Thursday, April 03, 2008
FWA Ancient City Chapter Newsletter for April
Hello Ancient City Writers,
In case you missed it, we had a record turnout of 83 attendees for Rik Feeney’s “Writing A Book In Sixty Days” March presentation. From it, we began an email support group for those who have decided to take the 60 Day Challenge. If you’re not involved in the support group, but would like to be, please email me and let me know.
For all of you independently or self-published authors, here’s an article that may be of interest to you about the Amazon/BookSurge controversy: http://www.writersweekly.com/amazon.php
Our next meeting: Saturday, April 19th
Location: The Main Library in downtown St. Augustine (1960 N. Ponce de Leon Blvd.)
* Please try to arrive by 9:45 so that everyone will have time to get a cup of coffee or tea, socialize briefly, and get seated in time for us to begin at 10:00.
Meeting / Readings: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
We do not have a speaker scheduled for April, and thought it would be a great time to dedicate April’s meeting to our critique groups (since they had to forfeit their February and March sessions.) We would also like to open the floor to anyone who would like to read and share something they have written or are working on, whether it is to be critiqued or not, and regardless of the genre (fiction, non-fiction, poetry, musical lyrics, screenplay, or whatever else floats your boat).
We would ask that you limit your readings to approximately 5 minutes. And so that we know approximately how many readers will be participating, please email Mike BonDurant and let him know that you’re interested and the name of the title you will be reading.
Critique Group Sessions (to resume in June):
If you’re not already part of a critique group and wish to join one, please contact the proper critique group coordinator to be added to their mailing list (each name contains a hyperlink to their email address):
Mike BonDurant Fiction Critique Group Coordinator
Jack Owen Non-fiction Critique Group Coordinator
Dana Gregory Poetry Critique Group Coordinator
No May Meeting
There will be no meeting at the Main Library for the Ancient City Chapter for the month of May; instead we are encouraging you to join us at the 2nd Annual One-Day Conference presented by the NE Florida Chapters of the Florida Writers Association on May 17th, 2008. It will be located at the Players Community Senior Center at Ponte Vedra Beach. Advanced Registration is required.
The Featuring Keynote Speakers will be Philip F. Deaver and Jack McDevitt. There will be Eight Workshops, a First Page Critique General Session, Lunch & Refreshments, Book Signings, Announcement of the Lighthouse Book Awards’ Winners, and More.
For more information or to sign up, visit: http://www.windrusher.com/Conference.html
Calender of writing events:
Starting April 2nd, 2008
Writing Mysteries for Children and Teens
Local author June Weltman will teach an eight-week workshop on “Writing Mysteries for Children and Teens” through the University of North Florida’s new LEARN Jacksonville program starting Wednesday, April 2, 2008 from 7:00-9:00 p.m. in the University Center Building. The class is open to beginning and experienced writers ages 18 and older. It covers the development of character, plot and setting. Students are invited to bring manuscripts in progress.
June’s Mystery of the Missing Candlestick, a novel for ages 9-13, is set in St. Augustine. It won a special award from the Florida Historical Society. For more information about June, visit her website: http://www.juneweltmen.com./ The UNF LEARN JACKSONVILLE program is part of the university’s Continuing Education Division. For more information or to register, call 620-4255 or visit: http://www.ce.unf.edu./
April 25th—26th, 2008
Much Ado About Books: Celebrating Florida’s Natural Resource: Great Authors
More than 20 authors will participate in panel discussions at the festival’s signature session on Saturday, April 26, at the Prime F. Osborn, III Convention Center. These sessions are free and open to the public. This year the Jacksonville Public Library Foundation will introduce a second venue Saturday, April 26, from 2:30 until 5:30 at the Jacksonville Main Library at 303 N. Laura Street.
For more information: http://www.muchadoaboutbooks.com/
April 26th, 2008
Welcome to the Poetry Zone
In case you missed it, we had a record turnout of 83 attendees for Rik Feeney’s “Writing A Book In Sixty Days” March presentation. From it, we began an email support group for those who have decided to take the 60 Day Challenge. If you’re not involved in the support group, but would like to be, please email me and let me know.
For all of you independently or self-published authors, here’s an article that may be of interest to you about the Amazon/BookSurge controversy: http://www.writersweekly.com/amazon.php
Our next meeting: Saturday, April 19th
Location: The Main Library in downtown St. Augustine (1960 N. Ponce de Leon Blvd.)
* Please try to arrive by 9:45 so that everyone will have time to get a cup of coffee or tea, socialize briefly, and get seated in time for us to begin at 10:00.
Meeting / Readings: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
We do not have a speaker scheduled for April, and thought it would be a great time to dedicate April’s meeting to our critique groups (since they had to forfeit their February and March sessions.) We would also like to open the floor to anyone who would like to read and share something they have written or are working on, whether it is to be critiqued or not, and regardless of the genre (fiction, non-fiction, poetry, musical lyrics, screenplay, or whatever else floats your boat).
We would ask that you limit your readings to approximately 5 minutes. And so that we know approximately how many readers will be participating, please email Mike BonDurant and let him know that you’re interested and the name of the title you will be reading.
Critique Group Sessions (to resume in June):
If you’re not already part of a critique group and wish to join one, please contact the proper critique group coordinator to be added to their mailing list (each name contains a hyperlink to their email address):
Mike BonDurant Fiction Critique Group Coordinator
Jack Owen Non-fiction Critique Group Coordinator
Dana Gregory Poetry Critique Group Coordinator
No May Meeting
There will be no meeting at the Main Library for the Ancient City Chapter for the month of May; instead we are encouraging you to join us at the 2nd Annual One-Day Conference presented by the NE Florida Chapters of the Florida Writers Association on May 17th, 2008. It will be located at the Players Community Senior Center at Ponte Vedra Beach. Advanced Registration is required.
The Featuring Keynote Speakers will be Philip F. Deaver and Jack McDevitt. There will be Eight Workshops, a First Page Critique General Session, Lunch & Refreshments, Book Signings, Announcement of the Lighthouse Book Awards’ Winners, and More.
For more information or to sign up, visit: http://www.windrusher.com/Conference.html
Calender of writing events:
Starting April 2nd, 2008
Writing Mysteries for Children and Teens
Local author June Weltman will teach an eight-week workshop on “Writing Mysteries for Children and Teens” through the University of North Florida’s new LEARN Jacksonville program starting Wednesday, April 2, 2008 from 7:00-9:00 p.m. in the University Center Building. The class is open to beginning and experienced writers ages 18 and older. It covers the development of character, plot and setting. Students are invited to bring manuscripts in progress.
June’s Mystery of the Missing Candlestick, a novel for ages 9-13, is set in St. Augustine. It won a special award from the Florida Historical Society. For more information about June, visit her website: http://www.juneweltmen.com./ The UNF LEARN JACKSONVILLE program is part of the university’s Continuing Education Division. For more information or to register, call 620-4255 or visit: http://www.ce.unf.edu./
April 25th—26th, 2008
Much Ado About Books: Celebrating Florida’s Natural Resource: Great Authors
More than 20 authors will participate in panel discussions at the festival’s signature session on Saturday, April 26, at the Prime F. Osborn, III Convention Center. These sessions are free and open to the public. This year the Jacksonville Public Library Foundation will introduce a second venue Saturday, April 26, from 2:30 until 5:30 at the Jacksonville Main Library at 303 N. Laura Street.
For more information: http://www.muchadoaboutbooks.com/
April 26th, 2008
Welcome to the Poetry Zone
On Saturday, April 26th from 1pm-5pm, the Friends of the Main Library and the ACC/FWA will present a special Poetry program, workshops and open mic.
The program will have Readings by featured poets Robert Batie, Bonny Barry Sanders, Peter Schoeffel and Kay B. Day, and Workshops on publishing, crafting, and building your platform. An open mic follows the workshop. Poets who want to read for open mic may sign up on arriving at the program. Admission is free; the event is open to the public.
The program is a celebration of National Poetry Month. The featured poets comprise a variety of styles and perspectives:
· Robert Batie is author of 'More Than a Simple Kiss,' He performs spoken word at poetry slams, charity events, weddings and professional gatherings. He has also published magazine articles and essays. Retired from the U.S. Army, Batie has contributed technical articles to books. [Web site rbbatie.com]
· Bonny Barry Sanders is the author of ‘Touching Shadows.’ Her poems, essays and book reviews have appeared in magazines and journals. She also developed a course for seniors, “Writing Your Memoirs,” which she taught for Jacksonville University’s Elder Hostel Program and at the University of New England. [Web site bonnybarrysanders.com]
· Peter Schoeffel wrote poems during his confinement in a prisoner of war camp, Hoa Lo. For years, he committed them to memory. Towards the end of his imprisonment, he scratched the poems onto cigarette packs with a pen of bamboo dipped in ink of dust or ashes. He is retired from the United States Navy.
· Kay B. Day is the author of ‘A Poetry Break’ and other books. Her poetry is published in textbooks, anthologies, magazines and Web sites and she speaks frequently about poetry and creative writing. She is self-employed as a freelance journalist and content producer. [Web site kayday.com]
· Robert Batie is author of 'More Than a Simple Kiss,' He performs spoken word at poetry slams, charity events, weddings and professional gatherings. He has also published magazine articles and essays. Retired from the U.S. Army, Batie has contributed technical articles to books. [Web site rbbatie.com]
· Bonny Barry Sanders is the author of ‘Touching Shadows.’ Her poems, essays and book reviews have appeared in magazines and journals. She also developed a course for seniors, “Writing Your Memoirs,” which she taught for Jacksonville University’s Elder Hostel Program and at the University of New England. [Web site bonnybarrysanders.com]
· Peter Schoeffel wrote poems during his confinement in a prisoner of war camp, Hoa Lo. For years, he committed them to memory. Towards the end of his imprisonment, he scratched the poems onto cigarette packs with a pen of bamboo dipped in ink of dust or ashes. He is retired from the United States Navy.
· Kay B. Day is the author of ‘A Poetry Break’ and other books. Her poetry is published in textbooks, anthologies, magazines and Web sites and she speaks frequently about poetry and creative writing. She is self-employed as a freelance journalist and content producer. [Web site kayday.com]
The main library is located at 1960 N. Ponce de Leon Blvd (US1) in St. Augustine.
May 17th, 2008
Please join us for the 2nd Annual One-Day Conference presented by the NE Florida Chapters of the Florida Writers Association on May 17th, 2008. It will be located at the Players Community Senior Center at Ponte Vedra Beach. Advanced Registration is required.
The Featuring Keynote Speakers will be Philip F. Deaver and Jack McDevitt. There will be Eight Workshops, a First Page Critique General Session, Lunch & Refreshments, Book Signings, Announcement of the Lighthouse Book Awards’ Winners, and More.
For more information or to sign up, visit: http://www.windrusher.com/Conference.html
September 12th – 13th, 2008
SAVE THE DATE for the St. Augustine inaugural Florida Heritage Book Festival, September 12 and 13th. Writing workshops, author speaking events, children’s corner, book festival book store (ACC participation, see below) and other events will take place during this 2 day history making celebration.
May 17th, 2008
Please join us for the 2nd Annual One-Day Conference presented by the NE Florida Chapters of the Florida Writers Association on May 17th, 2008. It will be located at the Players Community Senior Center at Ponte Vedra Beach. Advanced Registration is required.
The Featuring Keynote Speakers will be Philip F. Deaver and Jack McDevitt. There will be Eight Workshops, a First Page Critique General Session, Lunch & Refreshments, Book Signings, Announcement of the Lighthouse Book Awards’ Winners, and More.
For more information or to sign up, visit: http://www.windrusher.com/Conference.html
September 12th – 13th, 2008
SAVE THE DATE for the St. Augustine inaugural Florida Heritage Book Festival, September 12 and 13th. Writing workshops, author speaking events, children’s corner, book festival book store (ACC participation, see below) and other events will take place during this 2 day history making celebration.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, Craft of Writing Workshops from 9:30a-4:00p, at the Casa Monica. Included with the sessions on fiction, non-fiction and the business of writing will be lunch with Keynote speaker Gary Monroe, photographer and author of two books on the Highwaymen, Florida’s African-American Landscape Painters, and another on other Florida artists. Fee for the craft of writing workshops and lunch is: $45.
Space for this event will be limited and a registration form will be available shortly.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, BookFest, 10:00am-4:00pm, at Flagler College and the Markland House. Authors will talk about their books and give readings (free)
Guest Speaker Luncheon at the Casa Monica: $40 (speakers TBA)
BOOKSTORE: Invited speakers’s books will be available for sale at the Friday, Craft of Writing Workshops and at the Book Festival Book store at Flagler College.
ACC/FWA will be participating in the Festival Book Store. The chapter will have space where on Saturday, throughout the time of the book fest, members can sign up to promote and sell their books. Participating details are not available at this time. Hopefully by the next newsletter.
http://www.fhbookfest.com/
November 14th – 16th, 2008
THE 7th ANNUAL FLORIDA WRITERS CONFERENCE is scheduled for November 14 - 16, 2008 at the Marriott Resort in Lake Mary, Florida. Since planning for the next conference begins almost as soon as the last one has ended, efforts are well underway. We'll keep you posted as information becomes finalized. In the meantime, be sure to save the date!
November 14th – 16th, 2008
THE 7th ANNUAL FLORIDA WRITERS CONFERENCE is scheduled for November 14 - 16, 2008 at the Marriott Resort in Lake Mary, Florida. Since planning for the next conference begins almost as soon as the last one has ended, efforts are well underway. We'll keep you posted as information becomes finalized. In the meantime, be sure to save the date!
Future Bohl book signings and events
Author couple, Sherry and Allen Bohl, have various book signings and speaking engagements coming up in the near future.
For more information on their books as well as dates for their upcoming book signings and speaking engagements, visit their website at: http://www.allenbohl.com/
Author couple, Sherry and Allen Bohl, have various book signings and speaking engagements coming up in the near future.
For more information on their books as well as dates for their upcoming book signings and speaking engagements, visit their website at: http://www.allenbohl.com/
Writing Contests:
The Vocabula Well-Written Writing Contest
Eligibility: The Vocabula Well-Written Writing Contest is open to all.
Write 200 to 500 words of readable, well-written, even beautiful writing. Send your entries to editor@vocabula.com. Along with your submission, you must include your name, address, and email address.
Contest Dates: Entries for the Vocabula Well-Written Writing Contest are accepted year-round. Each contest ends on May 30. The next contest begins the following day.
Selection: We accept nonfiction submissions only. Entries are judged on readability, beauty, and creativity -- in that order. Submissions not meeting the word count requirements are disqualified.
For more information, go to: http://www.vocabula.com/popupads/VRWritingContest.asp
See you all at the next meeting and keep writing,
Jeff Swesky
Ancient City Chapter Website: http://www.floridawriters.net/dnn/Regions/NorthEasternFL/tabid/79/Default.aspx
Ancient City Chapter Blog: http://fwaancientcity.blogspot.com/
