I'M APPEARING AT THE FAYETTEVILLE, NC PUBLIC LIBRARY

Hi folks,

Next month, I get to go to North Carolina and eat some of the best barbecue in the world! Also, I get to appear at the Fayetteville, NC public library on November 1-2 and talk about writing. Here's the article that appeared in the Fayetteville newspaper about the event.

At Your Library: Aspiring authors, don't miss writers workshop

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At Your Library: Aspiring authors, don't miss writers workshop

Posted: Saturday, October 11, 2014 12:00 am

 

Writers' Workshop @ Your Library 2014 returns to Headquarters Library on Nov. 1-2 with two days of learning and networking for aspiring authors.
Building on the resounding success of last year, the second annual conference boasts a faculty of 10 authors, who will present a variety of topics of interest to emerging and established authors.

The workshop is still free, but this year participants can either purchase boxed lunches, bring their own lunches or walk to any of the area eateries.

This year's featured speaker, Les Edgerton, is the author of two noted writing books, "Finding Your Voice: How to Put Personality in Your Writing," and "Hooked: Write Fiction That Grabs Readers at Page One & Never Lets Them Go." He has written 18 books, including the recently released crime novel "The Genuine, Imitation, Plastic Kidnapping."

Edgerton will speak once during the concurrent sessions Saturday and in a marathon 5 1/2 hour talk Sunday, when he will show - and deconstruct - the 1991 Oscar-winning screenplay about two average women whose simple weekend getaway goes horrible awry. The presentation, "A Fiction Writer's Workshop @ the Bijou," the subject of his next craft book, will show how an author can use action and screenwriting techniques to build character, theme and plot.

The workshop will also include these presenters:

Suzanne Adair (Michael Stoddard American Revolution Thriller series) will talk about plotting your work using Joseph Campbell's model of the Hero's Journey.

Annette Dunlap ("The Gambler's Daughter: A Personal and Social History'' and "Frank: The Story of Frances Folsom Cleveland, America's Youngest First Lady'') reprises her popular talk from last year's conference on writing nonfiction. If you missed it last year, you'll have plenty of opportunity this time. She's doing it twice this year.

Craig Faris ("The Spectrum Conspiracy") discusses "The Subtle Art of Suspense."

Marni Graff (the Nora Tierney mystery series) explains "The Challenges of Setting Your Novel in Another Country."

Clay and Susan Griffith (the Vampire Earth series), noted for their steampunk vampire novels and work in graphic novels, talk about character and action.

Chris Roerden ("Don't Sabotage Your Submission'') shares her editorial experience with "Showing and Telling." Later she teams with Susan Sloate ("Stealing Fire" and "Forward to Camelot: 50th Anniversary Edition") for an examination of the editorial process from the point of view of an editor versus an author.

Susan Sloate again shares her marketing secrets for creating an Amazon best-seller and adds a new presentation on how to use screenwriting techniques in fiction.

Sam Wazan ("Trapped in Four Square Miles"), who impressed us all at Book'em NC, discusses memoir and using it to find your voice.

Registration is required by calling 483-7727, ext. 1339. For more information and a tentative schedule, visit cumberland.lib.nc.libguides.com/WritersWorkshop2014.

This project is funded by the Friends of the Cumberland County Public Library and the Arts Council of Fayetteville and Cumberland County, which is supported in part by contributions from businesses and individuals, and through grants from the city of Fayetteville, Cumberland County and the North Carolina Arts Council, an agency of the Department of Cultural Resources.

Robin Deffendall is an information services librarian.


I'm really excited about this. Not only will I be able to escape Ft. Wayne's early winter for a few days, I'll get to hang with a bunch of writers and readers. I'm especially excited because two of the writers who take my online novel-writing class are going to attend. Can't wait to see Jeff Myer who lives in Fayetteville and Mary Edelson, who lives in Virginia.

I'll have to keep my excitement level toned down a bit over today's victory by my Irish over the Tarheels... Naw... I'll have to crow just a little...

Blue skies,
Les