Friday,
July 23
Intensive Writing Workshops:
Pat LoBrutto Bob
Mayer Penny Warner
| Schedule of Events | Manuscript Evaluations | HAWC Bookstore | |||||||||||
| Fees, Lodging | Registration | Contact
Information |
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Manuscript samples
submitted for evaluation must be in our offices byJune 23, 2004 |
Audio tapes and CDs of conference presentation sessions will be available
at the conference and by special order
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Silent Auction
To benefit the Athens-Clarke Literacy Council programs in support of adult literacy. |
| The University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education Athens, Georgia |
Harriette Austin Writers Athens, Georgia |
Visitors
Doris Booth is the owner and editor-in-chief of Authorlink.com and of Authorlink Press. As editor-in-chief of Authorlink.com, the online marketplace for the publishing industry, Ms. Booth oversees manuscript requests from hundreds of editors and agents who acquire properties and sign writers for representation via Authorlink. Ms. Booth maintains close ties with the New York publishing industry, promoting Authorlink writers to editors and agents on her frequent visits to New York. Authorlink has been involved in 87 sales to publishers within the past four years alone, and has made direct sales to Simon & Schuster, Barnes & Noble Publishing, John Wiley & Associates, McGraw-Hill, Career Press, and others. The latest Authorlink success is a two-book series sold for six figures to HarperCollins by Joe Veltre, rights director and agent at Carlisle & Company, New York. Veltre spotted the work listed on Authorlink by unpublished author Brian Tacang and directly requested what has become the lead book in the upcoming series, Bully Be Gone: The Misadventures of Millicent Madding. Ms. Booth works with editors at Random House, Simon & Schuster, Hyperion (Disney), St. Martin’s, Warner Books, HarperCollins, McGraw Hill, Farrar, Straus & Giroux, and many others. The company's new Authorlink Literary Group also represents selected writers in non-fiction, memoirs, women's fiction and romance.
Manuscript Evaluations: Mainstream commercial fiction, mystery / thriller / suspense, women's. Some historical fiction.
Michael Bracken is the author of 10 books, including All White Girls, Bad Girls, Deadly Campaign, PSI Cops, and Tequila Sunrise. More than 800 of Bracken's short stories have appeared in literary, small press, and commercial publications worldwide. Bracken is the editor of Fedora: Private Eyes and Tough Guys, Fedora II: More Private Eyes and Tough Guys, Hardbroiled, Small Crimes, and four additional crime fiction anthologies scheduled for publication in 2004 and 2005. He currently serves as vice president of the Mystery Writers of America's Southwest Chapter, vice president of the Short Mystery Fiction Society, and has served as chair of the Best First Novel committee for the Private Eye Writers of America's Shamus Awards. He is also an active member of the Horror Writers Association and the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America.
Bracken's short story, "Cuts Like a Knife," was nominated for the Short Mystery Fiction Society's Derringer Award, and his short story, "Of Dreams Unborn," appeared on the preliminary ballot for the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America's Nebula Award.
In addition to writing and editing fiction, Bracken is editor of Senior News, a monthly newspaper distributed throughout Texas, and managing editor of Texas Gardener, a bi-monthly consumer magazine. His non-fiction has appeared in numerous publications, and he has received many regional awards for advertising copywriting. He regularly speaks about writing, editing, and publishing.
Additional information about Bracken, including a selected bibliography and his speaking schedule, is available at: http://www.crimefictionwriter.com/.
Manuscript Evaluations: Mystery/crime fiction, horror, action/adventure, men's fiction. No literary.
Session topic: "Selling Short Fiction" Learn about the large and diverse market for short fiction. Michael Bracken will discuss the methods he's used to sell more than 800 short stories when other writers claim there's no market for short fiction. The differences between literary and genre fiction and a brief overview of the differences between the many genres. He will also explain the differences between literary, small press, and commercial publications, and will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of writing for traditional print media and new media, including e-books and the Internet.
Simon Boughton - grew up in England, earned degrees
in English from Cambridge University and the History of Art from the
University of Essex, and held his first publishing job at London-based
Kingfisher books. He moved to the United States in 1986 and worked as
an editor at Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers and, subsequently,
Crown Books for Young Readers. In 1994, he was made Publishing Director
of Alfred A. Knopf and Crown Books for Young Readers, where the works
he published included Philip Pullman’s trilogy “His Dark
Materials,” novels by Jerry Spinelli, picture books by Eric Rohmann,
Faith Ringgold, and Marjorie Priceman, nonfiction by Jennifer Armstrong
and Jerry Stanley, and Janet Schulman’s bestselling anthology,
The Twentieth Century Children’s Book Treasury. Mr. Boughton
left Knopf in 2000 to found Roaring Brook Press, where—among other
work—he has published two consecutive Caldecott Medal winners,
My Friend Rabbit and The Man Who Walked Between the Towers.
Manuscript Evaluations: Children's fiction and nonfiction. For picture books, a complete manuscript and COPIES of art samples, if appropriate. For novels and longer works of nonfiction: a synopsis and a representative extract (two or three chapters) is preferred.
Session topic: "Why Won't They Buy My Book?" A walk through of the decision to acquire a children's book. Includes a look into the children's book market, insight into editorial points of view, and a little on the business, including an illustration of a publishing P&L.
Gary Goldstein has spent nearly twenty years in the publishing industry, having held editorial positions at Bantam Books, Penguin Putnam, and the Pocket Books division of Simon & Schuster. He is currently a senior editor at Kensington Books, where he handles thrillers, westerns, true crime, and all types of non-fiction for the Citadel imprint . He has worked with such acclaimed and bestselling authors as Dan Brown, W.E.B. Griffin, Richard Matheson, and William W. Johnstone. His editorial philosophy is simple: "Never acquire a book you yourself wouldn't pay $24.95 for." He is also the published author of four novels and over a dozen books of humor.
Manuscript Evaluations: In Fiction: Westerns, thrillers, mysteries, horror. Non-fiction: Pop culture, American history, world history, science, and current events.
Gordon Kirkland has spent most of his life writing in one form or another. It's only since 1994 however, that he has considered himself to be a fulltime writer. That was the year his syndicated column first appeared in print. Since that time he has amassed several thousand publication credits spanning newspapers, magazines and books, and has gained popularity as a wry and offbeat commentator on life from the perspective of a husband and father.
Gordon's first book, Justice Is Blind - And Her Dog Just Peed In My Cornflakes, was awarded the Stephen Leacock Award of Merit For Humor in 2000. His latest book, Never Stand Behind a Loaded Horse (2004) is available from Thistledown Press.
His column, Gordon Kirkland At Large, is now a regular feature in a growing number of Canadian and American newspapers. Gordeon is a frequent faculty member at writers' conferences and schools in Canada and the United States. His presentations range from humor writing to journalism topics.
Gordon is Senior Editor of Viva Voce Press Inc. of Mississauga, ON. The company is producing a trademarked series of humor books. He is looking for short humor pieces.
Manuscript Evaluations: Humor related topics.
Session topic: "Writing Humor - Even On Days When You Don't Feel Funny" Writing a weekly humor column or to any deadline can be a challenge. Everyone has days when they just can't get in the mood. This seminar looks at tools you can draw upon to find inspiration when you need it.
Kathy Landwehr is Associate Publisher, head of Editorial Department at Peachtree Publishers where she supervises the acquisition, development, and production of all of Peachtree's books in addition to handling contracts, budgets, schedules, and the sale of subsidiary rights. She began her career at Peachtree in 1990 as the Publicist, was promoted in 1992 to Marketing and Publicity Manager, became editorial director in 1995, and was named to Associate Publisher in 1999. In addition to her time at Peachtree, she's also worked for Susan Hunter Publishing and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Manuscript Evaluations: Children's only. She will look at entire picture book manuscripts or sample chapters and outlines from middle reader or young adult manuscripts.
Session topic: "How to get your children's book manuscript successfully published" Now that you have manuscript in hand, what to do next, how to know where to submit, how to improve your chances of getting read and getting published; the "inside" story of what happens after your unsolicited manuscript arrives at the publisher; what publishers want (and don't want).
Patrick LoBrutto has been an editor, author and anthologist for over 30 years. He has worked in all areas of Fiction and Non-Fiction specializing in Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror, Thrillers, Historical Fiction, Westerns, Military History and Mysteries.
His career in publishing began while in Graduate School for Urban Planning; he took a summer job in the mailroom of Ace Books and discovered there were people who would pay him to read. He never looked back. He has worked for Ace Books, Doubleday, M. Evans, Random House, Kensington, Stealth Press (an Internet Publisher) and Bantam. He has held the position of Editor, Senior Editor and Editor-in-Chief, working with authors like Isaac Asimov, Stephen King, Eric Van Lustbader, Walter Tevis (the author of The Hustler and The Color of Money), the Louis L'Amour Estate, the Star Wars novelizations, Don Coldsmith, F. Paul Wilson, Joe R. Lansdale, the Dune Novels of Brian Herbert and Kevin Anderson and Loren Estleman. He has received the World Fantasy Award for editing.
He currently lectures at writer's conferences and works as an Editorial Consultant and Master Class Instructor for authors, an Acquiring Editor for Tor/Forge and Quill Driver Books/Word Dancer Press and as a scout for the Trident Media Group.
Manuscript Evaluations: Fiction and Non-Fiction specializing in Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror, Thrillers, Historical Fiction, Westerns, Military History and Mysteries.
Session topic: "Book Doctors: How, When and Why?"
Intensive Workshops:
On Friday, July 23, by special registration, participants can experience
a six-hour long restricted admission interactive workshop "Our
Characters and Our Stories" with Patrick LoBrutto.
The workshop schedule will consist of a three-hour morning session,
lunch with Pat LoBrutto, and a three hour afternoon session.
Click
here to learn more.
Judy Long is Editor in Chief of Hill Street Press, a publishing company in Athens, Georgia whose editorial goals are to present the best in new writing from the South and to revive and restore to print southern classics. Hill Street publishes literary fiction, women's fiction, nonfiction, mystery, and food writing--especially anything with a southern flavor.
Manuscript Evaluations: Literary fiction, women's fiction, mystery, non-fiction. Especially anything with a Southern flavor.
Susan Mary Malone is an award-winning author of both fiction and nonfiction books. Intensive studies into psychology, spirituality, and mythology permeate her writing. She is a contributing editor to Authorlink.com, and an associate editor of The Literary Magazine, an international literary quarterly. She also operates Malone Editorial Services, providing in-depth manuscript editing. Over TWENTY Malone-edited books recently sold to traditional publishers!
Manuscript Evaluations: Literary fiction, women's fiction, most genres (no science fiction, please), and almost all nonfiction.
Session topic: "Viewpoint: The Key to Great Writing" - The pole around which every other aspect of fiction revolves. Perhaps the most misunderstood writing concept. But once writers really grasp it, their work improves by leaps and bounds.
Michael Seidman, praised by Publishers Weekly for creating a crime fiction list consisting of “intelligent but accessible books that is rare for a house of any size” and by the Washington Post for Walker’s “distinctive imprint on crime fiction” is a freelance editorial consultant working with publishers and individual writers. His experience includes work in a literary agency, in international book sales, and in magazines, book reviews and journalism. Best known for his work as a mystery editor, he received the first American Mystery Award as Best Book Editor in 1987; he was a nominee for the same award in the Horror Category in 1990. In 1993, the Southwest Mystery and Suspense Convention honored him as Editor of the Year.
As a writer, Mr. Seidman’s articles and essays have appeared in a wide variety of journals including AB Bookman’s Weekly, Mystery Scene, Writer’s Digest, Fourth Genre and The Armchair Detective, of which he was the editor from 1980-1989. His short stories have been published in Mystery, Twilight Zone magazine, and in The Black Lizard Anthology of Crime Fiction and the original anthology, Stalkers (NAL/Roc). His story, “The Dream That Follows Darkness” received a Spur nomination from the Western Writers of America.
He is the author of four highly praised books for writers, most recently Fiction: The Art and Craft of Writing and Getting Published (Pomegranate Press, ISBN-0-938817-48-9) and The Complete Guide to Editing Your Fiction (Writers Digest Books, ISBN: 0-89879-938-4).
In 2004, Seidman began selling his work as a photo-illustrator and fine art photographer. Find out more about Michael Seidman at his web site www.mseidman.com.
Manuscript Evaluations: Michael will evaluate anything that falls under the broad spectrum of crime fiction: suspense, mystery of any kind; literary fiction and general mainstream are also favorites. He will not review BFYR or YA, genre romance, genre fantasy, sf, or action/adventure. Anything else is fine.
Session topic: "Who You Callin' a Character?" Stories aren't about events or things that happen; they are about the people who cause or are affected by the events. Without the people, you have nothing for anyone to care about...and that includes editors and agents.
Andrea Brown has spent the last 25 years in the children's
book field, first in the editorial departments of Dell Publishing Company
and Random House, then as an editor at Alfred A. Knopf. In 1981 she
founded the first literary agency for both children's book writers and
illustrators, and since then has sold over 1000 books to just about
every publisher of children's books. Brown is Director of the children's
book program at the Maui Writers Conference and Executive Director of
the Big Sur Children's Writing Workshop. She has published articles
and chapters in books, presented a children's book session on C-Span's
"Booknotes," has been quoted in FORBES, USA TODAY, CNN.com,
GOOD HOUSEKEEPING and was recently listed in the March issue of WRITER'S
DIGEST as one of the top 25 literary agencies taking on new talent.
Manuscript Evaluations: All children's books from picture
books thru young adult novels.
Session topic: "De-Mystifying the Children's Book Business." Literary agent and former children's book editor, Andrea Brown discusses the differences between easy readers and chapter books, middle grade novels and YA novels, and what editors are looking for in all the categories of the children's book business. She will outline the steps to take to be a successful writer in this tough market and how to make your manuscripts rejection-proof.
Session topic: "The
Story of Story: From Idea to Published Book"
Lots of writers have good ideas, but the challenge is to shape them
into a story that sells. Literary agent Andrea Brown and author Nancy
Lamb discuss what goes into creating a book that sells. Lamb will start
with how you develop ideas, then talk about how you can brainstorm and
fine tune concepts so that they work as a story. Brown will then take
this idea and talk about how she goes about pitching the book—why
she chooses a particular publisher, what she says to editors, and how
she “sells” both idea and author.
In addition to numerous award-winning articles, short stories and poetry written for children and adults, Barbara Casey is the author of an award-winning contemporary adult novel of fiction, SHYLA'S INITIATIVE (Independent Publishers Book Award), and two middle-grade novels, LEILANI ZAN and GRANDMA JOCK AND CHRISTABELLE, both nominated for awards of excellence by the National Association of University Women Literary Award, the Golden Kite Award, and the Sir Walter Raleigh Literary Award. Her latest novel, The Coach's Wife, is scheduled for release in early fall of this year.
She has participated as guest author and panelist of BookFest of the Palm Beaches; and for the past twelve years, she has served as judge for the Pathfinder Literary Awards in Florida. Most recently, she was nominated for the 2004 PEN/Robert Bingham Fellowship for Writers.
Ms. Casey has a manuscript editing and evaluation service; is the publisher of Publishers Update, a bimonthly directory of children's publishers and literary agents; and is president of her own literary agency. She represents children's as well as adult material, fiction and nonfiction. Her professional associations include being editorial consultant for The Jamaican Writers Circle in affiliation with the University of West Indies and Mico Teachers College in Kingston. She also received special recognition for her editorial work on the English translations of Albanian children's stories.
She lives in Wellington, Florida, with her husband, Al, and her six-pound Seraphim Maltese named Hemingway.
Manuscript Evaluations: A variety of children and adult; fiction, nonfiction, poetry.
Session topic: "You Want an Agent—Now What?" Literary agent, editor, author, Barbara Casey discusses key elements in finding the right agent and the working relationship that follows. She will outline proper procedures necessary in a good author/agent relationship, what to expect from an agent, and working with an agent in marketing a book once it has been published.
Mark Chelius recently joined the Jane Chelius Literary Agency after a year or so freelance editing and a pleading from his mother (she remembers it slightly differently). His background in publishing includes stints at other major New York literary agencies including Writers House and the Anita Diamant Literary Agency, where he represented fiction and non-fiction of all types including award-winning non-fiction author Diana Preston (A FIRST-RATE TRAGEDY, Houghton Mifflin, and LUSITANIA, Walker Books). As a slightly deranged child, Mark felt early on that publishing was where he wanted to be and sought the secluded, written word-friendly confines of Kenyon College where he received his B.A. in English with a concentration in 20th century Literature. He was born and raised in Brooklyn where he still maintains residence; not to mention, his office is next door to the room in which he grew up.
Manuscript Evaluations: Most interested in mystery/thrillers, popular/literary fiction, narrative non-fiction, and sci-fi/fantasy. Generally everything, but NOT children's books, screenplays, or romance.
Session topic: "Get An Agent, Or So You've Been Told" Mark talks about finding an agent and how they earn their nickel. Discussion and question and answer.
Manuscript Evaluations: Non-Fiction: important and transformational topics within the areas of health, relationships, spirituality, culture, biography and narrative non-fiction. Fiction: women's issues, coming of age/life transition (men and women), quirky mysteries, literary and young adult.
Session topic: "Make An Agent or Editor say Yes to Your Submission" Gives the elements of both verbal and written queries, and covers the "Ideal" cover letter, query guidelines, presentation and content. For both beginning and seasoned authors.
Formerly a music promoter for many nationally known country and popular music celebrities, Bob left the music industry in 1976 to form the literary agency of Bob Robison & Associates in Nashville, Tennessee. The agency maintains a short list of producing writers who have among their credits Emmys, Sylvanias, Peabodys, Spurs, Paperback Originals, Porgies, Military Writers, and Pulitzer nominations, to name but a few. Works of his writers have appeared on the New York Times best seller list, Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, USA Today and others.
Manuscript Evaluations: Bob will consider manuscripts in most genres other than science fiction, fantasy or biographies.
A former editor with major New York houses, Rita Rosenkranz founded Rita Rosenkranz Literary Agency in 1990. Her adult non-fiction list stretches from the decorative, e.g, FLOWERS, WHITE HOUSE STYLE: More Than 125 Arrangements by the Former White House Chief Floral Decorator by Dottie Temple and Stan Finegold (Simon Schuster) to the dark, e.g., SAVING BEAUTY FROM THE BEAST: How to Protect Your Daughter from an Unhealthy Relationship by Vicki Crompton and Ellen Kessner (Little, Brown). She works with major publishing houses, as well as regional publishers that handle niche markets. She looks for projects that present familiar subjects freshly or less-known subjects presented commercially.
Manuscript Evaluations: Non-Fiction only: health, history, parenting, music, how-to, popular science, business, biography, popular reference, cooking, spirituality, and general interest titles.
Session topic: "How to Write an Irresistible Non-Fiction Proposal" Learn the key components of a great proposal that help an author leapfrog over the competition and earn an agent's--and finally publisher's--attention.
Katharine Sands
Katharine Sands is a literary agent with the Sarah Jane Freymann Literary Agency in New York City. She represents a wide range of authors in a broad range of categories: From fiction and faction to nonfiction (popular culture, personal growth, leisure activities) to home arts (lifestyle, cookbooks, home design) to the more eclectic (travel, humor, spirituality). She has represented XTC: SongStories; Under the Hula Moon (as co-agent); The Tao of Beauty: Chinese Herbal Secrets to Looking Good and Feeling Great by Ford model Helen Lee; Make Up. Don't Break Up by five-time Oprah guest Dr. Bonnie Eaker Weil, Give Me That Online Religion by Dr. Brenda Brasher; Elvis and You: Your Guide to the Pleasures of Being an Elvis Fan; The New Low-Country Cooking by Chef Marvin Woods, The Indigo Cookbook by Chef Glenn Chu, CityTripping: a Guide for Nighthawks, Foodies, Culture Vultures, Fashion Fetishist, and the Generally Style-Obsessed, among many others. Katharine has been guest speaker on writing and publishing topics for The American Society of Journalists and Authors and The New York State Council on the Arts.. Her book reviews have appeared in The New York Times and Publishers Weekly. She is author of the book Making the Perfect Pitch (April 2004).
Manuscript Evaluations: Fiction and faction to nonfiction (popular culture, personal growth, leisure activities) to home arts (lifestyle, cookbooks, home design) to the more eclectic (travel, humor, spirituality).
Session topic: "Making The Perfect Pitch" When reading new fiction, I read to be swept up by the urgency of the narrative, the story that makes me want to turn the page. For nonfiction, I want the writer to argue the case for publication successfully, showing me the reasons why theirs is a fresh treatment of their subject. For me, responding to writers is visceral. I can become excited by many kinds of potential books. I look for the writer who can transport their reader somewhere interesting. I look for the writer who can teach their reader something new.
Marika Flatt
Marika Flatt launched PR by the Book in 2002, combining her love of media and public relations. After garnering experience with her own cable television show in San Antonio, the NBC affiliate in Dallas, and her college newspaper and television station, Flatt spent seven years with Phenix & Phenix Literary Publicists. Most recently, she was Director of Publisher Services, managing key publicity campaigns and serving as the company’s spokesperson.
Flatt is a regular speaker at conferences around the country, educating audiences on topics related to publicity and overall promotion tactics. Past speaking engagements include: The American Society of Journalists and Authors, Publishers Marketing Assn. University (4-time speaker), the Harriet Austin Writers Conference, the National Assn of Women Writers conference (2-time speaker), and many others.
Flatt received the 2004 Gold Bulldog Award for her publicity campaign for Revolve: The Complete New Testament (a Bible for teen girls that looks like a fashion magazine). The award, given by Infocom Group, is for a publicity campaign that she orchestrated on behalf of Nelson Bibles (a division of Thomas Nelson Publishers). This publicity campaign was key in making Revolve the best-selling Bible for 2003 after exposure in over 700 media outlets, including: The Today Show, The New York Times magazine, Newsweek, CNBC, MSNBC, CNN, The Fox News Channel and many other national media outlets.
Currently the president of the Austin chapter of the Association for Women in Communications (AWC), Flatt received the 2002 Anne D. Robinson Creative Initiative Award. A cum laude graduate of Texas A&M University, she lives with her husband and two young children in Austin, Texas.
Session topic: "Vital Book Publicity: You Can't Succeed Without It" The time to think about book publicity is before you write the first page. But if you're past that point, you still need to attend this MUST HAVE workshop on publicizing and promoting you and your book. Marika Flatt, owner of PR by the Book, will offer advice and tips on outlining a successful publicity campaign, which includes strategy, back-door approaches, building relationships and even a bit of media training. After this presentation, you'll understand why publicity is a vital investment in your book as a product. It's a marathon, not a sprint!
Beverly Connor is the author of the Lindsay Chamberlain Mystery series and the Diane Fallon Forensic Investigation series. Before she began her writing career, Beverly worked in the Southeastern United States as an archaeologist. She weaves her professional experiences as an archaeologist and her knowledge of the South into interlinked stories of the past and present.
Her novels in the Lindsay Chamberlain Series are: A Rumor of Bones, Questionable Remains, Dressed To Die, Skeleton Crew, and Airtight Case. The first Diane Fallon forensic investigation, One Grave Too Many, was released in December 2003 from Penguin-Putnam. Since its release, One Grave Too Many, has been on national mystery bestseller lists in the U.S. and Canada. Her next book in the Diane Fallon series, Dead Guilty, is scheduled for release in September 2004 from Penguin-Putnam.
Her books are available through all major bookstores
in the North America. Three of her titles have been translated into
Dutch and are available in countries of the European Union.
Session topic: "Making
Setting Come Alive" How to integrate
research in your writing to make your setting come alive and be as memorable
as your characters.
Judy Iakovou collaborates with her husband, Takis, on the Nick and Julia Lambros mystery series, set in a restaurant in a Georgia college town. She is presently working on a new series set in the ethnic communities of New York at the turn of the twentieth century, and relies on her research, as well as her considerable experience with her "very ethnic" family, to create accurate characterization. When not writing, she helps her husband in their real life restaurant and teaches in the English department at the University of Georgia.
Session topic: "Old, Ethnic and Offbeat: Characters Who Challenge The Writer" Writers are always advised to make their characters interesting and memorable. "Make him ethnic" or "Give her a disability" is advice fraught with peril, unless. . . . This session will include a discussion of general methods of characterization, with a special focus on creating historical, ethnic, disabled and offbeat characters who are believable, engaging, and most importantly, realistic. Research methods and suggested resources for writers facing challenging characters will be included.
Nancy Lamb is the author of over forty fiction and non-fiction books for adults and children. She began her career by publishing three novels, the first of which sold extensively at home and abroad and was optioned for a movie.
In the early 1980’s, Lamb became a pioneer in the genre of interactive adventure books, and as a consequence, she spent the next 20 years writing for children.
A native Oklahoman, Lamb was visiting friends and family in Oklahoma City when the terrorist bomb exploded at the Murrah Federal Building. In the aftermath of the devastation, Lamb was asked to write a book for children about the tragedy which involved interviews with over 50 parents and children. One April Morning—Children Remember the Oklahoma City Bombing was selected by the National Council for the Social Studies as one of the Notable Children’s Books in 1997 and was a finalist for the Oklahoma Book Award.
In 2001 Lamb bridged the gap between the juvenile and adult market when she published The Writer’s Guide to Crafting Stories for Children, a book that has garnered universally superlative reviews . . . such as:
“Read it straight through like a novel (yes, it's that good) or use it as a reference book. A 'must have' for every novice or professional writer.” (Janet Zarem, children’s literature reviewer)
“If a writer follows this author's advice, a smashing novel will be the result.” (Heartland Reviews)
“ Not just a book for the writing of children's literature, but perhaps the most lucid, accessible, well organized, relevant, complete and credible work on fiction writing in my entire collection of texts on writing.” (Dr. Charles Connor, University of Georgia)
The author works as both a writer and editor and has used her command of the craft to shape manuscripts written by novice and advanced authors alike. She also serves on the faculty of the Big Sur Writers Workshop and, from time to time, crafts speeches for political figures.
Session topic: "Shaping Your Story and Sharpening Your Plot" The world of storytelling is fraught with pitfalls. Blind alleys, false leads, and loose ends lurk at every turn. This interactive workshop shows writers how to take control of their plot and develop stories that are compelling, intriguing and satisfying. You’ll look at how to begin with a bang and avoid ending with a whimper. And you’ll examine what to do when you’re stuck in the middle. At the end of the hour, you’ll come away with specific notes and a chart that will clarify what you need to do as you shape your plot and craft a story that publishers will want to buy. General, for all categories of writers--children and adult.
Session topic: "The Story of Story: From Idea to Published Book" Lots of writers have good ideas, but the challenge is to shape them into a story that sells. Literary agent Andrea Brown and author Nancy Lamb discuss what goes into creating a book that sells. Lamb will start with how you develop ideas, then talk about how you can brainstorm and fine tune concepts so that they work as a story. Brown will then take this idea and talk about how she goes about pitching the book—why she chooses a particular publisher, what she says to editors, and how she “sells” both idea and author.
Bob Mayer has thirty books published with seven more under contract. His pen names include Robert Doherty and Greg Donegan. There are over two million copies of his books in print. He grew up in New York City, graduated from the Military Academy at West Point, and served in the active and reserve Special Forces for two decades. He has commanded an A-Team and taught at the John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School at Fort Bragg-- the course designed to train new Green Berets. Writer's Digest published his Novel Writer's Toolkit: A Guide To Writing Great Fiction And Getting It Published in 2004. He also does organizational speaking/coaching based on "A Battle Plan for Life: Special Operations Tactics for Success" for a variety of groups and businesses. His web site is: www.bobmayer.org
Keynote Speech: "Who Dares Wins: Special Operations Tactics for Writers." An introduction into the tactics and techniques that make Special Operations forces the world's most elite unit. These techniques can be used by writers to improve the quality of their writing and work habits. Focus is on understanding who an author is and how you can be the best writer you are capable of being along with practical techniques to help you overcome fear, a writer's most deadly enemy.
Intensive
Workshops: On Friday, July 23, by special registration, participants
can experience a six-hour long restricted admission interactive workshop
with Bob Mayer. The workshop schedule will consist of a three-hour morning
session, lunch with Bob Mayer, and a three hour afternoon session.
Click
here to learn more.
Gerald W. Morton holds the title Distinguished Research Professor at Auburn University Montgomery where he teaches classes in creative writing, mythology, and English Renaissance literature. He holds degrees from Emory & Henry College, Georgia Southern College, and the University of Tennessee. He is the author of numerous academic books and articles. His fantasy novel, Sword of Two Kings, was released by New South Publishing in 2002. His Secrets of success; Key Insights for Life's Journey was released this past February by Oaklea Publishing. This self-help book explores the important life lessons which have been taught by powerful works of myth and which are especial significance in the modern world. Morton will retire from teaching in May 2005 and return to his native North Carolina mountains where he will farm and pursue his writing.
Session topic: "Writer, Editor, Agent: Teaming for Success" Gerald Morton teams with his editor Susan Malone and his agent Barbara Casey to discuss the jobs of writer, editor, and agent, working as a team and the value of the networking concept.
Nancy Steinbeck author of the memoir The Other Side of Eden: Life With John Steinbeck was married for twelve years to John Steinbeck IV, son of John Steinbeck, the famous author and icon of American literary culture. When her former husband died in 1991, he left an unfinished autobiography. Nancy reconstructed this testament to his life, interweaving her own reminiscences of her life with John Steinbeck IV. Nancy created an engrossing account from two perspectives: John's memories of his chaotic and adventurous upbringing and her own thoughts on their journey together to make a new life apart from the long shadow of a famous father and a troubled past.
Nancy Steinbeck added her perspective as an outsider getting to know this complex family through her husband, and in the end helping him to put his life on a sound footing. Both Nancy and John, in their search for spiritual identity, were drawn to Tibetan Buddhism. Along the way they befriended a strange and fascinating collection of characters, from the Dalai Lama to William Burroughs and Abbie Hoffman.
Nancy is currently collaborating on a screen adaptation of The Other Side of Eden. She lives in a remote area of the Ozark Mountains and is a social worker with impoverished, chronic mentally ill adults.
Session topic: "Memoir: Turning Chaos into Wisdom" Topics include the pros and cons of writing a memoir, how to find an authentic voice, and how to deal with the pain, fear and loyalty inherent in truth telling.
Diane Trap
Diane Trap is a past winner of the Mystery category of the Authorlink New Authors Writing Competition. She is published in the New American Review and the New Georgia Encyclopedia, and is a reference librarian at the University of Georgia Libraries.
Session topic: "Sensual Shorthand: The Art of the Telling Detail" Description and attribution that keep your writing speeding along, and not slow it down.
Penny Warner has sold over 40 books, both fiction and nonfiction, for adults and children. Dead Body Language, featuring a deaf reporter in the Gold Country, won a Macavity Award for “Best First Mystery” and was nominated for an Agatha Award. Her middle grade mystery, Mystery of the Haunted Caves, won this year’s Agatha Award for “Best Children’s/YA Mystery Novel” and is nominated for an Anthony Award.
Warner has a Bachelor’s degree in Child Development and a Master's degree in Special Education. She teaches child development at the local college, and has taught sign language, special education, and creative writing for CSU Hayward, UC Berkeley ext, UC Davis ext, and Book Passage Mystery and Children’s Writing Conferences.
Warner has spoken at numerous conferences and appeared on television featuring her books, including the Dr. Spock PBS series, “Parent Sense,” “Later Today” show, “HGTV,” “Channel 7 News,” “People Are Talking,” and “Mornings on 2.” She wrote a weekly newspaper column on family life for 11 years and writes for popular websites including PaintedRock.com, DrSpock.com, Fisher-Price.com, and iParty.com. Warner lives in Danville and has two children.
Session topic: "Writing for Children: It's Bunny Eat Bunny" This workshop includes an overview of writing for children, the different categories of children's books, popular topics today, what's selling, how to present your own story, dealing with difficult topics, and how to be a better children's writer.
Intensive Workshops:
A Day With Penny Warner. On Friday,
July 23, by special registration, participants can experience a six-hour
long restricted admission interactive workshop with bestselling author
Penny Warner. The workshop schedule will consist of a three-hour morning
session, lunch with Penny, and a three hour afternoon session.
Click here to learn more.
Alumni of the Harriette Austin
Writers Conference
Who Have Come Back As New Authors This Year
Session: Successes Stories New authors discuss their experiences with agents, editors, and what they have learned in becoming published.
Rhett Devane - Rhett
DeVane is a true southerner, born and raised in the piney woods
of the north Florida panhandle. Originally from Chattahoochee, Florida,
she now lives in Tallahassee. Her book, The
Madhatter's Guide to Chocolate, is the first in a series of
southern fiction novels. In it she addresses the crimes of prejudice
and hate, head on. She takes a look at how, we, ourselves, must learn
both tolerance and acceptance. She exposes the reality of living through
such painful events, and how life must go on for everyone involved,
including the family of the perpetrators. The Madhatter's Guide
to Chocolate is a naked look at the circular nature of life and
friendship with a Southern twist. Take a trip through the looking glass,
where the world keeps rolling along, regardless of the weather.
Lynette Hampton - Inspired by her
third grade teacher's reading aloud a chapter a day during rest period,
Lynette Hall Hampton
decided she wanted to be a writer. At 8 years of age she wrote her first
book -- it was a rewrite of Beauty and the Beast. After winning
writing awards in high school and college, she began to send her work
to market. Through the years she has published numerous articles, short
stories and fillers as well as 3 children's books. Jilted
By Death is her first published novel. Find out more about Lynette
and her writing at her website http://www.lynettehallhampton.com/
Ginger Hanson
-
A longtime historian, Ms. Hanson has a Master of Science in Education, and taught college history courses. She resides in southeast AL with her husband, a retired Army major who works for the flight training contractor at Fort Rucker, AL.
Vistit Ginger's website at http://www.gingerhanson.com/ and find out more about her and her books.
Jennifer Patrick - Jennifer
Patrick was born in Durham, North Carolina. At the age of six, she
attempted her first short stories with a collection of tales written
for her younger brother, Ian. Jennifer attended the Duke University
Young Writer’s camp and at the age of twenty went on to become
the youngest instructor on its faculty.
She attended Swarthmore College where she was on the staff of the literary magazine, Small Craft Warnings. She then moved to Athens, Georgia where she received Masters degrees in Creative Writing and Counseling and Human Development.
Along with many years spent in the southeastern US, she has lived in Zurich, Switzerland, Reading, England, and in the San Francisco Bay area. She has worked a wide range of jobs from ravioli maker in a small family run ravioli factory to therapist at the Center for Counseling and Testing at the University of Georgia.
Jennifer currently resides in Athens, Georgia, where she works at The University of Georgia. She is a free lance writer, and along with her debut novel The Night She Died, has published articles in Athens Magazine and the Athens Banner Herald. Jennifer’s essays have been featured on Georgia Public Radio. She has taught community education classes in creative writing, and continues to offer free-lance editing services.
Terry Kay, author of To Dance with the White Dog, says: "Jennifer Patrick's The Night She Died is a remarkable achievement for a debut novel. A compelling story, told in a compelling style, it elevates a small town murder to a study of those dilemmas that connect with everyone who struggles to survive harsh personal experiences. Ms. Patrick deserves the praise readers will heap on this work."
More about Jennifer and her writing can be found on her web site at http://www.jpatrickbooks.com/.
Linda Schultz - Linda
Schultz, DVM, PhD (Atlanta, Ga) grew up riding and showing Quarter
Horses in southern California. The former owner/operator of an equine
medicine and surgical practice, she has worked in the veterinary profession
for more than 14 years. Dr. Schultz is now an independent science writer
with numerous published articles in science and pharmaceutical magazines
and journals, the author of Howell
Equine Handbook of Tendon & Ligament Injuries, and is completing
her first novel. She lives with her husband, two sons, and their Flat
Coated Retriever near Atlanta. Find out more about Linda Schultz and
her writing at her web site www.lindaschultz.net/,
and visit her science writing website at www.sciwriting.com.
And All Things Criminal
Author of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Criminal Investigation, published by Alpha Books/ Penguin-Putnam, Guy Antinozzi is a Special Investigator in the Office of the Solicitor General of Dekalb County. He is a veteran police officer and criminal investigator. He worked for the Norcross Police Department and continues with the Agnes Scott College Police Department. He was a Senior Field Investigator for the GEICO Special Investigation Unit.
He teaches in the field of law enforcement as a Georgia Police Firearms, Defensive Tactics and General Instructor. He has been certified to instruct police officers in Krav Maga, the Israeli Defense Force method of personal protection.
Guy has developed a specialty in the investigation and prosecution of high-risk domestic violence cases. This requires extensive knowledge of Georgia law as it relates to family violence. He often brings together various law enforcement agencies to produce a task-oriented problem solving method. He has extensive training and experience in Tactical Operations, SWAT, Domestic Violence, Anti-terrorism, Mantracking and Dignitary Protection.
He has developed a sub-specialty in conducting protective details for visiting dignitaries. Over the past few years he has headed dignitary protection details for Former Prime Minister of Pakistan Benazir Bhutto, Madame Jehan Sadat, Thomas Friedman, Congressman John Lewis, and Angela Davis among others.
He lives in Decatur, Georgia with his wife, Jennifer. He has six sons, Joshua, Salvatore, Vincent, Vito, Dominic and Luca, and one grandson, Anthony. He earned a Bachelors Degree from Kings College and a Doctor of Law from Emory University.
Session topic: "Mantracking" The basics of mantracking, from identifying the subject and making a determination whether the search will require tactical tracking techniques, such as would be required when pursuing a fugitive, or merely finding techniques as in the case of a lost person. Background investigation, interviews, setting perimeters, K9 utilization and use of personnel. The actions involved in physically tracking a person. Basic knowledge and presumptions based upon the age, sex and physical characteristics of the subject. Terms important to trackers, such as "track traps", "cutting sign", a "tracking stick" and others. Demonstration of tracking techniques. Attendees will be invited to make assumptions based on clues. Discussion of security arrangements for tactical tracking. Photographs and possibly a small sand box for demonstration purposes.
Special Agent Terry Cooper - Crime Scene Specialist with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation and a favorite at the Harriette Austin Writers Conference. Specially trained and equipped with the latest technology for crime scene analysis and reconstruction -- everything from super glue to laser lights to bullet trajectories and blood splatter pattern computer software. With 28 years in law enforcement and over 500 (and counting) death investigations, Agent Cooper will discuss actual processing and collection techniques.
Cathy Pickens is a former medical malpractice and product liability attorney. For twenty years, she has taught law and ethics in the McColl Graduate School at Queens University of Charlotte.
Her passion, though, is crime. A sampling of her wide-ranging writing and speaking credits include: technical legal articles on poisons, private detectives, and corporate wrong-doing; business teaching cases based on a Prozac-popping spree killer and on serial poisoner Dr. Michael Swango; and mystery conference presentations on poisons, the criminal court system, and humor in mysteries.
An avid student of crime history, she is a founding board member of the Mecklenburg Forensic Medicine program, dedicated to training and coordinating first responders in crime scene evidence collection; a member of the Carolina Crime Writers, Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and the South Carolina Bar; and recipient of both the Grier and Fuqua Distinguished Educator awards.
Her first mystery novel, Southern Fried, won the 2003 St. Martin’s Press award for Best New Traditional Mystery.
Session topic: "Where
CSI Ends . . . Crimes and Chroniclers" Fiction
writers have long blurred the line between fact and fiction, their writing
inspired by true tales of crime. The Richmond murders that inspired
Patricia Cornwell's first novel; the trials Erle Stanley Gardner covered
as a pre-“Court TV” commentator; the real-life “Psycho”;
Jurgen Thorwald’s forensics tales; Edna Buchanan’s crime
reports: these and other classic crimes explore the "why"
of crime and the startling parallels to more recent crimes--real and
fictional--making us long as DeQuincey did for "murder as one of
the fine arts." This session contains lots of examples with a focus
on how these stories help us understand motivation--the basic question
we always want answered when we read real or fictional crime accounts.
With suggested resources for you to begin your own collection
of stories.
Dinner Speaker
Saturday, July 24, 7:00 PM
Johnny Beckman
Instantly recognizable by millions of devoted viewers as one of Atlanta’s best-known TV personalities, the winner of two Emmys, John Beckman retired from his job as Chief Meteorologist at WXIA after thirty-three years and was promptly seduced by the writing muse. He has published fiction in The New American Review, O, Georgia and the Habitat for Humanity Christmas Book. His non-fiction has appeared in numerous newspaper articles and editorials, and in Modern Aviation and Nam magazines. He is a monthly contributing editor to Southern Distinction magazine. In addition to his writing, as a second career he launched a full-service Internet Web Design Company, Webbeck, Inc., in May 2004 that can be accessed at www.webbeck.com.
Dinner Topic: "Inspirational
Writing, Inventive Thinking, and Unusually Creative Techniques"
Entertainment!
Banish Misfortune
"When Banish Misfortune plays, the only people having more fun than the audience are the folks in the band."
This quote from a patron of Molly O'Sheas' pub sums up the performing style of this eclectic group of Celtic musicians from Athens, Georgia. The group, or maybe orchestra is more appropriate, featuring Julia McPeek and Carl Rapp (fiddle), Doug Yarn (pipes and whistle), Matt Kiritsy (whistle), Julia McDermott Cannon (hammer dulcimer), Tracie Brown (harp), Sandra Haddad (flute), Pat Lyons (guitar), Jack Jones (mandolin and accordion) and Owen Devine (percussion), plays a wide range of Celtic music from slow aires to burn-the-house-down polkas that challenge listeners to stay in their seats. They have recently appeared in venues ranging from the North Georgia Folk Festival, the North Georgia Celtic Festival, the Asheville, North Carolina, Renaissance Faire, and the Harriette Austin Writers Conference. If you love a good time with a bunch of fun-loving Celtic musicians, join us for a night with Banish Misfortune.
Performance: Saturday, July 24, 8:30 PM - Midnight. Bring your dancing shoes.
. . . To contact Banish Misfortune to inquire about
availability for engagements, email Banish Misfortune at banishmis@hotmail.com.
Check out their web site at http://www.banishmisfortune.org.
Tell 'em little Charlie Connor sent ya'.
For more information, contact Dr.
Charles Connor. E-mail hawc@coe.uga.edu.
Harriette Austin Writing Program, Suite 570, 2351 College Station Rd,
Athens GA 30605, Phone 706-743-3810, Fax 413-622-8007.
