Summer will be gone before we know it, but August still offers a heat wave of opportunities for writers. Let's starts with this month's meetings of FWA groups in our area:
- River City Writers meets tomorrow, Tuesday, August 9 at 7PM at the SE Branch Library off Gate Parkway. Nancy Murray will talk about how to create your own book trailer. Nancy recently won the International Book Awards in Young Adult Fiction for her book, The Night the Elephants Cried–A Story of the Tsunami.
- The Amelia Island Writers will meet on Tuesday, August 16 at 6PM at Books Plus in Fernandina Beach. Contact Maggie de Vries for more information.
- Clay County Writers will host a panel discussion on what promises to be a very appealing topic to many of us old-timers. "Writing As A Second Career." The panel will include novelists Gary Showalter and Lydia Filzen along with biographer Susan Brandenburg. The group meets on Wednesday, August 17 at 6:15PM at the Fleming Island Library, 1895 Town Center. Contact Maureen Jung for other details.
- Ancient City Writers tackles "The Power of Your Online Presence for Authors & Writers" at this month's meeting with Carol O'Dell. Carol is the author of Mothering Mother: A Daughter's Humorous & Heartbreaking Memoir. She’s also an inspirational speaker and writing teacher. She tells us it's not enough just to have a website, and will teach you how to tap into the powerful online community and which tools to use to best access it. The Ancient City Writers meet on Saturday, August 20 at 10"15AM at St. Augustine's Main Library.
- First Coast Christian Writers, an affiliate FWA chapter, meets each Thursday evening at 6:45PM at the Webb-Wesconnett Branch Library. Contact Tracy Redman for details.
- Ponte Vedra Writers wrap up the month of FWA meetings on Saturday, August 27 at 10:30AM at the Ponte Vedra Library. Author and writing instructor Sarah Clarke Stuart will discuss her journey to publication in a talk titled, "The Fast Track: From Query to Publication in 12 Months." In her talk, Sarah will discuss how write a proposal for your non-fiction book, how to begin a work of non-fiction, and how to promote yourself with a strong online presence.
Other Happenings of Interest to NE Florida Writers:
- Congratulations to all who have been notified they are a finalist in the RPLA competition. The Awards banquet is Saturday, October 22 and we usually have a large contingent from NE Florida. Plan now to be part of the excitement by registering for the 10th Annual FWA Conference, October 21-23 at the Lake Mary Marriott. ALong with the RPLA Banquet, you can pitch to agents and editors, participate in valuable craft workshops, and network with your fellow writers.
- Also sign up for the special Foundation Day event with New York Times Bestselling author Steve Berry on Thursday before the start of the conference. In a daylong seminar, Berry will share much of what he's learned about how to be the best author you can be in his workshop, "Writing Lessons from a Bestseller." The morning session covers "The Four C's of Story Structure," effective dialogue and POV, and Steve's Top Ten Rules of Writing. Following lunch he'll talk about the business of writing and answer questions.
- Children's Writers Jacksonville meet on the third Saturday of the month, August 20, at 1PM at the SE Branch Library. Janet Walter has the answer to your questions.
- The Florida Heritage Book Festival is fast approaching. Starting on Friday, September 23 with the Writers Conference at the Casa Monica Hotel, continuing with presentation of the Festival's Lifetime Achievement Awards to Peter Matthiessen and Randy Wayne White at that evening's Literary Legends Awards at the World Golf Village Renaissance Center, and ending on Saturday at Flagler College with a day of talks and panel discussions by noted authors. All the details are on the website.
- The Ponte Vedra Friends of the Library is hosting a Book Fair featuring 11 area authors on Monday, August 29 at 6PM at the Ponte Vedra Library. Attending authors include Sigrun Buckley, Sharon Cobb, Ken Gorman, Karen Harvey, Richard Hebert, Bill Kerr, Mary Kohnke, Will Merrill, George Prom, Marie Vernon, and Ronald White. A portion of their sales will benefit the FOL. Come down and support your fellow authors.
- Ancient City Romance Writers welcomes author Nancy Haddock as their speaker, Saturday, August 27, 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. at the SE Branch Library. Nancy, author of La Vida Vampire and Last Vampire Standing, will do a workshop on characterization.
- The Riverside Arts Market haas announced its first annual Literary Day for Saturday, September 17. RAM is that cool venue under the Fuller Warren Bridge attracting about 5,000 shoppers each Saturday.They'll be renting booth space to authors to sell their books on a first come-first served basis for $37.45 per space. And they'll allow up to 4 authors to share the 10' x 10' space. Books may be traditionally or self-published. Applications are now being accepted. Contact the RAM Director, Teri Coutu, at director@riversideartsmarket.com for an application, or contact me.
- Books Plus proprietor Maggie de Vries recently announced the first annual Local Authors Market Place to be held on Saturday, September 24 at the Atlantic Avenue Recreation Center in Fernandina Beach from 9AM to 5PM. Tables and chairs will be provided, but Bring Your Own Books. It's a traditional 60-40 split with Books Plus on sales, but the event benefits the Family Resource Center of Nassau County. Other sponsors include High Pitched Hum Publishing and The Book Loft. There will be workshops, a children's book area, and other activities. Please let Maggie know if you want to participate and plan to arrive early to set-up.
- One Book One Putnam, along with the GFWC Woman's Club of Palatka present An Evening with the Authors, Tuesday, August 16 from 5:30 - 7:30PM at the Woman's Club of Palatka, 605 S. 13th Street. Bob Lee can send you the details.
Always something going on in the writer's neighborhood. Look for more in the mid-month update. Until then, keep writing.
Vic
Victor DiGenti
FWA Regional Director
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