PACIFIC NORTHWEST WRITERS ASSOCIATION
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APRIL 2013 E-NOTES:
E-Notes is your monthly electronic newsletter full of the latest news about the literary world. Our newsletter is a PNWA Member Benefit.
Please send us an email if you would like to place an announcement in next month's E-Notes: enotes@pnwa.org
(However, please note that this email address is not regularly monitored. For any questions or comments, please email pnwa@pnwa.org)
(Announcements must be received by the 19th of
the previous month to be included).
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PNWA NEWS: April Member Workshop and Meeting Next Thursday, April 11, 2013 @ 7:00pm
King County Library Service Center 960 Newport Way NW Issaquah, WA 98027
Speakers: Gerri Russell and Bill Kenower
Topic: Building Your Fan Base
Gerri Russell is one busy person with a hectic family life and a time-consuming job, but she also manages to have a thriving writing career by using the power of social media efficiently to grow her audience, get supporters to her book signings, and establish a personal relationship with readers, booksellers and community members. Listen as she shares important tips for juggling life, family and work that will help you balance your everyday life with a successful writing career. Bill Kenower is the Editor-in-Chief of Author magazine, where he also writes a daily blog on creativity and the writing life. His new book, Write Within Yourself, is a collection of essays and stories from his daily column that serves as a companion for those times when we as writers need inspiration. He will be talking about the significance and meaning of regular blogging in the writing life. At the meeting, we will also be holding a drawing for a free copy of Bill's book, so you don't want to miss it! --- 2013 Summer Conference July 25 - 28, 2013 Seattle Airport Hilton The full schedule for our 2013 conference is now online! Visit http://pnwa.org/conference for details. --- Marketing Opportunity For PNWA Members If you have a service or book you would like to promote, Author magazine is the perfect place to do it. For as little as $15 dollars a month PNWA members can reach 30,000 or more potential customers every month. For a complete list of rates, visit our Advertising Page, or contact Bill Kenower. --- Congratulations to the winners of our March query critique contest: MJ Daspit, Kathleen Magner, and Suma Subramaniam! See below for details on the April contest.
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PNWA Member Query Critique Drawing
Foreword Literary Inc. is sponsoring PNWA's new monthly query critique drawing. Agents Laurie McLean, Gordon Warnock, and Pam van Hylckama Vleig are inviting members to submit a one-page query letter.
Each month, three (3) queries will be selected at random in a drawing and then forwarded to their chosen agent. Each agent will read ONE selected query, critique it and provide feedback for the author.
So here is how it works:
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Entrants must be current PNWA Members ( click here to join or renew) - Review agent bios to determine who you would like to query: CLICK HERE
- Brush up on writing a query by visiting: pred-ed.com/pubquery.htm
- Email us your completed attached Word .doc query to pnwa@pnwa.org - subject heading MUST READ: "April Query Critique for (list agent's name)"- then click send.
- That's it, you are all done! (note: we will not email contestants to confirm delivery receipt)
PNWA members who have won will be notified. Once the query critiques are completed, we will send the feedback to the author.
THIS CONTEST WILL HAPPEN MONTHLY UNTIL JUNE - SO IF YOU ARE NOT SELECTED THIS MONTH KEEP TRYING (please note you must send a new email each month to be considered for the current month's contest).
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MEMBER NEWS:
PNWA board member Bill Kenower, Editor-in-Chief of Author magazine, is happy to announce the publication of Write Within Yourself: An Author's Companion, by Booktrope. This collection of short inspirational essays and stories drawn from his popular daily column on Author serves as a reminder of why writing is always worth it, whether you sell 10 copies of an e-book or 10 million copies of a hardcover.
PNWA will be holding a drawing for a free copy of Write Within Yourself at this month's member meeting (see details above). Visit Bill at www.williamkenower.com
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PNWA member Shannon Huffman Polson hopes you will join her for the book launch of her memoir North of Hope: A Daughter's Arctic Journey at Seattle's Elliott Bay Books on April 13, 2013 at 5pm. Terry Tempest Williams has called North of Hope "soulful and brave" and Scott Russell Sanders says it is "daring, perceptive and eloquent." All are welcome for a reading, discussion, party and giveaways.
For more information, visit Shannon at aborderlife.com
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PNWA member D. Andrew McChesney's naval adventure/fantasy novel, Beyond the Ocean's Edge: A Stone Island Sea Story, has been nominated by Outskirts Press, Inc. for a 2012 Colorado Independent Publishers Association's EVVY Award. To learn more, go to: selfpublishingnews.com/2013/03/11/official-outskirts-press-evvy-award-nominees-for-2012/. Visit www.stoneislandseastories.com to find out more about D. Andrew McChesney and Beyond the Ocean's Edge.
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PNWA member Su Williams is pleased to announce the release of her new novel, Dream Weaver, a YA contemporary paranormal love story set near the small Eastern Washington town of Mead. Join Su for her launch party on April 6, from 11am - 1pm, at Urban Blends Coffee (NorthTown Mall) in Spokane, WA.
Nickolas Benedetti is a Dream Weaver, an ancient and arcane immortal race able to cull and control memories and dreams. Picketed by a promise and a growing love, Nick must rescue seventeen-year-old Emari Sweet from the waves of darkness that crest over her head as she teeters on the razor's edge.
Visit Su at www.dreamweavernovels.com
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PNWA member Laura Navarre, 1st place winner in the Romance category of PNWA's 2012 Literary Contest, is thrilled to announce the publication of her winning manuscript, Magick by Moonrise, by Harlequin's Carina imprint in March 2013. This Tudor fallen angel romance is the series launch in a three-book deal with Harlequin. Laura is scheduled to give a workshop on "Sympathy for the Devil: Dark Heroes in Popular Fiction" at the PNWA Conference in July. For more information, please visit www.LauraNavarre.com
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PNWA member Barry Brennessel's linked story collection, Reunion, and his historical novel, The Celestial, have both been named finalists in the 2012 ForeWord Book of the Year Awards, to be announced at the American Library Association annual conference in June 2013. The Celestial was also a finalist in the 2012 PNWA Literary Contest. Both books are available from MLR Press, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Powell's Books, and OmniLit, in paperback and e-download. For more information, visit www.barrybrennessel.com
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PNWA member and travel writer James Ullrich announces the release of his new novel, Dangerous Latitudes, through Latitude Publishing via Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
Travel writer Matthew Hunt, a rugged loner with a complicated personal history, has covered stories, people, and far-flung destinations all over the planet. But nothing has prepared him for his latest assignment. A call from a young woman with an incredible claim begins a quest to find a legendary Conquistador's route to a fabled Lost City, deep in the darkest reaches of the Amazon.
All of Hunt's resourcefulness and determination will be needed to stay alive and solve the mystery. What really lies in the heart of the primeval jungle? A glimmering Lost City, a Fountain of Life, or something more sinister than they can imagine?
For more details, visit James at jamesullrichbooks.com/
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CONTESTS/SUBMISSIONS:
Emerging Writers Contest
The Whidbey Writers Workshop MFA Alumni Association Emerging Writers Contest is now open. This is a first novel contest. Submission deadline is May 24, 2013. Please note that our definition of a qualified "emerging writer" is someone who has yet to publish a book, including chapbooks, e-books, and self-published works. Awards are given for first, second and third place.
The first place award includes: 1) a full read/critique from Andrea Hurst Literary Management (as well as possible representation or referral); 2) a one-week retreat to a Smoky Mountains cabin (valued at $2,000 - transportation not provided); and 3) a $300 cash prize.
For submission guidelines, please check our website: www.whidbeymfaalumni.org
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The Nimrod International Journal announces its 35th annual Nimrod Literary Awards: The Pablo Neruda Prize for Poetry and The Katherine Anne Porter Prize for Fiction. The Awards offer first prizes of $2,000 and publication and second prizes of $1,000 and publication, along with a trip to Tulsa to receive the Awards and take part in our annual writing conference. The postmark deadline for this year's Awards is April 30th, 2013.
The Awards are among the most distinguished literary prizes in the country. Past judges include Stanley Kunitz, Marvin Bell, Mark Doty, Olga Broumas, W. S. Merwin, Denise Levertov, William Stafford, Ron Carlson, Linda Pastan, and John Edgar Wideman. Past winners include Sue Monk Kidd, Diane Glancy, Daniel Lusk, Felicia Ward, Ruth Schwartz, and Gina Ochsner.
For more information about Nimrod International Journal or The Awards, please visit www.utulsa.edu/nimrod
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The Daggerville Games monthly writing prize
Topic: as specified month by month on the Daggerville Games Facebook page (www.facebook.com/daggerville) -- the topic for the first round (April 2013) is "The Perfect Murder" (max. 250 words)
Eligibility: everybody who like Daggerville Games on Facebook. Taking part is free.
Submissions: as Facebook messages to Daggerville Games.
Prize: as specified month by month on the Daggerville Games Facebook page -- for the first round (April 2013) it is a $50 Amazon voucher.
Deadline: end of each month.
Rules: www.daggerville.com/competition
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CLASSES/WORKSHOPS:
Writing Short Stories from First Sentence to Submission Bellevue College Continuing Education Wednesday evenings, April 17th - June 5th 6:30 - 9:00 p.m. This is an intensive eight-session writing class. Each student is expected to write approximately 2,000 - 7,000 words a week and produce a portfolio of 2 - 5 short stories. During the first four weeks, students plot short stories and write them to completion. The second half of the class is devoted to editing and revising one story from the student's portfolio. Students will learn to edit their own work and to receive and give constructive criticism. At the end of the class, students submit their polished stories to literary or genre markets. Fee: $179.00 This class is taught in Bellevue at Bellevue College's new North Campus. For more information please follow this link to the Bellevue College website: http://www.campusce.net/BC/course/course.aspx?C=12608&pc=17&mc=81&sc If you have any questions about whether this is the right class for you, please feel free to email Lois Brandt (Lois@LoisBrandt.com). --- Children's writing conference SCBWI Western Washington invites you to attend its 22nd Annual Writing & Illustrating for Children Conference, taking place Friday, April 19, through Sunday, April 21, 2013, at the Marriott Redmond Town Center in Redmond, Washington.
The three-day event provides tremendous opportunities for growing your career as a writer and/or illustrator for children. Learn from esteemed literary professionals -- agents as well as editors and art directors from major publishing houses -- in addition to award-winning authors and illustrators. Keynote speakers include authors Mac Barnett, Kelly Milner Halls, Robin LaFevers, and author/illustrator Sophie Blackall. Faculty members will consult in roundtable consultations of attendees' work, as well as lead discussions on craft and the business of writing/illustrating for children. Mix, mingle, network, and learn about the world of children's book publishing.
For more information, or to register, please visit www.scbwi-washington.org. --- Screenwriting Workshop WHERE: Northwest Church -- Meeting Room Nine 15555 15th Ave NE, Shoreline, WA 98155 WHEN: Saturday April 20, 2013 10am to 4pm COST: $95 (Call (206) 801 7445) - reserved seating only WORKSHOP CURRICULUM: Wally Lane will show you the ins and outs of Cinematic Writing: -How to adapt your story to the screen -How to craft your screenplay so it meets the industry standard -How to transform a "what if" idea into a story -How to identify and develop theme & premise -How to develop your story -How to create characters -How to write a treatment & a beat outline -How to make your script look professional Wally Lane is a past member of the Board of Directors of the Northwest Screenwriters Guild (NWSG--6 years); an award-winning writer and filmmaker. As a long-time Chairman of the NWSG's Compendium committee and respected member of the screenwriting community, Wally has mentored scores of new screenwriters, helping them write to "Industry Standard." He has been writing screenplays for twenty years. He and his writing partner, Wash Phillips, have over twenty screenplays completed or in development across a range of genres. Many of these scripts have been or are currently optioned. CALL: (206) 801-7445 to reserve your seat. |
MISCELLANEOUS:
Seeking expert in Japanese culture for writing project Private family seeks a novel writer either of Japanese background or someone who has lived in Japan for 10 years or more. Understanding the cultural aspects of Japan and its multi-layered nuances are imperative to being successful on this project.
Please contact Roberta at rohno@comcast.net if interested. --- Seeking coverage report from an agented screenwriter Genre: Coming-of-Age Drama. Length: 119 pages The Pitch: Would you hide evidence of a crime in your room if your dad is the District Attorney? Mom was the Prom Queen. How far would you go to prove her wrong when she said, 'No good will come of girls in boy's sports'? Add your best friend, hornet spray, thugs and a pink tennis shoe to the mix; can Kelley and Bonnie use their new baseball skills to find the missing little girl and win over the boys and remain Mom's princess? If interested, please contact Jeffrey V. Dearborn at JVDNovelist@gmail.com or 971-219-3255. (Registered WGA number: 1634615) |
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