Linda Watanabe McFerrin is the founder, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Linda Watanabe McFerrin and Left Coast Writers, LLC (www.leftcoastwriters.com).
An award-winning author and editor, Ms. McFerrin holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in Comparative Literature and Creative Writing. A popular panelist, lecturer and workshop leader, she has been a Mentor for the Loft Literary Series, a guest instructor at the Oklahoma Institute for the Arts, an NEA Literary Arts and a Marin Arts Council juror and a judge of the San Francisco Literary Competition, the Josephine Miles Literary Award and the Kiriyama Prize.
In addition to her writing and teaching credentials, Ms. McFerrin has served as a product manager, merchandiser and product development consultant in the apparel industry where she was responsible for the launch and management of a number of successful clothing lines with first year growth of $4.8 to $14 million in sales. She also served as the manager of all aspects of customer service and distribution for a women's apparel manufacturer with $72 million in annual sales, and as product manager for an $84 million-a-year children's apparel line. As a consultant, Ms. McFerrin was responsible for the development of new programs, their implementation and for training in-house staff to sustain them. She used her expertise in strategic planning, market research, product development, costing, forecasting and project, operations and staff management to increase sales and improve profitability. Her projects were characterized by double digit percentage increases in yearly dollar and unit growth and by improved margins.
Ms. McFerrin left the apparel industry in 1999 to pursue a literary career. Since that time, she has published an award-winning novel and short story collection (www.lwmcferrin.com) and edited a guidebook and several anthologies. Her work has appeared in numerous literary collections, magazines and newspapers including the New York Times, the San Francisco Chronicle and the Washington Post. Nationwide tours, strong relationships with booksellers and extensive research in the literary marketplace have given Ms. McFerrin a firm understanding of the challenges that exist in that environment as well as an insight into its tremendous potential. She brings market awareness, merchandising and marketing expertise and a passion for literature to her role as President and CEO of Linda Watanabe McFerrin and Left Coast Writers, LLC. She believes that superior services and unique marketing strategies will be the key to success in the industry.
