The April 28^th meeting of the DFW Writers' Workshop saw a good turnout, which included five visitors and four new members.

In the news, Del Cain had two poems accepted by the publication Cross Timbers. Ginnie Bouvier received an invitation from agent Eleanor Jackson of the Markson Thoma Literary Agency to visit their offices in New York City for "a brainstorming session".  Kenneth Ingle will speak at the Hurst Library Association on Saturday, May 1 at 11:00 a.m. Also this Saturday, A. Lee Martinez has a book signing for his newest release Devine Misfortune at Lone Star Comics in Dallas from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m.

Finally, the executive committee for the 2011 DFW Writers' Conference was announced. Among his many other hats, chairperson Jeff Posey will handle marketing. Co-chair Jason Myers will invite the agents and editors. Michelle O'Neal will invite the speakers. Jeri Burbage will serve as treasurer, and Stephen Manning will coordinate registration.

As always, a dedicated family of DFWWW volunteers will be needed for a multitude of other tasks to be announced later.

With over 300 attendees, 10 literary agents, 48 classes, one contest and multiple door prizes, the 2010 DFW Writers' Conference was successful beyond anyone's wildest imagination. Overall, the comments from the both the attendees and agents were that the conference was well run by a group of professional, but very friendly, people.

During the April 14 meeting of the DFW Writers' Workshop, the group thanked chairperson Jeri Burbage for her two years of dedication to the conference. As well, the multitude of classroom monitors, agent wranglers, and other volunteers were recognized.

Speaking of successes, the following Workshop members had full or partial requests from:

• Agent Joshua Bilmes - Pat Hauldren, Harry Robbins, John Keith, Russell Connor, Nik Holman, George Goldwaithe
  


• Agent Gina Panettieri - Carolyn Williams, Robert O'Haugherty, Mary Kelly, Merris Doud,  Ginnie Bivona, Anne Perry
  


• Agent Diana Fox - John Sanders, Donna Lasko, Katy Roberts
  


• Agent Lucienne Diver - Pat Hauldren, Paula LaRocque, Kendall Furlong
  


• Agent Paul Levine - Jeannie Furlong, Tina Britt
  


• Agent Mary Kole - Stephen Manning, Anne Perry
  


• Agent Laurie McLean - Carolyn Williamson, Pat Hauldren, Larry Enmon, Kyle White
  


• Agent Anne Hawkins - Kenneth Ingle, Daryle McGinnis, Wes Dunham, Tom Gensler
  

In other Workshop news, Kenneth Ingle signed the contract for his fourth book. A. Lee Martinez has two upcoming book signings. On Friday, April 16 at 6 p.m. at the Weekend Reader Book Shop in Balch Springs. On Saturday, April 17 from 2 - 4 p.m. at the Barnes & Nobles Booksellers in Hurst.  

Finally, registration for the 2011 DFW Writers' Conference is underway. We're moving to a bigger facility to accommodate more people. It will be held February 26-27, 2011 at the American Airlines Training and Conference Center in Fort Worth. Located on a lush wooded campus, the event will be more of a writers' retreat. New York Times #1 best-seller and Thriller Master, Sandra Brown, will be the keynote speaker. Early registration is recommended, since this year's event sold out.

In today’s fast-paced world, both agents and editors agree that writers must grab a reader’s attention within a manuscript’s first five pages. To highlight the importance of the opening, the 2010 DFW Writers’ Conference sponsored the Hook ‘Em Writing Contest. Entrants were asked to submit only the first five pages, as well as a two-page synopsis for fiction, or a proposal for nonfiction.

For an inaugural contest, the number of entries was higher than expected. The judges, all of whom were independent of the conference and the DFW Writers’ Workshop, had their hands full determining among the many great entries.

The winners were announced during the conference’s opening ceremony on Saturday, April 10.  They were:

John and David Middleton, Auf Wiedersehen (Literary)

Rhonda Hopkins, In the Best Interest (Mystery/Suspense/Thriller)

Mary Kelly, Cool on the Outside (Nonfiction)

Jackie Beynaerts, The Things That Change Us (Romance)

Alan Marling, Ghost Warrior, The Stealing (Science Fiction/Fantasy/Horror)

Gayleen Rabakukk, Betrayed (Young Adult/Middle Grade)

Finally, $300 was raised for First Books, the charity connected to the contest. This inspirational group is dedicated to getting books into the hands of underprivileged youths. A portion of the contest entry fee was donated in the name of each entrant.

It was another large crowd at the March 10 meeting of the DFW Writers’ Workshop with six visitors and three new members.

Del Cain announced he has been named a featured reader and a workshop presenter at the Austin International Poetry Festival, April 15 -18. Rosemary Clement Moore has been asked to participate in an unnamed anthology about vampires. A. Lee Martinez has a short story in the anthology Death’s Excellent Vacation.

Volunteers are still needed to work the upcoming DFW Writers’ Conference. See Carolyn Williamson to sign up to monitor a class. You must be a member of the DFW Writers’ Workshop and have paid to attend the conference.

It was a night for numbers during the March 3 business meeting of the DFW Writers' Workshop. The 2010 Workshop and Conference budget were discussed with both showing in the black. Five new books were donated to the Trophy Room, bringing the number of traditionally published books written by DFWWW members to 296. Three new members joined the group.

In other news, Ginnie Bivona has an essay in the recently released work Hear Us Roar. A. Lee Martinez displayed a copy of his upcoming book Divine Misfortune. Virginia Traweek's alma mater selected her to produce a promotional magazine titled Peer Perspectives.

Finally, volunteer sign-up for the DFW Writers' Conference begins next week. Pat Hauldren and Carolyn Williamson are looking for volunteers for the registration table and class monitors respectively.