Your three-day conference includes... • 30+ workshops, panels and sessions • Saturday Keynote Lunch with Pennwriter Kathryn Craft Kathryn Craft is the author of THE ART OF FALLING and THE FAR END OF HAPPY, a freelance developmental editor, a frequent workshop leader, and a member of a marketing cooperative of women’s fiction writers. www.kathryncraft.com • Agent/Editor Pitch Appointments: 5-minute spots are offered on a first-registered, first-assigned basis. • Read & Critiques with agents, editors & published authors. Spots are offered on a first-registered, first-assigned basis. • Saturday Pennwriters Breakfast & Annual Meeting: enjoy camaraderie and up-to-date meeting news. • In Other Words Contest for fiction, nonfiction & poetry. Your one-page entry must fit onto one side of an 8.5x11” sheet of paper (typed or printed). It will be posted in the Hospitality Suite to be judged by your peers. For details, email president@pennwriters.org. • Hospitality Suite and Conference Bookstore: Refresh, regroup, pick up freebies, shop for books & merchandise, enter to win raffle baskets, and more. Bookstore by Doylestown Bookshop.
You may purchase passes to the following special add-on events: • Friday Evening Keynote Dinner with Jonathan Maberry Jonathan Maberry is a NY Times bestselling author, five-time Bram Stoker Award winner, and comic book writer. Two of his books are in development for TV, and another is in development as a series of feature films. www.jonathanmaberry.com • Friday Networking Lunch with Stuart Horwitz - “You Don’t Know If You Don’t Go” • Friday Published Penns Lunch with Cindy Callaghan - “When Your Writing Life Gives You Lemons” PLEASE NOTE: This luncheon is only open to Pennwriters who have been granted Published Author status. For guidelines on receiving this status, contact Author Advocate Ayleen Gontz at ayleengontz@gmail.com. • Saturday After Hours Entertainment at “The Bees Knees Speakeasy” with open bar for the first hour, open mic and more.
ConferenCe registration http://bit.ly/1Q909iX
2016 Pennwriters Conference Schedule friday, May 20 8:00 aM 8:30-9:30 aM 9:45-10:45 aM 11:00 aM-noon noon-1:30 PM 1:45-2:45 PM 3:00-4:00 PM 5:30 PM 6:00 PM 8:30 PM 8:30 PM
registration opens Workshops Workshops Workshops Published Penns Luncheon or networking Lunch Workshops Workshops pre-dinner cocktails Keynote dinner and book signing with Jonathan Maberry read & Critique sessions fictional Characters anonymous hosted by Hana Haatainen Caye
saturday, May 21 8:00 aM 8:30 aM 8:30-9:30 aM 9:45-10:45 aM 11:00 aM-noon noon-1:30 PM 1:45-2:45 PM 3:00-4:00 PM 4:00-5:00 PM 6:45 PM 8:00 PM-Midnight
Pennwriters Breakfast and general Meeting registration opens Workshops Workshops Workshops Keynote Lunch with Kathryn Craft Workshops Workshops authors Booksigning Pennwriters area Meetings after hours entertainment at the Bees Knees speakeasy
sunday, May 22 8:30-9:30 aM 9:45-10:45 aM 11:00 aM-noon noon
Workshops Workshops Workshops Closing Ceremonies and Basket drawings
(Schedule is subject to change)
Conference Location and Lodging the eden resort & suites, a Best Western Premier Hotel 222 eden road, Lancaster, Pa 17601 toll-free: (866) 801-6430 the conference will be held at the eden resort & suites, located in the heart of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, less than an hour-and-a-half drive from both Philadelphia and Baltimore, and only a three-hour drive from new york City. Mention Pennwriters and receive a special rate of $135.95 + taxes per night for a standard deluxe room. King business suites and king parlors are also available at a discounted rate. triple and quad rates are also available. for directions, visit www.edenresort.com/contact-us/directions
About Our Pitch Sessions five-minute pitch sessions are offered at no extra charge on a first-registered, first-assigned basis. availability is limited. Please make your first choice on the registration form. an appointment time will be e-mailed to you prior to the conference. Writers pitching fiction must have a finished manuscript, but do not bring it to the pitch session.
Friday Evening Keynote
Saturday keynote
Jonathan Maberry
Kathryn Craft
ConferenCe registration http://bit.ly/1Q909iX
Build Your 2016 Pennwriters Conference Experience! the three-day Pennwriters Conference pricing structure allows you to build a conference experience that suits your budget and your writing needs. Choose from a three-day package, a friday-only package, or a saturday-only package—and then add on any of our four additional events. register online at http://bit.ly/1Q909iX. Make your conference selection; pre-register for special sessions, workshops and pitch appointments; and choose your meal options, etc. for assistance with registration, contact registration Coordinator Mark Boerma at area2rep@pennwriters.org.
Base Conference Fees
Add-On Items
tHree-day ConferenCe, friday tHrougH sunday
friday netWorKing LunCH with stuart Horwitz
$319 for Pennwriters / $399 for nonmembers •30+ workshops and sessions to choose from •Buffet breakfast (saturday) •Keynote lunch with Kathryn Craft (saturday) •agent pitch sessions (first come, first scheduled) •friday evening read-&-critiques (first come, first scheduled) •Book signing (saturday)
$28 for Pennwriters / $35 for nonmembers
friday onLy (no meals included)
$50 for Pennwriters / $75 for nonmembers
friday PuBLisHed Penns LunCHeon with Cindy Callaghan $28 for Pennwriters (must have Published Penn status)
friday Keynote dinner with Jonathan Maberry $149 for Pennwriters / $174 for nonmembers •15+ workshops and sessions to choose from •agent pitch sessions (first come, first scheduled) •friday evening read-&-critiques (first come, first scheduled)
saturday onLy (includes breakfast & keynote lunch) $179 for Pennwriters / $229 for nonmembers •15 workshops to choose from •Buffet breakfast (saturday) •Keynote lunch with Kathryn Craft (saturday) •agent pitch sessions (first come, first scheduled) •Book signing (saturday)
saturday after Hours at the Bees Knees speakeasy $20 for Pennwriters / $28 for nonmembers
Non-Writer Guests non-writer guests may attend the breakfast buffet and the keynote lunch with Kathryn Craft (saturday, meals only): $70 non-writer guests are also welcome to attend the friday evening keynote dinner and the saturday networking Lunch with stuart Horwitz at the nonmember prices.
Pennwriters Conference Keynotes Friday Dinner Keynote: JONATHAN MABERRY Jonathan Maberry is a NY Times bestselling author, five-time Bram Stoker Award winner, and comic book writer. Two of his books are in development for TV, and another is in development as a series of feature films. www.jonathanmaberry.com
Friday Luncheon Speakers Published Penns Luncheon Guest Speaker CINDY CALLAGHAN is the author of SYDNEY MACKENZIE KNOCKS ’EM DEAD (2017) and six more books published by Simon & Schuster. Her 2010 release, JUST ADD MAGIC, is now a liveaction series on Amazon. www.cindycallaghan.com Presentation: “When Your Writing Life Gives You Lemons: A Book to Screen Example” When Cindy’s publisher opted to stop publishing her 2010 release, JUST ADD MAGIC, Cindy thought her writing life may come to an end. Find out how this author struck a bookto-screen deal that breathed new life into her and her career.
Networking Lunch Guest Speaker STUART HORWITZ is the founder and principal of Book Architecture and has spent the past 15 years helping writers to become authors, sign with top literary agents, seal deals with publishing houses, and navigate a successful path through indie publishing. www.bookarchitecture.com Presentation: “You Don’t Know If You Don’t Go” The easiest way to thwart your writing career is to quit. Find inspiration and practical advice to keep yourself going.
Saturday Lunch Keynote: KATHRYN CRAFT Kathryn Craft is the author of THE ART OF FALLING and THE FAR END OF HAPPY, a freelance developmental editor, a frequent workshop leader, and a member of a marketing cooperative of women’s fiction writers. www.kathryncraft.com
Multi-Session Workshop Leaders JAMIE SALOFF assists authors in a book’s delivery from manuscript to final form, including interior layout and cover design, file prep, copyright filings, ebook creation, market messaging, and much more. She’s the author of 7 EASY STEPS TO PROFESSIONALLY SELF-PUBLISH YOUR BOOK. www.saloff.com Workshop: Self-Publish Your Print Book in 7 Easy Steps: A Three-Part Presentation Looking to self-publish? This extended, three-session workshop will show you how to avoid poor quality books and disappointing sales. You can do-it-yourself—even if you are a non-techie or golden ager—by first gathering a little knowledge and learning a few trade secrets. (Part 1: Before You Begin Self-Publishing. Part 2: The Details of Self-Publishing on Your Own. Part 3: The Final Mile of Self-Publishing.) The first 20 people who attend all three sessions will receive her book for free.
SUSAN MEIER is the author of 60+ books for Harlequin, Entangled, and Guideposts' Grace Chapel Inn and has won numerous publishing awards. She loves to teach as much as she loves to write and is a popular speaker at RWA chapter conferences. www.susanmeier.com Workshop: “Writing the Modern-Day Romance: A Three-Part Presentation Romance novels hit the bestseller lists every day—and you want to be part of that! How do you know what works? What keeps readers coming back? What about story structure? Join Susan as she answers these questions and more in a threepart series. (Part 1: Writing to Your Audience. Part 2: Increasing the Conflict. Part 3: Plotting with the W Plot.)
Pennwriters Conference Agents MARK GOTTLIEB is an agent with Trident Media. His focus on publishing began at Emerson College and continued as vice president of Berkley Books. At Trident Media, he worked with foreign rights and audio rights before building his own client list. www.tridentmediagroup.com LOOKING FOR: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Children's, Graphic Novels, Thriller, Mystery/Crime, Women’s/Romance, Young Adult, and certain nonfiction categories such as Pop Culture, Memoir, How-To, and Humor.
BaSkeT donaTIonS For THe 2016 ConFerenCe once again, we are asking for basket donations for the Pennwriters conference basket raffle. The raffle proceeds go toward helping to offset the conference costs, allowing us to bring you quality workshops with exceptional speakers. If you cannot donate a complete basket, consider donating items we can use to put together into baskets. Books, writing supplies, music, journals, coffee, tea, chocolate, candles...any items writers may enjoy are appreciated. donations of services (critiques, book cover designs, marketing expertise, website building, etc.) are also welcome. Members especially love autographed books by Pennwriters authors.
ERIC MYERS has a strong affinity for young adult and middle grade fiction. He joined Dystel and Goderich Literary Management in 2015 after 13 years at The Spieler Agency. A graduate of UCLA and the Sorbonne, Eric entered publishing as a journalist and author. www.dystel.com LOOKING FOR: Middle grade, young adult, adult thriller, adult nonfiction. NOT LOOKING FOR: Picture books, literary fiction, mysteries, memoir without a strong social media platform. PITCHING TIPS: Try to keep your pitch to one page if possible.
NOAH BALLARD is an agent at Curtis Brown, Ltd. He received his BA in English from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, and began his career in publishing at Emma Sweeney Agency. Noah has appeared across the country at graduate programs and writing conferences. www.curtisbrown.com LOOKING FOR: Literary debuts, upmarket thrillers, narrative nonfiction, manuscripts from honest provocative new writers.
ConFerenCe reGISTraTIon http://bit.ly/1Q909IX
all donations are appreciated. If you have a basket or individual items to donate, please email ayleengontz@gmail.com.
Calling All Volunteers If you plan to attend the conference, please consider volunteering. We have a number of opportunites. Many jobs take only a few minutes, while others may take an hour. Positions are available prior to and during the conference. The rewards of volunteering are many. In addition to getting to see what happens behind the scenes, you can get up close and personal with many accomplished authors and speakers. Some jobs even pair you with agents and editors. ModeraTorS introduce a session speaker by reading a short bio (already written and provided to you) and distribute handouts if necessary. TIMekeePerS for agent and editor pitch appointments keep the 5-minute appointments running smoothly. Penn PalS greet agents, editors and speakers. They pass out conference materials and answer questions that arise throughout the conference. If you would like to volunteer for any of these spots or would like to offer help but do not have a particular preference, contact the conference coordinator, ayleen Gontz, at ayleengontz@gmail.com.
Pennwriters Conference Presenters Annette Dashofy is the best-selling author of the Zoe Chambers mystery series. Her first novel CIRCLE OF INFLUENCE, was a finalist for both the Agatha Award and the David Award. Annette is vice president of the Pittsburgh Chapter of Sisters in Crime and Pennwriters. www.annettedashofy.com Cathy Jordan is the author of horror novels SEEKING SAMIEL and THE BOOKSELLER’S SECRET and contributes to magazines, anthologies, and online publications. She judged for the Bram Stoker Award and the ITW Young Adult Award. www.catherinejordan.com
Jon Sprunk is the author of THE BOOK OF THE BLACK EARTH epic fantasy series as well as the SHADOW SAGA trilogy. His first book was a finalist for the Compton Crook Award and nominated for the David Gemmell Award for Best Debut Novel and Best Fantasy Novel. www.jonsprunk.com Laurie J. Edwards, a former senior editor for YA and publisher of Leap Books, now focuses on her own writing, freelancing, and illustration career. She has more than 2,200 articles and 20 books in print. She also writes as Erin Johnson and Rachel J. Good. www.lauriejedwards.com
Connie Scharon credits a trip to the British Isles with setting her successful self-publishing career in motion. Books in her HIGHLAND LEGEND series made the Amazon Scottish Historical Romance and Medieval Romance Best Seller’s Lists.
Lori M. Myers writes creative nonfiction, fiction, essays, and plays. She is an adjunct professor of writing at Dominican College in New York and senior interviews editor for Hippocampus Magazine. www.lorimmyers.com
Don Helin published his first thriller, THY KINGDOM COME, in 2009. His most recent novel, SECRET ASSAULT, won best suspense/thriller at the 2015 Indie Book Awards and a gold medal at the Military Writers Society of America Conference. www.donhelin.com
Maria V. Snyder has written more than a dozen novels and has been on the New York Times bestseller list, has won a half-dozen awards, and has earned her master’s degree in writing from Seton Hill University where she’s now part of the MFA faculty. www.MariaVSnyder.com
Donna Galanti authored the paranormal thrillers in THE ELEMENT TRILOGY and the middle grade series, JOSHUA AND THE LIGHTNING ROAD. She is a contributing editor for International Thriller Writers’ the Big Thrill magazine and blogs with other middle grade authors at Project Middle Grade Mayhem. www.donnagalanti.com
Michelle Markey Butler teaches at University of Maryland College Park. She is the author of fantasy novel, HOMEGOING, and co-author of THE LAST ABBOT OF LINN DUACHAILL. www.michellemarkeybutler.com
Hana Haatainen Caye runs SPEECHLESS, a business focused on writing, editing, and voice-overs, and the author of GREEN GRANDMA’S VINEGAR FRIDAYS and 90+ children’s books for iStorybooks. She teaches writing at Carnegie Mellon University’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. www.wordsinyourmouth.com Jack Hillman is a journalist, novelist, playwright, and medical underwriter. In addition to five novels and a novella, his published short fiction has appeared in multiple magazines, both online and print. He is a member of SFWA and HWA. www.jackhillman.com Jean Jenkins, professional librarian, teaches the “secrets” of successful research. She has conducted research across the US and in Europe, including several projects undertaken while on fellowships from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Ramona DeFelice Long is an author, editor, and writing instructor. Her short fiction, creative nonfiction, and memoir have appeared in regional and literary publications. She has received multiple fellowships in fiction and creative nonfiction. www.ramonadef.com Tamara Girardi is an assistant professor of English at HACC, Central Pennsylvania’s Community College. She studied fiction at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland and writes young adult fantasy and contemporary works. Vickie Fisher is an inspirational author and photographer who lives on 19 acres in Westminster, MD. She works for Amtrak as a chief entitlement clerk. www.vickiefisher.com
ConFerenCe reGISTraTIon http://bit.ly/1Q909IX
Workshops and Sessions Genre Spotlights Fantasy—Beyond the Horses and Castles with Jon Sprunk The fantasy genres are filled with familiar tropes and archetypes, but its boundaries are as limitless as your imagination. We'll discuss the less-followed paths of fantasy and how to bring your off-beat story to new life. Historical Fiction—Welcome to the Historical Petting Zoo with Michelle Markey Butler and K.B. Inglee Enhance fiction set in the past (historical romance, mystery) or fiction influenced by history (alternative history, historical fantasy) by touching, wearing, using—and yes, tasting— the everyday items of the past. How Far Is Too Far in Middle Grade and YA? with Eric Myers, agent Children and teens are no longer as sheltered as they once were. They now confront adult realities—good, evil, and everything in between—at an earlier age. How far should your MG or YA manuscript go in reflecting this? Bring a brief synopsis of your manuscript to discuss. Writing Memoir: Your Life on Paper with Lori M. Myers Your life story could be the best story of your life. Why not write it? In this workshop, Lori will share tips and techniques for turning your personal experiences into powerfully crafted memoirs and essays and discuss markets for your finished work.
Promotion 5 Things to Start Doing Right Now Before You Get a Book Deal with Donna Galanti Even if you don’t have a literary agent, a book deal, or a polished draft, you can do 5 things right now to successfully pave the way to an author career. Start building your author platform as you continue to seek publication. That’s How We Roll: Setting Up an Author Tour Both Online and Offline with Stuart Horwitz Where does your audience congregate? How can you reach them in a unique way? Take a look at what a book tour should be, who we naturally are in front of an audience, and whether we enjoy physical travel or social media...or both.
From Blog to Book with Hana Haatainen Caye Gathering a faithful following of readers in your blog community is the perfect scenario for book sales. This workshop will focus on how to best use your blog to prep your readership, as well as how to transform blog posts into a book.
Craft Finish Your Book in Three Drafts with Stuart Horwitz How many drafts does it take? Only three. Really. Join Stuart to set the best outlook and direction for each of the three drafts so that you can increase your efficiency, satisfaction, and engagement with both your writing process and your final product. The Cold, Hard Slog: aka The Middle with Maria V. Snyder Eighty percent of your novel is considered “the middle,” and for most writers, it’s a cold hard slog until you reach the thrilling climax at the end. Get through the middle by developing characters, advancing the plot, and weaving in sub-plots to reach your goal—finishing! Fantastic Fight Scenes with Maria V. Snyder Action scenes are a difficult balance among the 4 essential elements: description, dialogue, inner dialogue, and character emotions. Discover how to tap into the special effects of your reader’s mind and write thrilling, realistic fight scenes. Premise, Don’t Write Without It with Cathy Jordan Do you have a story in mind but don’t know where to begin? Is your WIP falling flat? A story begins with a premise, the fundamental concept that drives your story. This class will help you build a solid premise through structure and steer your plot forward. Talk is Cheap; Good Dialogue? Priceless with Kathryn Craft From a quick overview of mechanics we’ll move into the fun stuff: analyzing masterful dialogue with an eye toward the ways in which it contributes to character development, pacing, setting, atmosphere, and more. Raiders of the Lost Arcs with Kathryn Craft While writing a book-length project, accumulating detail can obscure clear character development. This look at macroediting will build character arcs that offer the reader a rewarding experience.
Workshops and Sessions The Opening Promise with Ramona DeFelice Long The first chapter of a story creates a promise between the writer and reader. This workshop will examine how to write a story opening that hooks the reader but also reveals what kind of story is ahead and what kind of writer is creating it. Includes a checklist. Writing Your Setting as a Character with Annette Dashofy Do you enjoy reading novels that take you to another place and leave you feeling as though you've been there? This workshop will help you add depth to your writing and dimension to your setting. Avoiding Emotional Clichés with Annette Dashofy How can we show our characters’ emotions without resorting to the same tired clichés? Study examples of how the best in our field tackle this problem to find new and creative ways to show emotion in your own work. The Villain's Journey: Writing Compelling and Believable Villains with Don Helin Villains have to be strong and unique, not just your run-of-the-mill bad guys. And they have to be motivated to do what they do. Learn how to make your villain catch your reader's imagination—and keep it—throughout your novel. True to Character with Ramona DeFelice Long Why do fictional people act as they do? What is your protagonist’s arc? How—and why—do characters act out of character? What does your character want? These and other questions about creating a unique fictional human being will be addressed here. It’s There, It’s Free, Use It with Jean Jenkins Take a digital tour through the best of the best websites for writers. No hand-holding, ego-fluffing, time-wasting Internet way stations make this list—just websites you can consult quickly to get what you need to write productively and proficiently. Reaching Your Writing Dreams with Laurie J. Edwards Innovative techniques based on cutting-edge brain research will help you discover your hidden potential, come up with creative ideas, overcome writer’s block and procrastination, and blast through other roadblocks holding you back from reaching your dreams. You’ll also find out why willpower isn’t enough, why you struggle to meet goals, and how to keep yourself motivated.
What Can (and Should) We Learn from Tolkien as a Writer with Michelle Markey Butler Since its publication in 1954, LOTR has never been out of print. It is brilliant, beloved—and casts a big shadow. This session discusses Tolkien’s approaches to reading and writing, what we can gain from adopting them—and a couple we should avoid.
Publishing Get Your Pitch On with Jon Sprunk Work out the kinks in your agent/editor pitch—and calm your nerves—in this “as interactive as you make it” workshop. Jon provides an opportunity for you to practice your pitch on him and offers helpful critiques. A Novel Idea Panel: Don Helin, Lori M. Myers, Laurie J. Edwards, with Cathy Jordan, Maria V. Snyder Five authors who run a year’s worth of monthly workshops sponsored by the Perry County Council for the Arts share their publishing experiences and answer questions about everything and anything that goes into drafting a novel. Getting Published with Jack Hillman You’re here to find out how to write better. Odds are you want to have your writing published after you do that. Learn how to research your markets and find out where to send your manuscript once it’s finished. Write an Effective Query with Mark Gottlieb, agent Join Mark, a literary agent from Trident Media, as he shares his best, frontline tips and techniques for writing a query letter that puts your best words forward. The Voice: Query Edition Panel: Agents Modeled after The Voice, this workshop focuses on queries instead of songs. Bring your one-page, double-spaced query letter (name blacked out!) for a moderator to read out loud, and we’ll see which agents like which works, and when. Getting Your Manuscript Past the Gatekeeper with Donna Galanti A past intern for the Jennifer De Chiara Literary Agency, Donna shares what can get your manuscript past the gatekeeper and into the hands of an agent. Identify and overcome the 13 most common mistakes that stop a manuscript dead in its tracks.
Workshops and Sessions Demystifying Self-Publishing: An Author’s Perspective with Connie Scharon If you think you are ready to take the plunge into self-publishing, first get some tips from Connie to help you avoid the perils and pitfalls of wearing many, many hats—writer, editor, publisher, cover designer, and marketing coordinator—for your book. Building Your Nonfiction Platform and Proposal with Noah Ballard, agent When it comes to an agent’s desk, nonfiction and fiction are two very different animals with very different requirements. Join agent Noah Ballard as he explains the inner workings of the nonfiction proposal and how that should be a natural extension of your platform. The Business of Writing with Hana Haatainen Caye Running a freelance writing business can be more profitable than you may think. In this workshop we’ll cover the various types of business and creative writing opportunities that exist for writers who see beyond their fiction, nonfiction, and poetry.
Reserve Advertising Space in the conference program Full page..........................$65 Half page.........................$45 Business card size..........$25 To reserve space and get payment instructions, email Heather desuta at newsletter@pennwriters.org. File formats: .pdf or .jpg Use exact dimensions or submit ads scaled to size. Program booklet will be printed in color. Full page: 4.5” wide x 7.5” tall Half page: 4.5” wide x 3.5” tall Business card, horizontal only: 3.5” x 2”
Pennwriters Conference T-shirts
Cyber Pitching with Tamara Girardi Everyone could use a little, if not a lot, of pitching practice. Join Tamara as she explains the new online pitch trend. Get a detailed list of the top online pitch contests, the dos and don’ts (etiquette is important here!), and general tips for success.
ConFerenCe reGISTraTIon http://bit.ly/1Q909IX
Stay Connected Visit our website regularly at www.pennwriters.org. Follow us online on Facebook (Pennwriters annual Conference) and Twitter (Pennwriters) for the latest Pennwriters Conference news. Specific questions can be directed to ayleen Gontz, conference coordinator, at ayleengontz@gmail.com.
Conference T-shirts are onlY available by pre-order. $20 per shirt. Shirts will be distributed at the registration table at the conference, to those who have pre-ordered.