About Verna

Verna Dreisbach is an author, educator and literary agent. Her work has been featured in books, literary journals, magazines, and newspapers. She is the editor of Why We Ride: Women Writers on the Horses in their Lives, published by Seal Press in 2010. Jane Smiley contributed the foreword.

Verna has worked in the publishing field since early 2007. She has established numerous contacts in the industry and is a frequent traveler to writing conferences throughout the U.S. and Canada. Verna is Vice-President of the San Francisco Chapter of the Women's National Book Association, Advertising Chair to the 2012 Left Coast Crime and previously served on the board of directors for the CSUS Writers Conference in Sacramento, CA. Devoted to teaching and youth, Verna founded Capitol City Young Writers, a 501 (c)(3) non-profit writing organization the educates and mentors youth interested in the world of writing and publishing.

The agency, Dreisbach Literary Management, offers professional representation for distinctive voices and accepts a wide range of fiction and non-fiction interests. Verna is currently looking for emerging and experienced writers and has a particular interest in books with a political, economic or social context. With over 13 years as a former police officer, Verna has a genuine interest and expertise in the genres of mystery, thriller and true crime.

Verna graduated Magna Cum Laude with a bachelor’s degree in English and membership in both Phi Kappa Phi and Sigma Tau Delta International English Honor Societies. In 2010, she earned a master’s degree in English with an emphasis in creative writing, giving her an edge in the editorial and review process. Verna also graduated with a degree in mathematics, her first love (it all made so much sense). She teaches English and final portfolio courses part-time and has taught publishing courses through the University of California Davis Extenstion program.

Active in the community, Verna is a 2010 graduate of Sacramento Metro Chamber’s Leadership Program, is appointed to the El Dorado County Child Abuse Prevention Council and serves as a board member to Sacramento’s Police Activities League.

Verna lives in the Sierra Foothills above the Sacramento Valley with her husband of 20 years and their three children. Personal interests include training and riding horses, teaching archery to Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts, an acting Girl Scout leader, teaching swim lessons, attending the symphony or opera, running with her dogs nearly every morning, and trying to stay smarter than her kids which appears to be a never-ending task.