2026 Writer in Residence with Deborah J Ledford
Published on January 02, 2026
The New Year is a chance to pursue dreams and enjoy new hobbies, which might include writing novels, short stories, poems or screenplays. It’s easy to gain FREE support and inspiration to put words on paper when the city of Glendale’s next session of its Writer in Residence program starts in January with visits from a suspense-thriller author Deborah J. Ledford.
Ledford, who is part Eastern Band Cherokee and winner of the prestigious Agatha Award, will provide several workshops for groups and one-on-one coaching and feedback sessions for any budding or experienced writers to obtain guidance.
The first opportunity to receive support from Ledford will be during the half-hour, individual consultations that start at 12:30 p.m. and continue throughout the day on Jan. 5 at the Main Library at 5959 W. Brown St. The weekly, one-on-one consultations will be available from January to late March and registration is required.
In addition to the individual sessions, Ledford will teach these group workshops:
- Writer in Residence Workshop: Organizational Skills to Keep You Focused from 2 to 3:15 p.m. on Jan. 10 at the Main Library will teach participants various techniques to keep on track with their writing
- Writer in Residence: Originality in Storytelling from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. on Jan. 22 at the Main Library, where attendees will write vignettes based on photographs
- Writer in Residence Workshop: Constructing the Ideal Book Descriptor from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. on Feb. 5 at Glendale’s Foothills Library at 19055 N. 57th Ave. will offer advice about loglines, which are the crucial summaries aimed at keeping writers engaged and attracting agents, publishers and readers
- Writer in Residence Workshop: Developing Killer Characters from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. on Feb. 23 at the Main Library will teach participants techniques to create realistic and intriguing characters
- Writer in Residence Workshop: Bringing Your Story or Novel Full Circle from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. on March 16 at the Main Library, where writers will learn how to ensure their stories come full circle from the first paragraph to last sentence
- Writer in Residence Workshop: Bringing Visuals to Life on the Page from 2 to 3:15 p.m. on March 28 at Heroes Regional Park Library at 6075 N. 83rd Ave., where participants will learn how to bring visuals to life on the page by writing scenes based on prompts
No registration is required for the workshops.
A former scenic artist for movies, theater and industrial films, Ledford first ventured into the literary world writing a screenplay, which she later revised to the book, “Staccato,” about a pianist who discovers his lover’s dead body and searches for her killer. The book, along with “Causing Chaos,” “Crescendo” and “Snare,” are part of her “Smoky Mountain Intrigue” suspense thriller series set in western North Carolina, where Ledford spent her summers as a child. Ledford’s audiobooks for “Causing Chaos” and “Crescendo” are Anthony Award Nominees for Best Audiobook, and the local author is also president of the independent media company, IOF Productions Ltd.
Ledford’s "Redemption" and "Havoc" from her Eva "Lightning Dance" Duran thriller series are set on the Taos Pueblo in Northern New Mexico. She also has written many short stories/novellas and is a three-time nominee for the Pushcart Prize, a literary award for outstanding short stories, essays and poetry published by small, independent presses. She is a former adjunct professor for the Virginia G. Piper Center for Creative Writing at Arizona State University and works as a professional editor.
“I’m very excited to be the featured author in the Writer in Residence Program,” Ledford said. “I love to mentor writers. I’m an entertainer. The whole idea is for me to get people excited about writing and being creative. I say everyone has a story and everyone is a storyteller.”
Local writers say Glendale’s Writer in Residence Program has motivated them to enhance their writing skills and strive to get their work published.
Mary Ellen Main, the wife of a retired pastor and a former missionary, who has won awards for her short stories and poems and written many newspaper articles, said “the experiences have validated the fact that I’m a writer.”
“From session to session, you’re talking about goals and you gain encouragement,” Main said. “It’s been my lifeline for writing.”
Reading tutor and former English teacher, Wilma Lefler has also received invaluable advice for a teen fantasy novel she has been working on, including the importance of building a strong backstory. She even learned how to write a summary and query letter to send potential publishers.
“It has been inspiring, helpful, caring, insightful,” she said. “It felt like the authors just met me where I’m at. I love that the Glendale libraries provide that opportunity for writers to learn their craft.”
To learn more and register for a consultation, visit 2026 Writer in Residence with Deborah J Ledford - City of Glendale, AZ - Library