award. HarperCollins will publish my next book, a queer YA horror novel, in summer 2027. While I have worked editorially across a wide range of genres, my sweet spots are Sci Fi, Fantasy, and anything Young Adult. 

Hi! I am a published author of 25 children's stories and 2 Chicken Soup for the Soul stories. My debut middle-grade novel, Premonition: The Gift, was released in May 2024 under my pen name, E.C. Quinn. I’m currently querying my first adult novel, a psychological thriller.

When I’m not writing or working with writers in The Book Incubator™️, I enjoy reading, running, traveling with my husband to visit our kids and extended family, and hanging out with our menagerie of pets, including one energetic rescue dog and three cats (two sweet as pie, one naughty as can be).

Hi! My debut novel, MAGGIE MAYBE, will be published by Gallery Books (an imprint of Simon & Schuster) in early 2028.

I have my BA in English Literature and my MS in Holistic Nutrition, and I wrote my first novel In The Book Incubator before joining the team.

I live with my husband and three teenage kids in New Mexico. I’m obsessed with good books, and I share everything I read on Instgram @heystephwebb.

Hi! I write middle grade and young adult fiction. My debut young adult novel, Rapid City Summer, was released on May 1, 2025. As a middle school English teacher and cross country/track coach, I love writing for these age groups.

I’ve published articles and blog posts for the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) and Scribbler.

While a member of The Book Incubator™, I won Scribbler’s Synopsis competition.

When I am not working or writing, I enjoy reading, running, fishing (especially fly fishing and ice fishing!), and making delicious meals for my friends and family. I love sharing what I’ve learned with writers.Hi! I write middle grade and young adult fiction. My debut young adult novel, Rapid City Summer, was released on May 1, 2025. As a middle school English teacher and cross country/track coach, I love writing for these age groups.

I’ve published articles and blog posts for the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) and Scribbler.

While a member of The Book Incubator™, I won Scribbler’s Synopsis competition.

When I am not working or writing, I enjoy reading, running, fishing (especially fly fishing and ice fishing!), and making delicious meals for my friends and family. I love sharing what I’ve learned with writers.

Hi! My name sounds like "Joelle" and I graduated from The Book Incubator in September of 2023. I'm very happy to join as Writer Support Specialist and mentor.

I have a bachelor's degree in sciences and a master's degree in the arts and I've worked in an almost comically diverse range of fields over the last 3+ decades. I'm currently a business owner, mom of two dancers, and a servant of two needy, but glorious, pugs.

I am an enthusiastic reader and writer of YA novels, and I enjoy that the genre helps make me feel younger than I actually am. With the wisdom and support of The Book Incubator, I actually have a real book completed that is ready to go out into the world.

When I'm not working, writing, or driving my girls to the dance studio, I love to plan and take vacations. My favourite places are Hakodate, Ubud, Essaouira, and the 5th arrondissement of Paris. I also make sure to appreciate the fact that my little spot in the Vancouver, BC area pretty much feels like a permanent vacation with the mountains and sea always in view.

Hello! I’m a writer and journalist, getting my start as a magazine editor back in the aughts! The Book Incubator™ program helped me immensely as I navigated the challenges revising my first manuscript, and I’m thrilled that I now get to help other aspiring authors.

I have a bachelor’s of journalism from Toronto Metropolitan University, completed two certifications in Mindfulness Meditation from the University of Toronto, and a certificate in Wellness Counseling from Cornell.

I write a Substack about mindset for writers and have written for Glamour, Elle Canada, Chatelaine, Toronto Life and more. I live in a small town just outside of Toronto with my husband and our daughter, and in my spare time you’ll likely find me in nature, baking, or planning my next trip.

Hi! I produce Mary’s podcast, The First Draft Club. As passionate media production specialist, I’ve spent over a decade creating, producing, and consulting on educational content for all ages.

My work includes brand design, graphic design, motion graphics, interactive ed-tech, podcast production, and video production.

With a BS in Web Design and a BA in English Writing, I love to use both my technical and creative skills to bring new ideas to life.

When I’m not working, you'll find me rearranging my home for the hundredth time.