Members Announce Audio Book Deals, Sequels, and Agent Requests
The August 19th meeting of the DFW Writers' Workshop was full of news.
A. Lee Martinez announced that his first novel, Gil's All-Fright Diner, will soon be available as an audio book for downloads to MP3 players and iPods. Additionally, a Chinese publisher has purchased the foreign rights to his first four books, which already are popular in Europe.
In other news, Kenneth E. Ingle announced that his publisher has requested a sequel his science fiction novel First Contact. Kristen Lamb has been appointed fiction editor at The Report, the newsletter of the Oklahoma Writers' Federation. Her Warriorwriters's Blog, written with Boy Mayer, was named a top website for writers by AndyShack.Com. Agent Caryn Wiseman, with the Andrea Brown Literary Agency, requested the full manuscript for Kyle White's Middle Grade science fiction novel, Attack of the Crystal Spiders.
In Workshop news, two new reference books have been added to the library, and members may now checkout library books for up to three weeks. Due to time constraints, the conference committee will no longer meet on Wednesday nights preceding the Workshop. Also, conference committee meetings have been moved to the North Richland Hills library. Please contact chairperson, Jeri Burbage, for more details.
Finally, a unique event will be held in September. Tai Chi expert, Master Wong, will teach authors how to channel their energy to make them better writers. The event costs $90 and will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, September 19 in Richardson, Texas. Contact Robin Yaklin for more details.
A. Lee Martinez announced that his first novel, Gil's All-Fright Diner, will soon be available as an audio book for downloads to MP3 players and iPods. Additionally, a Chinese publisher has purchased the foreign rights to his first four books, which already are popular in Europe.
In other news, Kenneth E. Ingle announced that his publisher has requested a sequel his science fiction novel First Contact. Kristen Lamb has been appointed fiction editor at The Report, the newsletter of the Oklahoma Writers' Federation. Her Warriorwriters's Blog, written with Boy Mayer, was named a top website for writers by AndyShack.Com. Agent Caryn Wiseman, with the Andrea Brown Literary Agency, requested the full manuscript for Kyle White's Middle Grade science fiction novel, Attack of the Crystal Spiders.
In Workshop news, two new reference books have been added to the library, and members may now checkout library books for up to three weeks. Due to time constraints, the conference committee will no longer meet on Wednesday nights preceding the Workshop. Also, conference committee meetings have been moved to the North Richland Hills library. Please contact chairperson, Jeri Burbage, for more details.
Finally, a unique event will be held in September. Tai Chi expert, Master Wong, will teach authors how to channel their energy to make them better writers. The event costs $90 and will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, September 19 in Richardson, Texas. Contact Robin Yaklin for more details.
Havens; Martinez Announce Book Signings
While the August 12 meeting was a slow news night, Workshop members did announce two, upcoming book signings.
Candace Havens will autograph copies of her newest title, Dragons Prefer Blondes, at Legacy Books, 7300 Dallas Parkway in Plano at 2 p.m. on Saturday, August 22. Candace will be joined by two other writers. The event is billed as "a lively afternoon's conversation with a trio of authors behind hot, very popular paranormal romantic adventures".
A. Lee Martinez will autograph (and probably illustrate the inside pages with fire-breathing ducks or whatever else tickles his fancy) copies of his recently released novel, Monster,also on Saturday, August 22. He says the Borders located at 5500 Greenville Ave in Dallas has an impressive display of his books. In typical A. Lee Martinez fashion, the event starts "some time in the afternoon".
Candace Havens will autograph copies of her newest title, Dragons Prefer Blondes, at Legacy Books, 7300 Dallas Parkway in Plano at 2 p.m. on Saturday, August 22. Candace will be joined by two other writers. The event is billed as "a lively afternoon's conversation with a trio of authors behind hot, very popular paranormal romantic adventures".
A. Lee Martinez will autograph (and probably illustrate the inside pages with fire-breathing ducks or whatever else tickles his fancy) copies of his recently released novel, Monster,also on Saturday, August 22. He says the Borders located at 5500 Greenville Ave in Dallas has an impressive display of his books. In typical A. Lee Martinez fashion, the event starts "some time in the afternoon".
Workshop Members Produce 291 Traditionally-Published Books; Almost Fill the Trophy Room.
It has long been a tradition that when a DFW Writers' Workshop member publishes a book, he or she will donate a copy to the Workshop's Trophy Room. During the August 5 meeting, four recently released titles were received, bringing the number of traditionally published books to 291. In fact, there are now so many titles written by DFWWW members that a third display case had to be added to the room. Stop by to see the impressive collection.
Announcements from the monthly business meeting: Gabe Guerrero has been awarded the Glenn Bavousett Fund to attend a writers' workshop. Discussion continues about integrating the monthly poetry group into the weekly read and critique sessions. The Workshop welcomed eight new members in the last week alone. To keep up with membership growth, the Workshop is moving more services, such as paying the annual dues, online.
In other news, Rosemary Clement-Moore announced she was selected to write a monthly column about the Young Adult genre for FreshFiction.Com. The Hook 'Em Writing Contest has been officially launched, and the tote bags for the 2010 DFW Writers' Conference have arrived. They look snazzy.
Announcements from the monthly business meeting: Gabe Guerrero has been awarded the Glenn Bavousett Fund to attend a writers' workshop. Discussion continues about integrating the monthly poetry group into the weekly read and critique sessions. The Workshop welcomed eight new members in the last week alone. To keep up with membership growth, the Workshop is moving more services, such as paying the annual dues, online.
In other news, Rosemary Clement-Moore announced she was selected to write a monthly column about the Young Adult genre for FreshFiction.Com. The Hook 'Em Writing Contest has been officially launched, and the tote bags for the 2010 DFW Writers' Conference have arrived. They look snazzy.
Great 2010 conference planning session tonight! It's going to be spectacular! April 10 & 11
Details are coming together for the 2010 DFW Writers' Conference! For the next conference we've added the Hook `em Contest, in which writers can submit the first five pages of a manuscript to compete for an agent pitch session. We've already got nine agents signed up to attend, and we're lining up some great presenters. We'll have nearly 40 breakout sessions. And New York Times bestselling author Jodi Thomas will be the keynote speaker. Our third annual installment of the conference is shaping up to a memorable event!
The conference takes place April 10 & 11, 2o10, at the City of Grapevine Convention Center.
For more details, you can visit www.dfwwritersconference.org. To register, you can click on the yellow 'Register Now' button on the right side of this page.
The conference takes place April 10 & 11, 2o10, at the City of Grapevine Convention Center.
For more details, you can visit www.dfwwritersconference.org. To register, you can click on the yellow 'Register Now' button on the right side of this page.
Entries Now Accepted for Hook 'Em Writing Contest; Win an Agent Appointment
Agents and editors agree, to compete with today's flashier entertainment, authors must 'hook' a reader in a book's first five pages. Writers need to decide: 'How can I establish an opening that promises excitement … or romance … or adventure … and still offer a fresh, original product?' It must all happen in the first five pages, or few readers will buy the book.
New at the 2010 DFW Writers' Conference is the HOOK 'EM Writing Contest. The contest focuses on those all-important first five pages. The best entrant in each category, as determined by a panel of judges independent of the DFW Writers' Conference and the DFW Writers' Workshop, will win a 10-minute appointment with an agent. The categories are:
Contestants may enter in several categories, or have several entries in one or more categories. The contest is open to everyone, age 16 and older, regardless of registration to attend the 2010 DFW Writers' Conference. There is a $35 fee per entry per category. A portion of the registration fee will be donated to the children's charity, First Book.
The deadline to enter is midnight on January 16, 2010. Visit Hook 'EM Writing Contest for the contest rules, formating guidelines, and to enter.
New at the 2010 DFW Writers' Conference is the HOOK 'EM Writing Contest. The contest focuses on those all-important first five pages. The best entrant in each category, as determined by a panel of judges independent of the DFW Writers' Conference and the DFW Writers' Workshop, will win a 10-minute appointment with an agent. The categories are:
- Literary
- Mystery / Suspense / Thriller
- Non-Fiction
- Romance
- Science Fiction / Fantasy / Horror
- Young Adult / Middle Grade
Contestants may enter in several categories, or have several entries in one or more categories. The contest is open to everyone, age 16 and older, regardless of registration to attend the 2010 DFW Writers' Conference. There is a $35 fee per entry per category. A portion of the registration fee will be donated to the children's charity, First Book.
The deadline to enter is midnight on January 16, 2010. Visit Hook 'EM Writing Contest for the contest rules, formating guidelines, and to enter.