Thursday, October 02, 2008
FWA Ancient City Chapter Newsletter for October 2008
Hello Ancient City Writers,
Our next meeting: Saturday, October 18th
Location: The Main Library in downtown St. Augustine (1960 N. Ponce de Leon Blvd.)
* Please try to arrive by 10:00 so that everyone will have time to check in, grab a cup of coffee or tea, and get seated in time for us to begin at 10:15.
Meeting / Speaker: 10:15 AM – 11:30 AM
Title: Approaching an Editor or Agent
At our October 18th meeting, author Terri Ridgell will talk about how to approach an editor or agent.
Maybe you're heading for a conference where you're given a few valuable minutes with an editor or agent? How do you make the most of it? How do you tell that editor or agent what they want to hear so that they take you on as a client?
Or … maybe you've just finished your book and now need to write a query letter. Don't know where to start or how to start?
Either way you do not want to miss this workshop where you will be given industry-savvy advice to help both fiction and non-fiction writers draw an editor's or agent's attention to their manuscript.
Terri Ridgell is a popular local speaker and author of four Romantic Suspense novels (Fractured Souls, When Opportunity Knocks, Seducing Molly, and Operation Stiletto) who knows how to keep her reader's attention. Seven years ago Terri left behind her job as a vice president and entered the world of writing. In the past seven years, she has received an education rivaling her bachelor's degree in science and her masters in environmental biology. She knows only too well that any goal worth achieving requires one to grow and change. Being an author has been no exception providing an experience of continual challenge and enjoyment.
Critique Group Sessions: 11:45 – 1:00
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):
Jeff Swesky Fiction Critique Group Coordinator
Jack Owen Non-fiction Critique Group Coordinator
Dana Gregory Poetry Critique Group Coordinator
Our next meeting: Saturday, October 18th
Location: The Main Library in downtown St. Augustine (1960 N. Ponce de Leon Blvd.)
* Please try to arrive by 10:00 so that everyone will have time to check in, grab a cup of coffee or tea, and get seated in time for us to begin at 10:15.
Meeting / Speaker: 10:15 AM – 11:30 AM
Title: Approaching an Editor or Agent
At our October 18th meeting, author Terri Ridgell will talk about how to approach an editor or agent.
Maybe you're heading for a conference where you're given a few valuable minutes with an editor or agent? How do you make the most of it? How do you tell that editor or agent what they want to hear so that they take you on as a client?
Or … maybe you've just finished your book and now need to write a query letter. Don't know where to start or how to start?
Either way you do not want to miss this workshop where you will be given industry-savvy advice to help both fiction and non-fiction writers draw an editor's or agent's attention to their manuscript.
Terri Ridgell is a popular local speaker and author of four Romantic Suspense novels (Fractured Souls, When Opportunity Knocks, Seducing Molly, and Operation Stiletto) who knows how to keep her reader's attention. Seven years ago Terri left behind her job as a vice president and entered the world of writing. In the past seven years, she has received an education rivaling her bachelor's degree in science and her masters in environmental biology. She knows only too well that any goal worth achieving requires one to grow and change. Being an author has been no exception providing an experience of continual challenge and enjoyment.
Critique Group Sessions: 11:45 – 1:00
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):
Jeff Swesky Fiction Critique Group Coordinator
Jack Owen Non-fiction Critique Group Coordinator
Dana Gregory Poetry Critique Group Coordinator
December 6th Event (in place of December 20th meeting)
In lieu of a December 20th meeting, which is cutting pretty close to Christmas, we will be hosting a special event on December 6th at the main library instead.
The December 6th event will be a Friends of the Library event and will feature a panel and day long opportunities for FWA authors to sign and sell books. If you are interested in signing and selling your books at this event, please contact Dianne Ell at dnell328@comcast.net. Great opportunity to buy books for Christmas and the holidays. The Friends will offer gift wrapping and refreshments will be served.
Calender of Writing Events:
October 3rd, 2008
On Friday, October 3rd from 5-7 there will be a special release party event for the book "Five Women, Five Stories" with author, Karen Harvey, and artist, Marianne Lerbs. It will be held at the Casa Monica Hotel, Grand Ballroom. Hors d’oeuvres and coffee will be served. Cash bar available.
For a sneak peek at the cover and details of the book, visit Karen's web site: www.ancientcityechoes.com/bookgallery.htm#5women.
Please R.S.V.P. at (904) 824-9449 or email: kharvey@aug.com.
October 3rd, 2008
First Friday Off the Page at Anastasia Books
Friday, October 3rd, Anastasia Books, located at 81-C King Street, will host a meet and greet book signing event for authors James Bullock, Nancy Haddock, Michael Ray King and Karen Harvey.
Nancy Haddock’s debut book, La Vida Vampire, the first book in a news series from Berkley, grabbed Top 20 spots on both the Border’s and Barnes & Noble romance trade bestseller lists, and was ranked in the Top 20 on Bookscan in the same category.
Michael Ray King is the author of the book Fatherhood 101: Bonding Tips for Building Loving Relationships. This is his first foray into helping other fathers realize their potential. He currently has plans to expand this work over a broad spectrum of the fatherhood experience.
Karen Harvey is the author of several books about St. Augustine's vast history. Her newest work “Five Women Five Stories” is a colorful booklet with images and descriptions of five women of significance to St. Augustine’s history. Other works include St. Augustine and St. Johns County: A Pictorial History, a popular coffee-table publication first produced in 1980 and now in its eighth printing.
Literary Legend and Florida Governor’s Heartland Award winner Stetson Kennedy will also attend, in celebration of his 92nd birthday. His new book on Key West folklore, “Grits and Grunts” will be available for sale.
The book signing is open to the public and all are welcome to attend. For more information contact Anastasia Books at 904-827-0075.
October 4th, 2008
SISTERS IN CRIME, NE Florida Chapter, October meeting
Saturday, October 4, 2008 @ 10:30 am at Jacksonville SE Library,
Speaker: Karen Smith, JSO Crime Scene Unit
General meeting with election of 2009 officers. NO critique group this month.
** For mystery and crime writers … A Fall Forensics Forum, Saturday, October 11, 2008, from 8:30 to 2:30. Cost is $60.00 - includes pre-meeting coffee and lunch. Held at Jacksonville Marriott. Contact Rose Hayden, GJC President, (904) 745-9714 or mbh4@aol.com. Speakers include:
· Detective Karen Smith, 9-year veteran with JSO. Six of those have been as a detective with the Crime Scene Unit.
· Amy Stump a Forensic Artist certified by the Federal Bureau of Investigations, certified by the International Association for Identification and work for local, state, national and international agencies on criminal cases to assist identifying persons of interest and unidentified persons. She is considered one of the top artists in this field in Florida.
· Dr. Julie Sutton, Dr. Sutton has over 16 years’ as a forensic biologist. Currently she is the Technical Leader for Florida Forensics, a DNA paternity and Forensic Testing Laboratory.
· Detective Karen Smith, 9-year veteran with JSO. Six of those have been as a detective with the Crime Scene Unit.
· Amy Stump a Forensic Artist certified by the Federal Bureau of Investigations, certified by the International Association for Identification and work for local, state, national and international agencies on criminal cases to assist identifying persons of interest and unidentified persons. She is considered one of the top artists in this field in Florida.
· Dr. Julie Sutton, Dr. Sutton has over 16 years’ as a forensic biologist. Currently she is the Technical Leader for Florida Forensics, a DNA paternity and Forensic Testing Laboratory.
November 1st, 2008
SISTERS IN CRIME, NE Fla Chapter, November Meeting
November 1, 2008 (Saturday) 8:30 p.m. – Ghost Train/Walking Tour – St. Augustine – Tour is 1-1/2 hours - $26.00 per person – starts at Ripley’s Believe It or Not – Investigative Tour - This is NOT handicap friendly.
Monies need to be paid to Margaret Smith, Treasurer, by Monday, October 13, 2008. Make checks payable to Florida Sisters in Crime. Must have commitment—so reservations can be made. This is open to anyone - does not need to be a member of FL Sic to attend.
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.
Join the heart of Florida’s writing community at the Lake Mary Marriott, for the biggest and most exciting 3-day event FWA has ever presented. "We’ve reached the tipping point this year,” says Chrissy Jackson, vice president of FWA and chair of the conference. “A minimum of 300 attendees has drawn the best faculty we’ve ever had — and I just know that faculty is going to drive attendance even higher.”
THE 7th ANNUAL FLORIDA WRITERS CONFERENCE is scheduled for November 14 - 16, 2008 at the Marriott Resort in Lake Mary, Florida.
Join the heart of Florida’s writing community at the Lake Mary Marriott, for the biggest and most exciting 3-day event FWA has ever presented. "We’ve reached the tipping point this year,” says Chrissy Jackson, vice president of FWA and chair of the conference. “A minimum of 300 attendees has drawn the best faculty we’ve ever had — and I just know that faculty is going to drive attendance even higher.”
Fourteen experienced agents, publishers and writing mentors will be coming from all over the country to offer thirty information-packed sessions over three days — in a three-track plan tailored for full-time pros, serious hobbyists and determined beginners.
Learn how to improve your writing skills, package your work for selling and go on to make the sale — in special one-on-one meetings with the faculty. Get to know those things that no books on creating and selling your work ever could teach you.
It’s going to be a hard work, hard play get-together like none Florida has ever seen — a chance for end-of-the-day meetings with your kind of serious writers in an environment that will help you make friends and create common bonds for years to come.
You’ll also get the chance to show off your best work and see the best work of other Florida writers, as well:
Saturday night, November 15th, is the annual Royal Palm Literary Awards dinner. As you know, the Royal Palm is the premier awards contest for all of Florida, and this year there are more categories in fiction and nonfiction and separate genres than ever before. The contest closes August 1, so climb on the internet and go to http://www.floridawriters.net/ to get the rules and enter your prize work for all to read and praise.
Make your reservation now. (For hotel reservations, call 1-899 380-7724 and ask for the FWA discount rate. First come, first serve.)
P.S. We’ll be giving away an unbelievable number of door prizes worth from $10 to over $500 in value. The Silent Auction to fund our new Florida Writers Foundation in its fight against illiteracy will feature dozens of items ranging from autographed bestsellers to packages of Disney World and Sea World passes worth $400 dollars each. A chance to get your Christmas shopping done in a flash! Sponsors and donors are still sending items so fast we can hardly keep up, so look for more news on the door prizes and silent auction items in our next email.
Writing Contests/Opportunities:
Writing Opportunites at Palatka Daily News:
Looking for Feature Story ideas for their LIVING section which is published on Fridays. "...is a celebration of home and leisure." This might include remodeling, decorating tips, homemade crafts, cooking, entertainment ideas, collections or hobbies that would be of interest to readers.
Send to:Palatka Daily News, Attn: Trisha Murphy (Putnam Living) at PO Box 777 Palatka, FL 32178
GOT POETRY?
Area poets invited to submit original work to be published in the Currents section on Saturdays. Published as space permits and in no particular order. Should include writers name and daytime phone number for verification. Must be typed.
Send to Palatka Daily News, Attn: CURRENTS POETRY at PO Box 777, Palatka, FL 32178
Oceanview Publishing’s Short Story Contest:
Oceanview Publishing is running a short story contest with
no entry fees and cash prizes:
http://www.oceanviewpub.com/Contest.htm
Stories must be between 1000 and 5000 words. No young adult, children’s, or poetry. Submissions must be in Word’s .doc files. The judges are well known and reputable. The deadline is Nov 17, 2008.
The 9th Annual Writer’s Digest Short Short Story Competition:
The 9th Annual Writer's Digest Short Short Story Competition is accepting entries! We're looking for fiction that's bold, brilliant ... but brief. Send us your best in 1,500 words or less. But don't be too long about it—the deadline is December 1, 2008.
The Grand-Prize winner will receive $3,000 (that's $2—or more—per word). For guidelines, prizes and to enter online, click here.
The 2008 Book Festivals – Call for Entries
The website below has links for submissions to various book festivals including the 2008 New England Book Festival and the 2008 DIY Book Festival. The grand prize for both festivals is $1500 cash plus flight to the awards ceremony.
The New England Book Festival will consider non-fiction, fiction, biography/autobiography, children's books, teenage, how-to, cookbooks, science fiction, audio/spoken word, photography, art, poetry and spiritual works published on or after Jan. 1, 2000. All entries must be in English.
The DIY Book Festival will consider self-published or independent publisher non-fiction, fiction, biography/autobiography, children's books, teenage, how-to, cookbooks, science fiction, audio/spoken word, photography, art, comics, 'zines, fan fiction, poetry and e-books published on or after Jan. 1, 2006. All entries must be in English and have been self-published or issued by an independent publishing house.
For more information including rules, deadlines, and submission guidelines, visit:
http://www.diyconvention.com/
http://www.diyconvention.com/
The 4th Annual Writer's Digest Poetry Awards
We are now accepting entries for the 4th Annual Writer's Digest Poetry Awards. Whether you write rhyming poetry, free verse or haiku—as long as your poems are 32 lines or fewer, we want them all! 1st place: $500 / Second Place: $250 / Third Place: $100 Fourth Through Tenth Place: $25 Eleventh Through Twenty-Fifth Place: $50 gift certificate for Writer's Digest Books.
New this year: The 1st- through 50th-place poems will be printed in a special competition collection, published by Lulu.com.Winners' names will appear in the August 2009 issue of Writer's Digest.
Gulf Coast Writer’s Association 2009 Anthology
Greetings from Gulf Coast Writer's Association!
We are writing to announce a Call for Submissions of short fiction to our second GCWA anthology. There is no entry fee. GCWA will pay $25.00 (or two free copies) to contributors whose work is selected for one-time publication rights -- all rights revert to authors upon publication.
Stories must be set in The South and clearly capture a southern tone. Themes might include: coming-of-age, family relationships, fitting in, social life (in its many facets), dreams/aspirations. We will also consider previously published stories that meet this criteria. Deadline for submissions is March 15, 2009.
Please share this information with members and friends. Interested writers will find all the information they need to submit at: http://www.blogger.com/
We are eager to include voices from many southern states in this collection!
Thank you very much and all best to our fellow writers!
Dixon Hearne, Co-Editor
GCWA
See you all at the next meeting and keep writing,
Jeff Swesky
Ancient City Chapter Blog: http://fwaancientcity.blogspot.com/
Greetings from Gulf Coast Writer's Association!
We are writing to announce a Call for Submissions of short fiction to our second GCWA anthology. There is no entry fee. GCWA will pay $25.00 (or two free copies) to contributors whose work is selected for one-time publication rights -- all rights revert to authors upon publication.
Stories must be set in The South and clearly capture a southern tone. Themes might include: coming-of-age, family relationships, fitting in, social life (in its many facets), dreams/aspirations. We will also consider previously published stories that meet this criteria. Deadline for submissions is March 15, 2009.
Please share this information with members and friends. Interested writers will find all the information they need to submit at: http://www.blogger.com/
We are eager to include voices from many southern states in this collection!
Thank you very much and all best to our fellow writers!
Dixon Hearne, Co-Editor
GCWA
See you all at the next meeting and keep writing,
Jeff Swesky
Ancient City Chapter Blog: http://fwaancientcity.blogspot.com/
