If you're a writer you know how important it is to take advantage of every opportunity to improve your craft. Much of it comes from continued writing and reading, but learning from our peers also provides benefits. And this month brings us even more of those special opportunities. Read on.
- Join us in welcoming FWA Executive VP Arielle Haughee (pronounced Hoy) for this month's NE Florida Zoom workshop. Arielle is an editor, author, and consultant, and owner of Orange Blossom Publishing. She will present a session aimed at demystifying two of the major indie publishing platforms: KDP and IngramSpark. They offer similar services but have different benefits. In this workshop, Arielle will compare publishing costs, user-friendliness, book options, publishing requirements, and distribution. You'll learn which service is better for experienced indie authors, who provides better distribution for bookstores and libraries, and how to get started on each publishing platform. Previously an elementary teacher, Arielle is the author of The Complete Revision Workbook for Writers, the children’s books Grumbler, Joyride, and Pling’s Party, and the editor of the How I Met My Other anthology series. Use the link below to access the meeting on Saturday, April 24 at 10:30 a.m. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82062856008?pwd=K1ZrRkl5eVQwLzVBZElUMlFTcldTZz09 Meeting ID: 820 6285 6008 Passcode: 539126
- Last month, we teamed up for a joint meeting with the Orlando Area Writers Group and group leader Rik Feeney presented a session on "Creative Writing Techniques." In exchange for his presentation, Rik demanded reciprocity and we agreed that I would be his guest for his meeting on Wednesday, April 14 at 7:00 p.m. My presentation will be "Seven Secrets to Writing the Thriller." During my talk, you'll learn the basic conventions of this popular genre, how thriller writers keep readers on the edge of their seats. To participate in this hour of thrilling talk, just use the following link. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89086781161?pwd=dnkzS2VUSzR3OFF2SnJuSVVWUGJZdz09 Meeting ID: 890 8678 1161 Passcode: 195493
- A Gathering of Poets continues to meet outside in the Ponte Vedra Beach Library gazebo overlooking Bird Island. Poets gather on the first and third Thursday of the month at 2:00 p.m. Contact Sharon Scholl if you're interested in joining the group. Email her at sharonscholl527@comcast.net.
- The Amelia Island Writers will hold a special workshop on "How to Build Your Author Platform" on Thursday, April 22 at 12:00 noon at the Story and Song Bookstore Bistro. Nanette Najimy of Beansprout Productions will give an overview of effective ways to build or strengthen your author platform. Registration is limited; social distancing required. Contact Katherine Hoehn to RSVP: kat@katwritesandsnaps.com.
- First Coast Christian Writers meet on the third Thursday of the month at 7:00 p.m. at Jacksonville's Maranatha Church.
And in other news:
We're saddened to report that prolific local author, and all-around nice guy, Walter J. Schenk, Jr. passed away on March 31. Walter wrote in many genres including poetry, stageplays, fiction, and nonfiction, winning multiple awards for his many projects. In 2018, he won FWA's Dahris Clair Memorial Award for his play, Hamlet, Reimagined. A memorial service will be held on Thursday, April 15 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Joseph's Historic Old Church at 4214 Loretto Road in Jacksonville.- Find out how the pandemic has impacted how books are published, sold, and discovered during a special webinar panel discussion sponsored by IngramSpark. You may register for the April 14 presentation, "Covid-19 & The Book Publishing Industry: A Year in Review" by clicking here.
- Also on April 14 at 6:30 p.m., the Amelia Island Book Festival offers a free online presentation by bestselling author Steve Berry about his new Cotton Malone thriller, The Kaiser's Web. Registration is required. Find it here.
- The 2021 Royal Palm Literary Awards competition is nearing its cutoff point. Although the submission deadline is April 30, there is a limit of 500 submissions, and we have been alerted that they are getting close to that number. If you have a book, story, poem, or screenplay you had planned to enter, then there's no time like the present. Here's the link to register.
- The Authors League Fund has announced that money is available for struggling writers hit by the unexpected financial impacts of the past year. Writers experiencing hardship due to illness, COVID-related income loss, recent storms, and power outages, or other difficulties are encouraged to apply. Eligibility guidelines and a link to the application form are at www.authorsleaguefund.org/apply.
- The Florida Author Project has opened a competition for indie-published books by Florida authors. The novel should be in either adult or young adult genre, written by a Florida resident, and available in either ePUB or PDF file. Visit the site for more details.
- Paula Hilton served as group leader of the Clay County Writers for only a few months (replacing the inestimable Maureen Jung) when Covid shut things down. She has spent more time this past year with her family out of state and has decided she can no longer lead the group when it returns to in-person meetings. This leaves a void in Clay County that needs to be filled. If you live in Clay County and wish to see this group remain viable, I encourage you to contact me and we'll discuss the responsibilities of a group leader.
- Congratulations to retired naval officer and Fernandina Beach resident R. W. Herman for his newly released book, The Unopened Letter, a coming-of-age book set during the Vietnam War.
- And kudos to Patricia Daly-Lipe on her historical, Miami's Yester'Years: It's Forgotten Founder, Locke Tiffin Highleyman. The book chronicles Highleyman's efforts at turning a swampy wilderness into a paradise.
Cheers,
Vic
Vic DiGenti
FWA Regional Director
Vic
Vic DiGenti
FWA Regional Director
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