New York Times and USA Today best-selling author, Jodi Thomas, has agreed to be the keynote speaker at the 2010 DFW Writers' Conference. A native Texan, she is the award-winning author of several novels. We look forward to her presentation. 

Eight literary agents have also agreed to attend the event, including Anne Hawkins and Gina Panettieri who missed this year's conference due to illness. Joining them are Joshua Bilmes, Laurie McLean, Lucienne Diver, Melissa Shultz, Paul S. Levine, and Victoria Horn. More agents may be added later, but the number of pitch sessions will be limited, so early registration is recommended. 

The 2010 conference is looking to bring you more value for your registration dollars. We already offer free parking ($7 - $10 at other conferences), include the keynote luncheon (a $35 extra cost elsewhere), and the agent appointments (as high as $50 at other conferences).  As an added benefit in 2010, on-line classes, such as "How to Get the Most from Your Agent Appointment" will be offered - you guessed it, for free (a $50 to $100 extra fee elsewhere).  Join us for the best conference value in the Southwest.   

The conference will be held April 10-11, 2010 at the Grapevine Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas. Early registration starts soon. See the information box in the right hand column on this site, or get more details at www.DFWWritersConference.org.    

Bob Mayer, who keynoted our conference, posted a nice thank you to the Workshop on his blog. He praised the Workshop's professionalism. He specifically mentioned Dan Anders and Jeri Burbage, the chair and co-chair, as well as everyone else who volunteered. And he said he got a lot out of the social networking presentation by Kristen Lamb and Stephen Manning, with some additional advice from Fred Campos.

Many thanks to Bob for traveling to DFW to speak at our conference and helping to make it such a great success!

Got this from Candace:

Tomorrow, Saturday (May 9) at noon, there is a multi-author signing at the Hurst, TX Barnes & Noble. It's going to begin with a high-tea, we're trying all the B&N teas, and there will be scones. :-) I'll be there with Juliet/Jillian Burns, Jax Cassidy, Amie Stuart, Karen Kelly, Cindy Dee, Karen Whiddon and others.

Proceeds benefit the Bedford Public Library and there will be cool prizes!

Candy Havens
www.candacehavens.com

A. Lee Martinez brought the German edition of The Automatic Detective to show us at this week's meeting. Several of his novels have been translated into German.

And Rosemary Clement-Moore announced that her latest, Splendor Falls, has been licensed in Germany and England.

At this week's Wednesday meeting, a lot of Workshop members had good news to report from their one-on-one pitch sessions with agents at our annual conference. Members George Goldthwaite, Roy Shockey, Rhonda Hopkins, Alley Hauldren, Wes Dunham, Paul Lamarre, Paula LaRocque, Glenn Norton, Larry Enmon and Kendall Furlong all reported being asked by one of the agents to send in either a partial or a full manuscript.

And then there's Laurie Moore, who signed with agent Al Longden right there in the middle of the conference! That's a first for the DFW Writers Conference but we're sure it's not the last.