- Pennwriters

March-April 2009
www.pennwriters.org
Vol. XVII No. 2
In This Issue
Pitching: Don’t Forget the Flying Figs
President’s Column... 2
by Terry S. Friedman, Area 6, Elections Chair
Google Times Three...4
Over the years, I’ve learned that I’m much
better on my feet than I am on my seat.
Maybe I just get weighed down when I’m
sitting, and the force of gravity sucks my
brain into my toes. Put a microphone in my
hand, and I can be charming and funny. Put
an editor/agent or a Human Resources person
in front of me and my mouth goes south, deep
south—only slightly
north of Hades.
a bicycle chain guard, but I decided they’d
gone easy on her. I mustered some courage.
From my vast
experiences in the
Underworld, I offer a
recent discovery made
while pursuing an elusive
Master’s in Creative
Writing. One of the many
hurdles we Master’s
candidates had to
surmount was a pitch to
screenwriters. We’d been duly warned that the
panel had tap-danced on the livers of the class
before us. Make the pitch about a paragraph,
my class had been told, but I knew that if I
couldn’t sum it up in one sentence, the plot
probably wasn’t focused. Metaphorical tails
tucked between our legs, we faced a possible
liver-dance.
Third victim:
A piece about a
psycho babysitter,
a long pitch that
was beginning to
sound like linked
essays when the
panel interrupted.
By the time
they’d finished
asking questions, I don’t think my cohort
remembered what he’d written.
Join the Ride Share....4
Do You Have Books
to Sell?.......................5
Area 1 Report............ 5
More Than the
Spoken Word............. 6
Spotlight on
Volunteers: The
Newsletter Staff......... 7
Area 3 Report............ 7
Market News............. 8
Area 4 Report............ 9
Area 5 Report............ 9
Grammar Tip:
Oxford Comma.........11
Area 6 Report...........11
Opening Your Book
With a Bang............. 12
Area 2 Report.......... 13
Area 7 Report.......... 13
Surprise Speaker at
Published Penns’
Luncheon................. 14
Member
Accomplishments.... 14
Conference
Chatter..................... 16
Up went the first hardy soul, pitching a
fiction piece of linked essays. She’d already
proclaimed that she didn’t give a flying fig
what the screenwriters thought anyway.
“It sounds like your linked essays should
focus on a geographic region,” they told her.
Me? I wouldn’t know a linked essay from
Second victim for the slaughter: A
manuscript about a man with a foot fetish.
I swear. I am not making this up. The panel
seemed to like it and found aspects that
the writer needed to include in the pitch.
This buoyed my
confidence.
Note to self: Give yourself enough rope
when pitching, and you’ll be hanging on a
clothesline like a thong with a hole in the
wrong place. Keep it simple, stupid. Not so
confident, I stood. Flying figs mantra circling
in my brain, I executed from memory three
sentences, the title, the length, the genre.
“Is that all?” the screenwriter-son-of-arecently-deceased-very-famous author asked.
“That’s it,” I said. “Ask me whatever
you want.” I was good with a rope as a
See Pitching, Page 3
President’s Column
by Lisa Kastner, Area 6, President
Several years ago, I discovered
Pennwriters via a Web search
that introduced me to the
annual conference. I wanted to
find a forum in which I could
interact with writers at my level
as well as those who were more
experienced. I had a gameplan, of sorts. I printed out the
workshop list and checked off
the workshops I knew I wanted
to attend. I read and reread
the speaker’s bios and decided
who I wanted to learn from.
I purchased the speaker’s books so I could get a feel for
their writing styles and genres. As the first day of the
conference approached, I became excited with the idea
that I would have the chance to immerse myself in the
writing world, if only for a few days.
Once there, I eagerly attended workshops. I forced myself
to approach and talk to fellow writers. Being a natural
introvert, I had played with the idea of talking to agents
and editors, finally deciding against it because of the vast
amount of activities available to me in those three days.
The next conference I attended, I had an additional year
of writing experiences. I had been working on short
stories and a novel. Not nearly as nervous, I boldly signed
up for a pitch session. I wrote my elevator speech and
memorized it. I practiced and practiced what I would say.
I greeted fellow writers I had met the previous year and
shared my experiences, expectations, and hopes for the
coming year. With each subsequent conference I gained
new insights and greater knowledge.
This year’s conference offers something for all writers.
The new writer can attend workshops and meet fellow
writers. The new writer can review the speaker’s list
and find like-minded writers and authors with whom
they can chat over a glass of wine, soda, or tea, and can
immerse him/herself in the initial interactions availed at
the conference. Really listen and learn from those in the
industry.
The somewhat experienced has the all-day intensive
workshops available to help hone his/her writing. The
workshop teachers are leaders in their slice of the
industry and selected due to their knowledge and skill at
teaching. Pitch sessions and read and critiques are great
2
opportunities to learn more regarding the art of selling and
honing work.
The seasoned writer has opportunities to network and
share his or her life experiences with the lesser known and
interact with fellow writers and industry professionals she
or he may only see at a conference or workshop.
All levels of writers can interact with fellow attendees and
teachers. From the workshops, to the keynote dinner, to the
Saturday social event, many chances are available to have
casual conversations with those in attendance as well as
fellow visitors to the Pittsburgh Marriott.
The one activity that I leveraged even at the first
conference, was volunteering. By volunteering, even for a
relatively small role, I was exposed to many more activities.
I had greater interactions with industry professionals
who continue to help guide me today. Volunteering for
the conference opened up a world of opportunities that I
continue to cherish. I hobnobbed with keynote speakers,
assisted workshop leaders to ensure they had what they
needed for the day, and helped wherever needed.
I hope you take advantage of all offerings available to
you at the conference – in workshops, in networking, in
volunteering – to help spread your wings and soar in the
writing world. For more information on volunteering,
contact me, Carol Silvis or Annette Dashofy.
I look forward to seeing you at this year’s conference.
Have you changed your address or e-mail address?
If so, please notify Shelley Giusti, PW secretary.
We need your help to keep our member roster current.
Thanks from the newsletter staff.
Notice: Publication herein of articles, interviews, and
news concerning markets, contests, seminars, classes,
etc., does not imply an endorsement, recommendation or
any warranty given by Pennwriters. Readers are urged
to determine for themselves the reliability, integrity, and
financial responsibility of those with whom they deal.
The contents of this issue of The Penn Writer are
copyrighted © 2009 by Pennwriters, Inc. All rights are
reserved. Permission to photocopy is expressly denied.
All rights revert to individual authors immediately upon
publication.
March-April 2009
The Penn Writer
Pitching
(cont. from Page 1)
Girl Scout. Square knot, bowline,
hangman’s noose, I wasn’t going
there. Sometimes, less is better. Yet as
the panel asked questions, I realized
that I’d left out plot pieces that
appealed to them.
My cohorts and I were really not
liver-danced. The screenwriters made
an ideal sounding board. How the
writing looks visually and sounds
sequentially and stylistically are good
things to keep in mind. The panel
picked through the fat, found the meat
and then the marrow on the bone of
my plot. In the process, they exposed
areas of story I hadn’t considered
important. Somehow, they knew
exactly what questions to apply in
order to make our first draft focused.
Will the agents and editors liverdance on pitches at Pennwriters?
Most certainly not. In fact, most will
ask to see a portion of the manuscript.
If they don’t like what you present,
they might even ask what else you
have. Be prepared. I once sent a
short story to an agent who liked the
concept, and she told me to send a
novel based on the short story.
What do you need to face an agent/
editor? First, remember the flying
figs. Then think of your text in terms
of visual and sound bytes and what
will make someone who reads 250
submissions a week want to see
it. Refine your book into several
sentences that show your plot and
style. Memorize them. Know the
genre, what books it compares to, and
the length of your piece. Then with
visions of flying figs in your head, let
the agent/editor ask whatever she or
he wants.
Looking for a great way to get involved with the 2009 Pennwriters
Conference? Why not volunteer to be a moderator for one or more
of the great panels/workshops?
Grab a chance to introduce your favorite speaker and help run
such great panels as “Kills, Chills and Thrills” with C.J. Lyons as the
guest speaker! Or how about “Trends in Publishing” by Lucienne
Diver? Or maybe something like “Writing for Magazines” with Matt
Holliday of Pennsylvania Magazine? Why not sit up at the front of
the room instead of fighting for a seat or standing at the back?
Drop Sheryl Nantus a line at xfdragon@zoominternet.net and
let her know what panels or areas you would be interested in
moderating and add to your enjoyment of the 2009 Pennwriters
Conference!
Pennwriters Online: Your Internet Connection
Web site = www.pennwriters.org
Yahoo Group = www.groups.yahoo.com/group/Pennwriters/join
LinkedIn Group = www.linkedin.com/groups?about=&gid=67420
President
Lisa Kastner
lisadkastner@gmail.com
Vice President
Carol Silvis, 724-327-2725
carolsilvis@yahoo.com
Secretary
Shelley Giusti, 814-899-1607
cricketgirl33@yahoo.com
Treasurer
Jackie Shaffmaster, 570-878-7056
jmy382@hotmail.com
Author Advocate
Madhu B. Wangu, 724-933-3275
m.wangu@comcast.net
Newsletter Editor
Lori Morris, 412-276-0411
lorimorris@verizon.net
2009 Conference Coordinator
Annette Dashofy, 724-947-4618
adashofy@yahoo.com
Coordinator of Area Reps
OPEN
Jade Blackwater (acting)
206-604-5099,
jadeblackwater@brainripples.com
Annual Writing Contest Coordinator
OPEN
Bylaws Chair
Jean Jenkins, 814-774-0557
jjenkins@nwsd.org
Internet Activities Coordinator
Nate Hardy
natehardy@yahoo.com
Critique Coordinator
Alice Weyers, 814-833-9048
amweyers@roadrunner.com
Election Chair
Terry Friedman, 610-692-8668
tfried44@verizon.net
Public Relations Chair
OPEN
Speaker Directory Coordinator
Carol Silvis, 724-327-2725
carolsilvis@yahoo.com
Webmaster
Jamie Saloff, 814-734-5189
jamielinn@saloff.com
Contact information for Area Reps
can be found in area reports within
the newsletter.
Facebook Group = www.new.facebook.com/group.php?gid=9428111505
www.pennwriters.org
March-April 2009
3
Google Times Three
by Kathryn Yelinek, Area 2
In its single-minded attempt to take
over the online searching world,
Google continues to unroll new
services to help you find the answer to
your latest burning question. Here are
three new or not-so-new services from
Google that you may have missed:
Google Book Search: http://books.
google.com/ You’ve probably heard
about this one. This is the service
that led to Google scanning millions
of books and making them available
full-text online. In return, publishers
and authors sued. Fortunately, this
controversy seems to be over. A new
agreement in place between Google
and the authors and publishers means
that you now get to search those
millions of books online, either for
pleasure or for market research. With
out-of-copyright books, or books
where the author and/or publisher
gave permission, you see the entire
book. Other books show you either a
snippet or just a citation. Links from
the search pages take you to stores
such as Amazon.com and Barnes &
Noble to buy the book, or take you
to a local library’s catalog. You can
even save books to an online “library”
of favorites. If you don’t know the
particular title of a book, or you just
want to see what’s available in a
given genre, you may also browse for
books in categories such as Mystery,
Romance, or Biology. Self-published
authors or those that currently hold
the rights to their books can sign
themselves up to have their books
included in this project; otherwise, ask
your publisher to become a Google
Books Partner.
Google Scholar: http://scholar.google.
com/ For years, librarians and college
professors looked down their noses at
Google, but this is starting to change,
partly because of Google Scholar.
Google Scholar lets you sit at your
desk and search through the world
of scholarly literature: peer-reviewed
Join the Ride Share to Conference
Thinking about going to the
conference in Pittsburgh this May but
don’t want to drive alone? We have the
a great solution: join the ride share.
If you’re interested in sharing a ride,
decide if you fit into the “ride wanted”
category or the “rides available”
category and send the information
below to ayleen@embarqmail.com.
RIDE WANTED
Name, Area
City, State
E-mail
RIDES AVAILABLE
Name, Area
City, State
E-mail
Number of open passenger seats
Day leaving/Day returning
4
Your name and e-mail address will
appear on the Pennwriters Web
site (www.pennwriters.com) under
“Conference” then “Conf. News.”
We’ll be updating the news items
every other week or so as requests
come in. It is then your responsibility
to contact the people listed to arrange
rides and exchange phone numbers
and addresses.
Rides Available example:
Ayleen Stellhorn, Area 5
Littlestown PA (near Gettysburg)
ayleen@embarqmail.com
6 seats for passengers
Leaving Thurs., returning Sun.
Drop me an e-mail at ayleen@
embarqmail.com with questions.
March-April 2009
articles, theses, books, and abstracts. A
select amount of material is available
full-text; these items are identified
with a PDF link. Those that aren’t
will give you a citation to take to your
local library. If you’re affiliated with
a particular library, you can set the
Scholar Preferences to automatically
check the library’s full-text holdings.
Now, every time you come across an
item that’s available full-text through
your library (but that’s not freely
available online to everybody), a link
appears. Click on it and you’ll get a
login screen to access your library’s
online resources.
Google U.S. Government (formerly
and still lovingly known as Google
Uncle Sam):www.google.com/
unclesam Yes, the United States
government is often on the losing end
of jokes and naysayers, but it’s also the
top collector of statistics in the world
and a rich source of scientific, biomedical, and historical research (much
of it supported by your tax dollars).
Google Uncle Sam provides a gateway
to this information. Searches from this
site will bring back results only from
government Web sites (those that have
a .gov, .mil or .us address). Use this site
to find current information on political
matters, but also to mine research
conducted by government scientists
and researchers. The best part is that
the vast majority of the information is
available full-text online. You already
paid for it, so why not use it?
Google works tirelessly to introduce
new services and to improve existing
ones. Both Google Book Search and
Google Scholar are still listed as
“Beta”—they’re so new that Google’s
still working out the kinks—so only
time will tell how these might improve.
For now, all three resources help you
find the facts and figures needed to
make that book, article, or short story
shine.
The Penn Writer
Do You Have Books to Sell?
by Wanda C. Keesey, Area 5
Editor’s Note: Wanda passed away
this past fall but submitted this
article prior to her death. In her
spirit of helping fellow writers, we
print it here posthumously.
Did you put books on the
consignment table at the last
conference? Did you have
books with the bookseller at the
conferences?
Who “sold” your books? Who told
other attendees that your books were
there?
The answer should be “you.” You
have to be your own salesman.
Plan ahead. Bring business cards,
bookmarks, and brochures or fliers.
All of these things can be made using
your computer. If you can’t do them
yourself, I’m sure you have a friend
who can help you.
But it doesn’t end there. You need
to display your brochures and
bookmarks on the freebee table,
pass out your cards and tell people
about your book. Put your fliers or
posters up as soon as you can before
the signing, or have a stand that you
can display the poster or flier on near
your brochures and bookmarks. This
is not the time to be shy; get out there
and promote. I send announcements
to a huge list of friends,
relatives and fellow writers
telling them about speaking
engagements, and, of course,
signings.
This year was the first year I had a
book on the consignment table. I had
bookmarks (homemade) with ribbons
in them tucked into each book for
sale, with extras nearby. I have a
single-fold brochure (the narrower
version is also good) with an excerpt,
an author’s note and bio, contact
and purchase information with more
bookmarks on the freebee table,
along with a triple-fold brochure on
submitting to my publisher.
And I talked. I’m very good at
talking, especially about my books
and writing.
Tell your friends, neighbors, and
relatives that you will be doing
this signing. I had relatives come
from Camp Hill, Colonial Park
(Harrisburg), and York to purchase
my books for themselves and as gifts,
and to get them signed. Promote
online, in stores (where they allow
it), put press releases in all the local,
small and large, newspapers, in
club publications, write articles,
do interviews (exchange with other
writers), give talks on the subject of
your books, or your own interest.
Be a salesperson! Be YOUR
salesperson! It can be fun, and it
sure is rewarding.
Want to see the next issue of The Penn Writer on
your desktop rather than in your mailbox? Sign up at
www.pennwriters.org to receive the newsletter online.
Contact editor Lori Morris for more details.
www.pennwriters.org
Area 1 Report
by David Szymanowski
Area 1 Representative
What do you do with 125 inches of
snow on the ground in Erie? Write,
write, write, and shovel. Shovel,
sweep the snow off your car, and
attend an Area One Pennwriters
meeting.
While the snow accumulated
in the streets, Santa visited the
Saturday Area One meeting at the
Erie Book Store. After a round
of Ho, Ho, Ho, Santa began the
Thief-takers’ Gift Exchange –
grab a sealed gift or take one you
like from a member who already
has opened a gift. On Saturday,
Dec. 20, the Shenango Valley
Pennwriters (SVP) held their Grab
Bag Exchange. After the meeting,
the members discussed setting
writing goals for 2009: yearly goals,
monthly goals, and daily or weekly
goals.
The SVP meets every 3rd Saturday
of the month from 2-4 p.m. at the
Community Library of Shenango
Valley. The group is led by
Catherine McLean. She is also the
leader for the Meadville group that
meets the first Saturday of each
month from 1-4 p.m. at Tellers Row
Coffee Bar, in @The Bank, 940
Park Ave., downtown Meadville.
She may be reached at mouserun@
certainty.net.
The Fellowship of the Quill, a
writer’s fellowship group, meets
every Thursday evening at the
Presque Isle Gallery Coffeehouse.
For further information contact
Todd Main at Todd_Main@steris.
com. The other Erie meetings are
critique groups and meet on the
2nd and 4th Saturdays and the 3rd
Wednesday of each month.
Contact Dave at (814) 838-6870;
daveszy@verizon.net
March-April 2009
5
More Than the Spoken Word
by Catherine E. McLean, Area 1
Most writers think dialogue is what
goes between quotation marks as
either spoken conversations between
characters or as a soliloquy (where
the characters speak to themselves,
out loud, particularly when they are
alone). However, often overlooked is
internalizations, which is dialogue that
is not put in quotations.
Like spoken dialogue, internalizations
are in the character’s “voice,”
utilizing their individual style of
grammar and syntax which, in turn,
helps delineate the character as an
individual. Internalizations are also
ideal for providing the reader with the
motivation for the character’s actions
or behavior. Internalizations can be:
1) a monologue
2) a stream of consciousness
3) direct discourse
4) telepathic communication
The most used internalization is
the monologue. Such thoughts (and
internal conversations)
by a character are usually
organized, coherent,
and logical. During a
monologue, the character
draws conclusions,
formulates plans, or
devises precautions to
take when in pursuit of
the story goal.
gets carried away and goes off on a
bewildering tangent that can include
irrelevant ideas.
Direct discourse is an internalized
short recapping of action or events
by a character to bring themselves
up-to-date on a situation or to remind
themselves why they are committed
to the story goal. Technically, this
is a mechanical writing device used
to refresh the reader’s memory or to
reiterate to the reader what’s at stake.
During a direct discourse, the
character does not draw conclusions—
after all, the purpose is to recap—and
this works with mysteries or whodone-its. Yet, because it repeats
information, the technique may
become blatant telling—which draws
attention to itself. If that happens, it
pulls the reader out of the story world
and makes them realize a writer is at
work.
“Little did Wyatt know he would face
Black Bart at high noon tomorrow.”
This gives away a plot point and
deprives the reader of the satisfaction
of discovering for themselves what
happens next. It also deflates urgency
and tension in the story.
Lastly, telepathic communication is
the silent conversation between two
minds. This is harder to write because
quotation marks are not used for the
dialogue. What is used to indicate
telepathic communication is italics.
The problem comes when a character
has an internalization with themselves
that the other mind is not privy to
during the telepathic exchanges.
Normally that internalization would
not be in quotes or italicized but left as
plain words. For example:
The alien voice inside Roger’s mind
seemed almost hypnotic. Think of the
benefits, Roger.
Like spoken dialogue, internalizations are in the
character’s “voice,” utilizing their individual style of
grammar and syntax which, in turn, helps delineate the
character as an individual.
This is not the same thing as stream of
consciousness which is unorganized,
illogical, and fragmented thoughts and
where emotions take control to taint,
contaminate, or corrupt the character’s
perceptions of reality.
When used in moderation, stream
of consciousness makes a character
seem real, true-to-life, and three
dimensional. Unfortunately, the
danger with stream of consciousness
is that the character (or the author)
6
Another type of direct discourse is
linked to the omniscient POV (point
of view) which is done by “a voice”
the reader hears talking as they
read along. This is not the voice of
any of the book’s characters or the
scene’s or story’s POV character
doing the narration. It is the unseen,
unnamed “storyteller” that “speaks”
to the reader. Some stories need a
storyteller, but the danger comes
when the author steps onto the page
to insert telling details, which are
called author intrusions. For example:
March-April 2009
Being a slave was no benefit. Roger
reached for the self-destruct button.
Die you bastard—die!
Spoken dialogue plays an important
role in a story but internalizations
that are woven throughout a story
will add dimension, believability, and
verisimilitude.
Catherine is a Published Penn and
workshop speaker. Her Web site is
www.WritersCheatSheets.com
The Penn Writer
Spotlight on Volunteers
The Penn Writer Newsletter Staff
In an effort to thank the many
volunteers that help Pennwriters
thrive, we will periodically be
recognizing their efforts in The
Penn Writer. For this first “Spotlight
on Volunteers,” we’ll focus on the
newsletter staff.
Editor Lori Morris, Area 3, edits and
lays out the newsletter. She works as
a freelance writer, editor, and graphic
designer with more than 10 years
experience as a journalist, English/
journalism teacher, technical writer,
and editor. She resides in Pittsburgh
with her husband, her dog, and her
two daughters, Madeline Grace, 2, and
Hannah Noelle, born Christmas 2008.
Jim Lee, Area 4, has been providing
market reports for the last 70 issues of
The Penn Writer. He has been writing
all manner of things “forever” and
has been getting some of it published
since 1982. He is a lifelong resident of
the town of Windber, better known for
producing the movie Tarzan, Johnny
Weissmuller, and pioneering D.J. Alan
Freed, in addition to millions of tons
of coal dust.
Martha Johnson also provides market
reports. As a longtime Pennwriters
member, Martha writes inspirational
romance, romantic suspense, and
women’s fiction under her pen name,
Marta Perry, with over 30 books
published. Her first trade-size trilogy
begins in November with LEAH’S
CHOICE, to be published by Berkley
Books. She and her husband live in
Bloomsburg most of the year, but
escape the Pennsylvania winters on
Hilton Head Island, S.C.
Lisa Curry, Area 3, and Ann Vitale,
Area 2, serve as proofreaders.
Lisa is a copywriter and project
manager for a marketing
communications agency. She has more
than 20 years of professional writing
experience, has won numerous writing
awards, and served as Pennwriters
Secretary for five years. Lisa’s work
has been published in newspapers,
magazines, anthologies, and business
publications. She lives in the
Pittsburgh area with her husband, two
sons ages 9 and 11, two dogs, two cats,
and a fish.
Ann lives in rural Montrose with
Quintal, her Newfoundland, and
Smudge, a calico cat. She wrote three
books for Mason Crest on various
topics and has had flash fiction, how-to
newspaper columns, and personal nonfiction in print. She teaches writing in
adult classes and cultural centers in
northeastern Pennsylvania.
Published Author Web site Tips—Logging On
The Published arm of the Pennwriters site is actually a separate, stand alone
site. To login and use this site, do the following:
1. Log out of the regular site (if you haven’t already)
2. Click on the Published menu tab on the Pennwriter’s homepage.
3. Once on the Published site, (you’ll see book covers instead of people) scroll
down slightly to the left and you’ll see the login box.
Logging into the Published site allows you to upload your book cover and
promote your books to the public. You are also permitted to have multiple
profiles, one for each book or series, if you choose, or use the long description
area to add more book images and descriptions.
www.pennwriters.org
Area 3 Report
by Annette Dashofy
Area 3 Representative
The Second Tuesday of the Month
Group celebrated the holidays with a
dinner at Bravo’s Restaurant on Dec.
9. The group continues to meet at the
Barnes & Noble in North Fayette at
7:00PM. For details contact Meredith
Cohen at mcohen61@hotmail.com.
The Last Thursday of the Month Group
held its annual holiday luncheon at
Tambellini’s Restaurant in Bridgeville
on Dec. 4. The group meets on the last
Thursday of each month at 11:30 a.m.
at Cici’s Restaurant in Bridgeville.
Upcoming topics include Preparing
to Get the Most from the Pennwriters
Conference. For more information,
contact me at adashofy@yahoo.com or
Mary Jane Roth at tipandzip@aol.com.
The Pittsburgh East Writers have
moved to the Monroeville Public
Library’s downstairs Program Room
making it no longer necessary to
limit attendance for workshops.
Please e-mail Ellen for membership
application. Literary Agent Dr. Uwe
Stender from the TriadaUS Literary
Agency attended the February
meeting and held a Q&A. Check out
www.EllenSpain.com for other 2009
workshops. They meet on the second
Saturday of each month at 10 a.m.
The Critique Group North now meets
on the SECOND Thursday of each
month at 10 a.m. at King’s Restaurant
off the Wexford Exit of I-79. The piece
that you bring to the meeting can be of
any length and at any stage of writing.
For details contact Madhu B. Wangu at
m.wangu@comcast.net.
A South Hills daytime critique group
is open to new members. We swap
critiques and discuss markets, books,
and anything literary. The group meets
on alternate Tuesdays from 10 a.m.
to noon at Westminster Presbyterian
Church (room 231) in Upper St. Clair.
Contact Jodi Elgin at 412-833-3957 or
jselgin@comcast.net for further details. Contact Annette at 724-255-7955;
adashofy@yahoo.com
March-April 2009
7
Market News
by Jim Lee, Area 4, Associate Editor, Market Reports
A monthly covering motorcycles for
the general public (most readers out
West, apparently), Friction Zone
buys few feature-length articles (3000
words max) from freelancers. But they
use about 60 pieces (2000 words max)
for various columns and departments
(including health issues for cyclists,
basic engine bike mechanics and
reviews of mostly California-area
travel destinations). Also 20003000 word fillers (anecdotes, facts,
gags to be illustrated by cartoonists,
newsbreaks, short humor) and the
occasional fiction piece (1000-2000
words) are used. No ‘first-person’
writing used and in all cases they pay
20 cents/word on publication. Check
their guides on their web site (www.
friction-zone.com) then query w/
sample writing via e-mail (editor@
friction-zone.com).
Fashion Accessories is a trade
publication in newspaper form
for executives in manufacturing,
wholesaling and, especially, the retail
buying of fashion/costume jewelry. It’s
published monthly and buys 20 feature
articles/year. These include essay,
general interest, historical/nostalgic,
interview/profile and new product “of
interest to costume jewelry buyers.”
These pieces run 1000-2000 words,
earning $100-300. Pays on acceptance.
Contact Samuel Mendelson, publisher.
Query w/published clips to S.C.M.
Publications, Inc., PO Box 859,
Mahwah NJ 077430-0859. Sample
copy (always valuable, particularly for
highly specialized markets like this)
available for $2 and 9x12 SASE w/four
first-class stamps.
9-1-1 Magazine is a trade
publication, appearing nine times/
yr. for emergency communications
professionals (police, fire,
medical, etc.). Each issue contains
knowledgeable articles (1000-2500
8
words) on product-related, technical,
operational and people-oriented
stories, and geared to these pros,
not the general public. Pay is 10-20
cents/wd on pub. They offer 20%
kill fees and also pay separately for
accompanying photos. See their writer
guidelines online at
www.9-1-1magazine.
com. Editor Randall
Larson prefers queries
by e-mail (editor@
9-1-1magazine.com).
But will also consider
queries via fax (714838-9233) or mail
(18201 Weston Place,
Tustin CA 927802251) or even mss sent
on spec.
A Pittsburgh-based lit mag, Paper
Street, is now, ironically, exclusively
an online publication. They still
use poetry and flash fiction. Check
their current guides at www.
paperstreetonline.org.
The previous column included info
on a contest for stage plays from
Atlantic Pacific Press. Here are the
regular guidelines to this quarterly
journal. They use fiction (including
sci-fi), children’s stories and creative
nonfiction, 250-7000 wds; short plays
for stage or screen, 1-10 pages, in
standard play or screenplay format;
poetry & lyrics, any style, 3-6 per sub,
10-page max. Pay is a contributor copy
and flat fee of $10 for unpublished
work (“25% fee for reprints”), if/when
funds are available. They’re very
specific about format needs, so get a
copy of their guides before sending
work—query for same to Christine
Walen, Editor, 279 Gulf Rd., South
Dartmouth MA 02748, or visit their
Web site (www.atlanticpacificpress.
com).
GUD Magazine (it stands for
“Greatest Uncommon Denominator”)
is an offbeat literary mag that uses
a range of fiction and nonfiction
(15,000-wd. max for both) and poetry.
They seem to have changed contract
terms (pay, rights taken, etc.), as well
as submission
procedures
repeatedly. Now
they’ve apparently
settled on an
arrangement
unusual to the
magazine world:
accepted work is
paid 3 cents/wd. as
an advance against
royalties. The work
then comes out in
both a print issue
and a PDF issue, both available on
their Web site (www.gudmagazine.
com). After another issue comes out,
the work is permanently archived,
where the individual text can be
purchased as a PDF on a pay-per-view
basis. Each copy that sells earns the
author a modest royalty. All subs via
submission form (and detailed info) on
their web site (as above).
The Winning Writers Web site is
sponsoring another contest with a
rapidly approaching deadline. Top
prize for the Tom Howard/John H.
Reid Short Story Contest is $2000
(plus 13 lesser prizes for a prize total
of $5, 250). They’ll consider work to
5000 wds, including essays as well as
traditional stories. Entry fee is $15,
payable to Winning Writers. Postmark
deadline for this one is March 31.
Submit online or by mail to Winning
Writers, attn: Tom Howard Short Story
Contest, 351 Pleasant St., PMB 222,
Northampton MA 01060. Info at www.
winningwriters.com/tomstory.
See Market News, Page 9
March-April 2009
The Penn Writer
Market News
(cont. from Page 8)
A weekly, 8-page magazine on a
Christian “discipleship” theme,
Purpose uses very short fiction (to
600 wds)—historical, humor/satire,
religious/inspirational topics (no
militaristic, narrow patriotism or
racist themes). Editor James E. Horsch
pays 7 cents/wd on acceptance, plus
2 copies for one-time rights. All subs
to him as Word attachment via e-mail
(horsch@mph.org). He likes firstperson stories, crisp writing, action
moving, focused on an individual,
group or organization responding to
a dilemma. The 1st 2 paragraphs are
crucial—establish mood and issue to
be resolved. Sample copy and guides
for $2, 6x9 SAE and 2 first-class
stamps to 616 Walnut Ave., Scottdale
PA 15683-1999. Guides also posted on
their website (www.mph.org).
Chest, the Journal of the American
College of Chest Physicians, has a
new section for poetry. They’d like
subs of up to 3 unpublished, quality
poems (max 40 lines) “on subjects of
some medical relevance.” No word of
payment, but they have a subscriber
base of 22,000. E-mail subs to http://
poetrychest@aol.com.
Like most everyone, the publishing
biz is experiencing belt tightening
due to the recession. Poets & Writers
Magazine notes several examples.
Nonfiction publisher Atlas & Co. has
postponed its entire Spring ’09 list.
San Francisco-based MacAdam/Cage
has laid-off numerous employees,
including two editors and the
marketing director. And Barnes
& Noble’s chairman e-mailed his
employees that the retail climate for
booksellers was the worst he’d ever
seen.
The same article noted that smaller
independent publishers enjoy a
few advantages over the bigtime
operations in such times—they tend
www.pennwriters.org
to be thriftier, used to operating on
tight margins, not burdened by huge/
risky advances or highly leveraged due
to merger costs. Of course, they have
little room for error—but one might
consider such factors in seeking a
publisher.
That issue of Poets & Writers had
a useful and interesting discussion/
forum featuring 4 agents. Their
warning signs of an agent to avoid
included trying to charge money
upfront, promising you the stars,
trying to get you to pay some thirdparty for editing and claiming to love
your work then taking three months to
get back to you.
New American Press is running
a chapbook competition. Send 2030 pages (any genre) along with
$12 reading fee and separate cover
sheet to Ohio Wesleyan University,
English Dept., c/o Okla Elliot, 61 S.
Sandusky St., Delaware OH 43015.
Deadline: May 15. Winning entry is
published, its author receives $250
and 25 copies. Info (and maybe online
submission, listing is unclear) at www.
newamericanpress.com.
The current incarnation of Weird
Tales pays 3-4 cents/wd on acceptance
and 2 copies for first rights to fantasy,
horror and science fiction with a
decided ‘weird’ flavor. Contract also
includes right to nonexclusive reprint
rights, for additional fee, in “best
of” type anthologies. 10,000 wds
max, but seldom use anything over
8,000, average story length is 4,000.
Guides for #10 SASE (PO Box 38190,
Tallahassee FL 32315) or by e-mail
(weirdtales@gmail.com). Fiction
Editor Ann VanderMeer enjoys cover
letters, but doesn’t require them.
Hardcopy subs to her at the above
address; for e-mail subs paste 1st 3-4
See Market News, Page 10
Area 4 Report
by Mona Papoutsis
Area 4 Representative
The Chambersburg writers’ group
continues to be the only critique group
in Area 4, but we’d like to see an
interest in other areas. If you have any
ideas to share with other members on
starting a group, or any other input—
that news is always welcome too—
please share. In addition to serving the
function of critiquing, a critique group
is also a great way to socialize and get
to know others with similar interests.
If there is anyone who is interested in
starting a critique group in your area,
please let me know. Or, if you’re within
driving distance and have the time,
please join us. We continue to meet the
first and third Thursdays of each month
at 6:30 p.m. at Wilson College.
Contact Mona at 717-263-1109;
monap2005@comcast.net
Area 5 Report
by Walt Honsinger
Area 5 Representative
It’s a new year and a number of our
authors have books, short stories,
and articles coming out. We’ve been
blessed in that a number of authors
have been stopping by our meetings
and describing their work, their
struggles and how they prevailed.
Several members have been touring the
area doing book signings.
With the New Year we’re also looking
forward to the upcoming conference
in May. Area 5 is still expanding and
new members signing up. Several area
authors have work that is due out in
the near future, many others are busy
marketing their work. It seems that at
each event new authors show up and
ask about Pennwriters.
The local writing groups we currently
show are in Lancaster, York,
Bainbridge, Camp Hill, Harrisburg,
Pottsville and Carlisle.
Contact Walt at 717-560-9641;
walthonsinger@hotmail.com
March-April 2009
9
Market News
(cont. from Page 9)
paragraphs into body of e-mail and
entire document attached, either as
a PC MS-Word document or an RTF
file. Use limited amount of nonfiction,
too—guides for these on their website
(www.weirdtalesmagazine.com).
Autumn House Press, 87½ Westwood
Street, Pittsburgh PA 15211, puts out
an annual contest/award for booklength novels or story collections.
All genres of fiction are okay. Prize:
$2500 and publication. Entry fee
of $25, payable to Autumn House
Press. Entry deadline: June 30, 2009.
Entries must be unpublished, 200-300
pages. Judged blind, so send 2 cover
pages (one with contract info and
one without). Results in September,
winner notified by mail, phone and/
or e-mail. Check their website: http://
autumnhouse.org.
ProStar Publications, Inc. of 3
Church Circle, #109, Annapolis MD
21401 puts out 150 nonfiction trade
paperbacks/yr. An imprint, Lighthouse
Books, does 10-15. The focus is on
nautical books—how-to, illustrated,
technical, as well as nautical history,
memoirs, nature/environmental,
business and travel. They rarely offer
advances, but pay 15% royalty on
wholesale price. Editor Susan Wilson
handles mostly history/memoirs;
President Peter Griffes handles other
acquisitions. Check their website
(www.prostarpublications.com) then
query by mail (address above).
Dial Books for Young Readers (part
of the Penguin Group) mostly deals
with authors through agents. But they
will reportedly accept unsolicited
mss for short picture books for young
children. The catch is they answer
back only if interested. Include a
cover letter w/brief bio and publication
credits, but NO SASE. If they don’t
get back to you in 4 months, consider
the work rejected. As an arm of a
10
major publisher they offer advances
and royalties (amount varies). Address
to Submissions Editor, 345 Hudson
St., 14th Floor, New York NY 10014.
But given this unusual policy, I’d
at least check their Web site (www.
us.penguingroup.com) for any extra
info before sending.
New Love Stories is looking for
stories featuring a romance between
a man and a woman, between 3000
and 5000 words. They’re open to all
sub-genres of romance, including
contemporary, historical, inspirational
and paranormal. They’d like sexuality
in the story, though nothing overly
graphic. Payment is $300. Find all the
details at www.newlovestories.com
Harlequin
Teen is a
new venture
from Mira
Books. Senior
Editor Natashya
Wilson is looking
for “commercial,
high-concept
stories” —
contemporary,
paranormal,
science fiction
and historical,
50,000 to 100,000 words. She will
accept a query with a synopsis from
unagented authors. See the guidelines
at www.eharlequin.com/articlepage.
html?articleId=1403&chapter=0 or
http://tinyurl.com/9zlmdt
Kensington Books has a new address
as of Feb. 16: 119 West 40th Street,
New York, New York 10018.
More shakeups at HarperCollins this
week: The Collins imprint (nonfiction)
is being shut down and the various
projects there being rolled into the
Harper Division. The Avon trade
paperback line will become part of
March-April 2009
the Harper Perennial and Harper
paperback section, overseen by Carrier
Kania, senior v-p and publisher. Liate
Stehlik has been promoted to senior
v-p, publisher of William Morrow/Eos/
Avon. She will be in charge of Avon
and Harper mass market titles. Mary
Ellen O’Neill is joining this group as
v-p, executive editor. And finally, the
children’s book group will be moving
its offices back to HarperCollins’ s
main building on West 53rd Street.
Reader’s Digest is one of the top
markets for humor. In each issue they
publish jokes, quotes and humorous
anecdotes, and pay $100. You can
submit your material online here:
www.rd. com/submitJokePage.
do#guidelines
Angels on Earth is a Guideposts
publication that welcomes
fillers related to angels:
quotes, stories of good deeds,
and mysterious encounters.
Payment is from $25 - $100.
They accept both e-mail
and snail mail submissions.
See the guidelines at www.
angelsonearth.com/writers_
Guidelines.asp
Guideposts also accepts short
features and fillers of under 250 words
and pays $25-100. See their guidelines
at www.guidepostsmag.com/writersguidelines/
Christianity Today accepts “real life,
humorous kid stories” for its Kids of
the Kingdom feature. 50-75 words.
Pays $25. www.christianitytoday.
com/todayschristian/features/info.
html# writers
I Love Cats pays $25 for tips for cat
owners. Guidelines are available here
www.iluvcats.com/writguidfori.html
See Market News, Page 11
The Penn Writer
Market News
(cont. from Page 10)
Family Circle pays $25-$50 for home
care and parenting tips. E-mail to
readerstips@familycircle. com
Family Handyman pays $100 for
Workshop Tips handyhints@
readersdigest.com
Country Woman buys a number of
different fillers. Right now they’re
looking for dating and wedding
proposal stories. Find the details at
http://tinyurl.com/c3dxnh
The Strang Book Group is now
considering publishing Christian
romance novels (mainly prairie
romance or Amish romance)
from both established writers and
newcomers. In order to be considered
for publication, manuscripts must
be completely written and must be
the first installment in a three- or
four-book series, with summaries for
all books in the series having been
developed. Please submit completed
manuscripts and corresponding series
ideas to Debbie Marrie, imprint editor
for the Strang Book Group, at debbie.
marrie@strang.com.
[Info cribbed from 2009 Novel & Short
Story Writer’s Market (Writer’s Digest
Books), Poets & Writers Magazine (Poets
& Writers, Inc.), my inquiries, those of
Martha Johnson and 2009 Writer’s Market
(Writer’s Digest Books).]
Grammar Tip: The Oxford Comma
This particular punctuation mark
might seem a little pretentious sporting
such an academic name. But using
it correctly can eliminate confusion.
Here is a great example of the reason
you should use the Oxford comma,
sometimes known as the serial
comma. It appeared in the Sunday,
Jan. 11, 2009, edition of the Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette on the editorial page.
We’ll get to it in a minute.
In a series of three or more items
separated by commas, the Oxford
comma is the comma that separates
the final two items and comes just
before the conjunction. “Go to the
store and get eggs, bread, milk, and
celery.” Some style manuals advocate
omitting this comma. That would not
be a problem in the previous sentence,
but it some cases, the omission creates
ambiguity or momentary confusion.
“My favorite foods are steak, pizza,
macaroni and cheese and crackers.”
Gazette review of Allegheny County
restaurant inspections turned up
some pretty disgusting conditions—
dead roaches on the floor, live ones
scurrying across steam tables, rodent
droppings and foods of all sorts being
kept at unsafe temperatures.”
The end of that sentence had
me wondering just what the safe
temperature for rodent droppings
might be.
Can you exclude the Oxford comma?
Sure you can, but not at the expense
of clarity. If you want to economize
on punctuation, do it with useless
exclamation points. One little squiggle
isn’t going to break the bank.
Reprinted from The Legacy Road
Communique. Permission granted
by author Jay Speyerer, Legacy
Road Communications.e-mail: jay@
jayspeyerer.com, Web site: www.
jayspeyerer.com
Area 6 Report
by Jade Blackwater
Area 6 Representative
Greetings Area 6! 2009 is kicking off
strong with new Critique Groups and
many new members. Whatever your
writing goals are for the year, now is
the perfect time to reach out to local
writers, volunteer with writing events,
and get involved in Area 6 to make the
most of Pennwriters.
Writers from all around our region
are ready and eager to collaborate.
Our newest Critique Groups
include Pottsville, Willow Grove,
Northeast Philadelphia, Center City
Philadelphia, and a second group in
West Chester. These groups are all
actively seeking members. Contact me
to join our active groups or to form a
group in your area.
Remember to visit the Pennwriters
Area 6 HQ blog (www.
pennwritersarea6.wordpress.com)
where you can find details about
writing events and activities in
southeastern Pennsylvania. Our
Area 6 blog also features the work
of members from Area 6, interviews
with fellow Pennwriters, and ideas
and resources for writers and editors.
Contact me any time to contribute
a writing selection, announce a
local event, or share a writing
accomplishment.
Finally, our Area 6 discussion forum
is another great place to engage with
Pennwriters from the convenience of
your computer chair. Please join us
and share your successes, challenges,
goals, and ideas.
My e-mail box is always open: contact
me any time to let me know how I can
best support your writing goals.
Happy writing,
Contact Jade at 206-604-5099;
jadeblackwater@brainripples.com
See if you can spot the problem in the
following sentence: “A recent Post-
www.pennwriters.org
March-April 2009
11
Opening Your Book With a Bang
by Liana Laverentz, Area 1
Today I want to talk about beginnings:
opening lines. And since only I know
what the meaning is behind my
opening lines, I’m going to have to use
the opening lines from my own books
to explain.
When you’re writing a book, you want
to draw the reader in immediately. You
can’t take a whole bunch of pages to
get to where your story really begins,
because in doing so, you run the
very real risk of losing your reader,
or losing a sale. You know who I’m
talking about. Those readers who
stand in the book aisle and pick up
books and start reading the first page,
then either put the book in their cart
or back on the shelf. I figure you have
about 30 seconds tops to capture their
attention, a page or two at most.
So your opening has to be a grabber.
One that gets the reader wondering
what is going on here immediately. In
a mystery or suspense, we say, start
with a body on the floor.
So here goes:
In THIN ICE, my original opening
line was: If there was such a place as
hockey player hell, Eric Cameron was
in it.
Unfortunately, that was in the
prologue, and the prologue got cut
during edits. But the rest of the
paragraph went on to explain how his
team was losing, time was running
out, and it was up to him to pull off a
win. His reputation was on the line,
his having been named captain of the
team earlier that day by the owner
with a public challenge to turn the
team around.
Unfortunately, the other team knew
this and were gunning for him. He
knew it, they knew it, and in short
order, the fight was on.
12
Instead, I opened with: It was no way
to spend a birthday, drinking alone in
some hole in the wall dive, but it beat
sitting at home alone, staring at the
contents of his rented apartment.
Not quite as engaging, but it still
draws you in. Why is this guy sitting
alone in a bar on his birthday with no
one to go home to? No home to go to,
really, if the stuff in his apartment is
rented.
Obviously he lost the game he
was supposed to win, and was on
everyone’s s*** list from the owner to
his teammates to the fans.
Why? How did this come about? I’m
hoping the reader will want to know
and read on.
In JAKE’S RETURN, the opening
line is: Rebecca Reed would never
forget the sound of Jacob Donovan
walking back into her life.
Sort of sums the book up, doesn’t it?
You have the heroine on the first page,
reacting to—what’s the book about?—
Jake’s return.
Return to where? Why did he walk
away? Why did he come back? What
happened between them? How will his
return affect Rebecca?
I’m hoping the reader wants to know.
Next, ASHTON’S SECRET: It was a
hell of a homecoming.
Okay, so that alone won’t do it. I could
have done better. I’ll add the next line
and see if that helps:
It was a hell of a homecoming. No
sooner had he rented the slip at the
Ashton Marina than people had
gathered on the dock. People he’d
known most of his life, people whose
expressions ranged from surprise to
March-April 2009
wariness to outright hostility.
Now we know that somebody has just
come home and it’s not going well.
Why? Why did they leave? Why is
it not going well? What happened
to make the people of Ashton hate/
mistrust/dislike this man so? And why
would he come back if he knew they
would feel that way?
JUSTICE IS A LADY: “What do you
mean, the gun isn’t there?”
This is from my current WIP.
Samantha Dallas is an assistant
district attorney, on her way into the
courtroom for a trial against a gang
member, and she’s just found out, in
the corridor outside the courtroom,
that a key piece of evidence has gone
missing from the evidence property
room. Suddenly she’s looking at a case
that’s going down the tubes.
First, the gun gets your attention. Then
the fact that it is missing. Missing
guns make everybody nervous. Where
is this gun, who is missing it, why do
they need it, and why are they so upset
that it is gone?
I’m hoping the reader will want to find
out.
LETTERS TO LAURA, written in
epistolary format:
June 15, 2002
8:15 a.m.
Dear Laura,
In an hour and 45 minutes I will begin
my 25th year in prison.
Okay, you know it is a letter, you know
it is about a real person, you know
someone is in prison and has been for
25 years, and you know they know
See Opening Lines, Page 13
The Penn Writer
Opening Lines
(cont. from Page 12)
and remember the exact moment they
entered prison.
I’d want to find out who Laura was,
who’s writing the letter, why this
person has been in jail for 25 years,
and how it could be that they would
remember the exact date and time their
life changed forever.
But that’s just me.
Personally, my favorite way to open
a book is with a line of dialogue.
Unfortunately, that doesn’t work in
all cases. You have to go with what
fits the story. A lot of people like to
open up their stories with describing
the scenery, or the weather. This only
works if you use the setting or the
weather as a character in your story.
In Eileen Dreyer’s SINNERS AND
SAINTS, the weather is as much a
character in the story as the characters
themselves.
The story is set in New Orleans as a
hurricane looms on the horizon, and
she describes its imminent arrival as if
it were an ominous character coming
to town. Here is the opening:
Omens come in all sizes. Hair
standing up at the back of the neck.
Crows on a telephone wire. Shapes in
a cloud or a chill in the wind.
In, say a story that takes place in a
haunted house, or haunted village, or a
different planet, you would want to set
the scene right from the beginning.
But in a contemporary or even
historical work of fiction, unless the
weather or setting is to be used as
a character element in the story, I’d
highly recommend a snappy line of
dialogue, a short one-liner that grabs
the reader’s attention and implies
something big is about to happen, or
something philosophical (profound or
whimsical, depending on the mood of
the story) from the main character’s
point of view. Here’s one I just made
up:
If she’d known this was to be her
last day in Jamaica, she might have
chosen to call her mother before she
disappeared.
Who is she? Why is she in Jamaica?
Why does she disappear? How does
she disappear? What will her mother
think when she doesn’t hear from her
daughter?
Try it. Just play around with opening
lines. You never know. You might even
come up with an idea for a book.
Liana Laverentz is the author of
two contemporary award-winning
romances with The Wild Rose
Press, THIN ICE and JAKE’S
RETURN. Her next release,
ASHTON’S SECRET, a murder
mystery romance, will be available
from The Wild Rose Press in early
2009. For more information, go to
www.lianalaverentz.com
Area 2 Report
by Hildy Morgan
Area 2 Representative
Area 2 is now going into
hibernation, but we’ll be back in the
spring with some new workshops.
There is a writer’s group in
Tunkhannock that meets every
Thursday at 7:00 p.m. at the
Dietrich Theater. Whether you
are a Pennwriter or not, you are
welcome to join us. Contact Hildy at 570-833-5246;
billyandshaka@epix.net
Area 7 Report
by Bobbi Carducci
Area 7 Liaison
Area 7 members are encouraged to
attend the PW Conference and take
advantage of as many resources as
possible. The networking alone is
invaluable to all writers and you
never know when you may learn
something that will take you to the
next step on your path to success.
I plan to host an Area 7 online workshop in October. I am
accepting suggestions for subject
matter until July 30th to allow time
for planning the event.
Welcome to new Area 7 member
Fred Connors.
Contact Bobbi at 540-338-5064;
bcarducci@comcast.net
Promotion Tip
If you are a Published Pennwriter and you’d like to have a banner posted on the
Pennwriters’ Web site to promote your books (we have areas for large ones and
small ones - see the site for examples), you can send one to Jamie Saloff, the Web
Committee Chair, at jamielinn@saloff.com, and she will post it for you.
www.pennwriters.org
March-April 2009
13
Surprise Speaker at Published Penns’ Luncheon
by Madhu B. Wangu, Area 3, Author Advocate
Dear Published Penns,
I hope each one of you has registered
for the Friday Luncheon.
articles have appeared in Writer’s
Digest and The Writer.
Instead of one, we are featuring two
outstanding speakers. In addition
to attorney Heather Heidelbaugh,
who will speak about contracts
and copyright laws, we also have a
surprise guest!
If you guessed David Wilson,
you’re right. David is one of our
own Published Penns. He is the
author of UNHOLY GRAIL (a
religious thriller), THE KITCHEN
CASANOVA (a gourmet cookbook),
and APPAREL MERCHANDISING
(a textbook, co-author).
You are probably well acquainted
with the second speaker. His first
novel was translated into five
languages, he has appeared on
CNN, Regis & Kathy Lee show, and
Evening Magazine. In addition, his
Mr. Wilson will informally share
his broad background in “Book
Promotion and Marketing” for
fiction and non-fiction books. In his
experience, promoting his books
turned out to be more daunting
Quotes
Corner
“Those who write clearly
have readers, those
who write obscurely
have commentators.”
- Albert Camus
“A musician must make
music, an artist must
paint, a poet must write,
if he is to be ultimately
at peace with himself.”
- Abraham Maslow
Compliments of Nate Hardy and
www.AIRequation.org. For weekly
quotes, visit the Pennwriters online
group at www.groups.yahoo.com/
group/pennwriters
14
than the actual writing process. He
will discuss key areas in standard
media promotion and Web based
promotion. He will focus on his
successes and failures in learning the
growing complexities of attracting
attention to your publishing efforts.
He will stress the importance of
timing, research, and being assertive
in developing successful strategies
for promoting your forthcoming
book or the book you’re currently
writing, and planning its marketing.
I look forward to seeing you all on
Friday, May 15.
Member Accomplishments
DEANNA R. ADAMS, Area 7, has a
new book out. Her CONFESSIONS
OF A NOT-SO-GOOD CATHOLIC
GIRL, published by Pennsylvania
publishing company, Infinity
Publishing, is already receiving great
reviews. ADAMS is also author
of ROCK ‘N’ ROLL AND THE
CLEVELAND CONNECTION, by
Kent State University Press. The
Ohio native looks forward
to doing many book
signings in Pennsylvania
in the near future. For
more details, please see
her Web site at: www.
deannaadams.com
JADE LEONE
BLACKWATER, Area
6, has two poems appearing
in the upcoming Issue 3 of The
Monongahela Review. In November
2008 Jade served as Poetry Judge for
Notes & Grace Notes.
NANCY FAMOLARI, Area 2,
announces her first novel, SUMMER’S
March-April 2009
STORY, has been published by Red
Rose Publishing. Her next novel,
MURDER IN MONTBLEU, will be
released by Red Rose Publishing in
2009.
DON HELIN, Area 5, is proud
to announce that his novel, THY
KINGDOM COME, is now available
at your local bookstore or through
Amazon. For more information
go to www.donhelin.com.
LIANA LAVERENTZ,
Area 1, has won a second
New Jersey Romance
Writers Golden Leaf Award,
this one for JAKE’S
RETURN, her second
release with The Wild
Rose Press. This is the same award
Liana won last year with her first
release from TWRP, THIN ICE.
JIM LEE, Area 4, has short stories in
the Spring 2009 issue of Tales of the
Talisman (out in March) and the April
2009 issue of Hustler Fantasies.
The Penn Writer
Guests
(cont. from Page 16)
The following agents and editors are
scheduled to attend:
Lucienne Diver of the Knight Agency
represents fantasy, science fiction,
romance, mystery and suspense.
Paige Wheeler is a founding partner
of Folio Literary Management, LLC
representing all commercial fiction
and upscale (think book club) fiction
as well as women’s fiction, romance,
mystery, thrillers, psychological
suspense, and YA, as well as narrative
nonfiction and prescriptive nonfiction.
Uwe Stender of TriadaUS represents
both nonfiction and a variety of fiction
including but not limited to thrillers,
romance, and YA.
Colleen Lindsay of FinePrint
Literary Management is interested
in fantasy, science fiction, urban
fantasy, horror, paranormal romance,
YA and YA fantasy, and graphic
novels, although she’s open to just
about any kind of well-written novel.
In non-fiction, she’s looking for strong
narrative non-fiction, works of LGBT
interest and pop culture.
Esi Sogah is assistant editor at Avon.
Her authors include Olivia Parker,
Miranda Neville, Donna Fletcher,
Lois Greiman, Laura Castoro, and
many more. In addition, Esi writes
the Avon Romance newsletter, From
the Heart. She is looking to acquire
all genres of romance, especially sexy
historicals, as well as commercial
women’s fiction.
Matt Holliday is editor of
Pennsylvania Magazine. His job
includes all aspects of the publication
development from working with
contributors through coordinating
production and fulfillment. He
enjoys working with regular and
new contributors to obtain engaging
material for the magazine’s readers.
www.pennwriters.org
A late addition to the editor list is Jane
Friedman, editorial director at F+W
Publications in Cincinnati, Ohio. Jane
had been on board to participate in the
conference earlier, but then had to bow
out and is now BACK again. We’re
thrilled to have this popular editor
joining us. Jane will be considering
nonfiction works for all F+W imprints.
Here’s a sampling of workshops and
panels you will find at the conference:
• “Break Free From the Slushpile”
and “Kills, Chills, and Thrills” by
author C.J. Lyons
• “Homicide 101” by author John J.
Lamb
• “Can This Manuscript Be Saved?”
and “Story, Theme, and Idea” by
author Susan Meier
• “The Elevator Pitch—Learning to
Sell Your Novel” by author Nancy
Martin
• “You Say Tomato, I say To-Motto”
by author Susan Gable
• “Making Money as a Writer” by
author Jonathan Maberry
• “Getting POV on the Page” by
author and teacher Tim Esaias
• “Key Concepts for Career
Novelists” by agent Paige Wheeler
• “A Day in the Life of an Editor” by
editor Esi Sogah
• “Writing for Magazines” by editor
Matt Holliday
• “Trends in Publishing” by agent
Lucienne Diver
• “Writing Nonfiction” by agent Uwe
Stender
• “Essentials of Essay Writing” by
author Nancy Christy
• “Making a Scene: Some Lessons
in Playwriting” by author Kathleen
George
• “Series Characters” and “You
Landed the Publisher—Now
What?” by author Don Helin
• “Decoding Library Research” by
Kathryn Yelinek
• “Building Your Foundation:
Grammar” by Lori Morris
• “The Character Onion” by author
Catherine McLean
• “The Basics of Dialogue” by author
Liana Laverentz
• “Marketing Made Easy” by Nate
Hardy
• “No Means Nothing—Finding
the YES in Rejections” by Bobbi
Carducci
• Romance Panel with Susan Meier,
Susan Gable, and Esi Sogah
• Sci-fi/Fantasy Panel with Tim
Esaias, Jonathan Maberry, and
Colleen Lindsay
• Crime Fiction Panel with John J.
Lamb, C.J. Lyons, Nancy Martin,
and Kathleen George
• Children and Young Adult Panel
with Bobbi Carducci and Becca
Stumpf
• Agents Panel with Lucienne Diver,
Paige Wheeler, Uwe Stender,
Colleen Lindsay, and Becca Stumpf
For more details on speakers and bios,
be sure to check out our conference
Web site. Go to www.pennwriters.com
and click on the Conference tab, then
browse the menu for all the current
conference news and events.
March-April 2009
15
Conference Chatter
Special Guest to Attend Conference 2009
by Annette Dashofy, Area 3, 2009 Conference Coordinator
We’re down to the wire. Final
Here’s a tease of what to expect:
preparations are being made.
PENNWRITERS
Lisa Scottoline, New York Times
It’s beginning to look like a
22nd
Annual
Conference
Best-selling author of legal thrillers,
conference! “A Writer’s Tool
including her newest novel, LOOK
Chest,” the 22nd Pennwriters
AGAIN, will be our Friday night
Conference is only a couple of
keynote speaker. Besides being
months away. If you haven’t
A Writer’s a Pennsylvania native, Lisa is a
registered yet, now would be
popular and entertaining speaker
the time to take care of that
Tool
Chest
who is highly supportive of new
little detail. Have you reserved
writers. You don’t want to miss this
your hotel room yet? You will
need to call the Pittsburgh
event!
Airport Marriott at their direct
Tim Esaias, always a crowd
line 412-788-8800 to reserve
May 15-17, 2009
favorite, will offer bits of wisdom
a room at the conference
Pittsburgh Airport Marriott
and humor in his Saturday
rate of $85 per night, single/
luncheon keynote address. Tim is
double occupancy. Make sure
a multi-published, award-winning
you specify that you are with
author and poet, as well as Adjunct Faculty at Seton Hill
Pennwriters to get that special rate.
University in the Writing Popular Fiction M.A. Program.
See Guests, Page 15
What is Pennwriters, Inc.?
Pennwriters, Inc. is an independent network of writers
with more than 450 members from Pennsylvania
and beyond. Established in 1988 as a networking
Submitting to The Penn Writer
Have a submission for The Penn Writer? Contact Editor
Lori Morris via e-mail at lorimorris@verizon.net or via
mail at 1933 Elmbrook Lane, Pittsburgh, PA 15243.
organization for published and aspiring writers of all
Deadline for the May-June 2009 issue is April 1...no joke!
genres, Pennwriters, Inc. has continued to grow. For
The theme is “Breaking Into a New Market.” The theme
more information, contact secretary Shelley Giusti at
for the July - August 2009 issue is “Reflecting.” We hope
cricketgirl33@yahoo.com.
The Penn Writer
1800 Eastern Ave.
Erie, PA 16510
Return Service Requested
to hear from you!