This past Saturday, May 14, Jill Swenson and I attended the Lakefly Writers Conference in Oshkosh, WI. This was my first time attending a literary conference and I experienced the joy of participating in a community of Wisconsin writers. Sponsored by the Friends of the Oshkosh Public Library, the Lakefly Writers Conference is named after the insects which annually appear briefly in early May along the shores of Lake Winnebago. The Oshkosh Convention Center is one block from the lake but the cold weather and wind kept them away from the conference site this year. Ruth Percey, Dixie Jarchow, and Tom Cannon pulled together a well-organized conference with a team of volunteers who assisted and met the needs and interests of every participant. We began our day by listening to a few book pitches from authors who sought representation and/or feedback. The brilliant thing about this conference is that it welcomes seasoned authors as well as those just getting their feet wet with the delights of writing. To be able to meet others who have a passion for a world of books and understand the ups and downs of writing always makes for good conversation, especially over lunch. The variety of sessions held concurrently proved to be the highlight of the conference. On Friday, participants attended sessions on World Building, How to Deliver a Successful Pitch, Putting Your Best Voice Forward, 30-Day Promotional Plan, Writing What You Don’t Know, and “How” to be an Indian in the 21st Century. Jill…
It starts with falling down. In the snow. And not being able to get up. Art Hritus. Ben Gay. Johnny Walker. Three men I don’t want to meet up with these days. Of course I wasn’t wearing boots. The mittens had been left on the kitchen counter. I didn’t even have a hat. The wind and the snow came up out of the open expanse… [Read More]
Filed Under: Lakefly Writers Conference, Nancy Runner. Early Birds Flock Together, Orange Hat Publishing, Wisconsin Writers Association
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Julie could run like the wind. Claire had trouble adjusting to college. Nick felt increasingly disconnected from his family and friends. Anna was resistant to recovery. May suffered abuse at the hands of her boyfriend. Emma was a secret eater. Like mother, like daughter for Maeve. Each chapter in this new book is a case study of a teen to illustrate the development, nature, and… [Read More]
As the chilly air of winter continues to give way to spring sunshine, readers and writers from far and wide are gearing up for UntitledTown Book and Author Festival in Green Bay this April. A celebration of reading, writing, and the literary arts in general, the Festival occurs over the course of four days from April 19-22, and it has something for everyone, featuring “120… [Read More]
Publishing is a business. Books are products. When you want to publish your book you need to understand that you are introducing a new product into a crowded market with decreasing demand. The number of books published each year has exploded. The average number of sales for each book continues to decline, despite the increasing number of titles published. For every spot available in bookstore… [Read More]
This Friday, March 16, Routledge releases Understanding Teen Eating Disorders: Warning Signs, Treatment Options and Stories of Courage by three Central New York authors who bring years of experience and expertise in the eating disorder field to the subject. Eating disorders are relatively common among tweens and teens and the numbers have stayed roughly the same for several decades despite effective prevention and early intervention… [Read More]